Chapter 1958: The Nine Profound Tower

"Pass the word down. Search for Soul Merging Grass. It favors Yin properties and thrives strictly within lands of extreme Yin. Regardless of how much human labor or resources must be deployed, it must be found."

For a full two hundred years, every single faction across the Nine Realms had been searching relentlessly for the same immortal herb.

From top-tier factions down to tiny sects and schools residing in remote corners, all actively took part. The top-tier factions understood the reasons behind the search, while the small sects were left completely in the dark. They only knew they had to search for an immortal herb that went by the name “Soul Merging Grass.” They didn't even know that other sects and schools were likewise actively searching for it.

Furthermore, they were kept completely in the dark regarding the events that had taken place in the Nine Realms over the years. They were oblivious to the fact that the God Dao Sect had nearly succeeded in inviting outsiders down to hand the Nine Realms straight over to them. They were even more ignorant of the fact that a supreme existence named Motian Dizang was currently going all out to attain her Dao.

***

Enlightenment Star. Dongsheng Empire.

Fang Chen and Lang Daochun stood side by side upon a small, light skiff.

It was right at the start of spring. Many young men and women enjoyed venturing out on excursions at this time of year. From time to time, the rhythmic cadence of poem recitations would echo out from the skiffs floating along the river channel.

Lang Daochun peered at a massive painted pleasure-boat anchored off in the distance and said, "Waiting for her to reincarnate like this isn’t really a solution. Haven’t you prepared some kind of backup plan?"

Upon that painted pleasure-boat stood clusters of young men and women. With Fairy Yu’s appearance and temperament, she stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens. Quite a few young men had already approached to strike up conversations with her, only to be sent packing by Fang Xiaohua.

"I don’t have any backup plans,” said Fang Chen. “If the outsiders arrive before Motian Dizang attains her Dao, I will take her with me and leave using the Yin Gourd."

Lang Daochun let out a heavy sigh. "The Hundred Reincarnation Plan... if she lives a little longer in every lifetime, then it would require nearly ten thousand years."

Fang Chen swept a glance toward Lang Daochun. "Do you have other ideas in mind?"

"I... might have an alternative plan. After all, Yu'er is my younger sister. Back then, I truly never expected that she would reincarnate straight over to your side."

Fang Chen questioned, "Whether it was pure coincidence or an intentional arrangement, I don’t care anymore. Tell me, what method could replace a hundred reincarnations?"

Lang Daochun smiled. "Have you heard of a sect in the Taicang Realm called the Nine Profound Tower? It has been passed down for many years, but has now fallen into decline."

"I have heard of it." Fang Chen nodded. "The Hidden Guard Division in the Underworld has records concerning it."

Lang Daochun's expression turned strange. "Just how much has the Hidden Guard Division expanded by now? They even know about the Nine Profound Tower? The sect is situated in an extremely remote area. Even the former commander of the God Slaying Army back then had no intention of incorporating it into his military campaigns. Consequently, it has escaped the turmoil, keeping an exceptionally low profile."

Fang Chen chuckled. "The Hidden Guard Division is developing fairly well. After all, over the past century, aside from a few places, all of the Floating Pagoda Realm has been completely conquered. Furthermore, with the various factions coordinating, our personnel can be considered exceptionally sufficient. Within the Nine Realms, anywhere there’s a Golden Core cultivator, there’s an outpost of the Hidden Guard Division."

Lang Daochun asked, "So there is a Hidden Guard Division outpost in our territory too?"

“Of course.”

Lang Daochun sighed inwardly. For a force like the Hidden Guard Division to have developed to this extent in barely over a century was nothing short of terrifying. Yet thinking back upon the massive army of Yin Soldiers suppressed within the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower, he found it completely reasonable.

Lang Daochun curiously asked, "How many Yin Soldiers are under your command right now?"

"About three million or so, I suppose."

