The ninth mountain peak was shaped like a Celestial Sword pointing toward the sky.

It was rugged and uneven, completely lacking the smoothness of the previous eight peaks.

Before Fang Yang even set foot on it, he could feel a fierce wind blowing down from the mountain, sharp enough to flay the flesh from his bones.

And in this trial, the Trialist could fight alongside their flock of Slave Beasts.

’A condition like this,’ Fang Yang thought, ’is practically tailor-made for me!’

Perhaps in a contest of manipulating flocks of Slave Beasts, he might not be a match for the peak’s guardian.

But in a contest of personal combat, as long as no Sacred Body was involved, he was fearless.

And this peak guardian, whose name was Zhang Chi, was an outstanding genius of the Zhang clan, but he was ultimately no Sacred Body.

"Zhang Chi once enslaved a thousand Larks and forcefully annihilated a clan of Reversed Scale Electric Snakes, killing their Hundred Beasts King."

"How terrifying! That was a Hundred Beasts King, an expert comparable to the Tier Three realm."

"Indeed. I never expected Zhang Chi to be so capable. His Cultivation Realm is only at Tier Two Peak."

"Tier Two Peak. In terms of Cultivation Realm, Zhang Chi is a bit higher than Fang Nian."

"Heh, not only that, but Zhang Chi also possesses the Thunder Sparrow Spirit Body. Facing him, Fang Nian has absolutely no chance of victory."

"The only good news is that Zhang Chi won’t be enslaving a thousand Larks, but five hundred..."

A man’s reputation precedes him.

Although Fang Nian had displayed extraordinary mastery of the Way of Slavery in the previous eight trials, most people still favored Zhang Chi in this contest.

And according to the grapevine, Zhang Chi was originally supposed to enslave eight hundred Larks, not five hundred.

It was only because of Sen Yuanyuan’s request that the number was changed to five hundred.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

In the sky, a water-curtain Light Mirror appeared once again.

Upon it, the figure of "Fang Nian" gradually materialized.

’I wonder what the [Yin Yang Dao Fish Diagram] will look like.’

Fang Yang mused to himself, ’I also wonder if it’s related to the legendary [Yin Yang Tai Chi Diagram] phenomenon...’

As for Zhang Chi, Fang Yang paid him no mind.

To Fang Nian, Zhang Chi was a terrifying foe, an opponent nearly impossible to defeat.

But to him, Fang Yang, Zhang Chi was nothing special. The threat he posed was probably even less than that of Liu Manlou.

The sun was warm, and white clouds drifted by.

A gentle breeze brushed against him, bringing a cooling sensation to Fang Yang.

Listening to the chirping of birds from within the mountain, he smiled and strode forward, truly stepping into the territory of the ninth peak.

In the next moment, however, he felt dizzy and his vision blurred.

He was forcibly switched from a first-person perspective to a third-person one!

’Hey, let me keep subbing in! Stop messing around.’

Having become a formless, ghost-like observer, Fang Yang couldn’t help but grumble.

But it was no use!

At that moment, Fang Yang was floored.

He suddenly understood that although he could sometimes actively switch perspectives to speed up the dream’s plot...

...he still couldn’t switch perspectives during certain special plot points in the dream!

Right now, Fang Yang folded his arms, watching Fang Nian with utter helplessness.

That fool, Fang Nian, was in high spirits as he enslaved his thousand eagles.

[Amid great anticipation, Fang Nian and Zhang Chi began their duel.]

[Flying Eagles beat their wings; Larks cried out sharply.]

[However, in less than three exchanges, Fang Nian was thrown into a panic. Unable to maintain the Flying Eagle formation, he was swiftly defeated.]

[At this sight, the crowd erupted in an uproar, unable to believe their eyes.]

[Sen Suiliu was stunned, Sen Yuanyuan looked on with regret, and Elder Ying shook his head...]

Fang Yang was floored.

’If I had been the one fighting, how could I possibly lose to Zhang Chi?’

That fool Fang Nian didn’t even have the Hundred Eagle Souls, and his personal strength was pathetic.

If Fang Nian were left to fight on his own, he’d be no match for Zhang Chi and would get utterly crushed.

