Fang Yang listened to Elder Hua’s words, and as he compared them to the divination slip’s message, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He knew that with Elder Hua backing him up, no matter how he implemented this so-called policy, Elder Hua would cover for him.

That’s why he was expected to be decisive and not drag his feet.

He understood this much.

The problem was, despite having two "mid-to-high" fortune slips, the opportunities they revealed were Tier Four and Tier Three, respectively.

And the Tier Four opportunity came with a hidden crisis!

’Display supreme intelligence, but incite unpredictable changes in people’s hearts, a hidden crisis... wait. Hasn’t Elder Hua already dealt with Qingliu Cloud Island? Given his cunning, he shouldn’t have left any loose ends.’

’So... did he deliberately leave it there to see if I could figure it out?’

’At first, I was indeed thinking of dealing with the nine Cloud Islands, including Wind Carved and Snowfall, then seeing if I could circle back and handle Qingliu Cloud Island.’

’It seems now that I have to deal with more than just implementing the policy. I have to deal with Elder Hua himself!’

Deep within Fang Yang’s eyes, a black mist swirled.

One thought after another collided in his mind, striking sparks.

During this time, although he had been consciously wary of Elder Hua, he had still nearly been deceived by the wily old man. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

One could only say that Elder Hua’s beaming expression and omnipresent friendly attitude were far too deceptive.

The combined age of Fang Yang’s past and present lives was not even forty years.

Moreover, he had rarely encountered major events that could stir up terrifying waves.

He was still far too naive to compete in schemes and cunning with a sly old fox like Elder Hua.

After all, he didn’t have five hundred years of experience, from suffering hardships to reaching the peak of his life.

A moment later, Fang Yang looked up and replied, "Elder Hua, let’s change direction and head to Snowfall Cloud Island first."

"Snowfall Cloud Island?" A trace of surprise flashed in Elder Hua’s eyes. "Hm, as you wish. We’ll go to Snowfall Cloud Island first."

In truth, whether Fang Yang chose to go to Wind Carved Cloud Island or Qingliu Cloud Island first, both were within Elder Hua’s expectations.

But going to Snowfall Cloud Island first was somewhat unexpected.

However, thinking of Second Uncle Fang behind Fang Yang, Elder Hua felt he had instantly found the reason.

The Flying Boat turned around, roared to life, and shot straight toward Snowfall Cloud Island.

Along the way, it traveled with the speed of wind and lightning, moving extremely fast.

Many Flying Boats and Great Cultivators in the clouds saw the vessel flying the great banner of Taiyin and quickly made way for it.

Just as the fortune slip had said, they arrived at Snowfall Cloud Island with incredible speed.

Snowfall Cloud Island’s environment should have been one of raging blizzards, bone-chilling winds, and heavy, drifting snow.

But due to the previous war, half of Snowfall Cloud Island was now raging blizzards, and the other half was blazing with Fierce Flames.

"A prodigy of the Dao Seed Level is capable of changing the local topography, and even the weather."

Elder Hua sighed. "Qingkong’s Fire Skill has grown more and more profound. Executor, I hope that in my lifetime, I can see you become a Dao Seed as well."

"I’ll take that as a good omen," Fang Yang said, his expression a little strange.

Even Second Uncle Fang’s expression was a little strained.

’The Carp Eagle Blessed Land was lost because your Sen Clan’s Saint Fan Liu failed to guard it properly, and now you’re telling our Fang Clan to just try harder?’

’Become a Dao Seed within thirty years—no, within twenty-nine years now—and reclaim the Carp Eagle Blessed Land? Easier said than done!’

Elder Hua sensed the strange looks from Fang Yang and the others. He just smiled and said, "Let’s go."

The group headed toward the Snowfall City Lord’s Mansion. The Great Cultivators they passed all bowed and stepped aside.

Along the way, their party grew larger and larger as war generals from the Changkong clan joined their ranks.

"Elder Hua?" the Deputy City Lord of Snowfall asked hesitantly, not understanding why Elder Hua wasn’t handling the handover with him.

Fang Yang was somewhat familiar with this Deputy City Lord.

He was Desert Dragon, one of the former Four War Generals.

Like Fang Yang, Desert Dragon had also obtained a "Fortune Manifestation" Spiritual Object.

Furthermore, he had personally escorted Fang Yang and Sen Hui from the Cangmu Banner back to the Thunder Punishment Banner.

"Hehe, the Executor is in charge now. You can just hand things over to him," Elder Hua said with a smile.

In an instant, all eyes in the vicinity focused on Fang Yang.

There were looks of doubt, shock, and admiration.

But Fang Yang stood tall and straight, like a spear or a sword, treating all these gazes as if they were nothing.

"That’s right. The City Lord can hand things over to me. I’m in charge," Fang Yang said with a slight nod.

A trace of astonishment flashed in Desert Dragon’s eyes.

