Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 546: Inquiry

Fang Chen looked at the group of excited Qi Refining Realm cultivators. The Heavenly Evil Fruit had to be on one of them. Therefore, he wanted to see if anyone here had any connection with the two Spirit Blood Sect cultivators.

With the people entering the tomb decided, the Qi Refining Realm cultivators returned to the side of their respective elders. As they walked back, not a single one of them even peered at the two Spirit Blood Sect cultivators.

Running excitedly to Fang Chen's side, Chai Shun thanked him repeatedly, "Brother Dongfang, was that a True Fire Talisman? Thank you so much! If it weren't for that True Fire Talisman, not only would I not get a spot, I might have died under that guy's sword!"

At this moment, Chai Long walked over. He stared at Fang Chen for a while, his face darkening by the second. "If you have such a talisman, why didn't you use it yourself? Why give it to a trash like this?"

Mo Chou and the others also intended to return to Chi Chong's side. Passing by them, they heard Chai Long's question and stopped, both curious and puzzled.

"Can someone actually be that foolish? Could it be that he doesn't even know what kind of talisman he gave away?"

"I think that's what it is. How valuable is a True Fire Talisman? It is so precious even Foundation Building Realm seniors wouldn't easily use it, much less give it away."

They traded whispers among themselves, feeling that something was amiss.

"I wanted to, so I did," Fang Chen said lightly. "The person you call trash now has a chance to enter the Immortal Tomb, while you don't. That must be hard to swallow, right?"

This sentence was like a dagger to the heart, making Chai Long's already injured face look even more unsightly.

Chai Shun couldn't help but laugh. "Chai Long, your jealousy is useless now. The spot has been decided, and it's not your turn anymore."

"Is it really decided?" Chai Long suddenly sneered. "You're just at the sixth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. What can you bring back from the Immortal Tomb? I'm different. Just watch."

With that, Chai Long walked toward the Chai Family ancestor.

Chai Shun suddenly felt a vague sense of unease rise in his heart. Sure enough, the Chai Family ancestor approached slowly with his entourage.

The Chai Family ancestor's gaze was strange as he clasped his hands toward Fang Chen. "Young man, I heard you're the one who gave Chai Shun that talisman. I thank you in advance."

After saying that, the Chai Family ancestor looked at Chai Shun and said, "You've earned a spot for the family, which is a great achievement. If Chai Long can bring back opportunities from the Immortal Tomb, you'll be the first to receive a share."

"Earned a spot for the family?" repeated Chai Shun in confusion.

He felt that this statement was quite weird. However, he quickly realized what the ancestor was implying and his face fell with shock as he turned to look at Chai Long.

Chai Long was looking at him with a smug smile, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Chai Shun hurriedly looked towards the Chai Family ancestor. "Elder, I was the one who earned the spot, not Chai Long…."

"I know, but this spot belongs to the Chai Family. I intend to take Chai Long into the Immortal Tomb. Your cultivation level is too low. If such an opportunity arises again in the future, it will be yours to take," the Chai Family ancestor replied calmly.

Chai Shun subconsciously clenched his fists. He failed to notice that his fingernails were digging deeply into his flesh.

He stared fixedly at the Chai Family ancestor for a while before suddenly chuckling self-deprecatingly. "If such an opportunity arises in the future? Opportunities like this only come once in a hundred years. Perhaps this is the only chance in my lifetime. Missing this one chance now means missing it forever. There won't be a 'next time.'"

The Chai Family ancestor furrowed his brow slightly. “Are you… refusing me?”

"Senior Chai, fairness is important in all matters. Since this spot rightfully belongs to Chai Shun, it should be him who enters the Immortal Tomb," Fang Chen said calmly.

Seeing Fang Chen speak up for Chai Shun, the smile on Chai Long's face instantly faded. He coldly glared at Fang Chen.

The Chai Family ancestor smiled and looked at Fang Chen. "Fellow cultivator, this is a family matter. Please refrain from interfering. Since you were the one who gave him the talisman, my family owes you a favor. When the time comes and we obtain something good from the Immortal Tomb, you will also have a share."

Chai Shun forced out a smile. However, his smile carried more pain than a cry. "Brother Dongfang, you don't have to speak up for me. Since the ancestor has made a decision, we can hardly change it. I wish ancestor and Chai Long success in obtaining their opportunities from the Immortal Tomb."

