Immortal of the Nine Realms

Xia Ji’s expression was extremely grave. He had already gone to investigate several locations, and what he saw there was difficult to put into words.

”The area corresponding to Qiangyang City, where Little White is stationed, has shown anomalies.”

”The area corresponding to Hujiao City, where Little Black is stationed, has also shown anomalies.”

”And there’s more...”

He listed over a dozen places in one breath. It didn’t sound like many, yet it already covered the entirety of the Lower Six Realm. Some regions that the Lesser Underworld could not even reach might also be experiencing abnormalities.

A trace of confusion appeared in Ghost Mother of Self Transformation’s eyes as she looked toward Fang Chen.

”Continue sending people to investigate. Record everything one by one. I’ll go take a look myself,” said Fang Chen, patting Xia Ji on the shoulder.

He then rose and left with the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation.

”Fang Da, what’s going on?” Xia Ji called after him.

Fang Chen waved his hand. ”I’ll tell you later.”

***

After leaving Jiangguang City, Fang Chen turned to the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation and said, ”Senior, you once said they wouldn’t find the key so quickly. But now... they’ve already found it.”

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation was stunned. ”They’ve already found the key?”

She remained silent for a brief moment, processing what he just said. Her expression soon grew solemn. ”Is this true? What kind of key?”

”Someone is using demonic calamities to awaken the memories that were once sealed. It’s still in the experimental phase, but it seems to have produced results,” replied Fang Chen, taking out the Yin Gourd.

”Please enter for now, Senior. With your cultivation, the Lesser Underworld cannot contain you.”

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation nodded and slipped into the Yin Gourd, vanishing from sight.

Fang Chen carried the gourd and stepped into the Forgotten River. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at Qiangyang City. Immediately, he sensed the special connection between him and the White Paper Figure.

Sensing Fang Chen’s arrival, the White Paper Figure immediately emerged from the void. ”Young Lord.”

The corners of the White Paper Figure’s mouth twitched upward, forcing out a stiff smile.

”You look better when you’re not smiling,” Fang Chen said with a chuckle. ”It’s been a long time. How are things over there?”

”Monarch Xia ordered us to monitor the situation at all times. I guessed you would come, so I waited here. When I returned... things were not looking good.”

Seeing with one’s own eyes was better than hearing reports.

Fang Chen did not waste time. Together with the White Paper Figure, he returned to the Mortal Realm.

Immediately after arriving, Fang Chen felt something was off. This place was far too quiet. Aside from birds and beasts calling, insects chirping, and the sound of the wind, there was not the slightest trace of human voices.

He released Ghost Mother of Self Transformation from the Yin Gourd. She too sensed the unnatural stillness.

One man and two souls flew toward the nearest city.

When they reached the sky above it, they discovered that time itself seemed frozen. Everyone in the city stood motionless, locked in whatever action they had been performing before the freeze.

They hadn’t turned to stone; expressions were still visible on their faces. Some had their eyes closed, smiling faintly. Some were frowning. Some looked as though they were crying. Others were filled with terror.

”Demonic calamity...” Fang Chen murmured softly.

These were mere mortals, without the slightest bit of cultivation. The Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations were trials meant for cultivators, yet now they had descended upon ordinary people. Every single person here was experiencing a demonic calamity.

The enemy truly possessed an extraordinary method.

Xin Zong had once explained how to induce demonic calamities, but Fang Chen had never grasped the core of the technique. Why could it trigger demonic calamities? Why could that Saint Son control the demonic calamities of the Nine Mortal Realms?

”They’re undergoing demonic calamities,” the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation said.

The White Paper Figure glanced at her. Its cultivation now far surpassed what it once had, yet in her presence, it still felt an instinctive shudder from the depths of its soul.

That was strange. Even when facing the various Monarchs of the Underworld Divisions, it had never felt this way.

The White Paper Figure was burning with curiosity, yet this was not the time to ask about who the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation was, so it could only set aside its questions for now.

Fang Chen looked at the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation. ”Senior, is there any way... to reverse this?”

What lay before him had exceeded the limits of his abilities. None of the powers he possessed could offer a targeted response to this situation.

As he asked her, Fang Chen also consulted the Mirror of the Universe. The answer he received was that the price for such an inquiry was beyond what he could pay. Even if he sold off all his trump cards, it still wouldn’t be enough.

Clearly, the karma involved in this matter was incomprehensible.

”To reverse it...” the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation fell silent for a long time, then slowly shook her head. ”I can’t even determine the origin of this technique. I’ve never seen such a method before. Reversal is almost impossible, but there is another way.”

”What way?”

”Kill everyone here.”

”...”

Fang Chen fell silent. It was indeed a simple, direct solution.

”But you don’t know who will awaken during the demonic calamity and who will remain unchanged. If they truly possess this key, my suggestion can only delay them temporarily. At the same time, it would expose both you and me.”

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation sighed. ”My advice is to observe a bit longer.”

Fang Chen asked himself honestly. If, in the end, this were the only option, one that merely bought a little time while revealing their existence, would he act?

The answer was yes. He would act.

But first, he needed to confirm one thing.

***

One man and two souls streaked through the void at incredible speed. Dozens of days later, they had traversed the entire region.

The answer Fang Chen sought was now clear. Across the vast land, everyone had fallen into demonic calamities. Not a single person was spared.

”Senior, even if we resort to killing, we can’t kill everyone.” Fang Chen sighed. ”Slaughtering them all would take a year or two. During that time, there could be hundreds, perhaps thousands, of similar regions, with countless people awakening from demonic calamities.”

The Ghost Mother of Self Transformation nodded. ”Indeed, they cannot all be killed. They’ve already seized the initiative. The Nine Mortal Realms are now at a disadvantage. At a time like this, if we could retrieve the Grand Limitless Divine Mirror and observe people’s past lives—identifying those who once held crucial status on their side—then we’d be able to kill those and leave the ordinary people to awaken. Those people’s awakening wouldn’t pose any immediate threat to the Nine Mortal Realms.”

Fang Chen’s expression shifted.

The Grand Limitless Divine Mirror...

He had never been certain whether it was in Wang Chongsong’s possession, in the hands of the Heavenly Saint Sect, or, as Wang Chongsong once suggested, within the Ancient Dragon God Palace. The fact that Wang Chongsong had once viewed the Fairy Yu’s past life meant that, at that time, the Grand Limitless Divine Mirror had indeed been in his hands.

He must have lied to Xie Aman about some things, but not necessarily about everything.

Fang Chen’s mind churned. I wonder whether the old man and the others... have noticed this situation, and whether they can seize some initiative...

”Let’s wait here for a while,” the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation said in a low voice.

”I want to see whether this key of theirs can truly fling open the gates of the demonic path.”

Fang Chen nodded. ”Alright.”

He too wanted to see just how much damage this technique could inflict upon the Nine Mortal Realms.

Off to the side, the White Paper Figure listened in complete confusion, utterly baffled. It found the conversation between Fang Chen and the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation profoundly complex.