Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen nodded. "I am indeed not from Great Zhou."

What he wanted to determine now was whether he was currently on Tuxiong Star within the Ancient Desolate Realm.

But judging from the situation, the old man before him likely knew nothing of such matters. Fang Chen could only slowly figure out which period of history within the History Immortal Book he currently occupied.

"There are legends within our clan that certain ancestors once walked beyond Great Zhou. If little brother truly knows a few moves of the Ancestor Fist, then this old man can already guess a portion of your origins," the old man said.

In truth, Fang Chen had not lied regarding the so-called Ancestor Fist. He truly had practiced it since childhood. It was simply that back in Grand Xia, he never knew the fist technique was called the Ancestor Fist. At the time, the old master had only said it was the Fang Clan's inherited boxing art and never even gave it a proper name.

"Could little brother perform a round of the Ancestor Fist for this old man to see?"

"Why not?"

Fang Chen stood and performed a complete round of the Ancestor Fist. His strikes were vigorous and powerful, neither rushed nor slow. After finishing, he calmly sat back down.

"It truly is the Ancestor Fist. Little brother really is a member of our Fang Clan, descended from the same ancestors. Only descendants of Ancestor Lie's lineage cultivate this fist technique."

A trace of emotion appeared on the old man's face, and the final remnants of caution in his eyes completely faded.

A flicker crossed Fang Chen's eyes. "Ancestor Lie's lineage?"

The old man was taken aback. "Could it be that you've forgotten even your ancestors, Little Brother?"

Fang Chen smiled faintly. "Old sir, I was not born blind. I suffered some injuries. Because of that, I lost many of my memories."

The old man was hit with realization. "So that's the reason. Then I shall explain some things to you, Little Brother. This Ancestor Fist was passed down by our Fang Clan ancestor, Fang Lie. There are legends that this fist technique is the finest foundational fist technique in existence. If one can truly use it to establish a foundation successfully, then one gains the opportunity to leave Great Zhou and witness the vast world beyond.

"That is why the Fang Clan passes it down generation after generation. Every generation cultivates it diligently without daring to slack off."

After a pause, he looked at Fang Chen with some emotion, his eyes filled with envy. "Your ancestors were probably among those members of our clan who successfully used this fist technique to establish their foundation and were subsequently guided beyond Great Zhou."

"What lies beyond Great Zhou?" Fang Chen suddenly asked.

The Ancestor Fist is a foundational fist technique?

The old man's explanation forced Fang Chen to suspect that immortal sects existed beyond Great Zhou.

"Beyond Great Zhou..."

The old man's expression shifted slightly, his eyes carrying a trace of confusion before he smiled bitterly. "I have never left Great Zhou myself. How could I know what lies beyond it? I had originally hoped to gain some understanding from you instead."

After a pause, he cautiously probed, "Since you were able to return from beyond Great Zhou, then you should have successfully established your foundation through the Ancestor Fist and awakened divine abilities, correct?

"Could little brother perhaps allow this old man to witness your divine abilities?"

"Divine abilities..."

The term caused Fang Chen to suspect that the historical era he occupied was even earlier than he originally imagined.

Fang Chen smiled. "Old sir, why are you so certain that I came from beyond Great Zhou? And why do you believe I established my foundation through the Ancestor Fist and awakened divine abilities?"

The old man replied seriously, "Our Fang Clan of Hechuan may no longer be as prosperous as in the past, but Fang Yue is still a Martial Marquis. With his strength, for you to silently enter the Fang Clan training grounds despite being blind... surely you must be a divine ability user."

"Old sir, would this count as a divine ability?"

A thought stirred within Fang Chen as he condensed a flame upon his fingertip. That was merely the simplest form of manipulating the five elements. Ever since arriving, he had already noticed that not only was the power of the five elements incomparably abundant here, but the heavens and earth were also filled with extraordinarily dense immortal essence.

From the very moment he appeared upon the training grounds, he had sensed it. Since immortal essence had not vanished, then the historical period he currently occupied naturally had to predate the Three Realms Upheaval.

The old man's face filled with astonishment. He stared fixedly at the flame, almost entranced, his eyes overflowing with envy. "You are really a divine ability user, Little Brother!"

Fang Chen dispersed the flame and smiled lightly. "Old sir, my mind isn't working too well right now. I've forgotten many things. Why don't you tell me more? It may help me recover some memories. If I remember something, I may also be able to answer the questions you wish to ask."

"That makes sense, Little Brother. But where exactly should I begin..."

The old man pondered deeply.

Fang Chen smiled. "Then perhaps begin with the Ancestor Fist and Martial Marquis."

The old man was briefly stunned. "You've forgotten even that?"

He quickly adjusted his demeanor. Stroking his beard, he began, "As everyone knows, Great Zhou established itself through the martial dao. Within the territory governed by the Supreme Qingming Alliance—"

"Old sir, wait a moment," Fang Chen interrupted him.

The old man looked somewhat expectant.

"Little brother, what is it? Have you remembered something?"

"The Supreme Qingming Alliance... this term feels a little familiar to me, but I cannot recall the details. Could you explain it more thoroughly?"

"Explain it more thoroughly?" The old man thought for a moment before he spoke again. "The Supreme Qingming Alliance is simply the Supreme Qingming Alliance. If you ask this old man to explain it in detail, I wouldn't know where to begin."

"How do you know of its existence?" Fang Chen asked.

The moment Fang Chen had heard the words Supreme Qingming Alliance come out of the old man's mouth, a chill raced down his spine, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

Was this really the Ancient Desolate Realm? Was it really Tuxiong Star? No, was this place even still within the Nine Mortal Realms?

The old man replied blankly, "I've known of it since childhood... Do not all living beings beneath the heavens fall under the governance of the Supreme Qingming Alliance? The territory it controls is unimaginably vast beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Even the martial dao we cultivate and the foundational fist technique are said to have originated from the Supreme Qingming Alliance itself. If one can successfully establish a foundation, awaken divine abilities, and leave Great Zhou, perhaps one might come to understand these matters more clearly."

"I see... then has old sir ever met anyone from the Supreme Qingming Alliance?" Fang Chen asked.

The old man laughed bitterly. "You jest, Little Brother. Forget this old man, even the Holy One of Great Zhou would never have the opportunity to meet people from the Supreme Qingming Alliance. Our place is merely the most ordinary of mortal realms. Perhaps only divine ability users from the Divine Realms might have encountered people from the Supreme Qingming Alliance."

As he spoke, he stared fixedly at Fang Chen. The moment Fang Chen heard mention of the Supreme Qingming Alliance, his expression had changed. He couldn't help but wonder if Fang Chen had actually met those legendary great figures himself.

At that thought, a trace of brilliance appeared in the old man's eyes. Generation after generation, the Fang Clan of Hechuan had produced numerous peerless geniuses. Yet once they left Great Zhou, none of them ever returned. If the young man before him truly shared the same bloodline and ancestry, then he would be the first divine ability user ever to return from beyond Great Zhou!

To the current storm-battered Fang Clan of Hechuan, this was undoubtedly joyous news worthy of burning incense and worshipping the ancestors!

"Divine Realms..." Fang Chen murmured softly.

At that moment, he suddenly developed an intense interest in this stretch of history. At the very least, he had to determine whether this place truly belonged to the Nine Mortal Realms. And if it did not... then perhaps he could finally learn what exactly happened to the Human Race before they arrived in the Nine Mortal Realms!