At that moment, Chi Chong's voice rang out. "Young man, are you sure you don't know Dongfang Su? With your cultivation, how can you hand out a True Fire Talisman? Hmph, to put it another way, even I don’t have a talisman like that!”

The Chai Family ancestor’s thoughts spun slightly but before he could say anything, Chai Long yelled, “Maybe he stole it!”

Everyone was shocked. Stole it?!

A look of contemplation appeared on Mo Chou’s face and she slowly nodded. She also felt that Fang Chen probably stole it.

Chai Shun was furious. "Chai Long, you have no evidence to back up your claims! You're slandering him! How dare you insult Brother Dongfang like this!"

"Whether it's slander or not, it's not for me to decide," Chai Long retorted coldly. "You keep calling him Brother Dongfang. This makes me wonder if you two knew each other before?"

This remark raised suspicions among the crowd about the relationship between Chai Shun and Fang Chen.

"You can eat shit if you feel like it, but you can't spew it out whenever you wish," Fang Chen said calmly.

Before anyone could react, the aura of a Foundation Building Realm expert surged from Fang Chen's body, swiftly overwhelming Chai Long and pinning him to the ground.

The onlookers gasped in surprise. The Chai Family ancestor and Chi Chong exchanged looks, their expressions turning serious as they looked at Fang Chen.

"Are you at the Foundation Building Realm?" Chai Family ancestor asked cautiously.

"Why else would I refrain from participating in the competition?" Fang Chen replied with a faint smile.

Chai Shun watched on in disbelief. "Brother Dongfang is actually at Foundation Building Realm…."

Finally, everyone understood why Fang Chen hadn't participated in the competition. They also understood why he had a True Fire Talisman and why he could afford to hand it over to Chai Shun. It was natural for a Foundation Building Realm cultivator to possess such a talisman.

Chai Long, immobilized and horrified, tried to speak. However, under the crushing pressure of Fang Chen's aura, he couldn't utter a word.

"Fellow cultivator, it seems there has been a misunderstanding." Chai Family ancestor awkwardly smiled. "Why don't you release my junior first so we can sit down to talk."

"Ten slaps. I’ll count that as a small punishment,” Fang Chen said calmly.

"Alright, ten slaps," the Chai Family ancestor agreed promptly.

Fang Chen withdrew his aura, and Chai Long, bewildered, stood up. The voice of the Chai Family ancestor reached his ears. "You heard him; start slapping."

Chai Long fell silent momentarily before lowering his head and administering ten slaps to himself, feeling deeply humiliated.

Fang Chen didn't spare him another look and turned toward the Chai Family ancestor. "When the Immortal Tomb opens, I will take Chai Shun with me. How do you feel about that?"

The Chai Family ancestor looked embarrassed. "Well, um..."

If Fang Chen had only been at the Qi Refining Realm, the Chai Family ancestor would have been able to brush off his demands. However, that wasn't the case; Fang Chen was a Foundation Building cultivator. Not to mention, Chai Shun had been able to acquire a spot to enter the tomb thanks to Fang Chen's True Fire Talisman.

"Brother Chai, since they are both from your Chai Family, let's not think too much about it," Chi Chong interjected, offering the Chai Family ancestor a way out.

The Chai Family ancestor followed his lead and nodded. "Very well. Since you value Chai Shun so much, he must deserve this opportunity."

Chai Long felt immense despair. He endured such humiliation and now even his chance to enter the Immortal Tomb was taken away?

"Thank you, Senior Dongfang!" Chai Shun hurriedly bowed to Fang Chen, now aware of Fang Chen's Foundation Building Realm status and refraining from addressing him as 'Brother Dongfang'.

Fang Chen chuckled lightly. "No need to thank me. You earned it."

Chi Chong opened his mouth to say something. However, Fang Chen didn't care to hear it and turned around and left.

Chai Shun didn't hesitate to quickly follow right after him.

"Hehe... Brother Chai, it seems a junior of yours has met quite the eccentric expert. Perhaps he has taken a liking to him and wishes to take him as a disciple," Chi Chong said with a low chuckle, staring at Fang Chen's departing back.