Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1506: Conditions

"Found it?"

Both Fang Chen and Wang Chongsong's attention snapped toward Daoist Yun Que.

In a flash, the man dove straight into a shadowed mountain ravine.

The valley was flanked by steep cliffs on both sides, with an underground river flowing through it. Only a small middle section was exposed aboveground, while the rest vanished beneath the earth.

By the time Fang Chen and Wang Chongsong caught up, Daoist Yun Que had already plunged into the subterranean river. Moments later, he burst from the water's surface, lifting high a glowing green Formation Heart.

Wang Chongsong's eyes lit up. "You really found one! As expected of a senior like you, able to sense a Formation Heart from so far away."

Only then did Fang Chen's own Formation Heart begin to react, resonating faintly with the one in the Daoist Yun Que's hand.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Daoist Yun Que clicked his tongue, his expression full of mockery and malicious glee. "Tell me, doesn't it seem pitiful? For someone so vain and obsessed with dignity, the great narcissist himself ends up beaten to death and scattered into blood all over creation. Isn't that miserable?"

Fang Chen and Wang Chongsong exchanged a look but said nothing.

With their level of cultivation and standing, they had no right to speak lightly of the former Heavenly Dao of the Mortal Realm.

Daoist Yun Que, after all, was different. He had forgotten nearly everything. He remembered no trace of that ancient war and was unaware of the world's true state. If he knew the truth, he wouldn't be laughing. The Heavenly Dao's fall and Daoist Yun Que's condition were both born from that same catastrophe.

"With Heavenly Dao Blood, we can now undo this forbidden seal," Wang Chongsong said, glancing toward Fang Chen. "Your inheritance gives you an advantage in the Underworld. When the time comes, those souls will be your responsibility to guide across."

Fang Chen nodded. "Of course."

He didn't need a reminder. He had already intended to see it through himself, and to take the chance to study the Underworld City corresponding to Great Thunder Sound, to see if it housed a being like the Ancient Tree.

"Senior, there's no time to waste. Let's dissolve the seal now!" Wang Chongsong urged.

"Not for free." Daoist Yun Que gave a sleazy smile and pointed at Fang Chen. "This boy already helped me escape last time, so I'll spare him. But you..."

He looked at Wang Chongsong with amusement. "You owe me a favor."

"What kind of favor?" asked Wang Chongsong, sighing. "Your cultivation is leagues above mine, Senior. You already have everything you could want. What could I possibly offer you?"

"Oh, there's something." The Daoist grinned slyly. "Aren't you from Fangcun Mountain? Let me sit on your Platform of Enlightenment for three days and nights, how about that? Back then, you Fangcun Mountain bunch were blind to talent. I went to pay a visit and got turned away. Well, today it's you begging me."

"The Platform of Enlightenment..." Wang Chongsong froze for a moment, recalling a certain memory. He then shook his head. "It's not that I refuse, Senior, but the platform was destroyed long ago. Nothing remains but rubble. I can't grant that request."

"Destroyed? Impossible! Has Fangcun Mountain fallen so far?" The Daoist's eyes widened in disbelief. "I remember that old brat Yun He nearly got himself trapped by your people back then. You're not lying to me, are you?"

"How would I dare?" Wang Chongsong replied solemnly. "If Senior doubts me, I can still invite you to what remains of the platform and let you sit there three days and nights. Seeing it yourself, you'll know I'm not lying."

"Fine! But if you're deceiving me, don't blame me for being rude."

Daoist Yun Que snorted, then tossed the Formation Heart to Wang Chongsong.

The three retraced their path and soon returned to the phantom mountain.

This time, Fang Chen watched openly as Wang Chongsong used the Formation Heart to draw out Heavenly Dao Blood and wash away the mountain's seal. Throughout the process, Wang Chongsong's face was tense. He seemed afraid the Formation Heart wouldn't be enough.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. The forbidden power dissipated as easily as it had on the Langgui Constellation. At that moment, a strange sensation stirred in Fang Chen's chest.

"It should be possible to enter the Underworld now," he said.

"You go first," Wang Chongsong told him. "If it's safe below, head to the Buddhist Kingdom and find the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation."

Fang Chen considered for a moment, then nodded.

***

Outside Great Thunder Sound, flotillas of Immortal Boats were arriving one after another. Standing on the deck of the Black Dragon, Xie Aman waved her hand. A tranquil valley manifested amid the azure sky, followed by rows of ancient tables laden with spirit fruits and fine wine.

Xian Yueguan of the Taiyi Immortal Sect arrived with several core disciples, bowing politely. "Sister Aman, I've come again."

Behind Xie Aman stood Chen Enxue and the others, all core members of the Enlightenment God Palace capable of wielding Formation Arts.

Xian Yueguan glanced around, surprise flickering across his face when he didn't see Fang Chen.

"You again this time?" Xie Aman smiled faintly. "And what's the Taiyi Immortal Sect's stance?"

The disciples behind him exchanged looks but kept silent. Clearly, Xian Yueguan was representing them.

"Our stance is simple," he said with a wry smile. "This time, we'll help the Enlightenment God Palace defend Great Thunder Sound, but we want something in return. We hope to be allowed entry into the Buddhist Kingdom to have a look."

Chen Enxue couldn't resist sneering. "The Taiyi Immortal Sect's information network is impressive. Seems we've got quite a few spies from the Immortal Worshipping Palace among our own ranks."

Xian Yueguan laughed awkwardly. "Oh, we're not the only ones. Immortal Worshipping Palace, the Spirit God Sect, even the Killing Spiritual Division, they've all got people buried deep in your core."

Xie Aman didn't dwell on it. She simply nodded. "I can agree to that condition. But once inside the Buddhist Kingdom, leaving won't be so easy. You should know, the other two and I were trapped there for decades."

Xian Yueguan and his companions turned grave. They had heard the stories. If even an eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal like Xie Aman had been imprisoned for decades, the Buddhist Kingdom was no ordinary place. Precisely for that reason, they had to see it for themselves.

"The Elders have already decided," Xian Yueguan said. "As long as the Enlightenment God Palace accepts our terms, the Taiyi Immortal Sect will fight with all our strength to hold Great Thunder Sound. Even if those monks retake it, they'd never let us touch the Buddha Realm anyway, so we might as well stand with you. We won't go back on our word."

He then chuckled slyly. "By the way, where's that new core disciple of yours? Didn't he stay to guard this place?"

"Oh, he went off exploring," Xie Aman replied casually. "You know how the young are, restless. You'll see him once the battle begins."

"Excellent, excellent," Xian Yueguan said, nodding with a smile.

Not long after, Ye Qingqiu of the Blood and Flesh Divine Palace and Leng Buqi of the Ten Thousand Star Palace arrived as well.

Apparently, they had never gone far. They just lingered nearby, waiting for this moment.

"Xie Aman," Ye Qingqiu said with a strange frown, noticing Xian Yueguan's satisfied grin, "did you two already settle your terms?"