Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Ding’s words caused Fang Chen to fall into a brief silence. If that’s the case... then the techniques transmitted by the Saint Canon were actually ’tailor-made’ based on each individual’s unique traits?

Fang Chen was astonished. If that were truly the case, the mystical wonders of this artifact were beyond his imagination. Just how terrifying must the Supreme Qingming Alliance be to have created such an object?

Fang Chen’s expression turned slightly grave. ”Fang Ding, is our Fang Clan’s Saint Canon identical to the ones held by the nine Saints? Is it identical to the ones in the hands of foreign races? And is it the same as the one in the Supreme Qingming Alliance? Are there different grades or ranks to the Saint Canon?”

The two cultivators guarding the entrance of the Sacred Temple exchanged puzzled looks.

Fang Ding fell into thought for a moment before answering, ”I have never heard of the Saint Canon having different ranks. All the Saint Canons in the Nether Ruins certainly are the same, and no family’s Saint Canon appears to be uniquely powerful. As for the foreign races, it is likely the same case there.”

Fang Chen’s thoughts stirred. Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

He simply did not believe that the Supreme Qingming Alliance would truly treat all races with absolute impartiality. It was highly probable that even the Saint Canon had different ranks, but with the human race’s current strength, they simply lacked the qualifications to access higher-level information.

Even if the human race of the Nine Realm found a way to restore the nine transverse bones, I wouldn’t be able to bring a Saint Canon back for them to study unless I could directly bring this actual Saint Canon back.

Fang Chen cast a glance toward the Sacred Temple and let out a soft sigh in his heart.

Over the next period of time, Fang Chen would occasionally stroll through the Xie Zhi Division. He slowly became acquainted with many members of the Fang Clan. Now some would greet him with a nod. Others would strike up a conversation with him whenever possible.

Most of the time, however, he stayed alone in his courtyard, pondering the cultivation method transmitted by the Saint Canon and deducing it within his mind. But because his cultivation had not reached the eighth transformation—meaning he hadn’t even arrived at the starting point for practicing the Saint Canon’s method—he lacked a crucial piece of information that prevented him from achieving any significant breakthroughs in his deductions.

On that day, Fang Chen met that ’young girl’ once again.

He had already learned that the old ancestor was named Fang Qianxue. She was Ancestor Lie’s niece and was one of the Second Generation Ancestors of the Fang Clan. Among the thirteen Three Limit Breaking Steps experts he had seen that day, besides the Second Generation Ancestors, there were also Third Generation Ancestors. Ninth-transformation cultivators like Fang Ding had to call even Third Generation Ancestors as ”Old Ancestor.”

”Based on our calculations, your bloodline purity is roughly on par with the Third Generation Ancestors of the Fang Clan,” said Fang Qianxue as she stood in the courtyard, sizing Fang Chen up from head to toe.

As expected... he is at least a Third Generation Ancestor....

Fang Ding’s heart skipped a beat. All those days of respectfully calling Fang Chen ”Ancestor” hadn’t been wasted after all.

Fang Qianxue said indifferently, ”You must have encountered something that caused your cultivation to degrade and your memories to be disrupted. But that doesn’t matter anymore. For the time being, you won’t hold the authority of a Third Generation Ancestor. Just consider yourself an idle elder for now. There is no need to interfere in the affairs of the younger generations.”

Fang Chen understood what she meant. She wanted him to quietly act as an elder who minded his own business, without interfering in the operations of the Xie Zhi Division. That was completely understandable, given that his background was impossible to verify.

Fang Chen fell silent for a few moments. Finally, he asked, ”If I am a Third Generation Ancestor, then I should call you...?”

Fang Qianxue replied calmly, ”Aunt.”

Fang Chen bowed without any awkwardness. ”I pay my respects to you.”

”Mm. I came here today because the negotiation team from the Wang Family has arrived in Zanglong City. I heard you were working for the Wang Family earlier and acted as a bridge for this negotiation, so I am letting you join us to listen in. Follow me.”

