Chương 91: The Fang Family's Mountain

"Let's move. First stop, the Fang family." Zhang Huaijin's voice was calm but firm.

"Our main goal this time is to secure the Foundation Establishment Pill. We can explore Qingtai City another day." He shook his head slightly. Green Bamboo Mountain currently had no Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator standing guard. Speed was essential for this journey. Zhang Liwei and the other two understood the stakes. They nodded in silence. —— Wushuang Mountain was one of the ancient peaks near Qingtai City. In its earliest days, it had been home to a Tier 2, low grade spirit vein.

But ever since the Fang family produced their first Purple Mansion Realm cultivator over two centuries ago, they had invested spirit stones year after year, generation after generation. Step by step, they had nurtured that vein until it reached Tier 3, mid grade. And step by step, the Fang family had risen to power and prosperity. Now, with three Purple Mansion Realm cultivators sitting atop their mountain, they stood as the undisputed rulers of Qingtai County.

Even the Zhou family, prominent as they were, could not compare to the Fang family's influence. Five years had passed since the spirit beast tide swept through the land. Zhang Huaijin led Zhang Liwei, Zhang Wujian, and Zhang Yunli to the foot of Wushuang Mountain, where the Fang family's mountain gate stood. The Fangs had occupied this peak for nearly five hundred years. Their roots ran deep. Their foundation was solid.

The Fang disciple on gate duty accepted Zhang Huaijin's calling card and disappeared inside to announce their arrival. Fifteen minutes later, a familiar figure emerged from the mountain path. It was Fang Tao. He was dressed in white, a warm smile lighting his face. None of the arrogance from their first meeting at Blood Lion Mountain remained.

"Fellow cultivator Huaijin!" Fang Tao called out warmly.

"Five years have passed, and your elegance remains undimmed." Zhang Huaijin's cultivation level once again struck Fang Tao like a quiet thunderclap. Back at Blood Lion Mountain, Huaijin had been at the first level. Now, five years later, he had already reached the third level. Fang Tao had also heard the rumors from Langya County Town, how Zhang Huaijin had defeated a fifth level cultivator. It stung Fang Tao's pride, if he was honest with himself. But then again, the man has a spirit body.

What could an ordinary cultivator do but admire from afar?

"You flatter me, Fellow Cultivator Fang," Zhang Huaijin replied, returning the compliment with a slight smile.

"I could never match you. If my senses aren't mistaken, you're not far from the fifth level yourself."

"Haha!" Fang Tao's smile widened, genuinely pleased.

"Huaijin, are these the young members of your clan?"

"Yes. I brought them along to broaden their horizons."

"Excellent. Follow me." The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Fang Tao led Zhang Huaijin and the four younger cultivators up the slopes of Wushuang Mountain. The peak soared thousands of feet into the clouds, its slopes covered in neatly spaced black maple trees. A faint, wispy cold clung to every leaf, as if the trees themselves breathed frost.

"Fellow Cultivator Fang," Zhang Huaijin observed, "these are your family's famous Frost Maple trees, aren't they?"

"Indeed." Fang Tao's voice carried a note of genuine pride.

"Our family has nurtured these spirit trees for centuries. They generate tens of thousands of spirit stones for us every year." This was the Fang family's nearly five hundred year foundation in living form. A handful of the trees had already reached Tier 3, but most remained at Tier 2. They grew quickly, however. As long as the forest was harvested wisely and not plundered recklessly, it would provide a stable, lasting source of income for generations to come. Zhang Huaijin nodded thoughtfully.

Behind him, Zhang Liwei and the others could only stare in silent awe. This was the depth of an old Purple Mansion Realm clan. Zhang Liwei found himself wondering whether the Fang family would ever go further, whether they might one day produce a late stage Purple Mansion cultivator. If they did, they could move to the prefectural capital of Bing Province and step onto an even larger stage. As they talked, Fang Tao led the group to the Fang family's Reception Hall.

The hall stood apart from the main compound, deliberately built outside the reach of the clan's defensive formation. It was a gesture of courtesy, so guests would not feel uneasy. After all, stepping into the core of Wushuang Mountain meant stepping fully into the Fang family's domain. If the Fangs harbored ill intentions, anyone who crossed that threshold would be finished. And from the clan's perspective, outsiders would learn none of their secrets this way. It was better for everyone involved.

Most powers operated the same way.

"Fellow Cultivator Huaijin," Fang Tao said, "please wait a moment. I'll go fetch the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Of course." Zhang Huaijin sat down calmly and waited. Behind him, Zhang Liwei's heart raced with barely contained excitement. He was about to receive the Foundation Establishment Pill. Once he reached the perfection stage of Qi Refining, he could finally attempt the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He was confident. A small, reckless part of him even wanted to try a natural breakthrough without the pill, to prove his own talent. But then he remembered Zhang Liliang's fate.

He remembered the clan's precarious situation. He suppressed the thought before it could take root. Envy shimmered in Zhang Wujian's and Yunli's eyes as they watched him. Would they ever receive such a chance? Or would they be left behind? Fifteen minutes later, Fang Tao returned. He placed a jade box directly into Huaijin's hands.

"Fellow Cultivator Huaijin, here is the Foundation Establishment Pill. Please inspect it." Zhang Huaijin nodded and opened the box without hesitation. The pill was far too important for anything less than thorough scrutiny. He was now a Tier 2 alchemist himself, more than capable of sensing the pill's medicinal power.

"It's genuine." He examined it closely.

"The potency is strong, clearly the work of a Tier 3 alchemist. That must be Senior Fang Xinjin's doing, correct?" Finding no issue, Zhang Huaijin secured the pill and put the box away.

"Exactly." Fang Tao's chest swelled with pride.

"It was my clansman, Fang Xinjin." Fang Xinjin was a genius of the Fang family, blessed with both fire and wood spiritual roots. At just two hundred and twenty years old, he had already reached the fifth level of Purple Mansion Realm. On top of that, he was a Tier 3, mid grade alchemist. By all reasonable estimates, he would at least reach the late Purple Mansion Realm. Some whispered that he might even have a chance at the Golden Core Realm. Fang Tao had looked up to his illustrious clansman his entire life.

To achieve even half of Fang Xinjin's accomplishments, he would die satisfied.

"My thanks to Senior Fang Xinjin," Zhang Huaijin said. He rose from his seat.

"Fellow Cultivator Fang, if there's nothing else, I should take my clan members and leave. The Zhang family's foundation is still weak. We have only two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. With me gone, our family mountain lies dangerously exposed. Please forgive my discourtesy." With the pill in hand, Zhang Huaijin was eager to depart. He had spoken nothing but the truth, their mountain truly was vulnerable.

"Ah, Huaijin, you're in far too much of a hurry!" Fang Tao exclaimed, a hint of genuine regret coloring his voice.

"I was actually thinking of introducing you to a few of my Fang clan sisters. Playing matchmaker, you know." Zhang Huaijin's potential was obvious to every cultivator in all nine counties of Qingtai. This was an opportunity Fang Tao didn't want to waste. He had hoped to build a bridge between their families, to see if a marriage alliance might take root. But before he could even properly raise the suggestion, Zhang Huaijin was already halfway out the door. A look of apology crossed Zhang Huaijin's face.

"I appreciate your kindness brother. Truly. But our clan is exposed right now. If it weren't for the Foundation Establishment Pill, I wouldn't have left home at all. Next time. I promise, next time." He hadn't expected Fang Tao to offer a match with a Fang clan's woman. It seemed that in any world talent was always in high demand.