Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen looked at the couple for a moment before glancing at Fang Dan, who looked embarrassed. He then nodded at the couple. "You may take Fang Ling away today, so long as she agrees."

The couple immediately revealed expressions of joy. They had thought they had unknowingly become entangled in some major affair. They originally believed it would be difficult to retrieve their daughter, yet unexpectedly, the other party truly was willing to show mercy.

Soon, Fang Ling was called out. The remaining four children also stood by the window watching this scene with complicated expressions.

"Fang Ling, your parents have come to take you home. Are you willing to leave?" Fang Chen asked with a faint smile.

Fang Ling cautiously glanced at Fang Chen. "Uncle Fang... are you driving me away?"

The couple instantly grew anxious. "Fang Ling, what nonsense are you saying? Mr. Fang isn't driving you away! Hurry and nod your head. We came to bring you home!"

"Father... Mother... I... actually feel things are quite good here with Uncle Fang..."

Fang Ling seemed somewhat fearful, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

The couple had never expected Fang Ling to refuse to leave. Their expressions immediately became extremely ugly, and they quickly began persuading her again.

Fang Chen interrupted them. "I already said it. If Fang Ling wishes to leave, then you may take her away. But if she does not wish to leave, then do not force her. Please return."

The couple helplessly exchanged glances before leaving dejectedly.

Fang Dan hurriedly cupped his fist. "Lord Fang, then I'll escort them out."

"Next time, don't bring people in again. If they wish to come, they must first inform the clan leader," Fang Chen said flatly.

His gray-white pupils rested upon Fang Dan. In that instant, Fang Dan vaguely felt as though every inch of his body had been completely seen through. Fear surged from the depths of his heart, and cold sweat instantly poured down his back.

"Y-Yes, yes, yes, I understand."

Fang Dan hurriedly wiped away his sweat and nodded repeatedly before quickly chasing after the departing couple, still shaken with lingering fear.

The fact that Fang Chen had instantly seen through his scheme truly terrified him.

Over the following half month, people continuously went to Fang Longshan, hoping to bring away their children. Fang Chen still allowed Fang Hai and the others to make their own decisions. In the end, aside from Fang Hai and Fang Ling, four of the original six children had already left. Only these two remained behind, continuing to cultivate the meditation method.

One evening, Fang Yue arrived carrying several dishes and three jugs of aged wine.

Fang Yue raised his cup. "Brother Fang Chen, come, let me toast you."

Fang Chen lifted his own cup and lightly clinked it against Fang Yue's before the two drained their wine together.

The wine seemed to sting Fang Yue slightly. He exhaled sharply before glancing toward the window, where Fang Hai and Fang Ling could vaguely still be seen meditating.

After pondering for a while and organizing his thoughts, Fang Yue finally lowered his voice and spoke. "Brother Fang Chen, you've heard the recent rumors, right?"

Fang Chen nodded faintly with a smile. "I've heard them."

"They're all saying that these children don't practice martial arts under you. They only meditate, wasting time without doing proper work. It has even indirectly affected the clan leader's reputation. They may not know your strength, but I do. So, Brother Fang Chen, are you tempering their minds now in preparation for teaching them a foundational martial art later?" Fang Yue asked cautiously.

"A foundational martial art?" Fang Chen smiled and shook his head. "I won't teach them any foundational martial art."

Fang Yue's hand trembled slightly as he poured the wine. He looked at Fang Chen in disbelief. "If they don't cultivate foundational martial arts, then wouldn't their futures..."

Fang Chen smiled lightly. "Drink. Talking about these things is meaningless."

Fang Yue forced out a stiff smile. "Then let's drink."

Doubts began to rise within Fang Yue.

***

The next day, Fang Chen stood before Fang Hai and Fang Ling, clearly seeing vast spiritual energy gathering around their bodies. Yet because of the existence of those nine bones, the energy could never enter their bodies.

