Chapter 17: The Deep-Pocketed Fang Qingxue

"Making the imperial edict wait... isn't that a bit improper?"

A single sentence from the eldest young lady of the Fang family, Fang Qingxue, shocked every disciple of the Fang family. Even the Fang family head, Viceroy of Long Yuan Province Fang Zetao, hesitated for a moment.

He was the Viceroy of Long Yuan Province, an incomparably loyal subject of the Great Li Dynasty. If he now made the imperial edict wait outside, wouldn't that be somewhat disloyal?

To show contempt for the imperial edict, to make it wait, was to show contempt for the Great Li Dynasty itself — a path to certain death.

"It doesn't matter. I have no wish to involve myself in the affairs of mortal commoners, and besides, I dislike commotion. As for the envoy and the meaning of the edict, leave it all to the family to handle. I don't wish to see them."

Fang Qingxue's jade-like countenance remained unchanged, as if she cared nothing at all for the Great Li Dynasty bestowing upon her the title of a Princess. "These days I will stay quietly at home for a while. If among the family disciples there are any worth molding, I will give them a pointer or two. Father, you should also rest and recuperate well — perhaps you will be able to break through to the Divine Ability Secret Realm."

"Mm, very well."

Fang Zetao nodded. "Originally, when the imperial edict arrived, conferring upon you the title of Princess, it would have been a great celebration for our Fang family, and we would have had to celebrate properly. But since you prefer quiet, let us handle it with a low profile. Also, the cultivation grounds of your Yuhua Immortal Mountain — you may bring along some of our Fang family's disciples and servants. With them to attend to your worldly affairs, it will also be beneficial to your cultivation base."

"Very well."

Fang Qingxue gave another soft hum of assent.

Fang Zetao's gaze then swept over the assembled Fang family disciples. "You have all heard as well — this is your Dahaoji Society. The eldest young lady has already stepped into the Divine Ability Secret Realm and will be staying at home for some days to give you guidance. You must cultivate diligently. Do not disappoint me, and do not disappoint the eldest young lady."

"We shall surely cultivate with all our might, and not disappoint the family head or the eldest young lady."

The assembled Fang family disciples all shouted in unison, and Fang Yu opened his mouth to join them.

He sized up the eldest young lady of the Fang family, Fang Qingxue. This eldest young lady had already cultivated to the Divine Ability Secret Realm; her strength had very likely reached the force of a hundred, or even a thousand, Xuanhuang steeds. And yet he was still struggling to cultivate the force of a single Xuanhuang steed.

He had to find an opportunity to traverse worlds and grow powerful quickly.

"Qingxue, this is a disciple of our Fang family. His name is Fang Yu. He has already cultivated to the 4th Stage of Physical Body, Hardness-Softness Realm. These past days he has devoted himself wholly to cultivation, and the strength accumulated within him is quite good. He is not far from the Realm of Divine Power."

Just at that moment, Fang Yu heard Fang Zetao introducing him to Fang Qingxue.

He immediately stepped forward.

"Mm, indeed not bad. After cultivating a while longer, there is a chance he will break through to the Realm of Divine Power."

Fang Qingxue's gaze swept over. In an instant, it was as if an extra layer of electric light had appeared in the void. He felt that this eldest young lady's gaze seemed capable of seeing through anything — that with a single glance she could even discern exactly how much strength he possessed.

"Mm, Fang Cheng? You have also cultivated to the Realm of Hardness and Softness?"

After introducing Fang Yu, Fang Zetao's gaze drifted and, in passing, fell upon Fang Cheng beside Fang Yu. A look of considerable satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Reporting to the family head, these past days I received the teachings of Brother Fang Yu and cultivated diligently. By a stroke of fortune, I broke through to the Realm of Hardness and Softness."

An expression of excitement appeared on Fang Cheng's face, and he immediately spoke up.

"Good, not bad, truly not bad. Since you have broken through to the Hardness-Softness Realm, you must be rewarded."

