Eternal Life through Drawing Lots

Arriving in a flash, and departing just as quickly.

As Fang Min, Qing Wenxi, and the others watched, Fang Yang mounted his Frost Horse and led his subordinates away, his actions swift and resolute.

"I wonder what he’ll have become by the next time we meet..." Chen Xing mused, his gaze fixed on the distant white-robed figure.

His words immediately plunged Chen Yuan, Qing Wenxi, and the others into deep thought.

’That’s right. With his Slave Path techniques alone, Fang Yang is already strong enough to contend with a Tier Three expert.’

’And as for his even more formidable arts of lightning and fire... who could possibly know their true might?’

Very few people knew.

But they did know that Fang Yang’s strength far surpassed that of the Hundred Beasts King.

After all, no matter how formidable the White Feathered Eagle and his other Pet Beasts were, they could never be stronger than Fang Yang, their master.

’A prodigy will emerge within twenty-eight years to reclaim the Carp Eagle Blessed Land and fulfill the clan elders’ wishes...’

A determined glint shone in Fang Min’s limpid eyes. ’Matters like this should be shouldered by me and Uncle Haozhi. You just focus on growing at your own pace, Ah Yang!’

Under the watchful eyes of his friends and family, Fang Yang’s figure gradually receded into the distance.

At last, his figure disappeared completely, vanishing from sight at the Wuxi Ferry.

...

「Two days later.」

The autumn sun hung high, but the atmosphere was grim and tense.

The battalion under Fang Yang’s command suddenly slowed, fanning out into an encirclement formation.

They had encountered a pack of wild Vermilion Flame Wolves, and among them was a Hundred Beasts King!

Even though its Hundred Beasts King was a Vermilion Flame Wolf, the pack itself numbered well over a thousand.

"A Hundred Beasts King? Heh, a perfect chance to test my mastery of the Slave Path."

Fang Yang halted his soldiers, curbing their eagerness to charge into a slaughter.

He formed a Magic Seal with a simple gesture, and a leaf-like boat of blood rapidly materialized within his Void Acupoint True Essence Sea.

The surface of his True Essence Sea dropped, and the blood boat began to glow.

At the same time, a sharp cry from the White Feathered Eagle tore through the sky.

A flock of Flying Eagles rose at its signal, descending as one to attack the pack of Vermilion Flame Wolves.

Aside from the Vermilion Flame Wolf Hundred Beasts King and a few other wolves that could spit Fireballs to retaliate, the rest of the pack was utterly helpless against the flock of eagles.

All they could do was endure the gale-force assault, which sent them tumbling and flying time and time again...

Even the Vermilion Flame Wolf Hundred Beasts King was briefly suppressed by the White Feathered Eagle, which had been empowered by the rest of the flock!

"The Commander is truly a god among men," Hong Qishang remarked, deeply moved. "His mastery of the Slave Path has progressed by leaps and bounds. He can command a thousand eagles."

’He couldn’t imagine it. If Fang Yang truly dedicated himself to the Slave Path, just how brightly would he shine?’

’At the very least, the currently renowned ’Master of the Slave Path,’ Chang Ruhui, was far inferior to Fang Yang.’

’With Chen Kui’s help, Chang Ruhui could enslave a million wolf beasts.’

’But Fang Yang could probably accomplish that with ease, all on his own.’

’It would be no exaggeration to say that for Fang Yang, when it came to enslaving Fierce Beasts, the more the better!’

The shrieking of eagles and howling of wolves attracted the attention of Fang Duanhai and his men, who were patrolling the grasslands.

When Fang Duanhai and his men saw Fang Yang effortlessly suppressing the pack of Vermilion Flame Wolves, they all looked on in utter disbelief.

"We’ve been locked in a stalemate with this pack of Vermilion Flame Wolves for a long time."

"I know, right? I never thought the Commander could suppress them just by commanding the Flying Eagles on his own. It’s unbelievable."

"The Commander only began his journey as a Cultivator less than two years ago, hasn’t he? To have grown this powerful already is incredible."

"You all might not believe this, but I feel like I’m seeing a peerless general, one who could conquer the world, riding slowly toward me on his horse..."

Flattery will get you everywhere.

And so, the soldiers began to heap praise on Fang Yang.

Incredibly, while some knew they were merely flattering him, others truly believed Fang Yang was capable of everything they said.

All that could be said was that Fang Yang’s many glorious achievements had instilled immense confidence in his followers.

Regardless of whether Sen Wei would emerge from her seclusion, or if Shengkai could be revived, one thing was certain for now: Fang Yang’s aura of invincibility remained unbroken!

...

After returning to the Leran Grassland, Fang Yang attended to several matters: awarding military honors, inspecting the defensive lines, and surveying Frost Stone Valley.

