Immortal of the Nine Realms

Wang Zhenlong looked at Fang Chen. ”You’re planning to visit the Green Elephant Sect? Then hurry up and come back quickly. When you return, we’ll be getting ready to head to Kunlun Sword Sect.”

Bai Qingming looked puzzled. ”You have connections with cultivators from the Green Elephant Sect? Who is it?”

”Xu Peng,” replied Fang Chen, smiling.

Bai Qingming’s expression grew more confused. ”Isn’t he quite close with Ji Liang? I thought you two weren’t exactly on good terms.”

Fang Chen chuckled. ”We had a pleasant conversation some time ago at Li Xiao. Since I’m about to head to the Prison Wind Land and things might not go smoothly, I figured it would be good to visit him.”

After Fang Chen left, Bai Qingming couldn’t help muttering to himself, ”A pleasant conversation with Xu Peng? Junior Brother Fang’s choice of friends is indeed quite mysterious.”

Wang Zhenlong said seriously, ”You need to keep a close watch on Fang Chen when he heads to the Prison Wind Land. Don’t let anything happen to him there.”

Bai Qingming nodded. ”Understood. Both my junior brother and I will keep a low profile and avoid any unnecessary trouble.”

”It’s not you I am worried about. It’s him. With his temperament, he won’t cause trouble unless provoked. But the Prison Wind Land’s attitude toward sword cultivators is notoriously hostile. I fear someone might deliberately provoke him.”

Wang Zhenlong sighed. ”I’ve only taken in three disciples. The first two had outstanding talent but died young. Now, I no longer have the energy to take in a third. Fang Chen is my final disciple, and in the future, the Void Immortal Sword Sect... may very well depend on him to hold up the sect’s name.”

Bai Qingming smiled. ”Isn’t there still the Sect Leader?”

He found Wang Zhenlong rather pessimistic lately, but that was probably due to the passing of the old sword immortal.

”That brat? He’s always putting on airs, claiming he wants to turn his back on the world and become the Eternal Emperor. Do you really think he can uphold the sect’s name?” Wang Zhenlong waved his hand dismissively. ”Nonsense.”

At that moment, a figure appeared in the doorway, and Wang Chongsong’s voice echoed through the hall. ”Father, if you speak of me like that, I might just have to disagree.”

Bai Qingming immediately understood the situation and wisely excused himself. He hadn’t walked far when he felt a surge of sword energy coming from behind, along with what seemed like Wang Chongsong’s scream of pain. Bai Qingming couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head.

***

Upon receiving the news that Fang Chen was here, Xu Peng was left dumbfounded. ”Fang Chen is here to catch up? With me?”

He didn’t think that he and Fang Chen were particularly close. The two had only recently resolved their previous misunderstanding during their time in Li Xiao. But for Fang Chen to go so far as to travel all the way here to visit him... It seemed a bit much.

A female cultivator stood beside Xu Peng. When she heard that Fang Chen was hear, she grew visibly excited. She nervously asked, ”Brother, did you say Fang Chen? The Sword Leader of Void Immortal Sword Sect?”

Xu Peng nodded in confusion. ”Yes.”

Xu Ying couldn’t hide her surprise. ”You’re on good terms with Sword Leader Fang? The sisters at Golden Peng Peak talk about him often. They say he came from humble beginnings but has exceptional talent. In a short amount of time, he became invincible among his peers, and even cultivators of higher generations couldn’t deal with him.”

Xu Peng’s expression grew a little strange. ”Those from several generations above him can’t deal with him either.”

The incident in Li Xiao was something they all agreed to keep quiet about. Even his father, Immortal King Golden Peng, didn’t know the full details.

Now that he thought about it, as long as Fang Chen was willing, even his father would have to bow his head in submission.

A figure slowly approached. ”Junior Brother, I heard you mention Fang Chen?”

Xu Ying quickly explained, ”Senior Brother, Sword Leader Fang is coming here to catch up with my brother.”

”Really? That’s quite a matter. We should prepare well. After all, he’s the Sword Leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect. We can’t afford to be disrespectful.”

Before long, the story reached not only Golden Peng Peak but the entire Green Elephant Sect. All the disciples were talking about meeting the famous Sword Leader Fang.

At the Huang Chan Peak.

