Immortal of the Nine Realms

No one said a word. Out of the corners of their eyes, they quietly glanced at each other, speculating whether someone among them had violated a taboo.

”Monarch Qi, what has the Underworld Official Division been doing lately?” Fang Chen suddenly asked.

Qi Tianran stood up respectfully and bowed. He then answered, ”Monarch Fang, the Underworld Official Division has recently taken charge of 4,327 cities. It’s all thanks to Monarch Shentu’s full cooperation that things went so smoothly.”

Fang Chen turned to Du Yunxu. ”That’s too slow. What’s the total number of cities recorded in the Underworld?”

Du Yunxu replied softly, ”A little over 360,000.”

Qi Tianran was momentarily stunned. He then gave a bitter smile. ”The Underworld Official Division... can’t find that many personnel at once.”

Fang Chen said calmly, ”If you lack manpower, then recruit from various places. I’ve noticed that some wandering souls possess impressive capabilities despite not having a powerful cultivation. You mustn’t judge solely by cultivation level.”

Everyone was momentarily taken aback. Their eyes subtly drifted toward Jiang Yushu, and they began to understand what today’s meeting might really be about.

Qi Tianran bowed respectfully. ”Understood.”

”You must quickly take control of all major cities and, in their corresponding locations in the human world, establish City God Temples,” said Fang Chen calmly. ”Affairs of the Mortal Realm are not entirely unrelated to the Underworld.”

”But... other than the Day and Night Walker lineages, none of us can leave the Underworld...” Qi Tianran said quietly.

”That’s exactly the core of today’s meeting.” Fang Chen smiled faintly and glanced at Jing Xue and Du Yunxu. ”From now on, the two of you will work directly with the Underworld Official Division.”

Qiu Jing was stunned. ”This...”

With this, the Nether Guards Division would become a purely independent branch, having nothing to do with the Day and Night Walkers.

To Qiu Jing, this wasn’t a bad thing. It meant he wouldn’t have to deal with two equal-ranking officials. Within his division, he would now have absolute authority.

Qi Tianran’s expression shifted slightly, and he quickly said, ”That’s wonderful. With their help, the Underworld Official Division will be much more efficient.”

”For the City God Temples... should we cooperate with the Yin Walkers?” Shentu Cang suddenly asked.

Fang Chen nodded. ”Of course.”

Shentu Cang turned to Qi Tianran and smiled. ”Monarch Qi, if needed, the Yin Walker Division will assist you.”

Qi Tianran nodded with a smile. ”Much appreciated.”

The Monarch of the Soul Capturing Division hesitated for a moment. ”Monarch Fang, what about us in the Soul Capturing Division...”

Their duty was to lead wandering souls from the Mortal Realm to the Yellow Springs and bring them to the banks of the Forgotten River. Whether they could cross the river or not wasn’t their responsibility. However, now that their staff no longer had the ability to travel to the Mortal Realm, their daily work had become largely meaningless.

Only when a Yin Demon appeared would they occasionally coordinate with the Nether Guards Division to subdue it.

”There’s no rush with the Soul Capturing Division. First, establish the offices across all regions,” Fang Chen said.

The Soul Capturing Monarch sighed inwardly and nodded, saying nothing more.

In the past, the Judgment Division held the most power, with the Nether Guards Division second. Now it was the Underworld Official Division on top, with the Yin Walker Division second.

For the Soul Capturing Division, not much had changed except that their situation was slightly better than before.

”While strolling around the Mortal Realm recently, I heard a rumor.” Fang Chen smiled faintly and looked at everyone. ”I wonder if you’d like to hear it?”

Strolling around the Mortal Realm?

Everyone nodded quietly to themselves. So the rumors were true. Fang Chen had originally been a Yin Walker.

”Please, Monarch Fang. We are all ears,” Qi Tianran said with a bow.

”I heard that the Spirit God Sect has many powerful Loose Immortals who are traveling the Floating Pagoda Realm, attempting to break into the Underworld from there.”

Fang Chen chuckled. ”Have you heard of this?”

Everyone was slightly startled and exchanged glances.

In truth, aside from the Day and Night Walker lineages, most present had little understanding of the Mortal Realm, or little interest in it.

Even the most formidable Loose Immortals had lifespans shorter than theirs. Thousands of years pass, and those Loose Immortals die of old age, while the Yin Monarchs continue to live undisturbed.

However, everyone present had at least heard of the Spirit God Sect. After all, it had once flourished in the Underworld.

”Spirit God Sect cultivators... traveling through the Floating Pagoda Realm?”

You Fang, who had remained silent until now, narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening. ”What are they trying to do?”

”What else? If they’re trying to invade the Underworld through the Floating Pagoda Realm, their goal must be to replace us.”

Shentu Cang snorted coldly and stood up to bow. ”Monarch Fang, how should we respond?”

Replace us?!

The Underworld Monarchs were astounded, and their expressions darkened.

These Mortal Realm cultivators actually had their eyes on the Underworld?

For all these years, the Underworld had almost never interfered in the Mortal Realm. Occasionally, they had Yin Walkers handle things discreetly. It was an unspoken rule that those holding official positions in the Underworld wouldn’t involve themselves in those affairs.

Even so, these cultivators were now targeting the Underworld? Choosing to give up life and cause trouble in death?

”I need the Day and Night Walkers to begin monitoring certain individuals going forward,” Fang Chen said.

Monitor certain individuals?

Jing Xue and Du Yunxu nodded silently. This was an easy task. Most cultivators couldn’t even see wandering souls unless they had special vision techniques. For them, surveillance was almost effortless.

Fang Chen chuckled and said, ”The stronger the Spirit God Sect grows, the greater the danger to the Underworld. You should all understand, your cultivation levels wouldn’t amount to much in the Mortal Realm.”

The group exchanged awkward looks. Though they didn’t want to admit it, it was the truth. Fortunately, the Underworld had its own rules established by Monarch Yan, so cultivators couldn’t influence it easily.

”You’ve probably heard of some of the Spirit God Sect’s methods. From now on, the Day and Night Walkers will focus on investigating this. If we can catch wind of their schemes early, we can keep weakening them,” Fang Chen said.

Everyone now vaguely understood why, in recent days, the Underworld had forcefully expelled all Spirit God Sect Yin Walkers. It was a preemptive defense.

”This won’t be easy, and we won’t see results right away. But if all of you can set aside your differences and work together, with our advantages, the Spirit God Sect will have a hard time too,” said Fang Chen, smiling. ”I plan to establish a new Division, called the Soul Slaying Division. Its souls will be allowed to enter the Mortal Realm to confront Spirit God Sect cultivators.”

Everyone was stunned.

Fight? With cultivators?

Here in the Underworld, their souls had form and substance, but in the human world, they were intangible and formless. How could they possibly duel with cultivators?

Shentu Cang’s eyes lit up. With a peculiar expression, he said, ”It’s said that in ancient times... Underworld souls could indeed influence the Mortal Realm. Back then, we could even sit and debate the Dao with cultivators.”

Everyone froze, then collectively gasped, but their eyes began to burn with excitement.