Immortal of the Nine Realms

The disciples of the Seven Profound Blades had been about to take action when they heard Fang Chen’s words, prompting them to stop.

Old friend? Could this young Daoist be an old friend of the ancestor?

Huangfu Jie fixed his gaze on Fang Chen, then immediately smiled. He leaped off the stone platform.

”Lord, it’s been many years since we last met,” said Huangfu Jie. ”Look at how old I’ve become, while you remain so youthful and handsome. You really make me envious.”

Fang Chen said calmly, ”You’ve been practicing incorrectly. Why didn’t you stop and wait for a while?”

Fang Chen could tell that Huangfu Jie was filled with hidden ailments at a glance. His lifespan was almost completely consumed. Even if he tried to nourish him with spiritual energy, it wouldn’t change a thing.

Huangfu Jie was undoubtedly dying. If the Book of Life and Death truly existed in the Underworld, Huangfu Jie’s name would be written on one of its pages.

”I can’t afford to wait. Everyone else is improving, and if I stop, I’ll fall behind.” Huangfu Jie shook his head and smiled. ”Now that things have come to this, talking about this is meaningless. Over the years, the Seven Profound Sect has also trained many outstanding disciples. In the long run, my wrong path has provided them with a point of reference. It’s not such a bad thing.”

At this point, the more than one hundred core disciples of the Seven Profound Sect began to understand, their gazes toward Fang Chen filled with both awe and curiosity. Most of them hadn’t lived through that era. By the time they started their training, Grand Xia’s martial prosperity had been on the rise.

However, they knew that a person surnamed Fang was the reason the empire’s martial arts prospered. This man before them was the one who had changed the martial fate of Grand Xia!

Fang Chen smiled. ”Do you feel it yourself? Do you think today is the day?”

Huangfu Jie nodded lightly. ”It’s almost here. In recent years, I’ve already felt my energy waning. Today... suddenly, I feel full of vitality. This is the last burst of life.”

After a pause, he curiously looked at Fang Chen, ”Lord, where have you been these years? Have you had an exciting journey?”

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. ”It’s been quite exciting.”

He then told Huangfu Jie about the events of Grand Qian, the Ancient Immortal Road, the Immortal Seedlings, the powerful beings who could play chess with mountains, and the many kingdoms beyond the Great Xia.

Huangfu Jie listened intently, his eyes full of admiration. ”I envy your journey. Such a magnificent and unparalleled experience. I hope that in my next life, I can witness the wonders you’ve seen.”

The disciples of the Seven Profound Sect, who had been listening in awe, were shaken.

It was the first time they realized that the world was this vast….

Fang Chen smiled. ”You don’t need a next life. Your earthly matters are done. It’s time for you to walk a different path now.”

Huangfu Jie didn’t understand, but he suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion. He sat down right where he was. He continued chatting with Fang Chen about trivial matters, reminiscing about his wife who had passed away years ago.

”Lord, you don’t know, she was the only woman I ever truly cared for in these years. It’s a pity she had a short life. When I was young, I was ignorant and spent all my time in seclusion, never accompanying her properly….”

As Huangfu Jie spoke, his voice grew weaker.

His son, standing nearby with tears streaming down his face, wanted to step forward but was afraid of disturbing Fang Chen. Fang Chen turned to look and saw a graceful woman gazing at them from a distance. Huangfu Jie suddenly stopped speaking. A phantom figure emerged from his body, and it immediately turned its gaze to the woman.

Huangfu Jie knew that he was already dead, but there was no sorrow in his heart. Instead, he smiled brightly and cupped his hands in greeting to the woman.

”Sorry to keep you waiting….”

After many years of separation, the two of them naturally had much to talk about. As they conversed, Huangfu Jie finally sighed softly and looked at Fang Chen. ”Lord, I will be taking my leave now.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”No need to rush.”

Huangfu Jie and his wife were both startled. They looked at Fang Chen in disbelief.

Huangfu Jie asked, ”You can see me?”

Fang Chen nodded with a smile. ”Don’t be too surprised. There are many more wondrous things in this world, things you’ll get to witness yourself.”

Huangfu Jie’s thoughts shifted, and his eyes gradually began to shine with renewed clarity.

”Your wife is indeed beautiful, but I imagine it’s not her appearance alone that made you unable to forget her.”

Fang Chen looked at the woman and cupped his hands. ”It’s a pleasure to meet you; I am Fang Chen.”

The woman quickly returned the greeting, a trace of curiosity lingering in her gaze. It seemed that Fang Chen could even see spirits, just as her husband had once claimed.

Noticing that Huangfu Jie had passed, the disciples of the Seven Profound Sect were filled with sorrow. They hadn’t noticed the strange conversation Fang Chen was having.

Huangfu Jie and his wife exchanged a glance.

Huangfu Jie turned to Fang Chen. ”Lord, there’s one thing I didn’t have time to say. Could you tell my son for me? Tell him to train well and not disgrace our family name.”

Fang Chen nodded, delivering the message to the middle-aged man who seemed stunned for a moment. Without another word, he turned and left.

Huangfu Jie asked in curiosity, ”Lord, does this mean that I’ll become a wandering soul, unable to die?”

He was well-versed in life as a human, but being a ghost was an entirely new experience for him.

Fang Chen revealed, ”Wandering souls do have a limited lifespan in the afterlife. You won’t die, but it will be difficult for you to pass on. However, I’ll take you to meet some old friends of mine, and then we’ll head to Three World Mountain. I’ll personally guide you into the Underworld.”

Huangfu Jie asked in surprise, ”The Underworld? Is there truly a Yama’s Court?”

He instinctively looked toward his wife. ”Wife, have you ever been there?”

Huangfu Jie’s wife looked confused. She clearly didn’t know about the Underworld.

Fang Chen shared, ”Very few wandering souls manage to find their way to the Yellow Springs. Most wander aimlessly through the world of the living until their Yin lifespan runs out. It seems your wife hadn’t managed to find the path to the Yellow Springs. Or perhaps she didn’t leave because she wished to stay by your side, watching over the Seven Profound Sect.”

Moved, Huangfu Jie glanced at his wife. ”Dear….”

***

”Checkmate! Hahaha, you still dare to play chess with me with your skills? We played ten games and you lost them all!”

In a small courtyard, two old men were seen fighting each other. One of them, who was as strong as a lion, laughed triumphantly and kept mocking the old man opposite him.

Passing by, Xu Ge couldn’t resist teasing Huang Sihai. ”Old Huang, that’s enough. If you keep talking, Tie Ma is going to be so pissed he might die of anger.”

Huang Sihai glared fiercely with his tiger-like eyes. ”He’s the one who came to challenge me, not the other way around! Go ask him if he’s convinced! As long as he’s not convinced, I’ll laugh at him every day.”

Tie Ma gave Huang Sihai a cold glance, then focused back on the chessboard, furrowing his brows in deep thought.

At that moment, someone’s voice echoed from beside them. ”I would make this move.”

Tie Ma immediately brightened up. ”Huh?! Yes!”

Suddenly furious, Huang Sihai snapped, ”A true gentleman keeps quiet while watching a game of chess. Who the hell is this…?”

The old men reacted by looking up. When they saw who it was, they were all stunned.

”Lord!?”