When Fang Xuan returned, he was met with a furious tirade from Seventh Uncle Fang.

In truth, everyone knew that while Fang Xuan’s aptitude was decent, he couldn’t be compared to a prodigy like Fang Yang.

But now, the issue was no longer his level of aptitude. It was that Fang Xuan simply hadn’t honed his combat skills properly!

"Uncle, please stop! Look, Bro’s trial is starting," Fang Xuan said, hastily changing the subject as sweat poured down his back.

In the distance, one hundred Trialists took the field. They surrounded ten pillars of light, each one displaying their Divine Techniques.

The mystical forest instantly grew lively again.

Amidst this incredibly fierce environment, one figure seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll, looking utterly out of place.

This figure was none other than Fang Yang!

Right now, Fang Yang was unhurriedly walking toward the nearest pillar of light.

As he advanced, one Trialist after another took notice of him.

Suddenly, three arrows streaked toward him in quick succession, a perilous attack.

WHOOSH—

The White Feathered Eagle flapped its wings, and a Fireball shot out. It instantly engulfed the three arrows and continued onward, its momentum unbroken, speeding forward.

A moment later, a scream of agony rang out!

Immediately, the White Feathered Eagle went on a rampage, frantically beating its wings to create one Fireball after another. It took care of Fang Yang’s enemies for him, holding its own.

"I’m taking this pillar of light. Any objections?"

Standing on a small hillock, Fang Yang smiled faintly as the White Feathered Eagle shrieked ceaselessly overhead.

The ground below him was littered almost entirely with fallen Trialists. What ability did they have left to resist him?

Not to mention, no one had yet managed to force Fang Yang to even use his spear techniques!

And so, the White Feathered Eagle helped Fang Yang dominate the area. No one dared to get too close to his pillar of light. They all saw Fang Yang as a terrifying threat and frantically kept their distance.

It wasn’t that there weren’t any challengers, but they often couldn’t even get past the White Feathered Eagle!

"Good, good! White Feathered Eagle, you’re much stronger than Fang Xuan!" Outside the arena, Seventh Uncle Fang watched the light projection on the water screen, taking the chance to praise one at the other’s expense.

This provoked an indignant eye-roll from Fang Xuan. "The White Feathered Eagle is strong now, sure, but the strongest of its species can only reach the Tier Two Peak. It’s nearly impossible for them to break through to Tier Three. In the end, the one who will truly be powerful is me, Fang Xuan!"

Outside the tournament, Hong Qishang, Zhang Ye, and others were also keeping a close eye on Fang Yang’s every move.

Right now, Hong Qishang’s eyes narrowed as he commented with a hint of praise, "This White Feathered Eagle has changed tremendously. The last time I saw it, it had none of this imposing aura. It may not compare to Qing Mang’s Pet Beast, the Electric Python, but it’s still first-rate."

Wei Rubao chimed in, "Fang Yang has only used his spear on occasion, but every time, he’s been completely dominant. His strength is definitely not inferior to the top seed, Qing Mang!"

Similarly, Zhang Ye also believed Fang Yang’s personal strength was not inferior to Qing Mang’s—perhaps even a sliver stronger.

However, his younger cousin Zhang Le sounded a little smug. "Fang Yang is impressive, sure, but a Fierce Beast like the White Feathered Eagle is nowhere near as good as the Electric Python. If there’s anything to blame, it’s that the Fangs don’t have a Saint. The final champion will, nine times out of ten, still be Qing Mang!"

But even with the White Feathered Eagle’s shortcomings, Fang Yang’s strength was still enough for him to be a dominant force in this grand tournament.

After passing the preliminary rounds, Fang Yang fought his way forward, battle spear in hand and the Flying Eagle by his side, sweeping away all in his path.

The White Feathered Eagle, in particular, was dazzlingly brilliant.

Many opponents were effortlessly defeated by the White Feathered Eagle before they could even get close to Fang Yang, a truly dominant display.

As for the opponents the White Feathered Eagle couldn’t overwhelm, the moment Fang Yang made a move, they too were effortlessly overwhelmed.

Fang Yang’s true capabilities remained somewhat unfathomable, making him an intimidating figure.

Under these circumstances, Fang Yang’s ranking steadily climbed. His fame began to spread far and wide, no longer just tied to the Sen lineage.

"An honorary invitation from the Frostfall Bronze Tribe..."

