Chapter 1969: Our Matter Can Wait Until Later

In the news provided by Lang Daochun, the Nine Profound Tower had once flourished in the Taicang Realm. They had even produced a ninth-transformation immortal.

However, that was a very long time ago. The Nine Profound Tower had declined many years ago. In the Nine Profound Tower of today, there were only a handful of individuals in the Immortal Realm. The other members belonged to the various other cultivation realms.

Deep within the sect, a middle-aged man in green robes bowed respectfully toward a white-robed old man. "Father, during my travels outside in recent years, I learned that the chaos in the Taicang Realm has gradually subsided. Perhaps this is a sign of thriving prosperity."

A patch of clouds lay before the white-robed old man. Within it appeared the scene in front of the sect's gates.

When the white-robed old man heard the middle-aged man's words, he let out a smile. "The turmoil subsiding is not necessarily a good thing. It might just be the calm before the storm. In short, during this period, do not run around everywhere. Take a look at these youngsters and see whether any of them have the talent to reach the Immortal Realm. We need new blood, so put some effort in."

"The Immortal Realm... The amount of immortal crystals our sect obtains each year is barely enough to support you, Elder Huang, Elder Li, and me. There are only four of us, yet our resources are already stretched thin. If another disciple advances to the Immortal Realm, we won't have enough immortal crystals to support them."

The middle-aged man in green robes sensed a headache coming

After a pause, the middle-aged man continued, "Then there is the Huanhai Tower. They have always been eyeing the Nine Profound Mirror, the supreme treasure handed down by our ancestors. I feel that the pressing matter at hand should be to first build a good relationship with Immortal Sovereign Xuanguan and ask him to step forward and back us up so that the Huanhai Tower won't dare act rashly."

"Behind Immortal Sovereign Xuanguan lies the Spirit God Sect. We are not on the same path as them. If we can avoid getting involved, we shouldn't get involved. As for Huanhai Tower, don't take it too much to heart either. Recently, an old friend has been searching for a type of spiritual herb called the Soul Merging Grass. Coincidentally, when I was young, I obtained a stalk of Soul Merging Grass, and because I didn't know its usage, I kept it all this time."

The white-robed old man smiled. "Selling this item could net us five hundred immortal crystals. Not only will this be enough for the four of us to cultivate, but my old friend also mentioned that the influential figure who needs this item will owe us a favor. The Huanhai Tower is nothing to be feared."

"Soul Merging Grass?"

The middle-aged man in green was somewhat puzzled and slightly alarmed. He didn't know what the item was, but since it could fetch five hundred immortal crystals, it was definitely no ordinary item.

If they used those five hundred immortal crystals wisely and acted frugally, it could last them several decades!

The white-robed old man suddenly pointed to the scene within the clouds. "Look, how about this kid? I think his talent should be pretty good."

The middle-aged man in green looked over and saw a young man inside being reprimanded by a disciple of the Nine Profound Tower. The disciple really seemed to be making things difficult for him. Yet, this raggedly dressed young man showed no fear whatsoever. His eyes were firm as he calmly argued his case with the Nine Profound Tower disciple, acting neither arrogantly nor subserviently.

He was holding the hand of a little girl a few years younger than him. The girl seemed frightened and hid behind him, with only half of her tiny head peeking out.

"The disciples under our sect need to be disciplined as well. What good does it do to vent one's temper at a mortal?"

The middle-aged man in green gave a cold snort. He sized up the young man and nodded. "His Dao heart should be quite decent. He's a good prospect for cultivation. I just don't know how good his talent is."

The white-robed old man smiled. "How about this? Get someone to separate those two and tell the young man he must reach the Foundation Building Realm in thirty years if he wishes to reunite with the little girl again."

The middle-aged man in green was rendered speechless. He knew his father was falling into his old habit again. He wanted to use this method to motivate a disciple.

Over the years, the middle-aged man had witnessed this sort of thing countless times. Sometimes, disciples of the sect would suddenly encounter dangerous situations without ever realizing that the one secretly orchestrating everything behind the scenes was actually their own sect's ancestor.

The white-robed old man suddenly raised his head. Not far away stood a young man and woman.

The white-robed old man stood up, cupped his hands, and smiled faintly. "How should I address you two?"

A flash of displeasure glinted in the eyes of the middle-aged man in green, but he didn't immediately make trouble. For these two to enter this place without making the slightest sound meant they clearly possessed some ability. They were bound to be existences in the Immortal Realm as well.

Fang Chen cupped his hands and smiled. "The two of us came here wishing to borrow the Nine Profound Mirror for a moment. I wonder if it is convenient?"

Borrow the Nine Profound Mirror?

The middle-aged man in green's face darkened instantly. "I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be friends from the Huanhai Tower! But I have never seen the two of you in the Huanhai Tower before?"

***

"Why is the Nine Profound Tower so lively today? Ah, turns out you've opened your gates to recruit disciples! Your information network is quite impressive indeed. After knowing that the situation in the Taicang Domain has stabilized now, are you preparing to develop yourselves properly?"

At that moment, several immortal boats suddenly appeared before the mountain gate. Standing atop the vessel at the forefront was an ugly old man. He stood at three feet tall. His skin was wrinkled and stretched thin. He had a slightly hunched back. At that moment, he was grinning mockingly at the Nine Profound Tower.

Seeing that, the Nine Profound Tower cultivators responsible for reception in front of the mountain gate immediately soared into the air, sizing up the other party with solemn gazes.

One of the Nine Profound Tower cultivators whose cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul Realm came to the front and cupped his hands to the ugly old man. "Senior, today is the most important day for our Nine Profound Tower. May I ask if you are just passing by, or came specifically to observe the ceremony?"

The ugly old man burst out laughing instantly. "Observe the ceremony? Does your Nine Profound Tower even deserve it?"

In the next second, that Nascent Soul Realm cultivator exploded into a mist of blood.

Before the dazed and helpless Nascent Soul could even react, the old man raised his head and sucked it straight into his mouth.

He chewed a few times as if savoring it before swallowing the soul. He let out a satisfied breath. "The taste of a Nine Profound Tower cultivator's Nascent Soul is indeed quite nice!"

The Nine Profound Tower cultivators present were all stunned.

A Nascent Soul Realm cultivator was already the strongest expert within the outer sect, practically revered like an ancestor. Yet before this hideous old man, he couldn't even withstand a single move before his Nascent Soul was swallowed!

"The First Elder is dead! Quickly go report to the Sect Master and Deputy Sect Master!"

"Wrong! Go to the inner sect and request the Old Ancestors to intervene!"

The scene before the Nine Profound Tower's sect gates fell into chaos.

The mortals who had come hoping to enter the sect and cultivate immortality were witnessing a battle between cultivators for the first time in their lives. They stood rooted to the spot like wooden statues, still unable to process the sheer shock of what they had just witnessed.

"Are these the disciples you have already vetted out? Great! Looks like I came at the perfect time. Once your Nine Profound Tower is wiped out, these disciples can return to Huanhai Tower with us, hahahaha!"

The ugly old man laughed with his head up to the sky. His laughter caused over a hundred Nine Profound Tower cultivators in front of the mountain gate to cough up blood three feet high on the spot!

***

Deep within the mountain gate.

The middle-aged man in green stared fixedly at this scene. "It's the Old Monster Kuxie from Huanhai Tower."

He then looked toward Fang Chen and Fairy Yu. "Were you two sent by the Huanhai Tower to keep my father and me occupied?"

Fang Chen smiled. "You misunderstand. I am not a cultivator from the Huanhai Tower. However... you should handle the matter before your eyes first. Our matter can wait until later."