Immortal of the Nine Realms

“Fang Chen has reached Earth Profound realm?”

The officials of Great Xia’s imperial court were taken aback. The emperor leaned forward before slowly resting back on his chair. There was a hint of astonishment reflected in his eyes.

The surrounding soldiers let out shocked exclaims. What they had just witnessed replayed over and over again in their heads. The fact that Fang Chen defeated Ji Lengyue with a single palm strike meant that he had to at least be an Aureate Aura martial artist too.

“Does this mean our Great Xia has an Earth Profound martial artist too?”

“As expected of War God Fang. He really is our Great Xia’s number one martial artist!”

“Let’s see if Longdu and Greenpine dares to act arrogantly anymore!”

The crowd was overjoyed. This was wonderful news to them.

Jade Fairy glanced at the young scion and placidly asked, “What about now? Do you still think War God Fang doesn’t stand a chance?”

The young scion was taken aback. There was a few seconds of silence before he replied, “I didn’t expect War God Fang to be an Earth Profound martial artist… but the hundred Nightmare Knights haven’t made their moves yet. I’m afraid it would be difficult for him to single-handedly turn the tables around…”

Jade Fairy chuckled. “Continue watching then.”

On the platform, the envoys from Longdu, Guhe, and Yizhou exchanged shocked looks. They could have never imagined that Fang Chen had reached Earth Profound realm; this was huge news that would shake the power balance in the region.

Even if Guhe, Yizhou, and Longdu had hidden Ki Manifestation martial artists in their ranks, those meant nothing against an Earth Profound martial artist. They were still feeling a sense of superiority over Great Xia due to the crushing defeat Great Xia suffered five years ago, but they dared not to think that way anymore.

Now that Great Xia had an Earth Profound martial artist in its rank, its military prowess was ahead of the nearby grade-9 states by leaps and bounds. In fact, if a few more Earth Profound martial artists were to appear in Great Xia, it could even advance to become a grade-8 state.

Even if it was the weakest grade-8 state, it would still be a force to be reckoned with. Grade-9 states would have to think twice before messing with them.

They could have never imagined there would be such a development for this military exercise.

In contrast, Great Xia’s commanders were so overjoyed that their breathing hastened. Most officials also understood the significance of Great Xia having an Earth Profound martial artist, and their faces reddened in excitement.

“There’s hope for Great Xia!”

“No wonder War God Fang dared to purge the Greenpine Superior Dojo; it turns out he has already reached Earth Profound realm! The tribulation he previously faced must have built him up as a martial artist, allowing him to make a breakthrough!”

“Only a prodigy like War God Fang could reach such a level!”

“Not bad, not bad.” The Fifth King chuckled as he stroked his beard.

Minister of Justice Jiang Yushu smiled.

However, Tao Mingsheng and the others couldn’t bring themselves to smile. They were afraid that Fang Chen would get back at them for suppressing him in the past.

“Earth Profound realm… I thought that I could at least curb him a little once I make a breakthrough to Ki Manifestation…” Xiao Shence shook his head bitterly.

Yan Beihan noticed his expression and sighed. He also had the same thought in mind.

They felt despaired. No matter how hard they worked, the distance between Fang Chen and them continued to expand instead of narrowing. At this rate, they wouldn’t even be able to see his silhouette anymore.

How are we supposed to catch up with a monster like that?

“How can he be at Earth Profound realm? How can he be at Earth Profound realm?! This… It shouldn’t have been like that!” Li Huafeng murmured with deranged eyes.

He had recently advanced to Ki Control, and that sparked hopes that he might be able to exact vengeance on Fang Chen once he reached Ki Manifestation. Yet, his mortal enemy had taken another step forward to Earth Profound realm?

“Young master!”

The Nightmare Knights finally snapped out of their daze. A few of them got off their steeds to support Ji Lengyue. As they helped Ji Lengyue to his feet, the latter continued to spurt mouthful after mouthful of blood.

