Fiery clouds blazed under the setting sun at dusk.

The Flying Boat carrying Fang Yang and the others was still heading toward Pingliang Mountain.

By now, however, the small treasure exchange had already concluded.

Fortunately, most everyone had traded for what they wanted, so the mood was quite amicable.

Suddenly, Fang Yang narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance.

’It seems we have some unexpected visitors up ahead.’

Second Uncle Fang and the other two Great Cultivators did the same.

"A flock of Blood Vultures! One Thousand Beasts King and three Hundred Beasts Kings!"

"The nerve! Scavenging corpses on the battlefield is one thing, but to actually come after us..."

"Ah Yang, Xuezhi, Profound Blade—you attack. We’ll cover you!"

The three Guardians spoke one after another.

They quickly reached a tacit understanding.

They wouldn’t act unless absolutely necessary.

Their role was to watch for any potential enemy ambushes. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

And so, Fang Yang and the others took action, engaging the flock of Blood Vultures.

Dongfang Xuezhi produced a silver longbow. As she drew the string, the bow bent into the shape of a full moon. Primordial Qi converged, forming a blazing white arrow of light.

She silently recited the Bow Shooting Skill:

"Rectify the heart; a mind free of evil, giving rise to no distractions.

Sincerity of will; let the intent be on the target, ever mindful of the inner and outer self.

Preserve the spirit; be serene in motion and at rest, eliminating all agitation. Great stability, where qi is settled and spirit is calm..."

A moment later, lightning crackled and the wind howled.

TWANG! TWANG! TWANG!

A rapid three-arrow volley.

The white arrows of light shot forward, ferocious as a raging flood dragon.

In a flash, the arrows struck both wings of a Blood Vulture Hundred Beasts King, drawing blood that flowed endlessly.

Meanwhile, Minghai Profound Blade wielded a cyan tiger-grip saber, swinging it with wild abandon. The force of his slashes was awe-inspiring.

The cyan saber unleashed streams of matching cyan blade qi.

The blasts of cyan qi shot forward, felling one Blood Vulture after another with outstanding effect.

But even more ferocious than them was Fang Yang’s Flying Eagle Group!

A chorus of eagle screeches tore through the air as a hurricane of spectral light shot forth like a sudden downpour.

The grey sky, which had been darkened by the Blood Vulture flock, was instantly cleared in swathes.

More than a few Blood Vulture Hundred Beasts Kings were severely maimed, bringing them to the brink of death.

Even the Blood Vulture Thousand Beasts King—a beast with power comparable to a Tier Four Cultivator—looked alarmed and flew forth to join the battle.

"The White Feathered Eagles have gotten stronger again..."

Dongfang Xuezhi’s expression was grave. ’Fang Yang is getting more terrifying. I can’t even imagine what his true strength is like.’

’She knew his beast-taming arts were merely one of his more ordinary methods of attack.’

’What Fang Yang truly excelled at was his Carp Eagle combat style, which combined lightning and fire—especially that one killing blow!’

’So this is your true strength? Truly incredible.’ The disdain Minghai Profound Blade felt began to fade.

From that moment on, Minghai Profound Blade began to take Fang Yang seriously.

’He knew that if he and Fang Yang were to fight to the death, it would be an even match.’

The thought made his heart sink.

But in the next moment, his serious expression went slack with shock!

Up ahead, the White Feathered Eagle, surrounded by its flock, suddenly erupted in spectral flames. Its very body seemed to grow more menacing.

Tier Two Middle!

Just like that, in the heat of battle, the White Feathered Eagle broke through from Tier Two Elementary to Tier Two Middle!

Everyone was stunned.

’Breaking through to a new realm in the middle of a fight? Is this some kind of joke?’

And yet, the iron-clad truth was right before their eyes.

The most telling sign was Second Uncle Fang gradually easing the pressure he was exerting on the Blood Vulture Thousand Beasts King.

"The Tier Two Middle realm... This White Feathered Eagle is just as extraordinary as the rumors claimed."

"If I recall correctly, it started on the path of cultivation at the same time as Fang Yang, didn’t it? It’s incredible that it could grow so quickly."

"Yes, in just two years it’s reached this level. Are we sure it isn’t the direct descendant of some ancient Desolate Beast..."

