Eternal Life through Drawing Lots

Bad news travels fast.

News of the punishment dealt to Fang Yang and the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe reached Lin Tianxue and her group with incredible speed.

At that moment, Lin Tianxue and her companions were still on the move.

Although Lin Tianxue and the Wind Sparrow Bronze Tribe were still in a precarious situation themselves, hearing about Fang Yang’s circumstances greatly improved her gloomy mood.

Lin Tianxue stroked the wings of her Wind Snow Sparrow, a smile in her eyes. "That guy Fang Yang finally ran into some bad luck."

"It’s not enough. Fang Yang isn’t ruthless enough," Lin Keyi said, clapping her hands. "Perhaps it’s because he founded the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe himself..."

When they had worked together on the Leran Grassland, she had been repeatedly shocked by his accomplishments and believed his future was boundless.

But she never imagined that Fang Yang had a side to him so incapable of seeing his priorities straight.

’Then again, no matter how capable Fang Yang is, he’s still just a young man. He hasn’t experienced enough of the world.’

Hearing this, Ma Hao, who was standing to the side, showed a look of envy and thought to himself, ’I wish I didn’t have to go to the Sky Cloud Islands either...’

「Meanwhile.」

Ascending Cloud Pass.

At this moment, Ascending Cloud Pass was heavily fortified with troops, all on Heilou Xian’s orders.

They feared that Fang Yang, infuriated by the humiliation, might launch a reckless, desperate attack.

But inside the commander’s tent at Ascending Cloud Pass, laughter rang out continuously.

Heilou Xian waved his feather fan manically and roared with laughter. "That Fang Yang is a complete fool! He actually got himself reprimanded and punished, and now he’s being transferred away from the Sky Cloud Islands!"

The moment he began to laugh, his subordinates in the tent immediately joined in, filling the air with incessant ridicule.

"Yeah, and here I thought he was supposed to be so incredible. Turns out this is all he is, huh~"

"A boy with no hair on his chin can’t be trusted with anything. If these youngsters didn’t have someone special looking out for them, they would’ve been eaten alive long ago."

"Heh, what does he know about the cruelty of the battlefield? I say he should go back to school and study for a couple more years..."

Hearing his men’s taunts, the smirk on Heilou Xian’s face grew even wider.

He was no chosen prodigy.

Therefore, defeating Fang Yang was one of the greatest joys of his life—something he could brag about for a lifetime!

At that moment, Heilou Xian narrowed his eyes, observing his subordinates.

He then selected those who were laughing the loudest to be part of his personal retinue.

They would board the Flying Boat together and head for the front lines of the Sky Cloud Islands.

"Thank you, Commander!" The men were overjoyed.

Some even saw Fang Yang as a lucky star for giving them this chance to get closer to Heilou Xian!

Some rejoiced while others worried.

「On the other side.」

The commander’s tent of the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe.

Fang Yang’s expression was hard to read as he listened to Lu Yao’s report.

"So, Heilou Xian was promoted for his ’meritorious service’ in obstructing me."

"And because of that, he’s been urgently summoned to transfer to the Sky Cloud Islands tomorrow."

"And you’re asking me if we should attack Ascending Cloud Pass before heading to the Beast Rushing Mountain Range?"

"No, there’s no need. Let’s just set out. We need to reach the Beast Rushing Mountain Range as soon as possible."

...

Then, it happened. The Great Ritual Disaster erupted.

On that day, three Blood-Winged Dragon Bats of the Wild Beast Level went on a rampage.

An endless tide of blood beasts surged forth, creating a terrifying cataclysm.

Their sudden rampage wiped out most of the Sky Cloud Islands in an instant, turning thousands of small and medium-sized tribes into pools of blood.

Even with the timely intervention of several Saints to contain the chaos, a vast, vile blood toxin spread, creating a toxic plague that could not be dispelled!

Amidst this toxic plague, only members of the Golden Race managed to retreat.

The fourteen tribes that had set out from the Leran Grassland, including the Snow Swallow Bronze Tribe and the Wind Sparrow Bronze Tribe, were all reduced to ash.

