Immortal of the Nine Realms

After confirming Fang Chen’s identity, everyone finally relaxed. They began chatting about their respective locations and the general situation of their conflicts with the Spirit God Sect.

Including Fang Chen, there were currently six Xie Zhi cultivators present. Counting the one who had been expelled, five others had yet to arrive. Huang Qingque had likely already reached the Nanning Constellation, but until all the Xie Zhi cultivators had assembled, he probably wouldn’t reveal himself.

Among the five present, Ning Beiyou and Xu Nangui were both third-transformation Loose Immortals. The other three, like Fang Chen’s apparent cultivation, were all second-transformation Loose Immortals.

As they talked, the topic naturally shifted to the traitor, Bai Yuehua.

”Daoist Bai really lost his head this time. Since he had already agreed to join Xie Zhi, he shouldn’t have gotten so muddled at such a critical moment,” Ning Beiyou snorted. ”It was because of him that Huang Qingque’s whereabouts were exposed, which nearly got him killed in the Shura Sea.”

”Thankfully, he was well-informed and figured out who was behind the attack in time to resolve the danger.” Xu Nangui smiled. ”What’s more surprising is that Huang Daojing, an Immortal Sovereign of the Huang Family and a fifth-transformation Immortal, would actually oppose the founding of Xie Zhi so strongly, even going so far as to strike against the younger generation of his own clan.”

Someone muttered, ”Maybe guilt is eating at him. The Killing Spiritual Division has been around for many years. Some fellow cultivators seem to have forgotten why we were founded and our core principles.”

Ning Beiyou said with a calm smile, ”I wonder how the Huang Clan plans to deal with Huang Daojing. It’s not the Huang Family who should be handling it. It’s up to the higher-ups in the Killing Spiritual Division.

”The division doesn’t belong to any one family or sect. Huang Qingque once told me that the Huang Family has entrenched itself in the True Martial Domain for far too long, to the point that it’s starting to interfere with the operations of the Killing Spiritual Division. He plans to propose a restructuring to the upper echelons, suggesting that these deeply rooted forces in the Lower Six Realms, like the Huang Family, be reassigned and their influence redistributed.”

At that, everyone fell silent, eyes fixed in stunned disbelief on Ning Beiyou.

Fang Chen felt a chill run down his spine. What a filial son Huang Qingque was....

If that proposal actually got adopted by the higher-ups, the impact on the Huang Family would be devastating.

In fact, other powerhouses in the Lower Six Realms, like the Five Elements Realm, Ancient Desolate Realm, Nine Star Realm, Buddha Realm, and Three Yang Realm, would all be massively affected.

Fang Chen’s thoughts sharpened. Could Huang Qingque’s recent assassination attempt have had nothing to do with Xie Zhi, but rather this bold proposal? Ning Beiyou clearly has a close relationship with Huang Qingque and is even let in on such a confidential matter. The fact he’s speaking about it now likely means...

Fang Chen was nearly certain now—Huang Qingque’s proposal had already reached the ears of the division’s upper ranks.

Ning Beiyou suddenly looked at Fang Chen. ”By the way... when will the bright moon rise?”

Fang Chen glanced at him and sighed. Still, he answered, ”Look up and see for yourself.”

He added helplessly, ”One secret phrase wasn’t enough?”

Ning Beiyou chuckled. ”Better safe than sorry. After the Bai Yuehua incident, we really need to stay on guard. Huang Qingque summoning us here to the Nanning Constellation means he’s about to announce something big. It’s likely we’re being watched.”

Fang Chen casually asked, ”I got ambushed in the Floating Pagoda Realm. What about the rest of you?”

Everyone nodded.

Xu Nangui said, ”I ran into an attempt once. Fortunately, I was quick enough to escape. That’s also one of the reasons we’re gathering here in the Nanning Constellation. This place doesn’t allow traversing into the Underworld. Even if someone is tailing us, they can’t send messages quickly.”

Fang Chen nodded in understanding and soon joined in their discussions about the Spirit God Sect.

