Immortal of the Nine Realms

The Jade River Pavilion had become incredibly quiet. Even the slowest cultivators present had realized that the old man far surpassed those Golden Core Realm cultivators.

Those Golden Core Realm cultivators were like gods in their eyes, yet they had been punished and forced to a standstill, like little children.

Fang Ao and Jing Jing exchanged glances before looking at the motionless Golden Core Realm Ancestors.

As they glanced at the old man, they suddenly grew fearful.

What kind of powerful expert could effortlessly restrain Golden Core Realm cultivators?!

Could this senior be a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator?

This thought arose in their minds, making them both horrified and apprehensive.

Fang Ao’s wife looked at Fang Yun with blame in her eyes. They wouldn’t have been placed in this situation if it weren’t for their daughter!

”What do you mean, senior?” asked Tong Hu cautiously.

”Isn’t it clear enough?” The old man smiled lightly. ”Let their family members come pick them up. When a junior makes a mistake, the seniors should show up, right? It’s common courtesy.”

Tong Hu took a deep breath, then swiftly said, ”I understand, senior. Please wait a moment.”

With that, he hurriedly left the Jade River Pavilion.

Everyone began to speculate as they exchanged looks. However, they all refrained from communicating via transmission.

There were three Golden Core cultivators in the Grand Qian Empire whose cultivation level overshadowed everyone else. In front of those three, all other Golden Core Realm cultivators were considered ordinary, and they had to call themselves juniors in front of them.

And it was precisely because of the presence of those three Golden Core Realm cultivators that the Grand Qian Empire stood out among the fifth-tier empires and made the Azure Cloud Empire set the trade conference to be in the Grand Qian Empire.

It seemed as though they would be able to see those three powerful Golden Core Realm experts today.

Suddenly, the crowd noticed that the old man was speaking with Fang Chen; however, try as they might, they couldn’t hear their conversation at all. It was as if there was an invisible barrier that blocked the sound from traveling to them. They couldn’t even see their lips clearly.

Tong Baizhou’s eyes turned serious. ”This senior seems to have an unusual attitude toward that Fang Family disciple!”

Jue Wudi furrowed his brow slightly, trying to discern the content of their conversation by focusing his gaze on their mouths. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see clearly.

The three imprisoned Golden Core Realm cultivators were also confused about what they were seeing.

Everyone was very curious about what the two were talking about.

The old man chuckled lightly and said, ”Junior, I see that you have an extraordinary talent in soul cultivation. Your divine soul can already leave your body even when you’re at the Qi Refining Realm. Your immortal veins are also extremely solid. Is your teacher from a first-tier empire?”

Fang Chen respectfully replied, ”My teacher indeed comes from a first-tier empire.”

”It seems that someone else got to you first. It’s a pity. If not, I would have liked to take you as my disciple.” The old man sighed. Pausing for a moment, he continued, ”Why didn’t you follow your teacher to the first-tier empire to cultivate? Why did you choose to remain in this fifth-tier empire instead? The spiritual energy here is sparse, and the resources for cultivation are scarce, which is detrimental to your cultivation.”

”Senior, I still have some worldly affairs to attend to,” said Fang Chen. ”I promised my teacher that I would look for him after entering the Foundation Building Realm.”

”I see.” The old man nodded gently. He handed a token to Fang Chen. ”Keep this Greenwood Token well. If you are destined, you can use this token to visit the Greenwood Sect and find me in the future. My Greenwood Sect has a good relationship with sword cultivators like yourself. Injured sword cultivators would often look for me to heal them, or even ask me for some medicine.”

Fang Chen was initially puzzled as to why the old man would give him such a token. After all, there was a significant gap in their cultivation and there was no need for the old man to be particularly friendly with him. However, as he listened to the old man’s explanation, Fang Chen finally realized the reason behind the cordiality and his expression became slightly strange.

Sword cultivators... Do these two words hold such weight even in the eyes of powerful individuals in first-tier empires? Does he really believe that I come from a powerful sect of sword cultivators there?

”Also, the journey from here to the first-tier empire is long and arduous. While this token is not a spiritual treasure, it may help you resolve some troubles along the way. You could also I am repaying you for selling me this spiritual tree. After all... Its true value far exceeds the three thousand low-grade spirit stones I have given you.” The old man stroked his beard and smiled. His tone was humble, but it couldn’t hide the pride within it. It was evident that the token was worth much more than he made it out to be.

The crowd had seen the old man hand Fang Chen something, but they weren’t able to see what it was clearly. They couldn’t help but grow both envious and curious.

At that moment, Tong Hu returned to the Jade River Pavilion. A figure followed closely behind him, and upon entering, his gaze immediately fell on the old man.

The expressions of those in the surroundings changed slightly.

The old man spoke lightly. ”Which one of them are you here to pick up?”

The newcomer pointed to the middle-aged man from the Jue Family. ”This is my incompetent nephew who offended you, senior. I ask for your forgiveness.”

The crowd’s expressions perked up as they realized that this seemingly ordinary middle-aged man was actually a late-stage Golden Core Realm cultivator from the Jue Family, the one with the longest life and deepest cultivation among them.

The old man nodded, and the restraining force on the Jue Family’s Golden Core Realm immediately dissipated. He quickly walked over to his uncle and bowed deeply to the old man. ”I’ve offended you earlier. Please forgive me, senior.”

The old man remained silent.

”Jue Feian, kneel down and kowtow to the elder!” commanded the late-stage Golden Core Realm elder of the Jue Family in a low voice.

Without hesitation, Jue Feian knelt down and kowtowed to the old man in front of all the Qi Refining and Foundation Building Realm cultivators present.

The onlookers were perplexed by this scene. Even the Jue Family, one of the three pillars of the Grand Qian Empire, had to display such humility before a powerful figure.

The old man waved his hand dismissively. ”Take him away.”

The late-stage Golden Core Realm elder of the Jue Family wanted to say a few more words but he saw that the old man was getting impatient. He nodded quickly and swiftly left with Jue Feian.

A moment later, another figure walked in. The newcomer looked around twenty years old. He looked quite young, but his complexion was somewhat pale. Strands of white hair were mixed in with his black hair.

Fang Ao and his wife fell to their knees.

”I, Fang AO, from the third branch, pay respects to the Old Ancestor!”

”Is he our Fang Family’s late-stage Golden Core Realm expert?”

The expressions of Fang Jue and others were invigorated, and they too kneeled down to pay their respects. The Old Ancestor rarely left seclusion, so the younger generation had never seen him before. Today was the first time they saw his true appearance.

”Please rise.” The Golden Core Realm from the Fang Family lightly gestured, then walked up to the Elder and bowed respectfully. ”I, Fang Tingjian, pay respects to the Elder.”

Fang Tingjian?

Fang Chen was surprised. Was that the elder from the same lineage as his ancestor?

”Who are you here for?” asked the old man softly.

Fang Tingjian pointed at one of them. ”That’s Fang Wanli. He is my useless junior...”

Nodding slightly, the old man released the restriction around Fang Wanli.

The binding force on Fang Wanli immediately dissipated.

With a somewhat embarrassed smile, Fang Wanli hurried over to Fang Tingjian and repeatedly bowed to the Elder:

”I’ve offended you, senior. Please forgive me.”

The old man turned to Fang Chen and asked, “Are these the elders of your family?”

The crowd was slightly surprised. Why would he ask something like that?”