Immortal of the Nine Realms

The massive crowd stared dead-eyed at the divine sword hovering in the void. Only when it slowly descended and finally dissolved into nothingness did the suffocating spiritual pressure wrapping tightly around their hearts begin to fade, prompting a collective, heavy sigh of relief.

”This kid... He had caused such a cataclysmic commotion over a simple ascension to the seventh transformation realm. Looks like his sword divine ability really did inherit the old master’s teachings,” muttered Fang Cangyou to himself, a trace of awe coloring his thoughts.

A few moments later, a sharp silhouette tore through the spatial barriers and appeared before them.

The gathered crowd immediately bowed and clasped their hands in absolute solemnity. ”We pay our respects to Ancestor Chen.”

Fang Chen’s direct ancestral lineage purity was firmly established; he was, without a shadow of a doubt, a core Third Generation Ancestor of the clan. Even an established cultivator who had achieved the First Step of the Limit Breaking Realm like Fang Ding had to respectfully address him as Ancestor.

Fang Chen glided down before Fang Cangyou. After completing the formal ceremony with his kinsmen, his gaze shifted and locked smoothly onto Lang Daochun. The moment the God Race youth had lingered outside his secluded courtyard earlier, Fang Chen’s sharp senses had already felt his presence.

”I originally calculated that I would have to take up residence here for a significant stretch of time. I didn’t expect to catch the exact moment your ascension concluded. You have officially stepped into the seventh transformation realm?” Lang Daochun walked out of the martial arena, clasping his hands toward Fang Chen with an easy, appreciative laugh.

”Disperse, disperse.”

Fang Cangyou immediately waved his hand, turning his mechanical wheelchair around to depart.

Sensing the cue, the various divine ability cultivators of the Fang Clan tactfully and silently vacated the premises. Within a few moments, the immense martial arena was entirely empty, leaving only Fang Chen, Wang Chongsong, and Lang Daochun standing in the silent space.

The Fang Clan was systematically avoiding any potential political entanglement. Lang Daochun understood the strategic reality perfectly and harbored zero resentment.

Fang Chen smiled cleanly. ”Brother Lang, what manner of assistance do you require from me?”

”The Half Saint of my branch has encountered the aggressive blockade of the Vajra Race’s Half Saints during our migration. Currently, our entire contingent is trapped within the Cangxia Mountain Range. If our negotiations collapse, the opposing side will undoubtedly request an active Saint to personally intervene,” explained Lang Daochun, his tone heavy with absolute gravity.

”I sincerely hope you would step in and act as a diplomatic mediator and speak on our behalf so the Vajra Race will show a shred of mercy and permit our passage.”

Fang Chen was taken aback. ”Allow me to act as your diplomatic mediator? A mere seventh transformation cultivator like me?”

”Brother Fang, don’t underestimate the influence you have right now. In the eyes of the Saints, you are far from a simple seventh transformation cultivator. You are the single highest-achieving champion a lower-tier race has ever produced in the entire recorded history of the Saint Tower Battles,” countered Lang Daochun smoothly. ”According to the classified intelligence I have gathered, in the short years since the conclusion of the Saint Tower Battles, the active Saints of your Human Race have already been invited to participate in several elite banquets hosted by the top one hundred powerful races. The exact underlying mechanism that prompted these prestigious invitations is something I believe Brother Fang understands without further elaboration.”

Lang Daochun leaned forward slightly. ”As long as you are willing to personally intervene, provided it does not cross or damage the core sovereign interests of the Human Race, there is a massive probability that the Vajra Race will harbor deep dread regarding your potential backing, thereby choosing to grant us passage.”

”The Fang Clan is strictly maintaining diplomatic neutrality to avoid external backlash, but they will not obstruct your personal choice in this matter. Everything depends entirely on you.” Wang Chongsong’s voice smoothly transmitted directly into Fang Chen’s consciousness via a localized sound barrier.

He paused for a moment before adding a critical caveat, ”Though I personally believe one should never strike an ally who has fallen from grace, we must also operate strictly within the boundaries of our actual capacity. This intervention will inevitably generate ripple effects. Whether they manifest as a benefit or a liability remains entirely unverified.”

Fang Chen nodded thoughtfully, his dark eyes locked onto Lang Daochun’s face.

Lang Daochun harbored a burning spark of hope. Though he outwardly looked perfectly composed, a trace of deep, agonizing anxiety was subtly pulsing beneath his skin. If Fang Chen refused to extend a hand, he would truly be left with no one to turn to. He was the only powerful reinforcement he could muster at the moment. Lang Daochun was utterly unwilling to let his branch be degraded into common slave soldiers under the banner of the Vajra Race.

Fang Chen asked abruptly, ”Brother Lang, if I step forward to assist your branch today, I don’t need you to remember that you owe me personally. I want you to remember that this favor came from the Human Race. Do you accept these terms?”

