Deepest night.

Sword Qi flowed like a great waterfall of blue, circling Sword-Hanging Cloud Island with a unique beauty.

Fang Yang, having encountered difficulties, pondered for a moment before getting up to leave. He intended to return to his quarters, change, and go to sleep.

He didn’t seem the least bit troubled or perplexed by the current problem.

His actions left Elder Hua feeling perplexed.

It wasn’t just Elder Hua; even Second Uncle Fang was utterly baffled.

’Could it be that Fang Yang has already found a solution?’

The night was as cool as water.

The administrative pavilion was silent.

Since Fang Yang, the one in charge, had gone to sleep, there was no longer any need for them, the ones assisting with political affairs, to remain.

And so, one by one, they left the administrative pavilion, returning to their own residences in a state of confusion.

But amidst the crowd, Elder Hua changed direction and silently headed for Sen You’s residence, completely unnoticed.

At that moment, Sen You’s residence was brightly lit. In the study, however, Sen You was all alone.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze stirred, and Sen You turned, cupping his hands in respect. "Uncle Hua, what is it?"

Elder Hua looked perplexed. "Fang Yang went to sleep early, as if he hasn’t encountered any difficulties at all. Tell me, what do you think he’s up to?"

"Heh, if you ask me, Uncle Hua, you’re all overthinking it." Sen You sneered disdainfully. "In the end, Fang Yang is just a child who recently reached Enlightenment. What kind of masterful skills could he possibly have? I think he’s probably decided to give up..."

Sen You felt that his clan’s elders were placing too much importance on Fang Yang.

With Sen Yue and Sen Wei to keep him suppressed, what could Fang Yang do even if he really became a second Carp Eagle Saint? Could he truly overturn the heavens?

"No, absolutely not. It’s not in Fang Yang’s nature to back down at the first sign of trouble." Elder Hua’s brows furrowed tightly, but he still couldn’t understand.

Elder Hua had thought he was on the verge of completely grasping Fang Yang’s temperament. He and his three old comrades had been about to finish taming him.

But it turned out that while Fang Yang’s arrogance had been nearly polished away, his prideful backbone had been exposed in the process.

In other words, while they were busy polishing away his arrogance, they had also made Fang Yang even more difficult to handle, even more unpredictable!

The night deepened, passing in silence.

The next morning, Fang Yang summoned everyone, boarded a Flying Boat, and promptly departed from Sword-Hanging Cloud Island.

This move stunned everyone.

"Commissioner, are you no longer implementing the policy?" one of Elder Hua’s confidants asked immediately, prompted by a look from the elder.

Fang Yang smiled and said, "Sen You holds the noble title of ’Deputy City Lord,’ yet he dodges and evades the matter of implementing the policy, even obstructing it in secret. From what I’ve observed, I fear he may harbor thoughts of treason!"

’Sen You? Harboring thoughts of treason?!’

BOOM—

It was like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, leaving everyone stunned and dizzy.

While their heads were still reeling, they heard Fang Yang say, "Pavilion Elder, please record this in the official file!"

’Record it in the file?’

’Record that Sen You harbors thoughts of treason in the official file?’

Even a man as shrewd and calculating as Elder Hua was too shocked by Fang Yang’s words to speak.

Setting aside subjective opinions and looking only at the objective facts, Sen You’s actions truly did show signs of treasonous intent.

But how could that be possible? Anyone might betray Sen Yue, but never Sen You!

...

The great sun hung high in the sky, and the air was scorching.

In a wild forest somewhere in the northern territories, the elite forces of the White Feathered Eagle tribe were gathered.

Right now, in addition to Lu Yao, Fang Xuan, and Seventh Uncle Fang serving as commanders, there was one extra person: Hong Qishang.

"Trust me, the White Feathered Eagle can definitely suppress the Black Water Eagle, subdue this flock of Flying Eagles, and expand our own flock!" Hong Qishang declared with absolute confidence.

Over the past few days, Fang Yang had fully delegated authority, granting Hong Qishang immense power and never shortchanging him on Yuan Stones or minor merits.

And so, feeling deeply trusted by Fang Yang, Hong Qishang had poured his heart and soul into specially building up a flock for the White Feathered Eagle.

