Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 150

Chapter 150: A Blood Debt Should Be Repaid With Blood

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Aside from Xia Yu and Pancake Zhang, there were a few more people who joined the South Heaven Sect and the Beast Spirit Valley. However, they were only of medium-upper cultivation talent, evoking just six tolls.

Daoist Crow, Immortal Aunt Firecloud, and the others took in more disciples as well.

In contrast, the Sixth Princess’ cultivation talent no longer looked as formidable as before. Beside her stood a few children dressed in more humble clothing. Some of them possessed the same cultivation talent as the Sixth Princess, and some exceeded her even.

More cultivators arrived in the capital today. Some were from Infernoblaze, but there were also cultivators from the other grade-6 states too. Even more Spirit Gauging Bells were placed on the square in front of the imperial palace.

At this rate, the spirit assessment should end in another three to five days’ time.

A few unaffiliated cultivators arrived at Great Xia too.

There was one Foundation Establishment cultivator among them, whereas the rest were at Ki Refinement. They didn’t dare to cause a fuss before Elder Jinnan and the others, and it didn’t help that they didn’t have Spirit Gauging Bells either. Thus, they could only pick disciples the others didn’t want, namely those who evoked three tolls.

“Old Ancestor Xia Yun is right!” Ye Qinghe was overjoyed.

Both he and Tao Yu had evoked three tolls, so their hearts lurched after the spirit assessment. Yet, they were taken in by unaffiliated cultivators today. While they knew their masters paled in comparison to Elder Jinnan and the others, they were still delighted to become cultivators.

At least they were in a better position than Li Huafeng. He might have evoked five tolls, but he still had his routes severed by Fang Chen.

Ye Qinghe felt a sliver of gratitude toward Fang Chen for not getting in his way.

In total, 476 people had evoked one to three tolls, of which, 76 of them had been taken in by unaffiliated cultivators.

119 had evoked four to six tolls, and they were split among the major sects.

Seven people had evoked seven tolls, and they were split between top sects like the South Heaven Sect and the Beast Spirit Valley.

No one had evoked eight tolls, but there was one person who evoked nine tolls—Jade Fairy. However, she was taken away by a purple-robed woman who appeared out of nowhere.

With that, the spirit assessment finally concluded.

The cultivators took their disciples away with them after the latter had tearful farewells with their family members. The others watched on with wistfulness and envy.

“Xia Yun, Liu Suifeng, Tantai Qingxuan, have you resolved your business here?” Elder Jinnan asked with a smile.

Two people stood behind him. One was Xia Yun, and the other was a young girl who evoked seven tolls too. Coincidentally, that girl was from the Compassion Hall.

Xia Yun and his two juniors bowed to Elder Jinnan and informed him that they weren’t done with their business yet. Elder Jinnan acknowledged it with a nod. They chatted for a bit longer before Elder Jinnan left with Xia Yun and the girl.

“Elder Xia Yun, your cultivation talent rose from two tolls to four tolls. You should receive better resources once you return to the sect.” Liu Suifeng and Tantai Qingxuan smiled at Xia Yun.

Xia Yun smiled back. “It’s the same for you two. You benefited from the Spirit Marrow as well.”

“Indeed. It’s all thanks to Senior Xia Yun. You can get an additional share of the rewards if we receive any benefits at our destination,” Tantai Qingxuan said merrily.

“I’ll thank you in advance then.” Xia Yun was delighted.

“Speaking of which…” Liu Suifeng subtly gestured to a person standing not too far away. “Senior Xia Yun, can you introduce us to that person? It’ll be good to get on closer terms with him. His background is far stronger than our South Heaven Sect. There’ll be benefits to befriending him.”

Not far away, Fang Chen was chatting with the Great Xia’s emperor. The empress and the other concubines stood not too far away.

Noble Consort Hua was overjoyed to see her son joining the South Heaven Sect, but she felt conflicted as she found that she had to tread even more carefully around Fang Chen now.

“You’re right.” Xia Yun nodded before bringing the two of them over.

The Great Xia’s emperor noticed Xia Yun walking over and quickly paused the conversation and clasped his fist to greet the latter.

Xia Yun waved his hand with a smile before turning to Fang Chen. “Daoist Fang, please pardon me if I offended you in any way before.”

“You’re too polite,” Fang Chen replied.

Li Guozhu and the others felt conflicted watching that sight. They felt like Fang Chen had somehow reached a level far beyond them all of a sudden.

Even Elder Jinnan and the others had greeted him before taking their leave, let alone Xia Yun.

“Daoist Fang, the three of us will be leaving today. We hope to meet you again and discuss our difficulties in cultivation if an opportunity presents itself.” Liu Suifeng courteously clasped his fist.

“Of course. I’m sure there’ll be an opportunity in the future.” Fang Chen nodded.

Out of the blue, Li Guozhu stepped forward and asked with a clasped fist, “Imperial Duke Fang, I know my son has committed a folly in the past. Could you spare him on my account and grant him a shot at becoming a cultivator?”

The crowd turned to look at Fang Chen.

Li Huafeng was decently talented. It was indeed a pity that none of the sects dared to take him in due to Fang Chen’s intervention.

Fang Chen chuckled. “I have never severed his road to immortality. It was just that Li Huafeng refused to believe me. Another chance might surface if he patiently waits.”

“Is the sect behind you… willing to take in Huafeng?” Li Guozhu asked.

Fang Chen smiled, but he didn’t elaborate on the matter.

Just then, two figures appeared in front of the empty square. An old man and his grandson were slowly making their way toward the crowd.

Yan Beihan immediately ordered the imperial guards to step forward and stop him.

“Lord Soldiers, my grandson hasn’t undergone the spirit assessment,” the old man feebly said.

The imperial guards frowned. “The spirit assessment is over. You should have brought him over earlier. The cultivators have already left with their Spirit Gauging Bells. Give up on it and leave.”

“Will you grant me an audience with Imperial Duke Fang?” the old man asked.

“This…” The imperial guards frowned.

“All right, I understand…”

The old man despondently shook his head before turning around and limping off with his grandson.

The imperial guard sighed in lamentation too, but all of a sudden, the old man turned around and smiled at him. It was a normal smile, but it sent shivers down his spine.

“You might have a formidable background, but our Blood Spirit Cult isn’t a pushover. It has always been our teaching to pay a blood debt with blood. So… you may die now.”

The old man flung his sleeves, and a 26 daosoul imprint flying sword harnessing tremendous spirit ki whizzed toward Fang Chen.

The Blood Spirit Cult observed a strict hierarchy. Those who were higher in the hierarchy held the soul lamps of their direct subordinates, so he found out about his subordinates’ death right away.

He initially shrugged it off as an accident, but he soon realized that something was amiss when all of the Blood Spirit Cultists stationed in Great Xia were dead.

He had been observing the situation over the last few days, and Fang Chen looked to be the most suspicious one of all. He suspected that it was the person behind Fang Chen who got rid of Zhou Yizeng and the others.

He might not have concrete evidence behind his conjecture, but just his suspicion was enough. He would consider this debt settled after killing Fang Chen.

The terrifying burst of spirit ki horrified Xia Yun and the others. The cultivators who hadn’t left the capital quickly walked onto the streets and fearfully looked toward the imperial palace.