This trip to the Cloud Sea for the hunt, no matter which direction one went—east, west, south, or north—would grant at least one Tier Two opportunity?
Fang Yang's eyes lit up.
If he understood correctly, this was clearly a pretty good hunt.
It made sense. The Ten Thousand Birds Tribe was only a Silver Tribe. Faced with people of his high status, they wouldn't let them return empty-handed.
If all went as expected, this Tier Two opportunity was the guaranteed minimum reward just for participating!
Fang Yang looked at the four fortunes again and suddenly had an idea.
'Maybe this time, I can take advantage of two fortunes at once?!'
"Don't worry, Second Uncle. On this journey, your nephew will surely brave the cold and soar on wings!" Fang Yang said resolutely.
"Mm." Second Uncle Fang said, looking at the high-spirited Fang Yang with growing satisfaction.
This reinforced Second Uncle Fang's belief that his decision had been correct—to go to the trouble of calling in favors, at some cost to himself, just to get Fang Yang a spot in the Cloud Sea hunt.
Some things couldn't be fought for, at least not for now.
But other things had to be fought for. At the very least, one had to show an eager and proactive attitude.
Second Uncle Fang felt that Fang Yang handled this balance very well.
With such a solid foundation in temperament and cultivation, it would be difficult for Fang Yang to go astray.
In that case, all the older generation had to do was figure out how best to channel resources to Fang Yang.
A smile appeared on Second Uncle Fang's face. "Then let me tell you about this Flying Fish Cloud Sea Hunting..."
The Flying Fish Cloud Sea was a wondrous realm within the Ten Thousand Birds Blessed Land.
Every three to five years, the population of the Flying Fish would swell.
The Flying Fish were ranked from lowest to highest tier: two-winged Flying Fish, Four-winged Flying Fish, and Six-winged Flying Fish.
Because the Flying Fish were a special type of fish, their bodies contained a trace of Flood Dragon bloodline.
The higher their tier, the purer this bloodline.
What was even better was that the Flying Fish had almost no aggression.
All these factors contributed to the Flying Fish's unique use: when eaten by birds of prey, it aided their growth and could even purify their bloodlines!
And this was why Fang Yang was to participate in the Cloud Sea hunt as an Eagle Tamer.
"A two-winged Flying Fish, equivalent to a Tier One Fierce Beast, can be sold for two hundred Yuan Stones."
"A Four-winged Flying Fish, equivalent to a Tier Two Fierce Beast, can be sold for one thousand Yuan Stones."
"If—and I'm just saying if—you actually manage to capture a Six-winged Flying Fish, don't sell it.
I'll personally refine it into a Wind-Riding Great Pill for you. With your aptitude, you should soon be able to comprehend the mysteries of the wind through the Fire Eagle Illusion, making your Body Technique even more agile.
It might even be possible for you to reach a state where 'fire rides the wind's might, and the wind fans the fire's fury'!"
Second Uncle Fang narrowed his eyes, explaining everything bit by bit.
With that, he waved his sleeve.
A light breeze suddenly stirred, and several items gradually appeared on the ground.
A long spear, a Heart Protection Realm, and a set of silver-white robed armor... Putting them on would transform one into a white-robed general!
"Originally, I was planning to give these to you when the flames of war were lit."
A look of reminiscence flashed in Second Uncle Fang's eyes. "See these mottled marks? This is the glory of the battle merits your father earned in his youth!"
Fang Yang's father was of an extremely high seniority, the first among his peers.
As a result, by extension, Fang Yang naturally held a certain degree of leadership within the Fang Clan.
This was reflected in how quickly the Fang clan elders came to a consensus to acknowledge Fang Yang after he displayed his talent, even comparing him to their saintly ancestor at every turn!
"Frost White, you come out too." Without waiting for Fang Yang's reply, Second Uncle Fang patted the giant storage pouch at his waist.
A moment later, a speck of white flame suddenly appeared in the air.
The white fire rose and expanded rapidly, like a large white cloud.
Although the large white cloud was clearly formed from flames, it brought a deep chill to Fang Yang, as if an icy aura was spreading.
"THUD!—THUD!—THUD!—"
Accompanied by a thunderous sound that seemed capable of shattering the earth, a majestic, frost-white flying horse slowly emerged from within.
This was a Frost Horse, a terrifying Tier Five Pet Beast.
Its entire body was snow-white, as if cast from frost and snow, its dazzling silver-white form blinding to the eyes. An explosive power resided within it.
The most peculiar thing about it was that its four hooves did not touch the ground.
And when it ran at full speed, it would unfurl wings of light and soar through the heavens.
