A few white clouds drifted across the azure sky.

Beneath the clouds, on Luoyun Mountain, trees cast deep shadows and a brisk wind swept across the land. Nearly a thousand Vermilion Flame Wolves lay hidden within.

The Vermilion Flame Wolves watched Fang Yang’s group, not daring to make a rash move, merely observing in silence.

As soon as Fang Yang returned to the main camp on Luoyun Mountain, he wrote a letter.

He instructed the White Feathered Eagle tribe to take this opportunity to secretly recruit able-bodied men from vanquished tribes, especially those with families to support.

Fortune and misfortune were two sides of the same coin, each transforming into the other.

Ostensibly, the White Feathered Eagle tribe could not expand its strength with great fanfare.

But behind the scenes, they could do just that.

’Seven thousand people, including three thousand elite soldiers!’

This was the directive Fang Yang gave to Lu Yao.

He trusted that Lu Yao would find a way to accomplish it.

For the next few days, Fang Yang settled back into his unremarkable daily cultivation routine.

His days consisted of several tasks: refining the talons of his Fire Eagle Illusion, observing the phases of the moon each night, brutally training the Black Water Eagle and the electric python, and accompanying the Small Frost Horse on its playful jaunts...

Compared to the chaos and desperation on the front lines, his life here had taken on a tranquil, almost pastoral rhythm.

He moved like an eagle striking across the vast sky, and was still like a fish hiding in the deep.

This interplay of motion and stillness held the true essence of the Carp Eagle, leaving even Second Uncle Fang thoughtful, as if he had grasped some profound insight.

SCREECH—

Atop the cliff, the Black Water Eagle let out a miserable cry.

But because of this, over a hundred Flying Eagles heeded the Black Water Eagle’s call, forcing themselves to obey its command and circle in the sky.

’Even though it’s the incomplete version, I can finally command a hundred eagles at will.’

Fang Yang’s eyes crinkled into a smile. ’Once the White Feathered Eagle returns, I can finally become an Enslavement Path Cultivator, hehe...’

In truth, Fang Yang hadn’t managed to instill even a trace of a king’s aura in the Black Water Eagle.

If he had, it would have been far too unrealistic.

A fortuitous creation like the White Feathered Eagle was a stroke of luck, not something one could plan for.

Therefore, Fang Yang’s solution to this enslavement dilemma was simple: switch eagles!

He had the Black Water Eagle fight the ordinary Flying Eagles, beating them into submission one by one.

If any of the Flying Eagles refused to submit no matter how many times the Black Water Eagle defeated them, he simply discarded them.

The Black Water Eagle was no White Feathered Eagle, after all. It couldn’t make all other eagles submit with a mere shake of its body.

The flock of eagles raised with the Black Water Eagle as their leader was severely lacking in ferocity and killing power.

The only advantage was that their sense of order could just barely match that of the era under the White Feathered Eagle’s rule.

But the Black Water Eagle was just a transitional Pet Beast anyway, so Fang Yang didn’t invest too much in it. He merely treated it as a test subject for his practice with the Slave Spirit Skill.

"HISS, HISS~" The nearby electric python watched, rather astonished.

If it hadn’t seen it with its own eyes, the electric python would have found it hard to believe that this Black Water Eagle could suppress the flock of Flying Eagles with Fang Yang’s help.

At that moment, the image of a figure holding a trident surfaced from the depths of the python’s mind—Cyan Aura!

When the electric python compared Cyan Aura to Fang Yang, it was shocked to find that Cyan Aura’s image was forcefully erased.

In its place, the black-robed figure of Fang Yang was deeply imprinted in the depths of the python’s heart!

In that instant, after sensing Fang Yang’s cold and powerful nature, the electric python completely submitted its heart.

"HISS, HISS~"

The electric python slithered its body, slowly approaching Fang Yang.

It bowed its head in submission, allowing Fang Yang to see its reversed scale—its greatest weakness.

’So you’ve finally submitted? Heh, this is truly a double blessing.’ A faint smile appeared on Fang Yang’s face.

In an instant, a bloody light appeared on Fang Yang’s large hand, which he then pressed straight down onto the electric python’s head.

The electric python sensed immense danger, and its body trembled.

But through sheer will, it suppressed its instinct to resist.

In the end, it actively accepted Fang Yang’s brand, allowing its own spiritual essence to remain abundant!

Fang Yang was very satisfied with this result.

One Pet Beast with a temperament like the White Feathered Eagle’s was enough; there was no need for more.

...

One day, the wind was high and the air was crisp, filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

The Small Frost Horse, though timid, was energetic. Its hooves never seemed to stop as it trotted all over the place.

Fang Yang followed the Small Frost Horse out of the main tent, wandering through Luoyun Mountain.

The mountain path was pitted and uneven, full of muddy patches.

When they finally reached a relatively clean patch of grass, they found it had also been scorched by fire.

Even a fallen branch lying nearby was charred black.

In such an environment, Fang Yang found it baffling to see the Small Frost Horse still prancing about, its steps full of joy.

He didn’t understand it, but when it came to the Small Frost Horse, he couldn’t help but dote on it.

"NEIGH, NEIGH~"

The Small Frost Horse had discovered several vibrant flowers growing in a bush.

It quickly called out to Fang Yang, inviting him to come see.

’Timid, yet immensely curious about everything. Such a stark contrast to the White Feathered Eagle’s indifference...’

Fang Yang thought to himself, but his pace didn’t slow as he quickly walked to the Small Frost Horse’s side.

Fang Yang stood and looked, immediately recognizing them as the extremely rare Phoenix Creek Flower!

There on the mountainside, the Phoenix Creek Flowers bloomed fervently, as brilliant and dazzling as rising, burning flames.

Unfortunately, there were only a few scattered blossoms. If they had covered the whole mountain, they would have created the spectacular sight of a fiery red Phoenix taking flight.

This time, Fang Yang and the Small Frost Horse stopped for a full fifteen minutes before leaving, completely satisfied.

Fang Yang set off again, watching the Small Frost Horse prance ahead of him.

The flower patches on the mountainside, the rivers in the valley, the cold wind on the cliffs...

The Small Frost Horse had already explored nearly a third of Luoyun Mountain.

During this leisurely stroll, the carefree Small Frost Horse was targeted by the local residents—the Vermilion Flame Wolves.

Among them, a few of these locals didn’t seem so friendly.

They emerged from all sides of the forest, surrounding it in a pincer formation and staring coldly at the Small Frost Horse.

Fang Yang raised an eyebrow, already gathering orbs of lightning in his hands.

Even Second Uncle Fang beside him had prepared his Magic, ready to kill the few Vermilion Flame Wolves.

But then, something miraculous happened:

The Small Frost Horse, surrounded by the Vermilion Flame Wolves, was trembling with fear and looked like it was about to burst into tears.

Then, for some unknown reason, it let out a sudden "NEIGH!" and bolted in a panic, sending mud and sand flying.

As it ran, its aura surged, and in an instant, it broke through to the mid-level of Tier One!

Right before Fang Yang’s eyes, the Small Frost Horse seemed to "accidentally" ram the Vermilion Flame Wolves to death.

Finally, the Small Frost Horse threw itself back into Fang Yang’s arms and began to bawl, its tears soaking his clothes.

"..." Fang Yang fell silent, staring at the mangled, bloody wolf corpses.

Even someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Second Uncle Fang gave the Small Frost Horse a slightly strange look.

It was a good thing that the Small Frost Horse had broken through from the initial level of Tier One to the mid-level, but why... why was it so strange?