Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen had returned to the Three Thousand Dao Sect and entered the Three Thousand Dao Realm for the first time in years. The Mirror of the Universe had woken up from its slumber by now.

The Mirror of the Universe remarked, ”Brother, I think this young one has a chance to ascend to the sixth tier.”

Fang Chen nodded slightly. ”No wonder it’s taking so long to fully refine.”

It seemed that his understanding of the spiritual imprint artifact had been too conservative. He had assumed that such a treasure alone wouldn’t be enough to push Little Sword to the sixth rank.

Yet, after over the past seventy years, Little Sword had only absorbed half of the artifact’s energy, but his aura had already strengthened several times over. If he could fully refine it, he might indeed break into the sixth rank in one fell swoop. With that, he would achieve a sixth rank sword body.

Though Fang Chen no longer walked the path of the sword, it could still help him unleash fearsome offensive power. If he could unleash the fourth sword of the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture, he might actually be able to stand a chance against a Soul Splitting Realm cultivator.

”What do you think of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps?” Fang Chen asked.

The Mirror of the Universe replied, ”You mean the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps in Qiufeng? If you want to know its origins, a thousand mid-grade spirit stones will suffice. But some information is free.”

”Tell me the free information first.”

”Anyone who enters the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps loses access to their spiritual power, becoming mere mortals for the duration. The ladder consists of one hundred steps, each exponentially more difficult than the last. However, for sword cultivators, ascending higher brings great benefits, tempering their sword intent, refining their sword body, and strengthening their sword.”

”So that means... That I’ll turn into a mortal?” Fang Chen smiled. ”Coincidentally, I know very well what it’s like to be a mortal.”

”Brother, you should not underestimate the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. As far as I know, many Loose Immortals in Qiufeng use it for wager battles. Every year, at least ten thousand sword cultivators die on it.”

The Mirror of the Universe’s expression became solemn.

Clearly, he had learned that Fang Chen was involved in a wager battle. He wasn’t so concerned about the threat the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps posed to Fang Chen. What he feared was the dangers these wager battles might bring.

”What’s meant to happen will happen. I still have some time, so I’ll try to improve my cultivation as much as possible.”

The time Li Daoye and the others spent apart from Fang Chen might have only been twenty days or so for them. But to Fang Chen, several hundred years had passed in the Three Thousand Dao Realm.

Fortunately, an Enlightenment Realm cultivator had a lifespan of one thousand two hundred years. A few hundred years had only caused Fang Chen’s appearance to change from a youthful sixteen or seventeen-year-old to someone around twenty-three or twenty-four. He no longer looked as immature, which was actually a good thing.

Little Sword had fully digested the treasure and reached the sixth rank. This time, the inheritance wasn’t opened, but the blood stains on its body had faded even more. This was a sign that its power had increased. It also became more adept at suppressing the immortal souls within the sword.

Fang Chen’s gaze shifted, and his primordial spirit swiftly returned to his body. He then gently exhaled a long breath of turbid air, about ten feet in length.

His complexion grew increasingly rosy, and the aura around him surged and fluctuated, like a raging sea.

About half an hour later, Fang Chen’s aura gradually stabilized. His primordial spirit had become much more substantial than before, steadily advancing into the later stage of the Enlightenment Realm.

It had taken him over seventy years to advance from the early to the mid stage of the Enlightenment Realm, and another two hundred years to progress from the mid to the late stage.

Had his primordial spirit not been more refined and substantial than that of an average cultivator by at least ten times, the time for his advancement could have been significantly shortened.

”Only a little over a thousand mid-grade spirit stones left... there’s no need to stay here any longer.”

Leaving over a thousand mid-grade spirit stones for backup, Fang Chen left the Three Thousand Dao Realm. Just as he stepped out of his cave dwelling, he saw Li Daoye sitting idly at the door, playing with a blade of dog-tail grass.

Fang Chen frowned. ”You are now the leader of a proper sect. Why are you acting so childish?”