"Frost White, for the trip to the Flying Fish Cloud Sea, I'll be counting on you to carry Ah Yang and soar."
"Hnnh."
The Frost Horse responded, showing its incredible intelligence.
Fang Yang wasn't afraid when he saw it, as he had been very familiar with the Frost Horse since childhood and had ridden it many times before.
"Ah Yang, put these on and ride Frost White. Gallop across the grasslands behind the mountain and recapture that old feeling," Second Uncle Fang said, watching Fang Yang with an expectant look, as if waiting for something to happen.
"Mm."
After a soft acknowledgment, Fang Yang began to don the armor and mount the Frost Horse.
Watching Fang Yang's transformation, Second Uncle Fang's eyes gradually grew moist as he became lost in reminiscence.
"The resemblance... it's uncanny," Second Uncle Fang murmured.
Before him, Fang Yang sat astride the Frost Horse, clad in a white robe, a battle spear in hand, commanding his Flying Eagle.
In an instant, a thunderous boom erupted. The Frost Horse leaped high into the air, galloping forth in accordance with Fang Yang's will.
The frigid wind cut like a knife, whipping his black hair about his head like a nest of menacing serpents. The sharp spear in his hand seemed to gleam with an extra touch of cold light.
Further ahead, the White Feathered Eagle flapped its wings with all its might, acting as a guide.
The Frost Horse was a Tier Five Pet Beast. If it went all out, there was no way the White Feathered Eagle could keep up.
However, this time, Fang Yang was the one in charge, so Frost White reined in its desire to break into a mad dash.
The sky was azure, with wisps of white clouds floating by.
The grasslands were a vibrant green, stretching endlessly to the horizon.
Facing the biting cold wind, Fang Yang's expression was calm.
The moment he entered the grasslands, he felt his heart and mind open up, just like the expansive view before him.
The horse, whether in Fang Yang's past life or his present one, held a very special meaning. It was synonymous with vigor, brilliance, passion, high spirits, ascension, fullness, prosperity, and development.
And now, Fang Yang was gradually feeling these energies.
This was not his first time riding the Frost Horse, but it was only on this ride that he truly felt these things.
It seemed that before he had set foot on the path of cultivation, he had been blind to the greatness before him.
"Everything's fine. Let's fly."
A quarter of an hour later, Fang Yang pressed down on the saddle, giving the command.
The Frost Horse immediately exerted its power. Wisps of clear wind coiled around its four hooves, forming something like a staircase.
Then, it actually began to gallop through the air, carrying Fang Yang as it flew and raced wildly!
The sunset fell into the vast starfield, and gilded clouds splashed across the sky like glaze.
As night deepened, a gentle breeze brushed against his cheeks, the colors of the woods and the twilight intertwining.
The last rays of the setting sun stretched the silhouettes of the man, the horse, and the eagle long, long into the distance.
「Back Mountain.」
「Spirit Plant Garden.」
Lingfang and Sen Hui, who were tending to the Spirit Grass and Spirit Plants, heard a strange sound from the sky and couldn't help but look up.
What met their eyes was a Flying Eagle, flapping its wings with a long cry.
Behind it, they saw Fang Yang.
He was astride the Frost Horse, his hand glowing, the white battle spear overflowing with a cold light.
His wild hair danced in the wind, his body wreathed in a vast blaze of white flames.
Standing still in the void, his eyes were clear and his skin crystalline. A hundred-zhang Fire Eagle Illusion enveloped him, releasing a furious radiance.
At this moment, Fang Yang possessed an indescribable aura that made him seem otherworldly, like an ancient celestial general.
Majestic and heroic! Imposingly magnificent!
Seeing this for the first time, Lingfang and Sen Hui were both stunned for a moment.
As for Sen Hui, she had actually witnessed many grand scenes.
For example, her brother, Sen Yue, was incredibly capable, able to turn his hand to form clouds and rain with casual ease.
Compared to Sen Yue, Fang Yang seemed hardly worth mentioning.
But precisely because of this, when Sen Hui suddenly saw this majestic and heroic side of Fang Yang, she felt something different.
A tingling sensation coursed through her heart, giving her a strange thrill she had never experienced before.
'Sister, I think I'm starting to understand you a little. I'm actually starting to think Fang Yang could be... fun.'
'No, I can't. That's too wicked. I can't think like that.'
Sen Hui quickly composed herself, cutting off the improper thought. Her thoughts shifted. 'So, Fang Yang, is this why you developed such a proud and aloof personality? With no one like you, you're all alone...'
In that moment, Sen Hui began to understand Fang Yang a little.
Her dislike for him was, without her realizing it, starting to fade.