Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen didn’t rush to intervene. He chose to watch for now.

Seeing that Fang Chen was just watching the excitement, Jiang Zhong didn’t say anything and waited quietly beside Jiang Tianai

Fang Chen’s divine soul left his body and stood in the void.

Although Fang Chen had been able to recognize Xia Ji, that didn’t mean that he didn’t change. In fact, he changed so much that he almost seemed like a different person altogether. Xia Ji used to be full of vigor. He always had everything under control no matter what. He was the only person who Fang Chen truly felt connected to; they shared the same views and were very similar in many ways, and they regarded each other as lifelong confidants.

Xia Ji was a prince, but he wasn’t the man to look people down his nose, nor was extravagant in his life, he never even thought of vying for the throne—which was why Xia Xuanji had been very fond of him. The same couldn’t have been said about Xia Yu, however, for he had both feared and detested this brother of his.

Xia Ji’s aura now was pretty impressive, having reached the cultivation level of the fourth stage of the Qi Refining Realm; however, the weariness between his brows was enough to prove that it hadn’t been a smooth-sailing ride for him.

He’s at the fourth stage of the Qi Refining Realm... It seems that Xia Ji started cultivating early.

”Shopkeeper Lin, this lady in my hand is the ruler’s most beloved daughter, the apple of his eye. If you don’t want anything to happen to her, I suggest you prepare an immortal boat for me as soon as possible,” threatened Xia Ji, his sword pressing at the woman’s neck.

Shopkeeper Lin was conflicted. Immortal boats were not common; a cultivator didn’t need to use their life essence to refine them, and they could carry people through the air effortlessly. There wasn’t anyone in sixth-tier empires who could refine them, all of them came from fourth-tier and fifth-tier empires. That’s why an immortal boat with twelve Soul Imprints of the lower grade might be as valuable as a yellow rank, mid-grade treasure with thirty Soul Imprints.

While he did have one, the store used it to transport its goods. It simply wasn’t for sale. That’s why Shopkeeper Lin was extremely hesitant to do as told. If he gave the hostage-taker the boat, he’d be making a huge loss here. But if he didn’t give him the boat, and something happened to the princess, the most beloved princess, then the Heavenly Treasure Pavillion wouldn’t be able to run its business in the Qinghu Empire anymore!

The temperament of demons was different from that of human cultivators; they lacked flexibility. If they were to be really angry, they wouldn’t care about those behind the pavilion, even if they were from a fourth-tier empire.

”Xia Ji,” shouted the princess suddenly, “you’ve caused trouble in the Grand Qian capital! Big Brother Jue is just trying to help you! Why do you want to run away? He won’t take your life. It doesn’t have to come to this, things will only get worse if you do this!”

”Little lass, what do you know? Jue Wudi may appear righteous on the surface, but he’s actually quite sinister behind that mask of his. Senior Brother Liu just went out to pick medicinal herbs, and now he went missing. Senior Sister Wu was inexplicably attacked, causing her cultivation to sink down.” Xia Ji sneered. ”Jue Wudi did all of this. Should I stick around and wait till he comes after me too?”

The princess frowned. ”Those were all just accidents. Big Brother Jue wouldn’t possibly do that. He isn’t that kind of person. How could a man who has stepped onto the Foundation Realm at forty be as sinister as you paint him out to be?”

”There’s no point in talking to you. I know you’re stalling for time. I’ll give you ten breaths. If I don’t get an answer, I will destroy everything here,” declared Xia Ji.

The princess and the fox women’s expressions changed slightly. They vaguely felt that Xia Ji would really follow through with his words.

Shopkeeper Lin frowned, and after a few moments of contemplation, he nodded.

Shopkeeper Lin said, ”All right, I will prepare an immortal boat for you. But it is currently not here. Give me fifteen minutes.”

