Immortal of the Nine Realms

The Spirit God Sect’s current scheme involved the entire realm of Tuxiong Star. A single move would affect the whole situation. Even the preparatory phase required significant time and effort, which gave Fang Chen ample opportunity to devise countermeasures.

In each place, he had already ordered guards from the Day Walker and Night Walker division to be stationed. If anything stirred, the news would reach the Capital of the Underworld immediately and then to Fang Chen himself.

Song Zhili’s recent actions also offered Fang Chen a valuable opportunity. If things went as planned, it could give the Spirit God Sect a serious blow.

***

Ancient Desolate Region’s Chaotic Star. Longyuan.

Compared to Prison Winds, Longyuan had an even deeper foundation. It boasted thirteen powers with third transformation Loose Immortals presiding over them. And that wasn’t even counting the wanderers, such as Zhao Yunlu, who were also third transformations.

At a lively banquet, Dongfang Haojie quietly sent a voice transmission to Long Wu, “Dear, could you maybe... change your form back?”

Long Wu glanced sideways at him and replied, “The power contained within the Dragon Pearl is too overwhelming. This form is a side effect. Are you starting to dislike me?”

“Of course not!” Dongfang Haojie straightened his expression. “I’m not someone shallow who only judges appearances.”

Long Wu let out a soft laugh “Good.”

Nearby, a group of young men and women subtly watched the couple, though their gazes carried a faint but unmistakable sense of contempt.

One among them suddenly raised a cup and approached, offering a toast to the couple and exchanging a few polite words before smiling and walking away.

Dongfang Haojie could feel the disdain these people held for them, but there was little he could do.

The two of them were, after all, currently relying on the hospitality of others. Fortunately, this place was under the jurisdiction of the old flood dragon, so those sword cultivators likely wouldn’t dare intrude easily.

“That’s the third branch’s Long Wu, right? I heard her bloodline is incredibly pure—who would’ve guessed she’d turn out so... ugly.”

“Don’t mock her. Ugly as she is, she still found herself a husband just as plain.”

“This upheaval in the Long Family should serve as a wake-up call for the rest of us. Those sword cultivators are no joke.”

“Big Brother, do you think they came here to seek an audience with the ancestor, hoping he’ll take their side?”

“Exactly,” said the young man who had toasted the couple casually. “But the ancestor hasn’t meddled in worldly matters for years. He won’t intervene in something so trivial. Us of the Flood Dragon bloodline do not have close ties with the Dragonblood Family. No need to offend those sword cultivators on their behalf. Letting them stay here is already a favor for old times’ sake. Hopefully, those sword cultivators are smart enough not to cause trouble here.”

The young man’s aura was deeply restrained, but the occasional flicker of spiritual pressure revealed he was at the Ascension Realm.

While not part of the first tier of prodigies like Yan Haoran, he was among the finest of the second tier. His father was the thirty-second son of the old flood dragon. He was a first transformation Loose Immortal. Today marked his 6,000th birthday.

Flood dragons had long lifespans. Different from human cultivators, they have many more chances to ascend to become Loose Immortals. None of the old flood dragon’s children were anything less than Loose Immortals. So even though the old flood dragon hadn’t concerned himself with worldly matters for years, the entire Longyuan Realm still held him in deep respect and wouldn’t dare provoke him.

At that moment, an elderly man with a calm and friendly demeanor slowly appeared. Immediately, numerous first transformation Loose Immortals stepped forward to offer their congratulations, and the atmosphere of the banquet grew even more festive.

Seeing that, Long Wu pulled Dongfang Haojie along to step forward and offered their congratulations.

All eyes at the banquet shifted toward the two of them. Everyone present knew their background. In the past, such status would have warranted more respectful attention. But now that the Long Family had suffered upheaval and their third transformation Loose Immortal had fallen in battle with the remaining LooseImmortals missing, the couple’s presence seemed not only awkward but even inauspicious.

Most avoided engaging with them too much.

“Come, come, let me introduce you all,” called out Chen Qianlong warmly, beckoning the couple forward and presenting them to the first transformation Loose Immortals seated at the main table.

Today, the main table had five first transformation Loose Immortals—six including Chen Qianlong. No one else was qualified to sit there.

“Truly a fine young couple.”

The immortals smiled and nodded, though their expressions carried a subtle undertone. One that wasn’t entirely welcoming.

After delivering their words of congratulations, Long Wu asked softly, “Uncle Chen, has the ancestor agreed to meet with us?”

Chen Qianlong’s expression shifted slightly before he smiled and said, “My father is very old now and doesn’t like to move. He sleeps most of the time. You’ll have to wait a little longer.”

The couple sighed inwardly, knowing that it was merely a polite refusal. If the old flood dragon wouldn’t meet them today, he likely never would. The Hidden Dragon City was still far from the ancestor’s true place of seclusion.

Brushed off by Chen Qianlong, they returned to their seats. Dongfang Haojie opened his mouth to say something but then suddenly froze, staring in astonishment at the seat beside him.

“Brother Fang Chen?” he called out in disbelief.

He was both shocked and delighted.

Long Wu’s gaze also shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly with seriousness.

Fang Chen’s voice quietly sounded by their ears, “This Hidden Dragon City is already surrounded by a group of sword cultivators. One can only get it but not out.”

Dongfang Haojie drew in a sharp breath, his eyes flashing with anger.

“These sword cultivators are too much! We’ve already run to a place this remote, and they still won’t let us go?”

This was Longyuan, after all, the territory of the old flood dragon himself. Chen Qianlong was of his direct bloodline. By all logic, Li Changsheng and the others should be wary of stepping too far. Why pursue them so relentlessly?

“They’re not here for you,” Fang Chen said with a faint smile, his gaze drifting toward Chen Qianlong not far away. “The target of these sword cultivators is him.”

The two of them froze slightly, their expressions shifting. Long Wu couldn’t help but ask via voice transmission, “Why? Is it because Uncle Qianlong gave us shelter, and now Li Changsheng and the others want revenge?”

“That’s not it. It’s the will of the Spirit God Sect.”

The Spirit God Sect....

Dongfang Haojie gradually calmed down, then looked at Fang Chen with a strange expression. “Brother Fang, if you already know all this and appeared here in person... Does that mean you’ve got a countermeasure ready?”

Long Wu clearly realized the same, her emotions settling.

This man could command Loose Immortals—and today, there were six of them present, including Chen Qianlong. With their help, perhaps those sword cultivators wouldn’t succeed so easily.

Fang Chen transmitted quietly, “We’ll take it one step at a time. These bunch of Loose Immortals... might not be reliable.”

These bunch of Loose Immortals...?

The two looked toward the table where Chen Qianlong sat, their expressions growing even stranger.

Could the Spirit God Sect really be so terrifying that they had already infiltrated even Longyuan?

These Loose Immortals were all from prominent sects or noble families near Hidden Dragon City! They weren’t rootless wanderers. And yet, they might’ve also pledged loyalty to the Spirit God Sect?

Long Wu asked via voice transmission, “Brother Fang, these immortals all have powerful backgrounds. If they dared lay a hand on Uncle Qianlong, wouldn’t they fear the old flood dragon’s wrath?”

Fang Chen replied after a brief pause, “I imagine... they don’t plan to leave any witnesses.”