Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen’s gaze landed on Nie Yunqian.

She was an ideal candidate for promotion. Not just her. Perhaps the Yin Holy Sect behind her could also lend a hand in spreading the word.

However, if he truly intended to recruit large numbers of Underworld Soldiers, it would not only cost a tremendous amount of Yin Lifespan Coins, but the news would inevitably leak. For now, the various factions might have some suspicions about him, but they had no concrete evidence. The existence of the Yin Walker Division also meant they had lost access to intel from the Lesser Underworld.

Loose Immortals nearing the end of their lifespan would make excellent targets. I can send Nie Yunqian to speak with them.

With that thought, Fang Chen’s expression softened slightly as he looked at her.

Nie Yunqian sensed it too. Her cheeks reddened slightly, looking a bit unnatural, though a strange joy surged in her heart.

”Yan Haoran,” called out Fang Chen.

Yan Haoran cupped his fists and looked toward Fang Chen. ”Present.”

”From the way you speak, you sound quite convinced,” Fang Chen said with a smile. ”But no matter how much you say, I can’t tell whether you’re sincere or just putting on an act.”

”That said, it doesn’t really matter. All you need to understand is that your lives and deaths now rest in the palm of my hand.”

”Once you return to the living world, you should know what to do and how to act.”

”That’s fair,” Yan Haoran replied, nodding calmly. ”But what I said earlier was genuine. I only came to this decision after weighing the pros and cons. As cultivators, our goals are simple. All our actions serve one aim. If you can offer us a better path, with more benefits than losses, then I know what choice to make.”

Nangong Yuanzhen fell into contemplation. The feeling of having his life and death controlled by someone else was not a pleasant one. But under today’s circumstances, even if he were killed on the spot, he would have no recourse.

Now, not only did they get to live, but they also gained a new path to cultivate the Path of Ghost Gods. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing.

Yan Haoran said, ”By the way, the Spirit God Sect has deep foundations on the Chaotic Star. Even if you’re strong enough to contend with third transformation Loose Immortals, you’re still no match for them. This time, Song Zhili has formed ties with a true immortal from the Lesser Immortal Realm. The promises offered to him are no small matter.

”He won’t miss this opportunity. Since our plans failed and Wang Chongsong escaped, he might take action personally.

”Two third transformation sword cultivators, plus him and several other third transformation Loose Immortals. There is no way we could take him on with just us, even with that old man.”

Yan Haoran’s tone grew serious. ”We must come up with a way to delay them.”

”Why not just destroy the Starry Teleportation Formation?” Nangong Yuanzhen said indifferently. ”As long as they can’t come here, they won’t pose a threat.”

Fang Chen’s eyes lit up. That might actually be a viable plan.

Unexpectedly, Yan Haoran let out a scoff. He glanced at Nangong Yuanzhen and shook his head lightly. ”Do you really think the Starry Teleportation Formation works simply because there are formations on both ends enabling two-way travel?”

Nangong Yuanzhen frowned. ”Isn’t that the case?”

Yan Haoran shook his head. ”Of course not. That’s just an illusion. The Starry Teleportation Formation is actually a one-way passage. To cut off the path from the Prison Wind Lands to here, you’d have to destroy the teleportation array located in Prison Wind itself.

”The Spirit God Sect has spent years laying the groundwork. For convenience, they secretly commissioned the setup of countless teleportation arrays. You might be able to destroy one or two, but what about three or four? You can’t even find out where they are.

He continued, ”And the moment someone acts on such a thought, the Spirit God Sect will detect it immediately. At that point, they might accelerate their plans instead.”

”These matters are not your concern for now,” Fang Chen said calmly.

Upon hearing that, everyone froze.

Could it be that he already has a countermeasure?

***

Immortal Demonic Sea.

Ouyang Xuanzhen swept his gaze around warily, though his eyes kept drifting toward a light boat in the distance.

Fang Chen’s physical body had long since vanished. Onboard the boat, only Yan Haoran and the others sat cross-legged, eyes tightly shut.

Xu Qingsong took a deep breath and cautiously said, ”Patriarch... about this matter...”

However, before he could finish, Ouyang Xuanzhen cut him off. ”Don’t say another word. If we get through this, we live. If not, my fate won’t be much different from yours.”

Ouyang Xuanzhen smiled faintly. Though he looked calm and carefree, there was a bitter edge to his smile.

The Great Expansion Dao Sect had repeatedly chosen the wrong side, but until now, they had avoided real consequences.

Today was different. The Immortal Demonic Sea still glowed deep crimson. A First Rate Sect Leader had fallen today. This was no ordinary affair.

Even Ouyang Xuanzhen wasn’t sure whether the Great Expansion Dao Sect could survive this day.

Xu Qingsong’s face had turned pale. ”Perhaps... we should follow the Divine Dao Sect’s example...”

”The Divine Dao Sect has a patriarch and control over the Starry Teleportation Formation. What does our Great Expansion Dao Sect have?” Ouyang Xuanzhen snorted. ”Enough. Say no more.”

At that moment, Fang Chen’s figure emerged from the void.

Yan Haoran and the others opened their eyes one after another.

Ouyang Xuanzhen immediately tensed, his heart on edge and his expression tight as he held his breath.

The surrounding Great Expansion Dao Sect cultivators were no better. Their faces mirrored his, one of nervousness and unease.

Everyone cupped their fists and bowed. ”Thank you, Senior, for showing mercy today.”

They then promptly broke through the air and left the scene.

They just... left?

Ouyang Xuanzhen and the others looked at each other in surprise, then quickly lowered their heads in a show of respect.

Fang Chen quickly approached them.

As he stepped onto the Immortal Boat, his gaze swept across Ouyang Xuanzhen and the rest.

Everyone bowed their heads in silence, not daring to speak.

”Ouyang Xuanzhen, how long has it been since you became an Immortal King?” Fang Chen asked calmly.

Ouyang Xuanzhen was momentarily stunned. He quickly responded, ”Not yet a hundred years.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Less than a hundred years? Then your seniority is indeed rather shallow.”

Ouyang Xuanzhen dared not reply, staring cautiously at the tips of his shoes.

”From now on, change the name of the Great Expansion Dao Sect,” Fang Chen said.

Everyone was slightly startled when they heard that. However, to their surprise, they didn’t feel anger, but rather a wave of relief swept over them.

After all, this was a sign that Fang Chen didn’t intend to totally eradicate them.

”Senior Fang, please grant us a name,” Ouyang Xuanzhen said quickly.

”Call it the Great Expansion Dao Palace. And not just your sect. All Daoist sects under heaven must change as well,” Fang Chen said coolly, ”You’ll all be merged into the Three Thousand Dao Sect. Any Daoist arts inherited from the Three Thousand Dao Sect must be copied and returned to the Three Thousand Dao Palace, as a way of acknowledging your ancestral roots.”

Acknowledge their roots?

The hearts of everyone present skipped a beat.

Ouyang Xuanzhen didn’t hesitate for a second, and he gave a deep bow. ”As it should be. I will personally oversee the matter. But as for the Innate Dao Sect and the Morning Star Dao Sect, I believe Senior Fang will need to visit them in person.”

”You’ll lead the way. I just finished a fight, and I’m feeling a bit tired,” Fang Chen said with a faint smile.

Ouyang Xuanzhen paused briefly, then nodded without another word. He immediately activated the Immortal Boat and tore through the sky toward the Innate Dao Sect.