Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen didn’t leave the shadows immediately after the senior sister left, but rather waited for a bit.

After making sure they were in the clear, he ended the Shadow Buddha Technique and released Huang Wuji from the World Gourd.

”She’s gone?” Huang Wuji sighed in relief. ”I can tell from her aura that I wouldn’t be able to take a single move from her.”

As a fourth-transformation Sword Immortal with the combat power of a fifth-transformation immortal, he used to believe his strength was formidable. Yet, the moment he encountered a true powerhouse of the Nine Mortal Realms—even without close contact—he immediately felt the terrifying gap between them.

Fang Chen said with a faint smile, ”She is a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal. Her true strength is beyond estimation. It’s normal for you to feel that way. If you master Immortal Boat Formations in the future and use a Formation Technique, you will also be a top-tier presence in this starry sky.”

Huang Wuji pondered for a few breaths, then showed a faint smile and nodded. Just the fact that he was walking the Sword Immortal Path meant that he had the qualifications to become a top-tier powerhouse.

With that, Huang Wuji continued to guard Fang Chen near the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain, whilst Little Sword continued refining the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain.

The mountain instinctively wanted to resist the refinement, but under Fang Renjian’s silent suppression, it was never able to mount any effective counterattack.

This was the difference between spiritual resonance being dormant and being awakened. In terms of pure power, this Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain was far stronger than Little Sword. Little Sword was like a tiny ant before it. Yet because it was unawakened, it was helpless before the refinement.

In the blink of an eye, eight more years passed. The Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain looked much the same as before, but its internal foundation had almost been entirely devoured by Little Sword.

The speed at which Little Sword refined it was far faster than when it had consumed ordinary treasures in the past.

The main reason was that the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain was too pure. It was like the difference between snatching something from someone’s hand and picking it up from the ground. Picking it up from the ground was far easier. Little Sword was doing exactly that, making the difficulty the lowest possible.

One day, Fang Chen received feedback from several avatars again. This feedback came from Fang Bahuang, Fang Liubi, Fang Pusa, Fang Canglei, Fang Yinbing, and Fang Dashen! Within half a day, these six avatars had successively advanced to become first-transformation immortals.

The overwhelming feedback caused Fang Chen’s cultivation to soar. Across the sky, thunder roared as lightning flashed within the clouds.

The moment the lightning tribulation arrived, the shadow of the Forgotten River appeared, like a vast ocean swallowing a pebble, causing the lightning tribulation to dissipate without a trace.

In that instant, the spiritual energy within Fang Chen surged wildly, and he leapt directly into the Ascension Realm. The foundation he had built up over many years manifested perfectly at this moment.

His spiritual energy was tens of times more abundant than that of old monsters who had lingered in the Ascension Realm for hundreds or even thousands of years.

When he’d one day advance to the first transformation, this spiritual power would transform into pure immortal energy, and he’d stand out among peers of the same realm.

With such a foundation, combined with the Heavenly Sniping Art, any enemies he encountered in the future would have a very unpleasant experience.

Mirror of the Universe’s voice echoed in Fang Chen’s ear.

”With your foundation, you can go ahead and absorb the Metal Origin Qi. But I suggest you wait until Little Sword fully transforms into the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Sword before you attempt to ascend. Once he finishes, you can ascend as a first-transformation sword immortal together with it. You can elevate its foundation together with your own, further enhancing its spiritual resonance.”

Fang Chen nodded lightly. ”Mm.”

When Huang Wuji ascended to the fourth-transformation sword immortal, his flying sword also became a spiritual treasure. That was an extra benefit of the Sword Immortal Path.

Since Little Sword already had spiritual resonance, its spiritual resonance would increase, like adding icing on the cake.

***

Two more years passed.

Suddenly, rumbling sounds came from inside the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain, and it began to collapse at astonishing speed. Not only did the mountain’s body collapse, but the Five Elements energy surrounding the mountain also disintegrated. They transformed into streams of energy that flowed into Little Sword’s body.

Within just a few days, the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain completely disappeared, leaving only a magnificent, multicolored divine sword standing in the void, its aura terrifyingly powerful.

Huang Wuji stood at a distance, his flying sword swimming around him like a fish. When the multicolored divine sword emerged, the flying sword couldn’t help but express jealousy, ”Master, its foundation is so terrifying. I don’t dare to get close to it now... I’m afraid it will devour me.”

”Don’t worry, it won’t eat you. We’re on the same side,” Huang Wuji gently reassured it.

He then looked at the divine sword with joy and admiration.

He guessed that Fang Chen would very likely choose to walk the Sword Immortal Path. If so, sword cultivators in the Nine Mortal Realms would no longer be the neglected stepchildren of old times; they would have a solid backing.

Fang Chen examined Little Sword, his eyes shining with excitement.

”Little Sword, how do you feel now?” he asked.

After devouring the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements Mountain, Little Sword’s aura became incredibly terrifying. Its power had far surpassed that of a normal Heaven Rank treasure. Even the Essence Dragon Boat could be cut in half with a single strike. What remained uncertain was whether it could break through the defenses of the Black Dragon Boat or the Immortal Boat Formation.

Little Sword’s voice sounded, ”Little Chen, I feel like I’ve changed. Why have I become so flashy and extravagant?”

”Junior, that’s just the manifestation of the Five Elements energy. You can control it and return to your normal form,” said Mirror of the Universe.

It teased. ”Honestly, I think the flashy look suits you quite well.”

”Shut up!”

As displeased as it was with Mirror of the Universe’s teasing, Little Sword followed its instructions and controlled the Yuan Magnetic Five Elements energy. Soon, the dazzling multicolored phenomena around it faded, though not completely. On its hilt appeared five colorful stripes, representing the Five Elements.

”You can now ascend to the first transformation,” said Mirror of the Universe.

”Not yet. I’m still missing an immortal herb. If I ascend here, they will definitely investigate which immortal path I’m taking.”

Fang Chen pondered for a moment before shaking his head. He planned to use the merits he had earned to exchange for a first-transformation immortal pill, and then naturally ascend.

On the way back, Fang Chen used all his immortal crystals to purchase information on immortal herbs. By the time he reached the rendezvous point, he had acquired seven immortal herbs, all of which were for the fourth transformation, each worth thousands of immortal crystals.

Even after surrendering seventy percent, he was left with over two thousand immortal crystals, plus an unimaginable amount of merits.

The Enlightenment God Palace didn’t make people feel exploited. Rather, merits effectively encouraged cultivators to willingly surrender contributions. They then returned some benefits to the cultivators, such as providing cultivation resources that were normally difficult to obtain.

That was why so many cultivators would willingly contribute even without supervision, and some would even deliberately surrender at a loss through channels like their families just to earn merits.

Standing at the landing site, Fang Chen shone like a blazing sun. Every cultivator who carried a jade token that reacted to immortal herbs would turn scalding hot the moment they neared him.

”Someone here has immortal herbs! Which expedition star is he from?”

”My talisman is burning up! What immortal herb are those?”

”I’ve been trying so hard and couldn’t find even one immortal herb! Turns out a junior has already snatched them all!”

Many first and second transformation immortals kept shooting Fang Chen glances.