Immortal of the Nine Realms

The leader of the group was at the Third Foundation Building Realm, roughly on par with Old Fei. More importantly, his appearance was virtually indistinguishable from a much younger version of Wang Chongsong.

Could there really be such a coincidence in this world?

Fang Chen felt a heavy gravity weigh on his heart. He had always believed Old Wang was a member of the demons who had reincarnated into the human race. After undergoing multiple reincarnations within the Nine Realms, he had ultimately chosen to stand on the side of humanity. Old Wang himself had claimed as much. But if Old Wang belonged to this current era, his previous narrative would be completely overturned.

"Alright, tone it down, you guys. No need to bully the juniors," the leader said with a smile.

He then cast a brief glance at Fang Chen before fixing his eyes back on Shi Zhan and cupping his hands. "As luck would have it, I am Wang Chongsong, a descendant of the Wang family."

"You're from the Wang family?" Shi Zhan's face flashed with surprise. "Which Wang family?"

The young men and women standing behind Wang Chongsong burst into soft laughter, seemingly mocking Shi Zhan's ignorance.

Wang Chongsong smiled and continued, "Which other Wang family could it be? My family ancestor and Half Saint Shi can be considered old friends of many years. Our two families have looked out for each other for ages and have intermarried across generations."

Hearing that, Shi Zhan hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Brother Wang, I am Shi Zhan. I was rude earlier. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Wang Chongsong smiled. "Brother Shi Zhan, we are all young. Why dwell on such things? I take it you two are soldiers of North Wind Ridge? I wonder if Chen Feifei is currently at North Wind Ridge? I came here this time specifically to inquire about something with him."

Shi Zhan was taken aback. "Chen Feifei? Could that be our superior, Old Fei?"

Wang Chongsong chuckled. "Yes, exactly. A lot of people call him Old Fei too."

Shi Zhan offered, "Old Fei is indeed at North Wind Ridge. Why don't the two of us lead the way for Brother Wang?"

"Then I shall trouble you two." Wang Chongsong turned his gaze toward Fang Chen. "Ah, how should I address you, brother?"

Even when he noticed Fang Chen's pupils were completely ash-white, his expression didn't change in the slightest.

Fang Chen cupped his hands. "I am Zhou Chen."

Wang Chongsong nodded with a smile.

Afterward, under the guidance of Fang Chen and Shi Zhan, Wang Chongsong and his entourage arrived at North Wind Ridge. Old Fei seemed to have sensed their arrival beforehand, coming out early to welcome them with immense enthusiasm.

Watching them walk into the main military tent arm-in-arm, Shi Zhan finally let out a sigh of relief.

Fang Chen asked out of curiosity, "Shi Zhan, is the Wang family also a Half Saint family?"

"Yes... and no," Shi Zhan replied with a peculiar expression.

Fang Chen's interest was piqued. "What does that mean?"

He had already concluded that this Wang Chongsong was indeed the true Old Wang himself. In this current era, he probably hadn't acquired the Bone Destiny method yet.

Consequently, many of the things Old Wang had told him in the past were now thoroughly debunked for Fang Chen. Once he exited the History Immortal Book this time, he would definitely have to sit down for a thorough chat with Old Wang.

For him to have lived from this ancient period of the Nether Ruins all the way to the era of the Nine Realms—Just how terrifyingly long a lifespan was that?

Furthermore, he had scanned Old Wang with his Primordial Immortal Eyes just now and confirmed he had exactly two hundred and ninety-nine bones too, just like the rest of the humans in this era. Old Wang would definitely know why the Human Race of the Nine Realms era was missing nine bones.

"This... this isn't the right place to talk. Let's move further away so we aren't overheard."

Shi Zhan glanced in the direction of the military tent, then dragged Fang Chen over a dozen li away. Only when the tent was completely out of sight did he lower his voice and say, "The Wang family used to have a Saint."

"The Wang family used to have a Saint?"

Fang Chen nodded slightly. No wonder Shi Zhan's attitude was so strange.

"In the earliest days of the human race, we didn't have as many Saints as we do now. There were only three in total, and one of them was the ancestor of the Wang family. It's just that during a subsequent war with the Flame Race, that Saint had a streak of bad luck and fell into an ambush set by them.