Fang Zetao, seeing that the Fang family had gained another disciple at the Hardness-Softness Realm, waved his hand. Immediately a steward stepped forward and delivered a gourd of elixir and one thousand taels of silver — the same reward Fang Yu had received at the time.

"Many thanks, family head!"

The look of joy on Fang Cheng's face deepened. The moment he cracked open the elixir bottle, a rich fragrance wafted out, and he knew he had at last obtained the legendary Essence Yuan Elixir.

Essence Yuan Elixirs, each one worth a fortune.

Only because the Fang family had ties with the Yuhua Xian Sect, and the eldest young lady was moreover a prized disciple of the Yuhua Xian Sect, could the Fang family obtain a steady stream of Essence Yuan Elixirs to nurture its disciples.

Otherwise, no matter how much money one had, it would be impossible to purchase these Essence Yuan Elixirs.

"Fang Yu, after breaking through to the Hardness-Softness Realm, you spared no effort in helping our Fang family's disciples break through their realms. This is excellent, and you must be rewarded as well. If the disciples of our Fang family were all like you — united in heart, pulling along those who came after — I cannot imagine to what heights our Fang family might rise."

After bestowing the reward upon Fang Cheng, Fang Zetao's gaze turned once more to Fang Yu, a look of approval showing on his face. "A clan as large as ours can only walk further when we are united in heart. Fang Yu, I have decided to reward you with another twenty Essence Yuan Elixirs. If you can break through to the Realm of Divine Power, there will be further rewards!"

As his words fell, the steward came forward once more and delivered a gourd of elixir.

"This truly is planting willows by chance and finding shade in full bloom."

A look of delight appeared on Fang Yu's face, as if he had not expected that helping Fang Cheng break through his realm would earn him a reward from the family head.

Another twenty Essence Yuan Elixirs — it seemed he might be able to rely on so many Essence Yuan Elixirs to break through to the Realm of Divine Power.

He immediately expressed his thanks and declared it his duty to bring glory to the Fang family.

"Very well. Besides this, I must also announce to everyone that this time the eldest young lady has returned from the Yuhua Xian Sect and brought back a great many elixirs and treasures. Every single disciple of our Fang family may receive five Essence Yuan Elixirs to raise their strength. As for the further benefits of the Yuhua Xian Sect, those will only be bestowed once you have rendered meritorious service."

Fang Zetao spoke again, and his words made the look of joy on every Fang family disciple's face grow even richer.

At the same time, a shade of astonishment appeared.

"Every single disciple of our Fang family gets five Essence Yuan Elixirs? How did the eldest young lady manage it?"

"What extraordinary encounter has the eldest young lady had, to be able to obtain so many Essence Yuan Elixirs?"

"Our Fang family has so many disciples, yet the eldest young lady can actually bestow Essence Yuan Elixirs upon them all. This time our Fang family is going to rise completely and utterly."

"Too incredible to imagine. Long live the eldest young lady!"

One by one, the Fang family disciples, hearing that each of them would receive five Essence Yuan Elixirs, felt it was inconceivable, and at the same time were overcome with wild joy.

Even Fang Yu sighed with emotion again and again, though he was not surprised.

After all, the eldest young lady Fang Qingxue, many lifetimes ago, had been the legendary Heavenly Lord of the Mother of Lightning. So long as she casually recovered even a tiny bit of something from her past life, it would be more than enough for the Fang family's disciples to enjoy without end.

That she could possess so many Essence Yuan Elixirs did not shock Fang Yu.

But this was indeed a good thing.

If every disciple of the Fang family could have five Essence Yuan Elixirs, did that not mean he could obtain another five Essence Yuan Elixirs?

With so many Essence Yuan Elixirs, the Realm of Divine Power no longer seemed to be a problem.

All the Fang family disciples leaped and cheered with joy. Of course, this jubilation had nothing to do with the Fang family's servants.

"This time, I must break through to the Divine Power Realm."

Fang Yu felt a sense of urgency. As soon as the gathering ended, he would go cultivate at once.