"This is my horsekeeper, Fang Han," Fang Qingwei casually mentioned. "He's reliable and has never cut corners with the horse feed. Last time, he delayed me while I was hunting, so I punished him with ten lashes but also gave him five taels of silver as a reward."
"Is that so?" Fang Qingxue paused, her expression unreadable. "Since he's reliable, bring him along. The Feather Immortal Mountain is a paradise, but it's far from the convenience of the city. It's necessary to have some attendants. If he takes care of the horses well, he might even be able to care for spirit beasts in the future."
With a nod, she turned to the rest of the entourage. "Let's go."
At her command, the group of hundreds of servants and dozens of carriages set off.
Fang Han had overheard their conversation and knew that Fang Qingxue had noticed something about him. Though he didn't hear everything, he sensed her keen attention. He walked along with the group, his mind racing.
"Indeed, Master Bai Hai Zen was right. If I'm in the crowd, the eldest miss, Fang Qingxue, will be able to spot my oddities in an instant. But if she discovers I've consumed the Nine Aperture Golden Pill, would she order my death right away? Can I hide this secret?"
The night passed, and by the time they reached a county town at the edge of Longyuan Province, the entire group rested, preparing for tomorrow's journey. At midnight, after feeding Thousand-Mile Snow some bean milk, eggs, and meat powder, Fang Han quietly snuck away. He found a secluded spot and began to practice his martial arts.
Tonight, he wasn't practicing the Seven Stars Fist, but a technique he had secretly learned—the Pine and Crane Longevity Fist.
"Crane Claw Shadows in the Sand!"
"Frost Crane Guarding the Plum!"
"Immortal Crane Spreading Wings!"
"Crane Dance in the Sky!"
"Pine and Crane Extend Life!"
He practiced each of the five moves, his body flowing like a crane—graceful in stillness, yet fierce in movement.
Like the Seven Stars Fist, the Pine and Crane Longevity Fist was an advanced martial arts style—Seven Stars Fist was powerful and aggressive, while Pine and Crane was serene and focused on longevity and natural flow.
Since he'd consumed the Nine Aperture Golden Pill, Fang Han's mind had become exceptionally sharp. His reflexes were quick, and his learning speed accelerated. His body and mind now worked in harmony as he practiced, and the Nine Aperture Golden Pill's energy circulated within him, amplifying his strength.
As his body absorbed the two conflicting martial styles, the Seven Stars' explosive power and the Pine and Crane's peaceful energy blended together within him, causing his blood to flow through his veins in a frenzied yet controlled rhythm. His heart slowed, yet its strength grew immeasurably—like the beating of a hammer against an anvil.
"I've entered the Fifth Stage—Divine Strength!" Fang Han thought, realizing he had reached a new realm of physical power.
But before he could fully process the change, a sharp sensation rippled through his chest. The Nine Aperture Golden Pill, which had been near his heart, suddenly dug deeper into his chest, drawn into the very core of his heart. It became hidden from view, further out of reach.
He continued to practice the Pine and Crane Longevity Fist, each move more powerful than the last. His body seemed to hum with energy, his movements growing faster and more fluid as he felt his strength surge.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted his concentration.
"Pine and Crane Longevity Fist—well practiced. You've been learning it in secret for quite some time, haven't you?"
Fang Han's heart skipped a beat. He knew this moment would come, but now that it was here, anxiety set in.
Turning around, he saw Fang Qingxue standing in the moonlight, the same ethereal beauty that had captivated him before.
"Ah, the eldest miss!" Fang Han stammered, his legs shaking as if caught in the act of thievery. He dropped to his knees, feigning panic.
"Please spare me, miss! I'm guilty, I couldn't help myself, I just wanted to practice after watching... please forgive me!"
Fang Qingxue observed him with an unreadable gaze. "Not bad," she said coolly. "You know enough to be fearful. If you had run, your fate would be no different from that stone over there."
As she spoke, her fingers flicked, and a flash of violet lightning shot forth, cleaving a massive stone into two from a distance.
"This is the Feather Immortal Sect's Purple Lightning Thunder Blade," Fang Qingxue said, her voice calm. "Master Bai Hai Zen died under its power. Even an army of thousands would be powerless against it."
The air around them crackled with energy, and Fang Han's skin prickled. This was his first time feeling the might of someone at the Divine Ability Realm. He now understood why such cultivators were so far beyond mortals.
He lowered his head, feeling utterly dwarfed by her power. His mind raced with thoughts of his situation. "When will I be able to enter the Divine Ability Realm and stand alongside her...
"Get up."
Her voice was soft but firm. She seemed unfazed, as if all emotions had long been abandoned, leaving only a tranquil pursuit of immortality.
Fang Han hesitated but didn't rise. He remained on his knees, dutifully continuing his act. "I am guilty, miss. I deserve to be punished. Please, teach me my lesson."
Her eyes softened just slightly. "By rights, you shouldn't have reached the strength of the Divine Body stage. Have you consumed some special elixir?"
Fang Han, realizing the opening, responded with a carefully crafted story, one that Bai Hai Zen had given him.
"Yes, miss. Five years ago, when I was washing horses by the Longyuan River, a thunderstorm struck, and a long-horned serpent emerged. I was terrified, but a bolt of lightning struck and killed it. Curious, I took the serpent out of the river, cooked it, and ate it for several days. Its gall bladder was hard as stone, and after I consumed it, my body began to improve. I couldn't resist learning martial arts. Please forgive me, miss."
Fang Qingxue listened intently, her gaze sharpening. "A Long-Horned Viper? My ancestors killed one by the Longyuan River a century ago. It seems there were two—one male, one female."
She cast a brief glance at Fang Han's chest. He felt his heart tighten, and for a moment, the Nine Aperture Golden Pill seemed to stop moving. But Fang Qingxue was distracted by his words and didn't probe further.
"The gall bladder of a Long-Horned Viper is a rare elixir that can increase strength. It's no wonder you reached the Divine Body stage. But this is the limit of such an elixir. If you want to keep progressing, you'll need a far greater foundation. Come with me to Feather Immortal Mountain. You'll help me tend to spirit beasts there."
With that, she turned and drifted away, her figure vanishing like mist in the moonlight.
Fang Han breathed a sigh of relief. He had passed the test, but the tension of those moments weighed heavily on him.