Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Yue was stunned for a moment, then his face turned bright red. He quickly laughed it off heartily. "How could I possibly have been beaten by your Uncle Fang? Your Uncle Fang and I are evenly matched in strength. It wouldn't be so easy for him to defeat me."

Fang Qiurou frowned slightly. "Oh? Then that means Uncle Fang truly does possess some ability. If that's the case, why did people make a scene at the clan leader's place last night, saying that the clan leader wanted to suppress the geniuses of the various branches by sending them to learn the Blazing Fist under Uncle Fang?

"They also said it was Father who personally went around informing everyone, which placed the clan leader in a rather passive position. That's why he specifically ordered people today to select children from poor families to replace those six."

Her brows knitted tighter as she spoke. "Father, you handled this matter poorly. If you wanted to do this, you should have discussed it with the clan leader first. You neither discussed nor informed him, placing the clan leader in an awkward position. The other branches may use this as an excuse to stir up trouble."

Fang Yue's face turned completely red from her scolding. Previously, he certainly would have refuted her. After all, he had acted for the overall interests of the Hechuan Fang Clan, unwilling to see the talents he painstakingly nurtured wasted. But now, he had already confirmed that Fang Chen's cultivation surpassed his own. Naturally, his reasoning no longer held up.

Fang Chen did not interfere in the affairs between the father and daughter. During the time he had stayed at Fang Yue's residence, he had already learned that Fang Qiurou usually managed all matters within the household.

Fang Yue, on the other hand, was merely a rather pure martial artist. In terms of handling worldly affairs and human relations, he was far inferior to Fang Qiurou. "Father, the clan leader's people will arrive soon. Think carefully about how you intend to explain yourself to the clan leader."

After speaking, Fang Qiurou looked toward Fang Chen and smiled. "Uncle Fang, the clan leader intends to select six young clan members to cultivate the Blazing Fist under you. I shamelessly requested one spot and gave it to a child from a poor family more closely related to us by blood. I thought I should inform you beforehand so you wouldn't misunderstand."

Fang Yue's eyes immediately brightened. He could not help but inwardly praise her for handling it well.

Fang Chen smiled. "It doesn't matter. Whoever they are is fine, so long as there are three boys and three girls."

Fang Qiurou looked somewhat curious. "Uncle, why must it specifically be three boys and three girls?"

Fang Yue was curious too. "That's right. Why three boys and three girls?"

Fang Chen smiled. "To conduct an experiment."

An experiment?

The father and daughter exchanged glances. Though they did not understand, they guessed it was related to foundational martial arts.

At that thought, Fang Yue's spirits instantly lifted. Perhaps he knows other foundational martial arts from the outside world and wishes to pass them down to see whether he can change the Hechuan Fang Clan's predicament of lacking divine ability users?

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice sounded from outside the courtyard. "Is Fang Yue here!?"

Fang Yue was taken aback and hurried outside. Soon after, he returned with lowered brows and a submissive posture behind Fang Longshan into the bamboo tower.

Following behind the two of them were six boys and girls, all around twelve years old. The six were dressed very plainly, one could even say shabbily. Their clothes were covered in patches. Upon entering the manor, they appeared extremely restrained, though they still could not help but curiously glance around at their surroundings.

For poor children like them, Fang Yue's reputation as an instructor was like thunder ringing in their ears. Unfortunately, their status was insufficient. They simply did not possess the qualifications to practice martial arts under Fang Yue.

Fang Longshan glanced at Fang Chen's gray-white pupils. He felt that Fang Chen was able to see him, but he nevertheless gave him a subtle look before speaking calmly. "Fang Chen, I'll leave these six younger members of the Fang Clan to you. From now on, they'll cultivate the Blazing Fist under your guidance. If you require spiritual medicines to assist them, simply ask Fang Yue."

Fang Chen smiled and cupped his fist. "Very well."

"Then I'll take my leave first. Fang Yue, come with me," Fang Longshan said flatly.

With that, he turned and left. Fang Yue had no choice but to follow after him.

Before long, everyone could hear Fang Longshan's furious scolding and Fang Yue's repeated pleas for mercy echoing from afar.

When the six poor children learned they would be cultivating the Blazing Fist under Fang Chen from now on, they could not help but look at him curiously. Seeing Fang Chen's gray-white eyes, just as the rumors described, they inevitably felt uncertain.

At that moment, Fang Qiurou's gaze fell upon one of the boys as she smiled. "Fang Hai."

The twelve-year-old boy respectfully bowed. "Big Sister Qiurou."

"From now on, train diligently under Uncle Fang. You only need to understand one thing. The clan leader would never act without reason. If he arranged for you all to cultivate here, then he naturally has his reasons. Don't entertain unnecessary thoughts. Just focus on your cultivation."

Fang Hai and the other five froze briefly upon hearing her words. Suddenly, they felt that Fang Qiurou's reasoning made perfect sense. The trace of doubt in their hearts instantly vanished without a trace.

"Uncle Fang, then I'll take my leave first," said Fang Qiurou.

She looked toward Fang Chen and smiled with a nod before turning and departing.

Once she left, the six children became even more restrained, especially when they saw Fang Chen circling around them as though carefully examining them. Their hearts grew increasingly nervous.

"They all have two hundred ninety-nine..." Fang Chen muttered softly.

He looked at them and instructed, "The six of you, perform a set of the Blazing Fist for me."

The six immediately stirred and quickly spread out into formation, beginning the Blazing Fist in perfect unison. However, their movements were clearly less refined than the disciples from the martial arts grounds. As a result, the circulation of qi and blood within their bodies appeared somewhat weak and sluggish. Yet one thing remained the same. All of their qi and blood surged toward those nine bones.

Among the six, Fang Hai's movements were the most standard. Whenever he performed the Blazing Fist, his qi and blood would flow toward the central bone within his skull. As for the others, some directed it toward their limbs, while others directed it toward their chests.

Fang Chen pondered thoughtfully. The nine bones contain divine resonance?

He speculated that as long as one of these nine bones was stimulated by qi and blood, the person would become what Fang Longshan referred to as a divine ability user. Clearly, the extraordinary path of this era was fundamentally different from the path of the era of the Nine Mortal Realms.

"In this era, does the human race also possess the Three Breaking Limit Steps, Half Saints, and Saints?"

Soon, the six had finished a full cycle of the Blazing Fist and now looked at Fang Chen nervously.

Fang Chen smiled. "Your movements are somewhat lacking, but it's nothing serious."

"From now on, you no longer need to practice the Blazing Fist here. I'll teach you another cultivation method instead."

No longer practice the Blazing Fist?

The six were immediately stunned.

Fang Hai carefully asked, "U-Uncle... then what kind of technique are we supposed to practice?"

The Blazing Fist was the martial art they had been using ever since graduating from the academy. Every disciple of the Hechuan Fang Clan, even those from poor families, pinned their hopes on changing their fate through the Blazing Fist. Forget becoming the legendary divine ability users; even reaching the Marrow Refinement Stage would grant them boundless prospects in life. If they could no longer practice the Blazing Fist, then what else could they possibly do?

"Come with me."

Fang Chen led the six into the bamboo tower. After seating them one by one, he handed each of them a cultivation manual.

"From now on, cultivate according to the methods recorded inside. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."

Those were the most ordinary cultivation techniques in the cultivation world. He wanted to see whether the human race of this era, possessing nine additional bones, could still walk the cultivation path of the Nine Mortal Realms.