Immortal of the Nine Realms

"He's done for," mumbled Tao Yu.

Ye Qinghe seemed uncertain, and he asked softly, "Do you think Fang Chen dares to sever Li Huafeng's path to immortality at such a time?"

"Why wouldn't he dare?" sneered Tao Yu. "Didn't you see the scene just now? The immortal sect behind Fang Chen is not to be trifled with. Even those immortals have to consider Fang Chen's opinions right now...”

"Hiss...." Ye Qinghe took a deep breath. "Then what about us..."

"There's no direct conflict between us and Fang Chen. I know his temperament; he won't cut off our paths because of a few trivial scuffles. However, things are different for Li Huafeng; don’t forget he once killed a general who was a subordinate of Fang Chen’s old man, someone who had fought alongside him for many years. He was even Fang Chen’s teacher for some time, teaching him military formations," whispered Tao Yu.

Ye Qinghe's expression was somewhat complicated. "Let’s hope you’re right."

Li Guozhu seemed to have a few words in mind he wanted to speak, but his tongue felt rather tied.

The faces of the surrounding civil and military officials gradually became strange as they exchanged glances discreetly.

Li Huafeng's forehead was oozing cold sweat. He was so nervous, his palms dripped with sweat, forming little splashes on the ground.

Everyone had their gazes fixed at Fang Chen, awaiting his decision.

Fang Chen smiled. "I think Li Huafeng has good aptitude. I will ask my master to consider accepting him as a disciple later on, if it’s possible."

"Then I won't go against your wishes," acknowledged Daoist Ya readily.

As expected...

Everything was clear to everyone. They had hit the nail on the head.

The moment Li Guzohu heard what Fang Chen had said, he couldn’t help but let out a sigh, and he seemed to have aged several years in the span of a few seconds.

Li Huafeng's face turned pale. There was no way he’d believe that Fang Chen would truly let him join the immortal sect behind him. This was just his way of cutting off his path to immortality!

Gritting his teeth and mustering up his courage, Li Huafeng said, “I know we’ve had our differences, and I know that there exists an enmity between us, but the past should be left behind. You should not cut off my path to immortality because of what happened in the past."

Elder Jin Nan and others looked slightly surprised. They glanced thoughtfully at Li Huafeng.

Fang Chen smiled. "It seems you don't trust me. So be it."

Fang Chen turned to Elder Jin Nan and the rest, "Fellow cultivators, is there anyone willing to take him as a disciple?"

Elder Jin Nan was the first to shake his head in refusal. "He is not suitable for our Heavenly Southern Sect."

The other immortals didn't even look at Li Huafeng; they just shook their heads lightly.

Daoist Ya, who had initially wanted to accept Li Huafeng into his sect, solemnly replied, "I’ve made a mistake earlier. This child is not suitable for my path. It seems that there is no fate between us.”

No fate!

Li Huafeng felt like he was struck by lightning. The immortal masters clearly didn’t want to offend Fang Chen. That’s why they were unwilling to take him in as a disciple into their sects! Even worse, the immortal master which had previously accepted him had gone back on his words!

Li Huafeng was angry and desperate.

Seeing that, Ancestor Xia Yu immediately said to Li Huafeng, "You should wait at the side for now. Maybe some immortal master will change their mind later."

Li Huafeng’s face was full of unwillingness. "But,” he saw Ancestor Xia Yu’s face suddenly sink, “I—”

"We are pressed for time. Don't obstruct others from testing their spirits." Ancestor Xia Yu waved him off.

Hearing that, Li Huafeng smiled bitterly and walked off to the side, feeling lost.

The subsequent spirit testing process went quickly. Because too many people couldn't even cause the bell to chime once, in just half a day, thousands of people were tested. Among them, only about a dozen qualified and were accepted as disciples by the immortal sects, and most of them had been able to produce four to five chimes. As for those with three, they could only wait at the side for the time being.

Ancestor Xia Yu informed them that even if the immortal masters didn't accept them as disciples today, they would have a chance to join other immortal sects in the future, therefore they shouldn’t be too disappointed.

