Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Raising the Butcher’s Knife

Three urgent, secret letters were dispatched from the Taihang Mountain range, arriving one after another at the White Feathered Eagle encampment.

Seventh Uncle Fang, Lu Yao, and the others read the letters, completely baffled.

Fang Yang had ordered them not to act rashly and to avoid getting swept into the coming vortex of war for the time being.

This directive was highly unusual, running completely contrary to the prevailing consensus.

After all, wasn’t everyone sharpening their blades, ready to swing them hard in the coming war and make a fortune?

"I don’t really understand his orders. The Eight Banner Army is at the peak of its strength right now. Even opening two fronts simultaneously wouldn’t be a problem for them."

His younger cousin, Fang Xuan, looked hesitant. "Besides, our White Feathered Eagle tribe will just be operating on the fringes of the battlefield, carrying out minor missions like small-scale encirclements. We shouldn’t run into any real danger, right...?"

They had put so much effort and preparation into this war.

Fang Xuan was truly unwilling to just obey Fang Yang’s order and withdraw from the war.

Hearing this, Seventh Uncle Fang narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Fang Xuan.

His gaze was so frigid it made Fang Xuan’s skin crawl, and he shifted uncomfortably.

He heard the older man say coldly, "The most important thing is to know your place. Since the commander has given an order, your only job is to follow it."

Nearby.

Though Lu Yao was also somewhat confused, she chose to trust Fang Yang without hesitation.

’As the leader of the White Feathered Eagle tribe, he must care more about its survival and growth than anyone else.’

’If he’s telling us to avoid the conflict for now, he must have his reasons.’

’Perhaps there’s going to be a shocking turn of events on the front lines?’

An inexplicable thought surfaced in Lu Yao’s mind, making her pupils dilate and a shiver run down her spine.

’If that’s really the case, it’s terrifying.’

’So many people have staked everything they own, betting their entire fortunes on making a quick and massive profit from this coming war!’

...

「Luoyun Mountain.」

The command tent.

After meeting his new subordinates, Fang Yang gave the order for everything to proceed as usual.

Afterward, he remained in the command tent.

He had only gone to see the packs of Vermilion Flame Wolves being raised all over the mountain a few times, let alone tended to them.

Essentially, aside from going to the summit every night to see if it was the full moon mentioned in his divination, he was completely absorbed in his cultivation, oblivious to the world outside.

At this moment, a stream of young women moved in and out of the command tent.

Working in pairs, they carried away the numerous empty barrels that had been placed on the open ground inside the tent.

The moment they stepped outside the command tent, the young women couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

"Three meals a day, and he consumes thirty-five barrels of Tier One Fierce Beast meat at each meal. That’s like one person eating enough food for seven hundred people in a single day. It’s terrifying."

"The more you can eat, the stronger you can fight. A person like that is truly worthy of being an Executor."

"And that other lord is incredible too. He can tell if Fierce Beast meat is poisonous just by its smell..."

They thought they were whispering quietly.

But to Fang Yang, their words boomed in his ears like a great bell.

At this very moment, Fang Yang dispelled his `Little Whale Swallowing Skill` and took a Yuan Stone in hand. He began absorbing the Primordial Qi from it to refill his Void Acupoint True Essence Sea.

Luoyun Mountain was an excellent place for secluded cultivation and advancing one’s realm.

Cultivating here, Fang Yang could feel his power growing every single day.

This was true for his blood qi and physical power, as well as his Soul Foundation.

For instance, he could solidify the claws of his Fire Eagle Illusion by about 0.5% each day—a very substantial rate.

At this rate, it would take him just over a month to advance from Tier Two Middle to the Tier Two High realm.

This was the life Fang Yang had always dreamed of.

To focus solely on cultivation, on breaking through to the next realm, unconcerned with the affairs of the world.

On top of that, Fang Yang even found he had spare time to delve into other arts.

Since Luoyun Mountain was an exceptionally suitable place for practicing the Slave Path, Fang Yang decided to use his remaining time to study the `Slave Spirit Skill`.

He had a feeling there was a profound mystery to the `Slave Spirit Skill`, that it was far more than a simple technique for controlling one or two ordinary Fierce Beasts.

