Ninth Layer Houtian Realm!

"I can teach you the Seven Wound Fist first, but the family rules cannot be broken."

Fang Zhongde took out the martial arts copy he had prepared long ago and said gravely, "Hurry and earn contribution points, then register it at the Library Pavilion."

"The bandits of Green Ridge Stronghold have been especially rampant lately. The family intends to give the younger disciples a chance to gain experience, so go take a look."

"You can use this opportunity to cultivate the Seven Wound Fist. This martial art differs from others—it must be tempered in a sea of blood."

After Fang Zhongde agreed to Fang Yuan'er's idea, he began instructing him patiently. Clearly, he had some knowledge of this martial art.

"Xiantian Realm cultivation is still a process of refining true qi. The more condensed your true qi is, the stronger you will naturally become."

In the Fang Family's back mountain, Fang Zhongwu carefully instructed Fang Yuan. A longsword formed of true qi materialized in his right hand, giving off a piercingly cold gleam.

A moment later, a shield woven from true qi appeared in his left hand as well.

"In truth, Cultivators in the middle stage of the Xiantian Realm can already materialize true qi into objects, but their true qi is not strong enough."

As he spoke, Fang Zhongwu swung the sword in his right hand and easily shattered the shield in his left.

"In Houtian Realm cultivation, true qi gathers without dispersing. But in Xiantian Realm cultivation, true qi gathers without condensing."

At this, Fang Yuan fell into thought. After a moment, he raised a question that had been troubling him.

"Though Xiantian Realm and Houtian Realm cultivation may seem identical, they are actually vastly different."

"The Xiantian Realm opens up the Dantian and forms a dan pillar, allowing one to store more true qi. One must also construct the dan pillar within one's body."

"The size of the dan pillar often determines the resilience and strength of one's true qi..."

Fang Zhongwu was an excellent teacher and possessed a profound understanding of cultivation realms. His explanation made Fang Yuan feel as though he had been enlightened.

"You still have a long road ahead. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask me at any time."

Fang Yuan nodded slightly, recalling the matter of the Talismans outside the Spirit Vein. He then told Fang Zhongwu everything he knew about the new Cultivator who had arrived at the Wang Clan.

"I know of that Wang Clan Cultivator, but I did not expect him to have laid out his plans so long ago."

Fang Zhongwu narrowed his eyes, his pitch-black pupils unfathomably deep.

"Do not concern yourself with these matters for now. Cultivate properly—I will have someone handle them."

Fang Yuan nodded. Having such a stable environment for cultivation was indeed quite comfortable.

Ten days later.

Fang Yuan remained steadily immersed in cultivation. Whenever he encountered doubts regarding martial arts, he would directly seek advice from his bargain-bin father.

Of course, he did not simply cultivate in seclusion. From time to time, he would spar with the Fang Family's Stewards.

The Fang Family's Stewards were all Xiantian Realm experts, and their strength was fairly evenly matched.

However, his progress in martial arts was relatively slight; he was still at the major mastery stage.

During his exchanges with the family Stewards, Fang Yuan always felt somewhat restrained.

Fang Yuan could not go all out, while the Stewards, constrained by their status, dared not use much strength either, fearing they might injure the future family head.

"The training effect this can achieve is still negligible."

Fang Yuan sighed.

Since his progress in martial arts was slow, he might as well focus on his cultivation.

Add points!

[You cultivated arduously for a year and attained complete enlightenment. The true qi surrounding the dan pillar stacked nine layers deep. Your true qi became abundant, and your cultivation reached the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm!]

"The Ninth Layer Houtian Realm... I am only one step away from Foundation Building."

A smile appeared on Fang Yuan's face.

The hard training of these past days had not been in vain.

Yet this final step was often not so easy to cross.

If advancing from the Houtian Ninth Layer to the Xiantian Realm was a one-in-a-hundred chance, then from the Xiantian Realm to the Foundation Building Realm, it was difficult for even one to emerge from several hundred.

After layer upon layer of selection, the Fang Family had seven or eight hundred Stewards. That was still under the premise that their numbers had been deliberately controlled.

Yet after so many years of accumulation, the Fang Family had only a little over thirty elders.

Upon stepping into the Xiantian Realm, one could live up to five hundred years. But upon entering the Foundation Building Realm, one's lifespan could extend to a thousand years!

"To break through from the Xiantian Realm into the Foundation Building Realm, one must first open the one hundred and eight hidden acupoints within the body and release one's potential."

Fang Zhongwu's words echoed in Fang Yuan's ears.

"It is time to go out and gain experience. While I'm at it, I'll see whether the Mission Hall has any suitable tasks."

Shutting himself away and building a cart behind closed doors would not work. Slow progress in cultivation was one thing, but the most frightening thing was stagnation.

Besides, receiving the family's protection and preferential resources required him to make a certain degree of contribution. Otherwise, he would lose prestige.

With Ninth Layer Houtian Realm cultivation, so long as he did not encounter a Foundation Building Realm expert, he could roam freely in all directions with few rivals.

And near this Prefecture City, Foundation Building Realm experts were all known figures. No one dared to rashly make a move against the Fang Family's Young Master.

"Young Master, something terrible has happened! Young Master Fang Man has been injured—you must come at once!"

Just as Fang Yuan was about to head out, Xiao Zi hurried over with an anxious look and spoke at once.

"What exactly happened?"

Fang Yuan frowned slightly. He treated Fang Man like his own brother and would never allow anyone to bully his brother.

What was more, this was the Prefecture City.

No matter who it was, they would have to pay the price!

Among his peers, Fang Yuan held a special and noble status. He had stopped living with Fang Zhongwu long ago and had his own separate courtyard.

The others, however, all lived with their elders.

Fang Man's parents had died fighting outside for the family years ago. He was later adopted by the Fifth Elder.

When Fang Yuan arrived at the Fifth Elder's courtyard, he first politely greeted the Elder and his wife before heading to Fang Man's room.

"Those bandits from Green Ridge Stronghold were truly ruthless."

Fang Man lay on the bed, wrapped from head to toe in bandages. His already round body now looked even more rotund.

Recently, Green Ridge Stronghold had repeatedly harassed the Fang Family's mines.

Because Green Ridge Stronghold as a whole was not particularly powerful, the family had issued missions for its disciples to assist the family stewards in guarding the mines.

Fang Man had unfortunately been surrounded by the bandits. With two fists unable to fend off four hands, he had suffered injuries.

"I have some healing pills and spirit medicine here. Take them first."

Fang Yuan silently marked down this debt with Green Ridge Stronghold. A pack of chickens and dogs like them could not be allowed to run wild.

"Uncle and Aunt have already brought over plenty of pills, so there's no need..."

Fang Yuan ignored his refusal and placed them beside the bed. He merely said, "I'll avenge you."

"Brother Yuan, that dog-born bastard who hurt me—I want to skin him alive myself!"

The usual smiling expression on Fang Man's face had vanished, replaced by utter fury.

"At most three days, and my injuries will be fully healed. You have to wait for me!"

Fang Yuan did not want Fang Man to risk his life, but knowing his nature, if he did not personally cut down his enemy, it would likely leave a knot in his heart.

As for recovering from such injuries in three days—

If it were anyone else, Fang Yuan definitely would not have believed it. Injuries this severe would require at least a month or two of recuperation.

But Fang Man was different.

He seemed to possess a very special talent. No matter how badly he was injured, he could heal himself in a very short time.

And with healing pills, his recovery would be even faster.

"Then I'll wait for you for three days."

After pondering for a moment, Fang Yuan said, "But if I find even the slightest injury still on you, don't even think about going."

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