Eternal Life through Drawing Lots

Although Sen Yue’s army ruled over the Changkong Race, the Dongfang Race, and the Minghai Race, it still followed the old system of the Eight Banners, which included the Cangmu Banner, the Cold Flood Dragon Banner, and the Thunder Punishment Banner.

And the Leran Grassland was territory that fell under the command of the Thunder Punishment Banner.

Unlike the Thunder Punishment Banner’s headquarters, which had multiple merit camps, the Leran Grassland had only a single merit camp, and the highest-level Spiritual Objects it offered for exchange were Tier Three.

Fortunately, intelligence was shared in real-time between all the merit camps.

"Nothing, nothing, there’s nothing here."

Fang Yang narrowed his eyes, gazing at the exchange board.

The two great treasures, the Wings of the Golden Sun Wind Roc and the Heart of the Black Moon Water Kun, were not on the exchange board.

He then turned to ask his Uncle Qi, but also came up empty-handed.

These two treasures were on par with the Flood Dragon’s Reverse Scale, bordering on the Saint Realm.

A treasure like that could be used to forge a Sacred Body!

’How could the declining Fang Clan possibly possess such a treasure?’

Besides, even if a Sacred Object like that were on the merit board, only those in the top one hundred would even be qualified to exchange for it!

Only Great Cultivators like Qingkong, Jiang Venerable Sword, and Dongfang Mobai would have a chance.

’So, is this why perfect-grade Spirit Bodies and Sacred Bodies are so rare...’

’A Great Sage Foundation... The path to becoming a Tier Eight Great Saint truly isn’t one that someone from a minor clan can walk.’

’From this perspective, it seems the reason our ancestor Fang Nian stopped at the Tier Seven path wasn’t a lack of talent...’

Fang Yang lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

He suddenly understood why the death of Muri Shengkai had driven the Saints of the Muri Race into such a frenzy.

’Considering all this, success on the Kunpeng path is not guaranteed.’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’Perhaps I could switch to the path of Yin and Yang, or maybe the Daoist path of Tai Chi?’

...

The grasslands were vast, and the long cries of eagles echoed through the air.

Flock after flock of Flying Eagles soared above the White Feathered Eagle tribe, assembling in formation.

The lead White Feathered Eagle was particularly exceptional, its body wreathed in bright, orange-yellow flames.

"One hundred... two hundred... three hundred... four hundred... five hundred..."

Hong Qishang counted silently, then sucked in a sharp breath. "HISS... Are you the Tier Three slavery path Cultivator, or am I?"

He looked on, his gaze fixed ahead.

In front of him, Fang Yang was channeling the Slave Spirit Skill, enslaving the Flying Eagle Group.

Being able to control five hundred Slave Beasts at only the Tier Two realm was a terrifying display of power.

After all, some weaker Tier Three slavery path Cultivators could only control three hundred Slave Beasts at once.

Now, Fang Yang’s performance was completely shattering Hong Qishang’s preconceived notions.

’Big Bro has another trick up his sleeve. He’s amazing. I wonder if I could learn a thing or two from him...’

Fang Xuan’s eyes filled with envy. ’If I could be as amazing as Big Bro, I wouldn’t even mind giving up on pursuing Sister Keyi.’

Nearby, Seventh Uncle Fang heard this and stared at Fang Xuan for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face.

’The boy is growing up,’ he thought. ’He has his own ambitions now.’

’And for someone like Fang Xuan, the slavery path would actually be a good fit.’

’A path like Fang Yang’s, the way of the Carp Eagle, obviously has extremely high requirements for talent, aptitude, and destiny. It’s nearly impossible to replicate.’

A gentle breeze rustled their hair.

Before long, Fang Yang finished his work and walked over.

Just then, Seventh Uncle Fang suddenly spoke.

"Back then, although our ancestor Fang Nian came from a humble background, he possessed a heart dedicated to the Dao and the ambition to build something great."

"Our ancestor was always self-reliant, never depending on external objects, and he certainly never staked his advancement on a woman."

"Ah Xuan, you really could walk the slavery path..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan’s eyes instantly lit up.

He had never forgotten the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Zhang Ye.

He couldn’t swallow his pride until he got his revenge!

But when Fang Yang heard this, his expression turned a little strange.

