Chapter 1968: These Broad Beans Are Delicious

Wu Qingfeng's face gradually paled as he stared at Divine Fist Lu. "Divine Fist Lu, don't forget that you were able to go to the Taia Palace to cultivate martial arts because my father recommended you!"

The expressions of the four ministers shifted. They slowly stood up and retreated backward, their eyes casting anxious glances toward the doorway.

"Your subordinates are already dead." Divine Fist Lu smiled at the four ministers, then looked toward Wu Qingfeng. "This is the Palace Master's intention, not mine. I am merely obeying her orders."

"The Palace Master's intention?" Grand Tutor Wu's brow furrowed slightly. "She and I became acquainted in our early years, and we have quite a close friendship. She ordered you to kill me?"

Divine Fist Lu said, "That is not the case."

Everyone instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

However, his very next words made their hearts leap into their throats again.

"The Palace Master had me assist the Blind Sword Saint. So, I merely came to lend a hand."

At that moment, a short stick slowly crossed the threshold of the doorway. A short stick slowly crossed the threshold. Following closely behind it was the Blind Sword Saint, his eyes covered by a strip of black cloth.

The Blind Sword Saint smiled. "Grand Tutor Wu, Old Li has finally seen the light. So, today, I've come to borrow your head."

Grand Tutor Wu sneered coldly. "Li Guozhu has always claimed to be righteous and upright, saying that even factional struggles must be conducted according to the rules. Yet now he sends a martial artist like you to kill me? He truly thinks so highly of himself."

"Li Guozhu has never claimed to be righteous and upright. Those are merely things outsiders say about him. Originally, he would not have understood the crux of the matter so quickly. But it's all thanks to you that he did, Grand Tutor Wu. You gave him a push and sent every last bit of his pedantry tumbling off the cliff. What remains now is simply a Li Guozhu who refuses to watch Dongsheng be devoured by a pack of wolves."

The Blind Sword Saint stepped forward toward Grand Tutor Wu.

The expression on Grand Tutor Wu's face gradually smoothed out, and he slowly took a step back.

In an instant, two figures suddenly launched a surprise attack, their surging internal energy possessing a momentum no weaker than that of the Blind Sword Saint and Divine Fist Lu.

"It's you two!"

The Blind Sword Saint's lips curled upward. He didn't move an inch, as if deliberately standing there waiting to be struck.

A faint trace of emotion glinted in Divine Fist Lu's eyes.

Their reactions made Grand Tutor Wu feel that something was amiss. For a moment, he couldn't understand why. Then a whip suddenly appeared out of thin air and lashed viciously across the two figures.

With just a single whip strike, those two figures instantly vanished into dust.

"You're getting fairly proficient at using the God Striking Whip. There are just a few finer details that still need polishing."

Fang Chen and Fairy Yu walked into the living room side by side, as Fang Chen offered his critique of Fairy Yu's strike.

Wu Qingfeng's face turned deathly pale, a look of despair surfacing in his eyes. He collapsed to the ground in despair, muttering to himself, "Are you truly... giving our family no way out at all!?"

Li Yu'er, who could defeat the Taia Palace Master, appearing was already bad enough. But now even this man, who might very well be a living immortal, had come along with her.

What chance of surviving did the Wu Family possibly have of surviving now?

"Senior Fang said this matter should be settled as quickly as possible. After this, I am going to travel the world with Senior Fang and cultivate the immortal path."

Fairy Yu smiled. "So I don't want to keep dragging out the matter of the Wu Family. Since we have the means to deal with you, naturally we can't allow you to continue entrenching yourselves in Dongsheng."

***

A few days later.

Grand Tutor Wu was convicted of colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation. More than a hundred members of his household were dragged to the Gate and beheaded. Numerous trusted confidants of Grand Tutor Wu were executed alongside them.

It could be said that in an extremely short period of time, the political situation in Dongsheng had undergone a dramatic transformation, so quickly that even its enemies struggled to react.

