Immortal of the Nine Realms

Hongmo Star, ancestral shrine of the Xu Clan.

On this day, every descendant of the Xu family wore radiant smiles as they were led by their elders to the ancestral hall to pay their respects to Fang Chen.

They had already heard that the century-long conflict on Hongmo Star had finally come to an end, and that in two or three years, the star could return to its former peace.

”Your Xu Clan seems to be thriving. How many clansmen do you have?”

Once the direct descendants had all been introduced, only Xu Haitang and Fang Chen remained in the shrine.

Fang Chen had asked that question casually, but Xu Haitang thought seriously for a moment before gently shaking her head. ”Roughly over 300,000. But I’ve never counted precisely.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Now that the Spirit God Sect has suffered a setback on Hongmo Star, they’re unlikely to let it go. They’ll probably send people again. You must stay alert.”

A grave expression appeared on Xu Haitang’s face. ”Fellow Daoist Fang, just how powerful is the Spirit God Sect, really?”

Fang Chen shook his head. ”I can’t say for certain.”

”Then... has your Division Master already succeeded in suppressing the Spirit God Sect?” Xu Haitang asked.

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. ”You could say that. There were a few unexpected turns, but looking back, the outcome was still quite decent.”

After a pause, his eyes lit up slightly. ”Fellow Daoist Xu, is your guide from back then still alive?”

Xu Haitang recalled the past and sighed. ”That was a long time ago. He passed away ages ago. By the time I became a Killing Spiritual Division cultivator, he had already become an Immortal King for many years.

”Back then, the Spirit God Sect on Hongmo Star wasn’t nearly as rampant as in recent years. With the former Division Master leading us, we killed many Spirit God Sect cultivators.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”You don’t need to worry too much about the Spirit God Sect. In my view, the Killing Spiritual Division’s foundation isn’t weak. Being able to contend with the Spirit God Sect for so many years, it surely has a firm place in the Nine Realms.”

He wasn’t merely guessing. Perhaps in terms of manpower, the Killing Spiritual Division did fall far behind the Spirit God Sect, which was why their forces in remote regions often suffered setbacks. But in the central territories, the Killing Spiritual Division should not be much weaker. Otherwise, how could it still exist today?

Xu Haitang’s expression softened slightly. After a few more casual exchanges, she personally escorted Fang Chen out of the Xu Clan Manor.

***

Yan Haoran handed several storage rings to Fang Chen.

”Lord, here are the storage rings of those deceased Immortal Kings. This one belonged to Wang Chongsong. The soul imprint has already been refined. Inside, there are quite a few Blood Spirit Divine Pills.

”There are ten second-rank pills in total. That should be the result of Wang Chongsong’s efforts over the past century. Using the Spirit God Sect’s special method, those pills might be refined into one first rank pill.”

Fang Chen’s eyes flickered. Ten second-rank pills?

These pills alone were proof of how many lives had been lost on Hongmo Star over the past hundred years.

Back when Qin Hucheng chatted with Gai Wu, he had once said that even if the entire Central Continent Empire were slaughtered, it might not yield a single first rank pill.

The karma and blood essence required to refine ten second-rank pills were incomprehensible.

As Fang Chen took the pills out, they turned into surging waves of spiritual energy before being absorbed by Monarch Yan’s Seal.

The Yin Lifespan stored within the token skyrocketed, breaking the hundred thousand mark in mere moments.

Fang Chen’s face grew solemn. ”The Hongmo Star alone could accumulate one hundred thousand Yin Lifespan after a century. No wonder the Spirit God Sect treasures this method, convinced it can lead to immortality.”

Even with identities like Du Yunxu and Shen Tucang in the Underworld, it would take them an extremely long time to amass a hundred thousand years of Yin Lifespan, let alone cultivators in the resource-starved mortal world.

As the merchants once said, with enough profit, men will risk their lives.

And the profit the Spirit God Sect sought... was several times what’s enough for men to risk their lives.

Fang Chen recalled what Wang Chongsong had once said.

The bustling world thrives for profit.

Fang Chen chuckled. ”Wang Chongsong was convinced that the Killing Spiritual Division could never rival the Spirit God Sect, because the Division couldn’t offer enough enticing benefits. They only shouted slogans, never changing the core issue. ”If I can offer greater benefits than the Spirit God Sect, then tell me... who will hold the advantage?”

Everyone exchanged glances before responding respectfully, ”Naturally, it will be you, Lord!”

A flicker of amusement crossed Yan Haoran’s eyes. He feared nothing more than following a leader who only demanded work but never fed his followers. But now that this leader understood the principle of reward, his last traces of worry vanished.

”Lord, I’d like to request that you visit the Yin Holy Sect,” Nie Yunqian said respectfully.

”You’ve already spoken with the elders in your sect? What’s their stance?” Fang Chen smiled. ”If some among them have dealings with the Spirit God Sect, wouldn’t I be walking straight into a trap by going to the Yin Holy Sect?”

Nie Yunqian grew anxious and quickly said, ”Please don’t misunderstand. It’s true that some elders in our sect have close ties to the Spirit God Sect, but only in terms of trade. We’re not like those sword cultivators being manipulated and used. After all, we don’t lack immortal crystals. All we need is Yin Lifespan to improve our cultivation...”

Yan Haoran mused, ”Aren’t you Yin Holy Sect folks skilled at entering the Underworld? No need for the lord to go in person. Just have your elders come to the Floating Pagoda Realm. It’s best if a few second-transformation cultivators come. As for that expert who has reached the third transformation... it’s better if we don’t meet for now.”

Nie Yunqian nodded. ”Understood.”

Her earlier plan had been poorly thought out. After this reminder from Fang Chen and Yan Haoran, she agreed it was wiser to be cautious.

***

Underworld, Floating Pagoda Realm.

This time, not only did several second-transformation cultivators arrive, but the Yin Holy Sect also sent six of their thirteen first-transformation Loose Immortals, including Nie Yunqian herself.

Alongside them were two second-transformation Loose Immortals.

”Yunqian, is what you said really reliable? The Path of Ghost Gods? We’ve wandered the Underworld for years, and we’ve never heard of anyone walking that path except for those Yin Soldiers from years ago. But even they should’ve perished long ago.”

The speaker was one of the second transformation Loose Immortals, dressed in a neat, moon-white robe. His silver hair was tied in a casual ponytail. He looked young, but a closer look revealed a deep and ancient aura.

The other second-transformation and the five first-transformation Loose Immortals all turned to look at Nie Yunqian, eyes tinged with doubt.

If what she said was true, then this would be nothing short of discovering a path to ascension for the Yin Holy Sect.

Becoming a Ghost God would be their path to ascension. If someone reached that level, they wouldn’t need to switch to cultivating as a Loose Immortal. They could follow the Ghost God path directly.

Nie Yunqian smiled faintly. ”Father, would I lie to you or Elder Su? Just watch.”

As Nie Yunqian spoke, a surge of Yin energy erupted from her, and for a fleeting moment, everyone saw a primitive, ancient text flash across her figure.

”An Imperial Decree!” exclaimed almost everyone.

They quickly rubbed their eyes, looking astonished and in awe.

Almost everyone knew what Imperial Decrees meant, as some of the oldest texts in the Yin Holy Sect mentioned them.

In the Underworld, lineage mattered. With a decree, one walked the orthodox path, becoming a true Ghost God. Without it, at best, one became a powerful Yin Demon.