「Three days later.」
Cangmu Banner, Apothecary Hall, Hall Jia-Thirteen.
Inside the hall, Sen Hui was following Lingfang, learning to grind medicinal powders and prepare medicinal meals.
In front of the hall, Fang Yang and Second Uncle Fang sat across a table from each other, drinking tea, eating cakes, and chatting casually.
"I never expected you to be so highly regarded by the Ten Thousand Birds Race Leader. It's quite surprising."
Second Uncle Fang said with emotion, "We all knew you were a diamond in the rough, and we figured you wouldn't stay unknown for long, but I didn't think you'd make a name for yourself so quickly. Proud Eagle Fang Yang, haha."
Fang Yang replied, "It's all thanks to Senior Frost White's care."
Second Uncle Fang chuckled and shook his head. "Frost White told me everything. It said your fortune and destiny are among the best it has ever seen, like something out of the legends of the sages. What's more, it was very pleased with how you know when to press forward and when to retreat. Ultimately, this is your own ability. You don't need to sell yourself short."
After speaking, Second Uncle Fang couldn't help but think his nephew was truly remarkable.
Even now, Second Uncle Fang found it hard to believe that Fang Yang had obtained the Six-winged Flying Fish so easily. But the facts were the facts, and he had no choice but to believe them.
Then, Second Uncle Fang changed the subject. "Frost White thinks very highly of you and plans to entrust its child to you…"
Among the descendants of Frost White's bloodline, there was a foal born half a year ago that was quite extraordinary. Its Bloodline Power was no less than Frost White's—in fact, it was even a cut above.
During this recent expedition, while Frost White protected Fang Yang, it was also examining his temperament and fortune.
The final result was that the more Frost White observed Fang Yang, the more satisfied it became.
Hearing this, Fang Yang's eyes lit up, and his heart stirred.
'The boost a supreme steed can give a warrior is immense. I definitely want it!'
"Your current realm is a bit low. Wait until you reach Tier Two, then you can try to communicate with it.
From now on, you'll have to work hard to earn Yuan Stones. The Elemental Leaf Fodder the Small Frost Horse eats costs one hundred Yuan Stones for a single pound. Don't find yourself unable to afford it," Second Uncle Fang continued.
'One hundred Yuan Stones for a single pound of ordinary Elemental Leaf Fodder? That's outrageous.'
This was undoubtedly a massive expense. It was an even bigger money sink than the White Feathered Eagle.
But Fang Yang's heart still pounded with excitement.
Fang Yang knew very well that if it weren't for his connection to Second Uncle Fang, he would never have had the chance to get involved with a young Frost Horse.
'What's more, as soon as I reach the Tier Two realm, I can claim that inheritance.'
'That way, while raising the Small Frost Horse will be stressful, it won't be too overwhelming.'
'As long as I balance things properly, it won't affect my cultivation.'
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Fang Yang.
'My uncle suddenly suggesting I could try to adopt the Small Frost Horse after reaching Tier Two... it must be a way to temper my character and keep me from getting lazy!'
'So this is the treatment a genius disciple gets~'
"I dare not refuse a gift from an elder. Your nephew is willing to give it a try!" Fang Yang replied forcefully, full of confidence.
'Looks like I'll have to refine my Secret Technique properly. I can't let the Small Frost Horse end up as dim-witted as the White Feathered Eagle.'
…
After bidding farewell to his uncle, Fang Yang headed toward the market district of Cangmu Banner, under Sen Hui's curious gaze.
Fang Yang had profited greatly from the Flying Fish Cloud Sea Hunting competition, becoming the unseen big winner!
First, without conflicting with anyone, he had quietly obtained the Six-winged Flying Fish.
With the Six-winged Flying Fish in hand, the Wind-Riding Great Pill was within his reach.
Then there was the White Feathered Eagle's breakthrough. He hadn't expected a single expedition to be enough for it to awaken its Bloodline Power and overcome its bottleneck.
Of course, besides all that, he had also acquired one Four-winged Flying Fish and fifty-one two-winged flying fish!
On the market, a two-winged flying fish could now sell for two hundred Yuan Stones, and a Four-winged Flying Fish could sell for over a thousand.
By a rough estimate, he could earn over eleven thousand Yuan Stones.
He had become rich in an instant from a single expedition.
