Immortal of the Nine Realms

The capital had long since been sealed off.

When Ol’ Huang went about his arrest, some tried to hide, while others anxiously awaited news, but it mattered not; none was able to escape.

In less than half an hour, all those on the list were brought into the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The people who had been brought were deathly pale, and when they saw the scene inside, some even wet themselves from fright.

"Where did Chief Pacifier Liu run off to?" asked Fang Chen with a faint smile.

Xia Yu’s eyes were lifeless. "He's already dead," he replied.

The people exchanged glances. This was understandable. After all, only the dead could truly keep a secret.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, these people cannot be spared," said Elder Jin Nan, glancing at the traitors.

Fang Chen nodded slightly. "We’ll execute them on the spot."

Old Huang immediately swung his blade down, and in the blink of an eye, all the officials were beheaded.

Despite facing imminent death, Xiao Shenace maintained a calm gaze. He didn’t offer any resistance, and he didn’t bother to curse or vent. He had clearly resigned himself to fate.

"It's a pity about his Seven Chimes talent," remarked Elder Jin, glancing at Xia Yu.

The Grand Xia Emperor, unable to witness his own son's execution, slowly closed his eyes.

Ancestor Xia Yu had little emotional connection with Xia Yu, so he didn’t feel sad—he felt rather disappointed, if anything. The boy could’ve been molded into an excellent successor.

Suddenly, Xia Yu burst into an odd titter. "Hehehehe." Drool dripped down his mouth, and a foolish expression appeared on his face.

Elder Jin Nan hesitated. "Hmm?"

The others were surprised. Could it be that the pill had turned Xia Yu into an idiot?

Ancestor Xia Yu hesitated for a moment, then voiced out his thoughts. "Elder, if he is truly mentally impaired now, can we spare his life?"

Before Elder Jin Nan could respond, Zhen Yue had already stepped forward to carefully examine Xia Yu. After a while, she shook her head slightly. "I can't tell if he's pretending or if he’s actually a fool now."

"The Earth Corpse Mind Corrupting Pill can indeed induce foolishness. He has never cultivated before and may have been unable to withstand its effects," explained Elder Jin Nan, then fell into contemplation.

Li Guozhu and the others showed hopeful expressions. If Xia Yu could keep his life, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. After all, they could just keep him in the palace now that he became a fool.

However, Fang Chen suddenly walked to Xia Yu's side and whispered, "If you really became a fool, you will only be bullied by staying alive. Your sins are too deep. Whether you're sane or not, I have no reason to let you live."

"Hehehe..." Xia Yu continued to laugh foolishly.

"It seems he's truly become foolish." Elder Jin Nan chuckled. "He showed no emotional fluctuations just now."

Even Zhen Yue nodded in agreement.

Trying to act crazy or foolish in front of two Foundation Building Realm cultivators wasn't an easy task.

Fang Chen nodded. "Seems like it's real." He raised his hand and gently tapped Xia Yu's forehead, injecting a stream of spiritual power into it. Instantly, Xia Yu's brain was fried.

Though Xia Yu's face still carried that foolish smile, his body slowly stiffened, and he breathed his last.

Li Guozhu and the others were shocked. Fang Chen had personally killed Xia Yu!?

"He’s still the crown prince, regardless of anything. He can retain a little bit of his dignity this way," said Fang Chen softly.

The others remained silent.

Elder Jin Nan and Zhen Yue made no objections. Xia Yu had colluded with the Spirit Blood Sect and he deserved to die.

"Dispose of these corpses, Ol’ Huang,” ordered Fang Chen.

Huang Sihai immediately led people to remove the bodies of Xia Yu and the others from the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In the span of a few minutes, the Grand Xia Emperor seemed to have aged several years. He glanced at Fang Chen briefly, then at Ancestor Xia Yu and the others. He sighed softly and said, "I am not fit to be the Grand Xia Emperor,” he concluded. “I will issue an edict and abdicate as Grand Xia emperor. You can choose a successor from among my sons."

Li Guozhu and the others were taken aback. Without waiting for them to try to persuade him, Ancestor Xia Yu nodded. "You are indeed not suitable for this position. You didn't even notice the chaos under your rule."

