CHAPTER 156: 156- PAST UNRAVEL [2]

Fang Yuan’s eyes lingered on Fang Chen for a long moment before he slowly shook his head.

"We’ll talk about that matter another day," he said at last, voice calm but carrying weight. "You understand... it’s important."

Fang Chen didn’t reply. His face was shadowed with quiet sorrow, the kind that made words feel unnecessary.

Fang Yuan turned to Fang Mei. "How about this. Mei’er and Uncle Chen, you two will go and visit your birth mother."

Outwardly, his tone was decisive. Inwardly, however, his thoughts twisted into a knot.

Hah... what a dilemma. I was planning to send Mei’er to lead a group of family descendants to search for clues about Fang Tian.

"Go," Fang Yuan urged with a flick of his hand, shooing them toward the door.

The two hesitated only a moment before leaving, their figures disappearing down the hall.

Fang Yuan watched them go until they were out of sight. Then, with a long exhale, he slumped back into his chair.

Tilting his head back, he stared at the ceiling.

"I’m gonna need a break," he muttered to no one in particular.

He straightened slightly, voice low but firm. "Open system."

[System Status]

Host: Fang Yuan

Realm: Half-Step Hollow Spirit Realm

Root: Heavenly Root

Hidden Physique: None

Martial Techniques:

Swift Step Footwork (Low-grade Black)

Golden Shell Armor (Mid-grade Earth)

Tyrant’s Light Sword (low-grade Black)

System Points: 12,400

Faith Points: 8,000

Currently Available Quests: None

Fang Yuan clicked his tongue. "Tsk. If only you’d give me a task every time I faced some ridiculous difficulty and reward me for it. I’d be a whole lot stronger by now. And you’d have a much stronger host."

He gave the air an unimpressed glance. "What a hopeless system..."

Still muttering, he said, "Open the faith system."

A fresh page of light bloomed before him.

[Faith System – Heavenly Mandate Scripture] (Saint Rank)

Current Rank: 0 / 9

Faith Exp Needed for Level 1: 10,000

Current Faith Exp: 6,666 / 10,000

Currently Unlocked Abilities:

Authority Domain (Passive) – Foes within one meter of you will be instantly identified and locked under your cultivation aura.

Fang Yuan blinked. "Since when was this even a function...?"

His brows drew together, a mix of confusion and annoyance. "I didn’t... I never even checked!"

He took a slow breath, collecting himself. "From now on, I’m checking the system every single day."

Another section of the page shifted into view.

[Fang Clan]

Head: Fang Yuan (Strongest cultivator in Coldwind City)

Clan’s Collective Faith in Their Head: 84% (High)

Daily Generation: 300 Faith Exp, 2,000 Faith Points

Exceptional Believers (Those with faith points above 99):

Fang Chen – Daily generates 500 Faith Exp, 1,000 Faith Points

Fang Yuan stared for a long moment, surprise rippling through him again.

Then, gradually, his expression eased into something more resigned, almost satisfied.

"At least I’m benefiting from this... even if it’s unexpected," he murmured.

Pushing himself up from his chair, Fang Yuan straightened his robes with a decisive tug, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

Fang Yuan froze mid-step, eyes narrowing as a flicker of realization sparked in his mind.

He scrolled back through the familiar stream of system data.... then stopped.

There it was.

His martial techniques.

Golden Shell Armor... upgraded.

From mid-stage black grade to mid-stage earth grade.

An entire realm jump.

His breath quickened, excitement flaring in his chest.

"It must be..." he murmured, lips curling into a slow grin, "because I added the third form... the one with triple damage return. It has to be."

The other techniques remained untouched, their grades unmoved, but he didn’t care.

This was different. This was the system acknowledging his capabilities, by noting that what he had achieved elevated a low grade cultivation to a whole new level.

A major realm upgrade.

He savored the thought like a fine wine, letting it roll through him before another, sharper idea slid into his mind.

"...Ah." His eyes glinted. "Now that I think about it... yes. I should do that."

Fang Yuan instantly turned on his heel, cloak brushing the floor as he strode out of the room.

Eastern Ravine, Cultivation Caves:

"Hey—someone just broke through!"

"Think it’s Fang Ruì?"

"Maybe. She’s about the same age as us and is already in Qi Transformation. She’s really talented."

"That’s what I keep telling you, earn merit points, buy Bone Marrow Pills. I’ve never seen those genius buy anything else other than that."

"Oh—shh! The person who breakthrough is coming out!"

A ripple of excitement ran through the waiting crowd.

Most were disciples biding their time in the queue for their own cave slots.

Free moments were rare, and watching a breakthrough was a treat.

All eyes turned toward the mouth of the cave, anticipation thick in the air.

But what emerged was... not who anyone expected.

A man stepped into the sunlight, broad-shouldered, muscles cut like stone under a simple robe, his every movement radiating quiet strength.

His skin glistened faintly from the lingering heat of cultivation.

And he was definitely not a Fang.

"Do you... know him?" someone whispered.

Heads shook, whispers swirling until one voice cut through.

"That’s... the Clan Head’s sworn brother."

"Him?"

"Yes. Benefactor Da Pang."

The murmurs shifted instantly, respect, awe, curiosity filling the air.

Xiao Pei stretched lazily, feeling his joints pop and his body hum with newfound vitality. Golden Core Realm. Finally. A step closer to standing beside my sworn brothers as an equal.

For others, they had to earn merit points for buying pills, and clawing for resources.

But for him...

Fang Yuan had said it was fine. The elders had agreed, it was something the Fang clan owed him for what he’d given them.

Only Xiao Pei knew the truth: how uneasy it felt to receive without giving back.

’If only fang Yuan didn’t have a knack for lying where he got his stuffs from’, he thought.

Still, with the help of their generosity, his cultivation surged.

His body felt like tempered steel, every muscle brimming with power.

But as he walked away, he became aware of it, stares..

Dozens of them. More than he’d ever drawn in his entire life.

Frowning, he glanced down... and froze.

His mind screamed in wordless horror.

Who... is this?