Shaking All Directions

"You want to fight me?"

The speaker was the future heir of the Royal City Fang Family, Fang Xuan's elder brother, Fang Lian.

He still looked like he was twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but his actual age was already over forty. He was Fang Runan's eldest legitimate son.

"You don't even have Foundation Building Stage cultivation. You're not qualified to trade blows with me."

Fang Lian swept a faint glance over him, his tone arrogant, returning the humiliation in almost the same manner.

"You scared?"

Fang Yuan's reply was only three simple words.

Fang Lian was stunned for a long moment, as if doubting his own ears. Then, in fury, he laughed instead.

Before he could speak, his hot-tempered younger brother cut in first.

"How could my brother be scared of you? I'll fight you myself!"

"Shut up!"

Fang Yuan had been irritated by Fang Xuan's hostility from the very start.

Now the buzzing in his ear had gone on long enough—he'd given him more face than he deserved. In an instant, he pressed his fingers together like a sword and slashed out.

"Not good!"

Fang Xuan's pupils shrank sharply, as if facing a great enemy.

The Sword Qi that had been less than half an inch a moment ago was now more than ten times stronger when it reached him—over ten zhang long, fierce and sharp.

"That's a bit much."

Fang Lian's gaze turned cold. He flicked his sleeve, and a surge of abundant true essence shot forth, easily dissolving the Sword Qi.

"You're asking for death!"

The Royal City Fang Family members snapped out of their shock, their eyes blazing with fury as they released their auras, rattling the tables and chairs.

"As if we're afraid of you."

The Prefecture City Fang Family was equally fierce, meeting them head-on, ready to strike at any moment.

"Enough!"

Fang Zhongwu spoke slowly, releasing no aura at all, but his voice carried an unyielding authority.

"In front of the ancestors, what kind of spectacle is this?"

Fang Runan also stopped the many elders who wanted to act, shouting sternly.

But his gaze lingered on Fang Yuan, intentionally or not.

"Since the rites have rules, we should follow them," Fang Zheng said.

Fang Xuan had lost face from that earlier sword strike and desperately wanted to reclaim his dignity, but Fang Lian stopped him with a look.

"You're no match for him."

Fang Lian wrapped his voice in true qi and sent it directly to Fang Xuan's ear.

"How is that possible? He only got me by surprise. If I had been prepared..."

Fang Xuan was unwilling to accept it and wanted to explain the accident to his brother, but he was ruthlessly cut off again.

"Step out!"

Fang Lian rose to his feet, his gaze fixed on Fang Yuan. As he walked, the air seemed to split apart, flowing to either side—a truly astonishing sight.

"Young Master!"

Though many elders were relieved that Fang Yuan had stepped up at the critical moment to salvage the family's honor, But alas.

Fang Lian was a Foundation Establishment True Person of long-standing fame. The gap between them was like a deep chasm—how could it be bridged?

Even though Fang Yuan had a record of fighting the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Mad Blood Daoist and even wounding him, No one had witnessed it with their own eyes.

No one could predict how that battle had truly gone.

They couldn't help but worry.

"If it comes to it, we'll just give up the main family's status," some elders thought, their hearts aching.

The Fang Family Village had a dedicated martial arena, passed down through generations and repaired time and again, steeped in ancient charm.

"I have to say, you've got guts."

On the arena, Fang Lian crossed his arms, chin raised, looking down at Fang Yuan from a superior angle.

"But unfortunately, guts alone, without strength, are far from enough."

"This kind of defying heaven and striking above your station—even the Ninth Prince couldn't pull it off. You're not up to the task."

Fang Yuan's expression was cold. "Are you done talking?"

"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Fang Lian's eyes flashed with a cold gleam. With a sweep of his hand, surging true essence poured out, stirring the surrounding spiritual energy like a tidal wave.

Layer upon layer stacked, like crashing waves in the sea, intent on drowning Fang Yuan.

"Be careful, Young Master Fang Yuan!"

Below the arena, Fang Family villagers had already gathered in full force, and more people were still arriving from afar.

Fang Family Village was similarly polarized—some had retired here from the Royal City, others from the Prefecture City.

On ordinary days, they got along fairly harmoniously.

But now, with differing stances, their attitudes were worlds apart.

"The gap between a Foundation Establishment True Person and the Xiantian Realm is like the difference between clouds and mud. Better to step down early and avoid getting hurt."

These words seemed to favor Fang Lian, but they were also spoken from genuine concern.

A Foundation Building Realm cultivator.

Because of their overwhelming strength, they were honored with the title of True Person, appearing to ordinary people like immortals who could summon wind and rain.

"A True Person, so what? Hasn't our Young Master dealt with them before?"

Among the crowd at the ancestral rites, some disciples who had participated in the destruction of Green Ridge Stronghold spoke up for Fang Yuan.

Many shook their heads, finding it absurd, unwilling to argue.

"Truly arrogant."

The overwhelming tide of true qi seemed fierce, but its actual power was not as great as imagined.

At most, it could crush an ordinary Ninth Layer Houtian Realm cultivator.

Such force was hardly worth Fang Yuan's notice.

Whoosh... Boom...

Fang Yuan still held two fingers together like a sword. A few inches of Sword Qi burst from his fingertips, tearing through the tide of true qi.

Then, instead of weakening, the razor-sharp Sword Qi expanded to over a hundred zhang, as if it would shatter space itself.

"Such condensed true qi—it's not far from transforming into true essence."

Fang Lian's expression shifted slightly.

He thought he had already overestimated Fang Yuan's strength, striking out with true essence from the start.

But now it seemed this youth's true qi was condensed to a level that would require at least a decade of refinement at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm.

Yet how old was Fang Yuan? How did he have the energy and time to polish his realm like this?

"Break!"

Seeing the Sword Qi approaching, Fang Lian cast aside his distracting thoughts and punched through the air. True qi surged violently, shattering the Sword Qi instantly.

He was surprised by Fang Yuan's cultivation.

But this level of strength was not enough to move him.

"Even if the family poured all its resources into him, there's no way a Fourth Layer Xiantian Realm cultivator could be pushed to the Ninth Layer in such a short time."

Fang Lian's eyes flickered with doubt, leaving only one possibility in his mind.

During the Azure Cloud Sect trial, Fang Yuan had not only avoided injury but had obtained a great opportunity!

"Lian'er!"

Just as Fang Lian's thoughts were racing, a dignified call snapped him awake. He lifted his gaze forward.

What met his eyes was another streak of Sword Qi hurtling through the air, three hundred zhang long, its power even greater than the previous one.

This level of attack could already threaten him!

"Is this really the strength a Xiantian Realm cultivator can unleash?"

The Fang Family villagers below the arena were dumbfounded. Even the many elders of the Royal City Fang Family were stunned, rubbing their eyes.

"I once saw a Peak Hantian Realm cultivator who had opened all one hundred and eight acupoints, refining true qi for decades—and even he didn't have such power!"

"Indeed, those who choose to refine true qi are usually stuck in the Xiantian Realm for years, unable to break through."

"At his age and talent, how could he have such condensed true qi?"

Seeing the shock on the Royal City Fang Family's faces, the Prefecture City Fang Family felt immensely pleased.

Especially the younger disciples who admired Fang Yuan—they wanted to shout it out loud.

"Your Fang Family's true dragon has really been hiding his strength."

Dingguo Duke Fang Runan's previously relaxed expression gradually grew serious as he watched the duel, speaking to Fang Zhongwu.

"Your Fang Lian isn't bad either."