Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1257: Yang Spirit

Fang Zhentian smiled faintly. "Awake?"

Fang Chen nodded. "Yeah."

He then let out a quiet sigh.

"Why are you sighing?" Yun He asked.

Elder Xun and Li Jingnian also stared curiously at Fang Chen. The look in their eyes was deep, a faint trace of scrutiny and vigilance within.

"In my dream, I could have made it better, lived the life I'd always wanted." Fang Chen smiled. "But it's fake regardless. Those heart demons were like tigers circling me, waiting for the moment to strip my skin and gnaw my bones."

He recounted in detail everything that had happened.

Finally, he concluded, "It's clear that as soon as my emotions wavered, I would fall into their trap. These intangible beings can only use such bait to influence the one undergoing the calamity."

"The Demonic Calamity is indeed like that." Elder Xun nodded. "From the accounts of cultivators who have endured it, their experiences are much like yours. Those who withstand it keep their mind clear; those who fail change in temperament completely and fall into true madness."

"If you let them influence you, it's like opening your front door and letting wild beasts into your home," Yun He said. "Heart demons are formless and invisible; they can't harm your body directly. They can only work by influencing your soul to achieve their aim."

"Old Master, Master, what do you think these heart demons actually want? Just to alter my temperament and make me fall into demonic ways? What good does that do for them?" Fang Chen frowned. "No matter what it is, there's always a starting point. That starting point can be profit, a principle, a belief, or something else. Nothing happens for no reason."

The others were startled, unable to answer his question right away.

"Yun He, something feels off. Have we forgotten something again?" Fang Zhentian looked at Yun He, trying to draw an answer.

"Likely so. But the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations may simply be Heaven's test for cultivators who defy its order. That's their starting point," Yun He said thoughtfully.

Fang Chen narrated, "In the dream, the heart demon in the form of Xia Ji tested me, saying he and I came from the same place, telling me to remember on my own. I pretended to recall a little, hoping to draw out more from him, but he was wary and said nothing further."

He chuckled. "Could it be that in my previous life, I was also a heart demon?"

"No. You're human," assured Fang Zhentian, shaking his head.

He was certain on that point.

"Seniors, he's endured the Demonic Calamity before. Why is he experiencing it again? I've cultivated for many years and never heard of such a thing," Elder Xun asked.

"Normally, each of the Three Calamities is different, but this kid can't be judged by normal rules," Fang Zhentian replied.

Elder Xun's expression grew complicated.

Li Jingnian grinned. "As long as you're fine, that's what matters."

Fang Chen glanced at him and asked curiously, "I heard recently that you've run into trouble. Has it been resolved?"

Li Jingnian's expression turned awkward. He nodded. "They are resolved. Just quarreled with a few old fellows, and they didn't play by the usual rules."

Fang Zhentian snorted. "Resolved? Hardly. You still have to meet them again to see if it's truly resolved. If you can't hold your own, Yun He and I won't step in."

After a few more words with Fang Chen, he and Yun He left the Desolate Academy with Li Jingnian.

It turned out they had just happened to pass by, noticed Fang Chen enduring his calamity, and stopped to watch.

"So it seems even those Anomalies have their own circle. I used to think..." muttered Elder Xun, trailing off, his tone odd.

Though he didn't finish his sentence, Fang Chen could guess the rest. He had thought the same at first.

Now, in hindsight, Anomalies walked a path that could be called the Yang Spirit Path, and in the Nine Mortal Realms, there were likely many on this path; otherwise, Li Jingnian wouldn't have offended other Yang Spirits.

If not for the memory lapses Anomalies suffered from time to time, they wouldn't seem so mysterious in the Nine Realms.

"Elder Xun, here are some immortal crystals. Use them for now," said Fang Chen, handing Elder Xun 50 immortal crystals.

With that, he took his leave.

Elder Xun stared at the crystals in silence for over ten breaths, then sighed.

First, immortal crystals, now immortal medicine. He was starting to feel embarrassed as an elder to be receiving so much.

***

The Three Thousand Dao Sect was as prosperous as ever, its vigor blazing. In the Central Continent Empire, its prestige now far surpassed that of ordinary sects. Even ordinary Immortal Courts yielded to them, for they had a genuine First Rate Sect Leader at its helm.

Daoist Li stood before the sect leader's hall, looking out at the many disciples. Some were walking along the mountain paths, some flying together, some brewing tea and discussing the Dao in pavilions. Some debated Dao arts, verifying each other's understanding. Naturally, there were also those with grudges, crossing spells atop the dueling platform he had established.

Daoist Li sighed. "Who would have thought that in just a hundred years, the Three Thousand Dao Sect could change so much? We now have over a dozen Golden Core elders, and countless Foundation Building and Qi Refining Realm disciples."

Fang Zhixue nodded slightly. "In another thousand years, it'll change even more. This is just the beginning. Some sects have heritage spanning ten thousand, even a hundred thousand years; that depth is beyond imagination."

She glanced at Daoist Li and noticed he had advanced from the early to mid stage of the Golden Core Realm without her realizing.

"You've reached mid stage?"

"I broke through just last year. With the abundant spiritual energy here and high-grade spirit stones to cultivate with, breaking through was as easy as drinking water." Daoist Li sighed again. "The lord's methods are truly unmatched. Tell me, which Lower Four Realms cultivators get to cultivate with high-grade spirit stones but us?

"I've asked around. Even in the Immortal Courts, they're used sparingly, only for breakthroughs."

Fang Zhixue replied, "My brother said, if you have something, use it. If you don't use it, it's as if you never had it. It's not like high-grade spirit stones reproduce. Better to use them than hoard them."

At that moment, Fang Chen's voice sounded behind Fang Zhixue. "You're at the late stage of the Golden Core Realm now? Looks like you can start preparing to form a Nascent Soul."

Fang Zhixue and Daoist Li turned in surprise and delight.

"Brother, have you been in seclusion these past years, breaking through?" Fang Zhixue asked curiously.

The world might call her brother a First Rate Sect Leader, but she had grown up with him and suspected there was more to the title; she didn't believe he could reach that realm so quickly.

Fang Chen smiled. "I'm in the Fusion Realm."

Daoist Li and Fang Zhixue both drew in a sharp breath.

The Fusion Realm....

Daoist Li still remembered when they were in Grand Xia. Back then, Fang Chen had only been a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, like him.

In just over a century, he had leaped to the peak of the Middle Three Realms. It likely wouldn't be long before he entered the Upper Three Realms.

At that moment, Fang Chen's expression turned a little strange, and he said, "By the way, I went home this time and saw Father and Mother. I have news to tell you."