Immortal of the Nine Realms

”Is it him?” asked Wang Chongsong in a low voice.

Fang Chen looked at Daoist Yun Qe and gave a slight nod. ”It’s him.”

Daoist Yun Qe turned and waved them over. ”You’re here? Come have a look.”

Wang Chongsong put away his Immortal Boat, then he and Fang Chen walked up to the man.

Daoist Yun Qe gave Wang Chongsong a once-over, then flatly said, ”You used to be from Fangcun Mountain, didn’t you?”

Wang Chongsong froze for a moment. He then chuckled and nodded. ”You truly have discerning eyes, Senior Mu.”

The Daoist didn’t deny it, only turned to gaze at the phantom mountain ahead. ”Fangcun Mountain has decent roots. Tell me, what do you make of this mountain? I feel like I remember what it is, but... I’ve forgotten somehow.”

”Senior,” Wang Chongsong asked, ”is there any way to dissolve the seal on it? If we can, then the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation might awaken and need not remain lost in the sea of suffering.”

”Let this old Daoist think about it,” Daoist Yun Qe muttered as he began to circle the mountain.

Wang Chongsong watched him expectantly. ”If he really can figure out a new method, we might finally make progress.”

After a pause, he added, ”You noticed? When I called him Senior Mu, he didn’t deny it. My guess was right, he is your Dao Sect’s Solar Beast.”

Fang Chen nodded slightly, his eyes glinting as they followed Daoist Yun Qe’s movements. Not only had the man accepted the title, but he’d also revealed a telling clue by saying, ”Used to be from Fangcun Mountain.”

Taken literally, he meant Wang Chongsong’s past. But Wang Chongsong was currently a major figure of Fangcun Mountain. Why say he used to be?

Does he mean Wang Chongsong’s previous life... or his first incarnation in this world?

From what he’d learned, Wang Chongsong was likely one of the earliest beings to be reincarnated here, those sent from the other side. Back then, the first batch had been countered due to the intervention of the Yang Gods. Most of them could only die of old age, their souls ground away by countless years. Only a rare few, perhaps, could reincarnate within the small, enclosed realms controlled by the great sects, just as Wang Chongsong had.

”This seal’s interesting,” Daoist Yun Qe said, returning after pacing for a long time. ”It’s a forbidden art. Back then, few could cast them. I can’t tell whose signature this one bears. Whoever laid it down must be someone beyond my knowing. Or maybe I simply forgot them.”

”Senior, it is indeed a forbidden art,” Wang Chongsong said seriously. ”The price paid to lay it down must’ve been immense, possibly costing the lives of several ninth-transformation immortals. What we need to know is, can it be undone?”

Daoist Yun Qe rolled his eyes. ”You know it cost the lives of several ninth-transformation immortals, yet you still ask me for a way to undo it? You think I’m stronger than a bunch of ninth-transformation immortals?”

”Senior’s knowledge is vast,” Wang Chongsong said carefully. ”Even if it can’t be broken by force, perhaps there’s a subtler way to unbind it?”

Wang Chongsong tried to guide his thoughts, hoping that with his endless years of experience, the old being might recall some clever workaround.

”There is someone who could do it,” the Daoist said at last. ”If that fellow stepped in, he could wipe it away with ease. This is his territory, after all, no forbidden art should exist here. At most, he’d tolerate a bit of Heavenly Abhorrence Technique, nothing more.”

He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then grinned. ”Tell you what, you two wait here. I’ll go find him and have him remove this restriction himself. Whoever set this up is a real bastard. No sense of decency, laying a taboo like this here.”

Muttering, he turned as if to leave.

Wang Chongsong quickly blocked his path. ”Senior, wait!”

”Why stop me? Got a better idea? You’re only at the seventh transformation. What could you possibly do?” Daoist Yun Qe gave him a disdainful look. ”With your level, you barely count as a proper cultivator. You’re completely out of your depth facing a seal like this.”

Wang Chongsong gave a weary sigh. ”Don’t get me wrong, Senior. I only stopped you for fear you’d make a wasted trip. The one you mentioned, is he... the Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm?”

Fang Chen glanced at Wang Chongsong. So he does know a few things....

Solar Beast Mu had once contended for that very position, but failed.

Fang Chen’s thoughts churned. If the ninth-transformation immortals are the peak of the world, then the Heavenly Dao must stand above even them.

”Seems you know a fair bit,” Daoist Yun Qe said, eyes narrowing. ”Yes, that’s him. That arrogant fool took the seat of the Heavenly Dao and went mad with pride. Now someone dares use forbidden arts under his nose, and he does nothing. When I see him, I’ll demand answers. If he won’t do his job, then I’ll take his place. Why keep the throne if he doesn’t know how to use it?”

”Senior,” Wang Chongsong said softly, ”the Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm... may already be dead.”

Daoist Yun Qe’s brow furrowed.”Dead?”

He looked Wang Chongsong up and down, then suddenly chuckled. ”Ha! That’s like an ant pointing at the sky and claiming the heavens are dead. What does an ant know of Heaven?”

”Senior, these aren’t my words,” Wang Chongsong replied calmly. ”Signs everywhere point to it. If you don’t believe me, look at this boy. He carries Heavenly Dao Blood in his veins.”

He sold Fang Chen out completely.

In an instant, Daoist Yun Qe appeared before Fang Chen and pressed a finger to Fang Chen’s forehead.

Fang Chen felt no pain, only his blood boil. A faint emerald light surged from his forehead, struggling fiercely against the Daoist’s touch.

”It truly is... Heavenly Dao Blood...” The Daoist murmured, frowning. ”This makes no sense. If he lives, how did his blood end up in you? But if he’s dead... how can the Heavenly Dao die?”

”Senior, something extraordinary happened long ago,” said Wang Chongsong. ”Your memory may be incomplete; that’s why you’ve forgotten.”

”Forget it,” said Daoist Yun Qe, waving dismissively. ”If it’s a forbidden art, then aside from that self-absorbed narcissist, no one can undo it.”

Then, eyeing Fang Chen again, he grinned. ”Unless, of course, you draw out that Heavenly Dao Blood of yours and spill it over the seal. That should do the trick. Blood like his, it works like a black dog’s blood. It wards off evil wonderfully.”

”Senior, perhaps we should think of another way,” replied Fang Chen. ”If not, there’s this core disciple named Li Shanzi—”

”Senior, can you sense any traces of Heavenly Dao Blood nearby?” Wang Chongsong interrupted before Fang Chen could say more, watching the Daoist with barely contained hope.