A Second Invitation

"What?"

"The one who came is a Vice Headmaster of the Azure Cloud Academy!"

"For the Azure Cloud Academy to place such importance on this, it can only be that Qilin Child of the Fang family."

The Vice Headmaster of the Azure Cloud Academy personally visiting the Fang family stirred up everyone in the city. This was destined to be an uneasy night.

The Fang family was now at its zenith, already possessing the potential to surpass the major powers of the Prefecture City in the future.

And Fang Yuan's current performance had undoubtedly accelerated this process.

As for the Wang and Zhu families, the other two of the Three Great Families, each clan head sat alone in their study, pondering the future of their clans.

"Clan Head, I think we should stop competing with the Fang family for the weapon order business. What if something gets found out?"

The Wang Clan's Third Elder was Clan Head Wang Jingtang's trusted confidant, handling many shady affairs.

Wang Jingtang said nothing, continuously rubbing the tip of a wolf-hair brush with his fingers, lost in thought.

His decisions often changed the fate of the clan, so he had to be cautious.

After a long while.

Wang Jingtang seemed to have made up his mind.

"An arrow shot has no turning back. If that order goes through, the profit will be equivalent to two or three years of the clan's net income."

Wang Jingtang glanced at his confidant and shook his head. "We've been backing the Green Ridge Stronghold's growth and making promises to the Mad Blood Daoist."

"Right now, it seems we've left no evidence, but there's no guarantee that in the future, the Fang family won't find out and use it as an excuse to start a war."

"The moment we thought of killing Fang Yuan, it was destined that our two families would not end well."

The Wang Clan's Third Elder understood the pros and cons and sighed deeply.

"All we can do now is strive to grow and catch up. They have backers, but don't we as well?"

Wang Jingtang's eyes flickered with a sharp gleam. He picked up the wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a letter on the paper.

"Have someone deliver this letter to the Wangdu Fang Family."

The Wang Clan's Third Elder took it, asked no questions, nodded, and agreed.

"Regardless of how the situation in the Prefecture City changes in the future, our Zhu family will remain neutral and not wade into muddy waters."

After learning the news, Zhu Hengping was silent for a long time, still adhering to the Zhu family's grand policy of peaceful development.

The Grand Elder beside him nodded in agreement on the surface, but inwardly, he couldn't stop worrying.

Since ancient times, those without a stance were the most dangerous.

Once the balance was broken, caught in the vortex, who could remain untouched?

Apart from the Three Great Families, the Prefecture Lord's Mansion was also lively, especially after a big shot from the capital arrived.

"Your Highness, I plan to personally visit our teacher. What do you think?"

The Flowing Cloud Prefecture Lord asked Ye Lingkong, not seeking his approval, but whether he wanted to go along.

Both were alumni of the Azure Cloud Academy, and out of respect for their teacher, it was only proper to visit.

Moreover, the visitor was the First Vice Headmaster of the Azure Cloud Academy, second only to the Headmaster in status.

Throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty, he was a renowned powerhouse with disciples all over the land.

"Go directly to the Fang family?" Ye Lingkong frowned slightly. "Wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate?"

He said this, but inwardly, he really wanted to go, eager to see this famous Fang family genius.

But his identity was special—not only a disciple of the Azure Cloud Academy but also the heir of the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion.

"We're visiting our teacher as students. What's the problem?" the Flowing Cloud Prefecture Lord said with a smile.

"Then let's go together."

"Master He has traveled a long way. Please, come into the mansion for a chat!"

An hour earlier, at the Fang family's main gate, the Grand Elder personally welcomed He Yunsong with a smile and invited him inside.

"I've heard that your esteemed family has produced a young genius. Is he currently in the mansion?"

He Yunsong took a sip of tea in the reception hall and directly stated the purpose of his visit.

"Please wait a moment, Master He."

The Grand Elder was secretly astonished. The Azure Cloud Academy's information network was truly efficient.

He himself had only learned of what happened at the ancestral grounds not long ago, yet this academy elder had already traveled thousands of miles to personally call.

"Greetings, Grand Elder. Greetings, senior of the Academy."