Lang Daochun was startled, a highly complex expression washing across his features. He nodded slowly. ”I accept the terms. However, given my current circumstances, I’m afraid I won’t be able to repay this favor anytime soon.”

Fang Chen stated calmly, ”As long as you accept the condition, that is more than sufficient. Lead the way.”

”I’ll come along then,” Wang Chongsong chimed in with a grin. ”The Fang Clan cannot show its face openly, so a minor ninth-transformation cultivator like myself will escort you to ensure certain short-sighted fools do not try to stir up unneeded chaos.”

A massive weight instantly lifted from Lang Daochun’s chest, and he could not resist letting out a deep, emotional sigh. ”Brother Fang, this monumental favor... I’ll remember it forever.”

”A moment ago, I sensed explosive shockwaves radiating from this sector. Who exactly was engaging in combat?” Fang Chen inquired with genuine curiosity.

Wang Chongsong rubbed his nose with a dry, self-deprecating chuckle. ”Brother Lang’s individual combat prowess is truly freakish. I suffered consecutive defeats across more than a dozen rounds. He then fought a fierce spar with Fang Ding and broke through mid-battle right then and there...”

”No wonder...” Fang Chen murmured.

He could sense that Lang Daochun’s aura was different from how he remembered it. It turned out the youth had successfully broken through to the Limit Breaking Realm through the pressure of combat. That was undoubtedly the peak talent unique to the God Race’s supreme lineages.

”In truth, I eagerly anticipate the day you achieve a matching cultivation tier to mine. When that moment comes, a sparring session between the two of us will undoubtedly be a magnificent spectacle,” remarked Lang Daochun, a burning spark of martial anticipation flashing deep within his gaze.

Fang Chen smiled. ”An opportunity will naturally present itself in the future. For now, our absolute priority is the Cangxia Mountain Range.”

***

The Cangxia Mountain Range was shrouded in multi-colored clouds all year round, a phenomenon caused by a type of five-colored mineral found within the mountains.

For the Vajra Race, this mineral could enhance their physical strength and indirectly boost the power of their divine abilities. Consequently, ever since the emergence of the Vajra Race, the Cangxia Mountain Range had always been their territory. Or rather, within the Divine Realm, unclaimed lands were exceedingly rare. Whenever the God Race wished to migrate, they invariably had to pass through the territories of various other races. And this time, a group from the God Race had been intercepted at the Cangxia Mountain Range.

The procession was massive. At a glance, there were roughly a hundred thousand individuals. Among them were newborn infants of the God Race, as well as youth and adults in their prime. An elderly member of the God Race, who appeared extremely aged, stood at the very front, locked in a confrontation with a Half Saint of the Vajra Race.

Standing around the elderly God Race were the elites of that specific God Race branch. Their faces still carried traces of the pride that belonged to the God Race, but deep within their eyes, there was an added touch of helplessness and resentment toward the changing tides of fate.

”Half Saint Du, it has been so long now. The God Race messengers you sent out to call for reinforcements must number at least eighty to a hundred, yet not a single reply has returned. You ought to realize by now... the God Race is no longer what it once was. Seeking asylum under our Vajra Race is the true proper path.” Yan Haoran, the Vajra Race Half Saint, said with a smile.

Behind him, among the Vajra Race divinity cultivators, one could faintly spot quite a few contestants who had participated in the Saint Tower Battle, such as the likes of Yan Chen and Yan Mei’er.

Half Saint Du sighed softly. ”Yan Haoran, although our God Race has fallen into decline and many have degraded themselves to become slave soldiers for powerful races, my branch is unwilling to do so. We would rather leave the Divine Realm and stay out of its conflicts. Even if we might degenerate to the point where we won’t even have a Half Saint in the future, we will not regret it. In consideration of our past, could you perhaps lift your hand in mercy and allow us to pass through?”

The divine ability cultivators of the God Race clenched their fists one after another. They knew all too well that if Half Saint Du were to make a move, he would undoubtedly beat the Yan Haoran before them to a pulp. But they could not do it. The opponent had a Saint backing them up, whereas the God Race was now merely a race in exile. Having lost their Saints, they had also lost the protection of the Supreme Qingming Alliance.

”Actually...” Yan Haoran’s tone suddenly softened a bit. ”It’s not that I don’t care about our past, but orders from above must be carried out. Or perhaps... you could leave Lang Yu’er behind to marry a junior of my clan, and I will risk my old face to open up a convenient path for you. How about that?”

Upon hearing that, the God Race cultivators instantly flew into a violent rage. Their eyes subconsciously fell upon a petite young girl of the God Race. This was Lang Daochun’s biological sister. The Vajra Race was clearly after their lineage and the talent of their Supreme Bones!