Immortal of the Nine Realms

Feiyu Constellation, Wangyue Tower.

The scene remained much as it was before, but now, while not exactly a sea of people, cultivators from various major factions were visible everywhere. Upon arrival, groups of cultivators came forward to coordinate, many of them familiar faces.

Fang Chen took out the Yang Gourd and poured out Zhang Shaoming. Having stayed inside for so long, he appeared somewhat disoriented as he exited. It took him a few moments to regain his bearings and realize he was finally safe.

As soon as they entered, Xie Aman's expression turned heavy. Xie Aman ordered someone to take him away, then led Fang Chen into a private, quiet chamber. "Old Ninth, you're in trouble this time."

Fang Chen's heart sank a little. "Is it because of my identity as Monarch Yan?"

Xie Aman rolled her eyes. "Isn't that obvious? If you had the legendary means of the former Monarch Yan, everyone would be falling over themselves to obey you. But now, everyone knows you haven't fully grown yet. Your identity as the Monarch makes you a 'sweet pastry' that everyone wants a bite of.

"Elder Hou has already led half of the core disciples stationed at Enlightenment Star into the Taicang Realm to rendezvous with you. They don't necessarily have to find you. It's more about making a statement. Even if other factions have ulterior motives, they have to think twice about the consequences of moving against you. If they can't take you by force, they'll likely use every means possible to win you over. You must be able to discern the benefits and risks when that happens."

Fang Chen replied thoughtfully, "I understand, but what about those Heavenly Dao Reincarnations? How will they be handled?"

Xie Aman said, "Someone will see them off. Many had already arrived safely before you did,"

Fang Chen sighed. "Were the casualties heavy?"

His journey had been anything but smooth. He could only imagine what others faced.

"There were some casualties. Roughly ten percent of the personnel from various factions perished. Even in our Enlightenment God Palace, the life-lamps of several core disciples have flickered out," Xie Aman shared. "We will find a way to retrieve their souls and send them to the Enlightenment Underworld for reincarnation."

One-tenth?

Fang Chen nodded. That was lower than he had feared.

"Your exposure this time is likely linked to the Halfstep Heavenly Dao reconstructed by the demon race," Xie Aman noted with a faint smile. "Although this entity lacks the true power of the Heavenly Dao, it has mastered its core technique—Deduction. If we hadn't used our own means to interfere with their calculations, it would have been nearly impossible for you to reach the Feiyu Constellation."

"Senior Sister, can you tell me more about this Half-Step Heavenly Dao?" Fang Chen asked, intrigued.

"You're the Monarch, so you should know many secrets. I shouldn't have to explain twice," she teased. "The Formation Hearts are the blood of the Heavenly Dao. When the Heavenly Dao died, its blood dyed the Nine Realms red, creating countless reincarnators. However, it wasn't just one Heavenly Dao that died. There were two. One of them hailed from the twenty-six regions of the demon race.

"For years, the awakened demons have been using secret arts to find these reincarnators and fuse them together, attempting to restore their former Heavenly Dao. But that's easier said than done. After ages of secret research, they've only managed to create a Half-Step Heavenly Dao. Of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations, they've only mastered one. The process consumes a staggering amount of immortal crystals. Even with their foundation, they couldn't sustain it indefinitely. That's why they chose to invade the Taicang Realm to seize its resources to complete their reconstruction."

"And what about our side...?" asked Fang Chen.

"We counter their moves as they come. Since discovering their plot, we've been giving them a taste of their own medicine. We also have a Half-Step Heavenly Dao, though its foundation is slightly weaker than theirs. Once the reincarnators you've brought are returned to the main body, our Half-Step Heavenly Dao's power should be able to rival or even suppress theirs. When that time comes, winning the battle for the Taicang Realm won't be difficult."

Fang Chen then briefly recounted his encounter with Lang Daochun. Hearing that this powerful demon intended to cooperate and had even secretly helped them to transport Heavenly Dao Reincarnators, Xie Aman was surprised but not shocked.

She reported, "Our spies within the demon race have mentioned that they are split into several camps. If it weren't for that, their current progress might be thousands of years ahead of schedule."

Fang Chen asked worriedly, "I heard from the demons that they plan to invade the Xie Zhi Division. I was too busy with the Heavenly Dao Reincarnators and didn't get a chance to visit the Xie Zhi Division. I wonder how they're doing."

Xie Aman shared, "You were fortunate not to go. The Xiezhi Division was attacked by a ninth-transformation Immortal. Though they were prepared for it, they suffered devastating losses. Luckily, their foundation was not damaged. In another few years, they should recover about seventy percent of their strength. Because of this, many spies have been exposed. I believe after this battle, other spies would be cleared out too."

Just then, a commotion broke out outside. Xie Aman and Fang Chen stepped out to find that Qu Wanli of Qingkong Mountain had been captured and brought back.

"Old Qu, what grievance do you have against the Nine Realms? As a human cultivator, why sell your soul to the anomalies?" An Elder from Qingkong Mountain roared, his eyes burning with fury.

Qu Wanli remained indifferent to the glares. "The winner is king, and the loser is a thief. I lost this move. Do with me what you will. I can't be bothered to talk."

"Elder Qu, at least give us an explanation," said Li Wanshan, the man who captured him. "If you had awakened demon memories, that would be one thing. But the Grand Limitless Divine Mirror has proven you haven't awakened, so you are still a human cultivator. Why do this? And where are the reincarnators you intercepted?"

"Dead, of course. Where else would they be?" Qu Wanli smirked, his gaze sweeping over Xie Aman and Li Wanshan. "I suggest you all go with the flow of history, lest you awaken one day and realize you're neither human nor demon."

"You actually believe you will awaken as a demon?" someone asked in disbelief.

How could a seventh transformation Ancient Immortal hold such a ridiculous notion?

"It's only a matter of time," Qu Wanli said calmly. "I simply feel the Nine Realms need a change. You can't understand. You were born extraordinary, and your path to becoming Ancient Immortals was smooth. But for me, and many like me, do you know how hard it was to get here? The most terrifying part is that even though our talent isn't weak, we cannot advance to the eighth transformation because there are no available seats. Can you even comprehend that despair?"

Fang Chen's eyes narrowed. He knew that every Immortal Path only had eight seats for the eighth transformation. If those eight seats were filled, no seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal on that path could ever hope to ascend.