Chapter 149: Chapter 147: The Root
The White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe was in turmoil due to a disagreement over strategy.
And the army garrisoned on the Leran Grassland was in a similar state of disarray.
At the heart of the conflict were the two commanders, Fang Yang and Lin Keyi!
Currently, Fang Yang and Lin Keyi were locked in a heated argument.
"We can take the Shengyun Heavy Pass! Just trust me one more time!" Fang Yang said in a low voice, his eyes fixed on Lin Keyi.
Lin Keyi shot to her feet, her voice like a clap of thunder as she raged, "Yes, we *can* take the Shengyun Heavy Pass, but when? You can’t even give me a date!"
Fang Yang’s expression soured. "It’ll be in the next few days. I’m certain. Once we break through, we’ll have safe passage!"
With a great surge, Lin Keyi could no longer contain the power roiling within her.
Her eyes flew wide, fury erupting like a volcano in her heart, filling her chest until she felt it might melt her from the inside out.
"You’re lying! You have no confidence at all!" Lin Keyi roared, flames seeming to dance in her eyes.
Seeing that Fang Yang remained unmoved, she flew into a rage and slammed her pale, slender hand down on the stone table.
BOOM—
The stone table disintegrated, turning to dust.
The thunderous explosion echoed outside, striking fear into the hearts of the assembled officers.
They groaned inwardly, all of them looking as dejected as wilted flowers.
They kept their heads down, secretly exchanging glances, but no one dared to be the first to speak out.
The root of the argument between the commander and vice-commander was how they should proceed to the Dongfang Race’s Cloud Sea Archipelago.
The commander, Fang Yang, wanted to continue his assault on the Shengyun Heavy Pass.
If they succeeded, everyone could reach the Cloud Sea Archipelago safely and complete their mission.
The problem was that Commander Fang Yang couldn’t give a precise timeline for conquering the pass. If they continued to follow him, it was almost certain they would miss their deadline.
The vice-commander, Lin Keyi, wanted to bypass the Shengyun Heavy Pass and stop wasting time.
However, following her meant taking the entire army on a detour fraught with greater danger.
The advantage, however, was that they would arrive at the Cloud Sea Archipelago within the appointed time and avoid being late.
One prioritized safety, even at the cost of missing the deadline.
The other prioritized meeting the deadline, even at the cost of sacrificing safety.
It was a fundamental, irreconcilable conflict. Only one path could be chosen.
...
Just then, Lin Tianxue, who was recuperating with the Wind Sparrow Bronze Tribe, heard about the dispute between commanders Fang Yang and Lin Keyi.
In an instant, Lin Tianxue leaped to her feet. She hastily threw on her armor, mounted a Wind Snow Sparrow, and departed in a rush.
Bursts of Vermilion True Essence erupted from her body, empowering the Wind Snow Sparrow and causing it to accelerate dramatically.
She was racing to the scene!
She was in such a hurry that she didn’t even hear Ma Hao calling out to her.
She did not want the Wind Sparrow Bronze Tribe to be punished for missing the deadline.
Besides, she wasn’t Fang Yang; she didn’t have a particularly close relationship with Sen Hui.
She even secretly harbored the idea of replacing Fang Yang.
"My lady, my lady..."
Ma Hao shouted until his throat was raw, but he could only watch as Lin Tianxue’s figure shrank to a black dot and vanished completely.
Watching Lin Tianxue fly away, Ma Hao’s face was stricken with panic, and a heavy sense of unease grew in his heart.
He had a nagging feeling that following Fang Yang’s plan to attack the Shengyun Heavy Pass was the better choice, even if it meant being late.
Whenever he imagined them taking the detour to the Cloud Sea Archipelago, he saw a horrifying vision of a blood-red reflection in the void.
’I can’t give up,’ a trace of determination flashed in Ma Hao’s eyes.
Immediately, he activated his True Essence, reaching a fine steed in just a few strides.
He vaulted onto its back and galloped off in pursuit of Lin Tianxue.
The sky was dim, the road ahead unclear.
A biting north wind howled, chilling to the bone.
But within the commander’s tent on what was once the Leran Grassland, a heatwave of anger was surging.
At this moment, Fang Yang and Lin Keyi stood on opposite sides, facing each other coldly.
Majestic auras surged from their bodies.
One aura took the faint shape of a Fire Eagle.
The other, the faint shape of vines and wood.
Incredibly, despite his junior status, Fang Yang’s imposing aura easily suppressed Lin Keyi’s.
Fortunately, Fang Yang didn’t press his advantage, merely maintaining an even standoff.
"Fang Yang, do you have any idea what the consequences are for missing the deadline?" Lin Keyi asked slowly, taking a deep breath.
Fang Yang narrowed his eyes. "My goal isn’t to be late. It’s to ensure everyone reaches the Cloud Sea Archipelago safely."
Hearing this, Lin Keyi sneered. "The consequences of failure are more than these minor tribes—who aren’t even on the level of a Silver Tribe—can bear. For the weak, is there truly any safe place in this world?"
Fang Yang suddenly raised his head. His mouth moved, but no words came out.
He fell silent, his lips pressed into a tight line.
It was as if Lin Keyi had convinced him.
Just as Lin Keyi thought she had won him over, a fierce gust of wind suddenly swirled outside the tent flap.
Lin Tianxue!
"Let’s discuss this calmly," Lin Tianxue said as she strode in, breaking the tense atmosphere.
She glanced around, sighed, and said, "Fang Yang, Keyi and I will proceed with those who wish to join us. As for the other tribes, if they want to come with us, let them. How about it?"
「A short while later.」
Lin Tianxue and Lin Keyi departed together.
They had parted ways.
Finally, the army had split.
Aside from the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe, who chose to remain with Fang Yang, all the other tribes feared the consequences of missing the deadline and chose to follow Lin Keyi.
When Ma Hao finally caught up, panting for breath, he learned that Lin Tianxue had already departed.
In that instant, Ma Hao’s vision was overwhelmed by a sea of blood, and he felt himself about to drown in it.
Fortunately, a single point of light from the Vermilion Bird’s flame shone through, protecting him.
「The next morning.」
Lin Keyi, Lin Tianxue, and their followers departed, taking a host of tribes with them.
Within the ranks of the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe, morale grew even more unstable.
But thanks to Fang Yang remaining to face the future with them, they barely managed to maintain some stability.
But if they still couldn’t conquer the Shengyun Heavy Pass in the next two days, there would be no way for them to make the deadline.
They were about to miss it.
At that moment, Fang Yang stood atop a mountain peak, gazing down at the distant figures of Lin Keyi, Lin Tianxue, and the others.
A cold wind whipped past, making his white robes snap and flutter.
His black hair whipped wildly in the wind, his eyes dark and profound.
’Alas, better them than me.’
’If I’m to be blamed for this, then Sen Yue is even more at fault.’
’Everything goes back to Sen Yue. If they want someone to hate, they should go find Sen Yue.’
「Meanwhile.」
「Shengyun Heavy Pass.」
When Heilou Xian learned of this, he burst into laughter. "Fang Yang, you ignorant brat! I’ve scattered your army to the winds without even lifting a finger."
Heilou Xian believed he was the one who had routed Fang Yang’s forces!
Who wouldn’t bow before such a military achievement?
It was just a shame that in ten days, he would have to depart for the battlefield at the Cloud Sea Archipelago himself.