The sky grew dim as the moon rose above the branches.

Ancient pines stood tall on the mountain, and the occasional roar of a wolf echoed through the air.

Under the light of the moon, Fang Yang stood on the summit.

He looked up at the moon, only to find it was still a half-moon. The time for the perfect, full moon mentioned in his divination had not yet arrived.

SCREECH...

Beside Fang Yang stood a Black Water Eagle.

This was one of the Flying Eagles that had survived the battle against Nian He and Cloud He, where it had fought side-by-side with the White Feathered Eagles.

The Black Water Eagle’s feathers were as black as ink.

The power of its species’ bloodline was inferior even to that of a White Feathered Eagle.

Normally, a Black Water Eagle’s cultivation would cap out at Tier Two Middle. Only a rare few could ever reach Tier Two Peak.

What made them unique, however, was that unlike ordinary Flying Eagles, they could fly in the rain.

Not only did the rain not weigh down their feathers, but it actually gave them a small boost in power.

This was the effect of Bloodline Power.

Originally, Fang Yang had intended to take a White Feathered Eagle as a temporary Pet Beast.

But by a stroke of luck, the White Feathered Eagle had its own fortuitous encounter and a different path opened up for it, so Fang Yang never used it as a temporary Pet Beast.

Regardless, Fang Yang still needed a temporary Pet Beast.

This was especially true now that he was studying the `Slave Spirit Skill`.

And just then, this Black Water Eagle appeared.

With a sharp CRACK, Fang Yang seized the Black Water Eagle in one hand, and a crimson light flashed.

In an instant, Fang Yang had branded the Black Water Eagle with a master-servant mark!

...

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Fang Yang made a rare appearance outside his command tent.

As his subordinates watched, he swept a hand over his beast pouch, instantly summoning over a hundred Flying Eagles.

SCREECH...

SCREECH! SCREECH...

The Flying Eagles circled overhead, screeching incessantly.

Most of them circled around the Black Water Eagle, which in turn followed Fang Yang’s orders.

Fang Yang activated the `Slave Spirit Skill` and issued a command.

The Black Water Eagle reacted quickly.

It began to urge the other Flying Eagles into action.

But it took quite a while before it managed to get the flock of Flying Eagles to land.

Their response time was far slower than that of the White Feathered Eagles.

"Ah Yang, for a true Cultivator of the Slave Path, the Fierce Beasts they enslave are like extensions of their own arms. They can strike wherever they are pointed."

Second Uncle Fang said quietly, "Since you already possess the Hundred Eagle Souls, you’re nearly equivalent to a Tier Three Cultivator of the Slave Path. You might want to practice that `Slave Spirit Skill` more when you have the time."

Fang Yang nodded in acknowledgment.

In truth, cultivating the Slave Path was merely a supplementary pursuit for him.

But with the White Feathered Eagle tribe as his logistical support, it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

On one hand, Fang Yang personally began to work with the flock of eagles, exploring the Mystical Skills of the Slave Path through the three cycles of "raising, using, and refining" them.

On the other, the old subordinates from Luoyun Mountain continued their exhausting work of caring for the Vermilion Flame Wolf packs.

When they saw Fang Yang completely preoccupied with his own personal affairs, these subordinates were dumbfounded. ’Isn’t he being a bit too bold?’ they thought.

They stood there, heads bowed and completely dejected, secretly exchanging glances.

But no one dared to be the first to step forward and tell Fang Yang to stop dealing with the eagles and pay attention to the wolves instead.

In the end, however, Fang Yang’s actions were reported to the Master of the Slave Path, Chang Ruhui.

"Don’t bother me with such trivial matters."

"As long as Fang Yang isn’t out there burning, pillaging, and committing every crime under the sun, just let him be."

"I’m already tearing my hair out trying to figure out how we’re going to participate in this war. The last thing I need is you people adding to my problems!"

Chang Ruhui’s eyes, like those of a wolf, flashed with a ghastly green light.

He was far more concerned with which wolf packs he could deploy for battle than with Fang Yang’s activities. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

With a swift motion, Chang Ruhui slammed his hand down, instantly turning the wooden desk to dust and scaring the visitor pale.

Unless it was a critical matter related to the war, no one was to bother him!