Immortal of the Nine Realms

Ji Liang and the blood paper figure, who had disappeared at the first sight of the woman, returned once again.

”What are you all standing here for? Let’s go,” said the blood paper figure.

The Nascent Soul Realm experts from the Innate Dao Sect and the Morning Star Dao Sect furrowed their brows and looked at the two.

”Why didn’t you take us with you earlier? You let Fellow Daoist Chen perish here for no reason.”

”That’s a Yin Demon wedding. They will not give up until they reach their goal,” the blood paper figure replied indifferently. ”One of us had to marry her, or she would’ve chased us forever.”

”Couldn’t you have just killed them? Those Yin Demons from before weren’t likely your match,” one of the Nascent Soul Realm experts asked.

”Kill them?” The blood paper figure sneered at the idea. ”No one knows the origins or backgrounds of these Yin Demons. If we act recklessly and attract bigger trouble, our journey will be anything but peaceful.”

The group looked conflicted. They agreed with the blood paper figure’s words, but they still couldn’t help but feel wary. They too could be abandoned at the first sign of danger.

For the next few days, the group focused on their journey, their conversations having toned down to a minimum.

Before long, they came across an abandoned temple, and the blood paper figure signaled everyone to rest inside the temple.

One of the Nascent Soul Realm experts from the Innate Dao Sect looked at Ji Liang and said, ”Dao Child, we aren’t tired. I think we should just skip resting and keep going.”

Ji Liang glanced at the blood paper figure.

The blood paper figure said, ”If we don’t stay here for the night, we won’t be able to enter the next place.”

The group was somewhat puzzled.

Fang Chen curiously asked, ”Why is that?”

The blood paper figure glanced at Fang Chen, a strange smile appearing on his face. ”We are not Yin Demons from the Floating Pagoda Realm. Next, we are heading to a city where countless Yin Demons gather. If you don’t want to encounter things like Yin Demons marrying again, we must wait for a certain gentleman here in this abandoned temple.”

”A gentleman?”

The Nascent Soul Realm experts from the Great Expansion Dao Sect and Morning Star Dao Sect wanted to ask more, but the blood paper figure ignored them and led Ji Liang into the temple. This abandoned temple had only two courtyards, one in the front and one in the back, with a hall in the middle. Inside, there was a broken statue sitting cross-legged.

Suddenly and in the middle of the night, wind chimes echoed outside the temple. Everyone instinctively looked toward the source of the sound, only to see a plainly dressed fortune teller slowly walking in.

Whether it was an illusion or not, the already dim candlelight inside the temple seemed to darken even further as the fortune teller entered.

”You’ve finally arrived,” the fortune teller said, his voice hoarse.

He looked at the blood paper figure.

Everyone was puzzled.

Those two know each other?

The blood paper figure smiled. ”No need for small talk. Do you have what I asked for?”

The fortune teller gave a faint smile and took several bamboo stalks from his sleeve, then tossed them to the blood paper figure.

The blood paper figure looked at the bamboo stalks, which were surrounded by Yin energy, and nodded in satisfaction. He then took out a pouch of coins and tossed it to the fortune teller.

However, the fortune teller did not accept the pouch. He let it fall to the ground and instead cast a gloomy gaze at Fang Chen and the others.

”It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a living soul full of Yang energy. I will take one with me,” the fortune teller said with a smile.

The several Nascent Soul Realm experts, except for Ji Liang, appeared somewhat uncertain.

The blood paper figure furrowed his brows. ”You’re breaking the rules now. Our deal was very clear from the start. Take your Yin Lifespan Coins and leave quickly.”

The fortune teller let out an eerie laugh. ”You’ve been away too long, the rules have already changed. Since you’re unwilling to give me a living soul....”

He grinned mischievously. ”Then I’ll take them all.”

A cacophony of noises suddenly emerged from outside the temple, as if countless demons and spirits were flickering around in the darkness.

