Immortal of the Nine Realms

Xu Qingsong suddenly asked, ”Your Highness, if the Blessing of Calamity truly exists, besides burning a measure of one’s essence blood, what other price must be paid to use this technique?”

The other two exchanged glances and simultaneously looked toward the Ninth Prince. If there were no additional costs and it only required burning a small amount of essence blood, why would he summon the three of them here?

”There are, of course, some additional costs. The user’s own calamities will also be brought forward,” the Ninth Prince said with a faint smile.

Fang Chen thought deeply about this. Even the technique’s users will have their Calamities expedited?

”It would be better if I perform the technique. I’ve already passed my third Calamity, so I shouldn’t need to bear this cost,” said the cultivator from the Morning Star Sect, smiling as he clasped his hands in respect.

Unexpectedly, the Ninth Prince gently shook his head. ”If you perform the technique, it will bring forward the Nine Tribulations. Even though you’re in the Dao Union Realm, you can’t guarantee that you’ll survive them unscathed. If you were still in the Fusion Realm, you would undoubtedly die.”

The cultivator was immediately taken aback. The one from the Innate Dao Sect, who had initially intended to speak up, promptly closed his mouth upon hearing this.

Although the technique was wondrous, they weren’t willing to stake their lives for it.

Glancing at each other, the two reached a decision. They pushed Xu Qingseng to the forefront. ”It seems that only Daoist Xu can perform the technique. His third Calamity has yet to come, and he can use this technique to bring it forward.”

Xu Qingsong did not oppose this as a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

The Ninth Prince smiled. ”Xu Qingsong, you should give it some thought. This technique comes at a bitter cost, but if used at the correct time, the price can be negligible. It may even… turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”

”There is nothing to consider. I accept,” Xu Qingsong said in a deep voice.

”Very well.”

The Ninth Prince nodded lightly and glanced at Qi Jian and the others.

They tactfully retreated.

With that, only the Ninth Prince, Xu Qingsong, the blood paper figure, and Fang Chen remained at the scene.

”The Blessing of Calamity Technique is actually quite simple. You need the opponent’s hair as a medium, combined with the incantations of the technique together with your karma,” explained the Ninth Prince with a smile.

”Karma…? This technique is driven by karma?” Xu Qingsong’s eyes flashed with shock. To confirm, he asked again in a low voice, ”Does this technique truly touch upon karma?”

”You still doubt it? Is it so difficult to affect karma? Long ago, many Dao techniques could sever karmic ties,” the blood paper figure said with a sinister smile.

Xu Qingsong glanced at him, a flicker of fear passing through his eyes. This mysterious figure likely came from the legendary underworld as a yin soldier. The sects had numerous rumors about him, though no one knew which one was true.

Fang Chen also looked at the blood paper figure. Could the Dao technique that severs karma be the Skin Peeling Technique? He suspected that the Blessing of Calamity originated from the Yin Lunar Divine Beast and it might belong to the same as the Skin Peeling Technique.

However… from what the Ninth Prince implied, it seemed that the Blessing of Calamity was of a lower grade than the Skin Peeling Technique.

There might be a restraining relationship between the two techniques.

The Ninth Prince smiled. ”Come, I’ll pass the technique to you. After we enter the Ancient Immortal Road, I will give you his hair as the medium. After that, it will be up to you.”

Now that it had reached this point, Xu Qingsong knew it wasn’t appropriate to ask further questions. He instinctively stepped forward and listened carefully. Fang Chen also moved closer, standing alongside Xu Qingsong to listen to the Ninth Prince as he transmitted the technique.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Xu Qingsong respectfully saluted and then turned to leave. The Ninth Prince, however, gazed at the blood paper figure and said with a faint smile, ”You’ve always wanted to see the Ancient Immortal Road. This time, I’ll take you in, but you must promise me that once I become an Immortal Seedling, you’ll take me to find the inheritance of the Yan Monarch.”

After speaking, the Ninth Prince sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. ”If it’s really impossible to become an immortal, then becoming a ghost god is fine as well. At the very least… it surpasses the so-called First Rate Sect Leader by a great margin.”

