Immortal of the Nine Realms

Within moments, the surrounding area was packed with members of the Fang Clan. There were cultivators in the three stages of Foundation Building and in the ninth transformation. Every single one of them stared at Fang Chen with wide eyes, their gazes filled with utter confusion and bewilderment.

A ninth-transformation cultivator turned his stiff neck and looked toward Fang Ding. "Blood and qi like a rainbow... Fang Ding, where on earth did you bring back an ancestor from?"

"I... I don't know..."

Fang Ding was completely at a loss for words, his thoughts thoroughly jumbled.

Fang Chen also realized that something was amiss. His bloodline might be even more pure than he had imagined.

My bloodline comes from the Old Master. If my bloodline is this pure, then the Old Master may be from the Nether Ruins era, just like Wang Chongsong. And perhaps his seniority is even far higher?

Even as these thoughts crossed his mind, Fang Chen revealed nothing on his face.

Seeing more and more clansmen rushing toward them, Fang Ding finally snapped out of his daze. Together with the other ninth-transformation cultivators, they drove the crowd away one by one.

Tranquility returned to the area.

However, when Fang Ding and the others faced Fang Chen, their previous confidence was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a touch of hesitation and awkwardness marked their faces.

Fang Chen looked at Fang Ding and smiled. "Senior, did something go wrong with my bloodline?"

"I dare not be called that... For now, you can just call me by my name. I am Fang Ding." Fang Ding let out a forced chuckle. He then muttered as he looked at the pillar of light that remained as fresh and red as blood. "There is indeed a bit of a situation with your bloodline. I'm afraid we will have to invite those ancestors out to make a proper judgment on that."

The next moment, the expressions of Fang Ding and the other ninth-transformation cultivators shifted as a series of gateways suddenly materialized out of thin air. These gateways slowly opened, and numerous young men and women stepped out from within them.

Upon seeing that, Fang Ding and the others immediately bowed in salute.

"We pay our respects to the Old Ancestors."

A glint flashed through Fang Chen's eyes. These people are...

The appearances of this group were clearly identical to those of the Three Limit Breaking Steps on the wanted list, ranked second only to Fang Lie. They were all Limit Breaking experts, existences who had transcended the ninth transformation—thirteen of them!

These thirteen individuals paid no attention to Fang Ding and the others. They simply stared at the blood-red pillar of light and Fang Chen, their faces betraying similar confusion.

They exchanged glances, seemingly communicating with one another. After a long while, the young girl among the thirteen whose aura was the most unfathomable gently waved her hand, causing the blood-red pillar of light to gradually dim and fade away.

The young girl looked toward Fang Chen, the perplexity in her eyes entirely unconcealed. "Who are you?"

Fang Chen remained silent for a moment. Finally, he answered, "I do not know. I have lost a portion of my memories."

The young girl's brow furrowed slightly. "The purity of your bloodline is nearly identical to ours, yet your cultivation level does not seem very high... And you have lost your memories. Could it be that you are a clansman who drifted away in the early years?"

Fang Ding and the others did not dare to make a peep. This group of old ancestors held extremely high seniority within the Fang Clan and had all stepped onto the Limit Breaking Path. Facing such a major matter today, they were the only ones qualified to make a decision.

The remaining twelve Ancestors were also communicating in secret.

If the person before them possessed a cultivation level at the Limit Breaking Realm, this situation would be considered normal. Yet, paradoxically, while his bloodline purity indicated a high seniority, his cultivation level was remarkably low. This contradiction left them completely unable to determine his origins.

"Otherwise, how about we invite Cousin out to take a look? Since he is older than all of us, perhaps he knows this person?" suggested someone.

Hearing that, Fang Ding and the others felt a small jolt in their hearts. They could vaguely guess who the ancestor was talking about.

"Cousin and Cousin-in-law are both in secluded cultivation, and it should be at a critical juncture. We cannot disturb them lightly," the young girl rejected the proposal, shaking her head.

"Then should we perhaps ask Ancestor Lie to step forward and take a look?" someone asked.

