Chapter 690: Returning Home

"The Ninth Prince and the rest of them have all become Immortal Seedlings."

"That's impressive! There's also Han Linqiu from the Grand Dao Library, Wang Yi from the Lingyun Sword Sect, Xu Peng from the Green Elephant Sect, and Su Lingzhu from the Giant Immortal Sect. Truly worthy of being the pride of the heavens."

The area outside the Ancient Immortal Road was bustling with activity. Just a moment ago, they had heard several ringing sounds of the immortal bells.

Each sound represented the birth of an Immortal Seedling.

Li Chuan sighed lightly and looked at Cheng Yuhan and Langya Wenqiu and asked, "Has Junior Brother Fang come out yet?"

"Not yet."

Langya Wenqiu showed a hint of anticipation. "Brother Fang must be undergoing the final assessment. If he succeeds, he will become an Immortal Seedling."

"Let's hope so. Otherwise, the Void Immortal Sword Sect will lose face. It's been so many years, yet there hasn’t been a new Immortal Seedling," muttered Cheng Yuhan.

Wang Hu and the others showed wry smiles; their skills were impressive, but they were of little use in the Ancient Immortal Road.

The various tests inside were quite mysterious, often leaning on bizarre. Their sword technique seemed to be of little relevance there.

Cheng Yuhan suddenly glanced over at Ji Liang. "Why aren't those few leaving? They've all become Immortal Seedlings, yet they're still waiting?"

Langya Wenqiu pondered aloud, "They might be waiting for Brother Fang. That Xu Peng from the Green Elephant Sect wanted to plead for Gai Wu but was scolded by Senior Brother Fang."

Cheng Yuhan narrowed her eyes slightly. "Oh? He wants to plead for that little rascal Gai Wu? He really has some nerve. Is the Green Elephant Sect that powerful? Who gave him the guts?"

“It’s already been half a year. In another half a year, Junior Brother Fang should be coming out. If you have nothing else to do, you might as well wait here,” said Li Chuan softly.

Everyone nodded in agreement. The Ancient Immortal Road had a maximum duration of one year; if anyone stayed any longer inside, they were deemed dead with no chance of coming out.

They believed that with Fang Chen’s abilities, he wouldn’t encounter any danger.

Ji Liang gazed quietly at the Ancient Immortal Road. “What do you think? Can Fang Chen succeed?”

He found it a little regretful that he hadn’t managed to meet up with Fang Chen inside, but if Fang Chen ended up staying inside forever, then that wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

Su Lingzhu gently smiled and swept her gaze across those around her. “Fang Chen doesn't lack talent, and completing the immortal sect’s test isn’t difficult. I just don’t know which immortal gate he ended up at. The immortal sect I entered is the I belong to the Transformation Sect and have comprehended the Transformation Intent. What about you?”

Han Linqiu thought for a moment and said, “I belong to the Donghuang Sect and have comprehended the Donghuang Intent.”

“I’m with Brother Han, also from the Donghuang Sect,” Xu Peng said calmly.

Wang Yi added, “Ten Thousand Sect, and I’ve comprehended the Ten Thousand Intent.”

Ji Liang smiled and said, “I’m with the Ancient Dao Academy and have comprehended the true meaning of ancient Dao.”

“Ancient Dao Academy?”

Everyone was slightly taken aback, and jealousy instantly surfaced in Xu Peng’s eyes.

“No wonder he’s the Ninth Prince; the Ancient Dao Academy is a top-tier sect among the immortal sects, and its intent resonates with the techniques of the Dao sects,” said Han Linqiu with a light smile.

Su Lingzhu sighed softly. “I’ve heard that in ancient times, if one was accepted into the Ancient Dao Academy, it was easier to become an immortal compared to other immortal sects.”

“Fang Chen is a disciple of the Three Thousand Dao Sects; perhaps he might also be taken in by the Ancient Dao Academy,” said Xu Peng.

Ji Liang smiled but didn’t respond.

As time passed, more and more Golden Core Realm cultivators emerged from the Ancient Immortal Road. During this period, several Immortal Seedlings also appeared, but they came from ordinary backgrounds, with some not even being disciples of Immortal Manors.

“It seems they all gathered together this year. In previous years, it took a full hundred years to see just a few Immortal Seedlings,” Xu Peng scoffed, glancing coldly at Li Chuan. He suddenly said with mockery, “These sword cultivators think highly of themselves, but the Ancient Immortal Road doesn’t care for them.”

“Sword cultivation isn’t the right path; longevity is the true immortal way.” Ji Liang chuckled. “They may have offensive power, but even if they become Immortal Kings, they can only live for two thousand years. The immortal sect won’t easily accept them.”

