"Quite perceptive."

The moment Fang Yang spent the last of his battle merits, Sen Yue learned what he had done.

"Go. Raise the Fang Clan’s ranking by one level."

He gave a soft chuckle and instructed the acolyte, Mingxin, to make a note of it.

He also made a mental note. ’I’ll find a chance to compensate Fang Yang. He won’t be left at a disadvantage.’

As long as Fang Yang could make Sen Hui happy, Sen Yue would naturally make Fang Yang even happier.

A moment later, Sen Yue flicked his Daoist robes and resumed refining the Purple Gold Hall.

Perhaps due to a secret order from Sen Yue, the Silver Flower Fire Tree seedling returned to the Changkong clan’s territory at a terrifying speed. It reached Sen Hui’s hands with a swiftness that put next-day delivery to shame.

’"The Silver Flower Fire Tree... a tree that resembles fireworks. Once it blooms, it creates an endless, dazzling display, a sight of breathtaking beauty..."’

Sen Hui cradled the seedling, a warmth spreading through her chest.

She knew this was Fang Yang’s way of showing he missed her, of wishing for her happiness.

’"Hehe, Ah Yang, I’ll take great care of this Silver Flower Fire Tree. I’ll make it bloom for a long, long time!"’

Sen Hui was overjoyed. She had even begun to see the Silver Flower Fire Tree as a token of their love.

At some unknown thought, a blush crept onto her cheeks, making her look exceptionally lovely.

Sen Hui’s actions, of course, did not escape the notice of Sen Wei and Saint Fan Liu.

’"I slay Tier Three Fierce Beasts day in and day out so Xiaohui can practice her Alchemy, but I’ve never seen her this happy. She’s really grown up..."’ Sen Wei watched dotingly from a distance as Sen Hui planted the tree.

Saint Fan Liu, however, snorted coldly. "I suppose Fang Yang knows his place, but I still believe he is far from a suitable match..."

Saint Fan Liu had a major problem with Fang Yang—or rather, with the Carp Eagle Saint.

Others might not have known, but she was acutely aware that the Carp Eagle Saint was a dyed-in-the-wool villain of the Demon Dao, a man utterly devoid of humanity.

The atrocities the Carp Eagle Saint had committed in the Desolate Realm could not escape her notice.

And Fang Yang, as ’Carp Eagle the Second,’ would almost certainly follow him onto the Demon Dao. It was highly unlikely he’d be an exception.

「Meanwhile, in another part of the Changkong clan’s territory.」

Thanks to Fang Yang, the Fang Clan had benefited immensely.

When the Zhang clan heard the news, their reaction was particularly vehement.

The same insidious old man who had previously threatened to eliminate Fang Yang early on once again began making furious proclamations, only to be swiftly suppressed, placed in solitary confinement, and thrown into the prison on the back mountain to reflect on his transgressions.

When the Zhang clan elders heard that Zhang Ye had avoided a direct confrontation with Fang Yang, they were greatly relieved.

They believed Zhang Ye had shown good sense, preserving a sliver of an opportunity to one day surpass Fang Yang.

At the very least, Zhang Ye’s performance had been much better than Cyan Aura’s.

The struggle between the Fang and Zhang clans was at a fever pitch, with no clear victor.

When the members of the Fang Clan heard the shocking news that they had "benefited immensely because of Fang Yang," they were all jubilant.

However, the two Fang Clan prodigies who were ranked ahead of Fang Yang had complicated expressions.

’"Younger cousin, have you really gotten this strong...?"’ Fang Min’s pretty face went blank for a moment.

’"I never thought Ah Yang would be the one to suppress Zhang Ye. My own performance was worse than his."’ Although Fang Hao smiled wryly, he was also happy for Fang Yang.

...

「Around noon.」

Fang Yang received Sen Hui’s reply and finished viewing it.

Inside the commander’s tent, Fang Yang slowly plucked the strings of the Yimu Guqin, trying to soothe the turbulent, indecipherable emotions stirring in his heart.

DING. DONG. DING DONG DONG...

The music of the Guqin rose and fell, at times as gentle as a mountain stream, at others as fierce as a raging tempest.

It threw the White Feathered Eagle’s qi and blood into such disarray that the eagle didn’t know how to dance and soar in time with the music.

