Chapter 201: A Stunning Debut

Two decades ago, in the small city of Willow Lake, a Qi Refiner named Fang Chi appeared. He was brilliant and extraordinary, overshadowing all Qi Refiners in Qingjiang for generations, even now making them appear dull. No one dared call themselves the genius of Qingjiang any longer. So, after Immortal Master Fang Chi had passed away, would his brother born of the same mother possess such lofty talent?

Most people did not think so.

Many felt that with Immortal Master Fang Chi coming first, his younger brother’s talent could not be too bad.

But it was basically impossible for there to be another who could match him.

The birth of any genius was a gift from heaven.

How could the Fang Family possibly produce two such amazing talents?

Yet though this sounded reasonable, after Fang Cun arrived at Leshui Sect, whispers of something different started spreading. Second Young Master Fang attracted much attention from his very arrival at the sects of Qingjiang. And he did not let people down—from buying Shoushan Sect’s Spiritual Vein, to retrieving Shoushan Sect’s Treasure Body Method, to slaying the Demon Hound at Crow Mountain.

Each event shocked their area!

But these things were not related to his talent in cultivation. Anyone could achieve them with enough courage, money, and tricks.

When the rumor from Leshui Sect emerged, it was different.

This was especially clear to Leshui Sect disciples.

At first, not many disciples knew Second Young Master Fang was coming, until Ye Xuanzhen’s breakthrough spread.

For any sect, a disciple’s breakthrough was a big event, especially in the Condensed Radiance Realm, known as the doorway to the Divine Realm. Ye Xuanzhen, a top Foundation Establishment Realm disciple at Leshui Sect, had his breakthrough closely watched by many. When they heard he achieved it after Second Young Master Fang pointed it out with a single phrase, how shocked they were!

Could someone really point out another’s breakthrough?

He could hardly just be called a genius anymore.

Indeed, in the endless speculation, some held doubts. They thought Second Young Master Fang’s words of enlightenment might not be his own—perhaps his elder brother Fang Chi spoke them. Or perhaps the enlightenment event was fake—after all, everyone knew Leshui Sect was cunning; maybe it was an intentional setup to irritate Duskblade Sect.

But regardless, Fang Cun’s reputation spread from the moment he entered Leshui Sect.

…

If it spread so wildly outside, it was even louder at Leshui Sect.

Now, Fang Cun stayed in Leshui Sect’s most honored guest hall, with food and daily life matching that of a Leshui Sect Elder. It did not look like he was a visiting Elder from another sect, but rather Leshui Sect’s own Elder. In fact, if not for Fang Cun insisting on refusing the kindness, Leshui Sect would have sent female disciples to serve him all around.

Though he did not accept service from female disciples, Fang Cun still received high respect among Leshui Sect disciples.

Everyone wanted to see Second Young Master Fang, even if just to get familiar.

What do Qi Refiners need most?

Things like cultivation resources, secret methods, Divine Elixirs, and rare treasures are all necessary.

But the most needed is a burst of inspiration.

Many cultivators are not afraid of hardship, willing to push themselves hard. Yet cultivation can be unfair—you try hard and get stuck at a bottleneck, completely barred from advancing. Then, if someone can help, how fortunate that would be?

…

Fang Cun enjoyed the ease brought by Leshui Sect’s attitude toward him.

Though he had a rough plan before coming to Leshui Sect or heading to Five Great Sects, the trip to Leshui Sect went smoother than expected. Now, he could freely enter Leshui Sect’s Scripture Hall, browse all kinds of scriptures and reference works, and even the Elder’s notes were generously shared when he asked to borrow them.

This privilege was rare, not just for an outside Elder—even some Leshui Sect True Disciples might not get it.

Opportunities like this could not be missed.

So during this period, Fang Cun often stayed at Leshui Sect, immersing himself in studying the scriptures.

As Qingjiang’s top talisman sect, Leshui Sect focused mainly on talismans.