Xu Peng was gleeful. “It’s been nearly a year, and Fang Chen still hasn’t come out. Could he be trapped inside?”

“We’ll know the truth in another month,” replied Ji Liang lightly.

The expressions of Cheng Yuhan and the others grew increasingly grim, and Langya Wenqiu became somewhat anxious, her gaze repeatedly darting toward the Ancient Immortal Road. But each time someone emerged, it wasn’t Fang Chen.

She looked toward Cheng Yuhan and the others. “Could something have happened to Senior Brother Fang...?”

“He should be fine,” Cheng Yuhan said tentatively, his brows furrowing with uncertainty.

Finally, the time came one month later, marking a full year since Fang Chen entered the Ancient Immortal Road.

Li Chuan and the others wore grave expressions; the one-year deadline had passed, and Fang Chen had not emerged from the Immortal Road, indicating that he had... perished.

“Everyone, let’s go back,” Li Chuan said softly.

Langya Wenqiu shook her head gently. “I’ll wait a little longer.”

Cheng Yuhan forced a smile. “Junior Sister Wenqiu, it’s been a whole year and Senior Brother Fang still hasn’t come out; I’m afraid...”

“With Senior Brother Fang’s abilities, he wouldn’t easily be trapped in there,” Langya Wenqiu replied, shaking her head.

The others sighed softly. Fang Chen was indeed strong, but those who had entered the Ancient Immortal Road knew that even the strongest abilities would be significantly weakened inside.

“Let’s go.”

Ji Liang took one last look at the Ancient Immortal Road before turning to leave with Xu Peng and the others, heading to their Immortal Boat.

The time was up. Since Fang Chen hadn’t come out, it meant he was dead.

Not long after they left, news began to spread within the Heavenly Profound Mirror.

The cultivators of the Great Expansion Dao Sect rejoiced at the news.

Li Chuan and the others gradually departed, and after some time, Langya Wenqiu, under the persuasion of Cheng Yuhan and the others, also left the Ancient Demon Wasteland.

“Your nephew seems unlikely to come back; the opportunity he encountered in the Grand Xia was likely that of the Heavenly Cloud Emperor,” said a towering figure standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the Ancient Immortal Road.

Beside him stood a beautiful woman. Though she appeared weary, she could not hide the air of elegance and nobility surrounding her.

“Your Majesty, Chen’er would not easily perish like this,” the beautiful woman said, glancing at him with a hint of cold mockery.

Xia Xuanji smiled faintly, “You may not know, but the rule of the Ancient Immortal Road is such that anyone who stays inside for more than a year has never come out alive.”

After a pause, he turned to Fang Cangyue and chuckled. “It’s been a long time away from home; isn’t it time for us to return? Don’t you miss home?”

Fang Cangyue’s expression changed slightly. She replied calmly, “What’s the point of going back? You haven’t been emperor for twenty or thirty years, and now you want to go back and vie for power with the younger generation? Is the Grand Xia really worth such a trip in your eyes?”

“Your nephew has done so much; isn’t it to hope for the prosperity of Grand Xia? I won’t hold grudges and will help him a little, allowing Grand Xia to advance to a fifth-tier empire,” Xia Xuanji replied with a faint smile. “Then it will be good to match arms with the major fifth-tier empires. Some people may die, but we’ll gain quite a bit too.”

Fang Cangyue’s expression changed drastically as she understood what Xia Xuanji intended to do. Before she could speak, she was wrapped in a surge of spiritual energy and taken away by Xia Xuanji.

***

River Stone County.

The hair at Fang Chen had grayed. He sat at the entrance of his courtyard, chatting idly with an aged Blacksmith Zhao.

It had been over sixteen years since Zhu Kui had passed away, and Zhao Hu had been away for eleven years with no news.

“Brother Ji, do you think that Hu’er hasn’t sent any news these years because he’s gotten into some trouble outside?” Blacksmith Zhao took a sip of wine, finally expressing the words he had been holding in for years.

He looked at Fang Chen, as if hoping to hear something from him.

“Brother Zhao, Little Hu is quite skilled; he won’t run into trouble,” Fang Chen replied with a smile, trying to reassure him.

Suddenly, he heard familiar footsteps, and his smile broadened.

“Is Hu’er back?”

Blacksmith Zhao was momentarily stunned, quickly getting up to look. Indeed, in the distance, four figures—two large and two small—were walking towards them.

One of them was Zhao Hu, who had matured considerably, his face weathered from the years.