Immortal of the Nine Realms

The outside world was unaware of the movements of the Loose Immortals from the Long and Sun families. Even the younger generations of both families hadn’t noticed a thing. They were all still intently watching Yan Kun and the others.

Chen Qingtai and the others were visibly confused and uneasy. Someone asked, ”What just happened?”

Just moments ago, Long Jingyao, Long Jingguang, Long Jingchun, the Heaven Calamity Dragoness, and a second-transformation Loose Immortal from the fourth branch had seemingly received some sort of news. They had gone to speak briefly with the Sun Family, and then both sides quietly left the area.

Li Changsheng said calmly, ”Something big must have happened. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have left all at once.”

At that moment, Lu Qingshu arrived, soaring through the air with over a dozen Ascension Realm sword cultivators. They landed directly in front of Li Changsheng. Those he brought were all heads or deputy heads of the nine Sword Academy of the Long Family. There were figures like Xue Shan among them.

Li Changsheng asked in a low voice, ”Brother Lu, what has happened?”

Lu Qingshu swept his gaze across Chen Qingtai and the others, then said plainly, ”It’s nothing major. Just some fool who doesn’t know their place went to the Long Family to stir up trouble while we were away. Before leaving, they entrusted you with handling matters here. We’ll follow your lead for now.”

Chen Qingtai and the others exchanged stunned looks.

Someone’s causing trouble for the Long family!?

Who had the guts—or rather, a death wish—to provoke the Long Family?

That third-transformation Loose Immortal wasn’t someone to be trifled with. The Long Family hadn’t reached its current standing through idle boasting, but by carving out its empire with sheer force.

Even Zhao Yunlu, who was a third-transformation Loose Immortal himself, wouldn’t stand a chance against that person. Otherwise, the Heaven Calamity Dragoness wouldn’t have acted so tough and fearless.

A thought quickly passed through the mind of Li Changsheng’s wife, and she asked, ”What about the Sun Family? Looks like someone is troubling them too?”

Lu Qingshu nodded. ”Yes. Some ignorant fools have paid the Sun Family a visit as well, looking to stir up trouble. It seems someone is targeting both the Long and Sun Families.”

Everyone looked up, and sure enough, nearly all of the Loose Immortals from both families had left. Only the younger disciples remained, unaware of what was going on.

A white-robed woman frowned and said, ”Our Long Family has operated in the Prison Wind Lands for many years. Even if there were frictions with other clans, we always settled them through sword duels among sword cultivators. For someone to come directly to our doorstep and cause trouble, there must be a third transformation Loose Immortal backing them.”

Lu Qingshu replied, ”Indeed. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have rushed back so urgently.”

Li Changsheng nodded and reassured, ”Lady, with the Ancestor there, the Long Family will be fine. We should just wait here.”

Li Changsheng’s words made the situation sound casual, yet everyone present could feel how strange and ominous it truly was. After all, why would both the Long and Sun families be attacked at the same time? This was clearly a coordinated strike!

This wasn’t something that could be explained away as a minor conflict. Most likely, someone was trying to replace the Long and Sun Families among the elite noble clans!

***

One month passed.

By now, Fang Chen had already reached the 91st stage, while Yan Kun was still struggling far below, a small distance away but still falling behind.

As for what was happening outside, Fang Chen knew nothing. All he knew was that he had to reach the 100th level no matter what.

Only by winning the wager for the Long Family would the Central Continent’s situation remain stable. If the Sun Families’ cultivators took over that region and chaos ensued, he would be left hopeless with his current strength.

***

At the Sword Burial Palace, Zhu Yunchen took out a transmission talisman and glanced at it, his expression growing increasingly odd. He couldn’t help but look over toward Li Changsheng.

Zhu Kexiu noticed something was off and asked quietly, ”What happened, Father?”

”It’s nothing. The Long and Sun Families have encountered a powerful enemy this time, and chaos may break out.”

Zhu Yunchen shook his head. ”That has nothing to do with us. No need to get involved. Also, you’ve gotten quite close to many from the Long and Sun Families. Best to distance yourself a bit going forward.”

