Immortal of the Nine Realms

After some discussion, Jin Nan and the others understood Xia Xuanji’s intentions and quietly contemplated the implications.

Separating cultivators from mortals wasn’t difficult. They could restrain their disciples and set up a formation near the sect gate to handle it all.

But why adopt such an approach? Is it to avoid karmic entanglements with the mundane world?

Most cultivators understand this principle well enough on their own. They wouldn’t easily allow themselves to be tainted with such karma and risk the difficulties of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations.

Jin Nan asked respectfully, ”Senior Xia, we can agree to these terms, but may I ask what the purpose behind these considerations is?”

Xia Xuanji responded indifferently, ”Don’t ask me. I’m just following orders. You, like me, should just follow the arrangements. If you can’t accept them, you’re free to leave this place. But remember, Grand Xia’s territory will not end with the Flame Empire.”

Everyone looked at each other. If possible, they naturally wouldn’t leave. Their foundations were here; leaving would mean starting over.

With this in mind, they decided not to probe further.

Soon, apart from a few close associates, Jin Nan and the other cultivators took their leave one after another. They needed to return to their sects to recuperate and adjust after the upheaval the Flame Empire’s ancestor caused.

”Fang Chen, you’ve been elusive in recent years,” said Xia Xuanji. ”How long do you plan to stay this time?”

”Not for long.” Fang Chen glanced at Xia Xuanji. ”Someone is thinking of replacing the Emperor of the Central Continent Empire, right?”

Xia Xuanji was taken aback. ”Where did you hear that?”

”That’s none of your concern. Who is it?” Fang Chen asked.

Abbess Zhu Yue, Immortal Fire Cloud, and the peasant woman were still in the hall, and they were visibly puzzled when they heard that.

The Central Continent Empire? The first-tier empire?

Why would these two be discussing a first-tier empire? It sounded as outlandish as beggars discussing court politics. It was utterly absurd.

”Who else could it be?” Xia Xuanji said lightly. ”It’s not my avatar, is it? He doesn’t know, but I can occasionally sense his thoughts. After all, I am the original.”

Fang Chen looked intrigued. ”The Corrosive Dragon King wants to take over the Central Continent Empire?”

Xia Xuanji’s statement could be true or false. However, if it were true, standing behind the Corrosive Dragon King was the Spirit God of the Spirit Blood Sect. Did he hope to rely on the Spirit God to claim the throne?

Fang Chen shook his head lightly; perhaps that assessment was wrong.

He had previously thought that the First Rate Sect Leader behind the Spirit Blood Sect was weaker than other First Rate Sect Leaders in the Central Continent Empire. This view turned out to be rather naive.

The Spirit Blood Sect’s influence stretched across many regions. It was obviously much stronger than the Desolate Academy or the Divine Dao Sect. The Spirit God might be even stronger than Li Changsheng.

There was also the possibility that the Spirit God wasn’t the only First Rate Sect Leader behind the Spirit Blood Sect.

If so, the Corrosive Dragon King wasn’t relying on just the Spirit God....

”Why worry about these matters? What does this have to do with you? You’re better off focusing on your cultivation instead of focusing on this.”

Xia Xuanji scoffed. ”You’ve been cultivating for over fifty years yet you’re still only in the Lower Four Realms. This pace might be much faster than that of ordinary cultivators, but you’re still just a bug in the eyes of the truly powerful; they wouldn’t even bother to notice you climbing on them.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”I’ve already reached the Enlightenment Realm.”

Xia Xuanji was taken aback. ”You’ve reached the Enlightenment Realm?”

Immortal Fire Cloud and the others felt a storm surge in their hearts.

They had considered that Fang Chen might have reached the Golden Core Realm or the Nascent Soul Realm, but they would’ve never guessed he reached the Middle Three Realms.

A Golden Core Realm expert could stabilize a fifth-tier empire, and a Nascent Soul Realm expert could stabilize a fourth-tier empire.

As for those in the Enlightenment Realm... they were big shots in third-tier empires, individuals they had never even seen in their lifetimes.

The furthest these three had traveled was to places like Grand Qian. Even the fourth-tier empires like the Azure Cloud Empire and Hidden Immortal Empire were beyond their reach....

The fact that they had interacted with Fang Chen when his cultivation was low only amplified the shock.

As for Ye Wenshu and others, they didn’t feel shocked; rather, it was reverence they felt, as they found it only natural for Fang Chen to have accomplished so much.

Xia Xuanji said, ”Enlightenment Realm, huh? That is just the first step of the Middle Three Realms. You still have the Soul Splitting Realm and Fusion Realm to go. Only when you reach the Upper Three Realms can you meddle in these matters, albeit barely.”

He stood up and walked outside, followed by Immortal Fire Cloud and the Sixth Princess. ”I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”

As they left the palace, Xia Xuanji’s calm facade crumbled. ”When I was young, I didn’t cultivate nearly as fast. What kind of miraculous elixir did he consume to boost his cultivation... What realm was I in when I was in my seventies? Was it the Golden Core Realm or the Nascent Soul Realm?”

Immortal Fire Cloud and the Sixth Princess exchanged a look, their expressions odd.

After Xia Xuanji left, Fang Chen turned to Abbess Qing He, who was currently staring at a corner of the great hall.

Seeing this, Abbess Zhu Yue guessed that Qing He was seeing souls again.

The Snake Killing King withdrew his gaze from Xia Xuanji and looked at Fang Chen again, his expression serious. ”Old Ancestor, there’s something off about them.”

Near him and Qi Zhan, many of the temple’s cultivators who died at Tianheng Pass stood. After realizing they were now wandering souls, they hitched a ride on Fang Chen’s Immortal Boat back.

Mainly, they wanted to see what Fang Chen was all about. Now, hearing his conversation with Xia Xuanji, they were shocked and confused.

Looking at Fang Chen coldly, Qi Zhan said softly, ”No matter who this kid is, he killed me. Soon, he’ll be joining us down here.”

The Snake Killing King nodded thoughtfully and then looked at Qing He. ”This girl can see us. It seems the rumors are true; she was born with the ability to see souls.”

”Your name is Qing He, right?” Qi Zhan looked at Qing He. ”Tell Fang Chen for me that I, Qi Zhan, will be waiting for him down below. When he comes, I’ll treat him to a drink.”

The Snake Killing King and the other temple cultivators couldn’t help but sneer, their eyes filled with resentment.

They had great prospects before, but now they were just lost souls, all thanks to Fang Chen.

Once he died, they would certainly ”entertain” him well, fulfilling all the duties of a host.

Abbess Zhu Yue asked softly, ”Qing He, what did you see again?”

Qing He hesitated, looking at Fang Chen with some reluctance.

Fang Chen smiled and looked at Qi Zhan. ”No need for her to tell me; I heard you alright.”

Abbess Zhu Yue’s expression grew grave. It seemed there were indeed wandering souls in the hall, likely those who died at Tianheng Pass like Qi Zhan.

Qing He looked at Fang Chen in astonishment, her mouth slightly agape.

Ye Wenshu and the others had already seen Fang Chen talking to thin air, which seemed strange but not surprising.

Daoist Su and the old hen in her arms instinctively looked where Fang Chen was looking, bewildered.

Is he... looking at ghosts?!

Qi Zhan and the other wandering souls had a ghostly expression, staring at Fang Chen. They couldn’t recover for a long time.