Chapter 1517: Settled

Fang Chen and Little Immortal Honglian were unable to find Chen Enxue and the others. However, Xie Aman arrived in person, gathered all the core disciples, and led them back to the Mortal Realm together.

Xie Aman swept her gaze across the crowd and spoke indifferently. "That person has a special status. I am setting a rule. From now on, anyone at Great Thunder Sound who wishes to walk the Path of Yin must request permission. Those who do so without authorization will be severely punished."

"I object," said Chen Enxue with a cold laugh. "Why do we need permission to walk the Path of Yin at Great Thunder Sound? How is that place any different from other parts of the Underworld? We aren't children, are you afraid we'll offend her down there?"

"The implications are quite broad, so it is only right that you are restricted. I just received word. Taixu has gone missing," replied Xie Aman flatly.

Taixu?

The group instinctively looked toward Li Shanzi.

Li Shanzi was stunned, a strange expression crossing his face.

"Eldest Senior Sister, are you saying Immortal Taixu has disappeared? How is that possible? He is a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal. What could possibly threaten him on Great Thunder Sound right now...?"

Li Shanzi's voice trailed off. He frowned and asked, "Does this have something to do with the Yellow Springs Road suddenly opening here?"

"I don't know. But for an Ancient Immortal to vanish so inexplicably, you can imagine the dangers involved. Fortunately, I've done a headcount, and our core disciples are all accounted for this time, unlike back at the Formless Purgatory, where people were being plotted against in the shadows."

Xie Aman continued calmly, "Until the Palace Master reaches an agreement with the other factions, you are to stay quiet. Do not walk the Path of Yin again. Manage your subordinates well. If they go without permission, you will be punished alongside them."

Chen Enxue didn't argue further this time, muttering to herself instead. "Even Taixu is missing? That's strange..."

Fang Chen understood that Wang Chongsong's disappearance was undoubtedly related to Daoist Yun Que. Logically, there shouldn't be any danger. Otherwise, those two wouldn't have left a restrictive spell to protect his physical body when they departed.

***

Five years later, the Enlightenment God Palace concluded its negotiations with the various factions. The battle for Great Thunder Sound was officially canceled, and it was tacitly agreed that the guarding rights for the next thousand years belonged to the Enlightenment God Palace.

When Ye Qingqiu and the others departed, their expressions were quite sour, clearly feeling as though they had made the trip for nothing.

"Prepare for the return journey."

Little Immortal Honglian watched as the various core disciples gathered their respective pioneering teams, a touch of melancholy on her face. "One trip out like this, and nearly two hundred years have slipped away."

"It's fortunate our cultivation is high enough. Two hundred years... For a mortal, that is an unimaginably long time," replied Fang Chen with a smile.

Their own teams were already assembled and ready to move the moment Xie Aman gave the order. Since they had arrived together, they were required to depart together to ensure no mishaps occurred during the journey.

"I heard Eldest Senior Sister mention that you plan to visit Drunken Fate Star once more?" Little Immortal Honglian asked curiously. "Did you leave something behind there last time?"

Fang Chen laughed. "Old Sheng is quite an interesting character. Since he wants to become a member of an expedition team, I'll fulfill his wish."

Little Immortal Honglian understood. The Third Ancestor of the Great Victory Dynasty was indeed quite intriguing. However, given his advanced age, he clearly lacked potential. Such an individual joining the Enlightenment God Palace would only consume resources.

The Enlightenment God Palace didn't really hold a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal in high regard. The raw offensive strength of these core disciples alone was no weaker than that of a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal whose lifespan was nearly exhausted.

She felt the need to offer Fang Chen a reminder, "Daoist Fang, that Old Sheng doesn't have much potential left. Maintaining him will cost a significant amount of immortal crystals, yet the benefits he can bring you are few. With your Formation Immortal Arts, you could easily defeat him yourself."

"Formation Immortal Arts are ultimately quite cumbersome. If I don't have these expedition teams following me, I can't deploy the formation. I can't exactly drag them along everywhere I go, can I?"

Fang Chen glanced at the nearly one thousand Immortal Boats nearby and smiled. "This kind of power can only be used in specific circumstances and requires preparation. It lacks true freedom."

Little Immortal Honglian muttered, "As core disciples, unless it's a special situation, we shouldn't be putting ourselves in danger anyway..."

The core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace could obtain almost any resource they desired with ease, so there was indeed no need for them to wander and struggle like ordinary cultivators.

Fang Chen smiled and explained, "Unexpected things always happen. Having a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal standing guard means that, at the very least, if we need to flee, the immortal essence powering the Black Dragon Boat won't run dry.

"Fellow Daoists Miyu and Ji Gang have their own affairs to manage. Once we return to the Palace, they won't be able to stay by my side at all times. Old Sheng is different. In the Enlightenment God Palace, he'll be a stranger in a strange land. He'll have no choice but to stay by my side and ensure my safety."

Little Immortal Honglian nodded. "That is a fair point."

As long as one had enough immortal crystals, having a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal as a protector certainly had no downsides.

Xie Aman's voice rang out in everyone's ears, "Is everyone ready? If so, we are setting off."

***

An hour later, the Black Dragon Formation soared like dragons dancing through the nine heavens, surging out from Great Thunder Sound.

The few core disciples left behind watched the group depart. A place that had been bustling with activity suddenly became much more desolate.

Ji Sheng looked up at the sky, a smile playing on his lips. "Eldest Senior Sister and the others have left. Being left here to guard the place is actually for the best. It gives me the perfect time to properly cultivate that immortal art. By the time we meet again, they'll have to call me Old Tenth."

Ji Tianjun's fists clenched and relaxed, then clenched again. He hadn't expected that he would be ordered to stay behind with Ji Sheng to guard Great Thunder Sound. Watching Little Immortal Honglian and Fang Chen vanish into the starry sky, he couldn't imagine how far she would go with that fellow without his watchful eye.

"Core Disciple Ji, what is your take on Great Thunder Sound suddenly being able to walk the Path of Yin?" asked Ji Tianjun casually.

Ji Sheng replied offhandedly, "What's there to think? It's definitely related to

that

person. But I haven't delved deep into that path, so I can't see the clues. Perhaps only those Ancient Immortals could figure it out."

Ji Tianjun's expression grew heavy. He knew the truth of the matter, and he certainly knew what it represented for Soul Travel to suddenly be possible here.

Once Ji Sheng left, Ji Tianjun appeared to wander aimlessly, yet he stood in one particular spot for a long time.

At one point, a figure had silently appeared behind Ji Tianjun. He spoke in a calm tone. "Our ancestors long ago locked down the Upper Three Realms. Now that Great Thunder Sound can suddenly support the Path of Yin, it means that a group of people has made another move on the chessboard. But that move isn't finished yet. Regardless of the method they used, as long as they can't undo the Forbidden Art all at once, we still hold a certain advantage."

Ji Tianjun didn't turn around. He sighed and said, "The princess seems a bit off. She is getting far too close to Core Disciple Fang."

"She is a young woman after all, her thoughts are different from ours. It doesn't matter anyway. In all probability, Core Disciple Fang is one of us as well," said the newcomer with a faint smile.

Not far from the two, a divine soul stood with its hands behind its back.

Fang Chen looked at the cultivator talking to Ji Tianjun. The man looked familiar. He was likely a member of one of the core disciples' expedition teams.