Three days later.
"The Spirit Gathering Pill is indeed very effective."
Fang Yuan sat cross-legged in his room. The spiritual power that had initially gathered in his mind like a lone reed had now spread into a whole thicket.
With his talent, it had taken him just three days to refine a Spirit Gathering Pill.
Yet a single Spirit Gathering Pill was worth a month of painstaking cultivation and tempering his spiritual power.
"Spirit Gathering Pills are far more expensive than Qi Condensation Pills. Usually, only elders can afford them."
The higher one's cultivation, the more resources one needed.
Even with the resources of the Household being directed toward him, there was no way he could have an unlimited supply.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm aided his cultivation. By advancing steadily, he could make better and faster progress than by relying on pills.
"Once I condense my Divine Sense, breaking through to Foundation Establishment will be just around the corner!"
Fang Yuan's eyes gleamed. Only by reaching the Foundation Building Realm would he truly join the ranks of Flowing Cloud County's top experts and be able to act without many reservations.
Not long afterward, Xiao Zi hurried in.
"Reporting to you, Young Master, something terrible has happened."
Fang Yuan furrowed his brows and gestured for Xiao Zi to continue.
"I heard that all the bandits from Green Ridge Stronghold came out and attacked our mine at Falling Mist Mountain."
How dare they!
Fang Yuan's anger flared. "How many casualties?"
"We suffered heavy losses. I don't know the exact number. The family head has asked you to come see him," Xiao Zi replied truthfully.
Fang Yuan nodded. It concerned the family's honor. For years, no one had dared to provoke the Fang Family like this.
Once his thunderous wrath descended, Green Ridge Stronghold would be wiped off the map!
When Fang Yuan arrived at the family head's study, several elders were already inside. He immediately greeted them.
"These Green Ridge Stronghold bandits have grown far too brazen. I'll go up the mountain myself and wipe out those lowlife bastards."
The speaker was the Fang Family's Ninth Elder. He had always been hot-tempered, the sort who would casually threaten to destroy an entire family. He was also immensely powerful.
"Green Ridge Stronghold is nothing special. Surely an ordinary elder is enough to deal with it," the Second Elder suddenly said.
The Fang Family's Council Elders all had their own titles, from the Grand Elder down to the Seventeenth Elder.
The other elders at the Foundation Building Realm were collectively known as ordinary elders.
"We mustn't be careless. We still don't know who rallied these scattered bandits. They may not be ordinary opponents," the Seventh Elder said cautiously.
"I think we should send the Eleventh Elder."
The Second Elder turned toward the Eleventh Elder, who had remained silent. He was calm by nature and always acted with caution.
At this, the other elders all nodded in agreement.
Fang Zhongwu, seated in the place of honor, made the final decision. Then he glanced at Fang Yuan in the corner and said,
"Fang Yuan, go with the Eleventh Elder and learn from his experience!"
At those words, many of the elders in the study looked surprised.
"Family Head, this mission is dangerous. We shouldn't let the Young Master risk his life."
"That's right. Aside from the First Chief, who's at the Foundation Building Realm, several of their chieftains are at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm. They may even have experts who've broken through the Hundred Orifices Realm."
"I don't think this is appropriate."
Many elders were concerned for Fang Yuan's safety and spoke up to dissuade him.
Fang Zhongwu smiled and shook his head.
"You may not know this, but this boy has already broken through to the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm!"
Of everyone in the Fang household, Fang Zhongwu alone truly knew Fang Yuan's cultivation and strength.
The other elders had only heard reports from their disciples or received messages from elsewhere.
But those reports were inaccurate.
Fang Yuan struck decisively, killing his enemies in a single exchange—in other words, instantly!
The disciples were at relatively low cultivation levels and couldn't gauge the true extent of his strength. They only knew that he was powerful.
"To reach the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm at his age—and break Clear Sea City's record for the youngest cultivator to reach the Foundation Building Realm—that's only a matter of time!" one elder exclaimed.