So divine ability users activate their transverse bones through qi and blood in order to control spiritual energy. That means these nine transverse bones are the key to controlling spiritual energy. Qi and blood activate them easily because qi and blood originate from within the body itself, granting it a natural advantage. Spiritual energy activates them with difficulty because spiritual energy is an external force. Perhaps the cultivation methods of the Nine Mortal Realms are incompatible here precisely because the Nine Mortal Realms never possessed these nine transverse bones?

Fang Chen chuckled softly to himself. "Since they're incompatible, then I'll make a few changes and let you adapt to local conditions instead."

As he spoke, he spread his hands and held them three inches above the heads of the two children. In an instant, boundless spiritual energy surged toward him.

The spiritual energy within this world was colorful and varied. Aside from the five elemental forces, there also existed countless strange forms of spiritual energy. Among them were many ancient forms of spiritual energy familiar to Fang Chen, with Azure Lightning being particularly abundant.

"Azure Lightning... Hah, then let Azure Lightning forge immortal bodies for you."

In that instant, Fang Hai and Fang Ling's expressions drastically changed. They subconsciously opened their eyes, only to be met with endless lightning. Both children were completely wrapped within terrifying power.

Under Fang Chen's control, the lightning frantically crashed toward the nine transverse bones within their bodies. He quickly discovered that relying solely on his overwhelming cultivation was not enough.

"Circulate your techniques now!" Fang Chen instructed.

Hearing this, the two children hurriedly closed their eyes and activated their cultivation methods. As expected, the overwhelming Azure Lightning energy instantly became obedient, continuously pouring into the nine transverse bones. The nine pale-white transverse bones gradually transformed into azure-colored bones covered in dense lightning radiance.

The two children opened their eyes once more, only to reveal that their pupils had disappeared entirely, replaced instead by two bolts of lightning. At that moment, the aura emanating from the two children became extraordinarily terrifying, far surpassing ordinary Martial Marquis.

That should be enough, thought Fang Chen.

The children's cultivation was still too shallow. Having forcibly activated their nine transverse bones, they required a period of stabilization and secluded cultivation.

He quickly dissipated the spiritual energy around him. The lightning around the children gradually dimmed somewhat, though it did not completely disappear. They still appeared extraordinary.

"Stop circulating your energy," Fang Chen reminded them.

Fang Hai and Fang Ling immediately stopped cultivating. Then both of them discovered the changes within their bodies in astonishment, as though an entirely new power now existed within them, one they could command at will.

Fang Chen smiled faintly. "Fang Hai, strike me with a palm."

Fang Hai was startled. "Uncle Fang, this..."

Fang Chen reassured, "If I told you to do it, don't worry and give it your all."

Fang Hai gritted his teeth before unleashing a palm strike. Even he himself could scarcely believe it. The palm strike erupted like a thunderclap! A terrifying palm imprint crashed into Fang Chen, only to be instantly dispersed.

They've only just awakened, yet they already possess power comparable to the Nascent Soul Realm... If they advance one level further, wouldn't that place them within the Middle Three Realms?

Fang Chen did not let his emotions show on his face, but he was deeply shocked. If every newly awakened divine ability user initially possessed such strength... then how terrifying was the Human Race of that era? Compared to the human race of the Nine Mortal Realms era, they were overwhelmingly stronger by countless times...

"F-Fang Hai... you awakened divine abilities!" Fang Ling stammered.

"I think you did too..." Fang Hai replied blankly.

Fang Chen nodded. "Fang Ling, strike me with a palm as well."

Fang Ling took a deep breath before unleashing her palm strike. Once again, lightning exploded through the room like electricity flashing within empty space, dazzling the eyes with thunderous radiance.

Also Nascent Soul Realm strength.

It seemed the first step of divine ability users corresponded to the Nascent Soul Realm. The second step was likely the Middle Three Realms, most probably corresponding to the Fusion Realm. Then the third step was likely the Ascension Realm. The finely divided cultivation realms of the Nine Mortal Realms could very well be condensed into merely three steps within this era.

After those three steps, becoming an immortal was highly likely!