Immortal of the Nine Realms

”You monks of Rulai Monastery are truly despicable! We came here openly without the slightest deceit, and yet you secretly sent people to seize the Ancient Forbidden Zone?” the fourth elder cursed aloud.

Ye Qingqiu and the others revealed expressions of schadenfreude. They counted and realized that out of the eight experts in the Enlightenment God Palace capable of performing Formation Immortal Arts, seven were here.

As for the second brother, they too had heard that he had been punished and sent to the Enlightenment Underworld Realm. Even if he tried to rush back now, it would be far too late.

”Amitabha. It is not that my Rulai Monastery is deceitful, but that we had no choice,” Shao Guangyin said calmly. ”If everyone is willing to turn war into peace, why don’t we agree to a truce and leave each other be?”

”Too late.” Xie A’man smiled. ”Since we’re already here today, no matter what excuses you come up with, we won’t be stopping. Besides, sending your people there, do you really think they can succeed?”

Shao Guangyin smiled faintly. ”I recall that Brother Longchi is currently being punished in the Enlightenment Underworld Realm, yes? Young Lady Xie, you borrowed that pretext to suppress him, but it seems like you only ended up shooting yourself in the foot.”

Yet Xie A’man’s smile shone even brighter. ”Idiot. Did you really think the Enlightenment God Palace would cut off one of its own arms? Your people are probably in trouble right now. According to the information I received, you only sent two who can use Formation Immortal Arts, correct? But because you still have other places to guard, those two were the rookies who only recently comprehended Formation Immortal Arts. As for my second brother, he could beat not two, but four of them with a single strike each.”

Nan Ming Ruyue, Li Shanzi, and the others all looked stunned.

So their Second Brother hadn’t been exiled to the Enlightenment Underworld Realm for punishment at all! He had instead been sent to guard the Ancient Forbidden Zone.

Shao Guangyin lightly shook his head. ”Young Lady Xie, you are using psychological warfare, but my heart is steady.”

”You think that just because Second Brother fed you a few tidbits of information, he’s really on your side? Even if the Guyue Ghost Boat hadn’t told me, I already knew you were the scheming bald monk behind the scenes trying to move against me. The information you got from Second Brother, he only dared send it after I gave my approval. I was merely curious. I wanted to see what exactly you’re plotting behind my back.”

Xie A’man smiled coldly. ”But now I’m not in a hurry to find out. I’ll beat you first and then see if you’ll talk or not.”

”What!? Second Brother cooperated with Senior Sister to put on this entire act!?”

”Then doesn’t that mean... Shao Guangyin has been led by the nose all along, and the reason we’re here today was entirely because of Senior Sister’s plan?”

”I knew it, there’s no way Senior Sister would be tricked so easily...”

Many of the core disciples were shocked, but they quickly came to believe her words. Thinking about it, it made perfect sense.

Their senior sister could never be manipulated so easily. If she could be, she would have perished long ago instead of holding the seat of the chief core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace unshaken to this day!

If this truly is Senior Sister’s scheme, then what reason does that bald monk have for opposing her? Fang Chen pondered silently.

His gaze lingered on Shao Guangyin as countless possible motives flashed through his mind, each one he dismissed. But one thing was certain—a plan of such scale could never be born from a mere personal grudge. The implications were vast. No one would pay such a high price for something so trivial.

What is it on Senior Sister’s body that they desire? The Formation Heart? Impossible. Formation Hearts have no grades or hierarchy. The immortal path of the Enlightenment God Palace? A spiritual treasure?

Shao Guangyin stayed silent for several breaths before finally speaking, calming the disciples behind him. ”I have said already, this matter has nothing to do with me. As for whatever arrangements you have made, words alone prove nothing. The outcome will reveal itself in time.”

With that, his monk robes billowed as immortal essence surged about him.

”Young Lady Xie, if you wish to fight for the Great Thunder Sound Temple, then take it by strength,” said Shao Guangyin.

”Name the time.”

Shao Guangyin pressed his palms together and bowed slightly. ”Forty-eight hours from now, Rulai Monastery shall meet you in battle.”

Behind him, the ninety-nine core disciples of the Rulai Monastery followed suit.

Outside the lone island in the Qingming, countless Thousand Armed Guanyin faintly emerged, backed by the dazzling Buddhist light of Great Thunder Sound, radiant and sanctified.

After Fang Chen and the others left, they returned to the main group.

”Senior Sister, what did the Blood and Flesh Divine Palace say?” a core disciple couldn’t wait to ask.

Xie A’man smiled faintly. ”They won’t interfere.”

Many core disciples finally exhaled in relief. As long as the Blood and Flesh Divine Palace stayed out of it, their victory over the Great Thunder Sound Temple was nearly guaranteed.

Third Sister sneered, glancing toward the island, her eyes full of disdain. ”Those cowards only know how to watch the wind. Once they saw how many of us came, they didn’t dare make a move. If they really tried to meddle, we could just wipe them out too.”

”You underestimate them. They wouldn’t come all this way without some confidence.” Xie A’man chuckled. ”Take that Shao Guangyin, for instance, he’s definitely hiding some spiritual treasure that he thinks can tip the scales in this contest.”

”And Ye Qingqiu, Xian Yueguan, Leng Buqi, those three must also each be carrying a spiritual treasure ranked within the top 150.”

”Don’t forget where Xian Yueguan came from. The Surging Tide Sea may well hold a treasure ranked in the top 50. Just one such treasure would be enough to make you all choke on it.”

Everyone’s expressions grew more serious.

Third Sister snorted. ”Those are all rumors. People say the Surging Tide Sea holds a treasure in the top 50, but no one’s ever actually seen it. They’ve never admitted to it either.”

”If you had one, would you admit it? Who would casually show off a treasure like that for others to gawk at?” Xie A’man smiled faintly, then swept her gaze across all the core disciples present. ”For this battle, I’ll go first. If I can defeat Shao Guangyin, Rulai Monastery’s morale will collapse, and the rest will be easy.”

”Then I’ll go second,” Third Sister said indifferently.

She clearly knew she couldn’t claim the first position.

Half an hour later, everyone’s order of battle was arranged. Those capable of performing Formation Arts would all fight in the vanguard. The higher one’s cultivation, the earlier they would fight, meant to protect those with lower cultivation.

Fang Chen and the Little Immortal Honglian were assigned to the last and second-last positions.

”You two are just here to watch the show. Senior Sister and Third Sister will probably finish the fight before it’s our turn,” Ji Sheng said cheerfully, glancing at the two of them.

The pair didn’t feel disappointed. Observing such a battle could be immensely beneficial. Avoiding direct risk was no loss at all.

After Fang Chen left Senior Sister’s side and passed by Li Shanzi’s Black Dragon Ship, he saw Immortal Taixu smiling faintly at him.

Fang Chen’s eyes flickered.

Wait a second... what if Shao Guangyin’s true purpose in targeting Senior Sister was to draw someone out?

His mind churned as he walked away.

Seeing Fang Chen’s contemplative face, Wang Chongsong’s expression darkened.

His smile might have been wasted on this blind man.