"An honorary invitation from the White Swallow Bronze Tribe..."

"Even an honorary invitation from the Ten Thousand Birds Silver Tribe..."

At the White Feathered Eagle’s encampment, Fang Xuan stared at the stack of honorary invitations, piled as high as a snowdrift. He was utterly dumbfounded.

Because every single one of these invitations was addressed to Fang Yang.

In other words, thanks to his outstanding performance, Fang Yang’s fame had skyrocketed.

If Fang Yang were willing to accept and have his name registered with these various tribes, the amount of Yuan Stones he could casually earn each month would be staggering.

But to Fang Xuan’s bewilderment, Fang Yang ignored these invitations. He ignored every single one!

"Bro, seriously? You’re not accepting any? I think that Ten Thousand Birds Silver Tribe looks pretty good..." Fang Xuan felt pained and couldn’t help but try to persuade him.

’If I, Fang Xuan, had received this many invitations,’ he thought, ’I might not accept all of them, but I’d take at least a third. Secure the Yuan Stones first and ask questions later.’

"No, there’s no need to bother with them." Fang Yang shook his head, then closed his eyes to rest his mind.

’These invitations from small and mid-sized factions are just an attempt to borrow my fame,’ he thought. ’They want me to be a nominal patron to bring fortune to their tribes.’

’But I have no need to bother with them. I’m not exactly lacking for Yuan Stones at the moment.’

’More importantly, I’ve begun to understand some of the profound mysteries of "Fortune Manifestation."’

’It’s best not to casually entrust my name and status to others. The consequences would be unimaginable.’

’Doing so could very well drag down the White Feathered Eagle tribe, which would then hinder my own cultivation progress!’

’Some have so much they don’t know what to do with it, while others have none at all,’ Lu Yao thought to herself, moved by the scene.

But the next moment, at the White Feathered Eagle’s prompting, Lu Yao set her thoughts aside and obediently fed it roasted meat and honey water.

...

This army-wide Tier One tournament was divided into a total of eight groups. Fang Yang was in Group A-5.

If Fang Yang wanted to take the top spot, he first had to become the strongest in Group A-5.

Only then could he duel against the strongest from the other seven groups to determine the ultimate champion.

’The number eight again...’ Fang Yang mused. ’The Eight Great Domains, the Eight Great Golden Clans, the Eight Great Dao Seeds, and now eight groups... Don’t tell me the number eight has some special meaning?’

At this point, Fang Yang had already defeated his opponent and was now ranked in the top two of Group A-5.

Just one more duel stood between Fang Yang and the title of strongest in Group A-5.

The next match in Group A-5 was about to begin. The winner would face Fang Yang to determine who would advance from the group!

The two competitors in this match were both known as geniuses.

One was Chen Xing, and the other was Le Shiyu.

In fact, Fang Yang had already made an assessment of both their strengths.

He hadn’t planned on watching, figuring they were nothing special.

But for the sake of the Tier Five opportunity that could be expanded upon—one that the sign of great fortune had hinted at, along with a supreme treasure that might even be a Tier Six item—he overcame his disinterest and went to watch with Second Uncle Fang, Fang Xuan, and the others.

’Chen Xing... Snow Radiance Spirit Body... Pet Beast is a Snow Bear.’

’Le Shiyu... Rain Swift Spirit Body... Pet Beast is a Rain Swift.’

Soon, the battle between Chen Xing and Le Shiyu erupted.

The way the battle unfolded was completely unexpected.

Because when Le Shiyu used her Spirit Body as a catalyst and harnessed the weather to conjure a small rainstorm, Chen Xing crumbled almost instantly!

Le Shiyu had won, seemingly without exerting any effort at all.

The shock of her victory was no less than that caused by Fang Yang.

"She can control the rain... Bro, you’re in big trouble!" Fang Xuan’s expression was grim.

But Fang Yang replied calmly, "Big trouble? Yes, someone’s in big trouble. But it’s her, not me."

Fang Xuan was dumbfounded. He thought he must have misheard, wondering where his cousin Fang Yang got such confidence.

Beside them, Second Uncle Fang and Seventh Uncle Fang exchanged a glance, their eyes smiling.

They both believed Fang Yang would easily claim victory and become the strongest in Group A-5.

Because the gap between Le Shiyu and Fang Yang was vast. Simply vast.

The White Feathered Eagle alone would be a challenge Le Shiyu could barely handle!