Now that Ancestor Xia Yu had spoken, Li Guozhu and the others knew better than to speak. They felt conflicted. They hadn’t expected that this incident would lead to the abdication of the Grand Xia Emperor.

Elder Jin Nan didn’t seem interested in the affairs of the royal family, and he turned to Fang Chen. "Shall we head over to your manor for a chat, Fellow Daoist Fang?"

Fang Chen nodded with a smile. "Sure."

*

Now that the matter of the Spirit Blood Sect had temporarily come to an end, Fang Chen was finally able to relax a bit.

Upon returning to the Fang Manor, he took out two hundred low-grade Purple Lightning Talismans and handed them to Elder Jin Nan.

Those Purple Lightning Talismans were made from ordinary materials, so it hadn’t taken him much time to create them. Giving them away posed no hindrance to Fang Chen. But to Elder Jin Nan, those two hundred Purple Lightning Talismans were proof of Fang Chen’s formidable background; no sect in the Flame Empire could produce two hundred Purple Lightning Talismans in one go.

"I won't be polite then," said Elder Jin Nan as he stashed the talismans into his storage ring. Then, he took out another storage ring and said to Fang Chen and Zhen Yue, "This was left behind by that corpse cultivator. The contents inside are divided into three portions; each of us will take one. What do you say?"

Abbess Zhu Yue nodded lightly. "That's only fair."

After refining the storage ring, they took out everything inside and the three of them began to examine the spoils of their battle.

There were over eight hundred low-grade spirit stones, a mid-grade flying sword with twenty-six Soul Imprints, and several Blood Pills.

"Over eight hundred low-grade spirit stones. This person sure has looted quite a few places." Elder Jin Nan snorted lightly, evidently surprised by the wealth of the Spirit Blood Sect's Foundation Building Realm cultivator.

"The distribution might be a bit tricky. The value of this flying sword is at least equivalent to a thousand low-grade spirit stones, and we don't have much use for these Blood Pills," said Abbess Zhu Yue as she fell into contemplation.

"I’ve gained two hundred Purple Lightning Talismans from Fellow Daoist Fang, which can be considered a small advantage. This flying sword is of good quality, but it has been nourished by corpse energy for many years. Ordinary cultivators would need several years to refine it before using it. Its actual value cannot reach a thousand. It’s worth at most seven or eight hundred low-grade spirit stones. So, I'll give up the four hundred low-grade spirit stones, and I'll only take this flying sword. I won't take the Blood Pills nor this storage ring."

Elder Jin Nan looked at Abbess Zhu Yue, awaiting her response.

Abbess Zhu Yue didn't hesitate much. "That's acceptable."

In the end, Fang Chen received the four hundred low-grade spirit stones and the storage ring, while the Blood Pills and another four hundred low-grade spirit stones went to Abbess Zhu Yue.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, remember to visit my Heavenly Southern Sect when you have the time," said Elder Jin Nin.

They conversed briefly, but Elder Jin Nan didn't stay for long. After exchanging a few polite words with Fang Chen and Abbess Zhu Yue, he left the Fang Manor with his newly acquired disciple.

After Elder Jin Nan left, Abbess Zhu Yue took out a Spirit Measuring Bell. It was only about a meter tall, with many cracks on its surface. Its Soul Imprints weren't very stable, either. "Fellow Daoist Fang, this Spirit Measuring Bell is not of high grade, and it's quite damaged. I'll give it to you."

Even though it was a somewhat inferior Spirit Measuring Bell, it wasn't something any cultivator in the Flame Empire could refine. Therefore, Abbess Zhu Yue's gift was quite generous.

Fang Chen smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

He began refining the Spirit Measuring Bell on the spot. It didn’t take him long. After Fang Chen had finished the refinement process, he found that he could now easily manipulate the bell’s size, and with a thought, he shrunk it to the size of his palm. He was now able to store in his storage ring, so he did.

Abbess Zhu Yue smiled and glanced at Abbess Qing He. Fang Chen understood what she meant.

"In the next few days, I will pass on the Purple Lightning Talisman inheritance to Abbess Qing He."

A slight upward twist appeared at the corner of Abbess Zhu Yue’s mouth.

"Thank you."

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