Immortal of the Nine Realms

The crowd one by one clasped their hands and bowed in salute.

”Greetings, Core Disciple Wang.”

”Daoist Wang Ye, with your status, how is it that you’ve come to Lone Light Star? To be honest, this front is not particularly important,” Wang Zhanqi said, his eyes constantly scanning Fang Chen as if trying to discern some hidden clue.

Fang Chen replied with a smile, ”I am merely passing through Lone Light Star.”

Passing through?

Wang Zhanqi did not believe a word of it. However, given his current predicament, he had no way to press for the truth. After a moment’s thought, he asked, ”How do you intend to dispose of me?”

Fang Chen asked as he looked toward Core Disciple Xuan, ”In the Taicang Realm, how are these demonized core disciples usually dealt with?”

”Their Formation Heart is extracted, and then they are imprisoned, awaiting a future method to resolve their demonic possession.”

Fang Chen fell into deep thought. No wonder Wang Zhanqi appeared so calm at the moment.

The Enlightenment God Palace handled things the same way. Fourth Senior Brother and the others had not been executed, merely confined within the Ten Thousand Heavenly Prison. If they were back in the Fangcun Realm, he might have done the same. But they were not.

Fang Chen cast a glance at Ji Gang. Ji Gang was momentarily startled, but then he gave a slight nod and struck Wang Zhanqi squarely on the brow with his palm. A massive surge of immortal essence instantaneously disintegrated Wang Zhanqi’s physical body.

In the air, only a streak of green brilliance remained circulating. That was the fragmented Formation Heart.

With a gentle beckon from Fang Chen, the brilliance merged into his palm and solidified into a physical object.

The onlookers stared blankly at this scene and a trace of renewed terror appeared in their eyes as they looked at Fang Chen. It was clear that this core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace possessed no small thirst for blood.

Core Disciple Xuan wore a conflicted expression. ”Core Disciple Wang, doing this... I fear it does not comply with the regulations. If the Grand Wei Study and the others learn of this, there will be those who are dissatisfied.”

”I have only just arrived, and my understanding of the current situation in the Taicang Realm is quite one-sided. It is precisely because of this that I had no extra patience to expend on Wang Zhanqi. It was better to simply execute him,” explained Fang Chen.

He then stowed away the incomplete Formation Heart and said, ”Everyone, although Wang Zhanqi is dead, the battle for Lone Light Star has not truly settled. Let us focus on the task at hand. Once the demonized here are cleared out, we shall speak in detail.”

”Precisely!”

The crowd nodded in succession and hurried off to clean up the remnants of the battle.

With the loss of Wang Zhanqi, the core of the Grand Wei Study, the destruction of the Eight-Legged Formation, and the death of the dwarf Ancient Immortal, the remaining demons were destined to have no chance of a reversal. Core Disciple Xuan also departed the Black Dragon Boat, re-condensing the Lotus Formation to coordinate the purging of the demonic remnants.

”This man has absolutely no regard for the rules. Why was the information from your Motian Division so delayed that you didn’t even know the Second Core of the Enlightenment God Palace was coming here as reinforcement?”

Wang Zhanqi’s wandering soul remained standing on the Black Dragon Boat. He turned and spoke coldly to a phantom figure beside him.

That phantom was the sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal who had remained hidden all this time. He was currently suppressing his aura, appearing no different from an ordinary wandering soul.

Without Yin Yang Eyes, no one could see him. His situation was naturally very safe.

The sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal replied icily, ”Our people within the Xie Zhi Division were purged. Some information channels have experienced lag, making it impossible to obtain accurate intelligence immediately.”

”Purged!? Wasn’t your operative in the Xie Zhi Division... a Venerable? I recall that only an eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal can serve as one!” Wang Zhanqi was shocked. ”Why wasn’t I informed of this earlier!? This means the struggle between your Motian Division and the Xie Zhi Division has already fallen behind.”

