Playing with Immortal Origin Stones had always been a thrilling affair. First, one had to pay a considerable sum of immortal crystals. Then came anticipation, hoping for a return. Then a crushing loss. Your emotions swung from tension to relief, then to frustration, repeating endlessly.

Occasionally, a small win would make you believe that your luck had turned. Confidence would surge, only for even that tiny profit to vanish with it. In the end, the last laugh would go to the vendor.

Over those seven days, Xu Kun's emotions were a complete mess. Altogether, he had lost more than 700 immortal crystals. Even for him, that sum was painful. Yet he had personally witnessed Fang Chen win again and again. Even when he occasionally lost, it was insignificant.

"During the past seven days... he must've earned at least 7,000 or 8,000 immortal crystals?" muttered Xu Kun as he trailed behind Fang Chen.

It was the first time he learned that immortal crystals could be earned at such a terrifying pace. He had scrimped and saved for years to accumulate his wealth. Fang Chen, on the other hand, was earning over thousands of immortal crystals a day with ease.

Core Disciple Fang must be an Immortal Origin Stone master, an experienced one at that. Out of ten stones, he only loses on three at most...

With that thought, Xu Kun plastered on a smile and hurried up to Fang Chen. "Fellow Daoist Fang... are you accepting disciples?"

Little Immortal Honglian and the other two core disciples instantly understood Xu Kun's intention. Yet none of them looked down on him, for even they, at that very moment, felt a faint urge to apprentice under Fang Chen.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I'm simply lucky. There's no such thing as guaranteed wins with Immortal Origin Stones," Fang Chen declined politely, smiling.

The others were half-convinced, half-doubtful, but they also believed in luck. When they considered how Fang Chen had become a core disciple in such a short time, mastered Formation Immortal Arts, and ranked ninth, it forced them to seriously reflect on his words.

Ignoring Xu Kun, Fang Chen headed toward another stall.

They had already entered the sixth zone. In the fourth and fifth zones ahead, there were still many Immortal Origin Stones he hadn't touched.

He had calculated carefully. Earning roughly 1,000 immortal crystals a day was sustainable. As long as he didn't buy from the same stall twice, he wouldn't attract much attention. Occasionally taking losses and moving between stalls helped maintain the illusion. Unless someone like Little Immortal Honglian or Xu Kun had been watching from the beginning, no one could tell whether Fang Chen was winning or losing.

***

Several more days passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Kun and the other two had already left the Immortal Origin District, claiming their immortal crystals were exhausted. They planned to explore the Han Mountain Temple to recover some losses.

On this day, Fang Chen and Little Immortal Honglian went out as usual to earn some extra cash. However, they overheard something from a few passersby, news that might be related to Xie Aman.

It was a group of third-transformation immortals who were casually chatting while opening Immortal Origin Stones.

"I heard that not long ago, a guest arrived at Han Mountain Temple. In just five moves, she severely injured the Grand Abbot and forced him to flee. He even reverted to his true form. Turns out he was a Demon Immortal."

"A Demon Immortal? The Grand Abbot of Han Mountain Temple was a Demon Immortal? That's outrageous!"

"Yes, a wild boar that attained spirit. If he hadn't transformed on the spot, no one would've believed it."

"Regardless of whether it's true, the Grand Abbot was a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal who had guarded this region for years without defeat. How was he beaten in five moves?"

"Heh. Some speculate the attacker was Xie Wudi."

"Evil Immortal Xie Wudi? She's shown up again? Wasn't she hunted by the Immortal Dynasty for years? I thought she'd long been killed..."

Fang Chen and Little Immortal Honglian exchanged a glance, both clearly thinking of Xie Aman.

A light flickered in Fang Chen's eye. Evil Immortal. Wanted criminal... looks like Senior Sister has made quite a name for herself in the Greater Immortal Realm.

The Immortal Dynasty mentioned by these people was one of the four major dynasties currently ruling the Great Immortal Realm. Even the Han Mountain Temple fell under its jurisdiction. If nothing unexpected had happened, the Immortal Dynasty was likely backed by Fallen Immortals.

But those Fallen Immortals had rewritten history. The average immortal knew nothing about Fallen Immortals devouring immortals. So if they wished to devour immortals now, they would have to disguise themselves, never revealing their nature openly.

The Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty... I wonder how powerful it truly is. It was likely stronger than the Enlightenment God Palace, perhaps equivalent to two or three top-tier forces?

As he thought about it, Fang Chen spotted a familiar face approaching. It was another core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace, senior to Li Shanzi and Ji Sheng. He was a fourth-transformation immortal who had yet to comprehend Formation Immortal Arts.

The newcomer showed a hint of surprise upon seeing Fang Chen and Little Immortal Honglian. They exchanged subtle glances and went together into a teahouse.

"What a coincidence to meet you both here," said the core disciple.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, why are you alone?" Fang Chen asked, smiling.

The core disciple bore the surname Cheng. He, too, was once an external disciple. Fang Chen wasn't sure how many years he had been in the Enlightenment God Palace.

Core Disciple Cheng smiled and answered, "On the way here, that person found something interesting and went off alone. I wasn't interested, so I came here to pass the time. Didn't expect to meet you two. I imagine you've earned quite a few immortal crystals?"

Fang Chen avoided answering directly and brushed the topic aside.

They chatted idly.

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside. Core Disciple Cheng turned his head, and his expression grew extremely grave. He wondered, "What happened?"

Fang Chen leaned out to look.

A group of cultivators in the same type of robes had entered the Immortal Origin District, and they were armed to the teeth. The hairpins on their heads were spiritual treasures. So were their robes and boots. Even their belts were spiritual treasures.

Their cultivation levels weren't high. The leader was only a first-transformation immortal. The rest were in the Ascension Realm.

"It's the Great Sorrow Army of the Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty," Core Disciple Cheng transmitted solemnly. "The Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty has two great immortal armies, the Great Compassion Army and the Great Sorrow Army."

He explained, "The Great Compassion Army rarely moves. They mostly stay in the capital. The Great Sorrow Army patrols the realm, responsible for preventing, stopping, and investigating any activities that violate the dynasty's laws. They also purge criminals listed on the Evil Immortal List. Perhaps an Evil Immortal has appeared in the Immortal Origin Stone Market, and they've come in response."

Fang Chen nodded.

Sounds similar to the Hidden Guards of Grand Xia....

Any power required such enforcement forces. Without them, chaos would reign.

Core Disciple Cheng's expression turned grave. "This is bad. They're heading into the teahouse. We don't possess a proper identity. If they investigate us, it'll be troublesome. If we're mistaken for being from the Beiding Immortal Dynasty or something similar, perhaps it's manageable. But if they discover we're from the Minor Immortal Realm... that would be a serious problem."