Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 1645: A Trap Unto Death

"You truly did not deceive me," Young Master Yuan said as he approached Fang Chen, cupping his hands with a beaming smile.The fourth-transformation Immortal Sovereign was stunned, his expression turning odd. He rarely saw his Young Master this genuinely happy. Even when making a massive profit, the Young Master would usually offer nothing more than a casual, indifferent smile. But this time was different.

Fang Chen slowly opened his eyes and offered a slight smile. "It seems you have verified my words. Those immortal crystals weren't spent in vain, were they?"

Young Master Yuan nodded. "Indeed, they were well-spent."

He turned to the fourth-transformation immortal and said, "You may leave. I have matters to discuss with Daoist Fang."

The fourth transformation immortal said nothing and withdrew. Immediately after, a restrictive formation enveloped the grand hall.

The Wang brothers, having heard that Fang Chen had returned and been kept for a long conversation, had come hoping to fish for information. They happened to run into the fourth transformation immortal as he exited.

"You two, the Young Master is in the middle of a pleasant conversation with Daoist Fang. It's best not to disturb them," the fourth transformation immortal said with a faint smile, knowing full well these two were afraid of losing their favored status.

"A pleasant conversation?"

The brothers' minds raced with uneasy thoughts, and they eventually turned away with dark expressions.

"Daoist Fang, the superior officer of the Great Sorrow Army told me that we must act as if nothing had happened," said Young Master Yuan. "Therefore, the betting match in a few days will proceed exactly as planned. I hope you will not leak any word of this."

Fang Chen nodded. "Naturally. I have taken your money to resolve your troubles; I will only do what I am meant to do. You need not worry."

At that moment, Young Master Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. His double pupils reappeared, and his aura surged violently, revealing his full cultivation as a sixth-transformation immortal.

Throughout this display, he watched Fang Chen's expression closely. Seeing that Fang Chen remained perfectly calm, a trace of gravity grew in his heart.

Young Master Yuan said, "I hadn't realized you're so capable. You even know the hiding place of a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal of the Great Sorrow Army. I have been neglectful. I hope you won't take offense."

Young Master Yuan smiled faintly and turned to take the seat of honor.

Fang Chen met Young Master Yuan's double-pupiled eyes calmly. "You are being far too polite, Young Master Yuan. I truly do not mind such things."

There was a slight appreciation in his eyes, but not a shred of surprise. This only made Young Master Yuan feel even more cautious. He even abandoned the sinister thoughts he had been entertaining earlier.

The two chatted for a few more moments before Young Master Yuan closed his eyes and personally saw Fang Chen out.

It is a pity I don't know this man's identity for now. No matter, once I have established a connection with the Great Sorrow Army, investigating him will be a simple task.

Young Master Yuan stood still, lost in thought for a moment, before slowly walking away.

Feeling that faint, lingering gaze finally fade, a thin smile appeared in Fang Chen's eyes.

Just now, Young Master Yuan had intentionally revealed his cultivation. Had Fang Chen shown any sign of cowardice, the other man would likely have moved to forcibly interrogate him regarding his sources and then silence him permanently.

He had come close to being completely annihilated! If that had happened, he wouldn't have been able to rush back to this location within a few days, and he would have missed the "festivities" scheduled to unfold.

"However, Young Master Yuan is already a dead man..."

Recalling the instructions the Grand Commander had given the green-robed cultivator, Fang Chen couldn't help but shake his head. He still hadn't fully unraveled this mystery, but it had already cost the life of a sixth transformation immortal.

Fortunately, this particular sixth-transformation immortal had repeatedly shown him malice. His impending death was hardly an injustice.

"Eldest Senior Sister and the Sixth Star Lord must possess far more information than I do. If I could share this with them, they might be able to figure out the underlying reason. But in terms of time... I'm afraid it's too late..."

Returning to the inn, Fang Chen spent the next few days "shearing wool" as usual.

On the day the betting match was set to begin, he handed all his immortal crystals over to Fang Tianzun, who had arrived to meet him, including that specific piece of Immortal Origin containing the Eye of an Era.

Once Fang Tianzun had departed, Fang Chen, now without a single valuable item on his person, slowly stepped out of the inn. He met the fourth-transformation immortal who had been waiting for him and was led to the Four Seas Immortal Origin Shop.

The atmosphere was bustling today. Many big figures from within the district had arrived on the scene. While these moguls were not familiar with Fang Chen, he knew them like the back of his hand. After all, he had spent the last few weeks shearing quite a bit of wool from their respective shops.

When Fang Chen took his place beside the Wang brothers, the district's heavyweights finally took notice of him. Upon closer inspection, several felt a nagging sense of familiarity. After a moment's thought, they realized they had seen this man frequently of late.

"So, he's an Immortal Origin Master..."

A few of the moguls exchanged glances. One transmitted his voice privately, "Any Master that Young Master Yuan values must have extraordinary methods. This fellow visited my shop several times. He likely made off with quite a few high-quality Stones."

"He came to my place a few times as well. He certainly hid it well. Had I not seen him here today, I would have taken him for just anybody."

The bosses chatted among themselves, exchanging notes.

Wang Bei swept a cold glance over Fang Chen and transmitted, "Daoist Fang, today's bet is vital. You'd best stay sharp and ensure you don't drag my brother and me down."

Fang Chen smiled and replied, "Even if you two brothers were tied together, you would be no match for me. Stop your constant provocations. I am not like you two. You wish to be dogs, but I do not."

Wang Bei froze for a moment, then flew into a rage. He hadn't expected the other party to talk back today, let alone use such insulting language. If not for the significance of the occasion, he would have demanded a fight then and there.

Suppressing his fury, Wang Bei's voice turned icy. "Once today is over, I shall certainly 'consult' with you to see if you are a man or a dog."

Fang Chen's smile widened. "I am a man, of course. You are the dog."

Wang Bei's suppressed anger flared up again, and he gritted his teeth tightly. Knowing that Fang Chen wouldn't say anything pleasant and fearing his mental state would affect his performance in the betting match, he chose to endure and ceased the transmissions.

The bustling Four Seas Immortal Origin Shop suddenly fell silent with the arrival of those four. Countless eyes turned toward them, most carrying a faint trace of hostility.

Among the four, the refined-looking cultivator at the front revealed a slight smile. From a distance, he cupped his hands toward Young Master Yuan and said, "Young Master Yuan, we arrived a few days early and only then realized that you enjoy great fame here. If we happen to win today's wager by luck, you will honor his promise, won't you? You wouldn't use your status to oppress the four of us, would you?"

Before Young Master Yuan could speak, one of the prominent figures of Immortal Origin Square let out a cold laugh. "What a joke. We who deal in Immortal Origin rely on integrity and reputation. You four used that very point to pressure us into this wager, and now you're afraid we'll go back on our word? Rest assured, even if Young Master Yuan loses, you still have us. I refuse to believe your Immortal Origin Arts are truly invincible and unstoppable."

Young Master Yuan did not accept the goodwill. His expression darkened. But he gave a light smile. "Gentlemen, let's skip the nonsense. Let's begin today's wager."

He opened his eyes, his aura surging upward. The way he looked at the four carried a faint hint of gloating. A wager? This is no mere wager. This is a game of death.

In his eyes, the four were already lambs awaiting slaughter, merely waiting for the Great Sorrow Army to step in and seize them.