Immortal of the Nine Realms

The formation was more mysterious than any formation Fang Chen had ever seen, surpassing even the Eight Trigrams Formation used by Yu Donglai. However, this formation seemed to have weathered with the ages; it had exhausted its spiritual energy in many parts, turning its core into inert matter with no functional use. This lack of balance caused it to leak spiritual energy constantly.

In some time, this formation would self-destruct, which explained why those few Nascent Soul cultivators were choosing to wait.

I’ll go inside and see what’s really in there. Fang Chen thought

His divine soul immediately flew toward the Immortal Tomb. He wanted to determine whether the tomb was real or a deception fabricated by Spirit Blood Sect cultivators.

Just as his divine soul arrived at the entrance, an invisible long blade cleaved through the air toward Fang Chen’s divine soul. Fang Chen reacted swiftly, drifting several yards backward just in time to evade the blade’s assault.

Fang Chen’s gaze hardened. ”This is….”

The blade that had shot out was a manifestation of spiritual energy.

Fang Chen now could almost confirm that the Immortal Tomb was authentic. If the Spirit Blood Sect cultivators wanted to harm these cultivators, there was no need to set up such measures. The fact that this Immortal Tomb could even block divine souls suggested that it might truly entomb a Profound Immortal or even an Immortal King!

At this moment, the sluggish spiritual blade locked onto Fang Chen once again, slashing toward him until he retreated beyond the formation’s perimeter before stopping.

Throughout this exchange, none of the cultivators present, including the four Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, witnessed this spiritual-level skirmish.

Fang Chen no longer attempted to enter the Immortal Tomb. His divine soul was his trump card and his most important asset. Unless necessary, he wouldn’t risk it.

As his divine soul returned to his body, he noticed the Chai Family ancestor looking at him with displeasure.

”Dongfang Haojie, why are you so impolite? Elder Chi just asked you a question,” the young Chai Family cultivator at the tenth level of the Qi Refining Realm frowned and reprimanded.

”He asked me a question? What question?” Fang Chen responded casually.

Chi Chong smiled faintly. ”It seems, young friend, that this is your first time encountering such a scene. You were naturally distracted. They mentioned that your surname is Dongfang. Do you happen to know Dongfang Su?”

Fang Chen shook his head lightly. ”Dongfang Su? I don’t know him.”

The Chai Family ancestor curiously looked at Chi Chong. ”Daoist Chi, who is this Dongfang Su to you?”

”Who is he? You could say he’s an enemy. He stole a precious spiritual herb from my cave dwelling not too long ago.” Chi Chong looked at Fang Chen with a smile that was not quite a smile. ”This person is a disgrace to the cultivation world, a scoundrel who revels in thievery. I imagine he wouldn’t miss such an event, so perhaps we might encounter him here.”

The gazes of everyone present turned somewhat strange as they looked at Fang Chen.

Chai Shun squeezed out a smile. ”Elder Chi, Brother Dongfang and that Dongfang Su certainly have no relation. There are countless people with the same surname in the world.”

Chi Chong laughed. ”Of course. Dongfang Su is already at the Foundation Building Realm. I see our young friend here is only at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm, so their cultivation levels are naturally quite different.”

With that, he continued to chat with the Chai Family ancestor about the Immortal Tomb.

”Friend Chai, there is a high chance that the owner of this Immortal Tomb is at least a Profound Immortal.” Chi Chong’s face revealed a touch of admiration. ”Such beings have transcended the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. Even the burial items inside could be treasures in our eyes.”

”Transcended Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations?” The Chai Family ancestor’s face showed a hint of embarrassment as he whispered. ”Friend Chi, I’m not sure about the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations specifically....”

Hearing that, the young members of the Chai Family looked curious too. They had heard of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations but didn’t know what it truly entailed.

Chi Chong smiled and explained, ”I accidentally stumbled upon an ancient text that recorded some information about the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. The Three Calamities occur respectively during the Golden Core Realm, Nascent Soul Realm, and Fusion Realm.

”After reaching the Dao Unity Realm, a cultivator must face the Nine Tribulations. If one can endure the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, they become a true celestial being, also known as a transcendent at the Tribulation Realm, or a Profound Immortal.

”In this realm, they face heavenly tribulations. If they can pass these, they achieve true freedom in this world and beyond.”

Captivating the attention of the Chai Family ancestor and his disciples, Chi Chong continued, ”Friend Chai, now you understand how difficult this path to immortality is, right? Those who can reach the end are beings we can hardly imagine.”

”Friend Chi, could you tell us what these three Calamities are exactly?” the Chai Family ancestor hurriedly requested.

This was rare information that he couldn’t acquire even if he spent a fortune. If he could learn in detail about the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, this would be a fruitful trip no matter the outcome.

”I’m afraid that’s beyond my knowledge. I’ve only scratched the surface. To truly understand, I fear I would have to wait until I, by some stroke of luck, advance to the Golden Core Realm someday,” Chi Chong replied with a wry smile.

The crowd nodded subconsciously, realizing this knowledge was far beyond their reach without firsthand experience.

Fang Chen sighed softly. After the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, there’s also the Heavenly Tribulation...

He inwardly asked Mirror of the Universe for information on the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. Once he obtained the subsequent cultivation techniques, his advancement to the Golden Core Realm wouldn’t be far off; it might happen soon.

”My friend, each of the three Calamities is different. Some might just stumble and survive, thus passing the first Calamity, while others might be crushed to pieces during the first Calamity. You’ll only know when you face them yourself. In any case, it’s best to stay low-key and hope for a safe passage when the time comes,” Chi Chong explained.

”And what about the Nine Tribulations?”

”The Nine Tribulations…. Well... as the name suggests, there are nine challenges, but these challenges aren’t assigned by heaven; they stem from your own circumstances.

”The stronger your cultivation and the higher your talent, the more formidable these tribulations will be. They could be thunder tribulations, fire tribulations, or even trials of relationships and the material… there’s no fixed pattern,” Chi Chong elaborated.

”And what about the tribulations during the Tribulation Realm?”

”Those are Heavenly Tribulations bestowed by heaven itself, testing whether you’re worthy of entering the immortal realm. Think of them as lightning tribulations, but much stronger. Generally, you’ll need external assistance to make it through,” Chi Chong concluded.

At that moment, a sudden uproar erupted ahead. The Chai Family ancestor and others turned their heads, seeing several cultivators speaking with veiled anger, seemingly throwing questions at each other.

”Seniors, the emergence of the Immortal Tomb is a chance bestowed upon the cultivation world. Why limit it to only two hundred people?”

”Yeah, at least eight thousand have come. We should all have a chance to enter the Immortal Tomb. As for the opportunities, let luck decide!”

”Is there a dispute?”

Fang Chen’s divine soul immediately projected outward, silently observing everything below. This was the moment he had been waiting for; whenever there was discord, there were always a few troublemakers behind it, likely from the Spirit Blood Sect.

The old crone rose into the air, her murky eyes sweeping slowly over the cultivators. ”You should be grateful when I give you a chance, not push for more.”

She continued, ”Opportunities are meant for those with fate, not for just anyone. Only two hundred people under the Foundation Building Realm can enter. If anyone disagrees, speak up now.”

The crowd fell silent instantly. They could complain, but confronting a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator face-to-face was beyond their courage.

Someone cautiously asked, ”How will the two hundred be selected?”

”I will give you a fair chance. Let’s settle it through a contest,” the old crone said lightly.

The Qi Refining Realm cultivators present all looked serious. They hadn’t even entered the Immortal Tomb yet, and now they had to fight?