"He suffered a coordinated assault from several Saints and was left with a deep-seated ailment and passed away just a few years later. That period was an incredibly dark era for our human race. Nearly half of the Nether Ruins was yielded to the Flame Race... and countless unequal treaties were signed. We weren't slave soldiers, but it was practically no different. If the Supreme Qingming Alliance hadn't been keeping an eye on things, we might have even faced the total extermination of our race."

Shi Zhan sighed with emotion. "Ever since then, the Wang family has had no Saint, reducing them to a Half Saint family just like my family. However, the Half Saint of the Wang family is also one of those three individuals, holding a massive chance of charging into the Saint Realm, just like Half Saint Fang."

Shi Zhan cautioned, "Brother Zhou, it's fine for you to know about this yourself, but don't bring it up for discussion. It wouldn't be good if someone from the Wang family overheard."

Before Fang Chen could utter a sound, a soft laugh rang out behind the two of them. "Not slave soldiers, but practically no different? Your human race was originally the slave soldiers of our Flame Race, yet you refuse to admit it. If it weren't for our Flame Race, how could you have even the slightest foothold in the Divine Realm? You would have been wiped out cleanly by other foreign races long ago. You don't need to feel grateful, but to actually oppose us after breaking free from our race. How despicable is that? You deserve to be hacked into a thousand pieces!"

Shi Zhan was stunned. In just the span of a breath, dozens of Flame Race divinity users manifested, surrounding the two of them. The aura of the Flame Race divinity users was noticeably a massive cut above the Awakening Realm.

"The Spirit Division Realm... how could they have snuck up the mountain? What about the soldiers on guard duty!?"

Shi Zhan's face turned exceptionally unsightly. Logically speaking, the area they were in should still be a very secure zone. There were many soldiers on guard duty for a dozen li outward precisely to prevent sneak attacks from the Flame Race.

Very soon, he understood how the enemy had managed to sneak over. Hanging from the waists of this group were blood-drenched human heads, one after another. These were all the soldiers of North Wind Ridge!

"My Lord, let's just slaughter these two directly," a Flame Race member growled in a low voice.

The Spirit Division Realm Yan Clan member smiled faintly. He scanned Fang Chen and Shi Zhan from top to bottom. "Let me ask you something, and you answer truthfully. Did a group of outsiders arrive at your North Wind Ridge today?"

Shi Zhan asked blankly, "What outsiders?"

The Spirit Division Realm Flame Race member smiled faintly, "Not being honest? Kill them."

The next instant, a flash of lightning flickered and vanished.

In that split second, the surrounding Flame Race members were all decapitated. Even the Spirit Division Realm Flame Race member had half his body sliced open, leaving him grievously wounded!

Shi Zhan stood dazed for a long while, only to see that Fang Chen had already walked up to the Spirit Division Realm Flame Race member and was asking in a low voice, "You knew that descendants of the Wang family arrived at North Wind Ridge? What are you planning to do?"

"Who are you!? The Spirit Division Realm cultivators of North Wind Ridge are all listed, and there is no such figure as you among them!"

That Flame Race member stared fixedly at Fang Chen, a flash of panic flitting across the deepest depths of his eyes.

Fang Chen said indifferently, "I am the one asking you questions."

The Spirit Division Realm Flame Race member suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but chuckle in a low voice. "You will be coming to meet me very soon. See you underneath."

After saying that, he shuddered slightly. The light in his eyes was snuffed out. He had actually taken his own life.

Shi Zhan was shocked and confused. "Brother Zhou, why would the Flame Race know about this? Didn't that group from the Wang family just arrive at North Wind Ridge? And your strength..."

"It seems I accidentally broke through to the Spirit Division Realm a few days ago," explained Fang Chen casually.

He then looked toward the military tent where Wang Chongsong and the others were, a faint coldness flashing in his eyes. "A very familiar tactic. The Flame Race intends to assassinate the descendants of the Wang family. If the Wang family descendants die here, what kind of impact will it have?"

Shi Zhan's expression changed slightly. "That impact... could be huge or almost nothing at all. If the Flame Race specifically came for Wang Chongsong, it means his status in the Wang family is not low. Logically speaking, existences like him act very cautiously and keep their movements secret. Could there be a traitor?!"

Fang Chen asked, "How could we know the exact details? What communication methods does North Wind Ridge have to get Commander Weng Lang to send reinforcements?"

If there were no outside help, he might have to make a move himself. He couldn't just let Old Wang die right before his eyes.