Chapter 153: Chapter 151: Thunder Saint Academy
To target the pack of Northern Barbarian Lion Fierce Beasts, Fang Yang had Lu Yao and the others handle the initial preparations.
This included purchasing the necessary Arrays, Elemental Artifacts, and Talismans, with a particular focus on offensive measures from the Wood Dao and Water Dao schools.
This was because the Northern Barbarian Lion, as a species of Fierce Beast, possessed some of the characteristics of the Earth Dao school.
Using techniques from the Water Dao or Wood Dao schools would therefore produce unexpectedly good results—especially techniques from the Wood Dao school!
However, Fang Yang’s initial preparations ran into a problem.
The local powers, such as some of the merchant guilds, were not happy to see the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe prosper.
Although the White Feathered Eagle Tribe was called a Bronze Tribe, it actually boasted a population of nearly six thousand, including almost three thousand elite soldiers.
In the current chaotic state of war, this level of military strength meant that not even some Silver Tribes could compare to the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe.
If the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe truly established roots here, then life would become much more difficult for these small, local powers.
White Feathered Eagle Encampment.
The Commander’s Tent.
Lu Yao’s slender brows were knitted in worry. "My Lord, these merchant guilds seem to have conspired against us. They’re unwilling to trade."
Fang Xuan’s eyes burned with anger. "Those bastards," he said coldly. "They think they can disrespect us just because they have their own backers."
"If they have backers, this gets complicated," Hong Qishang sighed. "We have half a month... If we attack by force, we might complete the mission, but I fear the tribe will get bogged down and lose its strength."
One after another, they laid out the predicament facing the White Feathered Eagle Tribe for Fang Yang.
Fang Yang’s gaze was lowered, his fingers tapping gently on the wooden table. He said nothing.
Gradually, the tent fell silent.
All eyes were on Fang Yang, awaiting his decision.
’After all, even a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake.’
"A local snake..." Fang Yang’s eyes began to gleam.
Here in the Beast Rushing Mountain Range, the biggest "local snake" was Dongfang Mobai.
And the general in charge of the northern region was none other than Dongfang Moran!
A moment later, Fang Yang slowly rose and smiled at Lu Yao. "Lu Yao, come and write a formal request for a meeting for me."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It seemed the failure at Shengyun Pass hadn’t affected him.
The Fang Yang of today was still the same man, rational to the point of coldness—their Commander!
「An hour later.」
The northern command camp of the Beast Rushing Mountain Range.
The moment Dongfang Moran received the request for a meeting, he leaped decisively from his cot.
Having only put on his shoes, he rushed out of his tent to greet Fang Yang personally.
When Fang Yang saw that Dongfang Moran was wearing only a pure white inner robe, without his cyan battle armor, he couldn’t help but be a little surprised.
"Brother Dongfang, you’re..." Fang Yang looked up, his eyes showing his astonishment.
Dongfang Moran laughed heartily and quickly clasped Fang Yang’s hand. "What does my attire matter, if it means I can see you sooner?"
A nearby camp guard who witnessed this stared with wide, shocked eyes.
Their commander, Dongfang Moran, normally prided himself on being a scholar-general, comparable to a Grand Scholar of the Great Xuan Dynasty, a man who placed extreme importance on proper etiquette.
They never would have imagined their commander acting in such a bold and uninhibited manner.
’To be held in such high esteem!’
Under the guard’s astonished gaze, Dongfang Moran cheerfully led Fang Yang into the command tent.
"Hahaha, the array flags, Elemental Artifacts, and Talismans? Of course, that’s no problem. I’ll take care of it for you."
Dongfang Moran smiled magnanimously. "However, Brother, I have a bold request of my own. After the Xuan-Yu War is over, I wish to challenge you at the Thunder Saint Academy. Would that be acceptable?"
With that, Dongfang Moran looked at Fang Yang with an expectant expression.
The Thunder Saint Academy, much like Longevity Heaven, existed within the Thunder Control Great World.
This Thunder Control Great World was the Grotto Heaven of the Thunder Saint Venerable, a realm even more magnificent than the Xuan-Yu Blessed Land.
