The Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King crashed down like a collapsing mountain, sending waves of dust billowing in every direction and filling the sky with smoke.

As if suffering a severe backlash, the remaining swarm of Stone-eating Scorpions collapsed to the ground in the blink of an eye, completely listless.

This sudden turn of events sent the Tunneling Demon Rats fleeing in terror, which in turn triggered a stampede among the other Fierce Beasts.

In a matter of moments, the terrifying beast tide that could have annihilated the Golden Saber Stronghold retreated.

Not only that, but the Golden Saber Stronghold Chieftain and his men seized the opportunity, riding the coattails of Fang Yang’s awe-inspiring power to launch a counterattack.

They sought both revenge and more cultivation resources.

Most of these Fierce Beasts were of the Earth Dao and Gold Dao affinities, making them quite valuable to cultivators like them.

The body of even an ordinary Fierce Beast was worth nearly a hundred Yuan Stones!

’A complete corpse of a Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King... it could just about be considered a Tier Five Spiritual Object.’

’With my current foundation, and with the help of this corpse, I should be able to advance my Undying Body of the Carp Eagle technique to a completely new level.’

Fang Yang narrowed his eyes, examining it carefully.

Although the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King before him had lost its Soul, its body was still brimming with vitality.

A Puppet Master or an Artificer would be ecstatic to get their hands on it, treating it like a priceless treasure.

In the hands of a powerful Puppet Master, this Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King could even display its divine might once more!

The sky was still dark. A night breeze carrying the faint stench of blood drifted through the air.

Fang Yang hovered in mid-air, hands clasped behind his back, watching his subordinates as they cleared the battlefield.

Of course, the lion’s share of the spoils was his!

Besides the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, Fang Yang also claimed the carcasses of other Fierce Beasts, such as a Stone-eating Scorpion Thousand Beasts King and a Tunneling Demon Rat Hundred Beasts King.

If converted into Yuan Stones, his haul from this one trip would be worth hundreds of millions.

However, aside from the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, the other Fierce Beast carcasses were of no use to him.

So, he gave these Fierce Beast carcasses to the Golden Saber Stronghold Chieftain in exchange for other items.

"Your Excellency, this... this is..."

The Golden Saber Stronghold Chieftain sounded hesitant and uncertain.

At that moment, the chieftain suddenly recalled their earlier plotting, then thought of the immense power Fang Yang had just displayed.

He sighed inwardly and finally decided to accept it all.

’But what could they possibly do with so many beast corpses?’

But when it came to Fang Yang, he was filled with both gratitude and fear!

In the end, Fang Yang received one Tier Four Spiritual Object and three Tier Three Spiritual Objects from the exchange.

...

The weather was clear, and white clouds drifted across the sky.

Wildflowers carpeted the mountains, and the air filled with the songs of birds and the drone of cicadas.

One day, Murong Caiwei was taking a stroll in the mountains to clear her head.

She was accompanied by several other noble ladies.

Several low tables had been set up on the grass, laden with fine dishes and exquisite wine.

They were now eating, drinking, and admiring the scenery, enjoying a moment of perfect leisure.

Murong Caiwei gazed toward the horizon, her eyes narrowed in a faint smile.

She was exquisitely beautiful. Pampered from a young age, her skin was snow-white, delicate, and enchanting.

As she tilted her head up, her body leaned slightly forward, and her ample chest seemed ready to spill from her dress.

Below, her waist cinched in with an exaggerated curve, so slender it looked as if it could be encircled by a single hand.

Simply standing there, she was a breathtaking sight, as beautiful as a painting.

Even among the other noble ladies, her assets were so abundant that she effortlessly outshone them all.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. It was Murong Cairen, who had come to her side.

"Sister, there’s been a development..."

Murong Cairen spoke via a secret voice transmission, relaying the news of how Fang Yang had killed the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King.

A gloomy expression visibly clouded Murong Caiwei’s beautiful, porcelain face.

Hate lasts longer than love!

