After quickly cleaning up the battlefield, the four of them mounted their horses.

They continued their journey toward the Yellow Earth Mountain Range and the Leran Grassland.

Along the way, the four of them alternated between changing horses and traveling stealthily.

They maintained an extremely fast pace the entire time.

However, on the third day, Seventh Uncle Fang’s expression turned grim after he had just dealt with some scouts.

"Ah Yang, that Muri Shengkai has successfully replaced Liu Manlou. He’s now the main general for the campaign against the Leran Grassland."

"In other words, he’s going to challenge you to a duel of generals..."

Listening to his Uncle Qi’s words, Fang Yang’s eyes grew thoughtful.

He suddenly realized that the eight great Golden Clans mostly trained their young scions through these duels between generals, rather than having them lead charges in formation.

The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the aristocratic conflicts of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

In some of these duels, the loser could even keep their life!

"This Muri Shengkai possesses a perfect-grade Vermilion Bird Spirit Body, and his cultivation is at Tier Two Peak."

"His combat prowess is rumored to be able to match a Tier Four Elementary cultivator. He’s like a young Great Saint—truly terrifying."

"He has never lost a single duel on his path here."

"The only one people compare him to is Sen Wei, but unfortunately, Sen Wei isn’t here right now."

"What’s even more frightening is his intense killing intent. His opponents either end up crippled or dead."

"Very few who have dueled him have escaped his clutches, and those who did were all young maidens in the prime of their youth..."

At that moment, the four of them were hiding in the woods, moving forward.

Seventh Uncle Fang and Second Uncle Fang were speaking in hushed tones, describing just how fearsome Muri Shengkai was.

’A match for Sen Wei, like a young Great Saint...’

’Never mind anything else, those two titles alone were enough to prove his extraordinariness.’

Fang Yang could feel it too—a great mountain lay before him, waiting to be climbed.

This filled him with immense pressure.

After all, no matter how amazing his Carp Eagle Spirit Body was, it couldn’t possibly compare to a Vermilion Bird Spirit Body.

Unless his Carp Eagle Spirit Body evolved into a Kunpeng Spirit Body. That would be a top-tier Spirit Body, which naturally wouldn’t lose to a Vermilion Bird Spirit Body.

And a high Tier Two cultivation was clearly inferior to Tier Two Peak.

In every measurable standard of strength, taken one by one, Fang Yang was outmatched by Shengkai. He was inferior in almost every aspect.

At this moment, Fang Yang’s heart couldn’t help but sink.

He looked at the Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune orb of light in his mind and had a far-fetched thought: ’It would be great if Shengkai went to Wan Chong Ridge.’

A great terror was about to occur at Wan Chong Ridge: the awakening of the Autumn Cicada. It was a situation with a near-zero chance of survival.

If Shengkai were there, Fang Yang wouldn’t have to worry so much.

But Fang Yang also knew this was just wishful thinking.

’In the end, you have to rely on yourself!’

He took a deep breath and roused his spirits.

He prepared to replace the Thunder Carp with the Electric Python to practice his ultimate killing move.

Even if he was at a disadvantage, he was determined to perform a dark horse miracle and achieve victory from below!

...

「Meanwhile.」

「Wan Chong Ridge.」

Muri Shengkai and his men had finally bypassed heavy surveillance and arrived here in secret.

The mountains were towering, dead trees stood everywhere, and a miasma filled the air.

Here, swarms of Insect Beasts like poisonous scorpions, moths, ants, butterflies, and dragonflies gathered. It was an extremely treacherous mountain range!

In the depths of the mountain range, a thick, green fog shrouded everything, making it impossible to discern what lay within. One could only hear the screeches and sounds of different cicada insects fighting to the death.

The mountain range was so noisy it seemed to have scared away the moonlight, leaving only the enveloping miasma.

The mountain range was also very quiet. So quiet that the only thing you could hear were the chirps of various insects, a sound that unsettled the heart.

"Young Master, I’m getting a creepy feeling from this place," said a general clad in black armor.

The Black Armored General was named Chenxi Zhan. He was a famous Tier Five Great Cultivator who once had the glorious achievement of capturing a city all by himself.

Now, after Chenxi Zhan voiced his feelings, the other generals, and even Shengkai’s Guardian, all turned their gazes toward him.

It wasn’t just Chenxi Zhan who felt a chill; they all had a deeply unsettling feeling in their hearts.

It was as if some great terror was about to descend!

