"Very well. From now on, you will receive the same treatment as Qing Xue and become a core member of the Fang Family. In three months, you will take the Immortal Feather Sect's outer sect examination. If you pass, the position of Fang Family head may be passed to you," Fang Zetao declared.
His words left everyone in the room utterly stunned. The First Madam subconsciously said, "Master..."
"Shut up."
Fang Zetao's expression darkened in anger. The entire room seemed to be swallowed by a black curtain, so dark that no one could see their own hand before their face. Their souls trembled, seized by an inexplicable terror.
Fortunately, it lasted only an instant. Even so, Fang Xuan was deeply shaken.
After the Tenth Level of Body Refinement, the final three levels began to involve spiritual power. It was no longer merely the strength of the body. In battle, one could use spiritual power to crush an opponent's mind, making it mysterious and unpredictable.
"Fang Xuan is a disciple of my Fang Family, and he is also my son. The world respects martial strength. With strength, one has everything. If Fang Xuan can truly step onto the immortal path and enter the mysterious Mystic Divine Realm, then forget being the family head—even becoming emperor would be possible," Fang Zetao said.
Those around them grew even more longing upon hearing this.
An emperor!
Fang Xuan merely chuckled inwardly.
Family head? Emperor?
Heh.
Though the Great Li Dynasty possessed vast territory and hundreds of millions of people, in the eyes of the ten great immortal sects, it was nothing more than a toy. If supreme demonic emperors such as the Innate Great Emperor willed it, if they became dissatisfied with Great Li, they could wipe out the entire dynasty a hundred times over at any moment. The Bo Yue Dynasty, Great Zun Dynasty, Great Shi Dynasty, and dozens of other dynasties controlled by the Innate Great Emperor's disciples—all of them had territories no smaller than Great Li's.
Those so-called imperial rulers called themselves ten-thousand-year sovereigns, but which of them could truly live for ten thousand years? Unless they entered the Eternal Life Realm and became Eternal Giants, they would be nothing more than a pile of yellow earth after a hundred years.
Fang Xuan had transmigrated here with the goal of eternal life and immortality. At the very least, he had to become an Immortal King. How could he lose himself over the position of family head or emperor?
Fang Xuan respectfully said, "Thank you, Father. Your son's goal lies in the immortal sects. The Mystic Divine Realm and becoming one of the Eternal Giants are what I pursue."
"Good. That is how a child of my Fang Family should be. That is my son," Fang Zetao said with satisfaction.
With a slight movement, he vanished. When he reappeared, several bottles of pills had appeared in his hands.
Fang Xuan's eyes lit up.
"These are Essence Pills, and these are Bigu Pills. Each bottle contains ten. On the path of cultivation, one cannot move a single step without pills. Though you entered the Internal Fortification realm at such a young age, you must know that cultivation is like rowing against the current—if you do not advance, you retreat. You must never slack off."
Fang Zetao personally handed the two bottles of pills to Fang Xuan, making Fang Hong beside him green with envy.
Every one of these pills was worth a fortune. Even with money, they might not be available for purchase.
The Fang Family's ancestors had ties to the Immortal Feather Sect, which was why they had obtained some pills from the sect. Moreover, the Fang Family had a great enterprise and many descendants. Only elite disciples who had made immense contributions might be rewarded with a single pill. Yet Fang Xuan had received two entire bottles, twenty pills in all.
Even so, Fang Zetao showed no reluctance. He knew that if Fang Xuan could enter the Immortal Feather Sect, or even step into the mysterious Mystic Divine Realm, he would gain returns a hundred or a thousand times greater.
"Thank you, Father."
"Cultivate well. If one day you break through to the Mystic Divine Realm and become a True Disciple of the Immortal Feather Sect, then my Fang Family will not even need to heed the Great Li emperor. At that time, we will stand above the entire imperial clan. You can also bring some Fang Family disciples into the Immortal Feather Sect and nurture them well. This will be an undertaking for centuries, even millennia," Fang Zetao said fervently.
"Yes. Your son will certainly not disappoint Father."
After offering some encouragement, Fang Zetao finally left. The First Madam and her group also departed dejectedly. Fang Cheng, still lying on the ground, was carried away as well, not daring to voice the slightest grievance.
"Haha, Fang Xuan, you're incredible! I still don't even know when I'll be able to enter the Suppleness Realm!" Fang Hong said excitedly.
Fang Hong was close to Fang Xuan. Though he envied Fang Xuan's good fortune, he sincerely wished him well.
Fang Xuan glanced at Fang Hong and, after some thought, decided not to pass the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art on to him.
The Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art could draw upon the power of heaven and earth. It was like being able to endlessly consume pills, and it provided an enormous boost to cultivation in the first seven levels of the Tenth Level of Body Refinement. Even within an immortal sect, it would be considered an extraordinary secret art.
The Fang Family was merely an aristocratic family within the Great Li Dynasty. Even the Great Li Dynasty itself was only an extremely ordinary dynasty, utterly incomparable to the mighty Great Xuan Empire.
If such a secret art were revealed, the Fang Family would not be able to protect it. It might even bring disaster upon them.
Fang Xuan patted Fang Hong's shoulder and said smugly, "Then you'd better curry favor with me. Make me happy, and once I gain a foothold in the Immortal Feather Sect, I'll naturally find you some good things."
Fang Hong grinned and threw an arm around Fang Xuan's neck. "You said it, so no going back on your word. I'm not asking for anything like the Mystic Divine Realm. Just find me a pill that can make me as powerful as Uncle Tong after taking one. Then I can be sent out to become a steward and coast through life."
"You really are greedy. Uncle Tong is a great expert at the eighth level of Body Refinement, the Divine Courage Realm. Even I haven't reached that level yet!" Fang Xuan said disdainfully.
"Hehe, that's why you need to work hard. Whether your brother here gets to feast on fine food and wine or eats bran and watery gruel depends entirely on you," Fang Hong said with a laugh.
Zhao Xuemei, standing nearby, could no longer stand it. She grabbed Fang Hong by the ear and pretended to be angry. "You brat, instead of training properly, all you think about are these crooked schemes. I'll tell your mother later and have her teach you a proper lesson."
"Ah! Auntie, I was wrong!" Fang Hong wailed miserably.
After some playful scuffling, Fang Hong left the small courtyard.
The smile on Zhao Xuemei's face slowly faded. Fang Xuan knew she was worried about him.
He reached out, took her hand, and said, "Mother, don't worry about me. Your son is clever. It's only the Immortal Feather Sect, not some dragon's den or tiger's lair. When I cultivate properly in the Immortal Feather Sect, I'll earn you an Imperial Mandate."
Tears shimmered in Zhao Xuemei's eyes. She pulled Fang Xuan into her embrace and said gently, "Mother does not seek any Imperial Mandate. I will be content as long as you live safely and peacefully for the rest of your life."
Fang Xuan sighed inwardly. He had long since fully accepted Zhao Xuemei as his mother in this life. He had never enjoyed a mother's love in his previous life, yet in this one, it came crashing down upon him like a flood.
Early the next morning.
Driven by his internal clock, Fang Xuan rose early and hurried toward the Myriad Phenomena Garden. The moment he entered, the many Fang Family disciples training there all turned their attention toward him.
Curiosity, envy, jealousy...
There was no shortage of any of it.
The news that Fang Xuan had swallowed a heavenly treasure and entered the Internal Fortification realm had already spread throughout the Fang Residence the previous night. The key point was "heavenly treasure."
He had risen to the heavens in a single step!
Before you continue