Chapter 1790: Deeply Rooted
Fang Chen chatted with Fang Longshan for a full two hours.
During that time, Fang Yue and the others' anxiety steadily climbed, and they periodically wandered nearby to check on the situation.
Over the course of those two hours, Fang Chen at least managed to understand certain matters related to Great Zhou.
As for the Supreme Qingming Alliance, Divine Realms, and divine ability users, the Hechuan Fang Clan leader, Fang Longshan, knew absolutely nothing in detail. He only knew the Supreme Qingming Alliance because the books he read mentioned it constantly, and teachers would instruct students about it as well. Everyone in the world was the same. Even poor commoners who had never studied would learn of it through other channels.
The Supreme Qingming Alliance’s existence had already become deeply rooted in the hearts of all people!
As for the Martial Marquis that the Fang Longshan had mentioned, it was one of the Martial Dao Realms. Those capable of exerting a thousand jin of strength had entered the first realm of the Martial Dao, Blood Moving. Those capable of exerting ten thousand jin had achieved mastery and entered the second realm, Marrow Refinement. Those capable of exerting one hundred thousand jin had stepped into true accomplishment and entered the third realm, Bone Tempering. Within the Great Zhou, this realm possessed another title, Martial Marquis.
The reason it was called such was that martial artists who had reached this realm would earn a noble rank within the Great Zhou through their own strength.
Above Martial Marquis were two further realms, Martial King and Martial Saint. Beyond those were what Fang Longshan called divine ability users. However, a divine ability user did not necessarily need to become a Martial Saint first to reach this realm. Some peerless geniuses would somehow complete Foundation Establishment during the Blood Moving stage itself, awaken divine abilities, and instantly ascend into divine ability users!
Originally, Fang Chen assumed these Martial Dao Realms would resemble the martial cultivation system of the Nine Mortal Realms, comparable to the twelve levels of Qi Refinement. But in truth, even Martial Saints merely possessed bodies that transcended mortality. They still could not manipulate even the slightest trace of spiritual power. Only after breaking beyond that realm, successfully establishing a foundation, and awakening divine abilities could they wield such transcendent strength.
A trace of emotion appeared in Fang Longshan’s eyes. “You may not know this, Little Brother, but during the Hechuan Fang Clan’s peak era, we possessed more than ten Martial Saints alone. Martial Kings and Martial Marquis were as numerous as hairs on an ox. We were once considered the Great Zhou’s foremost divine ability clan.”
“Old sir’s realm should be one step above Fang Yue’s. Are you a Martial King?” Fang Chen suddenly asked.
Fang Longshan nodded with a bit of shame. “My talent is dull. My path on the martial dao reached its limit long ago. I am merely a humble Martial King. And because of that, the current Hechuan Fang Clan has become a laughingstock. Meanwhile, among the great clans that once regarded our Fang Clan as supreme, divine ability users continue returning from beyond Great Zhou. With divine ability users overseeing them, their clan's fortunes flourish. Every year, new Martial Kings and Martial Saints emerge.”
As he spoke, he looked at Fang Chen expectantly. “Little brother, you are the first Fang Clan divine ability user to return from beyond Great Zhou in nearly a thousand years.”
“You wish for me to remain within the Hechuan Fang Clan and stabilize the clan’s fortunes?”
Fang Chen had already guessed the implication behind Fang Longshan’s words.
Fang Longshan immediately nodded joyfully. “This is precisely my intention!”
“You yourself already said that among the Fang Clan divine ability users who left Great Zhou, I am the only one to return within a thousand years. Haven’t you considered what circumstances might lie behind this?” said Fang Chen.
Fang Longshan’s face went rigid. It was not that he had never thought about it. He simply did not wish to think too deeply.
“Though I don’t remember certain matters, I can still infer that the Fang Clan divine ability users who left Great Zhou likely encountered trouble and suffered suppression. That’s why no divine ability users returned for a thousand years. If news of my existence spreads, you’ll surely have divine ability users knocking at your door sooner or later. Is that something you wish to see, old sir?”
