Immortal of the Nine Realms

On the mountain path leading to the Seven Profound Sect, some woodcutters passed by and saw a group of martial artists standing together, chatting casually. They had long since become accustomed to such sights, given that the Seven Profound Sect was a prestigious and well-known sect in the southern region.

By now, Fang Chen had dispelled the sinister energy plaguing Zhong Ying’s grandson. With the dark energy gone, the child’s health visibly improved at a remarkable pace.

The Azure Point Sword Sect members were thoroughly shocked by Fang Chen’s abilities. It was widely known that their sect leader’s grandson had been suffering from a severe illness since childhood, and despite seeking out many famous doctors, no cure had been found. Yet now, after Fang Chen merely gave him a gentle pat, the illness was gone. Wasn’t this exactly what was said to be the work of an immortal?

Seeing the child recover, Zhong Ying’s smile grew wider. She began chatting with Fang Chen about the changes in the southern region over the past few decades.

The members of Azure Point Sword Sect were excited. This was a once in a hundred years opportunity. They would be able to boast about it even in their old age.

However, He Hai and his men were fidgeting uneasily, heads lowered, standing to the side in silence. They barely heard the conversation between the two, as their minds were consumed by fear and confusion.

Zhong Ying glanced at He Hai and said, ”Lord He, weren’t you eager to hear about Duke Fang’s achievements? Weren’t you interested in comparing yourself to him?”

Zhong Ying’s gaze was calm as she looked at He Hai. ”Now that he’s here, why not ask him yourself?”

He Hai forced a strained smile. ”I was kidding earlier. You shouldn’t take my words seriously….”

He kept glancing at Fang Chen.

Seeing that Fang Chen appeared calm and composed, his heart eased slightly. However, his mind kept churning with nervous thoughts.

Is this truly Divine General Fang?

The members of the Azure Point Sword Sect exchanged glances, their eyes still filled with lingering anger. The middle-aged couple seemed to want to say something but stopped themselves. If it hadn’t been for the intervention of Duke Fang, their son would have died right here on the mountain path.

Suddenly, He Hai seemed to recall something, and the panic in his heart eased a little. He cleared his throat and cupped his hands toward Fang Chen. ”Duke Fang, since you’ve returned, have you visited the capital? Things have changed in Grand Xia. The martial arts world is no longer what it used to be.

”Now, it’s common to see warriors in the Human and Earth Profound Stage, and even many in the Heaven Profound Stage. I’ve fought a cultivator before and found that the Heaven Profound Stage seems to be on par with a cultivator’s power.”

Zhong Ying and the others were taken aback.

He Hai has fought a cultivator before? No wonder he was so arrogant….

He Hai bowed respectfully, his eyes flickering with calculation. ”Duke Fang, as a senior, I wonder if you might offer some guidance to a junior like me?”

The martial artists of the Green Mountain Fleet admired their leader’s courage and were also curious. If this truly was Duke Fang, how much more powerful was he when compared with their leader?

Fang Chen smiled and shook his head. ”Go down the mountain.”

”Do you not wish to offer some guidance to a junior, Duke Fang? Or... is it that you are afraid?” said He Hai.

He had a respectful expression, but there was a hint of provocation in his tone.

Zhong Ying and the others were shocked.

Is he looking to die?

Fang Chen remained silent, not responding to He Hai’s taunts.

He Hai waited for a long moment but received no reply. He seemed to have come to a conclusion in his mind and let out a cold laugh. ”Fine, let’s go.”

He turned and began walking down the mountain.

However, his subordinates, who had been about to follow, suddenly froze in place, their faces filled with terror.

They had noticed that He Hai was sweating profusely from his neck. Additionally, it wasn’t ordinary sweat—the sweat was blood-red! He was sweating blood!

He Hai didn’t seem to notice anything strange at first. He turned and glanced at his subordinates.

”Why aren’t you moving? Duke Fang is unwilling to offer guidance, so what are we staying here for?”

A Green Mountain Fleet martial artist asked, ”Leader, don’t you feel unwell?”

He Hai was momentarily confused. ”Unwell?”

It was only then that He Hai felt he was strangely sticky. He wiped his hand across his neck, only to find it covered in blood.

Zhong Ying and the others exchanged glances. They suddenly remembered what He Hai had said earlier: he had shed blood and sweat to reach where he was today.

