Chapter 697: In the Eyes of Immortals, There Are No Mortals

Fang Yunmeng's eyes looked unfocused, as if she were struggling to recall something. Occasionally, a blissful smile would appear at the corners of her mouth.

After a while, she sighed. She looked at Fang Chen and gently smiled. "Daoist Fang, forgetting everything was pretty nice. At least the burdens of the past were gone and it felt like I had gotten a fresh start in this world. In this world, my husband treated me very well. Although my children were mortals, they were very blessed. It’s a pity that I can never go back."

With that, Fang Yunmeng stood up and left the teahouse.

Only Fang Chen remained. He looked at the puppet and asked, "Senior, are the disciples of the Reincarnation Sect chosen from the past and future?"

"Indeed, the Reincarnation Sect never focuses on the present," replied the puppet with a faint smile.

Fang Chen silently marveled at this. If that were the case, it meant that there would always be disciples of the Reincarnation Sect in both the past and future. This sect would never lose its legacy or be exterminated.

The puppet said, "Among the three great immortal intents, the past is the easiest to grasp but the strongest, while the future is slightly harder but weaker. As for the mortal world, it has not been comprehended by anyone for many years and ranks third. If you wish, I can transform you into a mortal to comprehend the past again."

Fang Chen refused with a smile. "No need. The mortal world might be what suits me best."

He preferred to live in the present than dwell on the past or worry about the future. The mortal world was his present. The past would always be the past and the future would eventually come so there was no need to chase after them.

The puppet nodded slightly. "You may leave now."

"Senior, we shall meet again if fate allows," said Fang Chen, bidding his farewell and leaving the teahouse.

In the Ancient Demon Wasteland, there were still countless Golden Core Realm cultivators trying their luck on the Ancient Immortal Road.

After Fang Chen left the teahouse, he walked out of the Ancient Immortal Road. Everything appeared peaceful without any unusual occurrences. Not even the legendary chime of the Immortal Bell which would ring when one became an Immortal Seedling happened for him.

Fang Chen heard Little Sword’s voice. "It feels like I’ve been asleep for a very long time.…"

"You were suppressed by the immortal restriction," said Mirror of the Universe. It then asked Fang Chen, "Brother, have you become an Immortal Seedling?"

Fang Chen wore a smile. "Little Mirror, do you know about the Reincarnation Immortal Sect?"

The Mirror of the Universe replied puzzledly, "The Reincarnation Immortal Sect? Does such an immortal sect exist in the Immortal Realm? Hmm, I seem to have a vague memory but can't recall it."

Suddenly, it gasped. "Brother, if I can't remember this immortal sect, it must involve a significant amount of karma. Did you encounter the Reincarnation Immortal Sect?"

"Yes, I am considered an Immortal Seedling of the sect now," answered Fang Chen.

"What kind of immortal intent did you comprehend?"

"The mortal world," replied Fang Chen.

The Mirror of the Universe fell silent briefly. "It seems there is some unknown power influencing me as I haven’t heard of the mortal world before. Based on my experience, it's best not to delve deeper into this matter lest I be erased by that power. In any case, the immortal intent you comprehended must be extraordinary and holds great potential."

Several cultivators passed by Fang Chen and headed toward the Ancient Immortal Road. Some asked the cultivators coming out of the road for their insights and experiences.

However, these cultivators completely ignored Fang Chen. It was like he wasn’t even there.

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. "Indeed, it holds great potential."

His intent made it so that others perceived him as a mortal, making him virtually invisible to their eyes.

Fang Chen chuckled to himself. "In the eyes of immortals, there are no mortals, only eternal life and everlasting youth."

He transformed into a beam of sword light and vanished into the sky.

"Eh? Did I just imagine that? Was there a sword cultivator performing a sword transformation technique?"

"I think I saw it too. Strange, how did I not notice it before?"

"Forget it, it’s hard for sword cultivators to become Immortal Seedlings. It’s probably just another sword cultivator who failed on the Ancient Immortal Road. After all, even Fang Chen from the Void Immortal Sword Sect met his end inside."

***

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

At the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

All nine peak masters had gathered at the main peak today, along with various deacons, elders, and disciples from all the peaks.

This grand event was being held for the sword leader’s selection. The position of sword leader was extremely important for the sect, with the previous generation’s sword leader being the Old Sword Immortal. Even figures like Wang Zhenlong couldn’t become sword leaders.

The once noisy Sect Master Hall was now unusually quiet. The sect master who stood with his hands clasped behind his back and showed only a side profile sneered. "Why is everyone silent? It’s just a matter of selecting a sword leader. It’s not like I’m going to harm you."

"Sect Master, I think it is unsuitable for the sect to select a sword leader now. It might be more prudent to wait a few more years to see if any suitable disciples emerge," said a big-bearded sword cultivator aloud.

The peak masters of the Extreme Sword Peak nodded silently in agreement.

Who could shoulder the position of sword leader in the current Void Immortal Sword Sect? There was one before but unfortunately, that person was no longer around.

"The sword cultivators from Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper are eyeing us like wolves. According to our agreement, the Sword Sect cannot be without a sword leader. If we cannot find a new sword leader within a thousand years, we will have to hand over the seven immortal relics belonging to the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

"Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper aren’t treating this as a joke. Even the sword sects on the Central Continent are waiting to pick up the scraps. After today, the deadline will be exceeded so we must select a sword leader today," said the sect master coldly.

The grand peak masters and elders exchanged glances and fell into deep contemplation. The disciples from each peak also looked at each other in confusion.

Suddenly, Qin Hucheng stepped forward. "I am willing to be the sword leader."

The peak master of Extreme Sword Peak sneered. "With your cultivation, you can indeed sweep through all the sword sects of the same rank in the Central Continent but you will still die at the hands of Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper."

"I am not fearful of death. Didn't my father's two disciples die that way too?" responded Qin Hucheng.

The sect master coldly snorted and remarked, "Your talent is not bad and you have indeed experienced great events. You are eligible to be the sword leader but you must understand that if you fail to pass the test of the sword sect in the mortal world, you will die."

Suddenly, a young man dressed in a purple robe flew into the hall. He smiled widely as he bowed politely to the sect master. "Brother Qin's cultivation foundation is still a bit lacking. It's better for me to be the sword leader."

The disciples of various peaks were surprised at this person’s return.

"Brother Bai is back!? Didn't he travel to Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper?"

Some disciples who joined later had only heard of Brother Bai and had never seen him before.

The sect master looked at him coldly and said in ridicule, "What nonsense are you talking about? You cannot be the sword leader. Let Qin Hucheng take the position."

The big-bearded sword cultivator laughed coldly and said, "Sect Master, isn't this just personal bias? Can’t your disciple take the position of sword leader? Brother Bai's current cultivation is beyond my comprehension. Dao Union? Someone with that level of cultivation is more suitable to be the sword leader than Brother Qin."

"It is precisely because he has achieved Dao Union that he is even less suited to be the sword leader," boomed a voice.

The speaker was not the sect master but the peak master of Extreme Sword Peak. She said, "Have you forgotten? The sword leaders from Celestial Heaven and Northern Dipper have all reached the Dao Union Realm. This means they are powerful enough to destroy everyone present in this hall today, including Brother Bai."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

An Elder of Teachings gently sighed. "Had the Old Sword Immortal been not injured a few years ago, even without a sword leader, those sword sects wouldn't dare to speak so casually."