Overwhelming Victory

"An ordinary Ninth Layer Houtian Realm cultivator wouldn't last three moves against me."

As his acupoints continued to break through, Fang Yuan's cultivation remained at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm, but his strength was now worlds apart from before.

The Fifth Chief of Qinggang Stockade he had just faced was also at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm, yet he hadn't been able to put even the slightest pressure on him.

So far, no one had been worthy of making him draw his sword.

In that respect, Fang Yuan was indeed quite formidable.

After dealing with the Fifth Chief of Qinggang Stockade, Fang Yuan pressed two fingers together like a sword. True qi gathered at his fingertips, and with a casual sweep, he cut down more than ten bandits.

The Fang Family disciples, now under far less pressure, quickly counterattacked and slaughtered the remaining bandits.

"These are the valuables we found on the bandits. Please check them, Young Master." A disciple carried over a bag folded from cloth.

"Divide the valuables among yourselves."

Fang Yuan wasn't interested in the belongings of Houtian Realm cultivators. The Fifth Chief of Qinggang Stockade, on the other hand, might have had something worthwhile on him.

"Half a Jade Cup. The material is rather unusual—even I can't tell what it is."

Fang Yuan had little interest in money. Instead, the half-palm-sized Jade Cup they had dug out piqued his curiosity. He held it in his hand and turned it over for a while.

"Put it away for now."

Objects whose secrets couldn't be discerned were usually good stuff.

"Young Master, why are we transporting these bandits' corpses back?" Fang Ping asked, puzzled.

The Fang Family had a strict system for supervising and reviewing how well its disciples completed missions and how much they contributed. There was no need for much proof.

"I have my reasons."

Fang Yuan's gaze was deep and hard to read.

After a brief rest, the convoy set off again. They encountered no further trouble along the way and entered Clear Sea City without incident.

There had only been a minor interruption along the way. Merchants entering the city had to declare their cargo to the City Guard to prevent prohibited goods from being brought inside.

Items like pig iron were closely monitored by the authorities, but once the Fang Family's permit was presented, no one dared to deliberately make things difficult for them.

"Sir, are you the Young Master of the Fang Family?"

Fang Yuan had handsome features and an otherworldly bearing. The younger generation's heartfelt respect for him made his identity easy to recognize.

The one who spoke was the commander of the East Gate City Guard. He was at the Seventh Layer of the Houtian Realm and held a respectable position.

"Is there a problem with the goods?" Fang Yuan furrowed his brows and cupped his hands. "I am Fang Yuan."

Liu Hu hurriedly waved his hands, not daring to slight the young man before him, then returned the salute with a clasped fist.

"The goods are all in order. I just have a personal request, and I hope Young Master Fang will grant it."

Liu Hu was exceedingly courteous, keeping his place in mind.

He was merely a late-stage Houtian Realm cultivator. The Fang Family had at least eighty or a hundred people like him.

Without the uniform of an official, he wouldn't even have been qualified to speak with Fang Yuan.

"My good-for-nothing son has admired Young Master Fang for a long time. He sees you as an idol on the path of martial arts and wants to ask you for a few words of encouragement."

As he spoke, Liu Hu drew his long sword from his waist, had someone bring ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, and presented them to Fang Yuan.

It was a small favor. Fang Yuan agreed without hesitation and used his true qi to carve a line of writing directly into the sword's hilt.

"What pure true qi, and what meticulous control!" Liu Hu was secretly amazed.

"Thank you for the inscription, Young Master Fang!"

Under Liu Hu's watchful gaze, Fang Yuan led the convoy farther and farther away.

Suddenly remembering something, Liu Hu called out loudly, "Young Master Fang, the main road to the Inner City is still under repair. Please go through the Outer City!"

To avoid drawing attention and causing a commotion, Fang Yuan had deliberately boarded a carriage.

"This Jade Cup can absorb true qi. It's like a bottomless pit—it just won't fill."

Inside the carriage, Fang Yuan continued turning over the half Jade Cup in his hands, sending true qi into it through his fingertips.

Fang Yuan was engrossed in his research when the carriage suddenly shook. A commotion broke out outside.

"The Prefect's Son's carriage is coming through! Everyone else, get out of the way!"

The Outer City was densely populated, and they were currently in a busy market district, with people packed together.

Yet the Prefect's Son's carriage barreled through at full speed, heedless of the damage it caused along the way—or of the people it hit.

The oncoming carriage was about to crash into Fang Yuan's convoy.

"Why aren't you getting out of the way, you wretches?"

The servant driving the carriage was outrageously arrogant. Without even seeing who was in front of him, he hurled abuse at them.

"Some dog of a servant dares to bark at your grandpa?"

In front of Fang Yuan, the younger generation of the Fang Family might have been tame cats, respectful and obedient.

But outside, they were used to throwing their weight around too.

Two disciples immediately strode forward, utterly unafraid of the charging carriage, and swung their blades several times.

Bang... thud...

In the blink of an eye, the reins securing the horses were severed. The startled horses tried to bolt, but someone quickly followed up with another strike and cut them down.

At the same time,

the unbalanced carriage crashed to the ground. The enclosed cabin had its roof sliced off by the Fang Family disciples, leaving it open to the sky.

"They're Fang Family disciples. They're not people you want to mess with."

"The Prefect's Son isn't a pushover either. This should be quite a show."

Whenever there was a spectacle or a clash, bystanders were never in short supply. All the more so when it involved the city's most powerful factions.

"You have some nerve! You actually dare—"

Chang Huai sprang to his feet, seething with anger and ready to let loose. But when he saw the disciples in Fang Family uniforms, the words caught in his throat.

"Does the Fang Family think the law doesn't apply to them?"

Chang Huai's face was furious as he scolded them. "What punishment do you think you deserve for killing a fine steed in the middle of the street?"

He immediately slapped a grave accusation on them.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had laws, and although they held little sway over cultivators, everyone still had to maintain the appearance of obeying and upholding them.

"The Prefect's second son certainly knows how to throw his weight around."

Just then, a voice came from the Fang Family's carriage. The familiar voice made Chang Huai's body tremble.

"You charged into stalls and pedestrians in the middle of the street. Shouldn't you compensate for the damage and the lives lost?"

Fang Yuan hated nothing more than reckless speeding, especially when the driver had no restraint whatsoever.

Chang Huai's face turned ashen. He could already guess who was inside the carriage, but he had no way to argue back.

If he tried to use his power to bully them, they simply wouldn't be intimidated. And if he tried to argue his case, he was in the wrong.

Besides, he was indeed lower in status. Only with his elder brother there could he speak to Fang Yuan as an equal.

"The horses were startled just now. Fortunately, you gentlemen stepped in to help, or the losses would have been much greater."

Chang Huai swallowed his anger. He had to bow his head, no matter how much it rankled, and let the matter go. It was just a shame about his newly acquired steed.

"Who's inside that carriage, to make Chang Huai bow his head?"

"Chang Huai usually throws his weight around because of his status. I never thought I'd see him get put in his place today."

"Serves him right!"

Although the two sides hadn't come to blows, seeing Chang Huai lower his head brought the bystanders a few moments of satisfaction.

"Since you're saying you stepped in to help, where's our payment?" Fang Yuan deliberately provoked him.

At those words, Chang Huai was so furious his lungs nearly burst. He clenched his teeth, wishing he could attack right then and there.

But there was one problem: he couldn't win.

Chang Huai took a deep breath and forcibly restrained himself, silently adding this to his list of grudges. He tossed down a bag of money and left.

"Take it. We're heading home!"