Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Terrifying? How terrifying?” asked the old flood dragon casually. ”I heard that in ancient times, there were even those who achieved Dao Union with the stars. And they weren’t ordinary stars either. Even the Nanqing Constellation couldn’t compare. Upon them were countless immortal mountains and spiritual veins. If one were to achieve Dao Union with that, I can’t even imagine what kind of scene it would be.”

Empress Ci only smiled. Her cultivation was not as high as the old flood dragon’s, so she didn’t wish to argue. As for Fang Chen using the Forgotten River to achieve Dao Union, only Stone Dragon and the others could truly share in her awe of that.

Sure enough, when she looked toward Stone Dragon, True Monarch of Pan Mountain, and the others, she saw on their perpetually indifferent faces a rare trace of horror.

”The stars of the Mortal Realm?” Stone Dragon glanced at the old flood dragon and chuckled. ”If the stars of the Mortal Realm are like grains of sand, then the vast heavens are like an ocean. And the Forgotten River is a skiff upon that ocean.”

The old flood dragon thought about the difference between a grain of sand and a boat, then shook his head. ”Impossible.”

”There’s nothing impossible about it,” Stone Dragon replied. ”No one knows how ancient the Forgotten River truly is, but there are plenty of sayings about it in the Underworld. We old things are no more than a billionth of the Forgotten River’s age.”

He didn’t argue further. He merely offered his view. His face revealed a trace of worry. ”Achieving Dao Union through the Forgotten River... that’s unprecedented. If the slightest mistake occurs, it will draw immense trouble.”

Li Wuwang and Huang Wuji exchanged a look, each seeing grave concern in the other’s eyes.

They were walking the path of Underworld True Gods. If Fang Chen met with catastrophe and perished in the Forgotten River, then all of them, as Underworld True Gods, would be buried with him.

”This isn’t a matter of if something goes wrong. Without a doubt, something will go wrong. How could he possibly achieve Dao Union with the Forgotten River?”

All eyes fell on Fairy Yu.

”Do you know something about the Forgotten River?” Empress Ci asked with a smile.

Though Fairy Yu’s tone was sharp, because of her special status, no one criticized her.

”It’s not that I know something that you don’t already know,” Fairy Yu said, ”but an elder once told me that the most unfathomable thing within the Underworld is the Forgotten River. Its existence is deeply mysterious, perhaps even beyond the limits of this world. It was not born in the same era as your ancestors. Most likely, it was already here before the advent of the Immortal Dao. It’s an ancient and terrifying existence.”

The Dangyin Mountain Lord, once the spirit of an immortal mountain, burst into laughter. ”Lass, you’re so young; how would you know any of that stuff at your age? Do you know how old the Immortal Dao is? Even I, who has lived for so long, haven’t figured that out. How can you be so sure the Forgotten River predates the Immortal Dao?”

”I actually agree with her on this point,” Stone Dragon said with a faint smile.

Empress Ci also nodded.

Taiyin Dragon King and True Monarch of Pan Mountain only pondered and remained silent. Whether the Forgotten River predated the Immortal Dao or not had little to do with them. It was like asking a three-year-old to solve a cultivation problem that stumped a ninth-transformation immortal.

”If the lord is to achieve Dao Union, he must merge with the Forgotten River, at least to some degree. Problem is, merging with the Forgotten River itself is one thing, but there are countless souls deep within, some older than any of us here...”

Yu Tingzhai’s expression grew grave. ”To achieve Dao Union with the Forgotten River is no different from achieving Dao Union with these souls. But... is such a thing even possible?”

Everyone’s expression became heavier. Even the old flood dragon, after thinking it over, grew solemn.

”Is there a solution? Can we forcibly interrupt the process?” the old flood dragon asked.

They all glanced at each other and shook their heads. As Underworld True Gods, they could not obstruct Fang Chen, nor could they oppose him. This was the bond between Monarch Yan and his subjects. To go against him would be rebellion, and in that case, Fang Chen wouldn’t even need to lift a finger. The Underworld would act on its own and swallow them whole.

