Chapter Ten : Truth in The Lie
Fang Ting led Fang Mu Ge back to his cultivation quarters, closed the door behind them, and activated a spirit-gathering array—one so valuable he usually couldn't bear to use it.
The Fang clan didn't possess any artifacts that could directly assess a cultivator's physique or aptitude, so the only option was the simplest method: attempt cultivation.
The first realm for cultivators was the Body Tempering Stage, which involved absorbing the world's spiritual energy to temper one's bloodline, muscles, and bones.
But before that, one had to first sense spiritual energy, then guide it into the body.
The richer the spiritual energy in the surroundings, the easier and faster this process would be.
It was said that some disciples of major clans cultivated while soaking in spiritual fluid. Those from top-tier powers went even further—being brought straight to the core of a spiritual vein.
These people began the path of cultivation with a head start far beyond the average cultivator.
Fang Ting sat down cross-legged on a cushion and gestured for the boy to sit opposite him.
The young Fang Mu Ge sat down nervously.
"The clan leader himself is overseeing me. If I can cultivate, great—but if I can't, how humiliating will that be?"
Fang Ting smiled calmly.
"Relax. Your spiritual roots and aptitude are fine."
Fang Mu Ge blinked in surprise. "You mean I really can cultivate? I can become a powerful cultivator?"
Fang Ting nodded.
Fang Mu Ge lit up with joy.
Immortality through cultivation, freedom above the world—this had been his dream since he was little.
Before he could get carried away fantasizing, Fang Ting handed him a book.
"This is the basic Breath Circulation Technique. Read through it. If anything's unclear, ask me."
Fang Mu Ge took the book and quickly skimmed through it.
"Seems pretty simple. I think I got it."
Fang Ting was taken aback.
"Then go ahead and try sensing spiritual energy as described."
"Okay!"
Fang Mu Ge obediently closed his eyes, steadied his breathing, and began feeling for the spiritual energy in the air.
Once he succeeded in sensing it, the next step was to guide it into the body—drawing the energy in, circulating it through the meridians to the limbs and bones, gradually strengthening blood, muscles, bones, and flesh.
A full circulation would steadily refine the body.
Fang Ting thought to himself:
"For most people, progressing from sensing energy to guiding it into the body and reaching early-stage Body Tempering without external help takes between five days to two weeks. I wonder how long someone the system labels as 'top-tier talent' will take."
Then—his eyes widened in disbelief.
It was as if he had just seen the most impossible thing in the world.
"Huh??"
With his spiritual sense, Fang Ting could clearly see spiritual energy already flowing into Fang Mu Ge's body.
It had only been moments. And he was already guiding the energy inside?!
"This… this is completely unreasonable!!"
Fang Ting was so shocked, it reminded him of the first time he ever witnessed a cultivator duel—his entire worldview shattered.
He had heard of geniuses before—some prodigy in some sect—but he'd never heard of anyone sensing and guiding energy this fast.
How long had it been? Ten breaths?
Fang Ting sucked in several deep breaths just to calm his racing heart.
He could clearly feel the spiritual energy flooding into Fang Mu Ge's body like a raging tide.
At this rate, Fang Ting even began to worry: This kid isn't going to explode from spiritual overload, is he?
He quietly stood watch. Time passed.
After an hour—
Boom!!
Fang Ting could clearly feel it: Fang Mu Ge's entire aura had changed.
From a mortal to a Body Tempering cultivator.
Which meant—what would take others five to fifteen days, Fang Mu Ge completed in one hour!
Just then, Fang Mu Ge opened his eyes.
"Uncle, did I… break through?" he asked uncertainly.
Fang Ting, expression complicated, nodded.
"So, how's my talent? Is it good or bad?" Fang Mu Ge asked, curious.
The fastest breakthrough Fang Ting had ever heard of took a full day—and that was with exceptional conditions.
But Fang Mu Ge had done it in an hour, under normal circumstances.
It was like the difference between students in an old imperial exam: regular students getting into a basic academy at 18, the smart ones getting into top universities…
And then Fang Mu Ge, who passed with full marks at the age of eight—self-taught.
One had to wonder: Is he even human?
Seeing the shock on Fang Ting's face, the inexperienced Fang Mu Ge grew nervous.
"What's wrong, Uncle? Is my aptitude… really that bad?"
Realizing his lapse, Fang Ting quickly adjusted his expression.
"No, no, no. Quite the opposite—your aptitude is excellent. You're a true genius!"
Fang Mu Ge still looked doubtful. "Really?"
"Really!" Fang Ting confirmed.
Fang Mu Ge finally believed him. The corners of his mouth turned up. His face lit up with pride and smug delight.
"I knew it. I'm a one-in-a-million genius! A peerless prodigy! Wahahahaha—!"
Fang Ting: "…"
This kid's already getting cocky, huh?!
Smack!
Fang Ting slapped him lightly on the head.
"What are you gloating for? No matter how good your talent is, if you don't work hard, you'll be mediocre in the end."
"This world has no shortage of geniuses."
"Across history, countless prodigies have perished young. Only those who grow and endure are real geniuses. The rest? Just wasted potential."
The slap snapped Fang Mu Ge out of his daydream. He shrank back, nodding like a chicken pecking rice.
"Yes, yes, you're right, Uncle. I shouldn't get ahead of myself."
"Got it. I'll save the bragging for when I'm actually powerful!"
Fang Ting sighed, amused. He knew the boy's personality—he'd been like this since childhood. It couldn't be helped.
He took out a low-grade Earth-tier cultivation method: Evergreen Li Fire Technique, and tossed it to him.
"Try cultivating this one."
Ordinary beginners started with the Breath Circulation Technique, then gradually worked their way up.
But Fang Mu Ge clearly had exceptional roots and comprehension.
For a genius like him, there was no need to follow the standard path. Skip ahead.
Fang Mu Ge didn't even know how high-grade or difficult this technique was. He simply opened it and began practicing.
Fang Ting had studied this method himself for a few days and had some insights—he figured he could help explain anything Fang Mu Ge didn't understand.
But just like earlier—there was nothing to explain.
Fang Mu Ge breezed through the technique and entered its first stage with ease.
Sorry—this is just what gifted people do.
The joy of genius is something ordinary folks can't imagine.
For a moment, Fang Ting even had the ridiculous urge to ask Fang Mu Ge for pointers—though his pride wouldn't let him open his mouth.
They say a master leads the way, but cultivation is up to the student.
Fang Mu Ge had just taken his first step, and Fang Ting already realized—he couldn't teach him anymore.
Right now, the only one who could instruct him would be Fang Luo, the reincarnated expert.
But Fang Luo had already left to train.
Fang Ting thought of the Lingyue Sect. Maybe he could send Fang Mu Ge there.
In a major sect like that, with Fang Mu Ge's talent, he'd be treated as a core disciple—and grow far faster in a safe environment.
Originally, Fang Ting had planned to spread a false rumor—that someone in the Fang clan had been accepted as a disciple of a Lingyue Sect elder, in order to scare off the Seven Star Sect.
Now, he realized…
He didn't need to fake it anymore.
The lie could become the truth.