Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen didn’t bother visiting the other strongholds of Xie Zhi. It was certain that they had been exposed. There was a traitor within Xie Zhi. And now, Huang Qingque was likely entangled in grave trouble.

During Fang Chen’s years of seclusion, Xie Zhi had offended too many division heads of the Killing Spiritual Division in the True Martial Realm. Some of these division heads were even more powerful than Division Head Duan and had reached the fifth transformation.

Upon his return to Dangyin Mountain, Fang Chen summoned Chen Lingding and Mountain Lord. Both of them had dwelled in the Floating Pagoda Realm for many years. Surely their experience and network surpassed that of Empress Ci and others.

Fang Chen asked, ”Have there been any unusual movements in the Floating Pagoda Realm lately? Has anyone been offering high prices to hire assassins?”

Mountain Lord paused. ”Assassins? I can inquire around, but may I ask what this pertains to?”

”Have you heard of cultivators bearing the name Xie Zhi?” queried Fang Chen.

”Xie Zhi is a mythical beast,” replied Chen Lingding. ”As for Xie Zhi cultivators, are you referring to the infamous Huang Qingque and his Xie Zhi forces in the True Martial Realm?”

She continued, ”They’ve made quite a name for themselves, even drawing the attention of the Spirit God Sect. They’re modeled after our enforcer cultivators, but compared to our structured system, they’re still immature. I’ve heard that many in the Killing Spiritual Division detest them. Some even declared that unless Xie Zhi is disbanded, they would collectively resign.”

”If any Xie Zhi cultivators were attacked in the Floating Pagoda Realm, look into it. Find out who’s behind it,” ordered Fang Chen.

Both the mountain master and Chen Lingding nodded knowingly. Clearly, Xie Zhi had ties to the lord.

Leaving the Floating Pagoda Realm, Fang Chen journeyed to the Hidden Guard Division in the imperial capital and explained everything to Xia Ji.

Nearby, Xia Yunxin listened intently, though the names and sects confused her. Still, she etched the word ”Xie Zhi” into her memory.

”The Hidden Guard Division has indeed found signs that some people are hostile toward Xiezhi and plotting against them. But as for hiring assassins against them in the Floating Pagoda Realm, we found no traces of such a thing,” reported Xia Ji gravely. ”If it was done by Loose Immortals entering the Underworld, they’re beyond our current reach.”

”Then investigate,” ordered Fang Chen. ”Look into which division head of the Killing Spiritual Division in the True Martial Realm recently walked into the Underworld.”

Xia Ji nodded. ”Understood. Stay here for a few days. I’ll go find out.”

A few days later, Xia Ji obtained a register with thirteen names—every one of them was a division head of the Killing Spiritual Division. The weakest was a third-transformation Loose Immortal. Among them, one was a fourth transformation and another was a fifth transformation.

He disclosed, ”This is the full list of recent Yin Walkers. There may still be some missing names, but we’ll uncover them in time.”

”No matter. As long as one of these is the culprit, pulling on that thread will unravel the rest,” said Fang Chen.

His gaze landed on a name, Huang Daojing. He was the fifth-transformation immortal.

Only Huang Daojing hailed from the Huang family. Many others on the list were known associates of his.

Fang Chen asked nonchalantly, ”Which immortal path does Huang Daojing follow?”

Xia Ji gave a bitter smile and answered, ”That we cannot determine. Our men’s cultivation is too low. Even if they witness him act, they cannot discern from his aura which immortal path he treads. Even if I went myself, I could not tell.”

”Understandable. These auras can be very similar at times. Even I can’t always tell,” assured Fang Chen. ”Deliver this list to Huang Qingque. If he has the means, he’ll know how to solve the problem.”

After chatting with Xia Ji and Xia Yunxin, Fang Chen returned to the Fang residence.

Days later, over five hundred individuals gathered before him. They were the loyal followers of the Fang family, descendants of those who had served for generations.

Though not bearing the surname, they had long considered themselves part of the household.

Some were ordinary martial artists. Others had shallow cultivation. All of them had settled down with families, their talents too limited to ever reach the core inner circle of Fang Chen’s world.

Now summoned before the legendary Ancestor Fang, their hearts were ablaze with anticipation.

Fang Chen bellowed, ”I’ve called you here today because there is a special task. This journey carries some risk. You must carefully consider whether you are willing.”

At once, those who preferred peaceful lives flushed with shame and excused themselves. Two or three tenths departed, leaving the rest.

Those who stayed received no explanation of the task. They didn’t even know what they were about to do, yet Fang Chen inexplicably conferred upon them the rank of True Gods. The lifespan expended for their investiture was negligible.

Then, using the World Gourd, he dispatched them to various hidden locations and instructed them to await movements from the Lesser Immortal Realm.

He couldn’t be certain whether the Lesser Immortal Realm would target their descendants, but this move would act as a small, critical piece on the grand chessboard.

***

Elsewhere, Song Zhili and Yan Haoran walked into the gates of the Yin Holy Sect. A subtle yin energy clung to the surroundings.

Song Zhili preached, ”Haoran, you must know that crossing to the Underworld isn’t unique to the Yin Holy Sect. Out in the world, countless others practice it.”

Yan Haoran blinked in confusion and mumbled, ”I didn’t know that....”

Song Zhili continued, ”You’ve spent your life on Chaotic Star. Naturally, you wouldn’t know. If I wanted, I could have entered the underworld. Of course, many believe the yin aura of the Underworld hampers one’s ascension on the immortal path. The Lesser Immortal Realm, for example, forbids it entirely.”

Yan Haoran nodded as he listened. However, he wasn’t sure why his master had brought up this topic at all.

Just then, Yu Tingzhai approached.

Seeing him, Song Zhili greeted warmly, ”Ah, Brother Yu! Congratulations! I heard you’ve recently broken through to a fourth transformation! Truly delightful news!”

Yu Tingzhai replied coolly, ”Daoist Song, you come to the Yin Holy Sect, and casually speak of the Soul Crossing Ritual to your disciple. What is your intention?”

Song Zhili smiled and said, ”It’s just a passing remark. I often wonder if the Soul Crossing Ritual was permitted on Chaotic Star, what would become of it?”

”Are you threatening me, Daoist Song? What brought you here?” Yu Tingzhai retorted coldly.

After a pause, Song Zhili chuckled softly and replied, ”I know the Myriad Immortal Palace appointed you to oversee this region. Though, your status is no longer what it once was. The Killing Spiritual Division has been pressing hard against the Spirit God Sect, and you, Brother Yu, have remained neutral. That’s unwise. You were chosen by the recommendation of Xu Changshi. He was young, soft-hearted, and easily swayed by you.

”But now that I’ve returned, I must put some pressure on you and shake things up. Otherwise, the Grand Desolate Immortal will be displeased. It wouldn’t be nice to ruin the foundation of the Yin Holy Sect.”