Immortal of the Nine Realms

Yun Xiuxue?!

Everyone was startled, their eyes filling with vigilance. They hadn’t expected to meet Yun Xiuxue here again. Last time, she had reached some kind of agreement with Monarch Yan, allowing them to leave. She had even provided them with a route.

They weren’t sure if she would allow them to leave this time.

On the other hand, Xian Yueguan and Wang Ye appeared noticeably calmer upon seeing Yun Xiuxue, though they were still a bit surprised by her appearance.

”Star Moon Merchant Guild? Show me the travel permit again,” said Yun Xiuxue indifferently as she walked up to Fang Chen with her subordinates.

Fang Chen immediately took out the permit and handed it over.

After inspecting it, Yun Xiuxue did not return it. Instead, she said to her subordinates, ”Go and take a look around.”

”Yes.”

Her subordinates immediately began searching the immortal boat.

The others did not speak, simply waiting for Fang Chen’s response.

Another border commander glanced over from afar. Seeing that Yun Xiuxue’s people had already begun their inspection, he then led his own men to search the boat under his responsibility.

”Consider this a form of exile, I suppose,” said Fang Chen with a faint smile.

Yun Xiuxue replied with a smile of her own, ”It’s relatively light, actually. I’ll probably be stationed here for many years to come.”

The two spoke as if they were merely exchanging casual conversation, appearing completely normal. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yun Xiuxue’s subordinates returned one after another.

One of them cupped his hands and reported, ”Lady Xue, nothing unusual found.”

Yun Xiuxue nodded. ”Then they are clean. Let them pass.”

Soon after, Fang Chen and the others boarded their Immortal Boat and successfully passed through the Jingtai Star border.

Li Yanjun and the others couldn’t help but feel curious. They did not expect Yun Xiuxue to let them leave this time as well. Their gazes couldn’t help but drift toward Fang Chen.

Still, curiosity was one thing. There were questions that simply weren’t meant to be asked. They understood propriety and would not voice their doubts. No matter how many suspicions they had, they could only keep them buried in their hearts.

After entering Jingtai Star, they immediately hurried toward the Starry Teleportation Formation. With the stamped border permit, their identity as members of the Star Moon Merchant Guild was now fully confirmed. Apart from some routine inspections, they were easily let through.

However, the Starry Teleportation Formation here required queuing. Their slot was scheduled for one year later, meaning they would have to wait here for a full year.

”Waiting another full year out of nowhere. Within a year, countless variables can arise,” said someone in a low voice.

The group’s mood grew heavy. All they wanted now was to reach the Feiyu Constellation as quickly as possible, complete their mission, and report Gu Yueling’s matter to see how the higher-ups would respond. This was a matter of even higher importance than that of the demon race.

***

Half a year later, Fang Chen found the seal on Jingtai Star. Using two incomplete Formation Hearts, he broke through the restriction of this place and entered the Path of Yin.

He arrived at the Forgotten River, collected the human ”seeds” stored here, then went to Jiangguang City to retrieve the accumulated Yin Lifespan from these years, before finally arriving at the capital of the Lesser Underworld.

Compared to before, the capital still looked as calm and peaceful as ever. However, Fang Chen could clearly see that the members of various offices were rushing about in haste, moving as if carried by the wind.

Not far away, the Yin Walker Division was escorting a group of wandering soul cultivators through the streets in a high-profile manner, drawing the attention of many nearby souls. They were headed toward the Judgment Division, led by a judge from that very office.

”You Yin Walker Division dogs are lawless!”

A captured cultivator angrily shouted, ”We cultivators travel the Underworld only to earn a bit of Yin Lifespan, and yet you attack us! Aren’t you afraid that no one will travel the Underworld for you anymore? Who will handle affairs in the human world for you then?!”

But he was immediately struck across the mouth by a whip, almost scattering his soul. The remaining cultivators lowered their heads, not daring to curse as he did.

An officer of the Yin Walker Division casually twirled his whip and laughed. ”Your identities are unclear and your origins unknown. That alone is a violation of our rules, yet you still dare cry injustice? That whip was already merciful. Once you reach the Judgement Division, there are countless methods to deal with you. By then, you’ll honestly confess every last detail, even how you peeked at your neighbor bathing when you were a child.”

The captured cultivator’s expression was a storm of shifting emotions. He seemed about to argue, but recalling the pain of the whip, he ultimately fell silent.

Nearby souls watched them being taken away, then sighed and began discussing recent events.

”In recent years, the number of captured wanderers has increased. All of them are of unknown origins, troublemakers trying to stir chaos in our Underworld,” said an old man selling noodle soup by the roadside, shaking his head.

”Sigh... ever since that incident, the number of wandering soul cultivators has only increased.”

”Besides those with established ties to the Underworld, most of them are unknown outsiders.”

A customer also sighed. ”Before I arrived in the capital, I saw similar arrests back home. They’re all unauthorized Path of Yin Walkers who refuse to register with the Yin Walker Division.”

”They’re clearly hiding something. Probably plotting something big.”

A burly man sneered. ”Most likely targeting Monarch Yan himself. Do they even know whose territory this is?”

The others laughed in joy.

”Monarch Yan isn’t someone they can scheme against.”

”Once they’re sent to the Judgement Division, they’re finished. They’ll be worse off than even ordinary wandering spirits. Whether their souls can remain intact is another matter entirely.”

After thousands of years of residence in the Underworld, its systems and rules had become increasingly refined. Even hiring wandering soul cultivators no longer required the fear and caution of the past, where one worried they would take payment but fail to deliver. These changes were visible to all. Who would want outsiders to disrupt such a system?

Upon hearing the crowd, Fang Chen understood something. Someone was targeting the Lesser Underworld.

Perhaps in the past, this place had not been worth much attention. But after that day’s phenomenon, countless factions had set their eyes upon it. The reason was simple: he carried Monarch Yan’s inheritance. Even someone like Luo Daochen had sought to cooperate with him because of it. In the eyes of others, the Lesser Underworld was far from as insignificant as it appeared.

Fang Chen’s thoughts were calm. The more attention there is, the more trouble follows.

This was precisely the kind of situation that ”that existence” had intended to create.

He arrived at the Hidden Guard Division and saw Xia Ji buried in stacks upon stacks of official documents. These were all judgment results sent from the Judgement Division.

Hearing footsteps, Xia Ji looked up. He sighed in relief when he saw Fang Chen, waving him over.

”Fang Da, take a look for yourself at just how many inexplicable wandering soul cultivators have appeared these years. Many of them even insist on meeting you, claiming they want to cooperate with you. I’ve temporarily detained them for now, waiting for you to decide.”

Fang Chen flipped through a few pages and indeed found many. He couldn’t help but smile. ”No need to keep them. Dispose of them as you see fit. Unless there’s something special, there’s no need for me to meet them.”

Xia Ji nodded. ”Then why have you come back this time?”

Fang Chen said, ”To send people from the Hidden Guard Division to look and see if there’s any news of my grandfather.”

That was the main reason he had returned to the Underworld. Gu Yueling’s matter had to reported as soon as possible.