Immortal of the Nine Realms

Ever since learning about the Blood Spirit Cult’s existence, Fang Chen had a list of suspects in mind whom he thought was colluding with them. Xia Yu was on the list.

Li Huafeng had made a sudden recovery and achieved a breakthrough to Ki Control thanks to Xia Yu’s pill, but this beckoned the question: where did Xia Yu obtain this pill from?

Ordinary pills wouldn’t have worked on Li Huafeng’s injuries.

The answer was clear.

Both Vice Minister Qin and Enforcement Envoy Liu had been acting under Xia Yu’s orders.

Xia Yu might not know what the Blood Spirit Cult was doing in Great Xia, but he must have known that those cultivators were killing innocent civilians and absorbing their blood essence to further their cultivation. Yet, he tolerated it because he was attracted to their means.

It was not without reason that Chillwater’s Ji Clan worshiped a cultivator. How could Xia Yu resist the temptation?

After having their fill of drinks and food, the crowd gathered in the crown prince’s manor took their leave, but Tao Yu, Ye Qinghe, and Li Huafeng stayed behind.

“Do you know why I’m troubled?” Xia Yu asked.

The three of them shook their heads with perplexed looks.

“Have you heard of entities in this world who possess astonishing means that surpass our wildest imagination?” Xia Yu said.

“Your Highness, are you talking about immortal cultivators?” Tao Yu asked. “I heard those entities can only be found in remote places or powerful states. They are too proud to reveal themselves even if they passed by Great Xia, and ordinary mortals wouldn’t be able to see through them either.”

“Immortal cultivators? That’s too far-fetched. I bet it’s a lie weaved by powerful states to intimidate their vassals!” Li Huafeng remarked.

Ye Qinghe held his tongue, choosing to patiently wait for Xia Yu to carry on.

“Immortal cultivators exist in this world. Chillwater’s Ji Clan worships a cultivator, and that’s how they rose to greatness,” Xia Yu replied. “Grade-6 states are strong because they are backed by cultivators. That’s the reason behind the huge disparity between grade-6 and grade-7 states.”

“A few days ago, Ji Lengyue tried to take down Fang Chen, only to be intimidated when he realized that the Fang Manor has a cultivator from a grade-6 state, Infernoblaze Country. That’s the reason Ji Lengyue dares not to make a reckless move. Fang Chen took this opportunity to drop the idea of a military exercise, hoping to pit his guards against the Nightmare Knights.”

Tao Yu, Ye Qinghe, and Li Huafeng were taken aback by that revelation.

“Your Highness, are immortal cultivators really…” Li Huafeng frowned.

“How else do you think I was able to treat your internal trauma?” Xia Yu sneered.

A jolt ran through Li Huafeng’s body, and his eyes slowly widened in shock.

“I’ll be honest with the three of you. I met some cultivators a few years back, and we got along well, so I kept them by my side. They were the ones who told me that Chillwater has a cultivator whom the Ji Clan worships as a god,” Xia Yu said.

“Even a bird chooses its branch to perch on. It’s the same logic. A cultivator doesn’t just accept anyone’s offering. The Ji Clan was chosen by their cultivator, and it’s the same for me too.”

Tao Yu looked at Xia Yu with contemplative eyes. “So, the reason Your Highness is troubled is… Could the Fang Manor have caught the eye of a cultivator too?”

“Indeed.” Xia Yu nodded. “I haven’t revealed my true abilities over the years, such that others think I’m beneath Fang Chen, but in truth, I have merely been keeping a low profile. It would have been a walk in the park for those cultivators to kill Fang Chen. To them, Ki Manifestation martial artists are mere ants. But…”

Xia Yu’s tone suddenly became heavy. “I didn’t expect the Fang Manor to have a cultivator too. It’s only normal for me, as the crown prince, to have caught the eye of cultivators, but what does Fang Chen count as? How is he worthy of a cultivator?”