It was hard for Fang Yang not to be delighted by such a result, and it was no wonder his uncle felt the need to keep him grounded.
Walking on the road to the market district, Fang Yang felt that even the wind was so free.
The market district was a place where all the major tribes came to trade.
The area was roughly fenced off with wooden railings, and tents of various sizes served as buildings. To tell them apart, you had to look at the totem banners fluttering beside each tent.
Just as Fang Yang stepped into the Market, an unexpected figure appeared before him—Hong Qishang!
Hong Qishang took the initiative to greet Fang Yang, saying:
"Fang Yang, we meet again.
To make a long story short, I'm here specifically for the Flying Fish you have. I'll buy as many as you've got.
And what's more, I have some news about Zhang Ye that I'm sure you'll be very interested in!"
Fang Yang narrowed his eyes. After a moment of thought, he decided it was acceptable.
During the previous Cloud Sea hunt, aside from Desert Tiger, Hong Qishang had left the deepest impression on Fang Yang.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the transaction was complete.
Hong Qishang obtained the school of Flying Fish, which he could exchange for battle merits and, in turn, trade for Rain Bee Spirit Essence to plot his advancement to Tier Three.
As for Fang Yang, he received fifteen thousand Yuan Stones, far exceeding his original estimate of eleven thousand.
'Fifteen thousand Yuan Stones… that's what an ordinary Bronze Tribe makes in an entire year. The higher your status, the easier it is to make money. What a wicked world.'
Fang Yang watched Hong Qishang's departing figure and thought to himself, 'But to think Zhang Ye has actually reached the middle stage of Tier One and even comprehended a trace of the dao rhyme of Water and Fire Coexistence, making his Molten Crocodile illusion incredibly powerful…'
At this thought, Fang Yang's gaze instantly turned cold.
The conflict between the Fang and Zhang clans had been entangled for many years.
At this point, figuring out who was right and who was wrong was meaningless.
As the most outstanding prodigies of their generation from their respective clans, Fang Yang and Zhang Ye were bound to be compared at every turn.
In other words, it was only a matter of time before Fang Yang and Zhang Ye had a showdown. They might even become locked in a recurring struggle until one was completely crushed!
「Elsewhere.」
Within the Thunder Punishment Banner, at a deep pool beneath a waterfall.
Zhang Ye, who was tempering his body beneath the waterfall, was now slowly putting away a Memory Stone.
A Memory Stone was a peculiar type of stone that could record moving images.
"What a sight. The white-robed rider on the Frost Horse, Proud Eagle Fang Yang."
A hint of shock still lingered in Zhang Ye's eyes. The scene of Fang Yang looking down upon the contending heroes at sunset was utterly breathtaking.
But in the next moment, Zhang Ye's battle intent surged.
His black hair cascaded like a waterfall as he laughed maniacally.
"Hahaha, Fang Yang, you're even more impressive than I imagined.
I can feel it. The conflict between us is destined to be long and fierce.
The ultimate victor will surely be able to charge toward the realm of the Sages!"
…
Perhaps it was because news of Zhang Ye's advancement to the middle stage of Tier One had leaked, but Second Uncle Fang sped up the process of refining the Wind-Riding Great Pill.
Just three days after his return, Fang Yang had the Wind-Riding Great Pill in his hands.
"The Wind-Riding Great Pill is a treasure for Foundation Establishment. It must be used externally. Get in, quickly," Second Uncle Fang said, pointing to the Red Great Cauldron before them.
Beside them, Lingfang blushed but was still unwilling to leave.
She simply lowered her head and stared at her toes.
In truth, she could have refused to be here.
But her father, the Ten Thousand Birds Race Leader, had insisted she build a good relationship with Fang Yang, preferably one of deep affection.
For certain reasons deep in her own heart, Lingfang had come.
Up ahead, Fang Yang's expression was calm as he slowly undressed.
In the blink of an eye, he was naked and inside the Red Great Cauldron, enveloped by water.
"Guard your mind! Sense the flow of Primordial Qi in your body!" Second Uncle Fang commanded sternly.
The human body is a great medicine, and the world is its crucible.
The Fang Clan's thunder-and-fire inheritance had its roots partly in the Changkong Ancestor and partly in the Daoist tradition of pill cultivation.
