Immortal of the Nine Realms

Li Baodao’s ominous energy twisted into chains.

Except for Bai Jinfan, the other four souls were locked by their collarbones, causing them to scream in agony.

Bai Jinfan understood how powerful the will of a soul at the Enlightenment Realm was. Such a powerful being couldn’t possibly be reduced to such a weak state just from a bone being pierced—he was on the verge of letting out a scream that could almost be mistaken for a woman’s shrill.

Fang Chen faintly smiled. ”Daoist Bai, you should follow them to the Underworld.”

The Underworld...

Bai Jinfan’s expression grew dazed.

Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, he saw a wide road of white mist appear before him.

”We’re going to the Yellow Springs,” said Li Baodao with a slight smile.

He yanked on the chains, causing Lin Hao and the other four souls to cry out in agony as they were dragged along the path to the Yellow Springs.

Bai Jinfan hesitated for a moment but eventually followed. He feared that if he didn’t go, he might end up receiving the same treatment as Lin Hao.

They passed through the Yellow Springs, crossed the Forgotten River, and finally arrived at the Nether Guards Division.

At that moment, Lin Hao and the others truly believed in the existence of the Underworld. Their doubts about Fang Chen’s identity and background grew significantly.

To be able to command the officials of the Underworld so easily... What kind of identity must one have to accomplish such a thing?

***

Realizing that Fang Chen had fallen silent, Immortal White Tiger finally gathered the courage and asked, ”Daoist... Daoist Fang, were you just talking to...”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Talking to a ghost.”

A ghost?

The others felt a sudden chill run down their spines. Was there truly such a thing as ghosts? But Fang Chen’s actions just now didn’t seem like a mere performance or an attempt to fool them.

He had even mentioned the Spirit Blood Sect and the matter with the Li Xiao Empire...

***

Within the Jade Void Mountain’s Reception Hall.

Only Lu Changqing and a few Golden Core Realm cultivators from the same faction were allowed to stay behind. The others were all sent far away, not allowed to come near.

Immortal White Tiger examined Fang Chen peculiarly. ”Daoist Fang, it’s been decades since we last met, and now your cultivation has already... reached such a level....”

His tone was filled with surprise and uncertainty.

”I’ve already reached the Enlightenment Realm,” replied Fang Chen nonchalantly.

Immortal White Tiger was momentarily stunned, unable to process what he had heard.

”Right... already Enlightenment....”

Although Fang Chen had shown significant promise due to his extraordinary sword technique, he had only been at the Foundation Building Realm when he left the three demons at the Jade Void Mountain.

How many years had passed since then? Not only had he surpassed the Golden Core Realm, but he had also advanced past the Nascent Soul Realm and reached the Middle Three Realms!

Meanwhile, Immortal White Tiger himself was still stuck in the early stage Nascent Soul Realm. If he didn’t stumble upon any opportunity in the future, he could very well never reach the mid stage in his life.

Several Golden Core Realm demon cultivators were secretly shocked. Cultivators at the Enlightenment Realm usually held positions of power in third-tier empires.

With such cultivation, many third-tier empires would be willing to pay a high price to hire such a person, offering them all the spiritual mountains and spiritual fields they could wish for!

Let alone the fact that a fellow Enlightenment Realm cultivator from the Spirit Void Dao Sect had no ability to resist in the face of this man...

Immortal White Tiger’s expression turned serious. ”Daoist Fang, I just heard about the Spirit Blood Sect. Could they be related to the recent move by the Zixu Empire?”

Just a few years ago, the entire Hidden Cloud Region almost went to war because of the Spirit Blood Sect. Now, after only a short time, they were again secretly scheming, involving Jade Void Mountain, and even pulling third-tier empires into it....

Third-tier empires had many affiliated fourth-tier empires. If the third-tier empires were dragged into this, the flames of war would spread uncontrollably, and even cultivators at the Upper Three Realms wouldn’t be able to put it out.

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”This matter is indeed related to the Spirit Blood Sect.”

Immortal White Tiger’s brows knit. ”What can I do to help?”

”With your cultivation, you can’t get involved. What you can do is stabilize the situation in Azure Cloud Empire and remind the vassal states not to act recklessly and ignite unnecessary conflicts,” answered Fang Chen with a smile.

