Chapter 1206: Chapter 1206
A faint but hard-to-detect gloom flashed across Gong Tianxin's face, as if all the friendliness he had just shown was a facade, and that shadow was his true nature. He slowly straightened his posture and sized up Yang Yuanwu and Fang Chen. His gaze lacked the previous worldliness and instead held a sharper scrutiny.
"Cooperate?" Gong Tianxin smiled/ "Are you two serious? If you really want to cooperate on this matter, you at least have to convince the third transformation from the Yin Holy Sect. With your current cultivation levels... I'm afraid you're not able to even speak with him, right?"
Fang Chen chuckled softly. "I've met Senior Yu a few times." Read complete versıon only at 𝗻𝗼𝘷𝗲𝗹•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
The smile on Gong Tianxin's face grew warmer once more, as if his earlier scrutiny had never existed. He courteously poured a cup of tea for Fang Chen. "So it turns out that you're acquainted with Senior Yu, Brother Ji. Knowing his surname proves you're not trying to bluff me. I had my doubts just now, please don't take offense. After all, this matter is important. Before Brother Ji mentioned cooperation, I never intended to get involved. I just wanted to sell some news and earn a little money."
"Brother Gong, as I said earlier, if you believe you can profit from this, I need you to explain the risks and benefits clearly. Only then can I have confidence to persuade Senior Yu," Fang Chen said.
Gong Tianxin thought for a moment, then nodded. "The destruction of the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land is now inevitable. The leader of the Myriad Immortal Palace, Immortal Xingyu, will personally intervene, probably within the next two or three years.
"The Myriad Immortal Palace doesn't care much for Creation Star, but since they have come, they naturally want to take something before they leave. So they plan to support a certain Loose Immortal here, scraping as much cultivation resources as possible from this place. Even the Spirit God Sect and the Killing Spiritual Division won't be spared, let alone the local forces.
"Very soon, Creation Star will become the domain of Myriad Immortal Palace, and the local powers will face a crisis of survival. If you can establish contact with the Myriad Immortal Palace before that, and gain their approval, you could instantly become their representative on Creation Star."
"Immortal Xingyu... is he a fifth transformation Immortal?" Fang Chen pondered aloud.
"That's right, a fifth transformation Great Luo Immortal," Gong Tianxin revealed.
This bit of information was provided at a suitable moment, subtly demonstrating the reach of his intelligence network.
Gong Tianxin spoke calmly. "He's a Great Luo Immortal. Skilled in alchemy. That's why the Myriad Immortal Palace dares to act so arrogantly. It's because its palace master is a well-known pill maker in the Ancient Desolate Realm. He's widely connected, respected by all sides.
If a fifth transformation Great Luo Immortal descended upon Creation Star, Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land would be destroyed without a shred of doubt. Even with foreknowledge, Fang Chen could not alter that fate.
Against overwhelming power, advantages and leverage meant nothing.
The Grand Elder of Nine Immortal Mountain had once gifted him three top-grade spirit stones, and Fang Chen's master, Yun He, had ties with him. There was some sentiment owed there. Now, the only thing Fang Chen could do was to help lessen their losses.
There was only one way he could help them in this situation—they had to enter the Underworld.
However, the amount of Yin Lifespan Coins required for that would be astronomical. Right now, Fang Chen's Monarch Yan's Seal only held a little over 2,000 years' worth.
"You just said the Myriad Immortal Palace wants to wipe out the entire Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land—leaving no survivors? From what I know, it's not just cultivators up there. There are countless ordinary mortals, too," Fang Chen said casually.
Gong Tianxin chuckled. "Those mortals are just unlucky. Who told them to live on Nine Immortal Mountain? The Myriad Immortal Palace shows no mercy, not even to ants, let alone mortals who may have ties to the Holy Land."
Fang Chen nodded in agreement. "Yeah... that's seriously unfortunate."
With that, he shifted the topic. "Regarding this matter, I'll have a friend of mine speak to you in more detail. See if we can gain some benefits from it. Once on Creation Star, how do we get in contact with you?"
"Well... I'm not currently on Creation Star, but I left behind a puppet there that holds a trace of my consciousness. You can have a friend from the Yin Holy Sect reach out through the puppet, Fellow Daoist Ji."
After speaking, Gong Tianxin shared the puppet's contact method with Fang Chen. He then glanced expectantly at the Yin Lifespan Coins.
Yang Yuanwu gave Fang Chen a glance, then handed the coins to Gong Tianxin, completing the transaction.
"You are a man of integrity, Fellow Daoist Ji," Gong Tianxin laughed.
The deal had gone smoothly with little haggling. Though the price had been pressed low, he had gained much more than expected.
Still... there had been considerable extra gains. If he could establish cooperation with that person from the Yin Holy Sect, they might be able to seize some advantage amid the upcoming upheaval. That benefit might far exceed a hundred years of Yin Lifespan.
After a few more pleasantries, Gong Tianxin got up and left.
Yang Yuanwu glanced at Fang Chen and whispered, "It's best not to get involved in the Myriad Immortal Palace's affairs. I don't visit the Ancient Desolate Realm often, but I've heard from various Daoist friends how that palace operates. Crossing them is like sticking yourself to flypaper. You won't shake free."
Yang Yuanwu's concern wasn't unfounded. Fang Chen had learned a bit about the palace's methods through indirect sources. At a time , it truly wasn't wise to oppose them head-on.
If the Myriad Immortal Palace ended up colluding with the Spirit God Sect of the Lesser Immortal Realm, things would become far more troublesome.
A single Grand Desolate Immortal was still manageable, but if Immortal Xingyu joined in, even throwing out all his trump cards might not help.
"Still... if you have ties to the Nine Immortal Mountain Holy Land, it might be worth visiting Young Lord Qingque," said Yang Yuanwu. He suggested, "The imperial family of the True Martial Domain might hold enough sway to make the Myriad Immortal Palace think twice."
Fang Chen indeed intended to meet with Huang Qingque again. Not just because of this current crisis, but also due to the schemes involving Ji Tiandu, Lady Suya, and the Grand Desolate Immortal. Qingque needed to be informed.
"Cooperating with the aristocratic scions is fine as long as the rules are respected. They usually don't make unexpected moves. But if someone tries to be clever and pulls some unnecessary trick, it will definitely displease them."
Fang Chen had only met Huang Qingque once, but even that was enough to sketch a basic profile.
This time, Ji Tiandu and Lady Suya's attempt to win over the Grand Desolate Immortal might just backfire.
"What do you think... of that man just now?" Fang Chen asked suddenly.
Yang Yuanwu thought for a moment. "He's probably a cultivator from Creation Star. But for someone from there to enter the Underworld and reach this place... his identity must be extraordinary. And the way he sold that intelligence. It's definitely not his first time. Very seasoned. He's likely a professional information broker."
"Across the Nine Realms, which factions specialize in selling information?"
"Many, but the most well-known is the Immortal Worshipping Palace."
A faint smile flashed across Fang Chen's face. "Immortal Worshipping Palace? As in the Immortal Worshipping Sect?"
Back in the Central Continent Empire, there had once been the Divine Dao Sect, the Desolate Sect, the Incense Sect, the Spirit Blood Sect... and the Immortal Worshipping Sect.
And of those, the Immortal Worshipping Sect's founder had always remained silent.
Now it seemed this Daoist Gong—whether or not he was that founder himself—was certainly tied to the Revered Immortal Sect.