"I report to you, Patriarch. As you instructed, this is the Yinshe Grass we found in the Cold Pool behind the mountain."
An ordinary elder of the Fang Family stood respectfully before Fang Zhongwu, holding a gray-brown spirit herb in both hands.
"Thanks for your efforts!"
Fang Zhongwu nodded, put away the Yinshe Grass, and made a hand seal. A faint glow settled into the identity token at the elder's waist.
"The corresponding contribution points have been added to your token. Return to the family treasury and redeem whatever you need."
"Many thanks, Patriarch!"
Before leaving, the elder hesitated, then told him what had happened at the Cold Pool.
"That young man had a Guardian protecting him in secret, but the people from the Royal City Fang Family drove the Guardian back just now."
"You don't need to concern yourself with this matter."
Fang Zhongwu now knew the whole story, but he was well aware that the prodigy from the Royal Capital had yet to leave.
"This is Flowing Cloud County, not the Royal Capital."
"Young Master, I'd heard there was another Fang Family in the Prefecture City. Now that I've seen it, they really are brazen."
Ye Lingkong relayed the message he'd received to his Guardian, who was seething with indignation.
"What belongs to me, Ye Lingkong, isn't so easily taken."
A cold glint flickered in Ye Lingkong's eyes.
The Guardian was an old man nearing seventy, but his true age was already over three hundred. He was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.
He glanced at Fang Family Village, hesitating. "There are at least ten people in this village whose strength is no less than mine."
"We may have to take our time figuring out how to reclaim the Yinshe Grass."
Ye Lingkong shook his head and said calmly, "Elder Chang must have heard the rumors along the way."
"You mean the rumors that the Prefecture City Fang Family has a genius who's already broken through to the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm and can even fight a Foundation Building Realm cultivator?"
Elder Chang clearly didn't believe it. "I'd say it's all gossip. The first part might be true, but the rest is probably pure fantasy."
He'd lived for more than three hundred years and traveled far and wide, yet he'd never seen a Xiantian cultivator who could contend with a Foundation Establishment True Person.
Perhaps some peerless genius could hold their own for a dozen or so exchanges against a Foundation Establishment True Person.
Like the young master before him.
But fighting as an equal was out of the question.
Even the gap between minor stages was hard to bridge, let alone the gap between major realms.
Ye Lingkong nodded in agreement. "I've heard of the genius from the Prefecture City."
"His talent is indeed remarkable. He broke through to the Xiantian Realm at fifteen, and the Azure Cloud Academy personally visited him to extend an invitation."
"Two of the most talked-about prodigies in the Royal Capital lately have both had some connection to him."
The two prodigies Ye Lingkong meant were naturally Murong Jing and the Ninth Prince. There was a teasing note in his voice.
Elder Chang scoffed. "With enough resources, quickly pushing someone into the Xiantian Realm isn't difficult."
"Often, those 'geniuses' who break through to the Xiantian Realm at a young age can't even reach Foundation Establishment, and end up fading into obscurity."
The Great Zhou Dynasty had records of cultivators reaching Foundation Establishment, but there had never been any so-called records of reaching the Xiantian Realm. That was why.
"If the Azure Cloud Academy personally invited him, he must be no ordinary talent."
Ye Lingkong's gaze was deep. He didn't underestimate the realm's outstanding talents. "Besides, he also took part in the Azure Cloud Sect's trial."
"Yinshe Grass can help a cultivator strengthen their spiritual power and condense Divine Sense. Perhaps he really has reached the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm."
Ye Lingkong spoke lightly, his confidence unshakable.
Even if the other party really had reached that level, he still wouldn't fear him.
"Did you notice? The people from the Fang Family looked very uneasy when they came out."
Ye Lingkong analyzed the situation. "They must have had a conflict in there."
"Setting aside who ended up with the Yinshe Grass, someone sent me a message just now. They were probably hoping to provoke a clash between me and the Prefecture City Fang Family."
Elder Chang was surprised by Ye Lingkong's calm and keen insight. He fumed, "I knew the Fang Family were all rotten to the core."
"If that Yinshe Grass really is meant for the Fang Family's genius, I'm afraid we won't get it back."
"If we try to take it by force, we'll only fall right into the Royal City Fang Family's trap. We'd be the ones to suffer."
"It's not worth offending a local power over a single spirit herb!"
Ye Lingkong flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
"Are we really just going to let it go?" Elder Chang asked, unwilling to accept it.
The Ye Family was one of the Great Zhou Dynasty's top noble clans, and Ye Lingkong was its future leader.
To leave in such a dejected state would be a terrible loss of face.
"The hereditary succession is imminent, and the Duke Who Guards the Nation's title is about to pass to my father. We can't make enemies for no reason and invite complications."
Elder Chang's expression turned serious. "I'll follow your instructions, Young Master!"
"I'll remember this debt."
Ye Lingkong's expression remained calm as he said, "If I remember correctly, the Prefecture Governor here is from your Ancestral Family. Let's pay him a visit."
"They just left?"
In a clean room, Fang Zhongwu frowned as he received a report from a scout.
"Have the Eleventh Elder follow them in secret and see what they do."
The scout took his orders and was about to leave, but Fang Zhongwu called him back.
"Never mind. There's no need. You may go."
Fang Zhongwu's gaze shifted, his eyelids lowered. He remained like that until Fang Yuan entered the room and broke the spell.
"In a few days, the century's worth of Baptism accumulated in the Ancestral Hall will be ready. It can nurture your body and awaken your talent."
Fang Zhongwu continued slowly, "After that, you can refine the Yinshe Grass, condense Divine Sense, and establish your foundation directly."
Fang Yuan lowered his head slightly.
He saw a gray-brown spirit herb on the table. It gave off a faint white glow and a fresh fragrance.
As he breathed in its scent, his mind seemed to clear.
"It can't have been easy to obtain this Yinshe Grass."
Fang Yuan didn't believe Chang Qing had been kind enough to help for no reason. He just didn't yet know what Chang Qing was up to.
"No one the family sent was injured." Fang Zhongwu considered his words before deciding not to conceal the truth. "They just had a bit of a conflict with a disciple of one of the Royal City Noble Clans."
Fang Zhongwu didn't go into detail, but Fang Yuan had already pieced together most of what happened.
"The Chang Family knew someone was after this spirit herb and deliberately lured us into a conflict with them."
"They really did use the enemy's blade to kill."
Fang Zhongwu remained composed. "Fortuitous opportunities go to those capable of claiming them."
"Cultivators contend with Heaven and struggle against Earth. Conflict with other people is naturally unavoidable."
At this, Fang Zhongwu's expression grew solemn.
"Yuan'er, the family has placed great hopes in you. You mustn't let down the family that has nurtured you!"
The hope of the entire clan—Fang Yuan.
For a moment, Fang Yuan inexplicably felt a heavy burden settle on his shoulders.
But, thinking it over carefully—
Something didn't seem right.
The family was in its prime, with powerful cultivators emerging one after another.
"Father, you're not thinking that once I break through, you'll make me take over as Patriarch, are you?" Fang Yuan asked suspiciously.
His thoughts exposed, a trace of awkwardness crossed Fang Zhongwu's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
"Why would you think that?" Fang Zhongwu said earnestly. "Of course I'll protect you for a while longer."
His cheap old man had always been eager to retire as soon as possible.
Sigh.
Fang Yuan was truly helpless. His father wanted to pursue his own happiness; he couldn't exactly stand in the way.
"What exactly is this Baptism accumulated in the Ancestral Hall?"
Before you continue