Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 401: Qingsong’s Message

Fang Yun felt a deep sense of relief. She had prepared herself for Fang Chen’s mockery and sarcasm, but his unexpected attitude caught her off guard. The more he showed kindness, the more ashamed she felt.

The significance of the Snake Spirit Fruit was immense. She knew that it was a priceless peak-grade, yellow-rank spiritual material worth at least a thousand low-grade spirit stones. Even her father would find it challenging to casually fork out such a valuable item.

Meanwhile, Fang Ao looked pleased. In his eyes, Fang Chen had truly become a worthy descendant of the third branch.

Fang Ao and Jing Jing both bowed respectfully and said, ”Fang Chen, we came here to express our gratitude. Not only were Yun’er’s injuries healed because of you, but Fang Jue also gained a tremendous opportunity thanks to you.”

Fang Jue and Fang Yun quickly expressed their thanks with a bow.

Seeing their sincerity, Fang Chen smiled. ”Elder Fang Ao, there’s no need to be so polite. Since I reside in your third branch, I’ll naturally do what I can when needed.”

Pausing for a moment, Fang Chen continued, ”I’ve been in seclusion for quite some time. I plan to go out for a walk. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Fang Jue’s eyes lit up. ”Fang Chen, are you planning to visit the Immortal Origin District?”

Fang Ao and Jing Jing used to dislike Fang Jue’s obsession with the Immortal Origin District. However, it was different now. If Fang Chen went to the Immortal Origin District, they hoped Fang Jue could accompany him. They were eager for Fang Jue and Fang Chen to rub shoulders more often.

Fang Chen shook his head and replied with a smile, ”I’ve had enough fun there last time, so I probably won’t go.”

Fang Jue felt a bit disappointed.

”C-Can I come with you?” asked Jiang Tianai, her gaze hopeful.

”It’s too chaotic in the imperial capital lately.” Fang Chen gently shook his head. ”To avoid any trouble from the Jue Family, you’d better stay in the Fang Clan. With the two ancestors here, even if the Jue Family were to get any bolder, they wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.”

Jiang Tianai felt a bit disappointed, but she understood that Fang Chen was looking out for her.

”Rest assured, she will be safe here in the third branch. If anything were to happen, it would happen to me first,” said Fang Ao firmly.

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”Thank you.”

Fang Chen then walked toward the courtyard.

Li Cang had been about to follow him out when he felt resistance as he took a step forward. Li Cang smiled bitterly, knowing that Fang Chen didn’t want him to follow.

Fang Yun looked worried. ”Dad, Fang Chen is going to have a contest with Jue Wudi in a few days. This contest isn’t fair to Fang Chen. Is there anything we can do to stop it?”

Fang Jue’s expression became serious too.

Fang Ao sighed softly. ”We can’t stop it. Fang Chen is going out today to blow off steam. You don’t need to worry, he has his methods. Even if he loses, his life shouldn’t be in danger. At least, the two ancestors won’t just watch him die.”

He knew Fang Chen’s background, and now, among the Fang Family, only Fang Chen’s bloodline and Ancestor Fang Tingjian were most closely related. No matter what, Ancestor Fang Tingjian wouldn’t stand by and watch Fang Chen die.

”But if Fang Chen loses, he will have to leave Grand Qian...” Fang Yun murmured.

Fang Ao noticed Jiang Tianai lowering her head, seeming quite guilty, so he stopped Fang Yun from speaking further. ”Alright, let’s all go back for now. Fortune or misfortune, we cannot avoid it.”

As they were leaving, Jing Jing gave Chang Feilan a brief reminder before giving Jiang Tianai some spirit stones and elixirs.

Chang Feilan felt quite envious inside. ”Miss Tianai, these are Spirit Essence Pills. They will greatly benefit your cultivation. These five pills are quite valuable.”

Jiang Tianai immediately tightened her grip on the vial she was holding. ”Then I’ll keep them for Young Master.”

