Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen didn’t answer Xia Xuanji’s question and instead stared at him with his gray-white eyes.

After a moment of silence, Xia Xuanji sighed and said, ”The Heavenly Demon Empire is far to the north. That region is covered in snow all year round and bitterly cold. Even cultivators can’t last long there. But for the citizens there, it’s no problem, because there are all various kinds of demon cultivators who are born with strong and robust vitality.

”The Corrosive Dragon King guards the northern region of the Central Continent, keeping watch over the Heavenly Demon Empire. According to records in the Central Continent, the Heavenly Demon Empire has tried to break through the borders multiple times to challenge the Central Continent, but they were beaten back each time.”

At that point, Xia Xuanji glanced at Fang Chen. ”Did you hear something?”

Fang Chen said, ”The Spirit God Sect plans to have the Heavenly Demon Empire take the place of the Central Continent.”

Xia Xuanji let out a scoff and shook his head. ”The old man noticed this a long time ago and already investigated it. The Heavenly Demon Empire doesn’t have the foundation to challenge the Central Continent. If they dare to invade again, even if the Corrosive Dragon King colludes with them, they’ll be stopped at the Northern Heavenly Gate.”

Fang Chen had heard that the Central Continent was protected by four Heavenly Gates: North, South, West, and East.

Although lands outside the gates were still considered part of the Central Continent, they were mostly resource-poor regions. Most of the major Immortal Courts and Palaces were located within the Heavenly Gates.

Fang Chen nodded. He didn’t doubt the old man’s assessment of the situation, but with a True Immortal now involved, the circumstances were clearly different.

Xia Xuanji smiled faintly and said, ”The Spirit God Sect always makes a big show with little actual force. They can’t shake the foundation of the Central Continent. At most, they’ll use this as an excuse to refine another batch of Blood Spirit Pills.

”Since you know about this, just inform the relevant parties. That alone should be enough to foil their plans.”

Fang Chen suddenly asked, ”What’s the strongest second-tier empire outside the Southern Heavenly Gate?”

”Outside the Southern Gate? That would be the second-tier Frost Moon Empire. But compared to the Heavenly Demon Empire, it is far inferior in terms of foundation. Why? Is the Spirit God Sect planning to use them too?”

Fang Chen didn’t answer. Instead, he said, ”If the Spirit God Sect buys off all four continent Immortal Kings, they could easily reach the four Heavenly Gates. Once past the gates, the center would be exposed, wouldn’t it?”

”If you put it that way... it’s certainly possible. But you’re overlooking one point—the First Rate Sect Leaders.”

Xia Xuanji said thoughtfully, ”Maybe someone among the Heavenly Demon Empire has secretly become a First Rate Sect Leader without revealing themselves. But as for the other second-tier empires, it’s nearly impossible for any of them to have one. With that, even if they had the will to join forces, as long as the one from the Central Continent’s Desolate Academy is not dead, they wouldn’t be able to break through.”

Fang Chen replied calmly, ”The First Rate Sect Leaders of the Immortal Worshipping Sect and the Incense Sect have never shown themselves. They could very well be working with the Spirit God Sect. Besides that, the Spirit God Sect can also mobilize a number of rogue sword cultivators, including not just first-transformation, but even second-transformation Loose Immortals.”

Xia Xuanji was stunned. ”Where did you hear this? First and second transformation Loose sword immortals? If that’s true, what’s the point of even fighting? The Central Continent would be doomed.

”The rise and fall of a first-tier empire will affect all subordinate empires. Knowing the Spirit God Sect’s style, this war could drag on for a dozen years or more.”

Xia Xuanji’s expression grew increasingly serious. A war that long could set the Central Continent back by centuries, even a millennium. The empire would be left in shambles.

”It’s not just the Central Continent. Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper will face the same situation,” shared Fang Chen flatly. ”Celestial Heaven’s Flying Star, and Northern Dipper’s Holy Puppet. Have you heard of them?”

”I have. Both are top-tier among second-tier empires, each likely with at least one First Rate Sect Leader hidden in reserve.”

