Chapter 1338: Locking the Upper Three Realms

"Mhm. This is some obscure place in the Upper Three Realms' Langgui Constellation, the Qingyu Immortal Sect," said Fang Chen.

Huang Wuji's expression shifted, a strange look appearing on his face. "There's only one first-transformation Loose Immortal here, and this is how they received you after using the Enlightenment God Palace's invitation?"

"What else would you expect?" Fang Chen sneered. "The Enlightenment God Palace controls eight major constellations and thousands of territories that rival Chaotic Star. Such a colossal power wouldn't care about a little cultivator who entered with an invitation."

Huang Wuji nodded slightly. "That does make a bit of sense."

After all, they didn't know who had come to the Upper Three Realms. If they knew the full story, they'd surely curse them out.

"Is traversing to the Underworld really impossible here?" asked Huang Wuji.

"I just tried. The Yellow Springs Road won't open. So, no, it's not possible," replied Fang Chen.

He continued, "That's something I'll need to explain to you later. For now, keep a low profile, and don't stray too far from me. When you have time, try to investigate why the Underworld can't be accessed here. According to Daoist Ning, it has always been like this. He doesn't know the exact reason.

"One more thing. You follow the Sword Immortal Path. In the Nine Mortal Realms, no faction controls the Sword Immortal Path. Either keep it a secret that you're a fourth transformation immortal, or don't let anyone know you're a sword cultivator.

He warned, "You'd better use your sword sparingly from now on. If you're discovered.... You remember what happened to Wang Chongsong? Your fate might be even worse than his. After all, the Taiyi Immortal Path used to have a fourth and fifth transformation immortal."

"I understand. I will act with caution. As for this... every sword cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Division is quite skilled in keeping a low profile," replied Huang Wuji with a faint smile.

Fang Chen agreed with this. Back when the Heavenly Sword Division was secretly developing and growing on Chaotic Star, no one noticed. The sword cultivators from the Heavenly Sword Division were already quite adept at that.

In this aspect, they were far more professional than Xia Ji's Hidden Guard Division.

"If it's impossible to walk the Path of Yin here, then the souls of the dead in this place won't be able to go to the Underworld. They'll only waste away in the Mortal Realm. That's quite tragic," remarked Huang Wuji casually.

Fang Chen paused.

Huang Wuji's seemingly casual words hinted at something deeper.

Why was it that the Path of Yin couldn't be walked in places like the Nanqing Constellation, or the Upper Three Realms? Was it because the cultivators there were generally highly talented or had powerful cultivation?

If they couldn't walk the Path of Yin, it meant they couldn't be reincarnated. Over time, the average talent would worsen.

Fang Chen glanced at the oblivious Huang Wuji and thought silently.

He realized that souls can't find their way to the Underworld like this, but what he missed is that reincarnation itself is impossible without the Underworld. This seal on their cognition... is truly terrifying. Even a fourth-transformation immortal is left clueless.

The inability to walk the Path of Yin in the Upper Three Realms likely involved a method similar to sealing cognition.

"First, they lock the Upper Three Realms, and the constellations of the major realms, preventing cultivators from walking the Path of Yin. When that still failed to weaken the region effectively... they simply stole the reincarnation mechanism itself? And then used another method to indirectly plunder this place?"

Fang Chen envisioned a scene in his mind, trying to piece things together.

"And then, Huang Wuji... he's likely one of their people, though he doesn't know it. His cognition must have been locked before or at the moment of his birth. This means the method... doesn't distinguish between friend or foe. Even their own people can be affected."

Another thought flashed by—Wang Chongsong.

This person held the Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo, which was essentially the key to unlocking the cognition seal. Since he controlled something so important, why hadn't he used it on a large scale?

Why? Was there a problem with the Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo? Did it need to be tested before it could be used on a wider scale?

If that was the case, Fang Chen knew he had to find Wang Chongsong. He absolutely couldn't let this item spread out of control. Otherwise, even the powerhouses would collapse.

***

Huang Wuji quietly left the Qingyu Immortal Sect and found a place about a hundred miles away to stay temporarily. The entire process went unnoticed. With his cultivation, even if he walked around the Qingyu Immortal Sect openly, it would be easy for him to avoid being detected by Immortal Qingyu.

A few days later, Zhang Chen visited, asking if Fang Chen was ready. After receiving a positive response, he led Fang Chen and Hua Yunfeng, along with other Dao Union Realm cultivators, to group together.

On the Immortal Boat, apart from the Dao Union Realm elders of the Qingyu Immortal Sect, there were also some middle-level disciples and lower-level disciples aboard.

They had long heard that a cultivator from the Lower Six Realms had appeared in the sect and was aiming for an elder position.

During this time, whenever they had free time, they would gossip. Most of their words were laced with contempt for the Lower Six Realms.

Seeing Fang Chen standing at the front of the immortal ship, Hua Yunfeng smiled and approached.

"Daoist Fang, I hope you don't mind. Many of our juniors heard about you challenging that girl to take back the spiritual mountain for our sect and were eager to come and watch. Since they have the time, I thought it would be good to let them broaden their horizons."

"Why would I mind? You must be joking. We'll all be colleagues in the sect in the future. These younger ones might need me to look after them, so it's good to make an acquaintance first," replied Fang Chen with a faint smile.

Hua Yunfeng was slightly taken aback. He smiled wryly. "Looks like you're confident."

"By the way, may I ask what the name of the woman from the Honglian Immortal Sect is?"

Fang Chen casually shifted the topic.

"She's currently known by an elegant nickname—Little Immortal Honglian. As for her real name, I'm afraid I don't know. Most people around here simply call her that," replied Hua Yunfeng with a faint smile.

At that moment, Zhang Chen and several Dao Union Realm elders walked over.

"You're surely jesting, Daoist Hua," said Zhang Chen. "Little Immortal Honglian is not very fond of that nickname. Calling her that would only anger her."

Their seemingly unintentional reminder made Hua Yunfeng's face slightly sink. Fortunately, the elder who had passed eight tribulations spoke up. "That woman's surname is Hong. Just call her Hong Daoist."

Hua Yunfeng smiled and quickly changed the subject, beginning to ask Fang Chen about the Lower Six Realms.

"Hm? Do the Lower Six Realms also have Ancient Immortals stationed there?"

"The Ancient Realm only has thirteen constellations?"

"You don't start taking immortal herbs until after the third transformation? No wonder. It seems the immortal pathways you have in the Lower Six Realms aren't complete."

"The third transformation is the latest one should take immortal medicine. This way you skip the first, second, and third transformation herbs and directly take the fourth transformation medicine. With the Lower Six Realms' poor foundation, this is understandable."

Their understanding of the Lower Six Realms was absurdly shallow, but that wasn't because they couldn't find information about it. They simply couldn't be bothered to research it.

When they heard that the people of the Lower Six Realms only started taking immortal medicine after the third transformation, their sense of superiority only grew.

Soon, the Immortal Boat began to slow down.

As the clouds and mist gradually parted, a towering immortal mountain appeared before Fang Chen's eyes.

This mountain was larger than most of the hundreds of immortal peaks of the Qingyu Immortal Sect, and its spiritual energy was even denser.

At that moment, over a dozen figures flew over. They were all Enlightenment Realm cultivators. The leader cupped his hands and said lightly, "This is the territory of the Honglian Immortal Sect. I kindly ask the seniors of the Qingyu Immortal Sect to leave immediately."