Immortal of the Nine Realms

In the tavern, everyone looked at Wang Zhenlong as he drank cup after cup of immortal wine with a look of contentment on his face. Zhang Ling couldn’t help herself and asked in a low voice, ”Lord Wang, we’ve been waiting here for several days, but Sword Leader Fang hasn’t appeared yet. Could something have happened to him?”

Like everyone else, Zhang Ling couldn’t understand why Fang Chen had suddenly left the group.

If something went wrong, how would they be able to carry on with the Sword Questioning?

”What’s there to worry about?” Wang Zhenlong glanced at Zhang Ling and smiled faintly. ”Have you forgotten who was the one who sent Fang Chen to Qiankun Island?”

Zhang Ling’s eyes widened. She seemed to have understood. ”Are you saying...?”

Wang Zhenlong faintly smiled and said, ”Fang Chen is not only a disciple of the Void Immortal Sword Sect. He’s also a disciple of the Desolate Academy. He has gained Elder Xun’s favor. With a background like that, people will have to show some respect. They won’t easily take advantage of him, unless they have no fear of Elder Xun personally intervening.

”So we don’t need to worry. Once we’re done with the Sword Questioning, with Elder Xun’s backing, our sect will be safe for the next century.”

At that moment, a middle-aged swordsman entered the cavern. He casually said, ”Waiter, bring me a pot of wine.”

He then sat down opposite Wang Zhenlong.

Zhang Ling and the others stood up, frowning as they looked at the middle-aged swordsman. However, Wang Zhenlong waved his hand.

”Sit down. This is an old friend.”

The middle-aged swordsman sighed, looking nostalgic. ”Brother Wang, it’s been several hundred years since we last met, hasn’t it?”

”Brother Lu, just get to the point. I don’t like to beat about the bush,” Wang Zhenlong said with a faint smile.

Lu Chunyu sighed softly. ”You still don’t understand why I am here? Give me some face. Let the next Sword Questioning proceed smoothly. Don’t sever my Celestial Heaven’s sword legacy. These young disciples have worked hard to get to this point, and to have their spirits shattered like this is truly wasting their talent.”

The others exchanged surprised looks, realizing that the middle-aged swordsman was here as a mediator.

”Who sent you here?” Wang Zhenlong asked. ”If they have something to say, why don’t they come personally? I’m a person with a good temper. If they speak properly, I’ll listen.”

Lu Chunyu replied, ”They can’t come themselves. If the news spreads, they’ll lose all reputation.”

He took the wine pot from the waiter, took a long swig, and let out a burp before continuing. ”So, I became the one to mediate. Please, show some consideration. Don’t continue down this path. In the future, we’ll all be neighbors. If you let Sword Leader Fang continue like this, wouldn’t you offend all the sword cultivators in the world? If he takes control of the Void Immortal Sword Sect in the future, he’ll find it difficult to take a single step.”

Wang Zhenlong’s eyes flashed with thought. He said calmly, ”Isn’t this what you all forced us to do? Trying to take those immortal relics from the Void Immortal Sword Sect... Since you’ve entertained such thoughts, what would others think if we didn’t retaliate?”

Lu Chunyu furrowed his brows. ”Brother Wang, don’t forget the favor I did for you when you nearly perished during your travels in Celestial Heaven. I pulled you out of danger. You haven’t forgotten this kindness, have you?”

”If it weren’t for that favor, would you still be sitting here?” Wang Zhenlong sneered. ”For other sword sects, I might give you some face, but not for the Kunlun Sword Sect. My two disciples were killed by them. They didn’t show them any mercy back then. This time, either they retreat into their mountain and seal off their sect for 10 years, or I’ll sever their path!”

Lu Chunyu asked with an odd expression, ”You’re not afraid that Old Ancestor Li might secretly strike and slay your disciple again?”

The sword cultivators from the Void Immortal Sword Sect were truly stubborn. The Kunlun Sword Sect was now such a powerful entity, with rumors spreading that it was the top sect in the Central Continent Empire, Celestial Heaven, and the Northern Dipper. Even the monstrous factions in those regions didn’t dare to offend them lightly.

At that moment, Fang Chen’s voice rang out as he entered the tavern. ”Senior, if a First Rate Sect Leader couldn’t even endure this bit, they wouldn’t have been able to become a Loose Immortal in the first place.”