***

With Fang Chen and the others about to depart, Li Guozhu hosted a banquet to bid them farewell.

After three rounds of drinks, he suddenly stood up and asked Fang Chen, "Senior Fang, if my daughter goes with you to cultivate immortality, will she still be able to return in the future?"

"She naturally can."

"How long will it take?"

"Several centuries, perhaps."

"Several centuries...? Wouldn't I have long since turned into a handful of yellow earth?" Li Guozhu murmured to himself. He chuckled helplessly. "The Immortal Path is truly merciless."

Fang Chen calmly said, "Little Yu has already reincarnated many times in Dongsheng. To us cultivators, a few hundred years isn't a long time. The karmic bond between you and her ends with this life."

"Reincarnated many times... Could it be...?"

A look of astonishment appeared in Li Guozhu's eyes.

Fang Chen smiled. "We have been acquainted for over a thousand years."

"So that's it.... Yu'er must have been an immortal in the past. I suppose I've been fortunate enough to experience what it's like to be the father of an immortal."

Li Guozhu could not help laughing self-mockingly.

Lang Daochun wore a smile. "Who knows, perhaps you were once an immortal as well."

The Taia Palace Master stepped forward and refilled everyone's cups. "Do not fret over these matters. If there is fate, you will meet again in the future. Come, cheers."

At that moment, Fairy Yu and Fang Xiaohua returned together from outside, carrying several dishes they both enjoyed eating with wine. She had not heard the conversation between Fang Chen and Li Guozhu just now.

As if showing off a treasure, Fairy Yu pushed a dish of broad beans in front of Fang Chen. "Senior Fang, these broad beans are delicious. I like them very much. Try some too."

Seeing that, Fang Chen could not help smiling. He remembered that Little Yu had been very fond of broad beans during her first reincarnation.

***

The Underworld.

Fang Chen stood beside Motian Dizang as the two gazed down at the bustling crowds beneath the city walls.

"I am going on a long journey. I'll probably be gone for several centuries."

"Several centuries? Aren't you worried the outsiders might invade during this period?" Motian Dizang frowned slightly. "I am almost ready to prove my Dao."

"You can feel it already?" Fang Chen suddenly grew curious. "What does it feel like?"

"It feels like... someone is calling your name."

"Someone calling your name?"

Fang Chen mused, "You've probably developed some kind of connection with the Nine Realms. Once you prove your Dao, the Nine Realms will become your Inner Domain."

He glanced at Motian Dizang. "I will leave the Yin soldiers here for you to command. When the time comes for you to attain the Dao, the various factions will also protect you."

After a brief pause, Fang Chen continued, "Have there been any interventions from the Ancient Demons and the God Dao Sect over the years?"

"There are some traces, but they run fast. By the time our people arrived, they had already erased all traces, making it impossible to deduce their whereabouts from those subtle clues."

Motian Dizang sneered coldly. "You've already conquered the God Dao Sect. The few remaining demonic beasts are merely insignificant mobs not worth paying attention to."

"On the other hand, those Fallen Immortals in the Major Immortal Realm require some attention. Our people received news that Emperor Huangtian's strength is not to be underestimated. He might have truly taken that step. If the Grand Commander of the God Slaying Army betrays us and uses the God Slaying Sword to guide him into the Lower Realms, we will have another fierce battle ahead of us."

Fang Chen's expression shifted. "Taken that step? You mean he might possess the power of a Half Saint?"

"Correct." Motian Dizang nodded. "His understanding of the Demonic Beasts Ruins might be even deeper than that of the God Dao Sect Master and the others, and the power he commands is even stronger."

Fang Chen waved his hand with a smile. "It doesn't matter. Shao Mengyuan won't do such a foolish thing."

***

Taicang Realm.

Fairy Yu stood aboard the Black Dragon Boat, looking down curiously at the scene below.

"Senior Fang, it's so lively down there."

Below, countless children stood before the mountain gate of a sect, waiting eagerly for the entry assessment.

Today was precisely the day the Nine Profound Tower opened its gates to recruit disciples.