Fang Chen burst into laughter upon seeing this scene.

“Does that cultivator intend to help Fang Chen stage a rebellion?” Ye Qinghe gasped.

“Your Highness, are those cultivators by your side now?” Li Huafeng suddenly asked.

“They aren’t in the capital right now, and I don’t know their whereabouts either. Entities like them are elusive. I can offer them tributes and make requests of them, but I can’t truly control them.” Xia Yu shook his head.

“Your Highness, you mentioned that grade-6 states are powerful because they have cultivators. If you could obtain the art of immortal cultivation from them, our Great Xia might just be able to rise to that level…” Li Huafeng’s eyes lit up.

“Hahaha…” Xia Yu laughed pitifully. “I have once offered to pay a hefty price in exchange for their cultivation method, but they said the entire Great Xia isn’t worth their manual.”

“What arrogant words!” Li Huafeng frowned.

“You are saying that because you have never witnessed their means. There is credence to their words. I dare not demand too much. I can only leave it to fate. All I want now is to strengthen Great Xia through their hands, so that we won’t have to be humiliated by the likes of Greenpine. Hopefully, we can stand on equal terms with Chillwater in the future!” Xia Yu declared proudly.

The other three men were awed by Xia Yu’s ambition. Standing on equal terms as Chillwater? That would be a tremendous feat that no other Great Xia emperor has achieved.

“I was planning to slowly bulk up Great Xia, in hopes that a day comes where my dream can be fulfilled. However, the appearance of a cultivator in the Fang Manor has messed up my plan. They are an impediment in my path. How do you think I should deal with this?” Xia Yu asked.

He wouldn’t have lost himself if the cultivator had chosen to side with anyone else in Great Xia, but he absolutely wouldn’t permit a cultivator siding with Fang Chen. The latter was his greatest inner demon. Only by eliminating Fang Chen and his Third Brother could he devote himself to becoming a good emperor for Great Xia!

“Your Highness, you need not be troubled over this,” Li Huafeng said. “You mentioned earlier that the Ji Clan has a cultivator too. I doubt the Fang Manor’s cultivator will be able to suppress the Ji Clan’s cultivator. Fang Chen and Ji Lengyue are likely participating in the military exercise. If so, I bet that Ji Lengyue won’t allow Fang Chen to return alive.”

“What if the Fang Manor’s cultivator goes on a rampage?” Xia Yu frowned. “We don’t know the cultivator’s background. This could have an adverse effect on Great Xia.”

“Your Highness, it should be fine. You can convince the cultivators you’re worshiping to eliminate him. If anything happens, you can frame it on Chillwater’s Ji Clan,” Li Huafeng said with a sinister smile. “Not only will we be able to take down Fang Chen, but Chillwater will have their hands full to keep an eye on us. Our Great Xia will be able to develop without any worries.”

Xia Yu’s complexion slowly recovered. He had instinctively avoided scheming against cultivators because he understood and feared their means, which was why Li Daoye’s existence frustrated him to no end.

However, Li Huafeng’s advice told him that it was possible to scheme against cultivators too, and he could reap many benefits from it too.

“The cultivators I am worshiping haven't returned yet, and I’m not sure when they’ll be back. However, they left me with an item and told me that even cultivators will die if they consume it.” Xia Yu’s lips crept up. “Help me poison the Fang Manor’s cultivator during the military exercise. We’ll frame it on Chillwater.”

Fang Chen shook his head. He didn’t bother listening on. His soul departed from the crown prince’s manor and returned to his body.

It’s meaningless to continue listening to him. Xia Yu doesn't know that Zhou Yizeng and the others are dead, and I am aware of his intention to kill Li Daoye and frame it on Chillwater now. They won’t have a chance to pull it off.

“Chen’er, the Old Master is calling you over.”

Shortly after Fang Chen’s soul returned, he heard Fang Cangyou’s voice from the doorway.