Fang Yuan had just returned home without a chance to catch his breath when he followed Fang Zhongwu to the reception hall.

"Truly a dragon among men, with extraordinary talent!"

He Yunsong put on a genial and amiable expression, and upon seeing Fang Yuan, it was as if he had stumbled upon a piece of peerless uncut jade, immediately showering him with praise.

"Senior, your words are too kind."

Fang Yuan replied politely. He could roughly guess the purpose of Azure Cloud Academy's visit to the Fang Family.

He had turned down their invitation back then, and there was even less reason to return now.

"Before the Great Zhou Dynasty was even established, our Azure Cloud Academy already existed. The academy is home to many powerful experts, especially in the instruction of disciples..."

He Yunsong spoke slowly, heavily emphasizing the academy's deep foundations, and even offered Fang Yuan a number of generous conditions.

"If you join our academy, within three years at most, you will surely reach Foundation Building. Breaking the record for Foundation Building will be just around the corner."

The commotion Fang Yuan had caused during the ancestral land baptism was still confined to the knowledge of Fang Family Village and the like; the news had not spread out so quickly.

After all, he and his father had rushed back overnight.

"I have already reached Foundation Building." Fang Yuan said flatly, cutting off what He Yunsong was about to say next.

"What?"

He Yunsong was taken aback, seemingly not yet processing the information, until Fang Yuan actively let a sliver of his aura slip, and only then did he come to his senses.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent."

He Yunsong uttered three 'excellents' in succession, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at Fang Yuan grew even more fervent.

A Foundation Building Realm cultivator this young was a rarity even in the great sects.

And placed within the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was a complete game-changer.

How old was he? Seventeen. That was more than a full cycle faster than the latest Foundation Building record set by the Ninth Prince!

He Yunsong made up his mind.

No matter the cost, he had to bring Fang Yuan back to Azure Cloud Academy.

"If you join the academy, I can guarantee that within a year, you will go straight into Azure Cloud Sect!" He Yunsong threw out a heavy bargaining chip.

Azure Cloud Academies existed in over a dozen surrounding dynasties, all martial arts holy lands supported and recognized by the royal families.

These Azure Cloud Academies were all subordinate to Azure Cloud Sect, their purpose being to funnel the most outstanding geniuses from each dynasty into the sect.

This promise from He Yunsong carried significant weight.

After all, which Cultivator within a dynasty wouldn't want to become a disciple of Azure Cloud Sect, directly leapfrogging social classes and standing shoulder to shoulder with princes and princesses?

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior." Fang Yuan refused once again.

His past self had been obsessed with martial arts to the point of madness, and indeed had a fixation on Azure Cloud Sect, but that didn't mean he looked favorably upon Azure Cloud Academy.

Otherwise, he would have gone the first time Azure Cloud Academy invited him.

As for the current Fang Yuan, possessing the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm and encountering no bottlenecks in cultivation for the time being, he adhered to the principle of developing quietly and growing stronger in secret.

There was no need to go to Azure Cloud Sect, fighting tooth and nail for a few scraps of silver.

"Don't be so quick to refuse."

He Yunsong pulled out the items he had brought this time. "This is the Triple-Transformation Body-Condensing Paste, which can completely repair your dantian, leaving no hidden problems."

"And this is the Green Vine Spirit Root, which can nurture your divine sense, enhance your spiritual awareness, and even increase your life essence!"

Clearly, He Yunsong had done his research before coming.

Whether it was the Triple-Transformation Body-Condensing Paste or the Green Vine Spirit Root, both were things the outside world rumored Fang Yuan needed.

Of course, these two items were also extremely precious, the kind that would make even the head of a noble family envious.

"Thank you, Senior." Fang Yuan still shook his head.

The resources of Azure Cloud Academy were certainly much better than those of the Fang Family, but they couldn't possibly be heavily tilted in his favor.

And when it came to cultivation, Fang Yuan, possessing the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm, actually didn't need many resources; what he lacked were often extremely rare items.

Even if he went to Azure Cloud Academy, they might not be able to provide them.

Given that, why not stay with his family, cultivate quietly for ten or eight years, and still become the strongest of the era!