Conflict

"Here, have a chicken leg. You've gotten so thin from hunger." With a doting expression, Zhao Xuemei placed a plump chicken leg into Fang Xuan's bowl.

"Mother, you should eat too."

"You eat. You practice every day and expend a lot of energy. Mother isn't hungry."

"Mm, then I'll eat."

The greatest repayment for a mother's concern was to finish every bite.

Zhao Xuemei watched Fang Xuan wolf down his food, her face full of delight.

Bang!

With a dull thud, Fang Hong barged straight in.

"Hong'er, why are you here? Xiao Yu, serve Hong'er a bowl of rice." Zhao Xuemei smiled.

Fang Hong cupped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Aunt Zhao."

Then he stepped forward, grabbed Fang Xuan's arm, and anxiously asked, "Fang Xuan, did you injure Second Sister?"

Fang Xuan gnawed on the chicken leg in his hand and smiled. "So that's what this is about. That's right."

Hearing Fang Xuan admit it, Fang Hong grew so anxious that he stamped his feet. "Fang Xuan, how could you be so foolish? Do you know how much trouble you've caused? The First Madam is furious and is bringing people to seize you!"

Zhao Xuemei had heard enough to grasp the situation and asked, "Hong'er, what exactly happened?"

"Auntie, Fang Xuan injured Fang Qingwei. The First Madam is now bringing people to your small courtyard to seize Fang Xuan!"

Zhao Xuemei could no longer remain seated. Panicked, she said, "What are we to do? Xuan'er, how did you come into conflict with Qingwei? Quickly, come with me and apologize to the First Madam."

"Apologize? I cannot accept that."

A cold voice came from outside. Immediately afterward, a middle-aged woman whose noble bearing was beyond description strode in, followed by a large crowd of servants.

This woman was Fang Zetao's legal wife, the Fang Family's First Madam, Zhang Jingzhao.

The moment she saw the First Madam, Zhao Xuemei's face went pale. She hurriedly knelt and saluted. "This concubine greets Big Sister."

Fang Hong also bowed. "This child greets Grandmother."

The First Madam's eyes were as cold as winter as she glanced at Zhao Xuemei and sneered. "I cannot accept your kneeling. Get up."

Zhao Xuemei trembled all over, pressing her head low to the ground as she hurriedly said, "Every fault is this concubine's fault. Xuan'er is merely young and impulsive. I beg Big Sister to forgive him. This concubine has failed to discipline her son properly and is willing to accept punishment."

Fang Xuan slowly rose to his feet at that moment. Before this, he would never have dared to be so disrespectful before the domineering First Madam. No matter what was said, he would have obediently admitted his fault.

But things were different now.

He helped Zhao Xuemei to her feet and said, "Mother, I have done nothing wrong. There is no need for this."

The First Madam's eyes flew wide open as she roared, "Insolence! How dare you, you little beast, be so rude? You launched a sneak attack and injured Qingwei, yet you still speak so shamelessly. Zhao Xuemei, is this the beast you raised?"

Fang Xuan was equally enraged. His face darkened as he said, "A sneak attack? Is she even worthy of one? 'Beast' this, 'beast' that. Even if I am a beast, my surname is Fang. By Grandmother's logic, the entire Fang Family is made up of beasts—an old nest of beasts giving birth to a pack of little beasts?"

As the mistress of the Fang Family and the holder of a second-rank Imperial Mandate, when had anyone ever dared to be so insolent toward her? Her blood surged with fury, and her face turned pale from anger.

"Impudent! Fang Cheng, seize that little beast for me!" the First Madam roared.

"Please, Xuan'er is young and ignorant. This concubine failed in her teachings and is willing to be punished. I beg Big Sister to spare Xuan'er," Zhao Xuemei pleaded.

Fang Hong hurriedly added, "Grandmother, this matter should be handed over to Father for punishment according to the family rules."

The furious First Madam had no patience for their pleas. She shouted, "Shut up! Fang Cheng, why haven't you seized this beast yet?"

