Immortal of the Nine Realms

Not far away, an immortal mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist. Even from a distance, one could feel the rich spiritual energy surrounding it.

The last time Fang Chen saw this immortal mountain was when he looked through the Heaven Profound Mirror during the Immortal Dynasty Manor incident, when the Sect Leader of the Void immortal Sword Sect brought people for sword questioning, catching the Innate Dao Sect off guard.

"Should I go first, or will you, Little Fang?" Bai Qingming asked with a grin.

"I'll go first. You're at the Dao Union Realm, so naturally, you should go last," Fang Chen replied with a smile.

Bai Qingming chuckled, his eyes glimmering with anticipation. "Good, you go ahead. I'll be right here watching you. If the Innate Dao Sect doesn't follow the rules, I can catch them in the act."

Like the Three Thousand Dao Sect, the immortal mountain of the Innate Dao Sect that was visible to the world was merely its outer sect; the inner sect held a world of its own.

However, the outer sect was not particularly prosperous, and the Daoists within were not martial artists; they were all cultivators ranging from Qi Refining to Foundation Building.

"Everyone, it's a rare opportunity for you to come here today, so be sure to show respect. Do not make a ruckus here, lest the ancestors get angry."

In front of the mountain gate, a middle-aged Daoist priest stood with an air of arrogance, his gaze sweeping over the hundreds of figures before him.

Among these individuals, there were martial artists, mortals, and a few Qi Refining cultivators. Upon hearing the middle-aged cultivator's words, they all displayed respectful expressions, not daring to act recklessly in this place.

The middle-aged Daoist was quite pleased with the group's demeanor. With a wave of his sleeve, a massive bell suddenly expanded in the wind, crashing down in front of the crowd with a loud bang.

"Isn't that the Spiritual Measurement Bell? The immortal is going to test our aptitudes!"

Excitement sparkled in the eyes of the crowd. Even the few Qi Refining cultivators were secretly thrilled.

If they passed the test, they could join the Innate Dao Sect and become powerful like the middle-aged Daoist before them.

"Listen up, this is the Spiritual Measurement Bell. Whether or not you can join the sect depends on your aptitudes," the middle-aged Daoist said with a faint smile, casually pointing to a young man. "You go first."

The young man nodded with a smile and slowly walked up to the Spiritual Measurement bell, looking at it with curiosity.

The middle-aged Daoist, growing impatient, snapped. "Strike the bell with your fist to test your qualifications. What are you waiting for?"

The nearby people waiting for their turn also showed their displeasure.

Fang Chen observed the Spiritual Measurement Bell for a second and found that its quality was only slightly better than Abbess Zhu Yue's. It seemed that this wasn't a recruitment for the inner sect but for the outer sect.

The middle-aged Daoist's gaze turned increasingly cold. "If you're unwilling to be tested, you can leave the mountain."

Fang Chen curiously asked, "What if I break this bell? What kind of punishment would I face?"

Everyone froze, looking at him in shock. Was this person for real? Could a treasure belonging to an immortal sect even be broken?

After a moment of stunned silence, the middle-aged Daoist revealed a cold smile. "Break it? Even if I wanted to damage it, I would need to exert quite a bit of effort. And you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Fang Chen's fist struck the bell, producing a melodious chime that echoed in everyone's ears.

Almost immediately, mysterious cracks began to appear on the bell, and with a loud crash, it shattered into pieces all over the ground.

The middle-aged Daoist's face turned to shock as he stared intently at Fang Chen, suddenly shouting, "Who are you? Why have you come to my Innate Dao Sect?"

In the next moment, numerous Daoists flew out from within the mountain gate, surrounding Fang Chen in a tight circle. At the same time, the middle-aged Daoist ignited a communication talisman.

With a cold voice, he declared, "I've already informed the inner sect's esteemed experts. No matter who you are today, you won't leave without an explanation."

