Immortal of the Nine Realms

”What do you mean?” asked Fang with a faint smile. “Does the Clear Sky Monastery have many enemies?”

”You might not know this, senior, but the competition out there is fierce. Many immortals have tried to proclaim this island theirs, but they were all driven away by the old temple master. If they learn that this place has become ownerless, they will surely come knocking again. These immortals are ruthless, so they obviously aren’t exactly... righteous people?”

Fang Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly. ”I understand, but I won’t be some temple master. I am not even a Daoist,” he said. “The sect will now be named ‘Hidden Courtyard.’”

Although these Daoists didn’t know what ”Hidden Courtyard” represented, they were still nonetheless very happy to hear Fang Chen’s words. At least they didn’t have to sit in fear of other cultivators on their doorstep.

”Hidden Courtyard...” muttered Li Huafeng.

Suddenly, astonishment flashed in his eyes as he gazed at Fang Chen.

Sensing his eyes, Fang Chen looked back at him.

Li Huafeng showed a bitter twist. ”I once heard that within Grand Xia, there was a special force. No one knows who they are, no one knows where they came from, but they’re called the Grand Xia Hidden Guards...”

Fang Chen smiled lightly. ”For you to be familiar with these two words means that you haven’t been idling around during your time with the Grand Brilliance Bureau.”

Li Huafeng sighed in relief. ”So it really is you...”

No wonder these Grand Xia Hidden Guards were so mysterious. He searched and searched and was only able to uncover a few clues, but other than that, he couldn’t find any more evidence no matter how hard he searched.

Thinking about it, it made sense. Their leader was Fang Chen.

But this wasn’t surprising. If Fang Chen wanted to suppress any news of them, with his methods, it would be easy.

An hour later.

In the main hall of the Clear Sky Monastery, over a hundred Daoists stood neatly in front of Fang Chen. Leading them were three Clear Sky Daoists, all at the first realm of the Heaven Profound Stage, the Fatal Qi Stage.

Fang Chen had already fought against martial artists at that level. Heaven Profound Stage cultivators experienced metamorphosis in their internal qi the moment they stepped into this stage. At this stage, martial artists aren’t completely helpless against spiritual energy.

”Where did you all come from? Each of you report your backgrounds. If you notice that any of you is lying, feel free to rat on them. Those who do will be heavily rewarded,” ordered Fang Chen with a faint smile.

The Daoists looked at each other, then quickly reported each of their backgrounds. Some hailed from seventh-tier empires, some from eighth-tier empires. They had all been seeking to stumble their way into the path of immortality and enlightenment, and eventually, they all drifted here, to the Clear Sky Monastery, one way or another.

They were similar to how Ancestor Xia Yu had been, the only difference was that Xia Yu had truly managed to join the Southern Heavenly Sect, while they were still just considered miscellaneous workers in the Clear Sky Monastery. The old Daoist hadn’t intended on teaching them a cultivation technique, nor did he ever hint that he’d do such a thing.

”Do you all wish to cultivate?” asked Fang Chen with a faint smile.

The groups’ expression shifted, and hope suddenly surged in their eyes.

The three Clear Sky Daoists at the forefront immediately knelt down and repeatedly kowtowed, and the other Daoists followed suit, kneeling and kowtowing.

”Please, rise.”

After the Daoists stood up, Fang Chen walked up to the three Clear Sky Daoists. ”I won’t ask about your origins, nor will I ask you about your past. If you want to cultivate, I can take you in as registered disciples, bestow upon you Daoist names, and pass on cultivation methods to you.”

The three Clear Sky Daoists were extremely excited and immediately knelt down on the spot.

”Master!”

Seeing this, the Earth Profound Stage Daoists were left with nothing but envy and jealousy in their eyes.

”Don’t be hasty,” said Fang Chen with a faint smile. ”I have a request. If you cannot fulfill it in the future, you will no longer be my disciples.”

The three of them were extremely excited

”Please tell us, Master!”

”The cultivation world is very cruel, as you must have seen.”

The three men nodded subconsciously. It was indeed cruel. Even experts in the cultivation world could be wiped out in a single day...