Although this flock was mostly composed of ordinary Flying Eagles, with very few Tier One Flying Eagles capable of absorbing Primordial Qi.

But these ordinary Flying Eagles were extremely fast, one of the few types of beasts that could barely keep up with the White Feathered Eagle’s speed, which made them quite rare.

RUMBLE—

At that instant, two great flocks of eagles collided in the sky, one black and one white, like the meeting of night and day.

In the blink of an eye, the air was filled with the piercing cries of eagles.

Black and white feathers, mixed with blood, drifted down from the sky like rain.

In addition, many Flying Eagles were injured, some even killed, and plummeted straight to the ground.

Suddenly, a blaze of orange-yellow light flared, streaking across the heavens with an aura that could incinerate all creation as it shot toward the Black Water Eagle.

It was the White Feathered Eagle!

The White Feathered Eagle’s wings were like blades, its body wreathed in Fierce Flame.

Like an Overlord, it only advanced and never retreated, its presence seemingly vast enough to swallow mountains and rivers. It beat the Black Water Eagle until it shrieked miserably, forcing the other Flying Eagles to scatter in panic.

"SCREEE—" The White Feathered Eagle seized the Black Water Eagle in its talons, spread its wings, and declared its dominance to the flock.

The first, the second... gradually, all the Flying Eagles submitted to it, falling in line behind it to soar through the heavens.

In that instant, it was as if the White Feathered Eagle had been robed in the raiments of a king.

Its aura suddenly deepened by a fraction, and its body gained a sliver of an indescribable, indistinct power.

Although the White Feathered Eagle’s realm had not yet broken through, its aura was now comparable to a Tier Two Fierce Beast!

"One hundred, two hundred, three hundred... about three hundred in all. Good, the White Feathered Eagle tribe can afford to support them," Lu Yao calculated, sighing in relief.

Only one who runs the household knows the price of rice.

Despite being supported by Fang Yang’s assets, Lu Yao was still thinking about how to increase income and reduce expenses. Ideally, she even hoped to be able to give Yuan Stones and other assets back to Fang Yang.

Only in this way could she show Fang Yang that she was not a burden, but someone of great use!

The White Feathered Eagle tribe had now grown to four thousand people, with a full two thousand elite soldiers.

The White Feathered Eagle tribe had already formed a closed loop, barely managing to be self-sufficient.

This was because Hong Qishang had not only helped raise the flock of eagles, but had also taught them how to keep bees, harvest honey, and earn Yuan Stones!

...

「Seven days passed.」

The Flying Boat carrying Fang Yang and Elder Hua had already left the front lines and returned to the rear.

The matter of implementing the policies was basically finished.

That day, when Fang Yang had called for everyone to leave Sword-Hanging Cloud Island, Sen You still hadn’t shown himself.

And aside from Sen You, Fang Yang had also encountered varying degrees of difficulty on the other two Cloud Islands.

Fang Yang’s attitude was simple: if it was within his ability to solve, he would solve it.

If it was not within his ability, he would directly record it in the official file.

And the assessment of whether it was "within his ability" depended on whether the Deputy City Lord defending the Cloud Island would assist in implementing the policy.

Sen You could withstand the inquiry of treasonous intent.

But the others could not.

So in the end, with the exception of Sen You, Fang Yang had basically completed the task of implementing the policies.

’He can rise with the wind, but he can also soar against it. To put it nicely, he knows his limits and understands when to advance or retreat. To put it bluntly, he’s unscrupulous and single-mindedly focused on moving forward. Most importantly, he doesn’t demand perfection... It seems we’ve honed a monster.’

Elder Hua gazed at Fang Yang’s departing back, feeling a vague sense of unease.

But then, Elder Hua thought of Sen Wei.

And especially when he thought of Sen Yue, the unease in his heart was swept away entirely.

No matter how capable Fang Yang was, he couldn’t outshine Sen Wei, the Cyan Lotus, much less surpass Sen Yue, that bright moon.

Since he had now figured out Fang Yang’s foundation, there was no need to scrutinize his temperament and methods too much in the future...