The Thunder Saint Academy was a gathering place for all the top geniuses of the Golden Clan, a cradle of Saints. Any young prodigy who could enter its halls possessed, at a minimum, a Grade-A Spirit Body.
In an Age of Great Contention, there might even be youths with Immortal Bodies within the Thunder Saint Academy!
An Immortal Body was even more remarkable than a Sacred Body; it was a constitution that truly possessed the aura of a Venerable.
Of course, it was extremely difficult for an ordinary person to enter the Thunder Saint Academy.
Graduating successfully from it was even harder.
But despite the many restrictions of the Thunder Saint Academy, Dongfang Moran was confident that Fang Yang, like himself, would be recommended by a Saint after the Xuan-Yu War and granted entry to cultivate within.
"If I get the chance, of course," Fang Yang said with a slight, knowing smile.
’I’ve already put on the persona of a righteous prodigy.’
’Until I’m as powerful as Sen Yue, it’s better to have as many friends as possible.’
’Besides, I don’t even know if I can get into the Thunder Saint Academy myself.’
’So, there’s no harm in making this little promise for now.’
...
After Fang Yang and Dongfang Moran’s productive conversation, the array flags, Elemental Artifacts, Talismans, and other offensive tools needed by the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe were quickly prepared.
「On this day.」
The sky was clear, and a refreshing autumn wind blew.
It was a perfect day for a hunt.
Under such fine weather, Fang Yang led the fully equipped White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe, marching out in full force.
They advanced in the perfect formation of a legion, not at all like an ordinary tribe.
Their neat, orderly formations and their cold, murderous bearing made the members of other powers tremble, their faces paling in shock.
"With that kind of strength, they call themselves a Bronze Tribe?"
"Their commander, Fang Yang... Heh, he’s not as frivolous as the rumors claimed."
"Damn it, how did a fierce dragon like this end up crossing into the Beast Rushing Mountain Range? If they really manage to overcome this challenge, won’t that mean there’s another power sitting on top of us?"
"The Northern Barbarian Lion pack has dominated the north for ages, killing countless adventurers. But I have a feeling... they’re about to fall to the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe."
The other powers, including the merchant guild members who were hostile to the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe, were now all abuzz with discussion.
Many of them ground their teeth, cursing the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe for coming here.
Having such a formidable power right next door was a massive headache.
But what truly awed and frightened them was Fang Yang’s status.
They had their own impressive backers, but so did Fang Yang.
Once the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe gained a foothold, the Beast Rushing Mountain Range was bound to undergo a major power shuffle!
As everyone watched, the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe, led by Fang Yang, surged into the northern region in a grand procession.
"Three Willow Array, prepare! Release!"
"Metal-Breaking Vine Talismans, prepare! Release!"
"All units, disperse! Maintain the advancing formation!"
Under Fang Yang’s command, the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe moved like a precision machine, beginning to encircle and annihilate various Fierce Beasts, focusing on the packs of Northern Barbarian Lions.
The Northern Barbarian Lion was a type of Fierce Beast with impressive Bloodline Power.
It resembled a lion in appearance, but came in various colors. The most common was earth-gray, but paper-white and ink-black variations were also seen.
They were enormous, the size of houses, with thick manes like tangled tree roots.
But before the various measures Fang Yang had carefully prepared, these Northern Barbarian Lions—which had caused the major merchant guilds endless headaches—seemed as though they were made of paper, torn apart with ease.
This display brought immense shock to the merchant guild members who were watching from a distance.
"Black Water Eagle Group, Decaying Water Skill!"
His cousin, Fang Xuan, wore a determined expression as his fingers flew, forming a Magic Seal.
Guided by him, over eighty black Flying Eagles beat their wings in unison, forming a small, black, water-logged hurricane.
The hurricane faintly mirrored the elegant style Fang Yang displayed when commanding the White Feathered Eagle and other Flying Eagle Groups.
But despite being an imitation, its effect was outstanding. The black water hurricane quickly caused the bodies of several Northern Barbarian Lions to rot away, draining them of all vitality.
An ordinary Tier Two Middle cultivator would likely be incapable of unleashing an attack of such power.
For Fang Xuan to achieve this with only a Tier Two Elementary cultivation base was already quite remarkable.
Fang Yang, catching a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye, nodded slightly in approval.
