Immortal of the Nine Realms

In the Desolate Academy, Hall of Ancient Records

When Elder Xun sensed the visitor, he didn’t even raise his eyelids. ”Is the matter with Li Xiao taken care of?”

Fang Chen nodded. ”It’s been taken care of.”

”Considering the time, you’re about to head to the Prison Wind Lands, aren’t you?” Elder Xun said. ”Once you get there, be extra cautious; it’s not the same as here.”

Fang Chen replied, ”I just met the Sun family’s disciples.”

”The Sun family’s disciples?” Elder Xun finally raised his head, looking surprised. ”Are you talking about the Sun family, one of the four great families of the Prison Wind Lands?”

Fang Chen then recounted the events about Sun Yi and the others coming to the Giant Immortal Sect.

Elder Xun couldn’t help but curse, ”That Xiu Yue really doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s practically inviting a wolf into her house.”

After saying this, he glared at Fang Chen. ”And you. You destroyed their split soul. Although that doesn’t make you a mortal enemy, you’re not far off. Aren’t you afraid you won’t make it back from the Prison Wind Lands alive?”

Fang Chen smiled. ”If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t be able to repay the three high-grade spirit stones I took before. As for this grudge, as long as the Long Family wins in the Burial Sword Heavenly Steps, the Sun family won’t dare make a move.”

”It seems you’re quite confident.” Elder Xun smiled. ”If you win, all the better. Li Changsheng will have much less pressure.”

He stretched out his hand, ”Give it here.”

Fang Chen took out the Immortal Crystal and handed it to Elder Xun.

”This isn’t a high-grade spirit stone, is it?” said Elder Xun casually.

Just as he said that, he suddenly sat up straight. He quickly stood up and carefully inspected the Immortal Crystal in his hand. Soon, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and he looked at Fang Chen. ”This is an Immortal Crystal?”

Elder Xun instinctively gripped the item tightly, staring at Fang Chen with a slightly flickering gaze. ”Boy, where did you get this from?”

Fang Chen replied, ”From Sun Yi’s storage ring.”

Elder Xun’s expression became serious. ”If you hadn’t taken one or two high-grade spirit stones from him, it would’ve been fine. But they wouldn’t sit still if it were a peak-grade spirit stone, let alone an Immortal Crystal.”

Fang Chen replied, ”I’ve heard that this item is very useful for Loose Immortals. As for the Sun family, it doesn’t matter now. I’ve already offended them to the extreme. One more Immortal Crystal won’t make a difference.”

Elder Xun’s eyes showed a hint of satisfaction, and he gave Fang Chen a good pat on the shoulder. ”So you want to offer this as a gift to your old man?”

Elder Xun couldn’t help but laugh. ”You’re right. Now that you’ve completely offended the Sun family, one more Immortal Crystal doesn’t matter. The Sun family will likely put the blame on Li Changsheng, and we won’t have to worry.

”Now we’ll see how Li Changsheng has been faring with the Long Family over the years. If his little wife is willing to help, this matter won’t cause too much trouble.”

Fang Chen added, ”Elder Xun, there’s one thing I’d like to ask of you.”

Elder Xun replied, ”What is it? Just say it.”

Fang Chen bowed respectfully. ”Even though I am quite confident about the Burial Sword Heavenly Step, it’s always possible that unexpected things could happen. If there are any unforeseen changes, I hope you can help me take care of the Three Thousand Dao Sect. Also... I would like you to help me find my Senior Brother Qing Mu. If any trouble arises, please lend a hand.”

Elder Xun couldn’t help but chuckle. ”Just now you said you were full of confidence.” With that said, Elder Xun assured, ”Don’t worry, even if you hadn’t asked me to, the current First Rate Sect Leader here is already preparing for this matter. Ordinary cultivators may not know about the bet between the Long family and the Sun family, but they surely have caught wind of it.

”As the head of the Desolate Academy and the First Rate Sect Leader of the Desolate Sect, do you think I wouldn’t have prepared in advance? With this Immortal Crystal in hand, it’s like adding wings to a tiger. If things go smoothly, I believe that even if a Second Transformation Loose Immortal appears, I am confident I can take them on.”

