Immortal of the Nine Realms

Many of the young disciples of the Long Family had once visited Yunlu City. As they examined the approaching procession, several began to recognize familiar faces.

”Am I seeing things? That man beating the gong... isn’t he Zhao Mingxuan from Yunlu City?”

”I think you’re right...”

”And the one clapping in front of him... Isn’t he Sun Gu, who vanished along with Zhao Mingxuan?”

”Vanished? Obviously he’s dead.”

The crowd fell into a heavy silence, with unease bubbling beneath their expressions.

The truth had finally come to light. Zhao Yunlu was not mistaken. Zhao Mingxuan had indeed died at the hands of Fang Chen.

They had all witnessed Fang Chen’s terrifying might. His followers were at least first-transformation Loose Immortals.

The Long Family’s disciples felt a cold dread seep into their bones as they watched the pitiful spectacle of Zhao Mingxuan and Sun Gu, who had been reduced to wandering souls performing shameful acts just to survive.

The procession came to a halt. From within the palanquin, a veiled woman stepped out. It was none other than Empress Ci. She was followed closely by Yu Qingmei, who had become a meek servant girl.

”Another Supreme Loose Immortal...” murmured Xue Shan fearfully.

Empress Ci exuded an extraordinary presence. Her aura was akin to the attacker who had previously revealed themselves. When they turned their eyes to the Tai Yin Dragon King and Stone Dragon, everyone felt their hearts sink.

These two’s cultivation was even higher and more unfathomable.

Fang Chen has four Loose Immortals under his command! What was his true identity that allowed him to hold such great power to command and control these formidable allies?

Empress Ci gave a gentle bow before asking with a serene smile, ”Your Highness, how should we handle these people?”

”Take them to the Floating Pagoda Realm and interrogate them,” replied Fang Chen calmly. ”As for what to ask... You may ask them anything. I’ll personally interrogate them again once I’m back.”

His eyes gleamed with subtle meaning.

Empress Ci immediately understood. Her role was not to obtain answers, but to make them ’willing’ to speak. This was a simple task.

”Your Highness, these people must be Dragon Slaves, yes?” murmured Tai Yin Dragon King.

His eyes drifted to the stunned Long Family.

Dragon Slaves...?

The term stirred a flicker of fury among many Long Family disciples. They belong to the Dragon Blood Family, and such a term had long been abandoned.

Fang Chen nodded and ordered, ”Now that Prison Wind Lands are in turmoil, our enemies wield great strength, with some even being third-transformation sword cultivators. I need everyone to return to the Floating Pagoda Realm for now. We’ll plan our next move from there.”

Then, he turned to Long Ruo and said, ”Miss Long Ruo, rest assured that Empress Ci will see to your arrangements. Please go with her.”

With narrowed eyes, Long Ruo asked, ”What about our agreement?”

”It still stands,” replied Fang Chen.

Upon hearing, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Very quickly, Fang Chen activated the Floating Pagoda Bridge and sent them away, keeping only Stone Dragon by his side.

Fang Chen turned to him and asked, ”Lord Stone, a while ago, Empress Ci mentioned negotiations with Second Rank Great Yin Demons. How did that go?”

”Their terms were...heretical,” replied Stone Dragon. ”They want the imperial decree, but not to be under your jurisdiction. If Your Highness ever needs their help and they decide that the situation is too dangerous, they want the freedom to reject. If Your Highness is agreeable to these terms, they are willing to accept the imperial decree.”

”They’re trying to make a wish, not a pact,” said Fang Chen dismissively with a faint chuckle.

He had hoped to recruit more Second or Third Rank Yin Demons, but not at the cost of compromise. Else, it would only encourage others to demand more.

***

In Central Continent, within the Immortal Giant Sect, Fang Chen’s divine spirit had travelled through the void. As he arrived, he sensed something strange. There was an eerie emptiness all around.

The vast sect was abandoned and empty. Not just the disciples and elders, but even the spiritual springs, veins, fields, groves, and trees had been stripped clean.

”This isn’t the work of a sword cultivator. Not even Li Changsheng moves this quickly,” muttered Fang Chen with a frown.

Without his shortcut through the Lesser Underworld, even a First Rate Sect Leader like Li Changsheng would need far more time to traverse such distances.

”There are no cultivators nearby,” confirmed Stone Dragon.

Similarly, the Green Elephant Sect, the Grand Dao Library, and even the famous Lingyun Sword Sect were desolate and lifeless.

Every single person of the Divine Dao Sect, from the Qi Refining disciples to the Immortal Kings, had vanished with no trace.

”This must be the work of Mr Pu,” murmured Fang Chen with a smirk.

It was evident that Pu Yuanzhu had anticipated the Long Family’s inevitable defeat and had long evacuated the cultivators of the Divine Dao Sect out of the Central Continent. They were nowhere to be found now.

Fang Chen’s eyes flickered as a thought came to him. The Wo Long Temple?

Once again, he crossed the Underworld with Stone Dragon, passing by Youhuan City and eventually reaching the Wo Long Temple. A familiar figure greeted them—Xun Xiyin.

With a strange expression, she greeted Fang Chen and started conversing with him.

From their conversation, Fang Chen learned that it was indeed the Sect Leader of the Divine Dao Sect who had orchestrated the retreat. Xun Xiyin had stayed solely to wait for Fang Chen and relay a message.

She shared, ”The Sect Leader has planned for a very long time. We’re just shifting to a better cultivating environment. However, the Killing Spiritual Division in Central Continent is gone...”

Fang Chen’s eyes flashed. His inner thoughts reached the jade talisman of the Killing Spiritual Division to verify. It had indeed lost its luster and was reduced to a lifeless token.

He concluded, ”So they gave up.”.

Xun Xiyin stayed silent. Then she replied, ”The Sect Leader said that one wrong step taken will lead to many. Since the Killing Spiritual Division can no longer break the fortune of the Spirit Blood Sect, to avoid pointless deaths, we’d halt all operations of the Killing Spiritual Division temporarily.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Fair enough.”

If he were in Pu Yuanzhu’s position, he would have done the same.

It was clear that the Spirit God Sect in Prison Wind Lands had clearly gotten the upper hand. With the power they held, it would take no effort to take control of the whole of Central Continent. The decision Pu Yuanzhu made to retreat would prevent provoking the Spirit God Sect and avoid mutual destruction.

Fang Chen also learned that Jiang Tianai was safe with Xun Xiyin in the new cultivating environment. Not long later, Xun Xiyin left Fang Chen an address and departed.

Since Pu Yuanzhu had finished his preparation, Fang Chen had no time to linger and quickly made his preparations.

He travelled instantly to Desolate Academy.

In the Hall of Ancient Records, Elder Xun remained seated in his creaky old rocking chair.

With a grin, he said to Fang Chen, ”I have some good news for you.”