Immortal of the Nine Realms

The Great Transference Immortal Talisman erupted in a burst of dazzling light. The nearby void itself warped beneath the surge of terrifying immortal essence it unleashed.

The disturbance spread for miles. Some cultivators in the vicinity wore horrified expressions. The fluctuation was so dreadful that even several third-transformation Loose Immortals broke out in cold sweat. It was proof enough that this aura had utterly surpassed the third transformation realm.

Jidu Kongyuan and the other hosts, who had only recently departed, seemed to sense it as well. They casually turned their heads for a glance, but then went their own way, unconcerned.

As sixth-transformation immortals, their cultivation was formidable—the very peak of strength in the entire Ancient Desolate Realm. With a massive power like the Ten Directions Immortal Sect backing them, the so-called Minor Immortal Realm hardly carried any real threat in their eyes.

Even if a sixth-transformation immortal of the Minor Immortal Realm truly descended, the Immortal Exchange was already over. What danger was there to them? Could outsiders really dare fight a sixth-transformation immortal in the Nanqing Constellation on their own turf?

Fang Chen, however, found this an unexpected delight. He hadn’t thought Lady Suya would directly crush a talisman. Of those who could cross domains through such a means, there was a nine-in-ten chance it was Ji Tianjun himself!

The twisted energies slowly calmed, and before her, a great gate of light quietly unfolded. After a few breaths, a figure stepped forth.

The man was clad in flowing silver-gray robes, his features holding a resemblance to Ji Tiandu’s, but sharper, more refined, and strikingly handsome. Yet within his eyes flickered a faint, fleeting depth, like the vicissitudes of countless years, like someone who had witnessed flowers bloom and wither, clouds rise and fade, for tens of thousands of years.

”Husband.”

Lady Suya’s composure evaporated. In front of this man, she appeared tense and restrained, her very muscles stiff.

”Did you secure the Yang Essence?” asked Ji Tianjun, brushing his hand through her hair, his lips curved in a faint smile.

After a pause, he asked casually, ”And Tiandu... why don’t I see him? Where has he gone?”

Tears welled in Lady Suya’s eyes as she recounted everything that had happened, from them losing the Yang Essence to someone else, to how Ji Tiandu had died.

Ji Tianjun’s expression hardly changed as she told her account, but his gaze grew dark.

For a long moment, he was silent. At last, he raised his eyes toward the heavens and murmured almost to himself, ”This attempt to ascend to the Immaculate Immortal Realm... it feels as though fate itself has set itself against me. Even with all the subtle manipulations of the Spirit God Sect, we were unable to draw forth that Anomaly from that tiny realm. And now, even coming here to buy Yang Essence has cost Tiandu his life.”

”Husband, Grand Desolate Immortal is fighting with Immortal Xingyu as we speak. For this matter, we must demand an explanation from the Spirit God Sect.”

Lady Suya’s voice was soft, but carried the weight of indignation.

”Explanation? What explanation?” Ji Tianjun’s tone was calm, even faintly amused. ”The most urgent matter now is my ascension to the Immaculate Immortal Realm. All other affairs can be set aside for the time being.”

He smiled lightly, his gaze profound.

”But do not worry. Once I step into the Immaculate, the path ahead will be smooth. What I lack now is nothing more than obtaining the one type of immortal herb.”

She dared not argue further and merely hung her head, her posture obedient and submissive.

Ji Tianjun continued slowly, ”After Tiandu’s death, his soul should remain. With his intelligence, he would likely attempt to escape this realm and head to the Underworld. I’ll have someone pay a visit and see if they might find him there. Then I can ask him who killed him. If it truly was the Great Desolate Immortal, then....”

He gave a soft chuckle. Even without him voicing the rest, Lady Suya knew full well what kind of storm would follow.

Suddenly, Ji Tianjun asked, ”By the way, you mentioned just now that Tiandu signed an Immortal Contract with someone at this Immortal Exchange?”

Lady Suya lightly nodded. ”Tiandu said this man was at the Tribulation Realm and held a considerable amount of immortal crystals. He wished to profit from him and compensate for the loss when purchasing the Yang Essence.”

Ji Tianjun’s eyes glinted faintly. ”Since I am already here in the Nanqing Constellation and won’t be leaving for a while, did Tiandu mention where he was to meet this man? This transaction... I shall complete it in his place.”

He smiled as he spoke. ”The Ji Family’s foundation is indeed rather thin at present. Any extra immortal crystals can strengthen us further and pave a firmer path for my advancement.”

Lady Suya blinked in momentary surprise, then quickly reported the appointed time and place. It was the same terms that Ji Tiandu had originally agreed upon with Fang Chen.

On the fourth day, Fang Chen arrived at the meeting place agreed upon with Ji Tiandu.

He hadn’t waited long before he saw Ji Tianjun and Lady Suya arrive together.

”How come it’s the two of you? Where is Brother Ji?” questioned Fang Chen, gaze settled on Ji Tianjun.

His tone was calm, without the slightest hint of deference. He carried the quiet confidence of someone who had powerful backing.

Ji Tianjun gave a very courteous nod. ”At the Immortal Exchange, we already settled the terms of this trade. Today I am here to finalize the follow-up details.”

”It wasn’t said beforehand that two would attend. But... no matter what. We can settle the specifics of this Immortal Contract.”

Fang Chen nodded lightly, casually bringing out a contract scroll.

As the pair’s eyes lingered upon it, the hidden old flood dragon struck with all his might, without the slightest reservation.

Ji Tianjun and Lady Suya were killed in an instant.

Ji Tiandu’s wandering soul, lingering nearby, witnessed the scene and screamed in silent rage.

As the immortal essence fluctuations dispersed, Fang Chen caught sight of Lady Suya’s soul with his peripheral vision, but not Ji Tianjun’s.

At that moment, a wisp of blood-fog condensed into a blood bead, then transformed into a miniature Ji Tianjun. He looked at Fang Chen and the old flood dragon with an amused smile. ”So it wasn’t fate working against me after all; it was you two who had your eyes on me.”

The old flood dragon’s brows furrowed slightly. He felt a touch of surprise.

Ji Tianjun chuckled softly. ”No matter who you are... I will find you. Next time we meet....”

He smiled again, and the blood-formed figure dispersed into mist.

His words carried no anger, only a hint of mocking laughter, as if ridiculing Fang Chen and the old flood dragon for failing to catch his true body and revealing themselves in the process.

Fang Chen wore a relaxed smile. ”He may not have died, but he also lacks the means to strike at us here. Though he tried his utmost to cloak it, I could still hear that suppressed thread of panic in his heart.”

The old flood dragon sneered. ”If he suspected something was amiss, why bring his woman along as well?”

Fang Chen replied evenly, ”Bringing the woman makes it all the more convincing.”

”To him, Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya’s lives and deaths don’t matter. He never cared for their survival.”

Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya’s expressions turned ugly as they heard this. Recalling Ji Tianjun’s earlier words, they finally understood.

For her, Ji Tianjun’s earlier words now fully clicked into place, and seeing Ji Tiandu’s lingering spirit, she realized the truth.

In that instant, she finally understood.

She had been wrong about the Grand Desolate Immortal.