Fang Chen hadn’t kept track of the precise number, but it should be around that ballpark.

Over the past years, whenever he had free time, he would launch military campaigns all across the territories within the Floating Pagoda Realm that were dominated by Yin Demons. Of those mindless Yin Demons, virtually everyone possessing decent strength had been suppressed by him, becoming Yin Soldiers within the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower.

The only problem was that the upper echelon had never been replenished. After all, the strongest minority residing within the Floating Pagoda Realm, existence on the tier of the King of Yin Mountain, hadn't managed to reach the Breaking Limit Realm.

Fang Chen questioned, "You mentioned the Nine Profound Tower earlier. Does it share a connection with Yu'er's affair?"

Lang Daochun stated in a low voice, "The people from your Hidden Guard Division have very likely not discovered the true origins of the Nine Profound Tower. As it happens, I had some dealings with the founding ancestor of the Nine Profound Tower, so I knew a few things others don’t. The Nine Profound Tower possesses a sort of spiritual treasure. Although this spiritual treasure doesn't rank within the top three hundred, its practical use is exceptionally unique."

Fang Chen remarked, "Stop keeping me in suspense."

Lang Daochun chuckled. "The Nine Profound Mirror can immerse someone in an illusion of reincarnation. Ten thousand years may last in the illusion, but only a few hundred would pass outside. What do you think?"

Fang Chen’s expression shifted. "Ten thousand inside, and a few hundred outside?"

If that was true, then it was worth giving it a shot.

At that moment, several small boats suddenly came speeding toward them from the distance. The men steering the boats wore bamboo conical hats that concealed their faces, but there was an inexplicably fierce air about them.

More than a dozen figures stood aboard each boat. They were dressed in tight-fitting black clothes, their faces covered by plain white masks completely devoid of any designs.

Fang Chen and Lang Daochun glanced at one another, smiles breaking out on their faces.

More and more of these boats appeared. In a very short time, over a dozen had arrived, carrying nearly a hundred skilled martial masters.

People on the river noticed something was amiss. Surprise flashed through their eyes as they hurriedly steered their boats toward the riverbank for safety.

"Who are these people?!"

"Shh! They probably aren’t ordinary martial artists. Judging by their bearing, they look more like deathsworn retainers raised by some important figure."

"They seem to be heading for that... pleasure boat? In broad daylight? Are they really bold enough to use violence?"

"I heard quite a few heirs of prominent clans within the city had gathered aboard that pleasure boat today, reciting poems and matching couplets. Right, could it be connected to that incident? Is the young lady of the Li family also on the boat?"

"So that's how it is..."

Along the riverbank, a cluster of elderly scholars were currently gathered together, pointing their fingers toward those incoming boats. When they mentioned the Li family’s young miss, they seemed to suddenly remember something. Realization appeared on their faces, accompanied by a trace of fear.

By this point, because Fang Chen and Lang Daochun’s small boat was also close to the pleasure boat, they had already been completely surrounded by the dozen or so boats.

One of the boats pulled alongside theirs, and two fierce martial masters leaped straight over onto their deck. Seeing that Fang Chen and Lang Daochun appeared relatively young—one thin and the other fat—they spoke in a cold tone. "You two keep standing over here and keep your mouths shut. Otherwise, I don’t mind killing two more people today."

Lang Daochun curiously asked, "You’re going to commit murder in broad daylight? Does the Dongsheng Empire have no law?"

"Law?"

A faint look of mockery appeared in the man’s eyes. He couldn’t be bothered to continue speaking with Lang Daochun.

Meanwhile, the remaining light boats had already pulled right alongside the pleasure boat. One figure after another leapt aboard as lightly as flying swallows. Shrieks of panic erupted from within the pleasure boat.

Fang Chen and Lang Daochun weren’t worried at all. Fang Xiaohua had never left Fairy Yu’s side all these years. With her present, not even one hair of Fairy Yu’s would be touched.