The Flying Fish Cloud Sea was like a vast lake floating in the sky. It was formed by one smaller, overlapping lake after another.
It resembled a layered wonderland, at once separated and united by clouds and water.
Looking up from below, Fang Yang's gaze was met with a panorama of white clouds and mist, both mysterious and ethereal.
'The legendary Yunmeng Marsh could hardly be better than this,' Fang Yang thought in admiration. 'What a marvelous realm...'
He then mounted his steed and guided his eagle, flying onward at a leisurely pace.
A cool breeze swept past as the scenery rushed by.
It was still only the first sunny day inside the Ten Thousand Birds Blessed Land. The three-day-and-night transition had not yet occurred, which meant the Flying Fish Cloud Sea was not fully open. Rushing headlong into its depths would surely invite great peril.
Given the circumstances, Fang Yang was in no hurry. He rode his Frost White Flying Horse, circling the outer perimeter of the Cloud Sea.
He had a cold and aloof personality, but he was also exceedingly rational.
When in an unfamiliar place, scouting the terrain was an essential precaution. Should disaster strike, he wouldn't be left without an escape route.
Fang Yang was now circling the eastern perimeter of the Cloud Sea.
To Fang Yang's surprise, he didn't encounter a single other Hunter along the eastern periphery.
'Second Uncle told me that the eastern end of the Cloud Sea is the worst place for Flying Fish to appear.'
'It seems everyone is aware of this fact.'
'But for me, that doesn't necessarily make it the worst place.'
Fang Yang gripped his war spear, a glint of delight deep in his eyes.
'It's great that no one's here at the eastern end. The fewer people, the better.'
[Most Auspicious Sign: Enter the eastern end of the Cloud Sea. At the break of dawn, a Tier Three opportunity can be obtained. Greatly auspicious.]
「A quarter of an hour later.」
While Fang Yang was lost in thought, his Frost White Flying Horse, treading on clouds and mist, arrived at the southern perimeter of the Cloud Sea.
The moment he entered the area, Fang Yang heard a persistent buzzing sound from up ahead.
BUZZ, BUZZ BUZZ, BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ...
The peculiar vibration from the swarm's wings rippled outward in all directions like waves in water.
Up ahead, Hong Qishang stood atop a Cyan Jade Gourd, accompanied by a Black Rock Bee Mother.
Before Hong Qishang hovered a "black cloud."
A closer look revealed this "black cloud" to be a terrifying, teeming swarm of Bee Beasts.
Generally speaking, only Great Cultivators at the Tier Four realm could fly under their own power.
Yet Hong Qishang was merely at the Tier Two Peak, and still he could fly on his own—a true prodigy of the Changkong Clan!
As Fang Yang observed Hong Qishang, Hong Qishang was sizing him up in return, his gaze particularly wary of the Frost White Flying Horse.
Their eyes met, and they nodded at each other, keeping a respectful distance.
Fang Yang continued his circuit on his Frost Horse, while Hong Qishang waited for stray Flying Fish to appear.
However...
The White Feathered Eagle kept looking back, its gaze fixed on Hong Qishang's location.
It was staring at the few two-winged Flying Fish!
After all, it had followed Fang Yang around the eastern periphery for so long without spotting a single stray Flying Fish.
Seeing them now, it couldn't help but stare longingly.
[Moderately Auspicious Sign: Enter the southern end of the Cloud Sea. Where the Flying Fish surge, a Tier Two opportunity can be obtained. Auspicious.]
'Second Uncle was right after all,' Fang Yang thought. 'The southern and northern ends are both excellent zones for capturing Flying Fish.'
As he continued to circle the perimeter of the Flying Fish Cloud Sea, Fang Yang encountered other Hunters.
Each time, however, they simply exchanged nods and kept to themselves.
They were, after all, mostly fellow clansmen who would see each other again. There was no need to burn bridges.
But Fang Yang and the others knew this was merely the calm before the storm.
While the Flying Fish in the Cloud Sea were numerous, so were the Trialists. It was destined to be a zero-sum game.
To say nothing of the fact that a single two-winged Flying Fish sold for two hundred Yuan Stones, and a Four-winged Flying Fish for a thousand.
This Flying Fish hunt was no different from a mad scramble for money and Yuan Stones. When the time came, there would be no room for courtesy or kindness; the best they could hope for was to avoid killing each other.
"Chen Yuan, this is my territory now!"
