PATTER PATTER PATTER...

The sky was thick with dark clouds. Rain cascaded down like a waterfall, pouring relentlessly upon the earth and turning it into a vast ocean.

Holding an oil-paper umbrella, Fang Yang slowly walked out of the Profound Mysterious Study. He boarded a horse-drawn carriage and set off toward the White Feathered Eagle encampment.

BOOM—

A colossal pillar of lightning, like a silver serpent, streaked across the sky, instantly tearing through the gloom.

It illuminated the land for a fleeting moment, drawing the gazes of the four Pavilion Elders in the Profound Mysterious Study upward.

"They say spring rain is as precious as oil. Spring is here once again. I wonder if the clan will let those youngsters who’ve just reached Enlightenment come out this year," Elder Hua remarked with a sigh.

"I don’t think the children need to come out. It would be better to let them out when we are truly on the verge of unifying the Profound Dominion and opening its Blessed Land," said Elder Bird, his expression gentle.

It’s true that a batch of direct descendants of the Sages, including Sen Wei and Sen Hui, were previously recalled to the clan lands.

However, if all went smoothly, they would come out again.

They were exploiting a major loophole by doing so.

But there was nothing to be done. The War of the Profound Dominion was, at its heart, a game for the Sages.

When the Sages exploited a loophole, what could the common people do, even if they were resentful?

Sages, by their very nature, possess immense Divine Techniques and are transcendent, far removed from the mortal world!

"Ahem. Fang Yang understands the situation well enough now. It’s time to raise the stakes."

"It would be best to put him in a predicament. That’s the only way to see his true character."

"Indeed. If he stays here like this any longer, his potential will be wasted."

"That’s right. While we aren’t training him to be Wei’Er’s top battle commander, he can’t be allowed to lose his combat prowess—especially since he has the potential to become one himself..."

The four Pavilion Elders chimed in one after another.

The northern territories of the Changkong Race, recently subjugated at the front lines, were in chaos. Conveniently, Fang Yang held the title of a [Mandate Holder], a position that naturally bore the responsibility of implementing new policies.

They quickly came to an agreement.

Elder Hua would lead Fang Yang on a solitary training excursion to observe him for a time, ensuring a direct and unbiased assessment.

The policy to be implemented this time was as follows: divide the surrendered members of the Dongfang Race into a five-tiered social hierarchy, adopt a system of nobility based on military merit, and progressively dismantle the old power structures within the Dongfang Race...

「The next day.」

When Fang Yang arrived, he was informed that he would be venturing out with Elder Hua in three days.

"In the beginning, I will take the lead, and you will keep the records. Later, you will take the lead, and I will be the one recording."

Elder Hua, his expression gentle, took a light sip of tea. "Don’t worry about whether you do a good job or not. Just be bold and do what you think is right."

The study fell silent, filled only with the sounds of documents being reviewed and stamped.

Meanwhile, Fang Yang sat ramrod straight on a carved, crimson-lacquered chair, his mind racing as thoughts surfaced one after another.

At that moment, a suspicion formed in Fang Yang’s mind. ’Are they investing so much in training me because they want me to be Sen Yue’s successor?’

But a moment later, he dismissed the thought as unrealistic.

Even if he were truly accepted into the Sen family, Sen Wei was still ahead of him.

’So, am I supposed to be the Sen family’s chief steward, preparing for the next War of the Profound Dominion a century from now?’

’Does this mean I’m not only serving Sen Hui, but Sen Wei as well?’

An inexplicable sense of frustration and suffocation washed over Fang Yang.

He had the sudden, stark realization that he was like a prisoner to the Sen family!

He was a battle commander—or, at the very least, an Alchemist Doctor.

If things continued this way, his grand ambitions would be stifled. He would be little more than a house slave to the Sen family.

As a house slave to the Sen family, how could he ever hope to be an eagle striking across the vast sky? How could he ever soar freely through the heavens?

’Heh, interesting. Trying to tame me? To make me a pet eagle? My loyalty is to myself, and myself alone.’

With that thought, Fang Yang swept away the gloom and frustration.

His gaze first fell upon the [Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune] orb of light in his mind. Then, he lowered his head and observed his reflection in the tea.

"Mm, I will do my utmost. Please rest assured, Pavilion Elder," Fang Yang replied.

He decided he would use this opportunity to hone himself. Though he held no spear in his hand, he could still wield one in his heart.

Besides, he had a safety net. All he had to do was charge forward boldly!

...

The Dongfang Race, like the Changkong Race, was one of the eight great Golden Clans.

What made them unique, however, was that their territory consisted almost entirely of peculiar, floating Sky Cloud Islands.

The Domain of Xuan was mostly grassland, with few mountain peaks. If one were to count the Sky Cloud Islands as mountains, there would be quite a few, but one couldn’t really do that.

Even more peculiar was the fact that members of the Dongfang Race were born with wings and were also known as the Feathered People.

’The Dongfang Race are like feathered people, and the Minghai Race are like fish people... It seems this Thunder Ancestor of mine had quite the range of interests.’

Fang Yang stood on the deck of the Cloud Boat, gazing down at the Feathered People gliding at low altitudes among the Cloud Islands.

As the Flying Boat descended, the figures of the Feathered People came into sharper focus.

Most of these Feathered People were slender and pale-faced.

Some had two wings, others had four, and one, incredibly, had six!

Those with four wings had already manifested a Spirit Body.

The one with six wings had manifested a Sacred Body.

At that moment, the beautiful woman with six frost-white wings and a saintly aura approached. She bowed to Elder Hua. "Elder Hua, it has been a long time."

"Heh, rise, Mobai. You are a ’Dao Seed,’ after all. There’s no need for a welcoming feast. Just take me directly to the Qing Liu City Lord’s Mansion," Elder Hua said, waving his hand dismissively and showing Dongfang Mobai a great deal of respect.

Although Dongfang Mobai had been defeated by Sen Yue in a single move, she was, regardless, a genuine Dao Seed and could not be treated with disrespect.

Dongfang Mobai gave a slight nod, her gaze then sweeping over Fang Yang and the others in his party.

When her eyes landed on Fang Yang, they brightened.

Young!

So young!

That was her first impression of Fang Yang.

In a group composed of several middle-aged and even elderly men, Fang Yang’s presence was exceptionally conspicuous.

It was easy to imagine how high his status must be.

Had she not known that Sen Yue was still unmarried, Dongfang Mobai might have mistaken Fang Yang for his son.

’Why is Dongfang Mobai staring at me?’ Fang Yang wondered. ’She doesn’t think I’m one of the Feathered People, does she?’

Although many people had nicknamed him Flying Eagle, Proud Eagle, or even Carp Eagle, he most certainly did not have wings growing from his back!

Fortunately, however, Dongfang Mobai’s gaze shifted away a moment later as she began to lead the group away.

With a light flick of her wings, a gust of wind erupted where she stood.

The wind swirled and coiled, enveloping the entire group.

Then, with a ROAR, Fang Yang’s vision blurred.

The next moment, Fang Yang found himself standing before a city manor—the Qing Liu City Lord’s Mansion!

A spell like that from Dongfang Mobai was already bordering on a Divine Technique.

At the very least, Second Uncle Fang was no match for her by a long shot.

’A terrifying woman.’

Fang Yang marveled internally. ’And an even more terrifying Sen Yue.’