The testing for the privileged children of the capital had mostly concluded, and the imperial guards began arranging the testing for the ordinary citizens; however, a new Spiritual Measuring Bell had replaced the one previously used. The first bell had sustained a few cracks due to Fang Chen’s test, and since it was damaged, it had to be replaced.

Elder Jin Nan couldn’t help but feel the pinch. The bell had been used to test well over thousands of people, which caused his heart to ache a little, and he had finally decided to put it away.

The new Spiritual Measuring Bell came from the woman from the Spirit Beast Valley.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Seven chimes!! Just like Xia Yu!

The moment the crowd noticed that, their eyes focused more on the figure in front of the bell; it was a young man with a simple appearance.

Everyone’s gazes were filled with shock, envy, and jealousy. Even Xia Yu found it hard to believe that such a simple commoner had the same aptitude as him.

"Isn't this Pancake Zhang? The one who often sells pancakes on the outskirts of the imperial city!"

"You still dare to call him Pancake Zhang? From now on, he's Immortal Zhang!"

"Yes, yes, I’ve made a mistake!"

"Didn't expect that Zhang Ye would have such talent. If it weren't for the immortal masters coming to accept disciples this time, his talent might have been buried, and he would have sold pancakes for a lifetime."

"This is a stroke of luck."

Whispers circulated among the crowd.

The pancake seller? Xia Yu's expression turned even more unsightly. Someone who sold pancakes had talent comparable to his own! Even within the royal family, he was the only one who had caused the bell to chime seven times. Even the young elites from various influential families couldn't match up to Pancake Zhang!

The farmer, holding a mother hen, had a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She looked at Elder Jin Nan and said, "We had an agreement earlier. This child belongs to my Spirit Beast Valley."

Elder Jin Nan didn't say anything but conveyed his thoughts with a glance. The woman remembered that Fang Chen was now present and quickly looked at him, saying, "Senior Fang..."

Fang Chen smiled. "Since you’ve had an agreement, I won't interfere."

The woman immediately breathed a sigh of relief and waved to Pancake Zhang, "Come over here."

Pancake Zhang walked slowly toward them but first bowed deeply to Fang Chen. The onlookers were momentarily stunned, but they didn’t find it too strange, as Fang Chen was a renown man in Grand Xia, with sky-high reputation. However, what they didn’t know was that that gesture was rife with more meaning than they could imagine.

Fang Chen smiled. There was a hint of playfulness in his smile. He nodded slightly. "In the future, when you step onto the path of immortality, you must be diligent."

“My lord—no, Duke! I will definitely remember your advice today!" replied Pancake Zhang. He then went and stood behind the woman holding the hen.

Thus, both the Heavenly Southern Sect and the Spirit Beast Valley each acquired a top-tier talent.

"Next is...hmm, Fairy Yu!?"

"She’s also testing her spirit!?"

"Of course, why wouldn’t she?! It's been said that anyone under thirty can participate in this spirit testing. Why can't Fairy Yu participate?"

The crowd whispered excitedly, their expressions filled with anticipation as their gazes closely followed the graceful figure in white.

Barefoot, Fairy Yu approached the bell, her face veiled, capturing the attention of nearly all the men present, especially Ye Qinghe, Xia Yu, and others, whose gazes were fiery with passion.

The empress smiled softly. "Hehe. She is the famous Fairy Yu of the capital city, right?" she tittered. "Truly a fairy. If I were a man, I would be attracted to her."

The emperor glanced at her with an odd expression. "This is the first time I've seen her."

"I know." The empress nodded with a smile, but her gaze drifted toward Fang Chen. She was aware that Fairy had stayed at the Fang Manor for several days. Considering how well she knew that nephew of hers, those two were undoubtedly acquainted.

"Young lady, Fairy Yu is also testing her spirit. Why don't you go?" In the crowd, Fang Qingyao's maidservant kept urging; however, Fang Qingyao hesitated; would cultivating immortality suit her?

If she pursued the path of cultivation, who would manage the Hall of Compassion in the capital? Who would take care of the medicinal hall her father passed down?

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