Stone Dragon said, ”Let’s just stand guard here. If any unpredictable danger arises, perhaps we can still help.”

He glanced at Empress Ci, his gaze lingering on Fairy Yu for a few breaths. ”Empress Ci, the business affairs still need you to oversee. You don’t need to remain here.”

Empress Ci nodded. ”Very well, call me if I’m needed.”

With that, she took Fairy Yu and left.

***

In the blink of an eye, a year passed.

During that time, they’d vaguely see Fang Chen sinking and rising with the Forgotten River. Sometimes he’d float at a depth where they could see his silhouette. Other times, he’d sink so deep they couldn’t see anything but the dark abyss of the river.

Xia Ji visited once. Upon learning that Fang Chen was in the midst of achieving Dao Union, he stayed with them for half a month.

”Over on the Chaotic Star, some issues have arisen,” Xia Ji told Yu Tingzhai. ”His position as Division Head of the Killing Spiritual Division has already been revoked. The new division has taken over, but judging by his manner, he only wants to coast by. In his words, the new division head is planning to rot away...”

Yu Tingzhai frowned slightly. ”The Spirit God Sect has sensed something and shows signs of revival. Fortunately, Xu Changshi is our own man, so the situation is still under control.”

”That shouldn’t be a major problem,” he continued with a nod. ”Chaotic Star and Tuxiong Star are now completely stabilized. But in recent years, I’ve noticed the Chaotic Star’s supply of immortal crystals is dwindling. That could become an issue.” ℴ

”We’ll need to expand outward,” Xia Ji said thoughtfully.

A few days later, business with the Hidden Guard Division pulled Xia Ji away. Before leaving, he instructed them to notify him as soon as Fang Chen’s Unity succeeded.

So time slipped by, year after year.

By then, Fang Chen had been merging with the Forgotten River for more than 10 years.

For Yu Tingzhai and the others, such a span was nothing more than a drizzle of rain, hardly worth mentioning.

***

Around seven lonely graves stood dozens of figures. Among them, one hunched old man seemed especially desolate. He stared at the seven graves with deep sorrow. His dry eyes could not shed another tear, only sting with pain.

Everyone sighed. Who could have imagined that one battle would wipe out all seven of Elder Ding’s sons?

A dignified middle-aged man, clearly an official, stepped forward and clasped his fist. ”Elder Ding, please accept our condolences.”

”This battle... was it won?” the old man asked hoarsely.

The middle-aged man froze, then nodded firmly. ”Yes. We won.”

His voice was steady and resolute.

The old man looked dazedly around, then back to the seven graves before him, murmuring, ”But my Ding Family... has no male heirs left.”

Silence fell. It was true, the Ding line had ended.

There wasn’t even anyone left to attend the elder’s funeral in the future.

The battle had been too brutal. The Ding Family was nearly annihilated.

By noon, the mourners departed one by one.

The old man remained, burning paper money. Then he went home, changed into the funeral clothes he had prepared, lay upon his bed, and before long, breathed his last.

Days later, his corpse turned up in the graveyard.

As a soul, he wandered around aimlessly. It wasn’t until many years later that he found his way to the Yellow Springs Road.

Fortune had led him to the Underworld, but that’s where his luck ran out. With no one to guide him across the Forgotten River, he could only stand on its banks and watch in helplessness as one soul after another departed.

The old man sobbed quietly, but no one listened.

”Enter the Forgotten River. You may still have a chance at reincarnation,” someone told him.

He thought it over and stepped into the river, slowly sinking beneath its waters.

At that moment, something seemed to slip free.

Drifting in confusion for some time, he caught sight of a shining star and drew near. Just as he was about to touch the star, a massive dragon appeared.

Staring curiously at the creature with a human’s head and a dragon’s body, he discovered the creature bringing him closer to the star he was looking at. Then, the dragon waited quietly at the side.

Again and again, it happened, until one day he had visited every star.

Growing slightly bewildered, he didn’t know where to go next.

Then... the dragon appeared once more.