Immortal of the Nine Realms

Southern Region, Fang Manor.

”I did it! Grandfather, I’ve condensed my immortal vein!” Fang Zhixue exclaimed excitedly as she stood up, faint spiritual energy enveloping her.

The three demons—Victorious Buddha, Tiger Mounter Lord, and Profound Green—looked quietly at Fang Zhixue, a hint of satisfaction in their eyes. Their junior sister had finally become a cultivator.

”You were just lucky. Better not get too proud,” said Fang Zhentian with a smile.

Fang Cangyou looked melancholic as he sat in his wheelchair. ”Even Zhixue has condensed her immortal vein. Looks like I really don’t have the talent for cultivation.”

”Perhaps if you throw this wheelchair away you might also be able to become a cultivator,” said Fang Zhentian, glancing at Fang Cangyou.

Fang Cangyou immediately wheeled himself away. ”Dad, I’ve grown accustomed to this lifestyle. You cannot ever allow me to stray away from it. This is the only way others can underestimate me,” he insisted. “ I am acting low-key!”

Fang Zhentian shook his head and turned his attention toward Fang Zhixue. ”Zhixue, it wasn’t easy for you to condense your first immortal vein. You didn’t only succeed in this endeavor because of your assiduous cultivation. You succeeded because of the spirit spring and spirit stones, too. These two were an integral factor in your success, even more so than your diligence. Don’t take this achievement for granted. Your big brother was the one who provided you with the appropriate conditions that allowed you to condense your immortal vein.”

Fang Zhixue was feeling a little proud earlier, but she lowered her head in reflection after hearing what he said.

Suddenly, the trio heard Fang Chen’s voice from behind. He was walking over with a smile. ”Grandfather, it’s natural for people to celebrate for a few days when they condense their immortal vein. No need to be so harsh on her.”

”Big Brother!” exclaimed Fang Zhixue in surprise

”Master!”

”You’re already back?” Fang Zhentian smiled. ” Did it go smoothly?”

”Everything went well.” Fang Chen nodded slightly, then introduced Liu Mu to everyone. When they learned about what had happened to Liu Mu, a hint of pity appeared in their eyes.

”Don’t worry, since my big brother brought you here, he will definitely find a cure for the bumps on your body and return you back to normal!” Fang Zhixue reassured him.

Liu Mu let out a few low, unintelligible sounds. His eyes seemed to brighten ever so slightly.

”Grandfather, the poison in his body will erupt soon, so I need to take him outside to seek treatment,” said Fang Chen. He took out one of the Vermillion Fruits and a Blood Ginseng and handed them to Fang Zhentian. “Here, take these. A hundred-year Vermillion Fruit and a hundred-year Blood Ginseng.”

Fang Chen knew he didn’t need these items for his cultivation. He cultivated by crafting talismans. His grandfather, however, could put them to good use and speed up his cultivation.

”These are rich in spiritual energy! I’ve already condensed my second immortal vein. With these, it won’t be long before I can condense the third one.” Fang Zhentian’s eyes brightened slightly. He immediately stored the Blood Ginseng and Vermillion Fruit in his storage ring.

There was a pause, and Fang Zhentian’s face suddenly turned solemn. ”Chen’er, I think it’s about time I... tell you about this.”

Fang Chen was slightly taken aback. What could make Grandfather so serious?

He nodded. ”Please tell me, Grandfather.”

Fang Zhentian sighed lightly. He seemed to have turned nostalgic suddenly. ”When I was young, my grandfather, your great-great-grandfather, told me something. Back then, when he told me this, I brushed it off as the words of a senile old man. I didn’t pay much attention to them. But now, thinking back about it, I think what he told me might’ve been true.”

My great-great-grandfather? Fang Chen’s face turned somewhat peculiar. What could he have said that made his grandfather so serious? His great-great-grandfather had been dead for many years, buried in the Eternal Cemetery along with the rest of the ancestors.

”Grandfather, what exactly is it?” asked Fang Chen.

”Where do you think our Fang Family originates from?” asked Fang Zhentian softly.

”Aren’t we from the Grand Xia Empire?” asked Fang Chen back.

Fang Zhentian smiled. ”The Grand Xia Empire was established by the ancestors of both our Fang family and the Xia family. But before we established the Grand Xia Empire, where did our Fang family come from?”

Fang Chen shook his head. ”I don’t know.”

That was something that happened hundreds of years ago. How could he possibly know? He had only been in this world for a little over twenty-three years.

Fang Zhixue pricked up her ears, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

The three demons also looked toward Fang Zhentian, curious about what he was going to say.

Fang Zhentian smiled. ”Your great-great-grandfather once told me that our Fang family was a prominent cultivation clan in ancient times. However, because our ancestor offended someone who ought not to be offended, he was expelled from the rest of the family and eventually drifted here.”

”So Master’s origins are really not ordinary!”

The three demon cultivators exchanged glances.

Fang Zhixue couldn’t believe it. ”Grandfather, you mean our Fang family ancestors were cultivators?”

”Only one of our ancestors was. The rest weren’t.” Fang Zhentian smiled. ”My grandfather said that when the ancestor was driven out by the family, he swore an oath that he’ll never pass on his cultivation methods to anyone, not even his family. Since then, we’ve lost our immortal inheritance.”

”Can this be confirmed?” asked Fang Chen, his brow furrowed.

Fang Zhentian shook his head slightly. ”It cannot. I only know this because your great-great-grandfather told me. Before he passed away, he hoped that one day our Fang Family would truly acknowledge its ancestry. This was his wish and the wish of our ancestors for generations.

”I also heard that... when our ancestor was expelled, the family promised that if any of his descendants were to become cultivators, they were welcome to come back.”

”Grandfather, are you suggesting that I should find our ancestral land and acknowledge our ancestry?” asked Fang Chen.

Fang Zhentian smiled. ”Acknowledging our ancestry is one aspect. If this is true, after you return back home, you will have access to better and more resources, which will aid you on your path to immortality. My grandfather mentioned that when our ancestor was expelled, there were actually a few of his relatives who were opposed to the verdict, of whom were his siblings. If they are still alive, I believe they’d be a help to you.”

”Sigh. This is the wish of our ancestors. If they saw their descendants return to their ancestral land, they’ll surely feel fulfilled in death,” said Fang Zhentian.

Fang Chen smiled wryly inwardly. If it was cultivation resources he was, then it would be better for him to head to the Three Thousand Dao Sect in the Central Continent after reaching Foundation Establishment. However, he could sense how much Fang Zhentian wanted him to return to their ancestral land.

”Since it’s the wish of our ancestors, if I ever have the opportunity, I will naturally try to fulfill it. However, the world is vast. I’m afraid I don’t even know where to start looking,” said Fang Chen.

Fang Zhentian took out an ancient jade slip. It was old and beat up—time seemed to have left its mark on it. ”This jade slip has been passed down through generations in our Fang Family. In the beginning, I thought it was an ordinary jade pendant, but now it seems that it holds the key to finding the ancestral land. My old bones can’t handle roaming around anymore, so I’ll leave it to you.” He proffered it to Fang Chen.

Surprised, Fang Chen received the jade slip. He imbued it with his spiritual energy, and suddenly, a simple map appeared in his mind.

It was actually a map! His ancestor might’ve really been from an ancient, prominent cultivation clan!

Fang Zhentian glanced at Liu Mu and smiled faintly at Fang Chen. ”If you’re left stumped and can’t cure this child, then perhaps, searching for our ancestral land might be a way in the right direction.”