”So, if you want to survive in the cultivation world, there is a trick to it. This is a trick that cannot be taught, but it requires you to live with a clear conscience.” Fang Chen’s smile was light. ”No need to rush and answer. Think about it carefully and then answer me.”

Living with a clear conscience? The three men’s faces were thoughtful. After a while, one of them mouthed, ”Master, I have made mistakes before. In my heart of hearts, I feel guilty.”

The other two weren’t much better off. They knew they couldn’t hide anything from Fang Chen and hadn’t even considered hiding anything.

”What about in the future?”

”In the future?” The three men were stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with joy. They began nodding vigorously. ”Master, rest assured, we will definitely live with a clear conscience from now on! If we violate this oath, may we be struck by heavenly lightning!”

”That’s enough. From now on, you will be the eldest, second, and third senior brothers of the Hidden Courtyard. I bestow upon you Daoist names: First Sky, Second Sky, and Third Sky.” With that said, Fang Chen looked at the others. ”Whoever can advance to the Heaven Profound Stage will be granted cultivation methods. Remember, the Hidden Courtyard has only one requirement...” He paused for a second before his words, backed with spiritual energy, rang clearly in everyone’s ears. “Live with a clear conscience!”

The Daoists felt as if they had been reborn. They knew that after today, they would embark on a completely different path!

In front of everyone, Fang Chen passed on the first three layers of the Purple Qi Manual to First Sky, Second Sky, and Third Sky, then headed toward the old Daoist’s cave dwelling.

Since Fang Chen didn’t have the time to care for the spiritual medicines inside, he picked them. They could fetch a fair number of spirit stones.

After collecting the spiritual medicines, Fang Chen glanced at the spiritual spring. Although it was small, it could at least support the daily needs of more than ten cultivators. It wasn’t that much different from using spirit stones to cultivate, just a little weaker.

With no one around, Fang Chen took out the treasures he had just confiscated and let Little Sword devour them. After finishing its meal, Little Sword appeared very satisfied, and its aura became even stronger.

”It’s strange. Where exactly is that Soul Imprint on you...? I can’t find it.” Fang Chen looked at Little Sword. Despite its strong spiritual energy, he couldn’t discern any clues, which was truly perplexing.

That night, Fang Chen successfully refined the storage ring left by the old Daoist and found a treasure inside with twelve Soul Imprints. Naturally, he fed it to Little Sword.

Apart from the treasure, he also found three jade slips. One contained the technique to control the five elements, another contained the cultivation method of the old Daoist, and the third contained the cultivation method he had obtained from the auction in Dragon Ridge Lane.

After comparing them, Fang Chen found that the cultivation method of the old Daoist was really somewhat incomplete. Although it could be cultivated to the twelfth level of the Qi Refining Realm, it would require more time and effort.

The cultivation method from Dragon Ridge was much better, but compared to the Purple Qi Manual, both were far inferior. The difference between the two was like that between a beggar and an emperor, with a vast disparity in their tiers. The immortal veins condensed by the latter were much stronger and sturdier.

”The road of the Qi Refining Realm is the foundation, and the foundation determines one’s future. Fortunately, the Qi Refining cultivation method passed down to me by Senior Yun He is of top-quality...” Fang Chen sighed. He was fortunate, but for those wandering cultivators, and even ordinary sect cultivators, their paths in life were already set in stone. Without opportunities and strokes of fortune, it was difficult for them to reach higher realms and become top-tier figures in the world.

Fang Chen put away the jade slips. He wasn’t in a rush to practice controlling the five elements. Instead, he projected his divine soul to observe the movements of First Sky and the others. If the Clear Sky Monastery was connected to the Spirit Blood Sect, there was a high probability that the old Daoist and his disciples were not innocent. Although First Sky and the others were only at the Fatal Qi Stage, it was still possible they could be involved in the affairs of the Spirit Blood Sect. As long as there was a slight possibility, Fang Chen wouldn’t overlook it.

That night, everyone was excited, especially First Sky and the others, as they were studying the Manual with great enthusiasm.

There was no sign of anything unusual.