Immortal of the Nine Realms

Xun Huan didn’t stay long at the Desolate Academy. After chatting leisurely with the others for about half an hour, he got up and took his leave.

As he departed, he even invited Fang Chen to visit the imperial palace whenever he had time.

Fang Chen accepted gladly, saying that he would certainly visit whenever he was free.

”Patriarch, Mister Fang, we’ll take our leave now,” said Instructor Lu before standing up with the others.

They cupped their hands before departing one after another.

Once Fang Chen and Xun Guozhu were the only ones left in the hall, Xun Guozhu raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, ”Something happened again?”

”The Spirit God Sect sent quite a few Loose Immortals to Grand Xia. Heavenly Demon, Flying Star, and Holy Puppet have also made moves,” Fang Chen replied.

Xun Guozhu frowned slightly. ”I haven’t received any news of this.”

”Someone intentionally blocked the information,” Fang Chen said with a smile. ”They didn’t want you to find out.”

”You’re not suspecting... Xun Huan, are you?” Xun Guozhu’s brow tightened. ”He has no reason to cooperate with the Spirit God Sect. He’s on very good terms with Pu Yuanzhu.

”If not for the Central Continent Empire’s political stance, he would’ve joined the Killing Spiritual Division instead of being bound here.”

”Among those who drank tea here today, aside from the emperor of the Central Continent Empire, there were five other instructors,” Fang Chen replied.

Xun Guozhu’s expression darkened. ”Which one?”

”Instructor Wen, from the Contribution Division.”

Instructor Wen was usually quite low-profile and not very noticeable, but like Instructor Ji, he was also a cultivator from the Spirit God Sect.

In fact, on Tuxiong Star, there was indeed a First Rate Sect Leader from the Spirit God Sect, though even Yan Haoran didn’t know who it was.

That individual had concealed his identity well. It remained to be seen whether he was, in fact, Emperor Xun Huan himself.

”I see.”

Xun Guozhu nodded and continued to pour Fang Chen tea.

Fang Chen didn’t bring the matter up again. He knew Xun Guozhu would take action soon. There was no need for him to deal with Instructor Wen personally.

***

Innate Dao Sect.

As soon as Ouyang Xuanzhen’s Immortal Boat arrived, it alerted Immortal King Gu Xi, who came out with a group of upper three realm cultivators to greet them.

”Daoist Ouyang, weren’t you off handling matters for that person?” Gu Xi asked with a curious expression.

”It’s a long story,” Ouyang Xuanzhen replied. ”I’m now planning to rename the Great Expansion Dao Sect to the Great Expansion Dao Palace and merge it into the Three Thousand Dao Sect. What do you think, Daoist Gu Xi?”

He stepped aside, revealing the man behind him.

Fang Chen!

Immortal King Gu Xi’s fingers, hidden inside his sleeve, twitched slightly. Without saying a word, he immediately cupped his hands and said, ”I think it’s entirely appropriate. If the Great Expansion Dao Sect is to be renamed, then Innate Dao Sect should follow suit and be renamed Innate Dao Palace, joining the Three Thousand Dao Sect.”

The cultivators behind him exchanged glances, their expressions turning complicated as they looked at Fang Chen.

Even a fool could see from the two Immortal Kings’ attitudes that something significant was unfolding.

”Instructor Fang, what do you think of Immortal King Gu Xi’s suggestion?” Ouyang Xuanzhen asked respectfully.

Gu Xi’s eyes dilated. Instructor Fang?

He cupped his hands again and said, ”Mister Fang, if you don’t like the name, I’ll think of another.”

”No need to change it,” Fang Chen replied with a faint smile. ”Just remember to transcribe a copy of Innate Dao Palace’s techniques and send them to the Three Thousand Dao Sect. Consider it an act of returning to your roots.”

Immortal King Gu Xi nodded immediately. ”As it should be.”

”Alright, I still need to accompany Mister Fang to the Morning Star Dao Sect. Daoist Gu Xi, will you join us?” Ouyang Xuanzhen asked.

”I need to oversee the renaming process personally, so I won’t accompany you two,” Gu Xi replied.

