Chapter 1987: Nine Noble Clans of Huosui

Before Fang Chen returned, Xia Ji and Jiang Yushu had already questioned Tang Zihao and the other two multiple times.

During this period, they believed Tang Zihao to be the leader of the three. Tang Zihao had been the one to answer many of their questions. Qin Shulang and Ye Ming played a supportive role, acting as subordinates. But Fang Chen's question just now made both of them realize that there was a deeper meaning behind it. They concluded that Fang Chen must have already learned some inside information.

Bewilderment appeared on Qin Shulang's face. "I am merely an ordinary divine ability user of the Huosui lineage, not even from a prominent family. I'm not as good as Tang Zihao, just like Ye Ming."

"Your surname is Qin. Within the Huosui lineage, that surname is rather extraordinary. Not to mention, there is even a slight resemblance between your features and those of that Young Master of yours." Fang Chen smiled. "Your background shouldn't be so simple, right?"

Tang Zihao and the others were shocked.

Seeing this, Xia Ji and Jiang Yushu immediately realized that the three had been playing them for fools. At the same time, they were rather shocked.

Has Fang Chen already met that Young Master?

Qin Shulang said in a deep voice, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Since you come from the Divine Realm, you should know that the Soul Race possesses a certain method." Fang Chen raised his hand, the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower standing in his palm. "Whether you wish to become Yin soldiers or cultivate the Path of Ghost Gods is entirely up to you."

The three outsiders paled. Becoming a Yin Soldier meant becoming a mindless puppet. And becoming Ghost Gods would leave them under Fang Chen's control.

They wanted neither of these choices. But if they truly had to choose, they would definitely pick the latter. Only, by that time, they would have to spill the beans.

Despite his fear, Qin Shulang put up a brave front. "What if I choose neither?"

"Then I'll choose for you."

Fang Chen put away the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower and wrote down three edicts out of thin air.

A vast torrent of Yin Lifespan surged out from the Monarch Yan Seal. When the three edicts were completed, they descended upon the three outsiders. They attempted to resist, but the Yin Soldiers standing outside rushed to pin them down.

Under the Yin Soldiers' suppression, they quickly lost the ability to resist and could only passively accept the edict.

Roughly an hour later, the three stood back up with extremely unsightly expressions.

Fang Chen asked calmly, "Qin Shulang, what is your identity in the Huosui lineage?"

"I—"

Qin Shulang gritted his teeth, refusing to speak. But an instant later, flames surged from within his body, continuously scorching his soul.

The agony was thousands of times stronger than physical pain. Even a ninth-transformation powerhouse like Qin Shulong could do nothing but kneel and howl in agony, utterly powerless to stop it unless he answered Fang Chen's question.

Seeing that Qin Shulang would rather die than speak, Tang Zihao and Ye Ming's eyes immediately filled with worry.

Tang Zihao spoke up suddenly, "Monarch Yan, stop asking him. I'll tell you!"

"Tang Zihao, how dare you!" Qin Shulang roared through gritted teeth. "With my noble status, I would rather die than become leverage in his hands!"

"Qin Shulang, if you die in this realm, what way out is left for the two of us? Even if reincarnation awaits us in the future, there won't be a place for us in it!"

Tang Zihao's face looked dismal. "Just speak up. After all, with the strength of this realm, even if they know your identity, what can they possibly do?"

Seeing Qin Shulang about to be burned to death, Ye Ming hurriedly pleaded with Fang Chen. "Monarch Yan, his identity is special. Keeping him alive is useful!"

Fang Chen's thoughts flickered, and the raging flames burning Qin Shulang gradually dissipated.

Although his heart was filled with resentment, Qin Shulang felt as though he had just been given a second life. He sprawled on the ground, gasping heavily for breath.

"Qin Shulang is a direct descendant of the Huosui lineage. The Huosui lineage has a total of Nine Noble Clans, and among them, the Qin Clan produced Ancestor Huosui."

Tang Zihao said with a grave expression, "He is the Young Master's distant cousin. Although his cultivation isn't high, he only joined the Young Master on this campaign to broaden his horizons. Once he earns military merits for eradicating Immortal Hong remnants, he will gain the opportunity to enter the Nine Jade Palace."

Fang Chen smiled. "If I use him to threaten that Young Master of yours, what will happen?"

Tang Zihao said without hesitation, "Young Master won't accept any threats. If necessary, he will personally kill Qin Shulang."

Qin Shulang's expression shifted slightly, but he couldn't deny that it was the truth.

Too proud to lose face, he sneered coldly. "Using me as a threat is useless. Immortal Hong remnants are bound to die this time."

Fang Chen nodded. "He should still be useful for something. Just keep him for now."

Afterward, he asked a few more questions that overlapped with what Xia Ji had asked previously. Confirming that these three didn't know the cultivation realms after the Saint Realm, he ordered people to lead them down once more.

Xia Ji sighed. "Fang Da, this time things are troublesome. These three scouts have already reached the Nine Realms, and there will definitely be more scouts coming afterward. As long as they aren't stupid enough to head to Tuxiong Star, we really won't be able to do anything to them for a while."

Jiang Yushu's expression was solemn. He also found the matter extremely troublesome. Even if they pooled the full strength of the Nine Realms, it would still be difficult to withstand an enemy of this caliber.

"This matter is truly troublesome. Apart from the Nine Mortal Realms facing an invasion by a large batch of Saints and Half Saints, the Underworld will also be taken over by the accompanying Soul-Hooking Envoys of the Soul Race."

Fang Chen shared some of the information he had obtained from that screen. Hearing it, Xia Ji and Jiang Yushu were left dazed.

Xia Ji muttered to himself, "Sixty Saints, six hundred Half-Saints, countless Limit Breakers and ninth transformations..."

He still didn't fully comprehend the power a Saint possessed. However, he could already infer that without a Heavenly Dao in the Nine Realms, the arrival of even a single Saint would be enough to plunge them into a desperate situation.

And the enemy had sixty of them....

Xia Ji looked at Fang Chen. "Can the Heavenly Dao withstand a force like this?"

Fang Chen said, "I'm not too sure either, but the Heavenly Dao is equivalent to a Realm Lord. But if it's true that the Heavenly Dao is equivalent to a Realm Lord, then even though the Nine Realms are already in a state of decline, Motian Dizang should still be capable of stopping those Saints. Most importantly, they must obey the rules of the Supreme Qingming Alliance. If a realm has a Heavenly Dao, it cannot be attacked."

Xia Ji breathed a sigh of relief. "Then we must look forward to your consort proving the Dao sooner."

He then asked, "Do you want to go over and check on the situation?"

Fang Chen asked, "No need. I have now reached the eighth transformation and need to find a ninth-transformation Immortal Herb. Is there any news in the Nine Realms?"

Back then, he had asked Xia Ji to search for both the Soul Merging Grass and the ninth-transformation Immortal Herb together. He had already absorbed the Soul Merging Grass. All that remained was the ninth-transformation Immortal Herb.

"There is still no news whatsoever about the ninth-transformation Immortal Herb for your path." Xia Ji shook his head. "I'm afraid it will take some time. We also have expedition teams heading to various Ancient Forbidden Zones. Perhaps we'll find clues about the immortal herb there."

Fang Chen's thoughts stirred. "If all else fails, you can just prepare a batch of immortal crystals for me."