Immortal White Tiger felt a bit awkward. He didn’t even have the qualification to get involved now. It was as if the years had taken their toll on him, pushing him toward old age.

But on second thought, it was probably for the best. Deep down, he didn’t want to get entangled in such matters. Jade Void Mountain had to tread carefully and smile when facing the Spirit Voi Dao Sect, one could imagine the methods of the Spirit Blood Sect.

”Immortal White Tiger, I’ve come this time to take Victorious Buddha and the others. You’ve taken care of them over the years, and even tought them the transformation technique. This is just a small token of my appreciation,” said Fang Chen, taking out a hundred mid-grade spirit stones and pushing them toward Immortal White Tiger.

This is...!

Immortal White Tiger’s eyes immediately widened. These were middle-grade spirit stones, each of which was an extremely rare treasure.

He had lived for so many years yet had only ever managed to get his hands on two mid-grade spirit stones, by sheer luck not to mention. He had used them up during his breakthrough from Golden Core to Nascent Soul!

Immortal White Tiger Realized forced a bitter smile.”These middle-grade spirit stones are too precious—one hundred of them? Daoist Fang, this is too much....”

He wanted to take them, but at the same time, he didn’t dare. The weight of this gift was overwhelming, and he felt a little uneasy.

”Are these all mid-grade spirit stones?”

Lu Changqing and the others looked on in shock, their eyes locked onto the mid-grade spirit stones, studying them intently.

Indeed, they were different from low-grade spirit stones. The spiritual energy they emitted was much purer. These mid-grade spirit stones were incomparable to low-grade ones, and even some blessed lands, spiritual mountains, or spiritual springs couldn’t compare to their quality!

Victorious Buddha and the other two, upon learning that Fang Chen had come to take them away, were overjoyed. But at the same time, they felt a twinge of reluctance to leave Jade Void Mountain.

Victorious Buddha hesitated for a moment, clasped his fists, and said, ”Ancestor White Tiger, thank you for your care all these years. The three of us are deeply grateful. The spirit stones provided by our master are a token of our appreciation—please accept them. Should we achieve anything in the future, we will be sure to honor and repay our master.”

The few Golden Core Realm demon cultivators nodded in satisfaction. Their care over these years had not been in vain; the three demons were indeed grateful. If they ever achieved anything in the future, they would surely remember their time at Jade Void Mountain.

Not to mention, the three demons’ current backgrounds were enough to make Jade Void Mountain look up to them.

”Then... I won’t be polite,” said Immortal White Tiger with a nod, taking the mid-grade spirit stones into his storage ring.

It felt like suddenly becoming rich overnight, almost as if he were dreaming.

He was lost in thought for a few moments before suddenly snapping out of it. Glancing outside the hall, he noticed the disciples of the Spirit Void Dao Sect kneeling with their heads bowed, awaiting judgment, as if ready for a final sentence.

Immortal White Tiger asked, ”Daoist Fang, what should we do with these Spirit Void Dao Sect cultivators?”

”I’ll keep them with me for now. Once the troubles within the Azure Cloud Empire territory are resolved, I will head to Zixu Empire,” said Fang Chen, rising to his feet. ”If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Immortal White Tiger stood up, offered a respectful bow, and said hastily, ”I’ll see you off.”

Just as Fang Chen and the others were boarding the Immortal Boat to leave, Immortal White Tiger suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, ”Daoist Fang, if I wish to visit in the future, where should I go?”

”You can go to the Void Immortal Sword Sect or the Three Thousand Dao Sect,” Fang Chen replied with a smile, waving his hand. ”However... I may not always be there.”

”Let’s see how fate works. If it’s destined, we will meet again.”

The Immortal Boat turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.

Immortal White Tiger muttered to himself, ”Void Immortal Sword Sect, Three Thousand Dao Sect.... I know about the Void Immortal Sword Sect. The Three Thousand Dao Sect, however... I have not heard of. It seems Daoist Fang is also a cultivator of the Dao Sect. No wonder he can wield lightning techniques....”

Lightning techniques were rare. Most of them were found within the Dao Sect. This was why many cultivators in the cultivation world believed that the original inheritance of thunder techniques came from the Dao Sect.