A gleam flashed through Fang Chen's eyes. Ancestor Lie! Half Saint Fang!

If he could meet Half Saint Fang, there could be many benefits.

Hearing up to that point, Fang Ding could not help but let out a bitter smile. A Fang Clan member he had brought back completely by chance had actually left this group of old ancestors at a loss, to the extent that they were even considering asking Ancestor Lie to step forward. Indirectly, that also proved that the blood-red pillar of light was no fabrication. This person's bloodline purity had truly gained the recognition of these old ancestors.

The young girl shook her head, rejecting this proposal as well. "No, we cannot disturb Ancestor Lie, at least not before the Saint Canon longevity celebration."

"Then this gentleman—"

"For the time being, he shall stay in the Xie Zhi Division. We will discuss this further. That is the only way."

The young girl looked toward Fang Ding and said calmly, "Fang Ding, during this period, you will stay by his side and take care of his daily life."

Fang Ding immediately nodded. "I understand."

The young girl nodded slightly, cast one more look at Fang Chen, and then reopened the gateway into the void, vanishing from everyone's sight.

The remaining twelve Breaking Limit experts followed suit, opening their own gateways and departing one after another. No trace of their aura remained, as if they were never here to begin with.

Fang Ding and the others exchanged glances, their hearts still pounding with fear. Finally, they walked up to Fang Chen with faces full of reverence.

Fang Ding asked respectfully, "Old Ancestor, how about I arrange a place for you to stay first?"

Fang Chen remained silent for a moment before nodding. "That will do."

Seeing Fang Chen's casual demeanor, the other ninth-transformation cultivators became increasingly certain that this person's seniority within the Fang Clan was absolutely not low. Otherwise, how could an ordinary person remain so indifferent and composed when facing powerhouses like them? Why would he look so unfazed after experiencing what had just happened?

Fang Ding quickly arranged a private, detached courtyard for Fang Chen within the Xie Zhi Division.

The others had already slipped away first, leaving Fang Ding alone. He had originally wanted to slip away too to quietly ponder over everything, but Fang Chen stopped him.

Fang Chen asked with a faint, knowing smile, "Judging by the situation just now, there is a high probability that I am... your ancestor?"

Fang Ding chuckled awkwardly. "Yes, that seems to be the case."

"Then can I ask what the Fang Clan's plans are here? That way, I can report back to the Inspection Division," said Fang Chen.

Fang Ding was slightly taken aback. "Old Ancestor, are you on quite good terms with them?"

Seeing Fang Chen nod slightly, Fang Ding thought it over and said, "Old Ancestor, in truth, there is no harm in informing the Wang Family of this in advance. In another two months, the Xie Zhi Department will announce it to the world anyway. On the day of the Saint Canon longevity celebration, our clan's Half Saint Fang will ascend to the position of a Saint at the Chaoxian Tower."

Fang Chen's expression turned strange. "Is this not a deliberate excuse to lure others here?"

When that fellow Old Wang learned of this from Chen Feifei, that was probably exactly what he worried about the most.

"Of course not." A look of deep reverence surfaced in Fang Ding's eyes. "Ancestor Lie has already notified the entire clan about this matter. When the time comes, our entire Fang Clan will be in Zanglong City to witness the ceremony!"

Fang Chen muttered softly to himself, "But why? If the likes of Saint Luoxue come to disrupt it, wouldn't that..."

"I would not know." Fang Ding shook his head with a bitter smile. "Perhaps Ancestor Lie is already full of confidence and does not fear those Saints coming to intervene."

Fang Chen's mind stirred slightly. Is it the Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower?

A Half Saint ascending to a Saint would usually do so in absolute secrecy, yet he was broadcasting it widely. Was it because he held that artifact in his hands?

Fang Ding smiled. "If you share a decent relationship with that person from the Wang Family, you can inform them ahead of time. Tell them to send someone over to negotiate whether it will be peace or war with our Fang Clan after Ancestor Lie ascends to a Saint, and please assure them that we will not set an ambush."