The Ten Elders

"Is this the Foundation Building Realm?"

Fang Yuan abruptly opened his eyes. Deep in his gaze, streaks of lightning seemed to clash, and his eyes blazed with light. His aura was utterly different.

Before him lay a gray-brown spirit herb, its radiance completely faded.

"My body is much stronger than before, and my own strength has crossed the ten-thousand-jin threshold."

Fang Yuan clenched his fist. He was more than ten times stronger than before, but he still felt as though something was missing.

He had opened a Qi Spring, converted all his Qi into True Essence, condensed his Divine Sense, and undergone a transformation of the flesh...

He had fulfilled every condition for breaking through to the Foundation Building Realm.

Now, he could be considered a Foundation Establishment True Person.

Fang Yuan pondered hard, carefully sensing the changes in his body as he sank into thought.

"I still can't coordinate all the parts of my body. I have strength to spare, but I don't have enough control over it."

It was like an assembly line in a factory. All the equipment had been upgraded, greatly increasing production efficiency, but it still hadn't reached its full potential because the software hadn't been optimized to work with the new equipment.

"Perhaps I just need some time to get used to it."

As Fang Yuan considered this, an image suddenly surfaced in his mind: the illusory green lotus that had appeared when he condensed his Divine Sense during the breakthrough.

The resplendent green lotus still floated above his Dantian, sharing the space with the Martial Dao Imprint, each occupying half. It looked imposing.

"I should head out first."

Fang Yuan worried his father might be fretting outside after waiting too long, so he left the Ancestral Hall.

"Why are there so many people outside?"

As soon as Fang Yuan stepped out, he saw a dense crowd gathered around the Ancestral Hall, their gazes "burning" with excitement.

"Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Young Master!"

Many of the Fang Family's elders, along with the villagers of Fang Family Village, bowed slightly and greeted him with the utmost respect.

For a moment, Fang Yuan felt overwhelmed by the attention.

He had no idea how much commotion his Ancestral Shrine Baptism had caused outside, or how much of a stir it had created.

"You're all my elders. Please, there's no need for such formalities."

Fang Yuan hurried forward and helped an elderly man to his feet.

Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...

Several streaks of light suddenly shot across the sky above Fang Family Village. They all came from deep within the village, and each belonged to a venerable old man.

"Greetings, Ten Elders!"

All the Fang Family clansmen present, except Fang Zhongwu, showed the ten elders the utmost respect, bowing deeply.

Fang Zhongwu merely nodded in greeting.

Fang Yuan had never seen these Ten Elders before—not even heard of them—but courtesy never hurt.

He was about to bow, but the Long-Bearded Elder at the front reached out to stop him.

"Handsome and distinguished, a fine young man indeed. You truly are a worthy son of the Fang Family," the Long-Bearded Elder praised with a smile, stroking his beard.

Fang Yuan was at a loss, but still returned the polite greeting. Inwardly, he was amazed by the Ten Elders' strength.

Even after breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he still felt immense pressure from the ten men.

"At the very least, they're at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. Perhaps even higher," Fang Yuan thought.

The Long-Bearded Elder's strength was the most unfathomable.

Facing him, Fang Yuan felt like a tiny boat on the vast sea, liable to be swallowed by the waves at any moment.

"He could very well be a True Lord!"

The Long-Bearded Elder had deliberately restrained his aura, so Fang Yuan couldn't make an accurate assessment.

"Who dares spy on the Fang Family's Ancestral Land?"

Suddenly, the Long-Bearded Elder let out a cold snort and turned his gaze to the right. A streak of lightning seemed to cross the horizon, knocking a figure flying.

"Please forgive me, senior!"

A weak, breathless voice came from somewhere, then its presence quickly vanished.

"The imprint in my Dantian just trembled. I vaguely sensed it resonate with him."

Fang Yuan did his best to hide his shock. He looked at the Long-Bearded Elder, wanting to ask something but not daring to speak.

"The talent you've awakened is extraordinary. If you have any questions, you can ask your father."

The Long-Bearded Elder seemed to see right through him. He took out three Talismans engraved with profound runes, along with a jade pendant.

"When you venture out in the future, if your life is in danger, activate one of these Talismans. It will keep you safe."

The Long-Bearded Elder gestured toward the nine men behind him. "These old men and I have a gift for you."

"This jade pendant is something I acquired many years ago. It wards off evil and misfortune and keeps you safe."

"This junior, Fang Yuan, thanks all the elders." Fang Yuan bowed in gratitude.

A gift from an elder could not be refused.

The Long-Bearded Elder nodded slightly, then turned into a streak of light and departed. The other elders did the same.

It seemed they had come solely to give Fang Yuan these gifts.

"Everyone, disperse."

Fang Zhongwu's authoritative voice rang out, dismissing the crowd.

"Father, those Ten Elders are incredibly generous. They gave me such a big gift the moment we met."

Back at the countryside cottage, only Fang Zhongwu and Fang Yuan were inside. The atmosphere between father and son grew relaxed and casual.

Fang Yuan had already hung the Long-Bearded Elder's Milk White Jade Pendant around his neck. It did feel cool against his skin, a sensation that spread throughout his body and left his mind clear.

"I haven't forgotten. Here, take it!"

How could Fang Zhongwu fail to hear his son's hint? He immediately took out a Space Ring.

"Thanks, Father."

Fang Yuan happily slipped on the ring, making no move to return the Cosmic Pouch.

"To use the Space Ring, just send a wisp of Divine Sense inside, and it'll recognize you as its master."

The Cosmic Pouch required a drop of blood to bind it, while the Space Ring used Divine Sense to retrieve items. It was clearly much safer and more advanced.

The two were used in much the same way: a single thought was enough to put things away or take them out.

"Now that you have a Space Ring, you should put the Cosmic Pouch away. Otherwise, it'll draw too much attention," Fang Zhongwu cautioned.

Fang Yuan smiled and agreed, then asked about the Ten Elders.

"The Ten Elders are the ten people who made the greatest contributions to the Fang Family and, after retiring, became its strongest and most senior members."

"They hold supreme authority in the Ancestral Land. They're the guardians of the Ancestral Hall and the protectors of our Fang Family."

Fang Zhongwu sighed with feeling. "They're truly reclusive. Even people living in Fang Family Village rarely see them."

"The first time I saw them was the day I inherited the position of family head."

Fang Yuan knew the elders were powerful, but he hadn't realized their status was so lofty as well.

"You awakened a Martial Dao Imprint, and they value you highly. That's why they appeared in public—to show their support for you."

Fang Yuan picked up on the key point and asked, "What exactly is a Martial Dao Imprint?"

Fang Zhongwu thought for a moment, then explained simply, "You can think of the Martial Dao Imprint as a sign of extraordinary talent."

"In the more than five thousand years of our Fang Family's history, no more than a handful of people have awakened a Martial Dao Imprint."

"That rare?" Fang Yuan's eyes widened slightly.

"Otherwise, why would it alarm the Ten Elders and earn you such reverence from so many clansmen?"

Few people in the Fang Family truly understood the Martial Dao Imprint. Only a small number of people of high seniority and status knew a thing or two about it.

But most people could judge one's talent by looking at the pillar of light that burst from the Ancestral Hall.

In the past thousand years, Fang Yuan was the only one whose pillar of light had soared more than ninety zhang.

"Does this count as a Martial Dao Imprint?"