’Come on, can’t you try a little harder? I still want to comprehend the [Yin Yang Dao Fish Diagram],’ Fang Yang thought, his expression helpless.

The [Yin Yang Dao Fish Diagram] was a Tier Four opportunity, and it might even be related to the Kun-Peng Transformation.

The Kun-Peng Transformation was intimately connected to the path of a Tier Eight Great Saint!

[After his defeat, Fang Nian suffered a setback.]

[He was dejected, but the Fang Clan had fallen into such decline that they were powerless to help him.]

[Under these repeated setbacks, he had no choice but to repeatedly study the Magic of the Way of Slavery.]

[But since ancient times, the soul and slavery have been inseparable. His very Soul Foundation limited the growth of his mastery in the Way of Slavery.]

[Sen Yuanyuan came personally to console Fang Nian. Unexpectedly, Fang Nian comforted her instead, whispering sweet nothings.]

[Greatly moved, Sen Yuanyuan took the initiative to gift Fang Nian the ’Marrow of the Soul Fish’.]

[Because of this, Fang Nian’s power surged overnight, and he condensed the Hundred Eagle Souls...]

’Fang Nian condensed the Hundred Eagle Souls just like that?’

’Is Sen Yuanyuan really such a pushover?’

’Is emotional validation really that intoxicating?’

Fang Yang was amazed.

He suddenly realized he might have underestimated the power of emotions.

And just then, Fang Yang felt that familiar dizzy spell again.

He knew he was about to switch from the third-person perspective back to the first-person.

He had once again become Fang Nian!

Moreover, he had a clear realization that for the final week to come, his perspective would not change again.

...

The next moment, Fang Yang slowly rose, intending to head straight for the Nine Beasts Mountain Range.

But on second thought, he recalled the scene of Fang Nian’s recent defeat.

And so, he stopped in his tracks and turned to take command of the eagle flock.

This time, he abandoned the configuration of three Fire Eagles as leaders, choosing instead to have eight White Feathered Eagles lead.

He was familiar with Fire Eagles, but he was even more familiar with White Feathered Eagles!

Sen Yuanyuan saw this and found it very strange.

But she didn’t say much, simply assuming Fang Nian was trying a new approach.

「The next morning.」

The sun was bright and the weather was beautiful.

Fang Yang led his thousand Flying Eagles and once again set foot in the Nine Beasts Mountain Range.

This time, he was full of confidence.

If he still couldn’t win by competing in the mastery of the Way of Slavery, then he would just have to take matters into his own hands.

"Wait, how is Fang Nian still so calm?"

"Yeah, not long ago he was completely routed by Zhang Chi, looking utterly pathetic."

"Heh, after just a few days, he’s back to being so high-spirited. I don’t get it."

"I heard that with Lady Yuanyuan’s help, Fang Nian condensed the Hundred Eagle Souls and his strength increased dramatically."

"Hiss... What good luck. But even if Fang Nian has the Hundred Eagle Souls, Zhang Chi has the Hundred Sparrow Soul. Won’t he still be completely suppressed?"

"I’m not so sure. He hasn’t gotten arrogant, has he...?"

"Fang Nian never fights a battle he isn’t prepared for. He must have come with a plan..."

A group of youths stared at the handsome figure in the water-curtain Light Mirror, discussing animatedly.

They didn’t understand where "Fang Nian’s" confidence came from, but they could clearly sense it.

Today’s battle probably wouldn’t end as hastily as the last one.

At the very least, "Fang Nian" would surely be able to lock horns with Zhang Chi, staging a fierce struggle between giants.

"Go for it, big brother!" Sen Suiliu’s heart pounded.

"Unleash your radiance. Soar high on this very day," Sen Yuanyuan said, her face full of expectation.

STEP...

STEP... STEP...

This time, Fang Yang strode forward like a meteor, heading straight into the ninth peak.

Without another word, the moment he saw Zhang Chi, Fang Yang decisively activated the Slave Spirit Skill and commanded the Flying Eagles to attack.

On Zhang Chi’s side, he immediately ordered his Larks to form up and counterattack...