Immortal of the Nine Realms

Stone Dragon remained silent, merely glancing at Fang Chen. That one look made his stance abundantly clear.

Zuo Xu suddenly realized. This person isn’t a local either.

There were very few great clans in the world capable of assigning a Loose Immortal to protect their younger generation.

Among the Zuo Family’s business partners, some came from extraordinary backgrounds, yet even the most powerful of them could not afford such a luxury.

At that thought, Zuo Xu felt a chill run down his spine. If that person were to have truly perished at the hands of Immortal Golden Lion, their Zuo Family might have faced an inescapable calamity!

Fang Chen smiled and said, ”Carefree Immortal Monarch, we’re not particularly interested in business matters. However... that Blood Spirit Pill is indeed a fine thing. It’s just that the cultivators of the Spirit God Sect are elusive. Even if we wanted to buy some, we wouldn’t know where to find them.”

The Carefree Immortal Monarch’s gaze wavered. The Spirit God Sect?

Someone aware of the Spirit Blood Sect’s true name had to be from the Outer Realms.

The Carefree Immortal Monarch smiled and said, ”That won’t be a problem. Little Brother, if you wish to acquire Blood Spirit Pills, I can have Zuo Xu take you to meet a Spirit Immortal from the Spirit Blood Sect. That Spirit Immortal holds a rather high status within their sect, overseeing an entire region. Every year, he receives a substantial quantity of Blood Spirit Pills.”

Fang Chen chuckled. ”That would be excellent.”

He raised his teacup and downed it in one motion.

The conversation continued for a while longer.

However, upon realizing that Fang Chen and Stone Dragon were unwilling to share information about themselves, the Carefree Immortal Monarch tactfully found an excuse to send them off.

Before they left, he extended an open invitation, suggesting that Fang Chen and Stone Dragon visit again whenever they had the time.

Fang Chen naturally responded before being personally escorted out by Zuo Xu.

Zuo Xu asked with curiosity, ”Sword Leader Fang, with your extraordinary background, why do you choose to remain in the Void Immortal Sword Sect? Here in the Central Continent Empire, Celestial Heaven, and Northern Dipper, everything is barren. Apart from us merchants, there aren’t many cultivators who willingly come here anymore.”

His words weren’t just to ease the tension and mend their relationship. He was genuinely curious.

Fang Chen faintly smiled and asked, ”Young Master Zuo Xu, what is cultivation?”

”Cultivation?” Zuo Xu suddenly realized something. ”So that’s it! You do all of this for the sake of cultivation, Sword Leader Fang. It seems that your inheritance emphasizes worldly trials and tribulations.”

After a brief pause, a hint of envy flashed in Zuo Xu’s eyes.

He said, ”Your journey through the Mortal Realm surely hasn’t been without gains. That anomaly from the Three Thousand Dao Sect has an extraordinary background as well. Surely, you’ve received some form of inheritance from them?”

Fang Chen smiled. ”If Young Master Zuo Xu wishes to know, shall I tell you everything?”

Zuo Xu was momentarily stunned before his expression turned serious. ”You misunderstand me, Sword Leader Fang. I merely asked out of curiosity, not with the intent to probe deeper.”

”It’s all good, all good,” said Fang Chen. He asked casually, ”Now then, when will you take me to meet this Spirit Immortal from the Spirit God Sect?”

”Anytime. When do you wish to go?” Zuo Xu hurriedly replied.

Fang Chen thought for a moment, then patted Zuo Xu’s shoulder. ”After I am done with the Sword Questioning.”

Zuo Xu clasped his fist and bowed. ”Then allow me to congratulate you in advance, Sword Leader Fang!”

Fang Chen waved his hand dismissively. ”No need to see me off. I’m leaving.”

With that, he and Stone Dragon tore through the sky and left.

Zuo Xu remained in place for several breaths before turning back toward the cave dwelling and returning to the tea pavilion.

The Carefree Immortal Monarch, Zuo Ding, and Immortal Golden Lion were all present.

”Father, the guests have left,” Zuo Xu reported respectfully.

Before the Carefree Immortal Monarch could speak, Zuo Ding snorted coldly. ”You refuse to handle proper business and insist on stirring up trouble. Do you even realize what the consequences would be if you had offended an enemy far more powerful than us?”

