Chapter 899: Returning to the Flame Empire

Yu Qingzhi retreated all the way to the gate of the courtyard, glaring at Fang Chen in silence.

"You can't leave," Fang Chen said with a light smile.

Ignoring Fang Chen, Yu Qingzhi turned and tried to rush out, only to slam into an invisible wall. This was a wall formed from condensed Yin energy. When Yu Qingzhi realized he couldn't break through there, he changed direction, searching for a way out.

Fang Chen remained calm.

After a while, Yu Qingzhi walked up to Fang Chen, lifted the teacup, and drank it in one go. He then proceeded to pour several more cups, drinking them one after another until the teapot ran out of tea. Only then did he stop.

"Have you thought it through?" Fang Chen asked.

Yu Qingzhi took a deep breath. "Let me put it this way: Not all of us Spirit Blood Sect cultivators know each other well. You said Gai Wu is a member of the Spirit Blood Sect, but I truly had no idea about that. But I do know a thing or two about the fact that someone is trying to target the Yu Family...."

"Go on," Fang Chen prompted.

Yu Qingzhi slowly began, "To understand the connection to the Spirit Blood Sect, we must mention my ancestor. He was once a mere wandering cultivator. He had no background, no cultivation resources, and no complete cultivation techniques."

He paused, as if recalling something significant. "Until one day, my ancestor passed through a certain land and found it filled with destruction. Many people there were severely injured or killed. There, my ancestor stumbled upon a cultivator using the blood and karma of these people to refine Blood Spirit Pills."

Yu Qingzhi's voice lowered, his eyes growing more intense. "My ancestor realized he had encountered an extraordinary being and sought to become his disciple. But that person presented a challenge to my ancestor.

"He told my ancestor that within 10 days, he had to refine a Blood Spirit Pill without invoking any karma. This was merely the most basic Blood Spirit Pill, yet it required the blood and karma of 100,000 living creatures.

"In order to preserve this chance for immortality, my ancestor racked his brains and barely managed to complete the task. Upon seeing this, the person took my ancestor as a disciple. From then on, my ancestor became a cultivator of the Spirit Blood Sect and followed this person, traveling everywhere.

Yu Qingzhi continued, "Years passed, and my ancestor's cultivation advanced rapidly, progressing from an ordinary Qi Refining Realm cultivator to breaking through the boundaries one by one. Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Enlightenment Realm, Soul Splitting, Fusion, Dao Union... until now, where he is attempting to transcend the tribulation.

"Along the way, my ancestor encountered many dangers, but also rendered countless services to the Spirit Blood Sect. By all rights, he should have long transcended the tribulation and become an Immortal King. However, his only chance to transcend was deceitfully taken from him, causing him to be unable to transcend for over 400 years."

Yu Qingzhi looked at Fang Chen. "The one who took away my ancestor's opportunity was the very person who initially took him under his wing. According to my ancestor, this person is a well-known Immortal King in the Central Continent Empire. If someone is plotting against my ancestor, it must be this person."

"Which Immortal King?" Fang Chen asked casually. "Although there are not many Immortal Kings in the world, in the Central Continent Empire, there are still quite a few famous Immortal Kings."

A vast number of Immortal Kings could be found across the Central Continent Empire. Just in the Desolate Academy alone, there were six of them, not to mention Heavenly King Zhen of the Eastern Continent, the Nine Generations King of the Western Continent, the Corrosive Dragon King of the Northern Continent, the Immortal Peak King of the Southern Continent, as well as the Three Great Dao Sect, the Divine Dao Sect... and countless others.

There were so many names that they couldn't be counted on two hands.

"I don't know." Yu Qingzhi sighed lightly. "It's not just me, even my ancestor himself doesn't know the true identity of that person."

Fang Chen smiled. "So, according to you, your ancestor's master is someone whose identity even your ancestor doesn't know? Do you expect me to believe that?"

Yu Qingzhi sneered. "Junior Brother Fang, whether you believe it or not, the fact remains. I am only telling you this because I want the Killing Spiritual Division to find this person if the Yu Family is ever exterminated."

