Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Who are they planning on performing it on?” Fang Chen transmitted his voice.

Wu Tai’s tone carried a hint of envy. ”You don’t know? The ninth son of the Nine Generation King, Ji Liang, is now the Dao Child of the Central Continent Empire. The three Great Dao Sects hold him in the highest regard. In a few thousand years, he’s likely to ascend as a First Rate Sect Leader.”

Although the Forbidden Demon Island was renowned in the Immortal Demonic Sea, and several members of the Wu clan cultivated in the Imperial Heaven Kunlun Sword Sect, his lineage still lacked the deep foundation of the top-tier powers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have needed to serve the Great Expansion Dao Sect.

The three Great Dao Sects made Ji Liang their Dao Child... Fang Chen silently pondered.

Ji Liang had to have obtained some kind of Dao inheritance that was significant enough to command the attention of the Immortal Kings from the three Great Dao Sects.

He recalled Ji Liang’s conversation with the Blood Paper Figure back in the Ancient Demon Wasteland, where Ji Liang mentioned seeking the Yan Monarch lineage after becoming an Immortal Seedling

This soul-crossing ritual was likely connected to that matter.

”By the way, since you’re a disciple of the Dao Sect, how much do you know about this soul-crossing thing?” Wu Tai transmitted again.

”I don’t know about it. I was hoping you could tell me. You mean to say you have no idea what this ritual is either?”

”These Dao Sects of yours are known for their strange and peculiar methods. How old am I? Not knowing is perfectly normal.” Wu Tai transmitted with a smirk. ”I’ve already told you what you wanted to know. Now, hand over the eye technique so it won’t be lost forever when you die here.”

”Brother Wu, you’re certainly ambitious.” A faint smile appeared on Fang Chen’s face. ”Did you think I’d actually tell you?”

Wu Tai sighed. ”I knew you wouldn’t tell me. I just wanted to give it a try. No matter, soon I’ll show you what I’m capable of. Humiliating the Sword Leader of a major sect? That’s a story worth bragging about in my old age.”

Fang Chen ignored him. Instead, his divine soul exited his body and submerged directly into the Yin River.

He saw the Golden Core Realm Immortal Candidate’s body lying motionless, with just a faint trace of life remaining. Blood continued to seep from the wounds, standing out starkly against the surrounding gloom.

This was blood from a Golden Core Realm cultivator, the blood of an Immortal Seedling. It was brimming with pure Yang energy that visibly radiated even within the Yin River.

Suddenly, ripples coursed through the dark river, and within the blackness, a human face emerged before Fang Chen’s eyes. The face resembled that of a three-year-old child, incredibly innocent and delicate, yet adorned with a pair of small horns on its head.

It had long eyelashes, with one eye gleaming like blazing gold and the other like frosty silver. The creature gazed curiously at the Golden Core cultivator but hesitated to approach, cautiously probing instead.

Fang Chen was momentarily stunned. This is the Profound Mother Yin Beast?

As he floated closer, the creature suddenly shifted its attention away from the Golden Core cultivator and fixed its gaze on him. Its eyes sparkled with curiosity and a trace of confusion.

”It can see me...”

Fang Chen stopped moving. At this moment, the distance between them was less than ten feet, allowing him to take in the creature’s complete form.

It was a creature with the body of a dragon and the face of a human, no longer than three feet. Its scales, claws, and tail matched the dragons described in ancient texts.

After staring at Fang Chen for a moment, the creature suddenly flicked its tail and swam away.

On the riverbank, the old Daoist initially grew excited when he noticed the Yin River stirring with ripples, believing the Profound Mother Yin Beast was about to take the bait. Yet, after waiting for what felt like ages, nothing happened.

”Senior Xu, could those ripples mean the Profound Mother Yin Beast came by?” the burly middle-aged man asked curiously.

”Hmm, it likely came, but it didn’t take the bait. Perhaps the blood energy from the Golden Core Realm cultivator wasn’t strong enough,” the old Daoist replied. ”This Golden Core Immortal Seedling appears completely dead and can no longer serve as bait. Replace him with someone stronger. Use a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.”

With a flick of his wrist, the hook and chain reeled back, dragging the lifeless body of the Golden Core Realm cultivator onto the riverbank.

Seeing this, Xu Chenfeng and the others turned pale with fury and despair. A Golden Core Realm Immortal Seedling, someone who was destined for greatness, had been treated like mere fodder.