Li Daoye immediately gave a dry laugh. He tossed the dog-tail grass aside and said, ”A female cultivator from the Giant Immortal Sect has been waiting for you for five whole days. Young Master, have you gotten yourself involved in some romantic entanglement?”

”A female cultivator from the Giant Immortal Sect?”

Fang Chen’s eyes shifted as he activated his Primordial Immortal Eye, peering through the layers of space. Finally, he saw Su Lingzhu and Fang Zhixue chatting over tea in the reception hall.

Li Daoye remarked, ”Young Master, the female cultivators of the Giant Immortal Sect are usually large in stature, but this one seems normal-sized. If you wish to take her as a Dao partner, it wouldn’t be impossible.”

Fang Chen said, ”She is the daughter of the Giant Immortal Sect’s Sovereign Su Mo, the daughter of an Immortal King. If you’re interested, I could help you make introductions.”

Li Daoye immediately waved his hand, no longer joking. ”I wouldn’t dare! If I were to marry the daughter of an Immortal King, I would lose my standing! No, no, that’s not possible!”

With that, Fang Chen left for the reception hall.

When Fang Zhixue saw him, she stood up and said, ”Brother, this is Sister Su. She has been waiting for you for quite some time.”

Su Lingzhu quickly stood up and bowed. ”Sword Chief Fang.”

”Daoist Su, is your visit related to the Spirit Blood Sect?” Fang Chen asked with a smile.

Su Lingzhu shook her head lightly, her expression somewhat solemn. ”Not long ago, I returned to the Giant Immortal Sect, and shortly after, a few guests arrived. My mother treated them with great courtesy. Although these guests’ cultivation levels were not high, their backgrounds were quite extraordinary.”

Fang Chen didn’t interrupt her and nodded, signaling her to continue.

Since Su Lingzhu had come to find him, it was clear that the matter she was mentioning was related to him.

Su Lingzhu spoke softly. ”I initially thought that these people were descendants of a certain First Rate Sect Leader. In the past, similar figures had visited the Giant Immortal Sect, and they would never stay for long or behave too rudely. However, the intentions of these visitors were... different.

”They wanted to find partners for dual cultivation within the Giant Immortal Sect. A few of the senior sisters were already being eyed by them. Normally, there would be nothing wrong with this. Given their status, the senior sisters would be considered fortunate to be chosen.

”But one of them set their sights on Junior Sister Jiang Tian’ai. I know her background is not ordinary. She is the sole heir of the ancient Jiang family and has ties with you, Sword Leader Fang. So, I felt this matter should not be hidden from you, and I came here to inform you.”

Fang Chen said thoughtfully, ”Tian’ai is not young anymore. She may not need to find a Dao partner so quickly, but if she meets the right person, it’s hardly a bad thing. But you traveled all this way... there must be something else at play.”

Su Lingzhu nodded. ”Junior Sister Tian’ai does not wish to become a Dao partner with them, but her master, Profound Immortal Xiu Yue, seems to have some prior connection with those visitors. She plans to use the inheritance in Tian’ai’s body in exchange for benefits. I suspect that the purpose of their visit may be related to Profound Immortal Xiu Yue.”

After a pause, Su Lingzhu showed a wry smile. ”Those guests are very forceful, and Junior Sister Tian’ai is very strong-willed. I’m afraid that if they force this, she may end up in trouble.”

”You think my position could influence this matter?” Fang Chen asked.

Su Lingzhu thought for a moment. ”I have seen your methods, Sword Leader Fang. Even someone as powerful as the Era Immortal King had perished in your hands, so I believe you can intervene in this matter.”

Fang Zhixue couldn’t help but remark, ”How could anyone be so rude as to force someone into a Dao partnership?”

Su Lingzhu sighed softly. ”I fear that they may not be seeking a Dao partner for genuine reasons. If she were to become their plaything....”.

Fang Zhixue’s expression slightly changed, but she didn’t try to sway Fang Chen’s thoughts. She knew that if Fang Chen could intervene, he would do so of his own accord.