Ji Lengyue had sustained severe internal injuries that shook his ki sea. Not only must he avoid using his aureate aura in the short run, but if he failed to properly heal up, his martial cultivation might just permanently stagnate at first stage Aureate Aura!

That’s all Earth Profound amounts to…

Ji Lengyue thought about how Fang Chen had reduced him to his current state with a single palm strike, and that made his face scrunch up in humiliation.

Pah pah pah…

Someone suddenly clapped.

This caught the attention of the crowd, and they turned their eyes over.

“Daoist Li, you must have played a huge part behind that child reaching Earth Profound realm. You must have spent a lot of ki stones to nurture him?” Immortal Zuo continued applauding as he rose to his feet and looked at Li Daoye with a faint smile.

“Indeed.” Li Daoye nodded as he plastered on his ‘unfathomable expert’ smile. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“Only sect disciples like Daoist Li would squander ki stones on a martial artist. A wandering cultivator like me can never bear to do so.” Immortal Zuo sighed. “Daoist Li, it pains me to see you squandering your wealth away. Why don’t you leave your ki stones and artifacts with me instead?”

Those in the upper echelons understood the connotations behind those words. Immortal Zuo was actually a cultivator!

Great Xia’s emperor was alarmed. He looked at Ji Congyun, and his face turned grim.

“Are you robbing me in broad daylight now?” Li Daoye sneered.

“You’re a mere third stage Ki Refinement cultivator. Hand over all your items if you wish to live. I’ll spare your life on the account that we’re both cultivators,” Immortal Zuo coldly replied.

“Do you take me for a fool? My father will skin you alive if you don’t kill me!” Li Daoye scoffed.

Killing intent flashed across Immortal Zuo’s eyes. With a soft chuckle, he turned to Ji Congyun and said, “Little Brother Ji, it was a good decision to come to Great Xia. I’ll be obtaining a bit of ki stones from them, whereas you learned in advance that someone in Great Xia has advanced to Earth Profound realm. It might have brought trouble to your Chillwater if you were later by a few years.”

“Indeed.” Ji Congyun nodded with a smile.

“That child is only at third stage Ki Refinement. He should be weaker than you. I can’t be bothered to make a move, so I’ll leave him to you,” Immortal Zuo said.

Ji Congyun’s face stiffened. He couldn’t believe that the immortal they worshiped was so careful as to be unwilling to personally deal with a mere third stage Ki Refinement cultivator!

“You’re sending a martial artist after me? How dare you make light of me?!” Li Daoye roared.

“A pinnacle Earth Profound martial artist is more than enough to kill you,” Immortal Zuo replied.

While spirit ki was superior to inner ki, a third stage Ki Refinement cultivator was still far too weak to hold its own against a pinnacle Earth Profound martial artist. If there was a significant disparity in strength, inner ki could still overcome spirit ki.

“Why don’t you wait for the military exercise to end first before making a move?” Li Daoye suddenly calmed down and leisurely remarked.

“The military exercise?” Immortal Zuo glanced at Fang Chen and his guards. “Their outcome has already been decided. You’re stalling for time… but I have time to spare, so let’s get ahead with it then.”

Ji Congyun turned to the Nightmare Knights. The latter caught the drift and launched a charge at Fang Chen and his guards.

The officials of Great Xia’s imperial court were no longer as excited as they were before. Instead, their hearts were now heavy. To think that the Ji Clan had a cultivator, and the other party was planning to make a move on Great Xia!

At this rate, Fang Chen and Li Daoye were going to be killed today…

Just then, purple flashes suddenly bombarded the eyes of the crowd.

Countless lightning bolts surged forward and electrocuted the Nightmare Knights. In a matter of seconds, the energetic Nightmare Knights were all reduced to charred corpses.

The terrifying pulsations of spirit ki sent a shudder down Immortal Zuo’s spine. He exclaimed in horror, “Purple Lightning Talismans?!”

“The military exercise has ended.” Fang Chen looked at Immortal Zuo with a smile. “You can do what you want now. You were planning on killing us and taking our treasures earlier?”