As they chatted and laughed.
Fang Ke'er had already drawn her sword on the platform.
The blade pointed straight at Fang Yuan'er. She moved with astonishing speed, her graceful figure fluttering like a butterfly taking flight, dreamlike and illusory.
"I told you, I don't fight women."
Fang Yuan'er narrowed his eyes. Not a trace of panic showed on his face. True qi swirled around his fingertips as he extended two fingers.
Clang... Thud...
Under the crowd's astonished gazes, Fang Yuan'er caught the edge of the sword between two fingers, producing a crisp metallic ring.
His stance was as steady as a mountain, not moving an inch. A hint of arrogance even touched his face.
"Have you already broken through to the Xiantian Realm?"
Fang Ke'er tried to pull her sword free, but no matter how her true qi surged, it had no effect whatsoever.
The sword seemed to be clamped fast in a vise.
Xiantian!
The people below the platform keenly caught that keyword.
The entire crowd was shocked, and an uproar broke out.
So far, Fang Yuan was the only member of the Fang Family's younger generation to have reached the Xiantian Realm.
A fifteen-year-old Xiantian expert was a towering mountain that dwarfed the Fang Family's younger generation. Even among the younger generation in Prefecture City, he was a peak few could scale.
If Fang Ke'er's words were true, then the Fang Family's younger generation had gained another Xiantian expert. They would have a pair of twin stars.
"You're not bad yourself. Houtian Ninth Layer, but you still need more practice."
The surprise in Fang Yuan'er's eyes quickly faded. He sounded as if he were praising her, but in truth, he was instructing her from on high.
Of course, with his current cultivation, he had every right and reason to be so confident!
"Fang Yuan'er didn't deny it. Looks like it's true!"
The younger disciples below the platform were excited, yet deep down, a trace of despair crept into their hearts.
Geniuses always shone so brightly.
With resources being funneled their way from now on, the gap would only grow wider.
They might be geniuses in other people's eyes, but before the likes of Fang Yuan, they could only be reduced to green leaves.
"So what if you're Xiantian? Break free!"
Fang Ke'er guided the true qi in her Dantian to burst forth. Her frost-pale wrist flicked, and she shook off Fang Yuan'er's hold in an instant.
In the next moment, her attacks fell like endless raindrops. Her sword thrust toward Fang Yuan'er's vitals without the slightest mercy.
"Fang Ke'er's made great progress, but she still hasn't crossed that threshold. She won't be his match."
"If Fang Yuan'er hadn't held back and dodged, Fang Ke'er would have lost long ago."
"Fang Yuan'er's footwork has its merits, and Fang Ke'er's swordsmanship is wonderfully profound, too. This is a rare chance to watch and learn."
The crowd below the platform wore all kinds of expressions. Some were delighted, others regretful, and still others watched and learned with humility.
"If you keep making trouble, don't blame me for striking back," Fang Yuan'er said coldly as he dodged her attacks.
He would stick to his principles, but that didn't mean he would keep yielding and retreating.
Fang Ke'er paid him no mind and continued thrusting her sword at Fang Yuan'er, driven by an inexplicable stubbornness.
Even a clay figurine had a temper.
How much more so Fang Yuan'er, whose pride knew no bounds? He was about to summon the true qi throughout his body and send Fang Ke'er flying off the platform.
Just then.
A calm voice rang out.
"Ke'er, that's enough. Stop."
At the familiar sound of his voice, Fang Ke'er, with her cool and aloof bearing, broke into a smile and immediately halted her attacks.
Seeing this, Fang Yuan'er reined in his aura and turned to look at the person who had so easily interrupted the fight.
"Greetings, Young Master!"
The moment the crowd below saw Fang Yuan, their faces lit up with excitement. They hurriedly bowed to him.
"It's been so long since I've seen the Young Master. I need to get a good look at him."
"The Young Master doesn't look injured at all. I knew those rumors were false."
"You're blocking the way. Stop mooning over him."
The Fang Family's female disciples were especially excited. The moment they saw Fang Yuan, they turned into a crowd of smitten fans. It was like a huge celebrity meet-and-greet.