They could all sense it, and naturally, Shengkai could as well.

But Shengkai just laughed with excitement. "This is exactly the feeling that proves our success is at hand!"

Shengkai had experienced this feeling several times before.

But each time, it allowed him to be reborn in fire, becoming even stronger.

He had even obtained the inheritance of that Blissful Demon Venerable under similar circumstances.

He could sense that he was about to obtain a remarkable fortuitous encounter.

However... Shengkai looked at Chenxi Zhan and the others, a hint of regret in his eyes. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

’I can be continuously reborn in fire thanks to my True Blood of the Vermilion Bird.’

’But I’m afraid these skilled men won’t be able to.’

"A tiny cicada insect dares to cause trouble? How bold!"

Just then, a Tier Four Elementary cicada Fierce Beast flew unsteadily past Shengkai, as if drunk.

Fire ignited in Shengkai’s eyes as he let out an angry shout.

He struck out with his palm. A flash of fire erupted, turning the Tier Four Fierce Beast to dust and ashes.

To so forcefully kill a Tier Four Elementary cultivator while only at Tier Two Peak—with such an exaggerated display, it was no wonder everyone considered him a young Great Saint.

Seeing such terrifying potential once again, Chenxi Zhan and the others felt much more at ease and quietly settled back into hiding.

「On the other side.」

Liu Manlou was also worried about Shengkai.

Three days was enough time for Liu Manlou, as the second-in-command, to notice Shengkai’s prolonged absence.

But once again, Liu Manlou was blocked from the commander’s main camp by Shengkai’s subordinates.

"Sigh... Shengkai, I pray you are merely cultivating and not taking the initiative to attack Fang Yang."

Liu Manlou looked back at the commander’s main camp and sighed. "The righteous path has its own rules. You mustn’t go down the wrong road."

Afterward, he could only lead his personal guards away, feeling dejected.

Even though he was resentful about losing his command, he didn’t want to see Shengkai die in an accident.

Because he, Liu Manlou, truly lacked the strength to definitively suppress Fang Yang, but Shengkai had it.

Against Shengkai, it would be an incredible feat if Fang Yang could simply avoid defeat!

...

「The next morning.」

Four fine horses appeared slowly on the Leran Grassland.

Lu Yao, riding a date-red steed, revealed an expression of great relief.

But when she saw the calm expressions on the faces of Fang Yang and the other two, she quickly tightened her face, putting on a cold look so as not to embarrass him.

Seventh Uncle Fang, to Fang Yang’s left, found this quite amusing.

Over the past few days, after working together time and again, Seventh Uncle Fang had found Lu Yao to be quite impressive. Very impressive, in fact.

Both her character and her methods were top-notch.

Lu Yao had been truly tempered by experience and could serve as the head of a domain’s affairs.

After all, not everyone gets the chance to use an entire tribe as a training ground.

’Fang Yang must have brought her along with the idea of having her manage internal affairs.’

"Let’s go. We’ll go see Lin Keyi." Fang Yang gathered the reins and spurred his horse toward the massive military camp ahead.

Seventh Uncle Fang, Lu Yao, and Second Uncle Fang followed close behind, riding in silence.

This Lin Keyi was from the Changkong Clan, a daughter of the sixth branch of the Lin family line. She was Lin Tianxue’s older cousin; they shared the same grandfather.

Although Lin Keyi’s aptitude wasn’t as good as Lin Tianxue’s, she was a year older, and now she was capable enough to hold her own, having served as the previous commander.

While she was in command, the Changkong Clan had maintained a firm hold on the Leran Grassland, focusing solely on defense and never attacking—a defensive posture like a turtle in its shell.

The young prodigies have their own rules.

And ordinary generals likewise have their own ways of survival!

"Commander, you’ve finally arrived." A trace of reluctance flickered across Lin Keyi’s cold and beautiful face, but she still handed over the Tiger-shaped Official Seal.

The handover process was very smooth.

Because Fang Yang’s reputation had long preceded him.

Fang Yang accepted the Tiger-shaped Official Seal. "You’ve worked hard these past few days. From now on, I will take the lead. Of course, I will still need your assistance, Vice-commander Lin."

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the handover between Fang Yang and Lin Keyi went smoothly and harmoniously.

And this caused Lu Yao’s confidence to soar. She rubbed her fists together, eager to get started.

The Leran Grassland was home to more than ten tribes.

With the resources here, it was possible to cultivate a Silver Tribe!