Zhu Kexiu felt a chill run down his spine. The Long and Sun Families were two of the four great noble houses. What kind of powerful enemy could they possibly face? Was there any force in the Prison Wind Land that could rival them? And based on his father’s words, it sounded like the two families were about to suffer a major blow, serious enough that he needed to start distancing himself from them.

Could it be... even the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land might hesitate to provoke whoever this enemy is?

Zhu Kexiu wanted to ask more, but Zhu Yunchen no longer spoke. And perhaps it was just his imagination, but he thought he caught a fleeting smile in his father’s eyes.

***

As another year passed, spring turned to winter.

In the midst of the thick, white snow, a few scattered figures sat silently. Among them were Fang Chen and Bai Qingming. There were also Yan Kun, Fu Donghai, Zhang Gaotian, and a few sword cultivators from the Sun Family. At that moment, they all happened to be in the same place—the 94th stage of the Heavenly Steps.

Everyone was wrapped in thick garments woven from vines to ward off the cold.

Now, the group didn’t just need to endure the crushing pressure of the Sword Burial Heavenly Steps. They also needed to fight off the freezing cold. This winter was colder than the last, and it didn’t help that they were so high up. At this height, even the softest breath would instantly crystallize into frost.

Listening to the uneven breathing of those around him, Fang Chen couldn’t help but sigh. No wonder they say only one in ten thousand can reach the top.

Even without carrying Bai Qingming, with his strength, he could only stay one step ahead of the others on the staircase, no more than that.

”Junior Brother, how about you take a nap first?” suggested Bai Qingming. ”I’ll keep watch. If anything happens, I’ll wake you up. When you wake, I’ll sleep. This way, we can ensure neither of us falls into eternal sleep here.”

Fang Chen replied with a smile, ”I’m not tired. You sleep first, Senior Brother,”

”Well... alright.”

Bai Qingming didn’t argue. The moment he closed his eyes, he fell asleep.

He was truly exhausted.

At that moment, Yan Kun slowly walked over and sat down in the thick snow beside Fang Chen. He said, ”Fang Chen, let’s stop fighting. If we make it out of this alive, how about we call it square?”

Fang Chen wore his usual smile. ”You’re just afraid that if you fall asleep with no one to wake you, you’ll freeze to death in your sleep, aren’t you?”

Hearing that, an embarrassed look appeared on Yan Kun’s face. It appeared that Fang Chen had read him like a book, as that was exactly what he had in mind.

Before, he hadn’t considered the severity of the climate at all, thinking he could charge straight to the top in one go.

However, with Dan Zixu and Huo Yuanwei no longer by his side and with Fu Donghai and Zhang Gaotian not being people he could trust, he had no one else to turn to. The sword cultivators from the Sun Family wouldn’t care about him either. The only one left who might help him... was Fang Chen.

Yan Kun muttered softly, ”There’s no blood feud between us.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Alright. Sleep for a while. We’ll take turns.”

Yan Kun let out a quiet sigh of relief and immediately shut his eyes to sleep.

Only by sleeping could he regain his strength. Without strength, there was no way they’d survive this winter.

***

About half an hour later, Bai Qingming opened his eyes. He glanced at Yan Kun, then leaned closer and whispered to Fang Chen, ”You’re really not worried this guy will stab us in the back while we’re asleep?”

”There is nothing to worry about,” Fang Chen replied. ”He’s Grandmaster Li’s disciple—and he’s from the same homeland as me. I doubt he’d go that far.”

”Suit yourself. I’m awake now. You get some sleep,” said Bai Qingming, settling into place.

Fang Chen gave Yan Kun a final glance, then slowly closed his eyes.

At that moment, Yan Kun’s breathing finally evened out—for real this time. He hadn’t truly fallen asleep earlier, so he had heard everything Bai Qingming had said.

Just then, a phantom projection quietly emerged from Fang Chen’s body. It seated itself cross-legged beside the three of them, beginning a silent cultivation cycle.

Even when Fang Chen was only a mortal, he could project his divine soul. Therefore, even with his cultivation stripped away, he could still use soul projection. In other words, in the eyes of these mortals, he was a genuine Enlightenment Realm cultivator.

And that... was one of his biggest trump cards.