"The Green Ridge Stronghold has been completely wiped out. The Fang family's experts are about to return."
"Then that's wonderful news."
"The Green Ridge Stronghold committed every kind of atrocity. They should've been killed long ago!"
News of the Green Ridge Stronghold's destruction spread to every corner like a hurricane. Many people in Clear Sea City made it a topic of conversation.
"How long has it even been? Was the Green Ridge Stronghold really that weak?"
"Yeah, it hasn't even been three days."
Someone scoffed when he heard that. "Weak? I bet you've never even been outside the city."
"The Green Ridge Stronghold had a Foundation Building Realm True Person stationed there, as well as dozens of Xiantian Realm cultivators. They also had the advantage of the terrain."
"Other than the Three Great Families and the Prefecture Lord's Mansion, no force had the nerve to wipe them out completely."
All sorts of rumors were flying around the city, most of them favorable to the Fang family.
For a time, the Fang family's standing in Clear Sea City rose another notch.
"When the Fang family recruits disciples from other lineages next time, I'm definitely joining!"
Clear Sea City, the Wang Clan.
"Are you sure this intelligence is accurate?"
Wang Jingtang sat at the head of the table, his face grim. He flung a dossier heavily onto the ground.
"He's only seventeen, and he's at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm?"
"It also says here that Fang Yuan is already strong enough to fight a Foundation Establishment True Person without losing?"
Wang Jingtang's barrage of questions left the servant drenched in sweat, not daring even to breathe too loudly.
"Look at it yourself. What does it say?" Wang Jingtang roared in fury. "Bring in the Fifth Elder."
As the head of the Wang Clan, one of the Three Great Families, Wang Jingtang commanded deep respect. Few dared defy him.
"Master, there's no need to be angry. I've looked over this intelligence, and there are indeed problems with it."
The Fifth Elder was in charge of the family's intelligence. He could sense the tension as soon as he entered the study, and spoke slowly.
"I've checked. The spies have reported back several times, and the information all came from members of the Fang family."
Wang Jingtang knew when to hold back, and his anger gradually subsided.
"Are you saying the Fang family might be deliberately laying a smokescreen?"
The Fifth Elder shook his head, his expression grave. "We can't be sure yet."
"Suppose Fang Yuan really is at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm. Then all the information we received before was false."
The earlier information the Fifth Elder referred to was that Fang Yuan had been seriously injured, his Dantian shattered, and his cultivation greatly diminished.
"I'll need you to work a little harder and verify this through multiple channels."
Wang Jingtang's eyes flickered. He was still weighing whether to use their covert agents, but then decided it wasn't worth it just to corroborate this information.
"Have Cheng'er come here," Wang Jingtang ordered the servant.
Wang Cheng was the leader of the Wang Clan's younger generation. He was a little older, but very strong, and his reputation was second only to Fang Yuan's.
"Greetings, Father."
Wang Jingtang nodded slightly and asked, "Did you send assassins to kill Fang Yuan?"
Wang Cheng's pupils contracted. It seemed he hadn't expected his father to know, and in an instant he was drenched in sweat.
"Foolish!"
Wang Jingtang's face turned livid as he snapped, "He made it back alive from the Azure Cloud Sect. Did you really think your little assassination plot would work?"
"By doing this, you'll only arouse suspicion and make them think of us."
Facing his father's scolding, Wang Cheng didn't dare say a word. He could only lower his head in silence.
"Killing Fang Yuan won't bring down the Fang family. It'll only provoke them and backfire."
Though Wang Jingtang seemed to be reprimanding him, his words were full of instruction.
"Don't leave the house for a while. Stay home and focus on your cultivation. Get ready for the Prefecture City Grand Competition."
Even though he was confined to the house, Wang Cheng had no complaints. He nodded and agreed.
At the same time.
The Zhu Family, one of the Three Great Families.
A similar report had also been placed in front of Zhu Hengping.
"Old Hai, what do you think?"
After reading the report, Zhu Hengping remained calm and passed it to the old servant beside him.
"It could be true or false. Hard to say," the old servant replied.
Zhu Hengping tapped his fingers against the tabletop in a steady rhythm, seemingly deep in thought.
"If it's true, then from now on, the Fang family will rule the prefectural city."
The old servant pressed his lips together, wanting to say something, but in the end he kept it to himself.
"Whether it's true or false, our Zhu Family will stay neutral. At most, we'll be affected a little. It's no big deal."
Having said that, Zhu Hengping looked up at the old servant. "If you have something to say, just say it. You know me."
"Master, Clear Sea City is too small. Even the Great Zhou Dynasty is too small."
"With the young lady's talent, staying here would be a waste of it."
"It makes no difference to us whether the Fang family or the Wang Clan rules the prefectural city."
Zhu Hengping shared the same thoughts. He could only sigh helplessly. "Jing'er has her own ideas. I can't force her."
The old servant sighed as well.
That day.
Word spread like wildfire that the Fang family's group returning from the Green Ridge Stronghold was on its way back to the prefectural city.
Many townsfolk poured out of the city of their own accord. The broad road was packed with people, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse.
At the city gate, the Prefect of Clear Sea City was there in person to welcome them. The authorities were making a public show of support, putting on quite a display.
Outside the city, Fang Yuan and the Eleventh Elder walked side by side at the head of the group, keeping some distance from those behind them.
"Yuan'er, now that you've made your strength public, I'm afraid many people will set their sights on you."
Back at the Green Ridge Stronghold, the Eleventh Elder had tried to gather the clansmen and get them to keep quiet, hoping to conceal Fang Yuan's strength.
"It's no use. There were too many people there. We couldn't keep it hidden, and people were bound to find out eventually."
The Three Great Families had enormous influence, each with its own intelligence network.
Fang Yuan didn't want to show off, but there was no need for him to deliberately play the fool and hide his strength.
The stronger your fists, the more say you had.
Besides, deliberately spreading the news and laying a smokescreen could turn the tables and put him on the offensive. Maybe it would make people even more wary of him.
"That's true. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed you could fight a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator."
Even with outside help, it still sounded like a tall tale.
Fang Yuan smiled. After all, his strength had come from years of bitter cultivation.
"Let's head home first. Look, plenty of people are waiting for us at the gate."
The Eleventh Elder pointed toward the city gate and smiled knowingly.
"So that's Fang Yuan? He really is handsome and distinguished, a fine young man!"
"To have reached such a level of cultivation at such a young age—he's truly a dragon among men, peerless in his generation."
"Thank you, Young Master Fang and Elder, for ridding Clear Sea City of such a great scourge!"
The townsfolk came forward of their own accord, brimming with enthusiasm.
Some of them might not have known about the undercurrents swirling through the city.
But the Green Ridge Stronghold had been destroyed. That meant a menace had been eliminated, and the deed deserved praise.
"Elder Fang, Young Master Fang."
The Prefect stepped forward with a smile and greeted the two as equals.
"Congratulations on your triumphant return! You've slain the bandits, destroyed their stronghold, and kept the peace for our people!"
"As members of Clear Sea City, it's only right for the Fang family to do its part," the Eleventh Elder replied with a smile.
The Prefect wasn't very powerful, but he represented the face of the authorities. The Prefecture Governor might even be backing him.
The Eleventh Elder didn't put on airs and treated him with great courtesy.
"In three days, the prefectural office will host a grand banquet to celebrate everyone's victory. You two must come!"
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