After returning to Leran Grassland, Fang Yang’s life had returned to a state of relative peace.

He still had to lead expeditions from time to time, repelling enemies to ensure Leran Grassland’s stability.

But for the most part, he could cultivate in quiet seclusion, focused entirely on advancing his cultivation.

Speaking of which, this battlefield had been cleverly chosen.

Originally, the conflict over Leran Grassland was meant to keep him and Shengkai far from the fiercest battles on the front lines.

But unexpectedly, Shengkai met with a sudden misfortune.

As a result, the Leran Grassland area gradually evolved into a region primarily under Fang Yang’s control.

Under Fang Yang’s leadership, the Leran Grassland garrison adhered to its old defensive strategy, with no plans to launch an offensive.

Avoiding fault was a merit in itself.

「Meanwhile.」

In the White Feathered Eagle tribe’s territory.

The sun was bright, shining down through the forest.

The Fierce Beast, an Electric Python, lay under the sun, squinting as it gazed toward the eagle’s nest.

HISS... It slowly flicked its tongue.

Seeing that the White Feathered Eagle had its own subordinates, the Electric Python suddenly felt that it, too, should have its own python subordinates.

It could accept falling behind the White Feathered Eagle temporarily, but it could not accept always being second to it!

With this in mind, it slowly rose and slithered toward the commander’s tent.

Its powerful pride drove it to action.

It was going to make a request to Fang Yang. It, too, wanted to form its own group of pythons!

"You also want to be like the White Feathered Eagle and have your own subordinates? Preferably with a large area to turn into a Snake Cave for you?" Fang Yang asked in surprise.

When he saw the Electric Python nod, Fang Yang didn’t agree immediately.

He took the opportunity to state his own conditions. "I have no objection, but you need to get the consent of the White Feathered Eagle and the Small Frost Horse."

"Especially the White Feathered Eagle, because it has contributed the most. Of course, you can choose not to accept..."

To be sure, Fang Yang had accepted the Electric Python.

However, the White Feathered Eagle and the Small Frost Horse still hadn’t really accepted it.

Even the Electric Python itself didn’t view the White Feathered Eagle and the Small Frost Horse as partners.

HISS...

The Electric Python’s vertical pupils flashed with a determined light. It agreed to Fang Yang’s request.

With no merits or contributions to its name, it felt that it truly didn’t deserve the same treatment as the White Feathered Eagle.

...

Chenghe Lake, the third-largest lake in Leran Grassland.

It was also an extremely precious resource point for the White Feathered Eagle tribe.

The White Feathered Eagle’s daily routine was to cultivate here.

When the Electric Python followed Fang Yang over, it witnessed a dumbfounding scene:

The White Feathered Eagle dove straight into the lake, sending up thousands of splashes.

Afterward, it beat its wings, moving through the lake like a fish, honing itself in an extremely harsh manner.

’?’ The Electric Python’s eyes were filled with confusion.

’Do avian Fierce Beasts train like this? This has to be a joke.’

And yet, this was precisely how the White Feathered Eagle tempered its body and developed its Bloodline Power.

Whenever it felt it had reached its limit, it would activate its spectral flames, evaporating some of the water to free itself from the lake.

Occasionally, it would fail, and that was when Seventh Uncle Fang would send the Black Water Eagle to rescue it.

Suddenly, the Electric Python felt that losing to an opponent like the White Feathered Eagle multiple times wasn’t so unacceptable after all.

But to expect it to completely submit to the White Feathered Eagle because of this? That was impossible!

"White Feathered Eagle, the Electric Python has something to discuss with you," Fang Yang called out.

In an instant, the White Feathered Eagle shot out of the lake, arriving by Fang Yang’s side as fast as lightning.

When Fang Yang stroked its feathers, its resolute face broke into a goofy, happy grin, utterly delighted.

HISS...

SCREE...

What followed was an exchange of eagle screeches and python hisses.

In the end, the White Feathered Eagle agreed to the Electric Python’s request.

It didn’t care what the Electric Python wanted to do; it only cared about Fang Yang.

As long as it made Fang Yang happy, it would do anything.

HISS, HISS...

The Electric Python had never imagined it would gain the White Feathered Eagle’s consent so easily.

At that moment, the Electric Python developed a deep respect for the White Feathered Eagle, regarding it as the rival of a lifetime!

Fang Yang’s gaze, however, remained fixed on the White Feathered Eagle as he thought:

’Among my three Pet Beasts, perhaps I should raise the White Feathered Eagle’s status a bit more. At the very least, it can be on par with the Small Frost Horse.’