The lifeless body was pale, frozen with terror and unwillingness etched onto its face. A faint layer of frost covered the corpse, evidence that the Yin energy had frozen him to death.

”What you’re doing here.” Xu Chenfeng snarled through gritted teeth. ”If it were to get out, not even the Forbidden Demon Island or the Great Expansion Dao Sect could withstand the outrage it would provoke. Immortal Seedlings are precious. They emerge once every century! And yet you treat us like animals!”

”Xu Chenfeng,” Wu Tai sneered, ”even the Void Immortal Sword Sect’s Sword Leader is staying silent. What makes you think your words hold weight? When you embarked on this path, did your master never tell you that the road of cultivation is fraught with danger?”

He smirked. ”When you step into the world of cultivation, debts always come due. Don’t tell me your hands are clean of another cultivator’s blood.”

Xu Chenfeng’s expression shifted rapidly. Ever since he became an Immortal Seedling, his path had been smooth and full of promise. Never did he imagine that just as he ascended to the Middle Three Realms, he would encounter such a cruel fate.

Xu Chenfeng gritted his teeth in anger. ”It’s all my fault for not seeing through you earlier. The Forbidden Demon Island will face its karmic retribution, just you wait for your tribulations!”

Wu Tai merely chuckled, entirely unconcerned.

At that moment, the burly middle-aged man dragged a Nascent Soul Realm Immortal Seedling before the old Daoist. Despite the captive’s desperate pleas for mercy, he was impaled through the chest by the hooked chain and thrown into the Yin River.

Fang Chen observed the hooked chain carefully. It seemed to be inscribed with an array formation. Clearly, the old Daoist intended to use it to capture the Profound Mother Yin Beast.

Not long after, ripples once again broke across the Yin River. This time, they were not caused by the flow of water but by the churning of Yin energy.

The old Daoist licked his lips, his eyes locked onto the river with rapt focus. ”It’s here, it’s here!”

Half an hour passed, yet there was no further movement. The old Daoist’s eyes flickered with disappointment.

”Senior Xu, is the Profound Mother Yin Beast truly this cunning?” The burly man frowned. ”The bait we brought is limited. If we exhaust it all and still fail to catch the beast, then the hoard of mid-grade spirit stones our Forbidden Demon Island has accumulated over the years will have been wasted...”

”What’s there to fear?” the old Daoist snapped. ”Do you think the three Great Dao Sects will let you suffer losses? If the Profound Mother Yin Beast is captured, the benefits that follow will be so vast you can’t even imagine them. Without some sacrifices upfront, how could you expect to reap unearned rewards?”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Fang Chen, his eyes cold and calculating. ”This time, let’s use two baits. Sword Leader Fang, you’ll serve as one of them.”

”Senior Xu, no need to rush,” Wu Tai interjected with a smirk. ”I’ve heard that there’s quite a bit of bad blood between you and Sword Leader Fang. Why not use some of Forbidden Demon Island’s methods to properly ’entertain’ him before his death? It might help ease the frustration in your heart.”

Hearing this, the old Daoist’s lips curled into a sinister grin as he turned to Fang Chen. The air seemed to grow heavier with malice.

”He enjoys forcing people to drink the filth of mortals. Pity there are no mortals here, but having him drink the filth of Immortal Seedlings will do just fine.”

The old Daoist nodded lightly in agreement.

Wu Tai’s eyes lit up. ”That’s an excellent idea. To think, the mighty Sword Leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, drinking our filth... Just imagining it is exhilarating.”

Turning to Fang Chen, he transmitted his voice privately. ”My previous offer still stands. What do you say?”

The old Daoist chuckled darkly. ”Sword Leader Fang, if you kneel and knock your head a few times, perhaps this old man will spare you from humiliation and grant you a quick death.”

Kneel?

The suggestion sent a ripple of disbelief through Xu Chenfeng and the others. Though they had never set foot in the Central Continent, the Void Immortal Sword Sect’s reputation preceded it. Even its most junior sword cultivators carried an unparalleled arrogance, viewing most Immortal Seedlings as inconsequential. Making their Sword Leader kneel and beg... was an unthinkable notion.

Fang Chen glanced at Wu Tai, then at the old Daoist, his expression inscrutable.

Just as he was about to activate the Five Elements Armored Talisman concealed in his palm, a sudden surge erupted in the Yin River.

The hooked chain sank abruptly, pulled with violent force!