Immortal of the Nine Realms

Lu Changqing and the other Golden Core Realm demon cultivators exchanged glances, various guesses forming in their minds.

”Could it be a friend of the ancestor visiting?”

”It shouldn’t be. If they truly were of the Nascent Soul Realm, they should know the current state of the Azure Cloud Empire. Why would they come here for no reason...?”

The fact that disciples from the Three Great Dao Sects of the Zixu Empire had come to Azure Cloud for training had spread far and wide. Even cultivators from fourth-tier and fifth-rank empires had heard of it. In these times, almost no one would visit Azure Cloud Empire, and even fewer cultivators passed through.

The Daoist-robed elder said indifferently, ”Immortal White Tiger, is the visitor a friend of yours? Let them come down and speak with me. They’re lacking in manners, flying that Immortal Boat all the way to the mountain gate like that.”

Immortal White Tiger looked slightly perplexed, but he leaped into the air to meet the owner of the Immortal Boat nonetheless.

Just as he was about to speak, he paused, discovering that the visitor was a familiar face.

Standing atop the Immortal Boat, Fang Chen smiled at Immortal White Tiger. He cupped his fist. ”Immortal White Tiger, it’s been a long time.”

Immortal White Tiger’s eyes flickered. ”It’s you....”

Guessing Fang Chen’s intentions, he made a subtle gesture and said, ”We have an entourage of honored guests at the Jade Void Mountain today. It’s not convenient to entertain you right now, Daoist Fang. Please leave for now, and come back in a few days to sit and chat.”

Fang Chen’s smile widened. ”I’ve already heard in Grand Qian that sects from third-tier empires have come to Azure Cloud Empire for trials. Such an event happens only once in a hundred years. If by chance, I’ve run into them today, it would be a good opportunity for me to see their techniques.”

Immortal White Tiger immediately transmitted a voice message, ”Don’t you understand? These cultivators are unreasonable. Your Immortal Boat is flying directly into their territory and hovering above their heads. They are already displeased. If you stay any longer, they may use any excuse to deal with you.”

At that moment, the Daoist-robed elder showed a hint of impatience. He waved his sleeve lightly, and a vast surge of spiritual energy swept forward, pulling the Immortal Boat downward.

Fang Chen did not resist.

Once the Immortal Boat landed, it turned into spiritual energy and dissipated.

Immortal White Tiger could only sigh helplessly. He flew back to the Daoist-robed elder’s side and intended to explain. However, before he could say anything, he saw Tiger Mountain Lord and Profound Green’s faces fill with joy as they rushed out of the crowd to stand before Fang Chen.

Tiger Mountain Lord and Profound Green bowed respectfully. ”Master!”

The two had already acquired the transformation technique at Jade Void Mountain. Now, one had transformed into a robust young man, while the other was a graceful young woman wearing a green dress.

Fang Chen smiled. ”It seems Immortal White Tiger hasn’t mistreated you.”

In the demon race, the transformation technique didn’t depend on cultivation but on inheritance. Transformation techniques were highly important and were usually only taught to the direct descendants of the demon race. Without transformation techniques, even a demon in the Upper Three Realms would remain in its original form.

Currently, nearly 90% of the demon cultivators at Jade Void Mountain lacked a transformation technique.

Lu Changqing’s expression grew complex. ”It’s him....”

He had seen this person many years ago. It was Fang Chen, who had brought Victorious Buddha, Profound Green, and Tiger Mountain Lord onto the mountain.

His timing of arrival couldn’t have been more imperfect, however. Trouble seemed inevitable at this point.

Victorious Buddha, having left the young Daoist, turned and walked to Fang Chen. He knelt and said, ”I pay you my respects, Master.”

The disciples of the Spirit Void Dao Sect were taken aback.

The master of these three demon cultivators is actually a human? They aren’t direct disciples of the Jade Void Mountain?

”Foundation Building Realm, not bad,” acknowledged Fang Chen, nodding. ”Your junior brother and sister are a little behind, at the twelfth stage of Qi Refining Realm. They need to work harder.”

Tiger Mountain Lord and Profound Green looked ashamed. In terms of cultivation, they were far behind Victorious Buddha. Although both were at the twelfth stage of Qi Refining Realm, they had a premonition that, even with Foundation Building Pills, their chances wouldn’t exceed ten percent. They would likely need another thirty to fifty years of seclusion to have a real chance.