Ji Liang’s expression immediately grew solemn, and he turned to look at the blood paper figure.

”Calm down,” said the blood paper figure.

He then walked toward the fortune teller.

”I may have been away for a long time, but you, a mere vendor, are trying to act like a bandit? Have you forgotten what I once was?” said the blood paper figure.

A thick layer of Yin energy surrounded him, and the surging aura nearly filled the entire temple.

The fortune teller’s energy seemed weak in comparison, yet the fortune teller strangely didn’t show any fear. Instead, an eerie smile remained on his face. ”Back then, when I encountered your Yin soldiers, I, a mere vendor, had to treat you carefully. But thousands of years have passed. Your Yin soldiers are either dead or crippled. In the Floating Pagoda Realm, the only ones you could intimidate are those little Yin Demons.

”I didn’t come alone. You must have seen Empress Ci along the way, right? She’s outside. If you dare act, your soul will scatter immediately.”

The blood paper figure’s footsteps faltered slightly. ”Empress Ci? The Yin Demon who was looking for someone to marry earlier?”

The fortune teller smiled and continued, ”Empress Ci heard that you were seeking the legendary Monarch Yan’s inheritance, and she was quite curious, so she wanted to meet you.”

Monarch Yan’s inheritance?

The Nascent Soul Realm experts from the Innate Dao Sect and Morning Star Dao Sect turned to Ji Liang, their eyes flashing with disbelief. Ji Liang’s expression shifted rapidly. He looked at the fortune teller and denied, ”What are you talking about? The Monarch Yan’s inheritance? We’ve never heard of such a thing.”

The blood paper figure didn’t show anything on its face. It said, ”Do you even know what you’re saying? Monarch Yan’s inheritance? How could I, a mere Yin soldier, have anything to do with Monarch Yan’s inheritance? Looks like Empress Ci has had a terrible misunderstanding.”

Just then, a sudden uproar of joyous noise echoed outside the temple. The wedding procession that had passed earlier slowly approached the temple entrance. The female paper spirit from the palanquin lifted the curtain, her stiff face breaking into a small smile as she walked toward them.

The fortune teller immediately lowered his head in reverence.

Fang Chen, ever watchful, had been observing everything around them. From the moment he first saw the wedding procession, something about it seemed off. Now, his suspicions were confirmed. He couldn’t determine the cultivation level of the female paper spirit, which only added to the mystery.

Since the other side revealed Ji Liang’s intentions the moment she arrived, that would mean that her appearance was far from a coincidence.

In the Underworld, I should be as powerful as an Immortal King. However, I can’t even see through her cultivation! Could she have cultivation comparable to a First Rate Sect Leader? Fang Chen thought, silently acknowledging his growing unease.

The blood paper figure didn’t retreat this time. Instead, he stood cautiously, watching the female paper spirit in bridal attire with clear wariness. The situation seemed to grow ever more complex and dangerous with each passing moment.

The Nascent Soul Realm cultivators of the Innate Dao Sect and the Morning Star Dao Sect stared outside the temple and could see that Daoist Chen was nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a strange figure that somewhat resembled him.

The blood paper figure cupped his hands. ”Greetings, Empress Ci”

Looking at the blood paper figure, light swirled on Empress Ci’s face. It was a while before she spoke, chuckling lightly. ”I thought the Yin soldiers were entirely wiped out over 6,000 years ago, but it seems there’s still one surviving... It can’t have been easy for you to return from the Lesser Underworld.”

Fang Chen’s eyes flickered with curiosity. The Lesser Underworld?

Before the blood paper figure could respond, Empress Ci shifted her gaze to Fang Chen. ”Day Walker Monarch of the Lesser Underworld… why are you hiding among them?”

The Day Walker Monarch?!

The reaction was immediate. Ji Liang and the blood paper figure exchanged looks of alarm, their eyes turning toward Fang Chen with a mix of confusion and suspicion.