’The Carp Eagle Ancestor never relied on women?’

’If that were true, then what about Qing Rushang and Sen Yuanyuan?’

...

「Thunder Punishment Banner Headquarters.」

「Profound Mysterious Study.」

With the alliance of the five great Golden Clans applying pressure in unison, the Sen Yue army’s situation grew more precarious by the day.

As a result, the four Pavilion Elders were swamped with work.

Even with their "Collective Wisdom" composite killing move from the Wisdom Dao School, they were still incredibly busy.

"I wonder how Xiaoyue is doing right now."

"The Wish Power of Ten Thousand People is incredible, but it’s impossible for him to erase the Saint’s True Spirit imprint on the Three-Plume Cyan Bottle this quickly."

"There’s no need to overthink it. Xiaoyue’s under even more pressure than we are. He has to guide the Wish Power of Ten Thousand People while simultaneously engraving his own True Spirit imprint."

"It looks like we’ll have to prepare to abandon the Minghai Race’s territory."

"Heh, let’s talk about something more cheerful."

"I’ve got it. I hear that Fang Yang kid is already at the Tier Two Peak. What method do you think he’ll use to evolve the ’Carp Eagle Transformation’ into the ’Kunpeng Transformation’?"

"Difficult, difficult, difficult..."

The four Pavilion Elders tried to find some levity in their grim situation.

In a somber moment, they first discussed the struggling Sen Yue, then turned to the ascendant Fang Yang.

In truth, if not for the notorious deeds of the ’Carp Eagle Saint,’ Fang Nian, Sen Yue probably wouldn’t have had them repeatedly scrutinize Fang Yang’s character.

All of Sen Yue’s actions stemmed from his fear of his younger sister, Sen Hui, getting hurt.

Now, however, they were curious whether Fang Yang could master the Kunpeng transformation and obtain the Kunpeng Spirit Body and, eventually, the Kunpeng Saint Body.

It was a challenge for the ages!

Even a prodigy like Sen Yue lacked the fateful opportunity for the Kunpeng transformation.

"Without a great stroke of fortune, I’m afraid Fang Yang will never master it in this lifetime."

But Elder Chong was not optimistic. "That supremely powerful inheritance from the Primordial Ancestor will likely remain hidden for another ten thousand years, unknown to the world."

A true inheritance from a Taoist Venerable—and a high-ranking one at that—who wouldn’t want to master it?

But the prerequisites for cultivating it alone were enough to make countless prodigies shrink back in awe and fear.

But Elder Hua just smiled.

"Heh, but what if? You never know."

"I have a feeling that kid, Fang Yang, is quite fortunate."

"Enough of that. Business is more important."

"Right now, over at the Yan Shi Great River, Fierce Beasts are running rampant, and there are signs of the Demon Race appearing."

"The Yan Shi Great River garrison can no longer handle it alone. I want to transfer troops from other areas to help defend..."

...

The military situation was dire. Sen Yue’s army had fallen back to defensive positions, and their forces were stretched thin.

With a suspected crisis unfolding at the Yan Shi Great River, nearby garrisons were ordered to dispatch troops to reinforce its various ferry crossings.

The Leran Grassland garrison, for instance, had to send troops to support the Wuxi Ferry Crossing.

「Leran Grassland.」

「Garrison Commander’s Camp.」

"Commander, will you lead the reinforcements personally, or shall I go?" his adjutant, Lin Keyi, asked.

Fang Yang narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

He had previously avoided the Yan Shi Great River waterway on his way to the Leran Grassland precisely because it was dangerous, plagued by a demonic wind.

As he was thinking, the ball of light in his mind flickered, and text materialized once more:

[A demonic wind stirs, a tide of beasts surges. What seems a crisis is safe; misfortune will turn to fortune.]

Two fortunes appeared along with it:

[Upper-Mid Lot: Go to the Wuxi Ferry Crossing on the Yan Shi Great River to provide aid. When the moon over the sea rises with the tide, ascend Dengxin Lake Island to obtain a Tier Four opportunity.]

[Mid-Mid Lot: Do not go to the Wuxi Ferry Crossing on the Yan Shi Great River. Remain at the Leran Grassland to cultivate in peace. No risk, no reward. A neutral outcome.]