Immortal of the Nine Realms

The moment the Soul-Returning Incense was lit, wisps of green smoke slowly rose. A gentle breeze drifted over, spreading across Fang Chen's face.

In an instant, the scenery around him transformed. Warm sunlight filtered through the shades of trees, casting mottled patterns upon his body. A series of youthful shouts rang out beside his ears.

Standing beneath an old locust tree, Fang Chen raised his eyes and saw a martial training ground upon which hundreds of energetic youths trained. Some were only seven or eight years old. The oldest among them were thirteen or fourteen. They were bare-chested, practicing fist technique in perfect unison.

"Put more strength into it! Don't be limp like a worm!"

"Store your qi in your dantian! Imagine yourself as a tiger pouncing on prey! Don't hold anything back!"

A burly instructor paced around with his hands clasped behind his back, his bell-like eyes fixed firmly upon every single youth.

A strange look appeared in Fang Chen's eyes. If the Soul-Returning Incense works as intended, then the place I'm currently in should be the ancestral land of the Fang Clan.

These youths before him very likely shared the same bloodline as he did. Only, they existed in an era far earlier than his own.

So I've already found the complete History Immortal Book. Not only have I found it, but I'm already inside it. The reason I can enter while the Candle Dragon cannot... is it because of the Mortal World Intent within me? Or perhaps because of the incomplete History Immortal Book I brought with me

Li Daoye had only said that, as someone from the Reincarnation Immortal Sect, entering the History Immortal Book posed no issue. If judged from that perspective, perhaps the reason he could enter this place was because of the very History Immortal Book Ji Tianjun once used to scheme against him.

"Instructor! There's someone over there watching us! Is he trying to learn our Fang Clan's Ancestor Fist secretly!?" cried one youth suddenly, spotting Fang Chen standing beneath the old locust tree as he stopped practicing.

Countless gazes instantly landed upon Fang Chen, filled with anger, curiosity, and uncertainty.

The instructor, Fang Yue, who had been guiding the youths, abruptly turned toward Fang Chen. In that instant, his gaze became extraordinarily fierce, while the surging blood qi within him churned violently. With a single leap, he arrived before Fang Chen, though he maintained a safe distance of roughly ten feet.

Fang Yue's eyes widened round like those of a tiger ready to pounce. "Who are you? Why have you appeared within the Fang Clan training grounds? Don't you know outsiders are forbidden from entering here!?"

Fang Chen had always assumed he was merely a passerby, that the contents of the History Immortal Book existed on an entirely separate plane from him. Yet only now did he suddenly realize that the people before him could not only see him, but also converse with him.

The History Immortal Book is essentially just a history book. Everything recorded within exists only in history. Logically speaking, whatever I do here shouldn't alter reality.

With that thought, Fang Chen cupped his fists and said, "My name is Fang Chen. I accidentally wandered into this place. Please forgive the disturbance."

"He's also surnamed Fang?"

"Could he be an older cousin from another branch?"

"Do any of you recognize him?"

The hundreds of youths chattered noisily among themselves.

Upon hearing that Fang Chen shared the same surname, the hostility in their eyes lessened considerably, replaced by curiosity. Fang Yue was taken aback. After carefully studying Fang Chen for several moments, he frowned. "I've never seen you within the Fang Clan. How exactly did you arrive here, and how did you accidentally wander in? The training grounds are heavily guarded. Unless someone entered intentionally, how could they simply wander in by mistake?"

Naturally, Fang Chen could not answer that question. At present, he possessed flesh and blood rather than a true soul. Using Soul-Returning Incense as an explanation clearly would not hold up.

Seeing Fang Chen remain silent, Fang Yue's expression immediately darkened. He shouted toward the chattering children behind him, "Continue practicing! Don't slack off!"

Then he turned back toward Fang Chen. "Come with me."

***

Inside the main hall, Fang Yue stared at Fang Chen vigilantly. Seeing Fang Chen maintain a calm expression from beginning to end, his eyelids lowered without the slightest trace of fear, Fang Yue could not help frowning. "You're not afraid at all?

"Breaking into the training grounds and secretly observing the Fang Clan's Ancestor Fist. At best, both your eyes would be crippled. At worst..."

Fang Chen raised his head, fully opening his eyes. Within those gray-white pupils, there was not the slightest trace of color.

Fang Yue's eyes widened. He stepped forward for a closer look and then exclaimed in shock, "You're blind?"

Fang Chen smiled faintly. "That's right. So how exactly would I have come here to spy on your Ancestor Fist?"

"I don't really need to see it, though. I practiced a few moves of the Ancestor Fist since childhood. I just don't know whether it's the same as yours here."

Before Fang Yue could reply, footsteps sounded from outside. A group of people entered the hall. The younger ones appeared around forty years old, while the elders were sixty or seventy, all with solemn expressions. The oldest among them was clearly the one in charge.

Upon seeing him, Fang Yue hurriedly cupped his fist. "Clan Leader."

The old man nodded and then looked at Fang Chen. He quickly noticed Fang Chen's peculiar pupils.

The high-ranking Fang Clan members beside him frowned and glanced toward Fang Yue.

A blind man had caused such a huge commotion?

The old man suddenly smiled. "Young man, Fang Yue tells me you accidentally entered the Fang Clan training grounds and attempted to secretly observe our Ancestor Fist?"

"It's true that I wandered in accidentally. As for secretly observing it, that's not really the case." Fang Chen cupped his fist. "I cannot see."

A middle-aged man snorted coldly. "So a blind man managed to sneak into the training grounds? Looks like the guards below truly need some discipline. Spending all day neglecting their duties. Sooner or later, this will lead to disaster."

Fang Yue's face turned slightly pale. The man's words were clearly directed at him, since he was responsible for the clan's security.

The old man smiled warmly. "Let's not discuss that for now. Little Brother, Fang Yue said your surname is Fang as well? And earlier, you mentioned you practiced a few moves of the Ancestor Fist since childhood. That implies you're also a member of the Fang Clan? May I ask which branch you come from?"

"I forgot," Fang Chen replied.

Forgot?

Everyone was stunned.

"Stop pretending to be foolish. There are plenty of people who impersonate members of our Fang Clan. You're clearly one of them."

"Clan Leader, just break both his legs and throw him out."

Fang Chen cupped his fist and said, "Old sir, everyone, please don't be anxious. May I ask where exactly this place is?"

"Where is this place?" Someone snorted. "This is naturally the Fang Clan of Hechuan. You clearly already kn-"

"Where is Hechuan?" Fang Chen interrupted.

Everyone exchanged glances. Fang Yue looked surprised.

"Don't tell me you don't even know where you are? This is the Great Zhou Empire, in the Hechuan Prefecture!"

Great Zhou?

"Where is Great Zhou?" Fang Chen asked again.

A strange look flashed through the old man's eyes. He suddenly waved his hand. "That's enough. All of you may leave first."

"Clan Leader, this man's origins are unknown, and he's clearly pretending to be foolish. It may not be safe for you to remain here alone."

The old man's expression became stern as he swept his gaze across the crowd. "I said all of you should leave first."

The others exchanged looks before finally nodding and silently withdrawing.

Soon, only Fang Chen and the old man remained within the hall.

The old man gestured with his hand. "Little brother, please sit."

Then, remembering that Fang Chen might not be able to see, he laughed self-deprecatingly before sitting opposite him.

After carefully studying Fang Chen for quite some time, he finally smiled meaningfully. "Little brother... you aren't from Great Zhou, are you?"