Immortal of the Nine Realms

The Chai Family's ancestor calmly said, "If you insist on participating, I won't stop you, but... Chai Long and the others won't lend a hand to help you."

Chai Shun smiled faintly. "That's fine. I don't need Chai Long and the others to help me."

After saying that, Chai Shun walked straight ahead.

Some Chai Family’s disciples were eager to follow, but a glare from the Chai Family's ancestor immediately stopped them in their tracks.

"Chai Family's ancestor, I'll take my leave now," said Fang Chen.

He clasped his fist toward the Chai Family's ancestor before following Chai Shun.

Chai Long's eyes flickered with mockery before turning to the Chai Family's ancestor. "Elder, shall we move out too?"

The Chai Family's ancestor nodded gently. "Go ahead."

Chai Long and his companions, along with Chi Chong's disciples, proceeded forward together.

The four Nascent Soul Realm elders had chosen an area for the Qi Refining Realm cultivators to compete. By now, several hundred Qi Refining Realm cultivators had entered.

When Chai Shun saw Fang Chen following behind him, he turned joyful. "Brother Dongfang, let's watch out for each other during the competition."

Fang Chen smiled lightly. "Brother Chai, I don't intend to participate in this competition."

Chai Shun was slightly stunned, a strange expression appearing on his face. "You're at the ninth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Aren't you going to fight for yourself?"

Fang Chen remained silent, simply taking out a talisman and handing it to Chai Shun. He said, "This is a simple talisman I made casually. If you're in danger, you can try using it."

Chai Shun didn't recognize the true nature of the True Fire Talisman even though it was a high-grade, yellow-rank talisman with considerable power. He thought it was just an ordinary talisman Fang Chen made. After all, there were many types of talismans, and he couldn't distinguish between them all.

Chai Shun sighed in admiration. "So Brother Dongfang also knows how to craft talismans."

He accepted the talisman and stored it in his storage ring, thanking Fang Chen. After that, he asked again, "Are you really not going to give it a shot?"

Fang Chen smiled and shook his head. "No, I won't."

Just then, Chai Long and his group passed by. Seeing this scene, Chai Long smiled faintly and remarked, "Brother Dongfang is visually impaired yet still can make talismans. Truly admirable. I wonder if this talisman can defeat someone at the third stage of the Qi Refining Realm?"

"Chai Long, what does this have to do with you?" Chai Shun retorted coldly.

Although Chai Shun shared Chai Long's thoughts, he appreciated Fang Chen's gesture.

"It has nothing to do with me, of course, but Brother Dongfang is sensible. He knows his odds in this competition aren't high. On this point, you're far behind him," Chai Long mocked coldly.

With that, Chai Long didn't loiter and followed Mo Chou and the others into the competition area.

Chai Shun's face darkened slightly. "Brother Dongfang, this guy's mouth is just filthy. Don't take it to heart."

He forced a smile to reassure Fang Chen before entering the competition area.

The Qi Refining Realm cultivators ranged from the seventh to the twelfth stage. When they saw that Chai Shun was at the sixth stage, a hint of disdain appeared on their faces as they looked away, treating him as if he were invisible.

After all, they believed that someone like him couldn't pose any threat to them.

Half an hour quickly passed, and by then, all the Qi Refining Realm cultivators intending to participate in the competition had gathered, totaling over eight hundred individuals. Their cultivations ranged from the sixth to the twelfth stage.

However... the number of Qi Refining Realm cultivators at the twelfth stage was more than those at the sixth stage, as these minor characters were only a handful. Coincidentally, Chai Shun happened to be one of them.

The four Nascent Soul experts glanced at each other, and finally, it was the old woman who lightly waved her hand. Instantly, a prohibition formation enveloped the battlefield, forming a barrier to prevent the shockwaves of the battle from leaking out.

"Let's begin," the old woman said calmly.

With her command, a chaotic battle ensued. Fang Chen's divine soul stood in the void, observing the group of Qi Refining Realm cultivators while also keeping an eye on the movements of certain individuals around him.

At the beginning of the melee, Chai Shun immediately ran toward an area with fewer people, constantly vigilant against any attacks directed at him.

However, he and several other sixth-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators found that no one was targeting them at all. The rest of the cultivators were focused on trying to eliminate their competitors, completely ignoring them.

A disappointed expression crossed Chai Shun's face. He now realized that he didn't even qualify to be their competitor.

"Well then, let them fight. I'll see if I can benefit from their actions," Chai Shun muttered, sitting quietly in a corner and observing the battle.

Time passed by second by second.

Many cultivators were defeated and eliminated from the competition, and there were also quite a few casualties. Some cultivators were extremely ruthless, not giving their opponents any chance to surrender or beg for mercy.

From the initial seven to eight hundred participants, now only three to four hundred remained on the battlefield, with the two hundred spots drawing closer.

Some speculated that the results could be determined within an hour.

During this time, Fang Chen's divine soul kept a close watch on the crowd in the arena, finally noticing two individuals who seemed a bit peculiar.

The crowd was intensely focused on the unfolding battle, including the Foundation Building Realm and Golden Core Realm cultivators present, as well as the four Nascent Soul Realm experts. Those Qi Refining cultivators hailed from various places, each employing a diverse array of techniques and methods in the melee. Observing these battles allowed others to gauge their backgrounds and capabilities.

Gathering intel was crucial for cultivators, akin to how the Chai Family Patriarch urgently sought details on the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. Some critical information could even determine life or death.

However, the two Qi Refining Realm cultivators Fang Chen was watching not only ignored the ongoing battle but instead whispered in the rear. When Fang Chen's divine soul found them, he stood quietly beside them, listening to their conversation.

"Brother Wang, if we succeed this time, we might receive significant rewards."

"Indeed. Who would have thought that just two Qi Refining Realm cultivators could set up such a large scheme? If not for the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators present, we wouldn't even need to report to the higher-ups. When this matter concludes, those higher-ups will surely be astonished and look upon us with newfound respect."

“Wait until the matter settles, then take away the opportunities from the Immortal Tomb. This time, it's a two-for-one deal. Luckily, it was you and me who first discovered the tomb. No one could snatch away our credit."

“Fortunately, there's this miraculous thing called the Heavenly Evil Fruit. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy to plot against these guys. However, this item only affects those in the Qi Refining Realm and Foundation Building Realm. As for whether those in the Golden Core Realm and Nascent Soul Realm can be killed, it depends on fate.”

The two stopped talking and continued to watch the battle with interest.

“Heavenly Evil Fruit?”

With a slight change in his expression, Fang Chen withdrew his divine soul and immediately asked the Mirror of the Universe for information about the Heavenly Evil Fruit.

“Brother, it costs five hundred low-grade spirit stones…”

“It's inconvenient now. I'll owe you for now. I've already given you tens of thousands of spirit stones before, owing five hundred shouldn't be a problem.”

“That won't do, it's the rule, and rules cannot be broken…”

Fang Chen frowned slightly. His figure suddenly merged into the shadows. After giving the Mirror of the Universe five hundred low-grade spirit stones, he stepped out of the shadows again.

Some nearby people sensed something amiss but dismissed as their eyes playing tricks on them

“Brother, the Heavenly Evil Fruit is very sinister. If someone consumes it, they will immediately be overwhelmed by evil energy and die. Their corpse will then become nutrients, continuously emitting the medicinal properties of Heavenly Evil Fruit.

If those in the Qi Refining Realm and Foundation Building Realm smell it, they will also be affected. Though not fatal, they may turn into madmen. Nothing will be able to stop them from killing!”