Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1358: Signs of Tribulation

Chapter 1358: Signs of Tribulation
Fang Chen had already noticed that the woman who had been with Immortal Taixu near the illusory mountain earlier was not present at the scene. She likely only just returned to the Upper Three Realms to her recent status to Immortal Taixu. With her absence, things became much easier to handle.
Back when Fang Chen was in Nanqing Constellation, his true body had never appeared. Even when meeting with people like Huang Qingque, it was his avatar, Fang Tianzun, who went in his place. Immortal Taixu couldn't possibly have met him. He wouldn't recognize Fang Chen's true identity.
The bronze luster of Fang Chen's jade token instantly drew the attention of the Loose Immortals on the high platform.
This placed great pressure on Yu Wuxia and the others.
The people whom Fang Chen had drawn their attention were all important figures—third-transformation immortals, fourth-transformation immortals, fifth-transformation immortals, and even seventh-transformation Ancient Immortals. Their gazes were likely heavy mountains pressing on their chests, making it hard to breathe.
The number of people who had stepped forward, believing they deserved a place at the Enlightenment God Palace, was fifty. However, the Enlightenment God Palace would only recruit twenty people from Langgui Constellation—two Tribulation Realm cultivators, and eighteen Dao Union Realm cultivators. The others would naturally be eliminated.
The contestants were already secretly comparing the auras radiating from their jade tokens with the others'.
The results had not yet been announced, but many people were already downcast, realizing they would definitely be eliminated.
At this moment, a figure flew out from the high platform. It was none other than Immortal Taixu's disciple, Ji Gang. The fifth-transformation immortal approached the crowd. Although he had already retracted most of his aura, his mere presence caused the Dao Union Realm cultivators to suffocate with despair.
Fortunately, Ji Gang was only responsible for retrieving the jade tokens and soon returned to the high platform. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Qingyu Immortal Sect, Fang Chen."
"Honglian Immortal Sect, Hong Zhi."
"Radiant Divine Dao Sect, Yu Wuxia."
With each name called, some smiled with joy, others sighed in relief, and some were left disappointed. However, what was surprising was that no Tribulation Realm cultivator had been called. All twenty names called belonged to Dao Union Realm cultivators.
"The performance of the Tribulation Realm this year was rather underwhelming. Please work harder next time," commented Ji Gang lightly.
The Tribulation Realm cultivators exchanged glances and smiled bitterly. Clearly, none of them had met the assessment requirements.
Fang Chen thought to himself,
Even the Enlightenment God Palace's external disciples selection is so strict. They really do walk the elite path. Over the years, the people who had managed to join the Enlightenment God Palace must've all been extraordinary geniuses; none of them are simple characters.
Whether it was the Greater Underworld or the Lesser Underworld, they were still far less powerful than such a force. Additionally, with their perceptions sealed, they couldn't sense the fact that the souls of the deceased were unable to reincarnate. This also meant that these major forces had very little interest in the matters of the Underworld.
Only the Spirit God Sect had made some arrangements in the Lesser Underworld. As for forces like the Enlightenment God Palace, Taiyi Immortal Sect, and Ten Thousand Star Palace, if they spared the Underworld any notice, it would likely be directed at the Floating Pagoda Realm.
The presence behind the barrier between the two realms in the Hall of Monarch Yan... Is it not from these forces? What are they trying to achieve by invading the Lesser Underworld? Are these beings demons?
pondered Fang Chen while the nearby cultivators began to leave in an orderly fashion.
A burly middle-aged man approached the group and smiled at Fang Chen. "Out of the twenty of you, only you have obtained the bronze jade token. You are the best performer from Langgui Constellation in the past three to four hundred years. From now on, you will lead this small team as its leader."
Yu Wuxia and the others exchanged a glance.
"Sure enough..."
Though they felt a little reluctant, they had to admit that Fang Chen was indeed qualified to lead them.