Fang Cheng was a Fang Family guard and one of the First Madam's trusted men, an expert at the seventh level of the Physical Realm, Internal Fortification.

At her words, he stepped forward. "Thirteenth Young Master, forgive my offense."

With that, he leaped forward, his five fingers clawing out like an eagle snatching a mouse.

"Impudent. I am a son of the Fang Family, yet a mere servant dares to bully his master. You seek death." Fang Xuan's voice was icy.

His right hand clenched into a fist and shot forward.

Facing Fang Xuan's fist, Fang Cheng's eyes showed nothing but disdain. He could not even be bothered to block it and continued reaching for Fang Xuan's shoulder.

Bang!

The two fists collided. In the next instant, Fang Cheng's expression changed drastically, his face filled with disbelief.

He felt a tremendous force slam down upon him, as though lightning had struck the bones in his wrist.

Crack!

Fang Xuan possessed a deep foundation. After entering the Internal Fortification Realm, he had gained the strength of seven horses. His strength was several times that of an ordinary person, and even a simple punch or kick carried terrifying power.

Because Fang Cheng had underestimated him, their fists collided, and the bones in Fang Cheng's arm twisted into grotesque shapes. At his shoulder blade, a section of pale arm bone, streaked with blood, burst through the flesh.

"Ah! My hand! My hand!" Fang Cheng flew backward, hit the ground, and howled in agony.

Naturally, the most incredulous person was the First Madam. She knew Fang Cheng's strength well. He was an expert at the seventh level of the Physical Realm, Internal Fortification, yet Fang Xuan had crippled him with a single punch.

How... how was that possible?

"Y-you... your strength?" the First Madam asked in shock.

Fang Xuan snorted. "I have already entered the seventh level of the Physical Realm, Internal Fortification. With my strength, would I need to launch a sneak attack?"

"Impossible, this is impossible. You clearly only entered the Suppleness Realm a few days ago. How could you, in such a short time..."

"Enough."

A dignified voice rang out as Fang Zetao strode into the small courtyard with the bearing of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

"Greetings, Master."

"Greetings, Father."

All the servants fell to their knees. The First Madam also dipped into a curtsy, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

Fang Zetao ignored them all, his divine eyes fixed upon Fang Xuan.

"Father."

Fang Xuan lowered his head in salute as well.

Fang Zetao's eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything. When his gaze fell upon Fang Xuan, it was as though he could see every detail of him, instantly perceiving his realm.

This was the terror of the tenth level of the Physical Realm.

The tenth level of the Physical Realm was Divine Transformation. One's spirit transformed into a primordial spirit, allowing one to observe within oneself and perceive others. The senses became so sharp that they could rival divine abilities.

Fang Xuan's cultivation at the Internal Fortification Realm was perfectly clear to him.

"Your internal organs have been fortified, hard as iron. It truly is the Internal Fortification Realm. How did you achieve this?" Fang Zetao asked, his eyes like lightning.

"Reporting to Father, this child entered the Black Forest to train some days ago. Within the Black Forest, I consumed a red fruit, and afterward my strength advanced by leaps and bounds. In one stroke, I entered the Internal Fortification Realm," Fang Xuan answered.

"What did that fruit look like?"

"It was the size of a fist, entirely crimson, and grew between cliffs. It was guarded by a Black Ring Horned Snake."

Fang Zetao nodded. "So that was it. It was actually a Crimson Flame Vermilion Fruit, a heavenly treasure that strengthens the tendons and bones, bolsters the blood and vitality, and tempers the internal organs. Still, the fact that you were able to enter the Internal Fortification Realm shows that your comprehension is exceptional. Not bad."

Hearing Fang Zetao personally confirm that Fang Xuan had entered the Internal Fortification Realm, everyone looked at him with utmost envy.

Internal Fortification! Even in the army, such a person would be a commanding general. The imperial court would spare no effort to recruit them. Even the Fang Family had only a few such people, each wielding immense authority.

And yet, an ordinary illegitimate son had actually entered the Internal Fortification Realm.