Fang Longshan immediately fell silent. Seeing Fang Chen’s injuries, his blind eyes, and even his missing memories, he suddenly felt bitterness rise within him.
Fang Chen smiled. “Regarding why the Fang Clan divine ability users failed to return over the past thousand years, I will investigate this matter. During that time, you can simply lend me a place to stay, old sir. Although I cannot use my identity to bring conveniences to the Hechuan Fang Clan, instructing others on the fist technique would not be difficult.”
Fang Longshan’s expression shifted immediately as he realized the benefits within those words.
Though far inferior to what he originally envisioned, merely having a hidden divine ability user residing within the Hechuan Fang Clan would greatly improve the clan’s safety. Even if people came looking for trouble and he proved incapable of handling it himself, he could simply ask this person to step in. As long as the identity of a divine ability user remained concealed, then even as a Martial Saint alone, Fang Chen could resolve most problems.
Fang Longshan glanced outside the hall and called out, “Fang Yue, come inside for a moment.”
Fang Yue, who had been guarding nearby the entire time, immediately entered.
“Fang Chen is a clansman descended from our Hechuan Fang Clan ancestors who drifted away long ago. He belongs to no established branch and is unrelated to the other major Fang Clan lineages. Therefore, I have decided to take him in without violating clan rules. His generation shall be the same as yours,” explained Fang Longshan.
He then instructed calmly, “From now on, you may simply call him Big Brother Fang Chen. Arrange a residence for Fang Chen. From now on, he is a member of our Hechuan Fang Clan and shall be entered into the clan ancestral records.”
Fang Yue was stunned. Subconsciously, he blurted out, “Clan Leader, he looks barely twenty years old. Being in the same generation as me isn’t strange, but I have to call him Big Brother Fang Chen? Wouldn’t that—”
Fang Longshan’s expression darkened. “Fang Chen isn’t as young as he appears. And his martial cultivation surpasses yours as well. Is it really such a grievance for you to call him Big Brother? You’re merely a Martial Marquis. Don’t spend every day thinking you’re something extraordinary.”
“His martial cultivation surpasses mine...” Fang Yue looked toward Fang Chen, anger flashing through his eyes. “So you didn’t accidentally enter the training grounds at all. You did it deliberately!”
Did Fang Chen not realize such an incident would damage his reputation?
Fang Longshan sighed to himself. Rising abruptly, he slapped Fang Yue across the head so hard that Fang Yue nearly jumped in fright, his mind going blank.
“So even your clan leader’s words no longer matter?” Fang Longshan sneered. “Don’t forget what background you came from. Without me, you wouldn’t even have had enough food to eat, much less be able to cultivate from the Blood Moving, to the Marrow Refinement, and past the Bone Tempering stage!”
Hearing this, Fang Yue’s expression changed drastically. Only then did he realize how strangely the clan leader treated the blind man.
A strange thought rose in his mind. “Could it be...”
However, Fang Yue did not dare continue thinking further.
Immediately, he bowed respectfully. “Clan Leader, I’ll go arrange accommodations for Big Brother Fang Chen right away.”
Fang Longshan nodded. “Go on.”
As the two departed, Fang Longshan stared at Fang Chen’s back, his eyes filled with hope.
The others watched the pair leave before approaching Fang Longshan quietly to ask, “Clan Leader, who exactly is that boy?”
“Don’t concern yourselves with who he is. Just remember that he is a member of our Fang Clan. There’s no need to make such a fuss over this matter. Go do whatever you should be doing,” Fang Longshan said calmly.
“Yes...”
The group exchanged glances before gradually dispersing.
“Fang Sheng,” Fang Longshan called out suddenly.
A middle-aged man with a gloomy expression immediately stopped and responded. “Clan Leader, what instructions do you have?”
“You’re a scheming man. Do not continue investigating this matter. And don’t use Fang Yue as an excuse to stir up trouble either.”
“... Understood.”
Fang Longshan waved his hand. “You may go.”
After saying that, he turned around and left.