Fang Chen was excited to hear that. ”Do you have the confidence to break through and advance to the Second Transformation?”

If Elder Xun became stronger, Fang Chen would be more at ease about the situation here. Sun Yi had mentioned that the Sun family had a Third Transformation Loose Immortal. That was probably the most powerful force in the Prison Wind Lands and their source of confidence.

If a Second Transformation Loose Immortal appeared in the Central Continent... the Long Family would have to give Elder Xun face even if they lost the bet and handed this place over to the Sun family.

Elder Xun waved his hand. ”Breakthrough to the Second Transformation? It’s not that simple. I’m not talking about that. Don’t ask about the specifics. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

He reached out and called out to something outside the hall.

Soon, a dark flag appeared, as if it had a mind of its own, swimming through the air like a fish before entering the hall.

The black flag floated in front of them and spoke in human language. ”Old fool, why did you call me here? Didn’t I tell you? Unless the Desolate Sect is facing a catastrophe, don’t wake me up so easily.”

A spiritual treasure?

Fang Chen was taken aback. This was the first time he had seen a treasure besides Little Sword and Mirror of Universe that could speak.

According to what the Mirror of the Universe had said earlier, this treasure had to have an artifact spirit within it. It was a heaven-grade treasure that had given birth to its own spiritual consciousness, also known as a spiritual treasure.

Elder Xun snorted coldly. ”You sleep all day, all year long. How many years has it been? Be careful lest you get eaten by bugs.”

”Before, you owed me quite a few favors. Now you need to repay one. Go with my junior here to the Prison Wind Lands. If he encounters any danger, help him with it.”

”This junior?”

Even though the black flag had no eyes, Fang Chen could feel its gaze fall upon him.

”You’re not even a Loose Immortal. How do you think you have the right to make me act? Do you think I can act without depleting my Immortal Origin?”

Elder Xun replied indifferently, ”If it weren’t for me injecting my Immortal Origin into you over the years, you would have lost your spiritual consciousness and become just a normal heaven-grade treasure. You still dare to speak?”

The black flag reluctantly responded, ”That’s what you say... Fine, I’ll help you this time, but remember, I will only act once. Don’t ask for more.”

”You should have seen the Spiritual Treasure Rankings, right? Even though the Ancient Desolate Region’s Chaotic Star views the Central Continent, Celestial Heaven, and Northern Dipper with disdain, we do have three spiritual treasures stationed here.”

”Besides this Black Profound Heaven Locking Flag, Li Changsheng has one, and the Northern Dipper also has one.” Elder Xun smiled lightly.

Black Profound Heaven Locking Flag?

Fang Chen pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of something strange. He lowered his voice and asked, ”Elder Xun, I previously heard that the Spiritual Treasure Rankinghas three hundred treasures. Why are there only three here?”

”The Spiritual Treasure Ranking you saw is the general ranking, which is different from the Emperor Ranking or Spiritual Herb Ranking. The three hundred treasures on that list come from various places in the Ancient Domain.” explained Elder Xun.

Elder Xun added, ”Take this Black Profound Heaven Locking Flag, for example. I dare say that in the Prison Wind Lands, it’s hard to find a true rival. But on the Spiritual Treasure Ranking, it doesn’t even make it into the top two hundred.”

The Black Profound Heaven Locking Flag responded, clearly displeased, ”You old fool, you’re underestimating me. I don’t care about that Spiritual Treasure Ranking—it’s worthless! What kind of thing is it to rank treasures, and who gave them the right to categorize us into different levels?”

”Because it knows of your existence.” Elder Xun smiled lightly.

Fang Chen was slightly taken aback. ”This Spiritual Treasure Ranking...”

Elder Xun explained, ”That ranking itself is a treasure. The Black Profound Heaven Locking Flag has always been an important treasure of the Desolate Sect, and it isn’t used often. In fact, it shouldn’t even appear on the Spiritual Treasure Ranking, but surprisingly, the list has included it.”