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"Refused Azure Cloud Academy's invitation again?"

The Flowing Cloud Prefecture Governor urgently wanted to know everything that had happened after He Yunsong arrived at the Fang Family, mobilizing all his resources to investigate.

With irrefutable evidence laid before him, his face showed shock—an outcome he had never anticipated.

"Truly extraordinary boldness."

Ye Lingkong was also greatly surprised, developing a keen interest in this unprecedented genius who would leave his name in historical records.

At the same time, he secretly felt relieved that he hadn't clashed with the Fang Family over a single stalk of Yinshe Grass.

Not that his Guardian Manor feared the Fang Family, but at a critical juncture, it was unwise to drag his clan into a vortex and make enemies for no reason.

The next day.

News that Fang Yuan had refused the invitation from Azure Cloud Academy's Vice Headmaster He Yunsong spread through every street and alley of the Prefecture City.

Initially, everyone held a skeptical attitude, believing it to be a rumor.

An invitation from an executive vice headmaster was not like that of an elder—the importance was self-evident, and the Academy would surely prioritize his cultivation.

Soaring to the heavens and transforming into a dragon in the future was a foregone conclusion.

But as the news spread like cancer cells, the Fang Family made no move to deny it!

This likely meant it was true.

Throughout the Prefecture City, the heads of various clan businesses and factions had received word the previous night of a high-ranking Azure Cloud Academy figure's visit.

All had convened emergency family council meetings, with only one agenda item: how to interact with the Fang Family going forward.

The Three Great Families stood aloof, and most forces in the city dared not provoke major conflicts with them.

But relationships always had degrees of closeness, and minor disputes and frictions were common.

Thus, after news of He Yunsong's visit to the Fang Family spread, most forces in the Prefecture City wanted to curry favor with the Fang Family, preparing lavish gifts. Those already on good terms sought to deepen the bond, while those with neutral relations aimed to show their inclination to align.

Who would have thought.

Early the next morning.

The big shots who had prepared generous gifts, ready to flood the Fang Family's doorstep, learned that Fang Yuan had once again refused Azure Cloud Academy—and froze.

For a time, many influential figures hesitated, refraining from rushing over.

"To strike down a Foundation Establishment True Person from the Xiantian Realm is indeed rare in the world, but he hasn't reached Foundation Establishment yet. Fang Yuan is being too arrogant."

A Prefecture City clan head shook his head, unimpressed by Fang Yuan's future, and offered his critique.

The Ancestral Shrine Baptism involved the Fang Family's secrets, known to very few. Moreover, Fang Zhongwu had guarded the ritual, making it hard for petty scoundrels to spy. The only information that leaked was that a great commotion had occurred above the Fang Family's ancestral grounds.

Even the native villagers of Fang Family Village only knew from the pillar of light that Fang Yuan's talent was exceptional—specifics were unclear.

Only the Ten Elders, Fang Zhongwu, and the family's core members knew just how terrifying Fang Yuan's talent truly was.

"Without reaching Foundation Establishment, talent is hard to gauge. Who knows what the future holds?"

A gang chieftain set down his heavy gift and turned back to go into seclusion.

"Fang Yuan's talent is extraordinary. The ancestral lands have called him the number one genius in a thousand years!"

One clan head was well-informed, but he couldn't confirm whether there was exaggeration, leaving him hesitant about sending gifts.

As for Wang Jingtang of the Wang Clan, one of the Three Great Families, he was overjoyed upon hearing the news, increasingly convinced that his decision had been correct.

Though many big shots had halted their steps.

The forces that had always been on good terms with the Fang Family still resolutely visited, presenting lavish gifts.

They valued the Fang Family's potential. Now that the Fang Family had produced another true dragon, the relationship needed even more careful maintenance.

"Clan Head Shi, your sincerity is enough—there's no need for such a heavy gift."

Among those visiting the Fang Family, the most prominent was Shi Yunsong, head of the Shi Family.