Xia Xuanji began pacing in the hall. He suddenly looked at Fang Chen and said, ”Why would the Spirit God Sect do this? It goes against their usual philosophy. They may be brutal, but at least they don’t burn the fields to the ground. If things turn out the way you say, then for many years, this world would be of no value to them. It would take seven or eight hundred years, maybe even a thousand, to recover its origin qi.”

”If you see the old man, tell him,” said Fang Chen.

He waved his hand and turned to leave.

Seeing he was unwilling to explain more, Xia Xuanji couldn’t help but curl his lips in frustration.

Fang Chen returned briefly to the Fang manor but still didn’t see any sign of the old man. After staying a few days, he went to the Desolate Academy.

Inside the Hall of Ancient Records, the resting Elder Xun lifted his eyelids and said, ”Why aren’t you cultivating properly? Why are you running around everywhere?”

Fang Chen cupped his hands. ”Elder Xun, something major is about to happen.”

Something major?

Elder Xun frowned, and he instinctively sat up straight. ”Tell me—has the Prison Wind Lands started stirring up trouble again?”

Fang Chen asked, ”Elder Xun, have you ever heard of the Lesser Immortal Realm?”

”Never.” Elder Xun shook his head. ”To be honest, when I was younger, I only traveled through Prison Wind, Longyuan, Sihui, Minghu, and a few other regions similar to this one. If I wanted to go farther, there was no path. Some star-shifting teleportation formations do exist, but only a very few people have access to them.”

Fang Chen said, ”The Lesser Immortal Realm has a True Immortal. That True Immortal now intends to refine Anomalies, so he’s ordered the Spirit God Sect to act here in order to draw out two of them.”

Elder Xun was surprised. ”A True Immortal? Planning to refine an Anomaly?”

”That’s right.” Fang Chen nodded. ”The Heavenly Demon Empire in the Central Continent, Flying Star Empire in Celestial Heaven, and Holy Puppet in Northern Dipper. All of them are affiliated with the Spirit God Sect. This time, they’re planning to turn Tuxiong Star into a battlefield.”

”So that means... we have nowhere to retreat?” Elder Xun frowned. ”Our strength is far inferior. If we clash with them head-on, it won’t end well.”

Fang Chen said, ”Before the two Anomalies reveal themselves, the enemy won’t dare act too openly. As long as we prevent chaos from erupting below, how would those Loose sword immortals of the Spirit God Sect dare intervene directly? And even if they do, can they slaughter every living being in this world?”

”True. If they personally take action, they’d incur too much backlash from karma and surely invite heavenly tribulation.”

Elder Xun nodded. ”So, what’s your plan? Let me hear your suggestions.”

Fang Chen said, ”First, we must confirm whether the First Rate Sect Leader of the Immortal Worshipping Sect and Incense Sect are affiliated with the Spirit God Sect and whether they’ll intervene.”

Elder Xun smiled faintly. ”I don’t know about the Immortal Worshipping Sect; their leader is rarely present, so we need to stay wary. But the First Rate Sect Leader of the Incense Sect is none other than the current Emperor of the Central Continent. If even he is helping the Spirit God Sect, then we might as well pack up and run.”

This piece of information greatly surprised Fang Chen. The First Rate Sect Leader of the Incense Sect is the Emperor of the Central Continent?

However, as Fang Chen thought about it, he realized it made sense. Though the Incense Fire Sect lacked a strong upper echelon, their influence was widespread in countless small empires. If the Emperor of the Central Continent was the First Rate Sect Leader, he could easily control all those minor empires.

Fang Chen said, ”If that’s the case, all you need to do is step in at the critical moment. The Spirit God Sect’s plan won’t be so easy to carry out.”

Elder Xun said, ”I’m no three-headed, six-armed god. I can’t be everywhere at once. I can only guard the Central Continent. As for Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper, I have no way of reaching them. If the result is that only the Central Continent is fine, then the Spirit God Sect’s plan will still succeed.”

After a brief pause, Fang Chen said, ”Then... leave the rest to me.”