Chapter 1324: Recruit

Inside the bustling teahouse.

Although Xu Nangui and Ning Beiyou carried the aura of Yin Walkers, they did not appear too conspicuous within Biluo City.

Besides these two, an additional person was sitting at the table. It was a quiet woman named Lin Anlan. She was a former member of Xie Zhi.

Faced with Xu Nangui's questioning, Fang Chen only smiled. He sat down opposite the three and calmly poured himself a cup of tea.

"Only the three of you came?" Fang Chen asked casually.

Ning Beiyou nodded. "Are you disappointed?"

"No, not at all. I had even expected that only you and Daoist Xu would show up. I hadn't expected Daoist Lin to come as well. That's a pleasant surprise," said Fang Chen, glancing at Lin Anlan.

He nodded at her with a smile.

Lin Anlan returned the nod politely, her eyes carrying a hint of undisguised curiosity.

"Why did you call us here?" Lin Anlan asked softly.

"Let's speak outside the city."

Fang Chen set down his cup, stood up, and headed out of the teahouse toward the city gates.

Lin Anlan was about to follow, but Xu Nangui grabbed her arm and stared suspiciously at Fang Chen.

"Daoist Lin, be wary of a trap."

Xu Nangui called out instantly, "Daoist Fang, whatever you have to say, say it here. Why insist on leaving the city?"

Fang Chen did not reply and only beckoned for them to follow him.

Fang Chen wasn't too concerned. If the three refused to follow him, he'd just abandon the idea of converting them.

Even though the three had been selected through multiple rounds of Huang Qingque's vetting, Xie Zhi had already shown problems, proof that even Huang Qingque could make mistakes in choosing people.

Xu Nangui's face darkened as he looked at Ning Beiyou. "This man is suspicious, isn't he?"

Ning Beiyou thought for a moment before replying, "He was chosen by Daoist Qingque, a second-transformation sword cultivator, born in the Ancient Desolate Realm. He should have little connection with the Division Masters of the True Martial Realm.

"If he is suspicious, why bother picking a fight with us? And why go out of his way to notify Xie Zhi's former members? As far as I know, he contacted others as well, not just the three of us. It just so happened that we're the only ones who showed up."

"He's putting on airs. When something looks abnormal, there's always something amiss," Xu Nangui said coldly. "I still think following him could prove dangerous."

"But we're already here," said Ning Beiyou, slowly rising from his seat. "If we don't find out, then we would have come for nothing. I am curious why he is gathering Xie Zhi's former members."

He explained, "We aren't members of the Killing Spiritual Division anymore, much less Xie Zhi. In reason and in interest, we have no conflicts with those people. No one has any reason to settle old scores with us."

Lin Anlan thought for a moment, then said, "Xie Zhi didn't exist long enough for us to make many enemies. Given our situation, few would target us now. On the contrary, because Xie Zhi was dissolved, if anything happened to us, it would attract the attention of the higher-ups. That wouldn't be good for those who wish us harm."

Xu Nangui frowned. "Daoist Lin, even you believe Daoist Fang? I find him overly secretive. Back in the Nanqing Constellation, we never even saw his true body, only puppets."

"That's precisely why I trust him," said Ning Beiyou. "It shows he is cautious. As Xie Zhi cultivators, we too once followed that principle.

With that, he followed after Fang Chen.

"Daoist Xu, regardless of what you and Daoist Lin think, I am curious to know why he called us here."

"Curiosity kills," snorted Xu Nangui.

He rose and pulled Lin Anlan along.

"The three of us are third-transformation immortals. Suppressing a second-transformation sword cultivator like him will be a breeze once we join hands."

After leaving Biluo City, Fang Chen led them another five hundred miles before Yu Tingzhai and the old flood dragon appeared, directly suppressing the three.

Layers of restrictive seals locked the area.

Xu Nangui spread his hands. "See? I was right. He wants to take us down. Looks like those people we captured before were connected to him."

Lin Anlan's expression grew grave.

Ning Beiyou stared at Fang Chen for a long moment, then at Yu Tingzhai and the old flood dragon. Their auras were clearly that of fourth-transformations.

Even Huang Qingque had only had one such expert by his side, yet Fang Chen, one of Huang Qingque's former subordinates, was flanked by two of them.

"Daoist Fang, whose side are you on? The Spirit God Sect?" asked Ning Beiyou, his gaze fixed on Fang Chen.

He sighed softly. "Daoist Qingque trusted you greatly. You've let him down."

Fang Chen smiled. "I am no Spirit God Sect cultivator, and I truly was a member of the Killing Spiritual Division. After Immortal Dayu dismissed me from my post, I became nothing more than a humble wanderer."

"A humble wanderer? With two fourth-transformation immortals beside you? Don't insult our intelligence. Speak, what do you really want?" Xu Nangui sneered. "I must've been out of my mind to come meet you."

Lin Anlan sighed softly. "Daoist Fang, whatever it is you are after, we don't have it. Perhaps you found the wrong people."

"Normally, I act first and explain later. But since you used to be my colleagues, I will explain first this time and see what you think," said Fang Chen. "I assume you've heard about the Killing Spiritual Division's Underworld branch?"

"You're affiliated with the Killing Spiritual Division's Underworld branch?" Ning Beiyou's eyes widened with surprise. "Monarch Fang of the Underworld, what is he to you?"

The anger on Xu Nangui's face lessened slightly. Since Fang Chen mentioned the Underworld's Killing Spiritual Division branch, he could already guess Fang Chen's purpose.

Xu Nangui frowned. "So you want to recruit us? But have you thought about it? The Killing Spiritual Division of the Underworld is a joke. The Underworld can't even support cultivators of our strength. What future could it have?"

Lin Anlan suddenly said, "The Underworld Division did purge the Spirit God Sect out of the Underworld. One could say the Underworld is now cleaner than any of the Nine Mortal Realms."

Xu Nangui hesitated. He had to admit, her words were true. But he still argued, "The Underworld is indeed extraordinary, but it barely has any influence on the Nine Mortal Realms. The Spirit God Sect may not be able to operate within, but they can still act within the Floating Pagoda Realm."

"However... The Hidden Guard Division is interesting. In recent years, the intelligence it gathers is increasingly valuable."

"Daoist Fang," Ning Beiyou said heavily, "Is what Daoist Xu said true? You wish to recruit us for the Underworld's branch? If so, why all this trouble?"

"To serve the Killing Spiritual Division's Underworld branch, you must walk the path of the Ghost Gods. You must receive Monarch Yan's decree and become Underworld True Gods. This is a grave matter, and it can only be revealed this way. I hope you understand."

Fang Chen smiled. "Now then, the three of you can tell me your decision."