He knew of Fang Yang, but he never expected his status to rise so quickly.

With this in mind, Desert Dragon took out a brocade box. "This is our first real meeting, and I haven’t prepared any special gift. Perhaps this will suit you. It’s a Tier Three Gastric Dao Skill, the ’Little Whale Swallowing Skill’. Rumor has it that its origins can be traced back to the Kun Fish."

"?" Fang Yang was taken aback. ’Are you sure this isn’t a blatant bribe?’

"Executor, accept it. I will bear any consequences," Elder Hua said in a low voice.

It was at this moment that Fang Yang came to his senses, realizing this was most likely the Tier Three opportunity.

Seeing Fang Yang accept the gift, Desert Dragon looked at him and smiled again. "Executor, please follow me."

At this moment, waves of emotion surged in Elder Hua’s heart.

’The Fang and Zhang clans have always been entangled, evolving from non-rivals into sworn enemies. There’s a reason for it.’

’If the Fang Clan are the Flying Eagles, the Peng birds, then the Zhang Clan are the giant crocodiles, the Kun fish.’

’Like the Fang Clan, the Zhang Clan has never produced a Saint. It’s faintly implied that this is due to interference from within the clan.’

’For a Fang to become a Saint, they must step on a Zhang.’

’For a Zhang to become a Saint, they must also step on a Fang.’

’The conflict between the Fang and Zhang clans is so chaotic because it is related to a Taoist Venerable’s legacy from the Thunder Ancestor!’

’Fang Yang has comprehended a trace of the Mystical Skill of "Wind and Fire Together", while Zhang Ye has comprehended a trace of the Mystical Skill of "Water and Fire in Harmony".’

’If the two are combined, one could interpret the Dao of Feng Shui through the Fire Dao.’

’If Fang Yang wins, the "Carp Eagle Transformation" could evolve into the "Kun-Peng Transformation".’

’If all goes smoothly, Fang Yang could master a Divine Technique from the Thunder Ancestor’s legacy—a Thunder Dao Divine Skill of unparalleled offensive power!’

’And now, I never would have imagined that Fang Yang would be the one to obtain the Little Whale Swallowing Skill Technique.’

’It seems Xiaoyue’s belief that Fang Yang could surpass Fang Nian is not without reason.’

Elder Hua narrowed his eyes.

He added another evaluation of Fang Yang in his heart: ’His fortune is immense. He has the aspect of a Carp Eagle, but also contains a hint of a Kun-Peng’s aspect!’

「Elsewhere.」

Under the watchful eyes of Elder Hua, Second Uncle Fang, and the others, Fang Yang decisively took the main seat and began to govern the affairs of Snowfall Cloud Island.

Perhaps because of Desert Dragon’s active cooperation, Fang Yang encountered almost no difficulties.

He ordered people to be executed or imprisoned, and in just half a day, he had successfully implemented the policy.

But Fang Yang knew very well that Snowfall Cloud Island was a special case.

First, it was because Snowfall Cloud Island was also under the direct command of Dongfang Mobai.

Second, it was because Changkong Desert Dragon had cooperated willingly and had not tried to trip him up.

He couldn’t treat the next eight Cloud Islands the same way he had handled Snowfall Cloud Island.

「Nightfall.」

After the welcome banquet.

"Second Uncle, can you tell if this ’Little Whale Swallowing Skill’ is incomplete?" Fang Yang asked, handing the brocade box over.

One couldn’t practice Cultivation Skills and Formulas carelessly. If something went wrong, it would be disastrous.

Second Uncle Fang examined it for a moment but didn’t sense anything wrong.

He placed the azure jade slip back into the brocade box, then shook his head. "I’m more skilled in medicine refinement. Your Uncle Qi, on the other hand, is more knowledgeable about these things. You should ask him when we get back."

At that moment, the thought of asking Elder Hua to appraise it suddenly crossed Fang Yang’s mind.

But just as quickly, Fang Yang dismissed the idea.

’My main task is still to implement the policy. Asking Elder Hua for help might backfire.’

’Besides, Elder Hua won’t always be on my side!’

「Elsewhere.」

The night was silent, and a cool breeze blew across the lakeside.

Desert Dragon was strolling along the edge of the lake, accompanied by his Dao companion, a woman named Le Shiqing.

The two of them were speaking softly, one asking and the other answering.

"My dear Dragon, didn’t you say you planned to reward Zhang Ye with this ’Little Whale Swallowing Skill’?"

"That was then, this is now. Things are different. You can only say that Zhang Ye completed his mission too late."

"Then did you inscribe a copy of the ’Little Whale Swallowing Skill’ onto a blank jade slip?"

"I’m not a Gastric Dao Cultivator. I don’t understand its true meaning, so how could I inscribe it? Besides, the slightest deviation would lead to a world of difference. It’s better not to do it at all."