Even Heilou Xian and his subordinates, despite their status as members of the Golden Clan, were caught in the brunt of the impact. They were utterly annihilated, their lives and ambitions turning to dust.

Even Lin Tianxue only managed to survive by relying on the True Blood of the Vermilion Bird, escaping with just a handful of others, including Lin Keyi and Ma Hao.

In an instant, countless lives were lost.

Throughout the Xuan Domain, rumors about the Cult of Human Desire reached a fever pitch!

But even more people were trying to uncover the truth behind it all.

... 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The sky was a brilliant blue, as clear as a mirror washed clean by rain.

A gentle autumn breeze blew, chasing away the sweltering heat and bringing a refreshing coolness.

At this very moment, Fang Yang was still leading the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe toward the Beast Rushing Mountain Range.

But it was then that they received the shocking news of the disaster, and the darkness that had befallen everyone.

When the people of the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe heard the news, every single one of them was filled with lingering fear.

"Holy crap, holy crap, is this real? Is this really happening?"

"D-don’t ask me. I had no idea the Sky Cloud Islands would suffer such a great calamity."

"HISS... Such a terrifying disaster. If we had been there, I’m afraid we’d have ended up just like the Snow Swallow Bronze Tribe, dead as doornails."

"SOB... My Ah Sang..."

Some secretly felt a surge of relief, while others broke down completely.

In that moment, they felt a weight lift from their shoulders, as if a shackle had been broken.

Compared to the annihilation of their entire tribe, a punishment for being late was more than acceptable!

After all, who could have possibly predicted the disaster would strike so suddenly?

They had originally thought that migrating to the Sky Cloud Islands would mean they could finally live in peace.

’The Sky Cloud Islands completely shattered, and thousands of tribes annihilated?!’ Fang Yang thought, mounted on his flying steed, Frost White.

A contemplative look flashed in his eyes.

To be honest, even though he had suspected something like this might happen, he still felt a chill run down his spine now that it had truly come to pass.

The sudden collapse of the Dongfang Race’s Sky Cloud Islands would absolutely draw the attention of the Saints!

’Once the Saints start investigating, there’s no way Sen Yue can keep this hidden forever, right?’

’After all, blaming it on some "Cult of Human Desire" plaguing the world is hardly a believable story.’

’But if Sen Yue really *can* hide it forever... just how terrifying must he be?’

Fang Yang couldn’t imagine it.

As Fang Yang lowered his gaze in thought, his two clan uncles and his younger cousin, Fang Xuan, gradually approached.

His cousin Fang Xuan had a look of utter shock. "Three Wild Beast Level creatures! And the Saints themselves had to intervene! I didn’t mishear that, did I?"

Hong Qishang’s face was filled with relief. "It was a blessing in disguise. Thank goodness we didn’t go with Lin Tianxue’s group, or we would’ve been done for."

Even as he said it, Hong Qishang was still shaken by the thought.

Hearing this, Fang Xuan also showed a look of dawning horror.

Before, they had considered persuading Fang Yang to change their route.

In the end, however, Lu Yao had talked them out of it.

The situation had changed so quickly, so drastically, that they couldn’t make sense of it at all.

Suddenly, Hong Qishang slowly raised his head and looked toward Fang Yang.

He had known for a long time that Fang Yang was blessed with great fortune.

After this incident, Hong Qishang was more certain of it than ever!

Fang Yang let out a long breath and muttered, "A blessing in disguise, a blessing in disguise."

He seemed to be celebrating the fact that the calamity hadn’t befallen him.

Seeing this, the two clan uncles standing to the side exchanged a look, remaining silent.

Just a short while ago, they had been worried about how to handle the fallout for Fang Yang.

They never would have imagined that such a disaster would befall the Sky Cloud Islands!

A disaster of this scale, unseen in a thousand years and unheard of in ten thousand, was simply too sudden.

’So, how are you going to clean this up, Sen Yue?’

Fang Yang narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed in the direction of the Thunder Punishment Banner.

It was as if his gaze transcended space and time, allowing him to see straight to the Thunder-Fire Purple Gold Palace, to see that sovereign in the Purple Gold Daoist Robe, a figure of ethereal, immortal bearing.