Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Fang Xiaotu...” The Spirit Void City Lord nodded slowly. He sized up Fang Chen and smiled faintly. ”Hundreds of fellow cultivators have come here today, all hoping to buy the site of the Spirit Void Sect from you. I wonder how you intend to auction it?”

While speaking, the Passing Dragon Island Master had been sizing Fang Chen up the whole time. A hint of mockery would flash in his eyes from time to time. In his view, Fang Chen might not know his identity, but he was almost certain of Fang Chen’s identity, even with the mask on; sword cultivators were rare, and it was almost impossible for two sword cultivators to appear in the Flame Empire at the same time. Fang Chen was the one he was looking for! He was the sword cultivator who killed the young sect master and the Green Mountain Island Lord!

The Passing Dragon Island Master didn’t rush to make a move but instead leisurely assessed Fang Chen. He knew that Long Tianxing of the Qingzhou Sword Sect was here for a reason, and he’d definitely kickstart a fight. Since that was the case, he didn’t mind using Long Tianxing to probe the sword cultivator’s strength.

”The starting bid is 1000 low-grade spiritual stones, with increments of no less than one hundred. There is no upper limit,” said Fang Chen with a faint smile. ”There is half an acre of spiritual land and a spiritual spring in the Spirit Void Sect, enough to support dozens of cultivators. Those interested can start bidding.”

No one spoke up, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward as everyone quietly looked at Long Tianxing.

”It seems that everyone has heard about the incident where the Grand Elder of the Qingzhou Sword Sect was killed,” said Long Tianxing, sweeping his gaze over the crowd.

Still, no one spoke.

“Today, this sword cultivator must resolve the matter with Long Tianxing first before he is qualified to auction the Spirit Void Sect!”

Long Tianxing’s eyes drifted toward Fang Chen slowly. ”Were you the one who killed Yao Dan?”

Fang Chen’s lips touched a smile. ”Are you here to avenge him?”

”Hmm, he doesn’t seem to be afraid at all....”

”He’s pretty confident.... Looks like this won’t be settled easily.”

The cultivators around narrowed their eyes one after another.

The swordsman surely knew that Long Tianxing, the head of the Qingzhou Sword Sect, was at the mid-stage of the Foundation Building Realm, so the fact that he remained so composed meant that he had something up his sleeve to rely on.

Long Tianxing’s gaze turned cold. ”Yao Dan was the Grand Elder of my sect—someone who was at the Foundation Building Realm. Naturally, I won’t let him die without getting an explanation.”

The disciples behind the Qingzhou Sword Sect glared angrily at Fang Chen.

”I heard you’re a sword cultivator. They say sword cultivators are lunatics who are obsessed with swords. It’s also said that sword cultivators stand at the apex of offensive power. They run rampant through the cultivation world without restraint, arrogant and domineering. I want to know, how many of these rumors are true?” Long Tianxing paused, then continued, ”Let me witness your swordsmanship. If you can injure me within ten moves, I’ll drop the matter regarding Grand Elder Yao.” He stared at Fang Chen, a fierce glint flashing through his eyes. ”Otherwise... it’ll prove you’re not a sword cultivator, and I’ll personally kill you!”

In an instant, an oppressive aura, like a towering mountain, emanated from him, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.

Everyone understood that if this sword cultivator couldn’t injure Long Tianxing, then he would be the one to die.

Suddenly, Xia Xuanji spoke up. ”Brother Long, why not hand this person over to me?”

The crowd was slightly surprised as they turned to the source of the voice.

”Who is this again?”

”He’s with the elders of the Spirit Void Sect. Probably someone they invited to help?”

“It’s another Foundation Building Realm cultivator....”

Whispers broke out among the crowd.

The Spirit Void City Lord couldn’t help but take a few more glances at Xia Xuanji. When he found it difficult to see through Xia Xuanji’s realm, his face turned serious.

Frowning slightly, Long Tianxing began, ”And you are?”

He asked, but he didn’t really need an answer. Seeing the Elders of the Spirit Void Sect all clustered around Xia Xuanji, he had already reached a conclusion of his own.

”I am surnamed Xia. I came today seeking justice for the Spirit Void Sect.” Xia Xuanji smiled faintly. ”I hope Brother Long can hand over this opportunity to exact justice to me.”

The elders were surprised. They thought that Xia Xuanji wouldn’t need to make a move as the Qingzhou Sword Sect would settle everything. Unexpectedly, Xia Xuanji chose to intervene.

But this was for the better! As long as Xia Xuanji showed a bit of skill in front of the hundreds of cultivators around, not only could the face lost by Spirit Void Sect be restored, but their reputation could be further enhanced!

”Give it to you?” Glancing at Xia Xuanji, Long Tianxing’s eyes narrowed slightly. ” I am afraid I can’t do that, Daoist Xia. He has killed the Grand Elder of my Qingzhou Sword Sect. I should be the one to do it.”

”Sect Leader Long, our sectmaster was injured by him! We don’t even know if she is still alive!”

”It’s precisely because of your sect’s Grand Elder Yao that our sectmaster suffered severe injuries and our sect’s site was seized! If we talk about grudges, the enmity between Spirit Void Sect and him is no weaker than that of your Qingzhou Sword Sect,” said the Grand Elder of Spirit Void Sect in a deep voice.

Many around were surprised. The Elder of the Spirit Void Sect dared to challenge Long Tianxing so openly? There was more than just a difference in level between the two.

The crowd’s expressions suddenly shifted; could it be because of this cultivator surnamed “Xia”?

Long Tianxing seemed to have noticed something too. He glanced at the Grand Elder but didn’t pay him any attention. He turned his eyes back to Xia Xuanji. ”Brother Xia, do you plan to have one of us compromise in front of so many people?”

”Not necessary.” Xia Xuanji’s eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly. ”Since you’re so eager to resolve your personal vendetta, Fellow Daoist, I’ll let you have this opportunity. But let me be clear here; the Spirit Void Sect’s site won’t be auctioned. It will be returned to its rightful owners.”

Many cultivators were immediately furious and began to complain in low voices. They had come from faraway places just to attend the auction. All that time and effort they had spent was all in vain? They had come all this way just for the Spirit Void Sect to be returned to its “owners”?

Long Tianxing nodded slowly. ”That’s fine by me.”

”It’s over! We made this trip in vain!”

”Not really, no. It’s rare to see the inheritance of sword cultivators in the flesh. It’s a rare opportunity for us to widen our horizons and see where the prowess of sword cultivators lies.”

”Well, that’s true....”

Murmurs filled the vicinity.

Long Tianxing turned to Fang Chen. ”What do you think of my proposal?”

Hiding in the crowd, stood a worried Abbess Qing He. ”Lord Fang might be in a bit of trouble....”

Fang Chen didn’t answer, and after a moment, he said, ”Ten moves is too much. Just one move will be enough.”

Just one move?

Everyone was astonished. Was that even possible? One move was enough to injure a mid stage Foundation Building expert?

The Spirit Void Citylord was taken aback at first, but a smile appeared on his face after a few moments. ”Now that’s a sword cultivator for you.”

A faint hint of sarcasm flashed in the eyes of the Passing Dragon Island Master. ”Sword cultivators really are all arrogant.”

”This guy is provoking Long Tianxing!”

The cultivators of the Spirit Void Sect secretly rejoiced. The angrier Long Tianxing was, the more miserable the other party would end up!

”If... if only I had his strength.” Among the descendants of the Ye Family, Ye Wenxiu stared blankly at Fang Chen, bitterness in his heart.