Even their non-talisman magic arts subtly aligned with talisman principles. For instance, the minor fire spirit art of their disciple Ling Yin, based on drawing talismans in air to pull fire energy; or the river-calling art, which strongly controls water with talisman force. As for the great drift-cloud sleeves, they were tricks for capturing opponents’ talismans in combat.

Fang Cun was not skilled in the Classic of Documents, so talismans were not something he could master deeply. His main goal lay in Leshui Sect’s other magic arts beyond talismans. Though not many and not overly powerful, having their Treasure Body Method naturally led to derived techniques.

That was enough.

How strong or clever these arts were did not matter to Fang Cun.

If they existed, he could reverse-engineer the refining methods to better himself.

Of course, he did not neglect talisman studies. He did not plan to learn personally, but there was Little Fox…

Since Second Young Master Fang had such influence, not only did he enter Scripture Hall freely, but Yu Qingli, Little Fox, and Xiao Qingliu could come too. For them, Leshui Sect’s arts indeed helped little. Without knowing the refining body methods, the scriptures and techniques were rootless and just broadened horizons.

At least, Leshui Sect had everything about writing posts and wrist-use methods; Fang Cun piled them all for her.

Seeing Little Fox frown reluctantly, Fang Cun felt great joy.

Was this the happiness parents in his past life felt when buying children school books?

…

In about a month, Fang Cun read all Leshui Sect’s scriptures, gained insights into the arts, and obtained refining methods for eighteen major meridians.

In the cultivation world, a month was not long—understanding one art might take longer—but for Fang Cun, grasping arts to derive meridians was simple. A month was sufficient. Moreover, getting refining methods for eighteen meridians from one sect was a pleasant surprise.

Leshui Sect and Shoushan Sect both cultivated the thirty-six-meridian, fourth-grade Treasure Body. But the paths could differ greatly even with one meridian variation. Having eighteen differing meridians was fine progress.

By then, Fang Cun could leave, though he had one thing left to do.

Visiting Five Sects to gain insights was important, but not the main thing.

…

From the moment Fang Cun entered Scripture Hall, Leshui Sect disciples often stopped by. Some chatted casually; others brought problems to ask; many came out of curiosity, some to befriend, and others with hidden challenges. Luckily, Yu Qingli always stood by Fang Cun blocking interruptions. Otherwise, studying scriptures would be impossible.

Of course, Yu Qingli played the bad part; Second Young Master Fang was naturally approachable.

Beyond reading scriptures, he often met disciples to talk charms, drink tea, showing no arrogance.

Disciples already wondered if he truly inspired breakthroughs as legend said. After chatting, Fang Cun’s astonishing talent in all Seven Classics stood out, less by breaking barriers than by offering insights.

On top of that, despite his high talent, he never acted proud.

If he did not know something, he asked sincerely.

After receiving answers, he showed praise and respect.

Thus, in just a month, Leshui Sect branded Fang Cun highly. Though he met only twenty-plus disciples, the sect spoke as if hundreds liked him. He had made many friends fast.

“Sect Elders are too crafty to be my friends—they won’t overtly accept benefits,” Fang Cun smiled in the guest hall, setting down a book. “But the disciples are sweet; many wanted to befriend me. If Yu Qingli hadn’t scared some away, I’d have more friends.”

“I did not mean to frighten them. I even wanted to bond and discuss problems,” Yu Qingli sounded innocent. He was mild-tempered and avoided arguments, just reflecting. “Getting close to disciples is simpler. Everywhere I hear, they praise you; all treat you as family. Yet they are just disciples and can’t speak up in big matters.”

Fang Cun knew the reference.

Back at Crow Mountain when killing the Demon Hound, many sect disciples despised the beast but were stopped by their Elders. They could do nothing.

“One or two disciples can’t sway things, but what if every disciple in Five Great Sects did?”

Contemplating his next plan, he grinned.

Yu Qingli blinked. “What’s the idea?”

“A stunning debut!” Fang Cun chuckled. “The cultivation world needs idols too!”