Suddenly, a figure broke through the air. He stood in the void as he overlooked everyone from up above. With a mocking tone, he began, ”Shopkeeper Lin, you, a Foundation Building Realm cultivator, are being threatened by a mere Qi Refining Realm cultivator?”

This man wore a purple robe, and his imposing figure was like a mountain. His thick eyebrows resembled swords, his nose was straight, and his starry eyes gleamed. Particularly noticeable on his forehead was a prominent red mole. As soon as he appeared, everyone below felt a heavy pressure pressing down on them, making it difficult to breathe.

The expressions of the crowd changed.

”Demon King Tianfeng!”

Among the thirteen demon kings in Qinghu Empire, he was ranked in the top five and was a mid-stage Foundation Building Realm cultivator!

The princess was surprised to see him, but she quickly called out. ”Uncle Tianfeng!”

The fox women let out sighs of relief. Now that Demon King Tianfeng was here, the princess’s safety was basically guaranteed. After all, Demon King Tianfeng had once fought against three human cultivators of the same level and had not been at a disadvantage.

The Qinghu ruler had personally stated that Demon King Tianfeng was exceptionally talented and was a rare genius. There was even hope for him to reach the Golden Core Realm in the future!

”So it’s Demon King Tianfeng.” Shopkeeper Lin clasped his hands together and didn’t mind the sarcasm. He felt relieved, if anything. ”I’ll leave this to you.”

Demon King Tianfeng glanced at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, then turned his gaze to Xia Ji, his eyes cold with a hint of disdain. ”Your name is Xia Ji, right? I heard your master is the abbot of Profound Void Temple in the Grand Qian Empire?”

”Huh? Xia Ji’s master is a monk?” Fang Chen was surprised. There was nothing on Xia Ji that hinted at any affiliation with Buddhism, not even his aura. ”How could his master possibly be a monk?”

”I’m just a lowly fourth stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator. I never expected Demon King Tianfeng to personally intervene in this matter,” Xia Ji said, his eyes showing deep apprehension. ”Yes, indeed, my master is the abbot of the Profound Void Temple. So what?”

”I have an enmity with that bald donkey, so of course it matters.” Tianfeng Demon King chuckled. ”How about this, if you release the princess, I’ll leave your corpse in one piece.”

Xia Ji sneered. ”Ridiculous! It’s all or nothing today! Either I leave alive, or everything burns to the ground. Don’t think just because you’re at the mid-stage Foundation Building Realm, you can rescue her. The sword in my hand will behead her before you kill me.”

The princess’s face turned pale, and she stared fiercely at Xia Ji.

The surrounding demons were furious, cursing at Xia Ji and threatening him incessantly as if they were ready to swarm him and tear him apart into a thousand pieces. Xia Ji, however, showed no fear. Instead, his smile grew even wider. ”The more you curse me, the happier I am! I feel better than ever!”

Qin Wei sneered. ”This guy is definitely going to die today.”

Shopkeeper Lin shook his head slightly and leaned down to whisper to Qin Wei, who was beside him, ”That’s naturally the only outcome for those who provoke demons in the Qinghu Empire, much less the descendants of the imperial family.”

”I was going to let you die with a bit of dignity, but since you’re so unwilling to have it that way, so be it.” Demon King Tianfeng chuckled lightly. He secretly ignited a talisman behind his back. The talisman shimmered with a blue light, then in the next moment, it circled from behind Demon King Tianfeng and struck Xia Ji like a bolt of lightning.

Xia Ji was surprised to find that he suddenly couldn’t move!

Cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

All of that was observed by Fang Chen’s divine soul, but he didn’t intervene because he didn’t sense any threat when the Demon King Tianfeng ignited the talisman.

Demon King Tianfeng chuckled. ”This Binding Talisman can restrain a Foundation Building Realm cultivator for a quarter of an hour. It’s completely silent at activation, too. What a waste that I had to use it on you.”

The crowd was shocked.

A Binding Talisman?

The demons couldn’t help but flash Xia Ji a smirk. You’re done for!