Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Discussion on the Immortal Exchange? Is there something that you want at this Immortal Exchange?”

Lin Bao looked puzzled. What exactly could make his Senior Brother wait here instead of leaving with him to obtain the true Immortal Path?

”I’m just here to join the excitement. Junior brother, no need to rush. Stay here for a while during this period.” Wang Chongsong smiled. ”Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see some cultivators from the Enlightenment God Palace. Haven’t you wanted to check out those elites from the upper three realms?”

”I see.”

Lin Bao understood. It seemed his Senior Brother was waiting for an old acquaintance from the Enlightenment God Palace.

After chatting for a bit, Lin Bao requested a quiet room and secluded himself.

Wang Chongsong remained in that little courtyard, quietly brewing tea for himself.

Fang Chen stayed with him for a few days and then quietly left.

Since Wang Chongsong intended to wait for the Immortal Exchange, they would not leave Nanning Constellation before it started.

In the following months, Fang Chen came and went occasionally, but Wang Chongsong did not reveal any useful information. Lin Bao, too, remained in seclusion the entire time.

By now, four more Xie Zhi members had turned up. Including Fang Chen, ten Xie Zhi cultivators were present.

Excluding Bai Yuehua, the traitor, only Division Head Duan had not arrived. Since he usually stayed beside Huang Qingque, it was likely he would arrive together with Huang Qingque.

One day, everyone suddenly sensed something and gathered in the courtyard, where Huang Qingque and Division Head Duan appeared, stepping inside with calm smiles.

Upon seeing everyone, Huang Qingque smiled and cupped his hands. ”Fellow Daoists, long time no see. Are you all well?”

His gaze swept over each Xie Zhi. When he saw Fang Chen’s avatar, he showed no surprise. Ning Beiyou had most likely already communicated with him beforehand.

”We’re all doing well.”

Everyone smiled and nodded.

Huang Qingque didn’t dawdle and cut to the chase. ”There are two reasons I have invited you all here. First, this place is sealed—there’s no way to leak information from here. Even if someone like Bai Yuehua were among us, it would be impossible to spread news in a short time.

”Second, I received news that a high-ranking member of the Killing Spiritual Division is conducting a transaction with a Spirit God Sect cultivator here. We are responsible for gathering evidence.”

Everyone silently nodded, having already guessed that the Xie Zhi cultivators would have a mission in the Nanning Constellation.

Huang Qingque continued, ”This high-ranking member in the Killing Spiritual Division has a significant background, so this mission won’t be simple. Don’t underestimate the enemy.”

His face grew more serious. ”This mission concerns whether we can establish ourselves within the division. If we fail this mission, Xie Zhi will be disbanded.”

Xu Nangui gasped and said in shock, ”That serious? Are higher-ups watching this mission?”

”You must have heard about the Asura Sea incident. Xie Zhi faces many difficulties. Even the seniors who support me require tangible results before they’ll truly advocate for us.”

Huang Qingque said, ”This is our chance to prove ourselves. Find evidence of that high-ranking member’s dealings with the Spirit God Sect.”

Xu Nangui’s expression grew grave. ”That high-ranking member... what level of cultivation does he have?”

”This is his information. Everyone, take a look. And remember to destroy the jade slip after reading it.”

Huang Qingque handed each person a jade slip.

”Also, do not discuss this person among yourselves, nor communicate with each other about him. His path to immortality is somewhat special. If he is currently in the Nanning Constellation, your discussions or communications might be detected by him.”

Everyone looked over the information on the jade slips. Hearing Huang Qingque’s words, a look of shock appeared in their eyes.

Yan Bizhi? What kind of path to immortality is this? His abilities are that absurd?

”So for this mission, we won’t be able to cooperate normally; we must each display our own abilities?” said Xu Nangui.

Huang Qingque replied solemnly, ”Exactly. That’s why we summoned everyone early, to give you more time to prepare. You’ve all seen the jade slip. He will contact that Spirit God Sect cultivator during the Immortal Exchange. That is your only opportunity.”

After pausing, he reminded them again, ”For safety, remember what I just said. No talking, no exchanging information. The intelligence I received might not be entirely accurate. He might arrive here ahead of schedule.”

Everyone’s hearts tightened slightly.

”Yes.”

At that moment, Huang Qingque looked toward Fang Chen, a curious expression in his eyes. ”Daoist Fang, that puppet of yours is rather interesting. Division Head Duan just told me that even he can’t figure out your puppet’s true nature. It seems to have flesh and blood.”

Ning Beiyou smiled and said, ”Right? This puppet of Daoist Fang is extraordinary. Even Division Head Duan couldn’t detect any signs of it being a puppet. No wonder none of us could see through it either. Compared to the puppet we saw earlier, although Daoist Fang’s puppet’s cultivation isn’t high, it’s in many ways much stronger than those puppets.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”Just a few means to protect one’s life. Nothing worth mentioning.”

But Huang Qingque looked serious. ”Such means are like icing on the cake for Xie Zhi cultivators.”

Everyone thought it over carefully and nodded, but due to the rules of the cultivation world, they dared not inquire further to avoid misunderstandings.

Huang Qingque then changed the subject. ”Bai Yuehua broke Xie Zhi’s rules and exposed our base in the Floating Pagoda Realm. Now, he and Huang Daojing are currently under thorough investigation. It’s estimated that there will be no outcome for two or three hundred years.”

A Xie Zhi female member, at the second transformation, was shocked to hear this. ”They haven’t been punished yet?”

It was known that this member had a fifth-transformation Immortal backing here.

Fang Chen had noticed that more than half of Xie Zhi’s members had strong backgrounds. Those backgrounds could mean survival when things went wrong. Huang Qingque had likely chosen them for this reason.

This line of work had made countless enemies from the start.

”Daoist Anlan, currently, few support Xie Zhi’s establishment. Most voices are opposing. So, Huang Daojing and the others most likely won’t face substantial punishment. After all, a fifth-transformation Immortal is a rare expert for the Killing Spiritual Division. Losing one means losing strength in the fight against the Spirit God Sect.”

Huang Qingque patiently explained, ”I too hope they receive proper punishment. But right now, we aren’t strong enough. Keeping them from causing trouble for hundreds of years is already a result of many efforts. If in a few hundred years, the Xie Zhi team becomes strong enough to intimidate others, those two will naturally be punished as they should.”

Lin Anlan thought it over, understood, nodded, and fell silent.

Huang Qingque chatted a bit more with everyone, then left with Division Head Duan.

Ning Beiyou and the others dispersed as well.

When Xu Nangui was about to leave, he saw Fang Chen still there and asked curiously, ”Daoist Fang, aren’t you leaving?”

Fang Chen smiled. ”I’m staying here. It’s convenient, and I’m too lazy to run back and forth.”

Xu Nangui nodded and bid farewell.