Chapter 1304: A Helping Hand

The third medicine of the Four Stage Profound Yang Body required a tael of Immortal Marrow.

According to the records, Immortal Marrow had extensive uses, but its most valuable effect was the enhancement of a cultivator’s innate bone foundation.

The spiritual marrow that had once appeared in Grand Xia had been a rudimentary form of the Immortal Marrow. If spiritual marrow had remained undisturbed and continued gestating for tens of thousands or even a hundred thousand years, it might have transformed into Immortal Marrow.

But that also depended on environmental changes. If Grand Xia’s environment continued to worsen, spiritual marrow might never evolve into an Immortal Marrow even after a million years. It could even slowly wither away as time passed.

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

“Have you heard? A few days ago, the Great Desolate Immortal was struck down by Immortal Xingyu and was gravely injured. I heard he fled the Nanqing Constellation. If his injuries are serious, he might well lose himself in the void.”

“Immortal Xingyu is truly skilled. Her strength must be at the top even among fifth-transformation immortals.”

Fang Chen glanced at the two figures speaking.

It had been a year since the Immortal Exchange wrapped up. The battle between the Great Desolate Immortal and Immortal Xingyu had finally yielded an initial outcome.

Immortal Taixu had not intervened, nor had Immortal Xingyu called for any assistance. By her own power alone, she had beaten the Great Desolate Immortal into fleeing the Nanqing Constellation.

At that moment, a cultivator entered and bowed to the two people speaking.

“Honored guests, Elder Huang is free now. Please come with me.”

They were immediately delighted and eagerly followed him out of the reception hall.

This was the reception hall of the Ten Directions Immortal Sect. Any cultivators who came to visit had to state their purpose and then wait within to be summoned.

Fang Chen had already made inquiries. Outside of the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, no other force in the Nanqing Constellation possessed an Immortal Marrow. Even if some did, it had already been allocated for specific uses and would never be sold to outsiders.

Thus Fang Chen had come to try his luck, to see if Immortal Longfu would be willing to grant him an audience.

Unknowingly, he had already waited here for nearly half a month. In that time, he had seen one group of cultivators after another, some leaving happily, others leaving disappointed when neglected.

Another cultivator entered the hall, saw Fang Chen still waiting, and broke into a smile. He stepped forward and bowed. “Fellow Daoist Fang, Immortal Longfu summons you to his residence.”

“Much obliged, Fellow Daoist Lin,” replied Fang Chen.

He smiled and nodded, then rose to follow the cultivator to Immortal Longfu’s cultivation cave.

Lin Chengfu had been secretly scrutinizing Fang Chen the entire time.

When Fang Chen had first arrived, requesting to see Immortal Longfu, Lin Chengfu had thought him nothing more than a delusional madman. A mere Tribulation Realm cultivator like him wasn’t even qualified to meet a first-transformation Loose Immortal, let alone one of the Ten Directions Immortal Sect’s three Grand Elders.

Still, to avoid any mishaps, Lin Chengfu had dutifully reported the message.

To his shock, only half a month later, Immortal Longfu had actually sent word, instructing him to bring the man in.

Lin Chengfu was both deeply curious and envious of Fang Chen’s background. He himself was a disciple of the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, yet had scarcely seen Immortal Longfu a handful of times.

Finally, Lin Chengfu cracked, unable to restrain his curiosity further. He cautiously asked, “Fellow Daoist Fang, might I ask... what is your relationship with Immortal Longfu?”

Fang Chen thought for a moment, then smiled. “Immortal Longfu is a senior of mine. We have only met once before. I am here to seek his help.”

Lin Chengfu almost rolled his eyes. Yeah, he could guess that much on his own. Who approached a sixth-transformation immortal without a request in hand?

Of course, Lin Chengfu didn’t let his thoughts show. He outwardly sighed and said, “So you are a junior of Immortal Longfu. Do you intend to remain here to cultivate within the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, Fellow Daoist Fang?”

“I will not stay here long,” Fang Chen replied casually.

Lin was slightly taken aback, then quickly steered the conversation to other topics. The two chatted amicably until they arrived before Immortal Longfu’s residence.

There, an old man with a dark, grayish complexion and a gloomy expression seemed to have been waiting.

Seeing him, Lin Chengfu immediately became respectful. “Senior, this is Fellow Daoist Fang.”

The old man nodded faintly. “Leave him to me. You may go.”

After Lin Chengfu walked away, the old man led Fang Chen into the cave.

Fang Chen sensed a faint trace of demonic aura from the old man. Without a doubt, he was a demon cultivator.

Passing through a long corridor, the old man brought him to an open-air courtyard.

“Immortal Longfu will return shortly. Wait here,” the old man instructed coldly.

Returning so soon?

Fang Chen nodded silently, and after only a few breaths, he saw a figure suddenly appear before the old man. The man raised his arms, his wide sleeves outstretched.

Immortal Longfu?

Before Fang Chen could react, a black cloud appeared in the sky.

Fang Chen’s eyes flickered. The cloud radiated an overwhelming demonic aura. After a few breaths, he realized it was no cloud at all, but countless gigantic bats.

The swarm of bats surged down in a frenzy, rapidly shrinking in number as they pressed together and poured into Immortal Longfu’s sleeves.

The process lasted for about ten minutes. The bats were almost never-ending.

When the last bat entered his sleeve, even the old man who had led Fang Chen here suddenly transformed into a bat and disappeared into the sleeve.

Immortal Longfu lowered his arms and regarded Fang Chen with a half-smile.

“Former Division Master of the Killing Spiritual Division and former Xie Zhi member, what business brings you to me? If you wish to hold a post in the Ten Directions Immortal Sect, that is not difficult.”

He knew the man before him was not merely a Tribulation Realm cultivator. His true body was a second-transformation Loose Immortal. He assumed Fang Chen had come seeking a new foothold.

Fang Chen wore a respectful expression, bowing as he spoke. “Senior Immortal Longfu, I have come seeking Immortal Marrow.”

“Immortal Marrow?” Immortal Longfu’s expression darkened. “You intend to purchase Immortal Marrow from the Ten Directions Immortal Sect? Do you realize that such a thing is never sold under ordinary circumstances?”

Fang Chen smiled faintly. “What do you mean by that, Senior?”

If the man intended to refuse, a simple “not for sale” would have sufficed.

“You are aware that the Golden Ancient Immortal Body came from the Ten Directions Immortal Sect. Having sold it off, the sect now has an abundance of Immortal Marrow, with no immediate cultivator to use it. Selling a small amount isn’t out of the question.”

Immortal Longfu pondered aloud. “On account of your former role in the Killing Spiritual Division, I could sell you some. But you must provide the equivalent value in immortal crystals, and help me with a small matter.”

Fang Chen bowed. “A small matter? How small? If it exceeds my abilities, I would be powerless even if I wished to help.”

“It is a small favor. I will sell you the Immortal Marrow if you answer one question—who were you shadowing?”

Fang Chen considered for a few breaths, then nodded. “That is a small favor I can manage. I require one tael of Immortal Marrow. What is the price?”

“800 immortal crystals. This is a very reasonable price. In fact, by some measures, you could even say it's cheap. A single tael of Immortal Marrow can improve the aptitude of ten thousand cultivators. For any sect or power, it is a strategic resource that is never sold to outsiders.”

Immortal Longfu smiled faintly. “Well then? Do you have the crystals? If not, there is no deal to be made.”