Zuo Xu’s expression darkened, and he retorted, ”Big Brother, the matter has already been properly resolved. Not only did we avoid making enemies, but we also established a favorable connection. Father hasn’t even spoken yet. What gives you the right to scold me?”

”You—!”

The Carefree Immortal Monarch’s cold voice cut through the air. ”Enough.”

Zuo Xu and Zuo Ding stiffened, while Immortal Golden Lion instinctively lowered his head, eyes fixed on his feet.

Despite his seemingly amiable demeanor earlier, Fang Chen had always known that a figure of the Carefree Immortal Monarch’s caliber could never truly be approachable.

Now that Fang Chen and Stone Dragon were gone, the Carefree Immortal Monarch’s imposing presence was tenfold stronger than before as he addressed his sons. That subtle pressure alone was enough to make ordinary Immortal Kings tremble in fear.

”Xu’er, do you know how long it takes us to acquire one high-grade spirit stone?” the Carefree Immortal Monarch asked flatly.

Zuo Xu’s face twitched slightly as he hesitated, then whispered, ”A-Around a hundred years...”

”Correct. And because of your actions, we’ve wasted 300 years of effort.” The Carefree Immortal Monarch smiled faintly. ”You were indeed in the wrong.”

Zuo Xu hurriedly dropped to his knees, not daring to utter another word.

Zuo Ding was gloating and was just about to speak when he noticed the Carefree Immortal Monarch looking at him.

”As the eldest brother, you have spent years in Qiufeng, developing an arrogant and self-centered nature. You have failed to properly guide your younger siblings. That is also your mistake.”

Zuo Ding looked at the Carefree Immortal Monarch awkwardly, feeling utterly wronged. ”Father, I—”

The Carefree Immortal Monarch said calmly, ”However, this time, your fourth brother may have accidentally done something right.”

He mumbled softly, ”A young man protected by a Loose Immortal.... what kind of background do you think he has?”

Zuo Ding immediately responded, ”Father, I know! Among Qiufeng, Longyuan, Sihui, and Minghu, only a dozen or so families have such resources. That guy must belong to one of them.”

”If that’s the case, we might have the opportunity to cooperate with them. In the future, earning a single high-grade spirit stone in just 30 or even 20 years instead of 100 may not be impossible.”

The Carefree Immortal Monarch’s lips curved into a faint smile as he turned to Zuo Xu. ”Did you ask them why they came here? This desolate land... If they didn’t have something they were looking for, would they set foot here so easily? Even a single trip would cost them high-grade spirit stones.”

Zuo Xu said, ”Father, he said it was a worldly experience. I suspect the technique he practices is swordsmanship, but I also heard that he has had some exchanges with that anomaly from the Three Thousand Dao Sect.”

”That anomaly....” The Carefree Immortal Monarch shook his head lightly. ”Nothing to worry about. Some time ago, one of his arms was severed. That should be the limit of his ability. To use such a technique again, he will need years to cultivate and nourish his strength.”

Nothing to worry about... A desolate land... Fang Chen pondered.

It seemed that these foreign cultivators held some kind of bias against the Central Continent Empire, Celestial Heaven, and Northern Dipper, viewing them with a hint of disdain.

The Carefree Immortal said, ”By the way, I will be returning to Qiufeng soon. Make sure there are no problems with the business here. Your Uncle Xu is about to undergo his tribulation. If he succeeds, he will become a second tribulation Loose Immortal, which will provide the Zuo Family with some backing.”

With that, he got up and left.

From beginning to end, he completely ignored Immortal Golden Lion, who did not dare to utter a single word.

***

Returning to his body, Fang Chen found Stone Dragon silently guarding his physical form.

”On the surface, they don’t seem to have direct ties to the Spirit Blood Sect. They simply have business dealings with them. It seems that not all of the Blood Spirit Pills from the Spirit Blood Sect are for their own use...”

After pondering for a moment, Fang Chen turned to Stone Dragon and asked, ”Lord Stone, are you familiar with Qiufeng, Longyuan, Sihui, and Minghu?”

Stone Dragon chuckled. ”Those four places all belong to the Ancient Desolate Realm’s Chaotic Star.”

Fang Chen suddenly understood. So the Carefree Immortal Monarch and his people were from the same homeland as Empress Ci?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Fang Chen’s line of thought changed. In an instant, the gates of the Yellow Springs opened before him. He stepped forward with Stone Dragon, entering the Underworld.