Fang Chen noticed that Immortal Taixu and the others had already boarded their Immortal Boats and were flying off into the distance. He asked, "Senior, what are we supposed to do next?"
The middle-aged man released an Immortal Boat and led the group toward Immortal Taixu's direction. He smiled faintly and answered, "What are you supposed to do? For now, you don't need to do anything. You're all still at the Dao Union Realm. There's not much you can do for the Enlightenment God Palace at this stage. Once you achieve Immortality, you'll be eligible to serve the Enlightenment God Palace."
The group was momentarily stunned.
Only after becoming immortals could they serve the Enlightenment God Palace?
Thinking about it, it made sense. The Enlightenment God Palace's influence was vast in the Fangcun Realm, where it controlled the eight major constellations. They had countless vessels, and for an ordinary Dao Union Realm cultivator, there were likely already many others fighting to do the kind of work they would be assigned. Since they were external cultivators promoted through an assessment, their status was naturally higher, and their tasks would also be more important.
"You must have understood by now," continued the middle-aged man. "The Enlightenment God Palace values your talent. You have the potential to become immortals, to advance to the second, third, or even fourth transformations. That's why you're here on this Immortal Boat."
He smiled faintly again and added, "Before becoming immortals, what you need to do is prove yourselves, show the Enlightenment God Palace your potential, and earn more resources. A long time ago, I was like you—an external cultivator promoted through an assessment originating from Langgui Constellation. After countless battles, I am now a third-transformation Immortal leading a Qingming Exploration Team. Before you become immortals, you'll be following me for now."
"Senior, are we heading to the Enlightenment God Palace now?" asked Meng Qingling curiously.
The middle-aged man smiled faintly and asked, "Do you see all those Immortal Boats?"
Behind Immortal Taixu's Immortal Boat, there were hundreds or even thousands of immortal boats following. They were currently aboard one of those Immortal Boats.
"These people are all cultivators who passed the assessment. Next, you will follow Immortal Taixu to the other assessment locations." After a brief pause, the middle-aged man looked at Fang Chen with a meaningful glance and remarked, "Among these Immortal Boats, there have been a few who obtained a bronze jade token. Some even obtained the silver one. This generation of yours really has some exceptional talents."
"What!? There were even silver-white jade tokens?"
The group gasped in surprise and instinctively turned to look at Fang Chen. In their eyes, Fang Chen's abilities had already left them feeling hopeless. If a bronze jade token was already so impressive, how powerful must those who obtained silver jade tokens be?
"By the way, I'm a good friend of Immortal Qingyu. He was able to take charge of guiding the cultivators from the Lower Six Realms through my connections. I already know about your background. Interested in becoming my disciple?" offered the middle-aged man.
"Greetings, Master!" said Fang Chen respectfully with a bow.
The middle-aged man noticed that Fang Chen did not kneel in full prostration, and faint displeasure flickered in his eyes, but he didn't care too much.
Damn the pride of youth
.
He had been young once, too. As long as they were properly tempered, a few setbacks would teach them that a mere Dao Union Realm cultivator was nothing in the eyes of immortals. Even those who had obtained silver jade tokens, or even golden and purple jade tokens, wouldn't be taken seriously by a third-transformation Immortal if they didn't have enough time to grow.
Yu Wuxia and the others were envious. They were looking at a third-transformation immortal. Although they had decent backgrounds and their sects were top-tier in Langgui Constellation, they didn't have what it took to become disciples of a third-transformation immortal. Only those who had Ascended could be valued by third-transformation Immortals.
The middle-aged man introduced, "My name is Lin Dong. I come from a small, insignificant sect in Langgui Constellation. Although you're from Lower Six Realms, with your current starting point..."
Before the middle-aged man could finish speaking, Fang Chen's aura began to rapidly fluctuate and increase. Spiritual energy from his surroundings surged violently towards him.
This was clearly a sign that he was about to advance to the Tribulation Realm...