"I'm just a nobody who has heard of the Innate Dao Sect's great reputation. I happened to pass by today and felt the urge to spar with your sect's strong practitioners," Fang Chen replied with a smile.

The cold smile on the middle-aged Daoist's face turned slightly mocking. "You want to spar with our Innate Dao Sect's strong practitioners? Fine, I've already informed the esteemed experts of the inner sect. One will come to find you shortly."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling light suddenly appeared above the mountain gate, as if an invisible door was slowly opening.

The seekers of the Dao below were all stunned by this scene. The few Qi Refining cultivators were somewhat unfazed, as they had seen a bit of the world.

However, for the ordinary people and martial artists, who had never witnessed such wonders, it was a spectacle beyond their imagination. They had come to the Innate Dao Sect to learn from immortals, but they had never seen ones before and had only heard about them in tales.

Having witnessed the middle-aged Daoist's abilities earlier, the onlookers had already come to believe in the Innate Dao Sect's prowess. Now, with this miraculous phenomenon appearing in the void, their respect for the sect grew even deeper.

"To come to my Innate Dao Sect for a spar? That's truly ridiculous! Whether it was before we closed our doors or after stepping into the world, for these years, there have been no reckless cultivators daring to disturb us! Your tone is too arrogant. Even after years of cultivating my heart, I must break my promise today and keep you here for eternity."

A figure slowly emerged from the light gate, standing tall with hands clasped behind their back. Their upper body was enveloped in a radiant glow, making it difficult for the crowd to see them clearly.

The obscurity only enhanced their immortal aura, filling the seekers below with even more awe.

"May I ask which esteemed Daoist of the inner sect this is?"

The middle-aged Daoist, who had been so arrogant in front of Fang Chen, now displayed utmost respect as he cupped his fist and bowed to the figure in the sky.

The nearby Daoists followed suit, bowing in unison.

"I am Qing Kong," the figure replied.

The middle-aged Daoist was slightly taken aback, and the respect on his face deepened. "Ah, so it's the esteemed Qing Kong!"

The Daoists, upon hearing Qing Kong's name, grew even more reverent.

The seekers of the Dao were increasingly convinced of Qing Kong's remarkable background; otherwise, how could these Daoists on the ground show such deference?

"Are you not tired of standing there and talking?" Fang Chen suddenly asked.

Daoist Qing Kong let out a cold laugh. "Tired? You think I'm tired from standing here while you make a ruckus in my Innate Dao Sect? I'm just standing here for a bit; how could I possibly be tired?"

As he spoke, he transformed into a streak of green light and landed right in front of Fang Chen.

The middle-aged Daoist hurriedly pleaded, "Daoist Qing Kong, this child broke our Spiritual Measurment Bell. Please, Daoist Qing Kong, take action to subdue this demon!"

"Please, Daoist Qing Kong, take action to subdue this demon!"

The nearby Daoists echoed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens!

The seekers of the Dao were thrilled at this scene, feeling that their lives had not been lived in vain!

Daoist Qing Kong's gaze remained haughty. He didn't even glance directly at Fang Chen, seemingly surveying the surroundings. After a few breaths, he finally looked at Fang Chen and said, "You..."

He faltered slightly.

Then, without showing any signs of distress, he continued, "If you wish to spar, that's fine, but my cultivation is too low to engage with you. Allow me to call a few of my senior brothers to handle it."

After saying this, he took out a communication talisman, preparing to send a message.

However, everyone was left dumbfounded. They had initially thought this Daoist would easily defeat the troublemaker, only to realize he also intended to call for reinforcements.

"There's no need for that. You're at the Golden Core Realm, right? I'm also at the Golden Core Realm; let's settle this today." Fang Chen said softly.

Daoist Qing Kong stiffened, and his legs nearly buckled, struggling to maintain his balance. He forced a smile onto his face and replied, "Fellow Daoist Fang, we have no enmity between us. Even if it's a spar, I wouldn't be the one you're looking for. If you wish to seek any of my senior brothers, just say the word, and I will certainly relay your request."