This was evident from the fact that the Lifebound Skill they all condensed was a Pill Cauldron.
At that moment, the temperature of the Red Great Cauldron rose rapidly, and the water within grew steadily hotter.
Under these conditions, the Wind-Riding Great Pill gradually dissolved, and the Fierce Flame Pill Cauldron and Fire Eagle Illusion within Fang Yang's Void Acupoint True Essence Sea both began to resonate.
'Guard your mind, sense the flow of Primordial Qi…' Submerged in the water, Fang Yang kept his eyes shut, constantly searching for the opportunity.
WHOOSH—
A quarter of an hour later, Fang Yang's body trembled.
Inside his Void Acupoint, the surrounding white membrane of light was trembling, melting away section by section like snow in hot water.
In the area where the white membrane had been, new, thicker streams of light emerged. Within a few breaths, they connected into a single sheet, once again covering the walls of the Void Acupoint.
The white membrane of light had become a white membrane of water!
The color of his True Essence changed from emerald green to deep green!
He had broken through to the middle stage of Tier One!
A flicker of joy arose in Fang Yang's heart, but he quickly suppressed it.
He still needed to comprehend a trace of the dao rhyme of 'Wind and Fire Together' to counter Zhang Ye's 'Water and Fire Coexistence'.
'…Wind and Fire Together. The wind borrows the fire's power, and the fire enhances the wind's might.'
'…I already have fire. So the wind… where does the wind come from?'
'…Since my uncle told me to sense the flow of Primordial Qi in my body, he must have had his reasons.'
'…My body corresponds to the Fire Eagle Illusion. But the Fire Eagle Illusion is too ethereal; it can't capture the flow of Primordial Qi at all.'
'…The flow of Primordial Qi… It's the Lifebound Skill!'
Lightning seemed to flash through Fang Yang's mind, illuminating everything.
When he used the Fire Eagle Illusion as a vessel and the Fierce Flame Pill Cauldron as its anchor, a dull thud echoed from his body.
In response, the Red Great Cauldron began to rumble incessantly.
At some unknown point, sparks of fire began to appear in the void, and wisps of a gentle breeze began to blow.
A Fire Eagle Illusion suddenly shot through the void, wild and untamable, soaring with pride.
The next moment, the fire blazed ferociously and the wind howled wildly, nearly consuming the entire hall.
"Excellent!" Second Uncle Fang couldn't help but exclaim.
Lingfang, standing to the side, was stunned. "Is this what a prodigy is like?"
…
After personally witnessing Fang Yang's extraordinary talent that day, Lingfang's attitude changed significantly.
She no longer acted out of mere politeness and obligation but respected Fang Yang from the bottom of her heart.
Her reaction quite surprised Sen Hui.
And so, Fang Yang returned to the peaceful life of studying to be a Pill Master.
But war had broken out once again!
This time, Qingkong had led a great army to attack the Cold Flood Dragon Banner.
Qingkong, a pillar of the Qing Clan, was a Dao Seed Level prodigy like Sen Yue. Behind him stood a Tier Seven Great Cultivator.
The attack on the Cold Flood Dragon Banner was sudden, like a giant wave roiling a placid lake, and it caused the atmosphere within the Cangmu Banner to grow tense.
「One day.」
Sen Hui suddenly appeared before Fang Yang and said shyly, "Fang Yang, my sister is hosting the 'Young Dragon Tea Party' in the Thunder Punishment Banner. She asked me to invite you. Do you want to go with me?"
Fang Yang lowered his head, pondering.
In his mind, the orb of light from his Fortune-Seeking and Disaster-Avoiding ability began to flash, and words appeared:
[The flames of war burn, disastrous energy spreads, and killing intent lurks. At the Young Dragon Tea Party, travel with a beauty and watch the turmoil from afar.]
Then, three fortunes were presented:
[Upper-Mid Fortune: Go to the Thunder Punishment Banner together. You will obtain a Tier Two opportunity, escape the storm, and avoid the chaos. Auspicious.]
[Lower-Mid Fortune: Do not go. Remain at Cangmu Banner. You will gain nothing, but you will be caught in the vortex and face numerous hidden dangers. Inauspicious.]
[Lowest Fortune: Go to the Thunder Punishment Banner separately. The flames of war will burn, and you will fall into a death trap with no hope of survival. Great Peril!]