All beginnings are difficult.

Although his first time in charge was somewhat simple, Fang Yang had indeed gained a great deal of experience.

In other words, even though he had only repeated Elder Hua’s method of executing the ringleaders and imprisoning the remaining culprits, he still gained his own unique experience from it.

’I have to remember to use the local defense forces, to turn them into my own fangs and claws.’

’And the key to using the local defense forces lies with a city’s City Lord, with the war generals of the Changkong race!’

’Sometimes, it’s not just the feathered people of the Dongfang Race who are more wicked; the generals of the Changkong race can make grave mistakes as well.’

’Whether they’re feathered people or generals, I must strike them all down with the speed of lightning...’

Fang Yang silently summarized these various lessons in his mind.

At this moment, they had already left Snowfall Cloud Island and were heading toward Wind Carved Cloud Island.

The Flying Boat roared, soaring through the heavens like a Dapeng, slicing through the white clouds.

Inside the Flying Boat, however, all was calm and steady, without the slightest sound.

The interior of the Flying Boat had multiple independent rooms.

And now, enjoying a rare moment of leisure after summarizing his experiences, Fang Yang took out a Cyan and Red Pill Furnace.

Under Second Uncle Fang’s watchful gaze, Fang Yang began the alchemy process for a Tier Two Purple Kidney Pill.

WHOOSH~

A wisp of Spirit Flame manifested in Fang Yang’s palm, and he tossed it beneath the Cyan and Red Pill Furnace.

Immediately after, Primordial Spirit Grass, Hundred Flowers Fragrance Fruit, and other ingredients were thrown into the pill furnace one by one.

Before long, a fragrant aroma arose, filling the entire room.

’It’s not time yet. I have to wait for the pill liquid to dissolve into a fluid before I can add the Cyan Deer antler.’

Recalling the records in Sen Hui’s notes, Fang Yang immediately stopped what he was doing and waited silently.

SLOSH...

Inside the pill furnace, the different types of Primordial Qi contained within the various ingredients collided and intertwined, inducing a wondrous transformation in their respective spiritual substances.

Gradually, they dissolved, forming a pool of turbid liquid that resembled mercury.

At that exact moment, Fang Yang lifted the lid of the pill furnace and tossed in the Cyan Deer antler.

"Fierce Flame Pill Cauldron! Thunderous Pill Cauldron! Rise!"

The next moment, fierce flames erupted from Fang Yang’s left hand and lightning bloomed from his right, both aimed at the Cyan and Red Pill Furnace.

This time, without even needing to summon the Fire Eagle Illusion, Fang Yang could easily control the evolution of the Primordial Qi and the sublimation of the spiritual substances.

It could only be said that there was truly a barrier between Tier One and Tier Two Cultivators.

After all, there was a qualitative difference between Silver True Essence and Bronze True Essence alone.

「Ten minutes later.」

The fire and lightning vanished, and everything returned to calm.

Fang Yang opened the Cyan and Red Pill Furnace. A wisp of purple smoke immediately rose and drifted into the air, resembling a small, galloping deer.

He looked inside the Cyan and Red Pill Furnace and discovered that, aside from the dregs and ruined pills, there were three perfect, flawless purple Pills!

"Three successful pills out of a batch of ten. In less than a year, Ah Yang, you’ve already touched the domain of a Tier Two Alchemy Master."

Second Uncle Fang praised him. "Once you return to the rear line’s Medicine Hall for your assessment, you’ll definitely become a Tier One Alchemy Master who truly lives up to the name!"

"It’s not enough. Not nearly enough." Fang Yang gently shook his head.

He was thinking of Sen Hui’s terrifying progress.

In a mere year, Sen Hui had gone from nothing to a Tier Three Alchemy Master. A person like that was terrifying.

Of course, besides Sen Hui surpassing him in Pill Master skills, Sen Wei also surpassed him in her Cultivation Realm.

But did that mean they were both stronger than him, Fang Yang?

No, it was just a matter of resources and opportunity!

"Heh, Xiaohui is a special case. You don’t need to compare yourself to her so much," Second Uncle Fang said, comforting him in turn.

No matter how skilled an Alchemy Master was, it was still just a secondary profession.

Unless... unless that Alchemy Master could master it to the point of enlightenment, grasping the legendary true meaning of the Refining Dao!

But that was incredibly difficult, even more difficult than the Dream Dao.

...

「Snowfall Cloud Island.」

Atop a snowy, ice-covered mountain peak.