While chatting, someone suddenly laughed softly and looked at Fang Chen. ”Your Desolate Ancient Realm’s Grand Desolate Immortal has been clashing fiercely with the Myriad Immortal recently. When I arrived here, they showed up not long after.

”The scene was quite intense. Immortal Xingyu from the Palace of Myriad Immortals even threw down a harsh threat, vowing to make the Grand Desolation Immortal die in regret here in Nanning Constellation.”

”They came to Nanning too?” Fang Chen seemed a bit surprised. ”Does the Killing Spiritual Division have any thoughts on Grand Desolate Immortal this time?”

Ning Beiyou said with a smile, ”I’ve heard from some elders that this time we should just let the Myriad Palace and Grand Desolate Immortal fight each other like dogs. The Killing Spiritual Division doesn’t need to get involved.”

Fang Chen nodded.

It seemed that the Killing Spiritual Division had already heard about the conflict between Grand Desolate Immortal and Myriad Immortal Palace. The information was likely bought from the Hidden Guard Division or the Immortal Worshipping Palace.

If he were a decision-maker in the division, he would also be happy to sit back and watch the tigers fight.

Fang Chen was a little thrilled. He couldn’t wait to see whether Immortal Xingyu would die at the hands of Grand Desolate Immortal, or vice versa.

He voiced his speculation, wanting to hear Ning Beiyou and the others’ opinions.

Those who could become Xie Zhi cultivators were naturally the elite among their peers. Either they had extensive networks or sharp minds. They should have some useful insights on the matter.

Xu Nangui said thoughtfully, ”As far as I know, the Spirit God Sect has considerable influence in the Nanning Constellation, with several Immortal Sovereigns stationed here. But they also worry that revealing their identities would cause unnecessary trouble, so they may not intervene to help Grand Desolate Immortal.

”The Spirit God Sect’s purpose here is mainly to establish good relations with all parties and use this to contend with our Killing Spiritual Division.”

Ning Beiyou added, ”Myriad Immortal Palace is different. Immortal Xingyu is the last disciple of Immortal Taixu.”

Everyone was a bit startled and exchanged looks.

”Immoral Taixu?”

Ning Beiyou continued, ”Immoral Taixu has been a sixth-transformation immortal for many years, one with a profound foundation. He follows the Great Luo Immortal Path. You should know that the Great Luo Path is one of the few immortal paths that has produced Ancient Immortals.”

Everyone nodded.

They naturally knew it. The Great Luo Realm is one of the rare immortal paths that can reach the seventh transformation. As for whether it can reach the eighth or even ninth transformation, they were not yet qualified to know of such secrets.

”Immortal Taixu’s Immortal Essence has long been refined to a perfect and natural extreme. As long as he obtains a seventh transformation immortal herb, he can immediately ascend to a seventh transformation Ancient Immortal. Thus, in the Nanning Constellation, he is one of the few known as ’half-step Ancient Immortals,’” explained Ning Beiyou.

”Compared to ordinary sixth-transformation Immortals, he is much stronger. With such a backing, Immortal Xingyu might truly be able to keep Grand Desolate Immortal here.”

This reminded Fang Chen of the information from the Immortal Worshipping Palace.

Before setting out, he spent ten immortal crystals buying information from Gong Tianxin about the Nanning Constellation’s Immortal Exchange.

After arriving in the Nanning Constellation and even before settling at Cang Mountain, he had already conveniently obtained the information he wanted from the local Immortal Worshipping Palace.

The information clearly stated that this Immortal Exchange would feature invitation letters from the Upper Three Realms, fourth-transformation immortal herbs, and a deceased Ancient Immortal’s Golden Body.

The first two pieces of information were worthless; the most valuable was the last one—the Golden Body of an Ancient Immortal.

No matter where it was placed, everyone would fight over an object like this. After all, obtaining it might allow someone to uncover an immortal path from the fourth to the seventh transformation.

Fang Chen guessed that Grand Desolate Immortal and the others had come to Nanning Constellation specifically for the Golden Body.

Once the Immortal Debate ended, no matter who got the Golden Body, a war was inevitable.