Before long, he watched the Immortal Boat depart, while the cultivators of the Innate Dao Sect stood behind him, hesitant.

”Ancestor... What’s going on? How did this Fang Chen become a senior all of a sudden?” one of them couldn’t help but ask.

All it took was a few words from this man, and Innate Dao Sect had to change its name? Why?

Changing the name might seem minor, but it was actually a big deal. Renaming meant that the Innate Dao Sect would cease to exist. It would now be a regional branch of the Three Thousand Dao Sect.

”I don’t know either...” Immortal King Gu Xi muttered.

You don’t know? Then what was that performance just now?

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

”I did a divination. It showed great misfortune,” Gu Xi said solemnly. ”Ouyang Xuanzhen is no fool. He’s the most skilled at aligning himself with the prevailing winds. If he’s calling Fang Chen ’senior,’ there must be a reason. Once this is over, I’ll ask him myself.”

”And the renaming?”

”Proceed with it. We’ll take things one step at a time,” Gu Xi said gravely.

***

At the majestic gates of Morning Star Dao Sect, hundreds of robed cultivators led by Dragon Sovereign stood in wait. Among them were experts in the Middle Three Realms and Upper Three Realms. They seemed to be expecting someone.

It was noon when Ouyang Xuanzhen’s Immortal Boat arrived.

Standing at the bow, Fang Chen saw a grand stone stele erected before the mountain gate. The stele was a hundred feet tall, like a small mountain, and inscribed with four bold characters, ’Morning Star Dao Palace’.

”Instructor Fang, it seems Dragon Sovereign has already received the news...” Ouyang Xuanzhen commented with a strange expression.

Of the three great Dao sects, the Morning Star Dao Sect was the strongest, and Dragon Sovereign’s cultivation was the deepest. He had the highest chance of becoming a Loose Immortal and eventually a First Rate Sect Leader.

Despite that, the sect had already changed its name in advance, and the core cultivators were standing here waiting.

Ouyang Xuanzhen couldn’t help but think to himself, Truly hiding his strength....

As soon as the Immortal Boat arrived, Dragon Sovereign cupped his hands and called out loudly, ”I, Dragon Sovereign of Morning Star Dao Palace, pay my respects to Patriarch Fang!”

With Morning Star Dao Palace joining the Three Thousand Dao Sect, and Fang Chen being its patriarch, calling him ’Patriarch Fang’ didn’t seem inappropriate.

Ouyang Xuanzhen broke out in goosebumps as he stared at Dragon Sovereign.

Even I haven’t called him Patriarch yet, and this guy’s already outmaneuvered me?

”Who tipped you off?” Fang Chen asked from above, looking down at Dragon Sovereign and the others with a faint smile.

Dragon Sovereign responded respectfully, ”It was Daoist Gu Xi.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Hmm, I see the name’s already been changed. Remember to copy your techniques and send them to the Three Thousand Dao Sect.”

”Understood...”

***

Three Thousand Dao Sect.

Incense-bearing pilgrims came in endless streams, passing by Zhou Bufan and the others as they entered and exited.

Over time, word spread. These elegant, Daoist-looking men had actually offended the sect and were now being punished. They were forced to drink some filthy concoction.

As commoners pointed fingers at them from nearby, their expressions grew darker.

”Another few years, huh...” the Beggar Daoist said mockingly as he swept a glance at Zhou Bufan and the others.

”Didn’t expect our fates would be so closely tied after all.”

”Shut up,” someone snapped. ”Nobody’s stopping you from staying quiet.”

The Daoist beggar snorted. ”Your Purple Sun Dao Sect ruined me. Am I not even allowed to talk?”

”That’s enough,” Zhou Bufan said firmly. ”It’s just a few years... It’s not like it’s been a hundred. We can endure.

”We’re doing this for the three Daoist sects. The three Immortal Kings won’t just abandon us. They’re probably still preparing.”

The Beggar Daoist was just about to mock him again when he suddenly fell silent, looking toward the distance in shock.

The others noticed his abnormality and turned to look. They immediately saw three familiar figures slowly walking their way.

They quickly recognized them as the three Immortal Kings of the three great Dao sects!

Everyone’s faces lit up with excitement.