Zhang Ye’s punch blasted aside Lin Tianxue’s silver-white greatspear, then continued with unabated force to strike her in the abdomen, sending her flying backward into a wall of snow, endlessly coughing up blood.

"Fang Yang could crush you with ease, and so can I, Zhang Ye!"

Zhang Ye slowly retracted his fist, then turned and plucked a Snow Lotus that emanated a clear, faint light.

In an instant, Zhang Ye left with his younger cousin and clan uncle who had been standing guard, heading for the City Lord’s Mansion on Snowfall Cloud Island, leaving only Lin Tianxue and her guardian Daoist behind.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Zhang Ye stepped into the City Lord’s Mansion and presented the tranquil Snow Lotus.

As the "Deputy City Lord," Desert Dragon’s expression didn’t change, but Le Shiqing looked a bit odd. It was only yesterday that the "Little Whale Swallowing Skill" had been given to Fang Yang.

"This is a Tier Three Blood Dao Cultivation Technique called the ’Blood Mountain Skill.’ Its purpose is to refine the body to become as solid as a mountain peak. I imagine it should be of some help to you," Desert Dragon said with a slight smile.

"Many thanks, Senior." Zhang Ye accepted the brocade box.

Compared to the Little Whale Swallowing Skill, the Blood Mountain Skill was far inferior.

The former mostly refined blood qi, while the latter encompassed refining blood qi, increasing physical strength, and even enhancing one’s Soul Foundation!

That was why Le Shiqing felt a sense of pity; if Zhang Ye had been one step ahead of Fang Yang, this fortunate opportunity would have been his.

After leaving the City Lord’s Mansion, Zhang Ye turned to his clan uncle. "Third Uncle, I’m going to need another Skill for increasing physical strength. It looks like I’ll have to trouble you again."

...

「Elsewhere.」

The Flying Boat roared as it slowly descended upon Wind Carved Cloud Island.

Wind Carved Cloud Island, as its name implied, was an island with a large population of avian beasts.

Here, Beast-Taming Dao Cultivators were prevalent, and basically, everyone knew a trick or two of the Beast-Taming Dao arts.

With the experience from last time, Fang Yang took the lead without hesitation, beginning the handover with the Deputy City Lord of Wind Carved Cloud Island.

Initially, before his fate had been triggered, Fang Yang had intended to choose Wind Carved Cloud Island as his first stop.

One of the main reasons for this consideration was that his Little Uncle, Fang Hao, was here on Wind Carved Cloud Island.

Fang Hao, the number one prodigy of the Fang Clan!

Although Fang Hao was not the Deputy City Lord, he was among the first batch of generals.

"Ah Yang, Second Brother, I finally get to see you." Fang Hao was tall and powerfully built, looking like both a butcher and a war general, reminiscent of the young Ancestor Fang Nian.

"Little Uncle, I’ll have to rely on you to open the way for me," Fang Yang said with a smile.

"Hahaha, don’t you worry. I received your letter and have already made preparations," Fang Hao declared confidently.

Fang Hao was indeed worthy of his title as the number one prodigy of the Fang Clan!

With his assistance, Fang Yang quickly implemented the policies on Wind Carved Cloud Island.

Snowfall Cloud Island: policies successfully implemented.

Wind Carved Cloud Island: policies successfully implemented.

Mist Electric Cloud Island: policies successfully implemented.

...

Although the difficulty gradually increased the further he went.

But Fang Yang used his methods as both a spearhead and a pill furnace.

At times, he acted like a war general, handling miscellaneous affairs with bold and decisive action.

At other times, he was like an Alchemist Doctor, who, with the gentleness of a soft breeze, dismantled every issue.

Under these circumstances, Fang Yang conquered one Cloud Island after another.

Elder Hua nodded in secret, giving a high evaluation: ’Fang Yang can be both gentle and firm, not just purely arrogant. He... he really has a high chance of undergoing the Kun-Peng Transformation!’

However, when tackling the seventh Cloud Island, Sword-Hanging Cloud Island, Fang Yang encountered a problem.

The local Deputy City Lord, a war general named Sen You, refused to give Fang Yang any face at all.

Sen You made it difficult for Fang Yang to mobilize the defense forces, leaving him to conduct his observations alone.

This Sen You had once been one of the four great war generals, on par with Desert Dragon.

Moreover, he was Sen Yue’s clan brother, possessing both seniority and strength.

If he refused to cooperate, there was truly nothing Fang Yang could do to him!