None of the elders doubted Fang Zhongwu's words. They all turned their hopeful gazes toward Fang Yuan.
"I think he could break not just Clear Sea City's record, but the Great Zhou Dynasty's as well."
An elder with a completely white beard stroked it, looking at Fang Yuan with approval.
At present, the Great Zhou Dynasty's record for the youngest person to reach the Foundation Building Realm was thirty-six!
"With the Young Master here, our Fang Family is sure to flourish!"
Over the years, the Fang Family had risen from the weakest of the Three Great Families to its current commanding lead.
Much of that was thanks to Fang Zhongwu's efforts.
But the most important factor was that the family remained united. There was intrigue and infighting, but it never interfered with the family's development.
The elders filed out one after another, leaving Fang Zhongwu alone with Fang Yuan to talk.
"Green Ridge Stronghold is full of desperadoes. If you drive them into a corner, they'll resort to all sorts of desperate measures!"
Fang Zhongwu warned him, "Staying alive is more important than anything else."
"Unless a Foundation Building Realm expert steps in, no one at the Xiantian Realm is a match for me!"
To put Fang Zhongwu at ease, Fang Yuan made a bold claim. Of course, most of it was true.
"That's how it should be."
Fang Zhongwu didn't argue. Instead, he looked proud.
"How are Fang Man and the others?"
On his way here, Fang Yuan had heard that the mine had been attacked and Fang Man had been captured. His fate was unknown.
"They're safe and sound."
The Fang Family had a place where they kept the life tablets of important family members, allowing them to check on the condition of those who were far away.
"If anything had really happened to Fang Man, the Fifth Elder would've already gone over there and slaughtered them all, leaving not even the chickens and dogs alive."
The Fifth Elder was Fang Man's adoptive father. He treated Fang Man as his own and was fiercely protective of him.
"There's no time to lose. I'll head back and get ready, then set out with the Eleventh Elder."
Back at his courtyard, Fang Yuan didn't have much to pack. He'd been to the mine before, and his Cosmic Pouch already had everything he needed.
He'd mainly returned to remind Xiao Zi to keep an eye on Miao Yunshang and on Rain Listening Pavilion's movements.
Many disciples were joining the campaign against Green Ridge Stronghold, most of them having gone on the previous expedition.
More than a hundred Houtian Realm family members, thirty Stewards, and one Council Elder.
Such a force was enough to sweep through the major families of the surrounding cities. It was safe to say that the Fang Family was giving Green Ridge Stronghold plenty of respect.
"I heard Green Ridge Stronghold angered the Fang Family. They're probably finished this time."
"Look at this force. They'll grind the bandits' bones to dust—and even the dogs will get a couple of slaps."
"How many traveling merchants has Green Ridge Stronghold preyed on? Countless ordinary cultivators have been killed, too. They deserve to die!"
Although the Fang Family had its reasons for acting, what it was doing ultimately benefited the people. Everyone in the surrounding area sang its praises.
Soon, the Fang Family's mighty procession left the city.
At the same time.
The scouts who'd gone ahead to gather information returned.
"Reporting to the Eleventh Elder: no one at the mine survived. We haven't seen any Green Ridge Stronghold bandits in Falling Mist Mountain so far."
The Eleventh Elder narrowed his eyes. Beneath his calm expression, a volcano was ready to erupt.
The others looked just as grim.
"Scout again, then report back."
On the battlefield, having the latest intelligence was crucial.
"Elder, we've all gathered together, making us too conspicuous. That might alert the Green Ridge Stronghold bandits."
Among the Fang Family group, Fang Yuan was the only one qualified to speak with an elder.
"Yuan'er, if you have any ideas, don't hesitate to share them."
"We can split into ten teams and encircle Green Ridge Stronghold from different directions. That way, we can also prevent anyone from slipping through the net."
The Eleventh Elder considered the suggestion for a moment, then quickly agreed.
Before you continue