With that, Fang Qianxue turned and walked out of the courtyard. Seeing that, Fang Chen and Fang Ding quickly caught up.

Along the way, whenever members of the Fang Clan spotted Fang Qianxue, they would immediately stand aside, lower their heads respectfully, and call out ”Old Ancestor.”

Looking at Fang Qianxue, who was only a few steps ahead of him, curiosity arose in Fang Chen’s heart.

Which step of the Limit Breaking Realm has she reached?

Being a Second Generation Ancestor did not necessarily mean that her cultivation was higher than that of a Third Generation Ancestor. However, judging by how she implicitly led the thirteen individuals when she appeared last time, she had likely reached the third step of the Limit Breaking Realm. That was the very first time Fang Chen had been in such close proximity to a Limit Breaking powerhouse. He desperately wanted to know what kind of difference truly existed between a Limit Breaking expert and a ninth-transformation cultivator.

Foundation Building relies mainly on spiritual energy, while ninth transformation relies primarily on immortal essence. For Limit Breaking experts, does their power undergo a qualitative transformation as well? Is there another kind of power in this world that even my Radiant Divine Eyes cannot perceive?

Before long, Fang Qianxue convened with over a dozen other ninth-transformation cultivators. Like Fang Ding, they were figures of authority, running the operations within the Xie Zhi Division.

Following that, a grand gateway materialized in front of Fang Qianxue. The group followed her through it and instantly stepped out onto a bustling, noisy street. Not far ahead of them was the Chaoxian Tower, which was also the venue for today’s negotiation.

The group followed Fang Qianxue up the stairs of the Chaoxian Tower, ascending floor after floor.

During that time, the surrounding people seemed completely oblivious to their presence, yet they would instinctively step aside to clear a path whenever the group approached. While Fang Ding and the others took this for granted, Fang Chen felt a wave of curiosity toward this power. Even with his Primordial Immortal Eyes, he could only faintly discern a type of thread, one completely distinct from immortal essence, twining around everyone.

Do these threads represent the power of Limit Breaking?

Before Fang Chen could observe any further, Fang Qianxue had already led the group to the very top of the Chaoxian Palace.

That particular floor seemed to sit amidst drifting mists and clouds, offering a panoramic view of a sea of clouds that surged like rolling waves, both mysterious and vast.

A group of people had already been waiting here for quite some time. Upon seeing Fang Qianxue, they all stood up and approached to welcome her, led by an old man dressed in a black robe.

The black-robed old man beamed with smiles, cupping his hands in greeting. ”Wang Zhenlong of the Wang Family. Greetings. If I am not mistaken, you must be a Second Generation Ancestor of the Fang Clan, Lady Fang Qianxue? Please forgive my lack of manners.”

Wang Zhenlong?

Fang Chen was stunned. However, he couldn’t spot a single similarity between that black-robed old man and the Wang Zhenlong he knew.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

He also noticed that Wang Chongsong was present, too. However, he was standing in an inconspicuous spot within the group. It seemed that everyone else who had come held a higher status within the Wang Family than he did.

Fang Qianxue said with a faint smile, ”The detailed intelligence on every single member of our Fang Clan should already be neatly arranged on your Wang family’s desks, so there is no need for pleasantries. I will get straight to the point. The day of the Saint Canon longevity celebration is also the day Half Saint Fang will ascend to become a Saint. What is your family’s attitude?”

The divinity users of the Wang family exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting a variety of thoughts.

Wang Zhenlong fell into thought for a moment and then said, ”I would like to confirm one point. Will Half Saint Fang truly choose to ascend to the Saint Realm on that very day?”

Fang Qianxue nodded. ”Naturally.”

”Then our Wang family’s attitude should be... to stand idly by and watch from the sidelines. I wonder if you are satisfied with this answer?”

The members of the Wang family all fixed their eyes on Fang Qianxue, trying to catch a hint of a clue from her expression....