...

「The Back Mountain Pasture.」

The Small Frost Horse was happily running and hopping about, accompanied by Lu Yao.

Every day, it had to romp around for at least six hours before it would calm down.

Most of the time, Lu Yao made time to accompany it.

Only if she was truly too busy would Fang Yang take over watching the Small Frost Horse.

At this moment, the Electric Python watched the Small Frost Horse, feeling a major headache coming on.

Every time it got near the Small Frost Horse, the little horse would panic and flee as if its life depended on it.

It tried its best to appear friendly, but that only made the Small Frost Horse run faster.

This scene repeated itself over and over.

Even with Fang Yang nearby, the Small Frost Horse didn’t dare get close to the Electric Python.

But despite its constant failures, the Electric Python didn’t give up on showing its friendly attitude.

It wanted to gain the Small Frost Horse’s acceptance!

’Patient in achieving its goals... you could call it profound and forbearing,’ Fang Yang thought, observing the Electric Python.

’The White Feathered Eagle is simpleminded but forthright, with the bearing of an Overlord—brave and ever-improving.’

’The Small Frost Horse is timid and a crybaby, yet extremely curious. Fortunately, its potential is extraordinary.’

’The Electric Python is profound and forbearing, but it has immense pride, always needing to be first and refusing to be second to the White Feathered Eagle.’

’It seems all of my Pet Beasts have quite the personality.’

But in the eyes of Lu Yao and the others, as peculiar as the temperaments of the White Feathered Eagle, Small Frost Horse, and Electric Python were...

...Fang Yang’s temperament was even stranger!

The sun quietly left its post.

The moon gradually revealed itself.

By nightfall, the Small Frost Horse still hadn’t dared to get close to the Electric Python.

The attempt at contact was temporarily called off due to the late hour.

That night, the Electric Python mulled over how to persuade the Small Frost Horse, so much so that it didn’t sleep a wink.

What it didn’t know was that the Small Frost Horse had already taken the initiative to tell Fang Yang that it was willing to accept the python.

HISS?!

The next morning, when the Electric Python learned this news from Fang Yang, it was a bit stunned, but still very happy.

Before long, it got the group of pythons it wanted.

A total of twenty snakes, all hidden in a dark snake cave, were now its subordinates.

But to establish the Ten Thousand Snakes Cave of its dreams, its future performance would be key.

Now, it still liked to sunbathe.

However, when it recalled the White Feathered Eagle’s arduous training, it overcame the urge with great willpower and stopped sunbathing.

It took the initiative to head to Chenghe Lake to train and increase its strength.

And it had finally come to accept the Small Frost Horse and the White Feathered Eagle.

’If bonds truly exist, are they a type of emotional power?’ Fang Yang wondered, gazing thoughtfully at the Electric Python’s retreating figure.

After this whole affair, the power of his ultimate move, the [Celestial Eagle Cross Spear], would increase by at least ten percent!

...

Fang Yang’s duties on Leran Grassland weren’t so simple.

Besides governing the region and stabilizing the defensive line, he also had to ensure that resource points like Frost Stone Valley weren’t sabotaged by enemy spies.

For example, due to its geographical location, Frost Stone Valley was rich in an ore called Frost Split Stone, which was an excellent material for setting up Arrays.

On this day, Fang Yang was inspecting Frost Stone Valley as usual.

He was also scheduled to hand over supplies to the team that had come to receive the resources.

The transferred supplies included Frost Split Stone, taxes collected from the various tribes, and other items.

This time, he saw Dongfang Xuezhi.

Dongfang Xuezhi, the runner-up in the Dongfang Race’s grand military competition, her strength second only to Dongfang Moran.

She was a remarkable woman whose methods were even more noteworthy than her breathtaking beauty.

Just as the handover was about to conclude and he was about to let Dongfang Xuezhi and her people depart, Fang Yang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

In his mind, a ball of light flashed, and text appeared:

[A negotiation of position, with the road as the reason; a change of heart, where fortune and disaster are intertwined.]

Following that, three fortunes appeared:

[Moderately Good Fortune: Accompany the escort team for a portion of their journey. Proceed straight ahead without causing complications. You may obtain a Tier Four opportunity. Auspicious.]

[Neutral Fortune: Do not accompany the escort team. Hold your position and watch the turmoil rise and fall from afar. Nothing gained, nothing lost. Neutral.]

[Moderately Bad Fortune: Accompany the escort team for a portion of their journey. Change your objective midway. You may obtain a Tier Three opportunity, but you will fall into danger and sow the seeds of future trouble. Inauspicious.]