Fang Yuan stood a little over six feet tall. He had handsome features, eyes like stars, and hair that fell to his waist. His bearing was gentle and mild.
(PS: In this book, one chi is taken to be 0.3 meters. Ten chi make one zhang, or three meters.)
At first glance, he looked like a refined scholar.
"He's just a little better-looking, a little richer, and a little stronger..."
Seeing the aloof girl he liked acting so flustered, one male disciple felt sour inside and muttered to himself.
Fang Yuan stepped onto the platform and glanced coolly at Fang Yuan'er. His tone turned a little cold.
"Fang Yuan'er, have you forgotten the rules, too?"
"Greetings, Young Master!"
Though unwilling, Fang Yuan'er bent his straight back and cupped his hands in salute.
The Fang Family's clan rules were strict. No one was allowed to overstep them. At best, they would lose their resources; at worst, they would be expelled from the family.
Fang Yuan's status as Young Master carried real weight, putting him on a par with the clan elders. Those of his generation had to bow when they met him.
"You're not hurt, are you?"
After that, Fang Yuan paid Fang Yuan'er no further attention. He went to Fang Ke'er, gently ruffled her smooth, delicate hair, and spoke with tender affection.
"I'm fine."
Fang Ke'er's reply was still brief, but everyone could clearly hear the tenderness in her voice.
"This is more painful than being killed!"
One disciple was so devastated he couldn't bear it. Tears welled in his heart.
"Don't be so reckless next time. It wouldn't be good if you got hurt."
Fang Yuan smiled, his gaze flickering toward Fang Yuan'er.
"If anyone bullies you, tell me. I'll beat him up good."
"It's only been a little while, and you've already reached Houtian Ninth Layer. I'll prepare a Qi Condensation Pill for you next time."
The smile on Fang Ke'er's face grew brighter. Her eyes brimmed with affection, and though her words were brief, her tenderness was unmistakable.
"Thank you, Brother Fang."
No one knew how hard Fang Ke'er had trained after Fang Yuan left for the Azure Cloud Sect's trial.
She only wanted to keep up with his pace...
Below the platform, the male disciples weren't the only ones burning with envy. Even the fair-skinned, beautiful female disciples were heartbroken.
They wished they could be the ones standing beside Fang Yuan.
"I've had it."
Of all the people there, Fang Yuan'er was by far the most miserable and aggrieved.
A moment ago, he had basked in the crowd's admiring, reverent gazes. Now, nobody cared about him!
All the attention had shifted to Fang Yuan. The sharp contrast left a knot in his chest.
He had broken through to the Xiantian Realm!
The Xiantian Realm!
One of the youngest Xiantian experts in Prefecture City!
"Young Master, you should have received my challenge, shouldn't you?"
Seeing that everyone continued to ignore him, Fang Yuan'er couldn't hold back any longer and took the initiative to bring it up.
"When did you issue your challenge?" Fang Yuan turned his gaze to him and asked calmly.
"You don't think publicly declaring a challenge is enough to make it official, do you?"
Fang Yuan'er was taken aback. Was there some other procedure? He'd been in the Fang Family all these years, so how had he never heard of it?
Just then.
The round-bodied Fang Man pushed through the crowd and came onto the platform. He raised his head to look at Fang Yuan'er and spoke disdainfully.
"You two brothers really don't know the rules at all."
"What kind of status does the Young Master have? If you want to formally challenge him, you have to send an invitation. Black words on red paper."
Fang Yuan'er looked utterly incredulous. He didn't remember any such procedure. They'd never had to do this for challenges before!
"If you wanted to challenge an elder, would you publicly shout your challenge like that?" Fang Man posed a question that could get him killed.
Fang Yuan'er had wanted to argue back, but the words wouldn't come. He could only fall silent.
"Times have changed. The rules that ought to be followed can't be skipped."
Fang Man beamed. Seeing Fang Yuan'er at a loss for words inexplicably lifted his spirits.
"Otherwise, any Tom, Dick, or Harry could issue a challenge, couldn't they?"
Before you continue