Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen’s mind churned. Wang Chongsong should be after the invitation letter....

Among today’s auction list at Hongfu Inn, the highlight was that invitation letter. Other than that, there were only rare spiritual materials, spirit herbs, and elixirs, none of which seemed likely to interest Wang Chongsong.

Wang Chongsong had once been to the Upper Three Realms and had ties with the Enlightenment God Palace. According to Song Zhili, it had been a female cultivator from that very palace who had given Wang Chongsong his invitation letter.

In the Upper Three Realms, only the most powerful forces had the qualifications to issue such invitations. Among those top-tier powers, anyone capable of doing so would hold an extraordinary status.

After Wang Chongsong went to the Enlightenment God Palace, he rose to prominence. It was during that time that he started walking the Taiyi Immortal Path. However, it was also because of it that he suffered a crushing downfall, one that even affected the Heavenly Yin Sect backing him.

If his goal this time is the invitation letter to the Upper Three Realms, is he planning to seize the opportunity to regain his footing?

With his current means, could he be preparing to send one of his Bone Destinies into the Upper Three Realms?

Fang Chen pondered for a moment, then a faint smile flashed in his eyes.

Even if Fang Chen hadn’t wanted that invitation letter, just knowing that Wang Chongsong was after it was more than enough for him to compete for it.

***

The auction soon began.

After several rounds of intense bidding, the event reached its finale, and the presiding cultivator brought out the final item—the Upper Three Realms Invitation Letter.

An item like this was very niche. For those who needed it, they’d be willing to spend themselves dry, but those who didn’t want it wouldn’t even spare it a glance.

Many cultivators even stood up and left, uninterested in such a thing. But quite a few stayed behind, curious to see just how much this item would fetch.

The hosting cultivator said with a smile, “Everyone, what I hold is an invitation letter issued by the Enlightenment God Palace from the Upper Three Realms. As everyone knows, among the Nine Mortal Realms, only the Upper Three Realms have the most complete Immortal Dao inheritance.

“However, the Upper Three Realms are much like the ancient Immortal Realm—it is not a place anyone can simply go. In fact, the conditions to enter the Upper Three Realms are even harder than ascending to the ancient Immortal Realm, so this invitation letter is extremely precious. The starting bid is 200 immortal crystals, and each increment must be no less than 5 crystals.”

“A mere invitation letter starting at 200 immortal crystals?” Someone immediately burst out laughing. “What good does this letter do? You use it just to go there. There is no guarantee you’ll even be accepted by the Enlightenment God Palace.”

“Also, if the Enlightenment God Palace doesn’t accept you, it’s not easy to leave the Upper Three Realms either. You’d be left wandering there.”

“If the price is below 30 immortal crystals, it might be worth buying to let younger clan members take a chance. But 200 immortal crystals... that’s enough to push a second transformation cultivator to peak third transformation, isn’t it?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand, everyone. This is an invitation letter to the Upper Three Realms. Joining the Enlightenment God Palace is the ideal scenario. But even if you don’t, there are countless great sects over there, stronger than many sects here. These are all opportunities.”

“Spending a few hundred immortal crystals for a chance at immortal fate isn’t unreasonable. It depends on one’s needs.”

Those speaking were mostly second and third transformation cultivators; none of the fourth transformation present made a sound.

Seeing no one bid, the hosting cultivator sighed and asked again.

After a moment, someone finally made a bid. “205 immortal crystals.”

“Is there really someone bidding?”

Many cultivators looked at each other in surprise, a little shocked. They couldn’t help but glance at the bidder.

Unfortunately, the restrictive formation and jade tokens in this place concealed both one’s appearance and aura, so no one could tell who the bidder was. Whoever could so casually produce over two hundred immortal crystals to buy an invitation to the Upper Three Realms was certainly no ordinary figure. There was a high chance he was a fourth transformation Immortal at the very least.

Xu Guangyuan, who was present, was utterly astonished, while Xu Dongjiang audibly gasped. He silently calculated how long Guangyuan Hall would have to work to earn that much, and the result left him numb.

Five to six hundred years!

Without any windfall, every spare immortal crystal in those centuries would have gone toward Xu Guangyuan’s daily cultivation. Saving two hundred immortal crystals would be nearly impossible.

Xu Dongjiang sighed helplessly. “Just an invitation letter would bankrupt the Xu family....”

He used to think that Guangyuan Hall’s Loose Immortal backing made them a local power in Qingyuan Market. As a direct heir of Guangyuan Hall, he often felt proud.

Today, he finally realized what it meant to be a frog in a well.

The old flood dragon came with a mission, and the invitation letter was his goal. Fang Chen had discussed with him that as long as the price didn’t reach five hundred immortal crystals, they would definitely secure it. If it climbed beyond that, they would assess the situation first.

Seeing that only one person had bid so far, he relaxed. There was little competition, so winning the invitation letter shouldn’t be a problem. Even if the price rose, breaking past three hundred immortal crystals would be unlikely.

The old flood dragon made his bid. “Two hundred and ten immortal crystals.”

Wang Chongsong glanced his way and calmly said, “Two hundred and twenty immortal crystals.”

He raised the price by ten in one go.

People clicked their tongues in amazement. No one could deny they were impressed. Anyone willing to raise the price like that was definitely wealthy. In a gathering where several sixth-transformation immortals were present, no one would risk bluffing.

Xu Guangyuan and Xu Dongjiang audibly gasped.

Is the Cangyun Sect really this rich? They can fork out over two hundred immortal crystals to compete for an invitation letter to the Upper Three Realms?

As a first-transformation Loose Immortal, Xu Guangyuan finally understood just how deep the foundation of a fourth-transformation Immortal ran. Probably even a small slip from the other side’s fingers would be more than what Guangyuan Hall had painstakingly earned for many years.

“Two hundred and forty,” said the old flood dragon calmly.

He raised the bid by twenty immortal crystals in one go, a great display of wealth and confidence. Everyone could tell he was determined to win.

If the other bidder wanted the invitation, they would have to pay dearly.

Many people sneered with glee.

“Those two are unlucky. Normally, no one even competes for such invitations. Just over 200 immortal crystals are usually enough. But now it might reach 300...”

Wang Chongsong also sensed the old flood dragon’s determination. After a long silence, he smiled faintly. “Your resolve to reach the Upper Three Realms commands my respect.”

The old flood dragon smiled back. “Good that you understand. I would appreciate it if you don’t hike the bid any further.”

Wang Chongsong shook his head gently. “Forgive me, but I also need the invitation—three hundred immortal crystals.”

Lin Bao gasped. He frantically sent out a voice transmission. “Senior Brother, where did you get three hundred immortal crystals? Mind sharing a little with your junior?”

Wang Chongsong smirked. “Junior Brother, I’ll be borrowing sixty immortal crystals from you. Consider it a deposit for that matter I’ll be helping you with.”

Lin Bao froze, his face twisting slightly. Perhaps he’d come to the Nanqing Constellation a bit too rashly this time.

At that moment, another voice joined the fray.

“Three hundred and five immortal crystals.”

It was Fang Chen.

The old flood dragon’s expression changed slightly, but he made no further bid.

The crowd glanced at Fang Chen. They had thought there were only two contenders for the invitation, but now a third bidder had appeared.

Anyone able to casually bid over three hundred immortal crystals was almost certainly a fifth-transformation Immortal Sovereign.