Immortal of the Nine Realms

Elder Jiang pointed at Fang Chen and said to Jiang Chen, “Give him five hundred of your merits.”

Jiang Chen was utterly horrified. Five hundred merits out of his own?! That was like centuries of labor!

Elder Jiang only looked at him quietly, saying nothing, as though waiting for him to declare his own stance.

A few breaths later, Jiang Chen let out a bitter laugh and walked up to Fang Chen. “Fellow Daoist Fang, lend me your jade token.”

Elder Jiang sighed softly. “You didn’t agree immediately. That means you cannot read the situation clearly.”

His expression turned even darker. “A dignified third-transformation immortal can’t even make a prompt judgment over such a simple matter. The years the Enlightenment God Palace has spent cultivating you have been wasted—two hundred more merit points as punishment.”

Jiang Chen’s mind was thrown into chaos, but this time, he did not dare to hesitate. He took Fang Chen’s jade token and injected seven hundred merit points into it.

A faint stream of light flashed across Fang Chen’s bronze jade token, and a string of faint numbers faded away.

Fang Chen had previously only had 480 merit points. After exchanging for the first transformation Human Immortal herb, he was left with 150. Now, with Jiang Chen’s 700 points, his total jumped to 850.

Such a sum of merit would tempt even a core disciple!

In the Enlightenment God Palace, the only external members who could accumulate such a sum were seniors who had been saving for a long time to challenge the Core Disciple Assessment, or those with a notable background, like Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen’s heart throbbed with pain. Without those seven hundred merit points, his chance to apply for the core disciple exam was once again pushed into the distant future.

Lin Yuan and Yu Wuxia secretly clicked their tongues. They had not expected Elder Jiang to be so willing to show off his impartiality. Even though Jiang Chen was his clansman, Elder Jiang had waved his hand and made him pay seven hundred merit points to settle the matter. That was nearly equivalent to two first-transformation immortal herbs.

Elder Jiang looked toward the senior sister and Little Immortal Honglian. “Are the two of you satisfied with this old man’s handling of the matter?”

The senior sister said nothing. She simply looked at Little Immortal Honglian.

Little Immortal Honglian thought for a moment, then said, “Daoist Jiang is not suited to remaining in my expedition team. I hope you can arrange another position for him, Elder Jiang.”

Jiang Chen had not expected Little Immortal Honglian to be so ruthless. They had been acquainted for more than ten years. He didn’t expect her to kick him out of her team over a matter this trivial.

She kicks me out over a fellow who had just advanced to the first transformation?

He kept his expression neutral, but in the depths of his eyes, a vicious cold light flickered.

Fang Chen could tell that the man, unlike Little Immortal Honglian, did not possess memories of a past life.

“Very well.” Elder Jiang nodded lightly, then looked at Jiang Chen. “Did you hear? Pack your things and leave.”

Jiang Chen cupped his hands slowly. “Yes.”

Elder Jiang smiled at the senior sister. “If there is nothing else, this old man shall take his leave.”

His figure slowly turned transparent until he completely vanished from sight.

His true body had never been present. What came was merely a manifested projection of divine sense.

***

In Qingming, a Black Dragon Immortal Boat sped toward the Langgui Constellation.

Meng Qingling and the others stood beside Fang Chen, gazing with emotion at the quiet, boundless expanse.

“I didn’t expect we had been away from the Langgui Constellation for so many years. Years spent in cultivation are really fleeting, blink once and they slip away.” Lin Yuan sighed. “Once I go back, I need to visit some people. They’ve probably been terrified for years.”

“We may not necessarily be able to act freely.” Meng Qingling cast him a glance. “If you want a triumphant return home, that’s fine. But if you plan to use this opportunity to settle grudges, you may not have the time.”

Lin Yuan laughed. “Then we’ll see the situation. Whether there’s time or not is another matter.”

He looked curiously at Fang Chen. “Captain, what does it feel like to advance to a first-transformation Human Immortal? I heard the emotions and desires of a Human Immortal are stronger. When do you plan to marry, have children, and expand your bloodline?”

“What kind of question is that?” Meng Qingling immediately spat. “Who said Human Immortals must bear children? You’re just a Tribulation Realm cultivator, stop making blind guesses about the Human Immortal Path.”

“I may be at the Tribulation Realm, but I’ll soon reach the Ascension Realm myself. I already have enough merit to exchange for a first-transformation immortal herb. I’ve decided! Since Captain chose the Human Immortal Path, I will also!”

“You should take the Gu Immortal Path. You are a disciple of the Demonic Insect Immortal Sect,” Yu Wuxia advised calmly. “Taking the Human Immortal Path is a waste of talent. Although your sect may not have the later stages of the Gu Immortal Path, the Enlightenment God Palace certainly does.”

Lin Yuan thought for a moment and sighed helplessly. “Of course we have it, but I asked around. The immortal herb for the Gu Immortal Path is far too expensive. If I take the Human Immortal Path, I might still have a chance to become an Immortal Sovereign. A Gu Immortal... the hope of advancing from that is slim.”

Yu Wuxia smiled faintly. “Don’t forget, we’re now members of a core disciple’s expedition team. It may not be as impossible as you think.”

Fang Chen looked at Yu Wuxia curiously. “Which Immortal Path do you plan to take?”

Yu Wuxia considered seriously for a few breaths, then answered, “The Grand World Immortal Path.”

He explained, “The path was only recently completed. Though the later transformations are still lacking, at least breaking through to the sixth transformation shouldn’t be a problem. Following the path taken by core disciples won’t go wrong.”

He paused, and faint blue light flickered in his eyes as he smiled quietly. “Captain, while you were away, I used merit to exchange for the herbs for the second and third levels of the Radiant Divine Eyes.”

“Among external disciples, even those of the same realm will have a hard time defeating me now. A few days ago, at the Enlightenment Star, I ran into Yu Tiange. In our duel, I edged out a slight victory.”

Lin Yuan and Meng Qingling immediately revealed disgruntled looks.

Lin Yuan snorted, “Right, right, to deal with me, you’d only need one hand now.”

Yu Wuxia nodded earnestly. “Last time we fought, I indeed only used half my strength.”

Lin Yuan sighed in jealousy. “The Radiant Divine Eyes... are truly powerful. Shame the cultivation requirements are too restrictive.”

Yu Wuxia looked at Fang Chen, eyes filled with expectation. “Captain, if you suppress your cultivation and fight me again...”

Fang Chen’s expression shifted slightly. “Have you asked about the herb for the fourth level?”

Yu Wuxia froze, then shook his head. “I don’t even know what the herb is. How could I ask?”

Then his eyes widened in shock as he stared at Fang Chen. “Captain, you know?”

“Of course I don’t.” Fang Chen sighed. “If I knew, I would’ve exchanged for it already.”

He paused briefly, then smoothly changed the subject. “Let’s try. I’ll suppress my cultivation to match yours. Let’s see how strong your Radiant Divine Eyes truly are.”

Yu Wuxia’s eyes lit up instantly.

Members of the senior sister’s expedition team noticed the two preparing to duel and came over cheerfully.

The weakest among them were all first transformation Immortals, each wearing bronze jade tokens.

Senior Sister approached with Little Immortal Honglian, and the surrounding immortals cupped their hands in greeting.

“You two are going to duel?” asked the senior sister.

Yu Wuxia froze, his face flushing slightly in embarrassment.