If she had lost to Changkong Senwei, she would have accepted her defeat gracefully. After all, they were both legitimate daughters of the main family.

But to lose to Changkong Senhui, a mere illegitimate daughter, was a humiliation she could not swallow.

An illegitimate daughter was an illegitimate daughter. No matter how stunningly beautiful or incredibly talented she was, she was still just an illegitimate daughter!

However, since Sen Yue, Sen Wei, and the others doted on Sen Hui, it was difficult for Murong Caiwei to take her anger out on her directly.

That was why she had planned to take it out on Fang Yang instead, but she had never expected him to be so capable.

"Heh. What a remarkable character," Murong Caiwei sneered, her expression grim.

「Elsewhere.」

At the Qinglian Dojo, Sen Hui was agonizing over how to break through to become a Tier Four Pill Master.

She kept failing, and was growing deeply frustrated.

To make matters worse, Fang Yang wasn’t by her side to comfort her, which only deepened her gloom.

But when her sister, Sen Wei, told her about Fang Yang’s recent exploits, her mood instantly brightened, and a wide smile spread across her face.

Perhaps it was a case of good things coming in pairs, for not long after, she broke through her bottleneck and successfully advanced to become a Tier Four Pill Master—a remarkable achievement!

...

「Golden Saber Stronghold.」

Within a quiet courtyard in a dark and gloomy palace.

It was the dead of night, yet a pillar of blood-red energy erupted from the quiet courtyard, soaring into the heavens. It was so vast and mighty that it nearly blotted out the stars.

This majestic, blood-red energy resembled a crimson fog, and it continued to spread, gradually blanketing the sky above the Golden Saber Stronghold.

"Heavens above."

"Such potent blood-red energy, as vast as an ocean... Are you sure a Desolate Beast hasn’t appeared?"

"To think that I would live to see such a spectacle... Unbelievable, simply unbelievable..."

The Golden Saber Stronghold Chieftain and his men all stared up at the sky, utterly dumbfounded.

If they hadn’t known it was Fang Yang cultivating, they would have already gathered their families, abandoned the stronghold, and fled for their lives.

You don’t believe me?

Heh. Right now, the swarms of Stone-eating Scorpions, Tunneling Demon Rats, and other Fierce Beasts outside the stronghold were fleeing in a panic!

As everyone watched, the cloud of blood-red energy gradually dissipated, and the night returned to darkness.

Everything fell silent, as if nothing had happened. But the people of the Golden Saber Stronghold would never forget the sight they had witnessed that night.

’I did it.’

Fang Yang’s eyes were filled with a profound light. ’My blood is like fire and lightning... even a severed limb can be regrown...’

After absorbing the various Spiritual Objects and the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, he had finally advanced his "Undying Body of the Carp Eagle" to the next level.

Of course, the radiant power of the Carp Eagle’s Divine Feather had also played an indispensable role in the process.

Suddenly, the light in his eyes flared brightly.

He quickly closed his eyes, immersing his consciousness in his Void Acupoint True Essence Sea.

「Fifteen minutes later.」

The color of his Void Acupoint True Essence Sea had changed from pale gold to a brilliant, shining gold.

His aura had also strengthened, rising from Tier Four Elementary to Tier Four Middle.

Fang Yang opened his eyes and laughed heartily. "I’ve reached Tier Four Middle!"

Reaching Tier Three added two hundred years to one’s lifespan. Reaching Tier Six added a thousand.

The path to true longevity felt tangible, within his grasp.

...

In the days after killing the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, Fang Yang’s life was free of any major disturbances.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

He successfully completed his assessment mission: "Guard the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone Vein for two months and protect it from Fierce Beast incursions."

Now, he would be able to cultivate in peace for nearly two years.

He bid farewell to Layman Shuqing and boarded a Flying Boat for his return journey.

Layman Shuqing stood atop the mountain peak, his hands clasped behind his back, watching the Flying Boat recede into the distance.

His face was filled with anticipation. ’Another young dragon has appeared. I wonder what kind of storm you’ll brew when you return to the Saint Institute?’