Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1509: Returning

Daoist Yun Que looked surprised to see only Wang Chongsong awakening. He pointed toward Fang Chen, who was still in the Underworld, and asked, "What happened? Why are you the only one who returned? Where's that boy?"

"There was a little... unexpected situation. That kid probably needs more time," Wang Chongsong replied, recalling what had happened below. "But the seal is definitely broken now, thanks to your help, Senior. Why don't you carry the kindness through to the end? Let's see how much Heavenly Dao Blood remains, and we can split it fifty-fifty?"

"You wish." Daoist Yun Que gave a cold snort. "Enough nonsense. We're going to Fangcun Mountain right now. I want to see for myself if your so-called Enlightenment Platform was truly destroyed."

"Now? That may not be a good idea."

Before he could finish, Daoist Yun Que flicked his sleeve. In an instant, both of them vanished from sight. Before leaving, the Daoist even placed a barrier around Fang Chen to protect him from interference while his soul walked the Underworld.

***

Days passed swiftly, more than ten in the blink of an eye.

During that time, the ghost infant never tired of the strange new toys in the playground that Fang Chen had made. Its gleeful giggles echoed through the ruined city, haunting yet oddly innocent.

One day, it suddenly ran toward Fang Chen, leapt into his arms, and fell fast asleep.

Fang Chen looked down, surprised. "Finally asleep?"

Its little body was icy cold, without a trace of warmth.

He waved his sleeve, dispersing the playground into wisps of yin mist, then carried the ghost child as he wandered among the ruins, studying the lingering traces to deduce what had once happened here.

Then he stopped. Among the crumbled walls stood a half-destroyed statue with only its upper body remaining. The face and figure were identical to Xu Qinghe's, though the clothing was far more ornate.

"The Statue of the Ghost Mother of Self Transformation...."

Holding the sleeping ghost infant, Fang Chen approached it.

If this place once housed her statue, it meant she had been worshiped here. Perhaps this was her very temple when she preached the Ghost Buddha Immortal Path in the Underworld.

"Mama... Mama..."

The ghost infant stirred awake. It pointed at the statue and called out in broken words.

Fang Chen looked at the child. "So she's your mother? I knew it, you truly have a connection to the Ghost Mother. No wonder your cultivation is so extraordinary."

It kept mumbling. It climbed down from his arms and crawled up the statue, nestling itself against it with a peaceful, contented expression.

"Would you like me to bring your mother back?" Fang Chen asked softly.

The ghost infant didn't reply. It had fallen asleep again.

Fang Chen stood there for a long moment, then turned and quietly left.

The return to the living world was smooth. The ghost infant didn't wake or try to stop him.

"Where did Wang Chongsong and the Daoist go?"

Finding no one around, Fang Chen was puzzled. But he could sense the lingering barrier Daoist Yun Que had left behind. After a moment's thought, he summoned the Black Dragon Ship and departed through the sky.

***

Fang Chen had been wondering how to borrow Xie Aman's Buddhist beads while on his way to find her, but the moment they met, she began recounting her new arrangement with the Blood and Flesh Divine Palace, the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and the Ten Thousand Star Palace.

Fang Chen glanced around and indeed saw the three sects' Immortal Boats stationed nearby.

Since this was a restricted zone under the Enlightenment God Palace's control, they could only remain on standby and weren't permitted to explore.

Xie Aman wore a soft smile. "Ninth Brother, once we win this war, you and I will visit the Buddhist Realm again, to meet that Ghost Mother of Self Transformation. The Divine Palace has even summoned a Ghost Immortal from the Enlightenment Underworld Realm to accompany us, to see whether a Ghost Immortal can truly gain control inside that realm."

Fang Chen was surprised. "A Ghost Immortal?"

"You've met him once, the Serpent Yin Lord of Ghost Immortal Tower," said Xie Aman. "In life, he was skilled in traversing yin paths. He knows the Underworld well. When he heard that the Ghost Mother had manifested here, he volunteered to come investigate. It seems he knows something about her."

"That's good," Fang Chen said with a calm smile, though his heart felt heavy.

If the Serpent Yin Lord volunteered himself, he likely had another motive. Still, this was the Ghost Mother's domain; even the shabby Daoist Yun Que hadn't dared act rashly. Whatever the Serpent Yin Lord intended, it would likely come to nothing.

Fang Chen smiled faintly. "Senior Sister, does this Serpent Yin Lord personally know the Ghost Mother?"

"They're not from the same era," Xie Aman replied. "At best, he's studied her. We'll only know the details once he arrives."

She paused. "The next battle for the Ancient Forbidden Zone is about to begin. They know you've mastered two forms of Formation Immortal Arts, so they'll likely target you. If I put you too late in the rotation, I won't have time to adapt, so I'm placing you right behind me. I'll handle Shao Guangyin first; then you'll strike."

Fang Chen nodded. "As you command, Senior Sister." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Before the battle starts, Third Sister suggested we enter the Buddhist Kingdom once more, see if we can obtain the Buddhist Immortal Path," Xie Aman continued. "Last time, when you awakened the Ghost Mother, how was her demeanor? If we go in again, will she be angered?"

Well, there was no need to borrow the beads anymore.

Fang Chen secretly sighed in relief and said with a smile, "As that senior said, the Ghost Mother is gentle and reasonable. I merely told her the truth, and she sent us all safely out."

"Good. Then there's no reason to delay, come with me."

Xie Aman gathered Fang Chen, Chen Enxue, and the others, including Little Immortal Honglian, and they all set off toward the Buddhist Kingdom once more. This time, they had a clear goal and the means to return, so the journey was smooth.

Once inside the Buddhist Kingdom, Xie Aman led everyone straight toward the place where Xu Qinghe resided.

"This truly isn't the same as the Underworld," Chen Enxue said, inspecting her soul form. "If I didn't already know the truth, I'd never guess I'm just a wandering soul."

"Senior Sister," said Nanming Ruyue nervously, "we won't miss the coming battle, will we?"

Li Shanzi and the others weren't worried.

Even if they missed it, if they could obtain the Buddhist Immortal Path before any other faction, that prize would far outweigh possession of the Ancient Forbidden Zone itself.

"We won't," Xie Aman said confidently. "I've already calculated the time. Last time, we were trapped because we didn't know the way out. This time, we move fast. If we find no clues, we leave immediately."

"Since we've come this far," Chen Enxue said with a faint smile, "you must have something planned, don't you? You wouldn't return without some assurance."

"Don't rush," Xie Aman said, rolling her eyes. "Ninth Brother will scout first, we'll wait and see."

Then she turned to Fang Chen. "Keep your focus. Don't lose your way."