"Heh..."
Fang Yang hadn't even reached the northern end of the Cloud Sea when he heard the sounds of a dispute up ahead.
He stopped at a distance and looked on.
He saw Desert Tiger laughing menacingly as he ordered his Flying Tiger to pursue Chen Yuan's Snow Swallow.
The wind howled as the Flying Tiger descended with the weight of a mountain, forcing the Snow Swallow to flee in a panic.
"He's so aggressive. Even more so than his brother, Desert Dragon."
"I've met Desert Dragon. Even though he's in the top five on the war contributions leaderboard, he's actually quite courteous."
"The Flying Fish hunt hasn't even started, and they're already at each other's throats. Heh heh heh."
"He's too brazen. Acting like this, Desert Tiger is bound to suffer for it sooner or later..."
The clash between Desert Tiger and Chen Yuan drew the gazes of numerous other Hunters.
But everyone was content to watch the fire from the safety of the riverbank, with no intention of stepping in to help Chen Yuan. In fact, they hoped the fight would intensify, perhaps even forcing both of them to reveal their trump cards.
Unfortunately, Chen Yuan's face went cold, and she fled south in a panic with her Snow Swallow rather than fighting to the death.
The victorious Desert Tiger crossed his arms. Like a fierce tiger patrolling its mountain, he stared down the onlookers, including Fang Yang, his arrogance on full display.
Flushed with victory, Desert Tiger exuded an oppressive aura, like a predator choosing its next prey.
But Fang Yang simply recalled his White Feathered Eagle and stared back coldly at Desert Tiger, completely unfazed.
'With the Frost White Flying Horse by my side, who could possibly get near me?'
The others were just as indifferent as Fang Yang.
Anyone who qualified for this hunt was a cultivation genius in their own right.
A tiger might devour one man, but a group of men could tear a tiger apart.
If Desert Tiger truly decided to take them all on at once, he would undoubtedly be the first one eliminated.
The situation fell into a tense stalemate, as if everyone was waiting for a catalyst.
Just then, the sun set and the stars began to appear.
The first night had arrived!
The flow of time inside the Blessed Land was different from the outside world, but the sudden transition from day to night still took Fang Yang by surprise.
Seizing the opportunity, Fang Yang pressed down on his saddle, urging the white-flame-wreathed Frost White Flying Horse away toward the southern perimeter of the Cloud Sea.
Fang Yang's departure seemed to be a signal.
In an instant, the others also departed one by one, leaving Desert Tiger alone.
Desert Tiger stood alone, his expression grim.
He realized they still didn't respect him.
'Why? Why can't they respect me the way they respect my brother?'
'WHY!!!'
「Meanwhile, in the core of the Ten Thousand Birds Blessed Land.」
The Ten Thousand Birds Race Leader, Lu Yao, and several of the race's elders were all gazing up at a water-mirror screen.
The screen displayed real-time images of Fang Yang, Desert Tiger, and the others.
"This isn't the first time I've witnessed the internal struggles of the Changkong Clan, but it remains just as impressive every time."
"Indeed. It's hard to imagine how they've mastered such powerful Magic at their current level."
"Chen Yuan, Hong Qishang, and... Desert Tiger!"
"There's no need for self-deprecation. Those who qualify for this hunt are the cream of the crop of their generation, even within the Changkong Clan."
"Exactly. Take that Fang Yang, for instance. He has the lowest cultivation level of anyone here, yet he still possesses the courage to stand up to Desert Tiger."
"Heh, if you had a Frost White Flying Horse, you could too..."
"No, I don't believe I could. I am not Fang Yang's equal."
The hall fell silent.
Because the one who had just admitted his own inferiority to Fang Yang was none other than the Ten Thousand Birds Race Leader!
The elders of the Ten Thousand Birds Race exchanged shocked glances. They lowered their heads, stealing looks at one another, but no one dared to be the first to speak.
The Ten Thousand Birds Race Leader, named Ling Nian, was a widely recognized and exceptional figure. Even among the other Clan Leaders of the Silver Tribes, his name was renowned.
So, for the Ten Thousand Birds Race Leader to personally admit he was inferior to Fang Yang, the shock to the assembled elders was immense.
Beside them, Lu Yao's heart also trembled upon hearing his words.
"Fang Yang..." Ripples of emotion crossed her beautiful eyes as her gaze locked onto his image on the water-mirror screen.