Overt Scheme

"Reporting to the Clan Leader, as you instructed, this is the Yinshe Grass obtained from the Cold Pool at the rear mountain."

An ordinary elder of the Fang Family stood respectfully before Fang Zhongwu, holding a grayish-brown spiritual herb in both hands.

"You have worked hard."

Fang Zhongwu nodded, put away the Yinshe Grass, and formed a hand seal. A faint halo fell onto the identity token at the elder's waist.

"The corresponding contribution points have been credited to your token. Go to the family treasury to exchange for whatever you need."

"Thank you, Clan Leader!"

Before leaving, the elder hesitated for a moment, then still reported what had happened at the Cold Pool.

"That young man had a Guardian secretly protecting him, but he was simply shaken off by someone from the Wangcheng Fang Family."

"You don't need to concern yourself with this matter."

Fang Zhongwu now understood the full story, but he was well aware that the Royal City prodigy had not yet left.

"This is Flowing Cloud County, not the Royal City."

"Young Master, I've long heard there was another Fang Family in the Prefecture City, and now it seems they are indeed overbearing."

Ye Lingkong relayed the contents of the voice transmission to his Guardian, who was quite indignant.

"This Ye's possessions are not so easily taken."

Ye Lingkong's eyes flickered with cold light.

The Guardian was an old man nearing seventy, but his true age exceeded three hundred years, with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation.

He glanced at Fang Family Village and said hesitantly, "In this village, there are at least ten auras with strength no less than mine."

"To reclaim the Yinshe Grass, we may need to plan more carefully."

Ye Lingkong shook his head and said calmly, "You should be aware of the rumors along the way, Elder Chang."

"You mean that the Prefecture City Fang Family has a genius who has already broken through to the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm and can even contend with Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

Elder Chang clearly did not believe it. "I think it's all rumors. The first half might be possible, but the latter part is likely pure imagination."

Having lived over three hundred years and traveled far and wide, he had never seen a Xiantian cultivator who could match a Foundation Establishment True Person.

Perhaps some extraordinary genius could hold out for a dozen exchanges under a Foundation Establishment True Person.

Like the one before him.

But to achieve a stalemate was absolutely impossible.

Even small realm gaps were hard to bridge, let alone major ones.

Ye Lingkong nodded in agreement. "I've heard of this genius from the Prefecture City."

"His talent is indeed astonishing. Breaking through to Xiantian at fifteen, the Azure Cloud Academy personally came to invite him."

"Recently, two prominent prodigies in the Royal City have some connection to him."

The two prodigies Ye Lingkong referred to were naturally Murong Jing and the Ninth Prince, his tone laced with amusement.

Elder Chang dismissed it. "With enough resources, it's not difficult to quickly stack up a Xiantian realm."

"Often, many 'geniuses' who break through to Xiantian early can't even reach Foundation Establishment and fade away in disgrace."

The Great Zhou Dynasty had records of Foundation Establishment breakthroughs, but never any so-called Xiantian records—this was the reason.

"For the Azure Cloud Academy to personally invite him, he is certainly no mediocrity."

Ye Lingkong's eyes were deep, and he did not underestimate the talents of the world. "Besides, he has participated in the Azure Cloud Sect's trial."

"The Yinshe Grass can help cultivators strengthen their mental power and condense Divine Sense. Perhaps he truly has Ninth Layer Houtian Realm cultivation."

Ye Lingkong's words were light and casual—this was the mark of strong confidence.

Even if the other party truly had that cultivation, he was not afraid.

"Did you notice just now? The Fang Family members who came out were all in a very off mood."

Ye Lingkong analyzed, "They likely had a conflict inside."

"Regardless of who holds the Yinshe Grass now, the fact that someone just sent me a voice transmission suggests they want me to clash with the Prefecture City Fang Family."

Elder Chang was surprised by Ye Lingkong's calm and sharp insight, and said indignantly, "I knew the Fang Family people were all rotten to the core."

"If that Yinshe Grass is really meant for the Fang Family genius, we probably won't get it back."

"Forcing the issue will only play into the Wangcheng Fang Family's hands, and we'll be the ones to suffer."

"For a single spiritual herb, offending a local power is not worth it!"

Ye Lingkong flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

"Are we just letting it go like this?" Elder Chang asked reluctantly.

The Ye Family was one of the Great Zhou Dynasty's top noble houses, and Ye Lingkong was its future master.

Leaving so dejectedly was truly a loss of face.

"The hereditary title is imminent—the position of Duke Protector of the Realm will fall to my father. We cannot make enemies for no reason and invite unnecessary trouble."

Elder Chang's expression turned serious. "Everything will be done as the Young Master says!"

"This debt, I will remember."

Ye Lingkong's face was calm as he said flatly, "If I recall correctly, the Prefecture Governor here is from your Ancestral Family. Let's go take a look."

"And they just left like that?"

In a clean room, Fang Zhongwu received intelligence from a scout and furrowed his brow slightly.

"Have the Eleventh Elder follow them in secret and see what they do."

The scout acknowledged the order and was about to leave, but was called back.

"Forget it. No need to go. You may withdraw."

Fang Zhongwu's gaze flickered uncertainly, his eyelids drooping slightly, until Fang Yuan entered the room, breaking the state.

"In a few days, the Baptism accumulated over a hundred years in the Ancestral Hall will be ready. It can nourish your body and awaken your talent."

Fang Zhongwu spoke slowly. "After that, you can refine the Yinshe Grass, condense your Divine Sense, and directly establish your Foundation."

Fang Yuan lowered his head slightly.

He looked at the grayish-brown spiritual herb placed on the table, which emitted a faint white glow and a fresh fragrance.

As he sniffed, drawing in the clean scent, even his mind seemed to clear a little.

"Getting this Yinshe Grass couldn't have been easy, could it?"

Fang Yuan didn't believe Chang Qing would be so kind-hearted; he just didn't know what game he was playing.

"No one from the family's dispatched team was hurt." Fang Zhongwu thought for a moment and chose not to hide it. "There was just some conflict with disciples from the Royal City Noble Clan."

Fang Zhongwu didn't go into detail, but Fang Yuan had a rough picture in his mind.

"The Chang Family knew someone was after this spiritual herb all along. They deliberately led us into conflict with them."

"Quite a clever move—using a borrowed knife to kill."

Fang Zhongwu's expression was indifferent as he said calmly, "Opportunities always go to those capable of seizing them."

"Cultivators contend with heaven, struggle with the earth, and conflict with others is naturally unavoidable."

At this point, Fang Zhongwu's expression turned serious.

"Yuan'er, the family has placed great hopes on you now. Do not let the family's nurturing go to waste!"

The hope of the entire clan—Fang Yuan.

For a moment, Fang Yuan inexplicably felt a weight settle on his shoulders.

But upon thinking it over carefully...

Something seemed a bit off.

The family was in its prime, with strong experts emerging one after another.

"Father, you're not thinking that once I break through, you'll have me inherit the position of Family Head, are you?" Fang Yuan asked with a look of suspicion.

Seeing through his thoughts, a flicker of embarrassment passed through Fang Zhongwu's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

"How could you think that?" Fang Zhongwu said seriously. "I will definitely continue to shelter you for a while longer."

This cheap father of his was always thinking about retiring early.

Sigh.

Fang Yuan was truly helpless. If he wanted to pursue his own happiness, he couldn't very well stop him.

"What's the situation with the Baptism accumulated in the Ancestral Hall?"