Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 374: Flawless

Li Cang felt incredibly satisfied. He never expected that there would be a cultivator capable of fighting a Martial Emperor with just their physical body and making them admit defeat so easily.

Even though cultivators also had body-refining techniques, such techniques still required the activation of spiritual energy. However, he could clearly sense that other than using his spiritual energy to condense the water dragon, Fang Chen did not activate his spiritual energy at all.

Fang Chen chuckled. "With your skills, if you were to go on a killing spree, ordinary cultivators at the 12th stage of the Qi Refining Realm wouldn't be able to defend against you unless they possess defensive treasures."

Curiosity flickered in Chang Feilan's eyes. "Young master, have you practiced martial arts before?"

Fang Chen nodded lightly.

Chang Feilan and Li Cang exchanged a look and saw the shock and joy deep in each other's eyes. What they were most afraid of was mingling with cultivators who looked down on martial arts. Because, in the eyes of these cultivators, martial artists were no different from mortals. However, now that Fang Chen said that he had practiced martial arts before, they knew he'd be able to understand how difficult their path was and wouldn't look down on them.

Fang Chen chuckled and said, "I once practiced to the Qi Core Stage."

"I'm afraid you would've been able to become a Martial Emperor before you reached adulthood with your talent if you had continued practicing," remarked Chang Feilan respectfully.

Fang Chen lightly shook his head. "I wouldn't have been able to."

Li Cang and Chang Feilan were stunned.

Fang Chen explained, "Someone shattered my qi sea when I was at the Qi Core Stage, so my path of martial arts was cut off since that day."

Both Chang Feilan and Li Cang sucked in a breath of cold air, looking at Fang Chen in disbelief.

It was hard to imagine that, as a descendant of the Fang Family, Fang Chen had once had his qi sea destroyed!

At the entrance of the courtyard, Fang Xiu, Fang Jue, Fang Yun, as well as some children from the third and fourth branches, all stopped in their tracks, their eyes filled with shock.

"To have his qi sea destroyed and his eyes blinded when he was wandering outside, he must have experienced many things that we didn’t. Things that we can't even imagine..." murmured Fang Jue.

"Despite all that, he was able to stand at the peak of the Grand Qian younger generation. Even Jue Wudi lost to him more than once. It's hard to imagine what kind of talent and perseverance he must have," whispered Fang Xiu.

Fang Yun suddenly commented, "If only he could regain his sight.... Wouldn't he be even stronger? Perhaps he would have already advanced to the Foundation Building Realm by now."

Everyone was taken aback slightly, and it was only after Fang Yun's reminder that they came back to their senses. It's much more difficult for a person with disabilities to cultivate. After all, cultivation emphasized being flawless—having no flaws or defects. If the physical body is flawed, circulating spiritual energy through the veins would be extremely difficult, which would cause deficiencies in certain areas. This would inevitably slow down a person's cultivation.

Fang Chen was someone with a disability, yet he was still much stronger than those proud children who lived in the Fang Manor all their lives.

"No wonder Grandfather told me that cultivators must go through trials, and must have an honest heart; a flawless heart is far stronger than a flawless body," mumbled Fang Xiu.

Most people were born flawless when it came to their bodies. But when it came to mentality, not many reached a state where it could be called "flawless"—one could hardly find one whose mentality had reached such a realm amongst even millions of people.

Li Cang said through gritted teeth, "Young master, the one who was so bold as to destroy your qi sea, are they still alive?

Change Feilan eyes were gleaming with killing intent too. "Young master, if that person is still alive, please let me go and I’ll return with his head."

Fang Chen chuckled. "He should still be alive. But the enmity between us is not that simple. He spared my life once, and now I am not willing to kill him either. It could be said that neither of us is at fault."

I wonder if Marshall Xiao Lang has found any traces of the Spirit Blood Sect within the Qingsong Empire?

He is not a cultivator, so he cannot deal with the Spirit Blood Sect like me. But with his temperament, he would choose to endure silently and wait for an opportunity instead of defying them head-on.

Once my sword body reaches the third rank, I will have to make a trip back before heading to the Central Continent Empire.

Li Cang and Chang Feilan couldn't help but sigh inwardly at Fang Chen's attitude. They couldn't compare to his broad-mindedness. If it were them, if anyone dared to destroy their qi sea, they would've definitely treated that person as a sworn enemy!

Fang Chen looked toward the entrance of the courtyard and said softly, "We have guests. Li Cang, prepare some tea."

It wasn't long before Fang Xiu and the rest were sitting around the stone table as they sipped on the tea Li Cang brewed. They occasionally looked at Fang Chen.

Fang Chen suddenly smiled. "Everyone, you didn't come here just to see me, did you? Weren't we together not just long ago."

"Fang Chen, how's that little girl?" asked Fang Yun suddenly.

“She's sleeping inside, recovering her energy,” said Fang Chen.

"Fang Chen..." Fang Jue showed an awkward smile. "Actually, we're here to ask you for pointers on the Five Element Controlling Technique...."

Fang Xiu nodded. "Yes, we want to know how we could reach your level. If it's inconvenient for you to say, then never mind."

Fang Chen smiled and said, "There is no special trick. Practice makes perfect."

"Do you practice all the time?" Fang Hao looked puzzled. "But if you spend all your time practicing controlling the elements, what about your cultivation?"

Fang Chen chuckled. "I don't need to practice all the time, just when I have free time. I have a habit of practicing the Five Element Controlling Technique while making talismans."

While Fang Chen's method might not be suitable for Fang Xiu and them, it could perhaps give them some inspiration, which was enough. After all, other cultivators needed to meditate and practice diligently, while Fang Chen's cultivation only required him to deplete his spiritual energy.

Ever since Fang Chen got his hands on the Introduction to the Three Thousand Daos, the number of times he meditated could be counted on one hand....

Everyone was surprised.

"You practicing the Five Elements Controlling Technique while making talismans?"

He was even multitasking?!

How is this... possible...?

They were initially reluctant to believe it, but considering Fang Chen's mastery of the Five Elements Controlling Technique, they had no choice but to believe him.

Fang Xiu muttered to himself, "But making talismans requires immense concentration, and cultivation is the same. He does the two at the same while also practicing his control over the five elements? If one makes a mistake while crafting talismans, it will at most fail, but if a cultivator made a mistake while cultivating, it could lead them astray...."

"But what if it works?" Fang Jue's expression turned serious. "Perhaps that's what it means to obtain twice the result with half the effort. Both tasks require extreme concentration, so if one can truly multitask like this, it's as if they're fine-tuning their control over spiritual energy."

"At the very least, it could free up some extra time," someone whispered.

Everyone fell into deep thought.

Fang Chen, seeing their reactions, kindly reminded them, "Perhaps you can try multitasking with making talismans, pill refining, or other tasks, but don't attempt to practice the Five Elements Controlling Technique while cultivating. If you experience cultivation deviation, it's not my responsibility."

Fang Xiu nodded lightly and said to everyone, "Do not attempt to do this lightly, especially not during cultivation."

Everyone quickly nodded.

"How lively it is here. You're all gathered. Why didn't you call me?" Suddenly, a figure appeared at the door, warmly smiling at everyone.

Fang Xiu and the others' expressions darkened when they saw the newcomer.

Fang Jue looked at Fang Chen and whispered softly, "That's Fang Shang from the second branch. His mother and Jue Wudi’s mother are sisters. He can't be here for anything good."