It could only stand stunned on the ground, staring blankly at Fang Yang.

The chaotic, indecipherable music continued for nearly an hour before it finally, gradually, came to a stop.

Fang Yang wasn’t averse to love.

But as he played, he allowed the feelings of love and longing to run rampant, until he transcended the emotion itself.

Because he held a higher goal in his heart: "To live forever and become an Immortal Ancestor!"

The very moment Fang Yang stopped playing, two pained cries suddenly echoed through the tent.

One came from the White Feathered Eagle, the other from the Small Frost Horse.

Music can heal, but it can also kill.

So, hearing their cries, Fang Yang stood up to go and soothe them.

But just as he got to his feet, his body froze for an instant.

He had to decide whether to comfort the White Feathered Eagle first, or the Small Frost Horse.

Normally, Fang Yang wouldn’t have even had to think about it; he would have gone directly to the Small Frost Horse.

But after the army-wide competition, the White Feathered Eagle’s standing in his heart had risen considerably.

But...

After a moment’s hesitation, Fang Yang turned and walked toward the Small Frost Horse after all.

The White Feathered Eagle might have proven its worth, but in Fang Yang’s eyes, the Small Frost Horse still held a higher place.

At this, the light in the eyes of the White Feathered Eagle, watching from a corner, dimmed.

Before long, however, the White Feathered Eagle froze, seeming rather baffled.

After Fang Yang had calmed it down, the Small Frost Horse actually approached the White Feathered Eagle on its own.

The Small Frost Horse was very reliant on the White Feathered Eagle, looking at it as if it were an incredibly dependable big brother! 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

...

「In the dead of night.」

Under the watchful eyes of Second Uncle Fang and Seventh Uncle Fang, Fang Yang finally began to refine the Moonfire Thunder Flower Spiritual Object.

It hadn’t been easy. Not at all.

If it weren’t for Sen Yue’s instructions, Fang Yang would have refined the Moonfire Thunder Flower Spiritual Object long ago and decisively pushed toward a High Tier Spirit Body.

GURGLE... GURGLE...

The sound of flowing water began to rise.

The Moonfire Thunder Flower Spiritual Object, which had already bloomed and borne fruit, seemed like a pool of deep water.

With every part Fang Yang refined, it shriveled a little more, and the sound of flowing water intensified.

At the same time, tiny petals of lightning began to form around Fang Yang’s body.

First, they were cyan, then they slowly evolved into violet.

It made Fang Yang look as if he were sitting on a lotus throne, a truly extraordinary sight.

"Should I tell Ah Yang?" Second Uncle Fang watched Fang Yang, his feelings mixed.

Some of the clan elders had been dropping hints, suggesting he put a little pressure on Fang Yang by telling him about the Carp Eagle Blessed Land.

They felt that the great responsibility of the Fang Clan producing a "Dao Seed" within thirty years might have to fall on Fang Yang’s shoulders after all.

Meanwhile, as Fang Yang was refining the Moonfire Thunder Flower, he noticed his Fire Eagle Illusion growing more substantial.

The Fire Eagle Illusion had become far more mystical. The most obvious change was the appearance of profound patterns across its form, as if they were expounding the very truths of flame.

Most importantly, Fang Yang had a premonition.

After he completely refined the Moonfire Thunder Flower Spiritual Object, he would only need to absorb one more type of lightning-attribute essence to elevate his constitution to a Grade-A Spirit Body.

Any kind of lightning-attribute essence would do.

Of course, Fang Yang’s primary target was still the essence of a Thunder Carp.

He planned to walk the path of the Carp Eagle and the Kun Peng, for it was a glorious road proven to produce Saints!

RUMBLE—

As Fang Yang absorbed the nourishment from the Moonfire Thunder Flower, the white Crystal Membrane in his Void Acupoint True Essence Sea was also being indirectly and relentlessly battered.

He was going to force his Void Acupoint itself to metamorphose and produce Silver True Essence!

If he succeeded, he would break through from Tier One Peak to Tier Two Elementary.

CRACK—

An unusual sound rang out as a crack was forced open in the white Crystal Membrane.

A stream of light gushed from the opening in the white Crystal Membrane and flowed into the Void Acupoint True Essence Sea, causing the bronze-colored True Essence to transform, bit by bit, into silver-colored True Essence...