Chapter 147

Seeing Fang Can show no fear, Liu Qingmeng asked again: "You really won't regret it?"

"Not at all. Even if I die, I won't regret it." Fang Can said firmly, feeling his innate talent increasing.

The reward arrived before we even got there.

"Good." Liu Qingmeng nodded in satisfaction: "Even if you gain nothing, you may directly choose one ritual artifact from the mountain's Sword Tomb."

"Then thank you, Elder Liu." Fang Can asked: "When exactly will the mystical realm open?"

"It's a Sixth Turn's dwelling. The exact time cannot be divined—only that it may open at any point within the next year, even in the next instant."

"That's really random." Fang Can was speechless, but looking at Liu Qingmeng's icy, forbidding demeanor now, he found it hard to connect her with the present world.

After a few more casual words, Liu Qingmeng turned into a streak of light and vanished inside the room.

Feeling his talent rise another notch, Fang Can knew she had truly left.

Looking at the room returning to stillness, he suddenly burst out laughing.

'Why is this Elder Liu like an NPC handing out quests—every time she shows up, there's a new main storyline?'

Smiling, Fang Can calmed his emotions and, with his body trembling, carefully mapped every organ within, striving to improve even a little more.

In the silent night, Fang Can trained alone until dawn, only slowly ending his cultivation the next morning.

Feeling his body now even closer to perfection than yesterday, Fang Can was extremely satisfied.

With a light motion, he pushed open the door, ignored the greetings of the worshippers at the entrance, and walked alone toward the Fang Manor holding his invitation.

As he strolled past the surrounding scenery, savoring the prosperity of Ducheng, he arrived at the main gate of the Fang Manor after walking for over ten minutes.

Before he even drew near, forty meters away, the four warriors guarding the gate locked their sharp gazes onto him.

The next moment, they carefully scrutinized Fang Can, then forced stiff smiles and hurried forward.

"Are you Master Fang?" asked a gatekeeper with a slanted longsword and rigid armor, speaking gently.

Seeing Fang Can confirm, the guard clapped his hands: "We've finally got you! Last night, when Master heard you'd arrived in Ducheng, he immediately ordered us guards to keep watch—so here we are, waited all night, and now you've finally come!"

As he spoke, the guard pointed behind him at the Fang Manor: "Come with me first—I'll notify Master."

Inside the main hall of the Fang residence, a man in black robes, his face stern and seemingly in his forties, sat upon the main seat, sipping tea slowly.

This man was Fang Yanbei, head of the Fang Manor.

The sky was clear, and by the hour he should have been at court, but with the boss dead and no major affairs to handle lately, he was unusually idle.

Just as he was about to sip again, a servant rushed in to report: "Master, Master Fang has arrived."

Shh!

Almost the instant the words left the servant's mouth, Fang Yanbei's half-closed eyes snapped wide open, and his figure vanished from the main hall.

Inside the Fang Manor, Fang Can walked through it and soon sensed its difference.

First, the ground: every single tile seemed to absorb vibrations—any force exceeding a hundred catties had its excess kinetic energy fully drained by the stones.

Then, the air.

As he walked, Fang Can watched in disbelief as the tiny dust particles around him appeared frozen in place; his robes could not stir even a wisp of dust.

Curious, he asked the servant guiding him.

"You mean these? The floor tiles were bought at great cost from the Five Demon Sect."

"And the wind—this is the Stillwind Pearl gifted to Master by a Third Turn adept of the Five Demon Sect. The harder you try, the firmer the wind becomes."

The servant beamed with pride: "Warriors train their fists—ordinary materials can't withstand their damage."

"Especially since Master is a Third Turn powerhouse. Even a casual movement could shatter mountains and split earth—so these tiles and the Stillwind Pearl help contain the destruction."

Fang Can smiled, silently amazed—he'd learned something new.

He himself hadn't fully unleashed his power in a long time; the environmental damage was simply too great. Everything around him was as fragile as tofu.

Curious, he unconsciously applied force—and instantly felt the once-soft air now as rigid as steel, encasing his body.

Fang Can felt as if dozens of tons of steel rebar had wrapped around him, crushing him with unbearable weight.

His serious punch barely reached three feet away, and the blue flagstones beneath his feet remained unscathed.

As they walked and looked around, Fang Can realized the Fang Manor was truly opulent—occupying dozens of mu in this land-of-gold capital, with maids and servants bustling everywhere.

As the two passed, the servants nearby stole curious glances at Fang Can—his white hair and red eyes were unmistakable.

Halfway through, a wind-like figure rushed forward and halted instantly before him.

The man stopped before Fang Can and laughed loudly: "Master Fang, your reputation truly doesn't lie—seeing you is better than hearing of you. I am Fang Yanbei, Minister of Revenue of the Imperial Court. I salute you, Master Fang."

At these words, the maids and servants around them froze in shock.

This wasn't how a top-ranking official spoke to an ordinary person—Master's tone was far too humble.

Even Fang Can thought this display was far too low.

To Fang Can now, a Third Turn wasn't an insurmountable barrier—it was like a primary schooler looking up at a ninth-grader. If he chose to learn, he'd reach it eventually.

As for the Nations' Grand Tournament, it was like a primary schooler entering a math Olympiad—challenging, but not impossible.

"Minister Fang, you flatter me. I came here to thank you for your previous help." Fang Can bowed.

"Master Fang, you're too polite. Treat the Fang Manor as your own home. Lunch is still some time off—shall I show you around the manor?" Fang Yanbei smiled.

"Very well. I'd be grateful for your guidance." Fang Can nodded slightly, though he felt it was a waste of time, he agreed.

Fang Yanbei smiled: "Excellent. Then let's start by visiting our family's Treasure Vault."

Fang Can: "Huh???"

Fang Can was stunned—he thought he'd misheard. Wait, who takes a guest on a tour and straightaway heads to their own Treasure Vault? Are you seriously treating me like family?

At Fang Yanbei's words, the maids and servants around them stood frozen, forgetting their place, staring blankly at the two.

This Fang Can also has the surname Fang… could he possibly be Master's illegitimate son…

Amid the stunned gazes of the servants, Fang Yanbei smiled inwardly, watching Fang Can's stunned expression.

'All these years as Minister of Revenue, I've never failed with this move—the Qian Kun Yi Zhi.'

(End of this chapter)