A look of terror flashed in He Hai’s eyes. He turned and began running down the mountain. The more he ran, the more blood his skin profused. He painted a red trail behind on the ground as he ran.

He had barely run ten paces when he suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thud. Moments ago, he had been a powerful warrior at the third stage of the Heaven Profound Realm. Now, he had turned into a skeletal, emaciated figure.

He Hai wasn’t dead yet. He struggled to turn over and raised his arm toward Fang Chen, seemingly trying to grasp something. His voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with terror and despair. ”Fang... Duke Fang... spare me...”

Before he could finish his words, he gasped for air one last time. His arm remained outstretched in the air as his life came to an end.

The members of both the Azure Point Sword Sect and the Green Mountain Fleet were horrified by the scene before them.

A martial king... had just died like that?

”Sect Leader Zhong, farewell.”

Fang Chen gave Zhong Ying a respectful salute before turning and walking up the mountain.

Zhong Ying quickly returned the gesture, her expression strange as she looked at Fang Chen’s retreating figure and then at He Hai’s lifeless body.

”Mother, should we still go up the mountain?” asked the middle-aged couple cautiously.

”Let’s go back. To meet Duke Fang today is already a blessing. Don’t think too much about it.” Zhong Ying sighed softly before smiling as she picked up the child. ”Jing’er, how do you feel now?”

”Grandmother, I feel full of strength now.”

”That’s good, that’s good.”

Zhong Ying carried the child down the mountain, and the Azure Point Sword Sect disciples hurried to follow.

The remaining martial artists exchanged glances, then chose to ignore He Hai’s corpse. They feared his corpse harbored something that might latch onto them. They didn’t want to meet such a bizarre end. They didn’t dare approach to collect the body, let alone handle it.

At the Seven Profound Sect, an elderly man with long white hair sat on a stone platform. Seven flying swords hovered around him, swirling and darting in the air as though they were fish swimming around him, guided by an invisible force.

The old man’s aura was far stronger than someone like He Hai. In terms of martial arts, he had reached the peak—the fourth stage of the Heaven Profound Stage, the Imperial Qi. A few breaths later, the seven flying knives suddenly shot forward, transforming into a streak of white light. They struck a mountain several miles away, shattering it completely. This mountain was where the Seven Profound Sect disciples practiced their martial arts.

”You, did you see clearly?”

The flying swords returned to the old man’s hands, who slowly descended onto his knees. He swept his gaze over the hundred or so disciples below and spoke with a cold, detached tone.

These disciples were the core of the Seven Profound Sect, the foundation for the future of the sect.

A middle-aged man was standing at the front. He smiled wryly and said, ”Father, your Seven Profound Blade has reached the level of the Dao. Even if we practice for another hundred years, we could never compare to you.”

The white-haired old man’s face twisted with anger. He scolded, ”None of you can compare? I feel my lifespan is coming to an end. If none of you little brats can inherit my legacy, then Seven Profound Sect might as well disband. I won’t let you embarrass me.”

The middle-aged man was visibly shocked. ”Father, you have a lifespan greater than the southern mountains and wealth like the eastern seas. How could your life be nearing its end so soon?”

The white-haired elder looked at him for a while, then sighed lightly. ”The martial arts of Grand Xia in the past were far inferior to what they are now. After the techniques from the Frost Empire spread, many people practiced them incorrectly, leaving them with many hidden afflictions.

”While their realms have caught up, their lifespans have shortened greatly. I am no exception. But you all, this generation, will be different. The older generation has already pinpointed the hidden dangers for you. You won’t experience the same issues.”

The disciples’ faces grew serious. They had indeed heard of this issue. Over the past few years, many martial experts had suddenly died in unusual circumstances.

Upon reflection, it seemed to be the result of hidden injuries accumulated in their youth. After all, Grand Xia had lacked its own martial inheritance back then, and the older generations had no one to guide them. They had to rely on their own understanding and insight.

Suddenly, a shout rang out.”What is it!?”

Everyone turned to look, only to see that a young Daoist had appeared out of nowhere, standing beneath the stone platform!

Fang Chen frowned as he assessed Huangfu Jie. After a moment, he let out a soft sigh.

”Old friend, I’m here to see you off.”