Everyone marveled, feeling a sense of their own inadequacy.

As Dongfang Xuezhi felt the White Feathered Eagle’s aura, the hand she used to grip her longbow suddenly felt unsteady.

After all, she had endured countless hardships just to finally reach the Tier Two Middle realm a mere ten days ago.

’And now, the White Feathered Eagle has already caught up to her?!’

"’A thirty-seventy split...’" Minghai Profound Blade’s throat felt dry.

At that moment, Minghai Profound Blade fell silent.

He, a young prodigy, couldn’t even match the cultivation level of a flying eagle that had started at the same time.

He understood now. If he were to fight Fang Yang to the death, the odds would be thirty-seventy.

Thirty percent for him, seventy for Fang Yang!

"Good performance, keep it steady." Fang Yang clapped his hands lightly.

Fang Yang signaled for the White Feathered Eagle to unleash its Flame Skill with even greater power.

In other words, he was telling it to keep burning its Bloodline Power to make the spectral flames even more intense.

He considered the shocked looks from Dongfang Xuezhi, Minghai Profound Blade, and the others to be perfectly normal.

’If he didn’t know firsthand how hard the White Feathered Eagle trained, he’d be just as shocked himself.’

Encouraged by Fang Yang, the White Feathered Eagle let out a sharp cry.

A brand-new power seemed to surge from within its body. It flapped its wings frantically, conjuring flames that burned even hotter than before.

A Flaming Tornado seemed to roar into existence in the sky, a testament to its extraordinary power!

...

「That night.」

The moon rose, casting its light upon the earth.

Deep in the night, the Flying Boat carrying Fang Yang and the others slowly descended upon Pingliang Mountain.

Now that they had reached Pingliang Mountain, the Grass Jiao Swamp was only a short journey away.

In other words, Fang Yang was close to obtaining the Tier Four opportunity.

"I’ve been waiting for you."

A bear-like man appeared.

He had a smile on his face, his arms open wide.

His name was Lin Yaoguang, and he was the commander of the Pingliang Mountain garrison.

Notably, he had also been one of the champions in the Changkong Clan’s grand army tournament.

The difference was that Fang Yang had been the Tier One champion, while he had been the Tier Three champion.

Of course, his cultivation had now reached the Tier Four Middle realm.

"It’s late. Why don’t we conduct the inspection tomorrow?" Lin Yaoguang asked.

"Very well." Dongfang Xuezhi nodded.

"Haha." Lin Yaoguang laughed heartily.

He then led the group to the army encampment on Pingliang Mountain for a celebratory banquet.

The banquet was sumptuous.

The atmosphere was lively.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yaoguang gave Fang Yang special treatment.

"To the Command! To the Command!

They say heroes have always risen from the ranks of the young. Looking at you, I truly understand what it means for the new generation to surpass the old.

I hope you will continue to strive for greatness, and that your achievements will rival those of elders like Jiang Venerable Sword and Ji Juyun."

Lin Yaoguang raised his bowl and drank it down.

’It was a long and complicated story.’

’Although both he and Fang Yang had started out as champions, Fang Yang had started with a third-level official position, while he had only received a Second-level Official Position.’

’Now, even though he had finally been promoted to a third-level official position, he knew this was likely as far as he would go.’

’But Fang Yang... he was just getting started!’

"Heh, Elder Lin, you flatter me." Fang Yang just smiled faintly and shook his head, not elaborating further.

’Whether the Sen Yue army would even exist in the future was another question entirely!’

Meanwhile, Minghai Profound Blade, who was sitting off to the side, felt a surge of defeat as he watched.

’It turned out no one was paying him any attention at all.’

Coincidentally, Dongfang Zenglong, who was sitting in a corner of the banquet hall, felt an even deeper sense of defeat.

During the Guan River Festival, he and Fang Yang had been bitter enemies, fighting to kill one another.

Now, however, he could only look up at Fang Yang from afar.

He could only watch as Fang Yang laughed and chatted with the elders. In that instant, his heart was filled with desolation.

Although he didn’t go over to offer a toast, he also didn’t make a scene by trying to provoke Fang Yang.

’Because he understood that from this day forward, he and Fang Yang would only grow further and further apart, until they lived in two completely different worlds.’

’Fang Yang? Fang Yang. Fang Yang!’