He berated, ”Had you told me, I could have made proper preparations and wouldn’t necessarily have stayed here to wait for death. Also, why didn’t you strike just now? He couldn’t see you at all. If you had acted, there was a high probability of assassinating him and Lone Light Star would still be in our hands.”

”The Motian Division only agreed to coordinate with your actions in the Taicang Realm and protect your safety within a limited scope. We did not agree to make enemies of the cultivators from the Fangcun Realm,” answered the sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal coldly.

He glanced at Wang Zhanqi. ”The reason I didn’t strike just now was that I had no certainty. You saw it yourself, this person possesses two Formation Immortal Arts and a significant background. Who knows what trump cards they hold? You demons of the Taicang Realm act far too overbearingly. Even though we wished to hide our identities, we were forced to reveal ourselves time and again. I fear they are already on guard.”

Wang Zhanqi frowned and continued, ”The news of this place must be sent out, lest our fellow Daoists encounter this person without being adequately prepared.”

”There is a way, but we must follow them.”

The sixth transformation-Ghost Immortal cast a glance at Fang Chen. For a moment, it felt as if he were hallucinating and it seemed as if the other party was looking right at him.

He fixed his gaze and watched for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating laugh and said to Wang Zhanqi, ”This is the only method. If we follow them to a place where one can walk the Path of Yin, I can send you back.”

Wang Zhanqi let out a sigh and spoke no more.

Fang Chen suddenly spoke, ”Old Ji, I heard them say just now that a sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal is following Wang Zhanqi. You must keep a constant watch on this matter.”

Ji Gang nodded. ”If that sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal dares to show his head, he won’t be able to withstand a combined strike from the three of us.”

Fang Chen nodded, then maneuvered the Black Dragon Formation to begin a patrol around Lone Light Star.

Wherever the Black Dragon Formation passed, the awakened demons lost their will to fight, while those cultivators who had not awakened but had simply defected to the demons had already surrendered their weapons.

Core Disciple Xuan and the others thought Fang Chen was doing this intentionally, using the formation to patrol Lone Light Star to help them intimidate the demonized. In reality, Fang Chen was searching for the seal.

A few days later, in front of the highest terrain on Lone Light Star, he finally saw an illusory mountain.

”This mountain is thirty three thousand meters high. It must be the tallest mountain range here,” remarked Old Ji as he looked at the mountain covered in pristine white snow.

A look of admiration appeared in his eyes.

The illusory mountain hovered just above this snow-capped peak, flickering in and out of existence. Only Fang Chen could see it.

After stopping to admire it for a while, Fang Chen steered the Black Dragon Formation toward the distance.

”Rest and reorganize on the spot. I will have Lone Light Star arrange for the immortal crystals later. However, since this place has endured hundreds of years of war, they might not be able to squeeze out many crystals. Everyone should be prepared for that.”

At Fang Chen’s command, the Black Dragon Formation instantly disbanded. Hearing that, the cultivators of the various exploration teams looked grave, but few had complaints. After all, by following this core disciple, they at least wouldn’t be used as cannon fodder when encountering enemies.

”Old Ji, you two stay here to hold the fort. I’m going for a walk outside,” announced Fang Chen.

Ji Gang asked, ”Core Disciple Fang, that sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal might still be lurking nearby. Should the two of us accompany you?”

The sixth transformation Ghost Immortal and Wang Zhanqi looked at each other, their expressions shifting. That might be a good opportunity. Once separated from the Black Dragon Formation, that core disciple might not be that strong.

Wang Zhanqi’s brow furrowed slightly. ”Core Disciple Fang? Is his surname Wang or Fang? Is he called Fang Ye? Did I remember it wrong?”

”No need. Daoist Miyu is right here with me,” said Fang Chen, waving his hands before turning into a streak of light and disappearing into the horizon.

Seeing that, the sixth-transformation Ghost Immortal immediately grabbed Wang Zhanqi and followed him.