Only after all that did he return to the encampment of the White Feathered Eagle tribe.

Fang Yang seemed to be made of iron; unlike Hong Qishang and the others, he did not rest and recuperate after the battle.

Instead, he was now inspecting the White Feathered Eagle tribe, accompanied by Lu Yao.

"My Lord, in the past half year, over five hundred more warriors from our White Feathered Eagle tribe have successfully achieved Enlightenment."

"In terms of Enlightened warriors alone, the tribe now numbers a thousand strong, the most of any tribe on the Leran Grassland!"

Led by Lu Yao, Fang Yang saw the soldiers being trained by Seventh Uncle Fang.

Just as Lu Yao had said, every one of the soldiers was strong, healthy, and brimming with vigor.

This batch of soldiers formed the very core of his forces!

"Good. Very good," Fang Yang said, nodding with satisfaction.

He then turned and walked toward the aerie.

Lu Yao hurried to keep up. "Regarding the aerie, our breeding program has been a success.

We’ve now raised one hundred twenty-six White Feathered Eagle chicks, three hundred four Black Water Eagles, and nearly two thousand ordinary Flying Eagles.

The trade of Flying Eagles has become a major part of our tribe’s affairs..."

As she spoke of the White Feathered Eagles and the aerie, Lu Yao’s face was filled with pride.

Ever since the White Feathered Eagles displayed their awesome power at the Guan River Festival, their reputation as Fierce Beasts had spread throughout the entire army.

The reputation of the White Feathered Eagle tribe had spread far and wide as well, making a name for them.

Now, whenever tribes large or small did business with the White Feathered Eagle tribe, they were all treated with an extra measure of respect.

Even the scions of the Golden Clan would only deal with the White Feathered Eagle tribe when purchasing their chicks!

"Brother, what are you doing here?" Fang Xuan asked, utterly shocked.

His words interrupted Lu Yao’s report.

Inside the dim Eagle Nest B-2, eagle feathers and down drifted everywhere.

Fang Xuan, who was standing inside, was filthy from head to toe.

Even his hair had lost its former lustrous softness, becoming dry and stiff.

No one would have recognized him as the same confident, ambitious Fang Xuan from before.

Yet here he was, communicating frequently with the Black Water Eagles, his focus absolute.

He was truly and utterly devoted to mastering the arts of the Slave Path.

Now, seeing Fang Yang, he suddenly felt a pang of shame, especially given the filthiness of his surroundings.

He truly didn’t want Fang Yang to see him in such a sorry state.

"I came specifically to see you. If you’ve run into any trouble with the Slave Path, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you out..."

Without a hint of hesitation, Fang Yang stepped into the muck and walked to his cousin Fang Xuan’s side, completely unconcerned with the filthy environment.

Fang Yang’s gesture sent a wave of warmth through Fang Xuan’s heart.

In truth, Fang Xuan had been on the verge of giving up on the Slave Path.

People only see the glory, not the suffering it takes to achieve it.

The awe that every Slave Path Cultivator commanded on the battlefield was built on a foundation of untold hardship.

And Fang Yang, who had come at the request of Uncle Qi, was here for the express purpose of encouraging his cousin.

"Mm. Thanks, Brother. I’ll do my best," Fang Xuan said. His nose tingled, and he rubbed it, feeling a bit awkward.

The two cousins then spent their time there, discussing and studying how to enslave the Black Water Eagles.

Watching from behind them, Lu Yao seemed lost in thought.

Fang Yang stayed there from noon until late afternoon, imparting his experience with the Slave Path, and Fang Xuan felt he had gained an immense amount.

「At dusk.」

The last rays of the setting sun painted the sky.

A crimson glow bathed Lu Yao’s figure.

Lu Yao had a graceful figure and exquisite curves. Bathed in the crimson twilight, her body seemed to faintly glow, giving her an ethereal beauty.

"This is a seed for a [Frostfall Peach Tree]. I don’t have time to tend to it, so I’m leaving it in your care."

"It’s a Tier Three Spirit Plant, so feel free to be bold in cultivating it. There’s no need to be timid."

"I hope that when spring arrives next year, you’ll invite me to watch the peach blossoms bloom with you..."

Fang Yang’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

This time, at last, he wasn’t just making an empty promise.

Lu Yao could still feel the lingering warmth in her hand, and the moment felt surreal.

’A Tier Three Spirit Plant... Fang Yang was entrusting it to her just like that? Without any kind of supervision or fail-safes?’

At that moment, a sense of fulfillment at being so trusted by Fang Yang swelled within her heart, filling it to the brim.

"Mm!" A smile blossomed on her face.

It was a perfect example of the old saying, "a beauty’s face and peach blossoms, each enhancing the other’s crimson glow." She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Even Fang Yang’s eyes flashed with a hint of stunned admiration.