The Daoist-robed elder asked lightly, ”Immortal White Tiger, may I ask where this friend is from? Why are the demon cultivators of Jade Void Mountain his disciples?”

Immortal White Tiger wasn’t sure how to introduce Fang Chen, so he could only smile helplessly. He explained, ”Senior Lin, these three demon cultivators are indeed disciples of Daoist Fang, though they are nominally affiliated with the Jade Void Mountain....”

The robed elder chuckled lightly. ”This is quite interesting.”

He looked at Fang Chen. ”Fellow Daoist, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to see the methods of cultivators from a third-tier empire. Then stand aside and watch carefully as this monkey demon of yours continues to spar with my disciple.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Very well.”

He took out Little Sword and handed it to Victorious Buddha. ”Go on, have a good fight with that young man.”

Victorious Buddha’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment. ”Master... I don’t know how to use a sword....”

Fang Chen replied, ”You don’t need to know how.”

Victorious Buddha seemed to understand something. The sword Fang Chen had given him seemed unremarkable, with what seemed like dried bloodstains on its blade. However, since Fang Chen had given it to him, it surely held deeper significance.

Immortal White Tiger’s eyes flickered. He recognized this sword. It was the same one Fang Chen had used back in the Grand Qian Empire.

His expression grew increasingly solemn. ”A sword cultivator’s sword...”

He immediately transmitted his voice. ”Daoist Fang, this person is from the Spirit Void Dao Sect of the Zixu Empire. His surname is Lin, and he’s an Enlightenment Realm cultivator. It’s best not to act rashly. I am afraid it will be difficult to mediate, even with my modest influence.”

Seeing that Fang Chen hadn’t responded to him even after a few seconds, Immortal White Tiger’s expression turned grim. He couldn’t help but snort inwardly. If you won’t listen to advice, then so be it!

Looking at Victorious Buddha approaching him with a sword, the young Daoist couldn’t help but chuckle.

He wasn’t worried about the sword Victorious Buddha was wielding. After all, there was a limit to the grade of a spiritual treasure a Foundation Building Realm cultivator could wield.

This monkey demon’s techniques were simplistic and couldn’t even touch him. What could it possibly do with a sword?

With this thought, the young Daoist slowly chanted. ”By my command...”

At that moment, Little Sword transformed into a streak of light. It directly pierced through the young Daoist’s forehead, coming out the back with a mix of red and white matter.

Blood and brain matter splattered onto the ground. The young Daoist’s body swayed twice before collapsing backward with a thud.

Victorious Buddha was momentarily stunned, but Little Sword had already returned to his hand. After a long silence, he clasped his fist and bowed slightly. ”I concede....”

The demon cultivators of Jade Void Mountain exchanged shocked glances. Before long, that shock turned into relief, followed by confusion and suspicion.

They couldn’t help but steal glances at Little Sword.

The cultivators from the Spirit Void Dao Sect finally snapped out of their daze. Someone stepped forward to check on the young Daoist, only to find that he had already lost his life.

Their faces turned ashen.

”Elder Lin, he’s dead,” reported one of them to the robed elder with a bow.

The robed elder had maintained an indifferent expression the entire time. He hadn’t even flinched when his disciple died. He simply nodded lightly and said calmly to those beside him, ”Kill them all. Leave no one alive.”

The nearby Nascent Soul Realm cultivators nodded.

”Yes.”

Seeing this, the Immortal White Tiger hurriedly tried to mediate. ”Elder Lin, this is a misunderstanding. Let’s sit down and talk—”

Slap!

The robed elder slapped Immortal White Tiger across the face, cutting off his words mid-sentence. ”Immortal White Tiger, your Jade Void Mountain has been quite cooperative, so we won’t trouble you. But please, no more nonsense.”

Immortal White Tiger’s face alternated between green and pale.

The Golden Core Realm demon cultivators like Lu Changqing were filled with anger. The Jade Void Mountain demon cultivators’ chests heaved at the sight of their ancestor getting slapped.

But in the eyes of the robed elder, their reactions were nothing more than clownish antics, unworthy of his attention.

The Nascent Soul Realm cultivators from the Spirit Void Dao Sect began walking toward Fang Chen. With each step, their auras grew stronger.

In just a few steps, the pressure from their auras made the demon cultivators present feel suffocated.