Immortal of the Nine Realms

An hour later, Immortal Longfu watched Fang Chen depart.

In front of Immortal Longfu were eight hundred immortal crystals.

”For a mere second-transformation Loose Immortal to fork out such a sum—no wonder he won Huang Qingque’s favor and joined Xie Zhi. His background must be impressive,” Immortal Longfu murmured to himself.

One tael of Immortal Marrow was just as valuable as a fourth-transformation immortal medicine. A run-of-the-mill second-transformation Loose Immortal can never afford a sum like that.

Immortal Longfu flicked his sleeve, and a giant bat flew out, transforming into an old man.

”Go tell Jidu Kongyuan that the people Huang Qingque had been targeting were identified. Each of the five of us had two Xie Zhi members watching us. But besides Huang Qingque himself, they brought eleven people.

”Neither of the two watching Immortal Changkong had been Duanyuan. Duanyuan’s target was not Immortal Changkong. That means in the Nanqing Constellation, there are still Killing Spiritual Division cultivators we don’t know about.”

”Yes.”

***

In the lonely darkness of the cosmos, an Immortal Boat sped through the void.

Steering the Immortal Boat, the old flood dragon couldn’t restrain himself from letting out a wistful sigh. ”I must admit, the foundation of the Nanqing Constellation is indeed far greater than that of the Chaotic Star. Just the Daotai Mountain alone is stronger than places like Longyuan, Sihui, Minghu, and Prison Wind.”

If not for Fang Chen’s extraordinary abilities, a fourth-transformation immortal like him would’ve never set foot in Nanqing Constellation. The journey from Chaotic Star to Nanqing Constellation was no simple voyage. The hidden dangers along the way were enough to overwhelm any ordinary Loose Immortal. Without the correct route, one could spend a lifetime and still never arrive.

Fang Chen said with a smile, ”There are thirteen constellations like that in the Ancient Desolate Realm. The chances of achieving Loose Immortality are much higher when cultivating in places like that. Chaotic Star can’t compare.”

The old flood dragon chuckled. ”Indeed. Look at Xu Guangyuan. He is only a first-transformation Loose Immortal, yet his Guangyuan Hall can accumulate an immortal crystal every two or three years. On Chaotic Star, that would be almost impossible.”

Fang Chen nodded.

Yu Tingzhai had been appointed by the Myriad Immortal Palace as the guardian of Chaotic Star. Because of that status—and the terrifying destruction of Nine Immortal Mountain in the past—all powers on Chaotic Star had, to a large degree, submitted to the Yin Holy Sect, ceding many resource sites.

Even so, their yearly surplus of immortal crystals amounted to no more than a few dozen. That was a hundred times the profit of Guangyuan Hall, but Guangyuan Hall was no more than a grain of sand in the Nanqing Constellation!

It was easy to imagine how many immortal crystals the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, which oversaw the Nanqing Constellation, could amass each year. No wonder their stores of Immortal Marrow were so abundant. Even many sects of the Upper Three Realms might not match their profits.

***

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. The Immortal Boat descended at a transfer station. The old flood dragon found a hidden place, set up layers of restrictions, and prepared to enter the Underworld with Fang Chen.

Fang Chen suddenly smiled and looked toward a corner. ”I nearly forgot about you two.”

Two figures stood there, Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya.

For the first time, their eyes met his, and both were utterly dumbstruck.

He has been able to see us all along?!

***

Jiangguang City, the Floating Pagoda Realm.

It had been some time since Fang Chen last visited, and the place had undergone a remarkable change. More and more Yin Demons were settling there, and order was steadily taking shape. The intelligence of those Yin Demons was much higher than that of those outside.

In Jiangguang City, slaughtering or robbing others of their lifespan without permission was strictly forbidden. When the rule was first set, many Yin Demons were displeased and left, but it also attracted many who wished to cultivate in peace. They had heard of the order in the Lesser Underworld and longed for it.

Some Yin Demons here had auras that suggested they were close to becoming Great Yin Demons. In the old Jiangguang City, such a thing would have been impossible.

With Empress Ci’s temperament, she would never have allowed potential Great Yin Demons to dwell here.

After handling Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya to Empress Ci, Fang Chen was immediately approached by Yang Yuanwu, inquiring about the affairs of the Killing Spiritual Division in the Mortal Realm.

Fang Chen recounted simply what had happened in the Nanqing Constellation. Yang Yuanwu found it hard to believe.

”Division Master Duan... died just like that?” Yang Yuanwu muttered in disbelief.

He looked at Fang Chen with a grave expression. ”When Young Master Qingque proposed founding Xie Zhi, it was indeed an arduous but far-sighted idea. Seeing how they can casually slay fourth-transformation peers now, it’s clear that certain figures have grown far too close to the Spirit God Sect, and even further from us.”

”These matters involve cultivators of too high a realm. Now that our titles as Division Masters have been stripped, I will no longer concern myself with them,” Fang Chen replied casually.

Yang Yuanwu froze, then gave a bitter smile. ”So you mean to give up.”

”It’s not as if only the Killing Spiritual Division can oppose the Spirit God Sect.” Fang Chen smiled, patting Yang Yuanwu on the shoulder. ”What was your original intention? Likely the same as mine. As long as I have the chance to cause the Spirit God Sect some trouble, I will never shrink from it.”

That’s right!

Yang Yuanwu was hit with realization. Since there was a Killing Spiritual Division even in the Lesser Underworld, it meant that this man’s stance against the Spirit God Sect had never wavered.

Just like them, the former Division Masters, he still remembered why he had chosen this path.

Back before he even embarked on the immortal road, he had watched helplessly as the lands his ancestors had built over generations were destroyed overnight. Later, when he learned that the Spirit God Sect was behind it all, he had found a purpose in his cultivation journey.

After Yang Yuanwu left, Du Yunxu, who was in charge of communication, brought Yu Tingzhai and Huang Wuji to meet Fang Chen.

The old flood dragon followed lazily behind them.

For safety, the Dangyin Mountain Lord and Li Wuwang were also summoned.

Three fourth-transformation Immortals would serve as the main force, with two third-transformations providing support. That was more than enough to deal with Lin Bao and Wang Chongsong. They only hoped that this time, Wang Chongsong and Lin Bao would both enter the Underworld together.

Upon learning that their targets might be two fourth-transformations—or perhaps just one—the group began discussing tactical details: who would strike first, and how to respond to each possible development. Everyone present was a hardened veteran—especially Li Wuwang, who had a natural talent for strategy. Otherwise, he could never have led the Heavenly Sword Division to carve out an incredible foothold on the Chaotic Star.

Several days later, Xia Ji arrived in Jiangguang City. After discussing matters of the Hidden Guard Division with Fang Chen, he also joined the meeting. From a broader perspective, he raised points overlooked by the Loose Immortals, making the plan even more refined.

The planning took more than ten days. By the time it was perfected, Fang Chen hardly needed to do anything. Even the cultivator assigned to make contact with Lin Bao was decided to be Li Wuwang.

***

Half a year later, they arrived at an immensely prosperous city of the Underworld. Here, the aura of Great Yin Demons seemed to permeate everywhere.

Fang Chen and the Dangyin Mountain Lord, who had changed his form into that of a burly middle-aged man, sat by a window in a restaurant, savoring both the view and the local delicacies.

The city was known as Biluo City in the Floating Pagoda Realm.

Dangyin Mountain, Jiangguang City, the Myriad Immortal City, and Luotian City—they all lay within the jurisdiction of Biluo City.