Returning to Innate

"Is the Murong Family planning to break off the engagement?"

Fang Yuan's eyelids twitched slightly.

A series of scenes had already surfaced in his mind—a complete, predictable script.

Look down on him, come to his doorstep to provoke, tear up the marriage contract, suffer humiliation...

Then, at the right moment, he was supposed to shout that line—"Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west."

Thinking of this, his head already began to ache.

"What are you thinking about?" Fang Zhongwu was stunned for a moment, then said seriously, "Where did you hear news of a broken engagement?"

Fang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't really care much about this fiancée, but if that kind of scene were to play out, it would still be quite exasperating.

"Back then, it was the Murong Family who made the first move, seeking to form a marriage alliance."

Fang Zhongwu deliberately avoided mentioning the Azure Cloud Sect, and continued, "Now that something's happened, it's normal for them to have second thoughts, but breaking off the engagement is unlikely."

The Murong Family was a major clan in the royal city, very concerned with face. If they broke off the engagement right after he ran into trouble, what would the world think?

Half a year ago, before Fang Yuan had even participated in the Azure Cloud Sect's trial, the Murong Family had already sent someone to propose marriage.

It was very much like placing a bet.

"I remember looking out for that not-so-familiar fiancée during the trial. She should be an official disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect by now."

Some memories surfaced in Fang Yuan's mind.

Becoming a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect was like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—one's status would be comparable to that of a prince or princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, extremely noble.

And now, he was merely the young master of a prefectural city clan. The gap in their statuses was still vast.

Following normal logic, Fang Yuan felt that breaking off the engagement was only a matter of time.

Rather than that, it would be better to take the initiative—divorce her, set her free.

Fang Yuan shared his thoughts with his cheap father.

Upon hearing this, Fang Zhongwu's eyes widened slightly, as if stunned by his astonishing train of thought, and he immediately grew displeased.

"This isn't child's play. Doing this would completely offend the Murong Family."

The Fang Family's overall strength was only slightly weaker than that of the major clans in the royal city.

But that didn't mean the Fang Family could afford to ignore the Murong Family's stance and casually tear up the marriage contract.

"Then let it be."

Fang Yuan sighed, unwilling to keep dwelling on this nonexistent matter. He packed up the medicinal herbs and prepared to leave the study.

"Dad, when are you going to give me a spatial ring? Carrying this stuff is a real hassle." Fang Yuan spoke casually.

A mustard seed can hold Mount Sumeru; Mount Sumeru can contain a mustard seed.

A spatial ring forms its own space, capable of storing items, with all sorts of wondrous properties.

"With your current cultivation, wearing a spatial ring would be like telling everyone you're a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered."

Fang Zhongwu struck him down without mercy.

The price of a spatial ring was extremely high. An ordinary small clan in the prefectural city couldn't afford one even if they drained all their wealth.

And that was assuming one could even be found on the market.

"Use a Cosmic Pouch to tide you over for now. Once you reach the Foundation Establishment realm, I'll give you one."

Fang Zhongwu took a light gray cloth pouch from a cabinet under the desk. The pouch was only the size of a palm, looking utterly ordinary.

"Thanks, Dad."

A Cosmic Pouch contained a hidden space, with the same effect as a spatial ring, though its capacity was generally smaller. Still, its price was not low.

In the entire Fang Family, even most elders didn't have one.

Fang Yuan made the Cosmic Pouch recognize him as its master by dripping blood on it, then waved his hand grandly, stowing away the medicinal herbs with style before leaving.

"This kid... seems a bit different from before..."

Fang Zhongwu watched Fang Yuan leave, a hint of relief appearing on his dignified face, and a trace of softness entered his eyes.

The old Fang Yuan only knew how to train in martial arts, completely ignorant of anything related to emotions, stubborn in his ways.

Perhaps it wasn't that he didn't know—he just didn't want to waste time on it.

"Time to break through to the Innate realm."

Back in his room, Fang Yuan took a deep breath, adjusted his state, and prepared to return to his peak.

He opened the jade bottle containing the Qi Condensation Pills and was surprised to find three pills of perfect quality inside.

The round pills were covered in dense pill patterns, like bulging veins on human skin, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.

"It seems Father knew I'd made a promise and deliberately gave me extra pills."

Fang Yuan had pledged on the stage that when Fang Ke'er broke through to the innate realm, he would gift her a Qi Condensation Pill. Clearly, there was more here than needed.

Otherwise, the usual preparation of two pills would have been sufficient.

"The innate realm requires constant refinement of the true qi within the body, condensing it into a pillar at the dantian."

"During this process, one cannot be interrupted, and an unceasing flow of true qi must surge forth to form the dantian pillar."

Fang Yuan sat cross-legged, gently closing his eyes, and quietly activated the Mysterious Bright Art, his consciousness sinking deep into his dantian.

Before swallowing the pill, Fang Yuan tried to continue refining his true qi, but found its quality already too high to advance further.

"It seems that year of bitter cultivation in the Heavenly Origin Earth Realm wasn't without gain."

Though he hadn't smoothly returned to the innate realm, he had solidified his foundation—something Fang Yuan had never achieved before.

Think about it: once reaching the ninth level of the acquired realm, who wouldn't rush to break through to innate?

Who would keep grinding at the same realm?

Skipping the refinement step, Fang Yuan directly swallowed the Qi Condensation Pill, its effects rapidly releasing within his body.

The first to react was the true qi at his dantian, instantly churning and filling the entire space, with a tendency to expand further.

Fang Yuan focused his mind, hurriedly gathering the true qi within his dantian toward its center, channeling it into an invisible pillar that swirled around it.

Otherwise, if the true qi in his dantian exceeded its limit, it would self-destruct!

This process was tedious and mechanical.

He didn't know how long had passed.

At the center of Fang Yuan's dantian, a towering pillar of true qi had formed, like a Sea-Calming Divine Needle, capable of anchoring all the true qi surging within his body.

At the same time.

Fang Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within them. Invisible ripples spread from his body, rattling the windows with creaks.

The sudden commotion stirred the curiosity of the servants, but bound by Fang Yuan's warning, no one dared to act.

Before long, Fang Yuan restrained his aura, and everything returned to calm.

"The innate realm is indeed far stronger than before."

Fang Yuan clenched his powerful fist; the reserve of true qi within his body was more than ten times greater.

"I'm fine."

Fang Yuan pushed open the door, dismissing the worried servants gathered outside, and turned to ask the maid.

"Is the food ready?"

Fang Yuan now ate a great deal every day, as if his body needed a massive influx of energy.

This was only possible thanks to the Fang Family.

Normally, even ordinary innate realm cultivators couldn't afford to eat demon beast meat or stewed spiritual herbs every day.

Standing in the courtyard, Fang Yuan gazed at the sky dyed red by the sunset, beautiful as a painting, and found himself dazed for a moment.

"Almost an entire day has passed."

Fang Yuan was relieved that condensing the dantian pillar hadn't taken too long, or he would have missed today's opportunity to allocate points!

After eating his fill, Fang Yuan enjoyed the service of the beautiful maids and then began his cultivation routine.

Allocate points!

[You have cultivated for a year, layering the true qi around your dantian pillar three times. The true qi grows more condensed, and your cultivation reaches the third level of the innate realm!]