Returning to the Houtian Realm!

"Family Head, how has Yuan'er's injury been healing?"

The Fang Family's Council Hall was led by Fang Zhongwu, the Family Head, seated at the head of the room. Elders of the Lineage sat on either side.

The Third Elder had asked the question. He wore a curious expression, as if he truly had no idea how Fang Yuan was doing.

As the saying went, a nation could not be without its heir apparent. The future leader of a Lineage was just as important.

"Seventh Elder, tell everyone about Yuan'er's condition in detail."

Fang Zhongwu's expression gave nothing away as he spoke calmly, turning his gaze to the old man seated third on the right.

He was the Fang Family's highest-ranking alchemist and the true authority in the Medicine Hall. No one knew Fang Yuan's condition better than he did.

"There's only a small problem with his Dantian. He'll recover after resting for a while," the Seventh Elder said blandly.

"That's good."

No one asked anything further. The elders all looked relieved.

"I have a five-hundred-year-old lingzhi. Family Head, take it and give it to Yuan'er to help him recover," the Grand Elder offered generously, his concern seeming genuine.

But everyone present knew that the Grand Elder and Fang Zhongwu had a long history of conflict.

"I have a spiritual herb, too."

"The Heart-Nourishing Pearl can gather qi and nourish the spirit. Yuan'er can wear it."

Once the Grand Elder had made his offering, the other elders followed suit, bringing out some of their treasured possessions.

"Then I'll thank all of you on Yuan'er's behalf for your concern."

Fang Zhongwu smiled as he accepted all the gifts.

"The competition among Flowing Cloud County's younger generation will be held in a month. Shouldn't we adjust our lineup?"

The Third Elder spoke up suddenly, and the atmosphere in the Council Hall turned strange.

"I think it's too early to worry about that. There's no need to rush into adjusting the lineup," the Fifth Elder said blandly.

Neither man had mentioned Fang Yuan, but everything they said concerned him. They had simply left the matter unspoken.

Seeing the atmosphere grow chilly, Fang Zhongwu set the tone. "We'll discuss this another time."

"Last week, the bandits from Green Ridge Stronghold repeatedly harassed the Lineage's mines. What does everyone think..."

Fang Yuan had no idea what was happening at the Lineage meeting.

He was lounging outside in the courtyard, sunbathing and eating fruit that a maid fed him, thoroughly at ease.

"Young Master, is this pressure about right?"

A pretty young woman in a long green dress stood behind Fang Yuan, massaging his shoulders as she asked softly.

"Just right."

Fang Yuan had just spat out a fruit pit when he saw an imposing figure striding over. Everyone who saw him bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Family Head!"

Fang Yuan looked at his cheap old man and started to rise, but the man pressed a hand down to stop him.

"You haven't fully recovered yet. You should get plenty of rest."

Fang Zhongwu swept his imposing gaze over the servants nearby. "You may all leave."

"Here, these are gifts from your uncles. They want you to rest well and recover soon."

With a wave of his hand, Fang Zhongwu set an assortment of exquisite boxes and jade bottles down in front of Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan suddenly smiled. "Did the Grand Elder think so, too?"

"You brat, don't worry about what people think. Look at what they do," Fang Zhongwu said with an amused scold.

Fang Yuan felt rather helpless.

Many years ago, the Grand Elder had been the strongest contender to become the next Family Head of the Fang Family.

But Fang Zhongwu had suddenly returned from outside, shattering the Grand Elder's hopes and, in a sense, taking his place.

Ever since then, perhaps because of their father's feud, the Grand Elder's children had often come looking for trouble with Fang Yuan.

But Fang Yuan's talent was too high. Even with the age gap, suppressing the younger generation was child's play for him.

He had no pressure at all!

"At today's meeting, some of the elders expressed a few reservations about you. Don't take it to heart," Fang Zhongwu said.

Although the elders had all shown concern, raising the matter of adjusting the younger generation at such an inopportune time was a test.

No one would suggest abolishing the young master at a time like this, but with Fang Yuan's recovery uncertain, there would be no shortage of infighting down the road.

Fang Yuan waved a hand.

Wherever there were people, there were disputes. Some devoted themselves wholeheartedly to martial arts, while others coveted power and status.

Fang Yuan had always been the former, and that was still true now.

"I know you don't care, but this position comes with special privileges and a greater share of resources," Fang Zhongwu said gravely.

Fang Zhongwu knew his son's temperament well. He was a complete martial arts fanatic, with no desire beyond pursuing the Martial Dao.

Fang Yuan chuckled and spoke slowly, his words carrying an indescribable arrogance.

"As long as I don't want to move, no one among the younger generation can shake my position."

He was now, in the truest sense, covering eighty thousand li a day while sitting still.

Every day, he could gain the equivalent of a year's hard cultivation. His future progress could only be described as terrifying.

"In a few days, we'll have all the medicinal ingredients needed to repair your Dantian. For now, focus on recovering. If you need anything, let me know."

"Father, I've already destroyed my own Dantian."

Fang Yuan's words were startling enough to make anyone gasp.

"What did you say?!" Fang Zhongwu stared at him, stunned. "You destroyed your own Dantian?"

"Have you thought about how much time this will take? It'll seriously affect your path in the Martial Dao."

Fang Yuan replied seriously, "If I want to go higher and farther, I need a solid foundation. You're the one who taught me that."

Fang Zhongwu let out a long sigh, but still respected his son's decision.

"Still, this will make things difficult for you from now on."

With the halo of a genius came the burden of pressure.

The fall from the heights to the depths was a gap most people couldn't bear.

"During the Azure Cloud Sect trials, I obtained a secret technique that can rapidly repair my Dantian and even bring me back to my peak."

Fang Yuan thought it over, then decided to let his cheap old man in on some of the details.

"That's good."

After hearing the news, Fang Zhongwu showed no great surprise. His calm reaction was strange enough to make Fang Yuan curious.

"In that case, don't tell anyone you destroyed your Dantian. Just act as if you're following the usual process of repairing it."

Fang Zhongwu thought for a moment before speaking.

"Father, you've thought of everything," Fang Yuan said, agreeing wholeheartedly.

After seeing his cheap old man off, Fang Yuan shut the door and told the maid to keep watch outside. No one was to disturb him.

"Today's Source Point has refreshed!"

It was a quarter past noon.

Fang Yuan noticed the change on his Attribute Panel and immediately spent the points!

In an instant, Fang Yuan seemed to turn into a vortex, endlessly drawing in true qi.

[You cultivated diligently for one year, successfully condensing the mist-like true qi in your body. Threads of true qi formed a Dantian, and your cultivation broke through to the Houtian Realm!]

A moment later.

Fang Yuan looked inward. His abdomen had originally held only a hazy cloud of mist.

But in the blink of an eye, strands of true qi condensed within the mist, intertwining and gradually building a Dantian seven zhang tall.

The process was swift; it took less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

"I remember that building my Dantian the first time took a full three days," Fang Yuan recalled.

Returning to the Houtian Realm, Fang Yuan felt as still as an ancient well. He was only walking the same path all over again.