Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Fellow Daoist Fang, once we reach the Formless Purgatory, if any danger arises, you may come with me,” Little Immortal Honglian suddenly transmitted telepathically.

Fang Chen’s heart stirred slightly, and he immediately nodded. ”Alright. No matter what happens, I will go with you.”

Little Immortal Honglian said nothing more.

But Fang Chen quietly pondered the meaning behind her words. She seemed to already know something about what was happening within the Formless Purgatory. For her to invite him along likely meant that she was confident she had a way to deal with whatever danger awaited.

Fang Chen cast a discreet glance at Little Immortal Honglian. Could Wang Chongsong... be in the Formless Purgatory?

Several days later, no one knew how many tens of thousands of miles they had traveled through Qingming. They only knew that the surrounding stars looked completely unfamiliar.

”I’m starting to worry,” Lin Yuan muttered softly. ”If that person doesn’t bring us back, we might lose ourselves here completely.”

”Worry first about whether you’ll even make it back alive,” Yu Wuxia said coolly. ”Compared to that, what you’re fretting over is nonsense.”

Just as Lin Yuan was about to retort, another fleet appeared nearby, larger than theirs.

The Black Dragon’s speed noticeably slowed as it steered toward the other group, which was also approaching them in turn.

”It looks like... another Black Dragon? Could it be another core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace?”

A spark of joy rose in everyone’s hearts. The more allies they had, the safer they would be.

When the two fleets drew close, dozens of figures flew out from the other Black Dragon, and Li Shanzi led a group forward to greet them warmly.

”I’m going to rest and recover my energy for a bit,” Fang Chen said casually.

Among the new arrivals, he had spotted a familiar face.

***

Inside the Black Dragon, both groups sat together in the central hall. There was tea and spirit fruits. If not for the darkness outside, one might have thought they were on some tranquil immortal mountain.

Lin Dong was there as well, though he stood silently on the edge. Only the fourth and fifth transformation immortals were qualified to greet the new arrivals alongside Li Shanzi.

”Senior Brother, I came as soon as I received word. I didn’t expect to meet you on the way, what luck! Let’s travel together from here,” said a bright-eyed young man seated across from Li Shanzi.

The young man’s cultivation was only at the first transformation, and his eyes still held that faint naivety of a young immortal newly set foot upon the world.

Li Shanzi sighed softly. ”Junior Brother Ji, I didn’t expect you to come this time. You could have stayed in the palace to cultivate. There was no need to get involved in this matter.”

The young man quickly replied, ”I heard that Senior Sister is currently locked in a fierce battle with the core disciples of Taiyi Immortal Gate, Ten Thousand Star Palace, Blood and Flesh Divine Palace, Rulai Monastery, Spirit God Sect, and the Killing Spiritual Division. Everyone suffered heavy losses, so I came as quickly as I could. This is the Enlightenment God Palace’s external war, our Forbidden Zone Conquest. As a core disciple, I must do my part.”

A Forbidden Zone Conquest?

Fang Chen’s expression shifted slightly. He was already certain something about this conquest was off. Otherwise, why would Anomalies appear? And why was Ji Tianjun here?

His gaze fell upon a young man standing quietly behind the boy. It was none other than Ji Tianjun, someone Fang Chen had met once before, and whose face he would never forget.

At this moment, Ji Tianjun stood silently behind the young man, saying nothing.

That boy’s group also included a fifth transformation immortal, and the fact that Ji Tianjun stood beside him indicated that they were of equal standing. Perhaps his status from the Minor Immortal Realm gave him some leverage, but Fang Chen suspected the real reason was the young man himself.

Li Shanzi had addressed him as ”Junior Brother Ji,” and since they shared the same surname, it was very likely they were related by blood.

Fang Chen quietly studied Ji Tianjun. His cultivation had risen from the second transformation to the third. He was a common third transformation Loose Immortal, like those in the Lower Six Realms.

Clearly, his attempt to take the path of the Immaculate Immortal had failed.

Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya had been right. Ji Tianjun’s background in the Minor Immortal Realm was unimpressive. After all, here in the Upper Three Realms, even someone like Wang Xuan could directly embark on the Taiyi Immortal path. Yet Ji Tianjun had been forced to take the detour of a Loose Immortal, seeking a true immortal path only after reaching the third transformation.

That showed his foundation was weak, his background lacking. Or perhaps he simply refused to take any other immortal path and still clung stubbornly to the Immaculate Immortal path.

Fang Chen frowned slightly. If this person is also one of the demons, then his appearance here becomes... very interesting indeed.

His only trump card now was Huang Wuji, sealed within the World Gourd, but in a situation like this, that card was far from reliable.

In the end, he had already decided to remain an observer. He would watch quietly and see what this so-called conquest of the 157th Ancient Forbidden Zone truly entailed, and whether it was related to the demons. At the same time, he would secretly keep an eye on Ji Tianjun.

”Junior Brother Ji,” Li Shanzi’s tone suddenly shifted, sharper now, ”let’s not pretend otherwise. We’re all core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace. I follow our Fifth Senior Brother while you follow our Third Senior Sister. The more our Senior Sister suffers, the better it is for us, isn’t it? You too wish to vie for the Grand World Immortal path, don’t you?”

Fang Chen’s eyes flickered. The Grand World Immortal path?

He noticed that when Li Shanzi mentioned that term, a faint gleam flashed through Ji Tianjun’s eyes. It was barely noticeable, but unmistakable.

”Senior Brother Li... you’ve already reached the fourth transformation and are walking the Heavenly Immortal path, haven’t you?” The young man’s naivety faded, his tone now calmer and colder than before. ”The Grand World Immortal path holds no benefit for you anymore.”

”The Grand World Immortal benefits anyone. Just because I can’t take that path doesn’t mean others can’t.” Li Shanzi’s voice turned icy. ”Drawing on the power of the Era of Oblivion... that kind of unique immortal path, even if it’s incomplete, could fetch a handsome price.”

”Let’s make a deal, then,” the young man suddenly said. ”The Formless Purgatory will surely be chaotic this time. Senior Brother Li, you may not rank highly among the core disciples, but if we cooperate and obtain the immortal herb tied to the Grand World Immortal path, I’m willing to pay you handsomely in immortal crystals.

”And in addition, I’ll give you a quota to the Minor Immortal Realm.”

A Lesser Immortal Realm quota?

Many of the immortals present revealed surprised expressions. It was as if they valued that quota even more than the Grand World Immortal Path.

”Going to the Minor Immortal Realm doesn’t guarantee we can walk down the True Immortal path. You and your cousin are both proof of that.” Li Shanzi sneered lightly. ”Still, if your offer of immortal crystals is large enough, I might consider helping you.”

The two then continued their conversation telepathically. No one else could hear what they discussed. But when they finished, both groups began traveling together toward the Formless Purgatory.

Fang Chen’s spirit returned to his body. During the journey, he dared not project his soul. If his physical body were suddenly transported elsewhere, he might as well be dead.

Fang Chen pondered, The Grand World Immortal... so Ji Tianjun no longer intends to pursue the Immaculate Immortal path, but this one instead? What kind of immortal path is that? Why have I never heard of it before?

Whatever it was, if the opportunity arose, he certainly wouldn’t allow Ji Tianjun to get what he wanted.