After a pause, he added, "By the way, here's another piece of information I'm freely giving to you. The Immortal King I mentioned may soon ascend to become a First Rate Sect Leader. He also intends to take the place of the ruler of the Central Continent Empire. Elder Xun, who is the ancestor of our Desolate Academy, has already exhausted most of his lifespan and likely doesn't have the ability to reverse the situation. If he succeeds, the Central Continent Empire will change its national title, change its emperor, and the world's structure will be altered."

Fang Chen's eyes flickered.

From what Xia Xuanji had told him, he already knew that someone was trying to elevate a second-tier empire to a first-tier empire. Now, Yu Qingzhi's words further confirmed this information.

Yu Qingzhi said, "The Killing Spiritual Division doesn't have much time. If he becomes a First Rate Sect Leader, how long do you think the Killing Spiritual Division will be able to stand?"

He sneered. "I've said everything I needed to. How do you plan to dispose of me?"

***

Fang Chen handed Yu Qingzhi over to Xing Xian and Stone Dragon before turning and leaving, vanishing into the vast Forgotten River.

Yu Qingzhi hadn't come to his senses yet. Where was this place? And who were these two people standing before him?

Although he didn't know the origins of Xing Xian and Stone Dragon, he could feel an aura from Xing Xian that was no weaker than Du Yunxu's.

Yu Qingzhi was struck by a sudden thought as he looked at Xing Xian and Stone Dragon.

If this person were in the Mortal Realm, they would definitely be a True Immortal!

His Yu Family was stationed in Li Xiao, with the Spirit Blood Sect supporting them from behind. Despite years of development, only his ancestor had reached the level of a True Immortal. Even his grandfather was stuck at the Dao Union Realm, unable to break through.

Yet, in the short time he had spent in the Underworld, he had already encountered two beings at the True Immortal level, and both of them were showing utmost respect to Fang Chen.

At that moment, Yu Qingzhi couldn't help but have a strange feeling.

Could Fang Chen be the son of some Grand Xia First Rate Sect Leader?

Thinking of this, Yu Qingzhi couldn't help but look toward Xing Xian and Stone Dragon.

"Fellow seniors, may I ask where this place is...?"

"This place?" Xing Xian smiled lightly. "This is the Greater Underworld. From now on, you'll be one of my subordinates. Do more work and say less."

Yu Qingzhi asked, "Senior, with your cultivation level... why work under Fang Chen? He's just a junior, after all."

"My cultivation level?" Xing Xian chuckled. "What do you think my cultivation level is?"

Yu Qingzhi thought for a moment and answered, "You're at least a Profound Immortal."

Du Heng's aura was about as powerful as a Dao Union cultivator. This paper figure in front of him, however, was far more powerful than Du Heng.

Xing Xian pointed at Stone Dragon. "Then take a guess about this one's cultivation level."

"This..."

Xing Xian smiled slightly. "No need to guess. He would at least be a First Rate Sect Leader in the Mortal Realm. Even he is under the lord's command. Do you think it's embarrassing for me to serve under the lord with my cultivation level now?"

Yu Qingzhi gasped. He took several steps back, his face filled with disbelief. He looked at Xing Xian, then at Stone Dragon, who remained silent.

A F-First Rate Sect Leader?! Doesn't that mean he's a Loose Immortal?! How could such a being be under Fang Chen's command!?

Yu Qingzhi had thought that after this ordeal, he would have a deep understanding of Fang Chen, but to his surprise, the shocks just kept coming.

Having a First Rate Sect Leader as a subordinate.... he couldn't even imagine the kind of existence that could command such a presence.

At least in the present Central Continent Empire, or even in the Celestial Heaven or Northern Dipper, no one could find such an individual!

***

In the Flame Empire.

"Did you hear? We fought a few battles with the Grand Xia Empire, and we lost every single one. Even the exalted immortals weren't their opponents."

"Sigh, I heard that too. It won't be long before we have to change our national title."

"At least this time, only immortals were involved in the battles, so we common folks don't have to go to war. Otherwise, you and I would have been drafted as soldiers."

The common people on the street murmured quietly.

As Fang Chen walked through the streets of the Flame Empire, he noticed that although the kingdom was at war with Grand Xia, both sides had tactfully ensured that the mortals remained unaffected. Every battle seemed to involve only cultivators.

Fang Chen had come to Flame Empire to visit the Qingzhou Sword Sect and take a look at the Concealed Moon Hermitage.