He had a faint smile on his face.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Fang Chen.

Lu Chunyu looked Fang Chen up and down, then smiled faintly. ”As expected, a dragon among men. I’ve heard that you’ve been cultivating elsewhere since you were young and have only joined the Void Immortal Sword Sect recently?”

Fang Chen replied, ”Although I didn’t cultivate in the Void Immortal Sword Sect since childhood, my roots lie in it. Our paths have become inseparable.”

Lu Chunyu nodded lightly. ”Mm.”

He glanced at Wang Zhenlong. ”You just said you could give the others a way out, except the Kunlun Sword Sect. As for the favor back then... consider it repaid.”

”Leave quickly,” said Wang Zhenlong with a smile. ”I fear I’ll be unable to resist slaying you.”

Lu Chunyu chuckled and stood up to leave.

After Lu Chunyu left, Wang Zhenlong turned to Fang Chen and smiled faintly. ”You heard what was said earlier. I’m using this matter to repay a favor. What do you think?”

Fang Chen replied, ”You can do as you wish, Master. I have no objections.”

Wang Zhenlong nodded with satisfaction.

Just as he was about to speak, he paused, sensing something was off.

He gave Fang Chen a thorough look and raised an eyebrow. ”Your cultivation... it’s off.... Have you reached the Enlightenment Realm?”

Zhang Ling and the others exchanged glances.

”The Enlightenment Realm!?” 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Fang Chen had been at the perfect Golden Core Realm just a few years ago. He had even been at the grand completion stage of the Nascent Soul Realm just before they split apart!

He actually reached the Enlightenment Realm in just a few days?!

Langya Wenqiu and the others looked visibly excited.

Langya Wenqiu asked, ”Senior Brother Fang, you’ve really reached the Enlightenment Realm?”

Jing Yuehan and her brother exchanged shocked glances.

”The Void Immortal Sword Sect’s Sword Leader, Fang Chen, has actually... reached the Enlightenment Realm! No wonder he has been absent these days! He must have been in seclusion, breaking through his bottleneck....”

Nearby, many guests were secretly astonished and quickly spread the news.

Fang Chen nodded. ”Master, a few days ago, I had a feeling and found a quiet place to meditate. I eventually broke through to the Enlightenment Realm.”

”Blessed are we in the Void Immortal Sword Sect!” Wang Zhenlong couldn’t help but laugh heartily. ”Bring more wine! Today, all the drinks are on me! Drink as much as you like!”

Reaching the Enlightenment Realm meant that a practitioner had entered the Middle Three Realms. The reason cultivation realms were divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Realms was because the bottlenecks between each group were like a gate to the heavens. Breaking through those barriers was incredibly difficult.

The moment Fang Chen successfully advanced to the Enlightenment Realm, the path to the following levels, the Soul Splitting Realm and the Fusion Realm, became much clearer.

Zhang Ling and the others couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of joy and relief.

The stronger Fang Chen became, the more secure the position of the Void Immortal Sword Sect was. While the Enlightenment Realm might not be a big deal for the sect at the moment, and they might not even have the qualification to intervene in some matters, cultivators had long lifespans. They focused on the future, not the present.

With this in mind, Wang Zhenlong, filled with joy, drank merrily for an entire day and night. Only after that did he lead everyone back on the path. From then on, the atmosphere was much lighter, with Fang Chen mainly providing gentle guidance. The journey progressed more smoothly, and in less than a year, aside from the Kunlun Sword Sect, all others had been defeated.

At Kunlun Mountain, Lu Chunyu stood behind a middle-aged man, his expression respectful yet filled with a hint of confusion.

”You have doubts. Why don’t you ask?” the middle-aged man said, gazing into the vast distance.

”Old Ancestor Li,” Lu Chunyu began, his voice laced with confusion, ”before the old sword immortal of the Void Immortal Sword Sect passed away, you sought me out, hoping that one day, I could step in and plead for the sword sects of the Celestial Heavens....”

Lu Chunyu hesitated, his brow furrowing. ”Since you foresaw this, why didn’t you stop it? That young disciple from the Void Immortal Sword Sect has low cultivation. If you made a move yourself, no one would even know how he died.”