Fang Chen thought he had overheard something incredible once again. ”The Yan Monarch’s inheritance?”

The Ninth Prince had been interested in Dao techniques for many years. Because he had the manor behind him, numerous experts were always on the lookout for rare techniques and ancient texts for him. His understanding of the Dao far exceeded Fang Chen’s.

Fang Chen couldn’t help but grow curious about the Dao inheritance of the Langya Clan. It had to hold a deeper secret if the Ninth Prince had been secretly scheming to get his hands on it.

The blood paper figure showed a sinister grin. ”Rest assured, my lord. If you become an Immortal Seedling, you’ll be able to visit that place yourself. With my help, it won’t be difficult to obtain the Yan Monarch’s legacy,”

Fang Chen lingered for a while longer. It wasn’t until the Ninth Prince ordered the Immortal Boat to fly toward the Ancient Immortal Road that Fang Chen’s divine soul returned to his body.

He opened his eyes and saw that only Langya Wenqiu remained by his side. Around him, many people were secretly observing him.

”Senior Brother Fang, are you ready? Senior Brother Cheng and the others have already gone inside. Let’s head in as well,” Langya Wenqiu said excitedly.

”You don’t seem scared?” Fang Chen smiled. ”I haven’t walked the Ancient Immortal Road myself, but I’ve heard from many that it’s filled with dangers. Some of those dangers are so severe that even cultivators of the Upper Three Realms may not be able to handle them.”

”Dangers bring opportunities,” Langya Wenqiu said, faintly smiling. ”If there were no dangers at all, that would be truly terrifying. Don’t worry, Senior Brother Fang. If things get too risky, I’ll know when to retreat and won’t push forward recklessly.”

Fang Chen nodded gently. ”As long as you understand that.”

Just as the two were about to set off into the rocky depths, an Immortal Boat broke through the sky, drawing the attention of many nearby cultivators. When the Ninth Prince stepped off the ship, several cultivators gasped in surprise. Those who had some connection with the Ninth Prince’s Manor quickly stepped forward to greet him respectfully.

”Senior Brother Fang, that seems to be the Ninth Prince,” Langya Wenqiu transmitted, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes.

Though she had never seen the Ninth Prince before, she had heard fellow disciples from the Void Immortal Sword Sect talk about him. Since this person had just stepped off Gai Hong’s Immortal Boat, she recognized him as the one who had once nearly caused great losses to her clan.

”Brother, who is that?”

”That’s the Ninth Prince of the Ninth Prince’s Manor. Even if you haven’t seen him before, surely you’ve heard of him? You don’t recognize the flag on the ship?”

”The Ninth Prince? Is he here for the Ancient Immortal Road as well?”

”Of course. The prince must walk the Ancient Immortal Road at least once. If he succeeds, he’ll have the qualification to compete for the throne in the future.”

As the crowd whispered among themselves, four figures swiftly descended from the sky—three men and one woman. The aura emanating from them signified that they were all at the peak of the Golden Core stage. When the Ninth Prince saw them, he immediately greeted them with a warm smile, speaking without any airs of superiority.

”Let’s go,” Fang Chen said with a light smile.

But at that moment, the Ninth Prince’s gaze suddenly fell on Fang Chen. His face lit up with enthusiasm as he called out, ”Oh, Daoist Fang! You are here as well?”

The crowd was surprised to see him greet Fang Chen. However, after thinking about it briefly, they found it only natural. After all, Fang Chen’s previous displays of power had far surpassed the level of an Immortal Seedling. It wasn’t surprising that the Ninth Prince would take the initiative to speak with him.

Langya Wenqiu seemed to turn nervous. ”Senior Brother Fang, they’re coming toward us.”

Fang Chen smiled faintly, standing calmly as he waited. ”Are they?”

The Ninth Prince approached Fang Chen with the three men and a woman. The four individuals discreetly sized him up. Deep within their eyes, there was a trace of apprehension.