Immortal of the Nine Realms

On this street, Lord Hu was regarded by everyone as a big shot—yet now he knelt just like that. He knelt properly, straight and upright.

No one found it surprising. After all, the people who had just arrived were each more influential than the last. They were all top-tier big shots wielding overwhelming power in the capital.

After Hu Lin knelt, these big shots didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, they exchanged a few smiles and words among themselves, then all walked into the noodle shop together.

The man holding the little wandering soul stiffened instantly, and the little soul slipped from his hands.

The little wandering soul immediately rushed into Jue Wudi’s arms, clutching him tightly, his eyes still showing traces of terror.

The wandering soul trapped beneath Fang Chen’s foot was stunned, then joy flooded his eyes.

He never expected his third uncle to have such backing—inviting all these Yin Monarchs to rescue him!

Before he could speak, Xia Ji gave Fang Chen a helpless smile. ”Why didn’t you come straight to my place instead of running around here?”

Qi Tianran smiled. ”Lord, some people have gotten too comfortable these years. I think it’s time to discipline them a bit.”

Jue Wudi and his wife stood there completely stunned, while the wandering soul under Fang Chen’s foot blanked out. The dozen or so wandering souls he brought were just the same, their eyes carrying a faint, clear bewilderment.

Du Yunxu sighed softly and cupped his hands in respect. ”Lord, I have been lax in managing my subordinates and should be punished.”

”One of you coming was enough. Why did you all come here? Afraid people won’t notice?”

Fang Chen smiled, stepping on the soul’s chest as he stood up. He said to Jue Wudi, ”I think the Martial God Division suits you well. Interested in giving it a try? You’re not cut out to be a noodle shop owner.”

Jue Wudi was stunned, pointing at himself. ”Martial God Division? Me?”

Before he could fully process the situation, Fang Chen was already laughing and chatting with the Yin Monarchs as they walked out of the noodle shop and left the place. Some of the subordinates brought by the various Yin Monarchs followed Fang Chen and the others, while some stayed behind to seal off the area.

From the moment Hu Linzhong saw how familiar Fang Chen was with those Yin Monarchs—and how they even followed him in a faintly protective formation—his face had already turned ashen with despair.

The senior officials from the major divisions left behind here were all high-ranking. One Day Walker God approached Lord Hu and smiled. ”This street is under your jurisdiction? What’s your name?”

”R-reporting, sir, my name is Hu Linzhong,” stammered Lord Hu.

The nearby shopkeepers and passersby only now fully came to their senses, gasping sharply while countless thoughts swirled through their minds.

Who... was that?

”Who’s your superior? Never mind, this isn’t my business.”

The Day Walker God chuckled lightly and turned to look behind him. A group of wandering souls dressed in the standard robes of the Judgment Division slowly approached. One of them exchanged a few words with the Day Walker God, then lightly waved his hand.

Lord Hu, his grandson, and the dozen or so wandering souls he brought were taken away on the street by the Judgement Division.

Grandpa Hu walked unsteadily, his back looking bleak and forlorn.

”Taken to the Judgement Division...”

”No coming back from there...”

Lord Hu was finished. Everyone could already foresee his fate.

No one could have imagined that a dignified Day Walker Lieutenant with an official rank could fall so easily. And that he would be taken away directly by the Judgement Division. Even if he didn’t die, he would surely suffer severe punishment.

Lord Hu suddenly turned around in frustration and shouted at the Day Walker God, ”Who exactly is that person?!”

The Day Walker God silently moved his mouth.

Reading his lips, Lord Hu felt as if he had plunged into an ice cellar, nearly losing his balance and needing to be supported to walk.

”Monarch Yan... It’s Monarch Yan...”

Lord Hu felt like crying and laughing at the same time.

With the noodle shop incident coming to an end, a wandering soul from the Martial God Division entered the noodle shop, glanced at Jue Wudi, and smiled faintly. ”The lord just gave orders. You may join the Martial God Division if you wish.”

”I...”

Jue Wudi instinctively looked at his wife.

The woman’s eyes were firm. ”Go. You must go. If you join the Martial God Division, things like today will never happen again.”

***

Fang Chen instructed, ”That Jue Wudi... keep a closer eye on him after he joins the Martial God Division.”

Xing Jintuo nodded lightly.

Xia Ji smiled faintly. ”He didn’t recognize me just now. Looks like he really doesn’t remember me.”

After a pause, he continued, ”Jue Wudi hasn’t been in the capital long. I’ve already had the Nether Guards Division watch him, but there hasn’t been much unusual activity over the years.”

Fang Chen smiled. ”No big problem, but we can’t rule out the possibility of something happening.”

The group arrived at the Nether Guard Division and began reporting the various conditions within the Lesser Underworld over the years.

Overall, the order in the Lesser Underworld had improved significantly compared to before. The Yin Walker Division had basically entered a steady rhythm. Anyone crossing over would consciously register there.

However, unlike the Floating Pagoda Realm, most of the Lesser Underworld’s tax revenue still had to be spent. After decades, the remaining surplus was actually not much, and was only a little over a hundred thousand.

”With more personnel and several more divisions added, the expenses definitely increased a lot.”

Fang Chen nodded slightly, with nothing else to arrange.

Most of the major divisions here were already on track. Now it was just a matter of time and letting things develop gradually.

The other Yin Monarchs left one by one, leaving only Fang Chen and Xia Ji.

”I discovered over in the Upper Three Realms that their top powers have set up similar Underworld divisions within the Floating Pagoda Realm,” said Fang Chen.

”I’ll select a group of people and see if we can assign them there to slowly gather information. But once they go, it will be hard to return, so you’ll need to consider the manpower carefully.”

”The powers have also set up Underworld Divisions in the Floating Pgaoda Realm?”

Xia Ji was a bit surprised, then nodded. ”Alright, I’ll pick some people. Will a thousand be enough?”

Fang Chen nodded. ”If it’s not enough, we can add more later. For now, a thousand is sufficient. There should be enough Yin Lifespan to confer Imperial Decree for these people.”

The spies sent out by the Nether Guard Division must be truly loyal, so each must be officially conferred a decree. With relatively low cultivation, the Yin Lifespan consumed wouldn’t be too much. There were 1.6 million years of Yin Lifespan in Monarch Yan’s Seal, which was more than enough. In fact, he even had some left over to bring back to the Enlightenment Underworld.

With that settled, Fang Chen gave Xia Ji a few more instructions before leaving the Lesser Underworld and heading to the Hall of Monarch Yan.

He hadn’t been there for nearly a hundred years. His main purpose was to check the status of the barrier between the two realms. If there were any danger of being breached, the Yin Lifespan in Monarch Yan’s Seal would have to be used here first.

Just like before, the Hall of Monarch Yan was cold and empty. No one but Fang Chen was present.

Before the barrier between the two realms, the wall seemed even more transparent than before. He faintly saw people on the other side desperately trying to break through.

Without hesitation, Fang Chen stretched out his hand and pressed against it.

In an instant, 600,000 years of Yin Lifespan was infused, and the barrier solidified once again.

The other side seemed furious, but Fang Chen couldn’t hear what they were saying. He smiled and turned to leave the hall.