Li Cang chuckled. ”Young Master doesn’t lack these. That’s precisely why the madam gave them to you. Miss Tianai, keep them for your own use.”

Jiang Tianai shook her head lightly. ”I still want to give them to Young Master.”

Chang Feilan and Li Can could only smile helplessly at that.

***

Outside the city, in the Eighteen Districts. Profound Void Temple.

Faint chanting of scriptures could be heard from the temple, occasionally interrupted by the arrival of visitors with incense. Judging by their attire, these visitors were from poor families outside the city. Those truly noble and dignified would consider the Profound Void Temple ominous and would not easily set foot inside.

Wu Ruochou was wearing a simple and elegant dress. She watered the flowers and occasionally guided the visitors.

Fang Chen walked closer and asked with a smile, ”Senior Sister Wu, has Xia Ji come out of seclusion?”

Wu Ruochou was slightly surprised. ”Young Master Fang?”

Wu Ruochou was caught by surprise because she hadn’t been able to sense Fang Chen at all until he was very close to her.

Suppressing her astonishment, she smiled and nodded lightly. ”Junior Brother has come out of seclusion. He’s brewing soup right now.”

”I’ll go see him,” said Fang Chen, nodding and walking toward the temple.

Wu Ruochou suddenly spoke up. “Young Master Fang, be careful when you face Jue Wudi in a few days. If he dies, the Jue Family won’t stand idly by.”

Fang Chen smiled and nodded before disappearing from her view.

Wu Ruochou shook her head lightly, a faint hint of irony flashing in her eyes. ”Everyone says Jue Wudi has a hundred percent chance of winning, but little do they know that Young Master Fang is a sword cultivator who attacks without mercy. He even defeated the Lin Family head with a single stroke of his sword.”

Although she rarely left the mountain, she occasionally heard about the gambling wager between Jue Wudi and Fang Chen from the visitors. It was evident that this matter had spread widely, and in the eyes of the public, Fang Chen’s chances of winning were almost zero.

Only Wu Ruochou knew that Fang Chen could cut through Foundation Building Realm cultivators effortlessly like he was cutting vegetables.

In a small wooden house inside the temple, the scent of incense wafted out. Xia Ji, who hadn’t been seen for two months, was staring at the fire without moving.

”Fang Da, there’s news from Qingsong Empire, and the situation seems a bit off,” said Xia Ji, still focused on the fire.

Fang Chen was slightly surprised. ”What happened?”

”The number one Marshall has been overthrown, and now the Wolf Army has been fully incorporated under the control of the Qingsong Empire’s imperial family,” Xia Ji explained, casting a glance at Fang Chen.

”Once the trade conference is over, we need to go back and take a look.”

”You stay here and focus on your cultivation. I’ll go back and check things out,” Fang Chen replied with a smile. ”But before that, I need to resolve the situation in the capital.”

”Wait! The soup is done!”

Xia Ji waved his sleeve to extinguish the fire. After that, he started to serve the soup. He poured a bowl for Fang Chen and another for himself. He hastily left for a few moments before returning again.

”Tell me about the situation in the capital while we drink the soup,” said Xia Ji with a smile.

”This tastes good. Looks like you’ve picked up quite the skill,” Fang Chen complimented. Taking another sip, he began, ”The situation in the capital is dire. The Spirit Blood Sect is very ambitious this time. The entire Hidden Cloud Region is within their plans.”

”The entire Hidden Cloud Region!?” Xia Ji was shocked, and seriousness appeared on his face. ”What are you planning to do?”

”Our only advantage is that they are in the light, while we are in the dark. As long as we cut them off here, we can delay them for some time,” explained Fang Chen.

From the beginning, he knew that all he could do was delay the situation. Even if the Spirit Blood Sect’s plan failed this time, they would surely start preparing for a second attempt. Trying to eradicate them completely would be extremely difficult.