Immortal of the Nine Realms

Ji Tiandu looked at Lady Suya with a bleak expression.

He called, ”Sister-in-law....”

He really did not know whether to laugh or cry. At the very least, there was a familiar wandering soul who could speak with him.

Lady Suya looked broken. ”Did husband... really guess that there would be danger here?”

”Of course he did.” Ji Tiandu let out a light sigh. ”Elder Brother is no longer the man he once was. He claims to have remembered his past life, but I think it’s more likely that he’s been possessed by some old monster instead. Otherwise, how could he have sent you here to die?”

Lady Suya stayed silent for a long time.

Before long, her gaze settled on Fang Chen and the old flood dragon. ”Who are those two?”

”Their origin is still a mystery,” said Ji Tiandu. ”That old man who killed us is the same one who once fought us over the Yang Essence. I suspect they were sent by the Lesser Immortal Realm.”

Meanwhile, Fang Chen had already picked up Lady Suya’s Pifu Sand. After having the old flood dragon erase the soul imprint upon it, he obtained another batch of immortal crystals.

During this Immortal Exchange, Fang Chen had spent more than 1,000 immortal crystals. Now, killing Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya had gotten him 1,500 immortal crystals—500 of their own, and 1,000 prepared for the Yang Essence.

Watching their hard-earned immortal crystals fall into Fang Chen’s hands, and themselves reduced to wandering souls, venomous hatred flickered in Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya’s eyes. They wished for nothing more than to turn into vengeful spirits right this second and tear Fang Chen and the old flood dragon limb from limb.

”Follow them out of here, then go to the Lesser Underworld,” said Lady Suya coldly. ”When Husband sends someone to find you, I will stay with him and uncover their background.”

Ji Tiandu hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly. ”Very well.”

The next day, the two followed Fang Chen to another location.

”Who is he waiting for?” Lady Suya asked coldly.

Ji Tiandu sighed. ”During the Immortal Exchange, he wasn’t only buying top-grade spirit stones, but also the souls of immortals. The past few days, he’s been negotiating with cultivators who trade such souls. Today should be no different.”

”He’s just a Tribulation Realm cultivator; what’s with all those Loose Immortals entrusting so many immortal crystals to him?” muttered Lady Suya, doubtful. ”Aren’t they afraid someone will just rob him?”

Ji Tiandu frowned. ”I suspect he has a powerful background. Perhaps he’s favored by some sixth-transformation Immortal. Didn’t you notice? When he spoke with that old man, his attitude wasn’t deferential at all, nothing like a junior. His tone was astonishingly calm.”

”If my husband can once again tread the Immaculate Immortal Path, what is a mere sixth-transformation immortal?” huffed Lady Suya. ”He’s already prepared all the herbs needed for the following transformations, and our Ji Clan holds an unused Immortal Register.”

Her eyes were cold. ”With my husband’s foundation, I believe within 500 years, he can regain his peak strength and ascend as a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal. At that time, those Lesser Immortal Realm rats who only know how to hide in the shadows and scheme against him will lose their heads one by one.”

Ji Tiandu hesitated for a while, then suddenly asked, ”Sister-in-law, aren’t you angry? Elder Brother didn’t seem to care that you died.”

”He must have his reasons. We need not concern ourselves. Even if we’ve become wandering souls, once we’re in the Lesser Underworld, we can still cultivate. If we can make it to the Floating Pagoda Realm, we can walk the path of Yin Demons.” Lady Suya cast a glance at Ji Tiandu and continued, ”The Lesser Immortal Realm forbids all that is of the Underworld, but if we want to become Yin Demons, we will need my husband’s help. Do not mention the past again.”

Ji Tiandu understood, nodding.

Half an hour later, Lin Bao arrived as promised.

When he saw that Fang Chen was only a Tribulation Realm cultivator, his face instantly turned odd. Looking him over from left to right, his gaze finally fixed on Fang Chen. ”Young man, that person actually sent you to negotiate such a huge deal with me? Isn’t that just looking down on me?”

”Senior, business is business. Looking down, looking up—none of that has a place here.” Fang Chen smiled. ”We’re here to finalize the details of the deal. If we trade, which location in the Floating Pagoda Realm would be most suitable?”

Lin Bao stayed silent for a moment, then tossed Fang Chen a coordinate before rising to leave, unwilling to continue the conversation.

***

Several days later, Xie Zhi’s jade token grew hot. Following its guidance, Fang Chen arrived at a valley near Daotai Mountain.

He was the fourth to arrive. Not long after, Ning Beiyou, Xu Nangui, Lin Anlan, and the others arrived one after the other.

Everyone tacitly followed Huang Qingque’s prior instructions. There was no discussion of the mission details, let alone the mission’s target.

Judging by their expressions, Fang Chen guessed that they, like him, had made no progress at all.

Huang Qingque arrived half a day after the rest, but the Division Master who always followed him was gone. Instead, several blurry figures accompanied him into the valley. Huang Qingque’s aura was faint, as if he had been injured.

The Xie Zhi cultivators present wore heavy expressions, their gazes fixed firmly on the five Immortal Sovereigns who had come with Huang Qingque.

Immortal Longfu from the Ten Directions Immortal Sect.

Jidu Kongyuan from the Shikong Market.

Immortal Feilu from the Bailu Market.

Immortal Dayu from the Killing Spiritual Division.

Wang Chongsong from the Guanqing Sect.

Ning Beiyou was the first to speak. ”Who are you people? Release Fellow Daoist Qingque at once!”

”It’s fine, they are seniors of the Killing Spiritual Division,” said Huang Qingque, weakly waving his hand, signaling them not to be overly wary.

He looked incredibly weakened.

Everyone froze in shock. All five were from the Killing Spiritual Division?

Fang Chen silently cursed. Good heavens, that damn old bastard....

One of Wang Chongsong’s bone destinies followed the Spirit God Sect, while another served the Killing Spiritual Division?

”Qingque, are these all the Xie Zhi cultivators?” Immortal Dayu’s gaze swept across the group, then suddenly fell on Fang Chen. ”There’s even a Tribulation Realm cultivator?”

”Immortal Dayu, that is merely a small trick from Fellow Daoist Fang,” explained Huang Qingque.

Wang Chongsong immediately smiled and looked at Fang Chen. ”Is this a puppet technique? I have some expertise in this field too. Perhaps someday we could exchange insights.”

Fang Chen was certain Wang Chongsong knew his identity, but the man never could have guessed that Fang Chen knew his as well.

Some Xie Zhi cultivators still wore vigilant expressions.

”Fellow Daoist Qingque, what exactly is going on here?”

They had not expected that five high-level experts of the Killing Spiritual Division would appear.

”Let me explain,” said Immortal Dayu with a cold sneer. He glanced at Huang Qingque. ”From today onward, Xie Zhi is disbanded. If you lot continue your reckless antics, won’t the Killing Spiritual Division fall into chaos?”

He gave a harsh laugh. ”And to think you could dream up such a scheme, mobilizing all of Xie Zhi to keep watch on the five of us at once.”