Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1394: Contract

Little Immortal Honglian glanced at Fang Chen. "The True Demon Path is also an immortal path, just a difference in name."

She explained, "The three Ancient Paths mentioned in that ancient text probably haven't produced a ninth-transformation immortal yet. If anyone wants to stand at the peak of the Nine Mortal Realms, only these three paths are viable."

"Easy to say," Fang Chen said, shaking his head. "Even the most common immortal paths are guarded like treasures by the various sects. Even if an ordinary cultivator qualifies to obtain the immortal herbs, they might not know their true origins. And that makes walking these Ancient Paths practically impossible. We don't even know the immortal herb needed for the first transformation."

"That's true. But if one day these three paths were laid out before you, would you choose one?"

Fang Chen nodded. "I probably would."

She smiled but said no more.

The two continued their exploration for several more years. Unconsciously, they were moving farther and farther away from their landing point.

Little Immortal Honglian's pace noticeably quickened, as if something ahead was waiting for her.

Fang Chen noticed this but acted clueless, simply following her lead.

After several hours, a ruin appeared before them. This ruin seemed to have once been a vast city.

Little Immortal Honglian looked surprised. "How could there be a city in the Formless Purgatory? Could it be that cultivators once settled here?"

"That's not impossible," replied Fang Chen. "Judging by the ruin's traces, it's been dilapidated for tens of thousands of years at least. In that much time, anything could have happened. Maybe even a ninth-transformation immortal can't live that long."

"Let's go check it out. Maybe something valuable remains."

Fang Chen warned, "But be careful. I suspect this place became ruins because of the Formless Void Beasts."

They entered the ruins. In some places, the structures crumbled to dust with the slightest touch.

After a few steps, Fang Chen's pace suddenly halted.

Right ahead of him stood a wandering soul, dazed and confused. Judging by its aura, it has only recently formed.

Since the Upper Three Realms had no access to the Underworld, nor could the wandering soul absorb Yin Lifespan, it would most likely dissipate within a hundred years.

However, what truly surprised Fang Chen was the identity of this wandering soul. It was a core member of the God Enlightenment Palace, and it was someone Fang Chen had met once before.

How could a core member suddenly die? Where was his Black Dragon Boat?

The wandering soul brightened up at the sight of Fang Chen and Little Immortal Honglian. It tried to call out, "Can you see me? Hey, can you hear me speak?"

Of course, the wandering soul was bound to be disappointed, as Fang Chen didn't respond. A shadow of deep trouble passed over its face, a brief flicker of anxiety lighting its eyes.

"What do I do...? The core disciples of the Spirit God Sect haven't left at all. They broke the rules and have already secretly infiltrated this place. If the news isn't relayed back, more core disciples will surely die. Are they crazy? How dare they plunder the Formation Heart like this? Are they trying to start a war with the God Enlightenment Palace?"

Little Immortal Honglian couldn't hear the muttering, but Fang Chen heard it clearly.

Fang Chen's expression shifted. The Spirit God Sect's core disciples? So this core member of the God Enlightenment Palace was killed by the Spirit God Sect's core members. Does this mean they are hiding nearby?

Fang Chen turned to Little Immortal Honglian and said, "Daoist Hong, I doubt there is anything valuable here. Let's leave."

"Wait, don't you feel it? There's something down here."

She suddenly stopped, then waved her sleeve.

Earth energy surged wildly. The soil beneath began to dissolve on its own, and soon a fist-sized, jade-green orb appeared before them.

This aura... a Formation Heart?

Fang Chen felt that the aura of this jade-green orb was vaguely similar to the core of the Essence Dragon Boat.

Considering her true identity and their purpose here, this jade-green orb was very likely a Formation Heart deliberately buried here, waiting for her to discover it. She immediately sliced her finger, letting a drop of her essence blood fall onto the jade-green orb. The next moment, a green light burst forth, enveloping both her and the orb.

Little Immortal Honglian's eyes slowly closed, and she suddenly floated into the air.

Watching this scene, the wandering soul shook its head with a malicious grin. "Formation Heart? That girl's luck is unbelievable. But... the Spirit God Sect's core disciples are right here. If she wants to form a contract with the Formation Heart, I am afraid it won't be possible."

Time passed by, second after second.

The wandering soul grew increasingly stunned.

"What's going on?! That guy isn't making a move? He plundered my Formation Heart but ignores this unclaimed one!?"

Its surprise turned to rage.

Fang Chen appeared to be standing still, but his divine soul had already left his body and was quietly searching the surroundings.

Deep in the ruins, there was indeed a figure. Though he saw the scene of Little Immortal Honglian merging with the Formation Heart, he showed no intention of acting.

Fang Chen suddenly understood.

This cultivator was probably someone from Little Immortal Honglian's side, and the Formation Heart was likely buried by him.

As for the plundering of the Enlightenment God Palace core disciple's Formation Heart, it was probably because that person had accidentally set foot here and would have interfered with Little Immortal Honglian's contract.

If he's truly from the Spirit God Sect, then the forces they've infiltrated go far beyond the Enlightenment God Divine Palace alone.

Over ten days passed. Seeing that everything was settled, the cultivator silently turned and left.

At the same time, several Essence Dragon Boats began arriving one after the other, as if attracted to the scent.

"It's the Formation Heart!"

"It's already contracting with someone. Who's this lucky person?"

"The contract is halfway done. We can't interrupt now. If we do, the Formation Heart will be damaged."

"If that woman fails, she must definitely be punished for privately signing a contract with a Formation Heart and not handing it over."

Someone pointed at Fang Chen. "Hey, you, come here."

Fang Chen flew over to one of the Essence Dragon Boats.

The core member aboard sized him up and casually asked, "Who are you?"

"Expedition Star No. 432, Fang Chen."

"And her?"

"Hong Zhi."

"Before the assessment, where were you from?"

"Before the assessment, Daoist Hong was a disciple of the Honglian Immortal Sect in the Langgui Constellation. I obtained my assessment qualification through Qingyu Immortal Sect."

"Honglian Immortal Sect? Qingyu Immortal Sect? Oh, those are indeed affiliated with our Enlightenment God Palace."

The core member nodded slightly, then glanced indifferently at Little Immortal Honglian. "Do you know what she's doing?"

Fang Chen hesitated, then said, "I have some guesses."

"Good, since you know. If she fails, both of you will be punished. At lightest, expelled from the Enlightenment God Palace; at worst, annihilation of body and soul."

The core member's face was indifferent. With a casual wave, a strand of immortal energy instantly locked Fang Chen in place.