Chapter 147 - 146: An All-or-Nothing Gamble

Seeing that Fang Can was completely unafraid, Liu Qingmeng asked one last time, "Truly no regrets?"

"No regrets. I wouldn't regret it even if it killed me," Fang Can said with conviction, feeling his aptitude grow within him.

He hadn't even gone yet, and the reward had already arrived.

"Very good." Liu Qingmeng nodded, satisfied. "When the time comes, even if you find nothing, you can still go to the Sword Tomb in the mountains and choose a Sacrificial Artifact for yourself."

"In that case, many thanks, Elder Liu," Fang Can said. "So, what's the specific date the secret realm opens?"

"It is a Sixth Turn cavern estate. The exact time cannot be divined. We only know that it could open at any moment within the next year. It could even open in the very next breath."

"So it's completely random," Fang Can said, speechless. But looking at Liu Qingmeng's frosty, unapproachable demeanor, he found it hard to believe she was real.

After the two exchanged a few more words, Liu Qingmeng once again transformed into a stream of light and vanished from the room.

Feeling his aptitude rise another notch, Fang Can knew she had well and truly left this time.

Looking around the now-silent room, he suddenly couldn't help but laugh.

'This Elder Liu is just like a quest-giving NPC. Every time she shows up, she brings a new main questline.'

With a smile, Fang Can composed himself and began to meticulously attune himself to every organ in his trembling body. Every little bit of improvement counted.

Throughout the silent night, Fang Can cultivated alone until daybreak, only slowly ceasing his practice the next morning.

Fang Can was immensely satisfied, feeling his body was even closer to perfection than it had been the day before.

He gently raised a hand and pushed open the door. Ignoring the greetings of the followers at his doorway, Fang Can took his calling card and headed for the Fang Mansion alone.

He took in the sights along the way, experiencing the prosperity of the Capital City. After a walk of a little over ten minutes, he arrived at the main gate of the Fang Mansion.

He hadn't even drawn close, still dozens of meters away, when the four Martial Artists guarding the gate fixed their sharp gazes on him.

The next moment, the Martial Artists looked Fang Can up and down before breaking into somewhat stiff smiles and hurrying over to greet him.

"You wouldn't happen to be Young Master Fang, would you?" one of the guardsmen, clad in sturdy armor with a long saber at his waist, stepped forward and asked in a mild tone.

When Fang Can confirmed his identity, the guard clapped his hands. "We've been waiting for you! After our master heard yesterday that Young Master Fang had entered the capital, he ordered us to keep a lookout. We've been waiting all night, and now you're finally here."

As he spoke, the guard gestured toward the Fang Mansion behind him. "Please, come with me. We'll send someone to inform the master."

In the main hall of the Fang Residence, a man in his forties with a resolute face, dressed in a dark robe, sat in the host's seat, gently sipping from a teacup.

This was the Patriarch of the Fang Mansion, Fang Yanbei.

It was now the time of day he should be attending the morning court session. But with the emperor dead and no major affairs to handle recently, he had found himself with plenty of free time.

Just as he was about to take another sip, a servant rushed in from outside to report, "Master, Young Master Fang is here."

WHOOSH!

The servant had barely finished speaking when Fang Yanbei's half-closed eyes snapped open, and his figure vanished from the main hall.

Meanwhile, as Fang Can walked through the Fang Mansion, he quickly sensed how different this estate was.

First, there was the ground. Every flagstone here seemed to absorb vibrations. If one exerted a force of over a hundred catties, the excess kinetic energy was completely absorbed by the stone.

Then there was the air.

As he walked, Fang Can watched as motes of dust in the air around him seemed to be frozen in place. The hem of his robes didn't stir up the slightest bit of dust.

Curious, Fang Can asked the servant who was guiding him.

"Oh, that? The flagstones in the mansion were all purchased from the Five Demons Sect at great expense."

"The air, too. That's from a Wind-Stabilizing Pearl, a gift to the master from a mighty Third Turn expert of the Five Demons Sect. The more force you use, the more solid the air becomes."

The servant said with a proud look, "When Martial Artists train, ordinary materials can't possibly withstand the damage they cause."

"And that's not even mentioning our master, who is a Third Turn expert. Forget about training—a single casual move from him could shatter the heavens and split the earth. That's why the flagstones and the Wind-Stabilizing Pearl are needed to mitigate the damage."

Fang Can smiled. 'You learn something new every day,' he thought.

It had been a long time since he had gone all-out. The environmental damage was simply too great; everything around him was as fragile as tofu.

Curious, Fang Can subconsciously exerted a bit of force. He immediately felt the once-gentle air turn hard as steel, enveloping his body.

Fang Can felt as if his body was encased in dozens of tons of steel, weighing him down immensely.

A serious punch from him could only travel three feet before dissipating, and the flagstones under his feet remained completely unscathed.

The two continued to walk and look around. The Fang Mansion was truly extravagant. In the Capital City, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, the estate actually covered dozens of acres, and busy maids and servants could be seen everywhere.

As they passed, the surrounding servants stole curious glances at Fang Can. His white hair and red eyes were certainly conspicuous.

About halfway there, a figure approached as fast as the wind, stopping abruptly right in front of them.

The man stopped before Fang Can and boomed with laughter. "Young Hero Fang, your reputation truly precedes you, but it doesn't do you justice. I am Fang Yanbei, the current Minister of Revenue. It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Hero Fang."

As he spoke, the surrounding maids and servants looked on in astonishment.

'This was no way for a first-rank court official to speak to a commoner. Their master's tone was far too humble!'

Even to Fang Can, this display of humility seemed excessive.

To the current Fang Can, a Third Turn expert wasn't some insurmountable obstacle. It was like a grade schooler looking at a high school freshman—as long as he was willing to study, he could definitely reach that level someday.

As for the great competition between nations, that was more like a grade schooler competing in the Math Olympiad—a bit of a challenge.

"You flatter me, Minister Fang," Fang Can said, clasping his hands in a salute. "I've come today to thank you for your earlier assistance."

"Young Hero Fang, you're too kind. Please, treat the Fang Mansion as your own home. It's still a while until lunch. How about I give you a tour of the estate?" Fang Yanbei said with a smile.

"Very well. I'll have to trouble you then, Minister." Fang Can nodded slightly. Although he felt it was a bit of a waste of time, he agreed nonetheless.

Fang Yanbei smiled. "Excellent. In that case, let's start by visiting my Fang family's Treasure Pavilion."

Fang Can: "Huh???"

Fang Can was completely dumbfounded, thinking he must have misheard. 'No, wait... who brings a guest on a tour of their home and takes them straight to the family's treasure vault? Is he for real? Does he really see me as one of his own?'

At Fang Yanbei's words, the surrounding maids and servants also froze in place, forgetting all decorum as they stared blankly at the two men.

'This Fang Can's surname is also Fang... Don't tell me he's the master's illegitimate son...'

Amidst the servants' shocked gazes, Fang Yanbei smirked inwardly, enjoying Fang Can's flustered expression.

'In all my years as the Minister of Revenue, this all-or-nothing gamble has never once failed me.'