The Shi Family was second only to the Three Great Families, with deep foundations and businesses mostly involving mineral veins, often cooperating with the Fang Family.

The Fang and Shi families had always maintained a good relationship, but it was mostly limited to business dealings, without deeper ties.

The main reason was that the Shi Family dared not appear too close to the Fang Family, lest they draw the ire of the other two families.

But now, the Shi Family head had come in person—his stance was clear.

"I've wanted to come for a long time. Last time, our family's goods were nearly robbed by the bandits of Green Ridge Stronghold, and it was your son who lent a hand!"

Fang Zhongwu and Shi Yunsong exchanged warm pleasantries, chatting cheerfully like old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

After seeing off the stream of guests one by one.

Fang Zhongwu arrived at Fang Yuan's private courtyard and found his son leisurely lounging in a chair, basking in the sun and eating grapes.

Utterly carefree.

Fang Zhongwu felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

He suddenly realized that Fang Yuan no longer trained as hard as before, yet his cultivation progress far exceeded the past.

"This must be a smokescreen. He's probably training hard at night."

Fang Zhongwu thought he had figured everything out and calmed his mind.

"Greetings, Clan Head!"

Fang Zhongwu's arrival made the maids and servants bow respectfully. He waved them away.

"Tonight, come to my study. We'll attempt Foundation Establishment again and solidify the Nine Tribulation Azure Lotus!"

Fang Zhongwu thought for a moment, listed some precautions, then took out a large pile of precious pills—some for healing, others for restoring true essence.

"Though Foundation Establishment won't trigger a heavenly tribulation, your situation is special. Better safe than sorry."

Cultivating immortality was defying heaven.

Anyone with profound cultivation had surely undergone the baptism of heavenly tribulation.

At noon.

Fang Yuan followed his usual routine, dismissed the servants, and sat cross-legged in his room. His cultivation, which had "stagnated" for a while, could now advance again.

"Even if the Nine Tribulation Azure Lotus isn't solidified yet, what does that have to do with my cultivation?"

Add points!

[You have cultivated bitterly for a year, sensed heaven and earth, absorbed qi from all directions. The Qi Spring's height increases by one-tenth of a layer. Cultivation: Foundation Establishment, First Layer!]

In an instant.

Fang Yuan felt bubbling true essence emerge from the bottom of the Qi Spring within his body. The true essence he could mobilize was now far more vast.

"Cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Realm is indeed much harder than in the Xiantian Realm."

Fang Yuan had expected this, but he still couldn't help sighing.

Back when he was in the Xiantian Realm, with the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm's point addition, one year of cultivation could raise him by one layer, or even several.

But now, a year of bitter cultivation only increased the Qi Spring's true essence height by one-tenth of a layer.

The Qi Spring in his dantian was shaped like an inverted pyramid, like a small lake, divided into ten equal layers.

One-tenth of a layer meant exactly that—a tenth of a layer.

Simply put, in the most ideal scenario, Fang Yuan would need ten years of bitter cultivation to break through to Foundation Establishment, Second Layer!

Of course, in reality, it would take even longer, because the inverted pyramid meant the higher you went, the harder it was to advance.

"No wonder some Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators are already hundreds of years old," Fang Yuan sighed.

Some Foundation Establishment True Persons, even as their lifespan ran out, remained stuck at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, unable to break through.

These were mostly rogue cultivators, lacking resources and without a master's guidance.

"A Foundation Establishment True Person's maximum lifespan is a thousand years, far beyond the Xiantian Realm. They can be considered patriarch-level figures."

A thousand years was a long time for ordinary people, but for cultivators, a single closed-door session could last ten days, half a month, or even longer.

"With a thousand years, even without earth-shattering talent, I should be able to cultivate past Foundation Establishment, right?" Fang Yuan smiled.

With the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm's blessing, he could gain a year's worth of cultivation every day.

A thousand years—how many days was that?

The accumulated cultivation would likely start at ten thousand years...