Among all the peaks in the Green Elephant Sect, this peak had the fewest disciples. Most of the cultivators here were from the demon races, particularly those with crawling or beast-like traits

”Fang Chen is coming to Green Elephant Sect to catch up with Xu Peng?” Huang Chan mused, lost in thought.

A young man stood before Huang Chan. ”Master, should I step in and investigate his true purpose?”

If Fang Chen were present, he would recognize this young man as a disciple of the Desolate Academy. He was a cultivator at the Dao Union Realm.

Huang Chan asked with a faint smile, ”Oh? You don’t think he’s really here to catch up with Xu Peng?”

The young man thought for a moment and then shook his head. ”Xu Peng isn’t even at the Nascent Soul Realm yet. Why would Fang Chen come to catch up with him? I suspect he may have sensed Master’s presence and is coming to find you.”

”That’s unlikely.” Huang Chan chuckled lightly. ”He may not be here to find Xu Peng, but he’s definitely not coming for me either.”

”I’ve kept a low profile all these years. I’ve never even met him face to face. What reason does he have to come for me? He likely has another purpose. But... this could be an opportunity for us. I don’t believe that the two people who showed up at Li Xiao will keep following him. Those two might be the helpers sent by the Killing Spiritual Division. He must’ve acted out that scene to mislead people.”

The young man nodded in agreement. ”You are absolutely right, Master.”

Huang Chan smiled softly. ”Go meet him when the time comes. If that second-tier pill is with him, make sure to retrieve it by any means necessary.”

***

Xu Peng received the news and arrived early at the mountain gate to wait. Accompanying him was Xu Ying

The two didn’t have to wait long before a beam of sword light flashed across the sky. The beam was so fast that by the time they saw the sword light, the person had already appeared before them.

Fang Chen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. ”Daoist Xu.”

”Daoist Fang,” called Xu Peng, returning the gesture.

Suppressing the suspicion in his heart, Xu Peng pointed to Xu Ying and said, ”This is my younger sister, Xu Ying. She heard that you were coming and insisted on accompanying me to welcome you.”

Xu Ying’s cheeks turned pink as she shyly spoke. ”This humble one pays her respects to Sword Leader Fang.”

Fang Chen nodded in acknowledgment. ”Junior Sister Xu.”

Xu Peng asked cautiously, ”Daoist Fang, upon hearing of your visit, many of the young disciples from the Green Elephant Sect expressed a desire to meet you. They’re currently waiting at Golden Peng Peak. I hope you don’t mind?”

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. ”No problem.”

Xu Peng was relieved to hear that, thinking that Fang Chen was rather open-minded about demon races. But that was understandable. After all, if he hadn’t been, he wouldn’t have accepted three demon cultivators as his disciples.

With that in mind, Xu Peng’s expression softened, and he gestured. ”Please, follow me.”

The three of them flew toward Golden Peng Peak.

During the journey, Xu Ying gradually became more familiar with Fang Chen. She soon realized that Fang Chen was easygoing. He patiently answered her questions, unlike the arrogant prodigies she had met before. This made her feel increasingly at ease.

By the time they reached the Golden Peng Peak, Xu Ying had become even more familiar with Fang Chen.

Looking at his sister, Xu Peng’s expression turned strange, and he sent her a sound transmission. ”Little Sister, you’re not thinking of asking Daoist Fang to be your Dao partner, are you? I suggest you quickly dispel that thought.”

Xu Ying shot him a look, clearly displeased with his words. ”Why not?”

”No reason. Just don’t,” replied Xu Peng evasively, waving his hand.

He had come to know that Fang Chen was involved in matters far too complicated, and he didn’t want his sister to get caught up in them. If things went wrong, they would all suffer.

At that moment, a group of Green Elephant Sect disciples approached them with great enthusiasm upon seeing the three. The leading figures were cultivators with impressive cultivation levels, and one of them stepped forward, cupping his hands toward Fang Chen.

”Daoist Fang, I am Xu Ruinian, disciple of my master, Immortal King Huang Chan,” said Xu Ruinian, a deep gleam in his eyes.

Fang Chen’s smile deepened. ”Void Immortal Sword Sect, Fang Chen. I pay my respects to you, Daoist Xu.”

Fang Chen’s gaze was rife with meaning as he looked at Xu Ruinian as well.