The Cyan Cloud Ink Stone vein was a vital resource point in Sunset County.

It stretched far and wide, like a slumbering earth dragon waiting for people to discover its splendor.

Around it, villages of all sizes had sprung up.

Eventually, the officials of Sunset County stepped in and unified these small factions under a single name: the Golden Saber Stronghold!

The Golden Saber Stronghold had a great many buildings, most of which were stilted bamboo houses connected in a sprawling complex.

At this moment, the sky was dim.

What little light there was trickled down, illuminating the Golden Saber Stronghold.

The pedestrians coming and going all looked up at the dark palace on the mountaintop with reverence.

That was where the Chieftain of the Golden Saber Stronghold resided.

Right now, a group of the Golden Saber Stronghold’s most powerful figures was gathered in the dark palace!

"Chieftain, this envoy is a legendary figure from the Saint Institute. He’s not here to investigate us, is he?"

"Calm down. A man like that is like a true dragon in the clouds, completely beyond our comprehension. We must not cause any trouble during the two months he’s in charge!"

"Cyan Cloud Ink Stone is a special ore, highly sought after for both setting up Arrays and Artifact Refining. I wonder how much profit we’ll lose in two months."

"..."

The crowd broke into a flurry of discussion, debating what attitude they should adopt toward Fang Yang.

Finally, the full-bearded Chieftain of the Golden Saber Stronghold made up his mind.

His gaze was chilling as he said, "I don’t care what you’re planning, but for the next two months, if any of you dares to cause trouble for me... heheh..."

Hearing this, the others broke out in a cold sweat.

「Meanwhile.」

In another corner of the dark palace was a quiet courtyard.

Within the quiet courtyard stood a huge, vigorous, and ancient tree, lush and green.

At this moment, Fang Yang was standing quietly beneath the ancient tree.

It was worth noting that for these two months, the Chieftain of the Golden Saber Stronghold and his men were Fang Yang’s subordinates, under his command.

And his job was to coordinate them properly to protect the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone vein from attacks by hordes of Fierce Beasts.

’So fearful of my arrival. Are you all corrupt officials?’

’Heh, but that’s not for me to worry about.’

’The Yellow River is murky and the Yangtze River is clear. But the Yangtze irrigates the fields of several provinces on both its banks, and the Yellow River also irrigates the fields of several provinces on its banks.’

’You can’t favor one just because it is clear, nor can you abandon the other just because it is murky. It has been this way since ancient times.’

’Your rights and wrongs will be judged by the Sunset County Governor. I am only responsible for the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone vein.’

Fang Yang thought to himself, his hands clasped behind his back.

It was as if the figures of the Golden Saber Stronghold’s Chieftain and the others were reflected in his eyes.

Suddenly, the phantoms in his eyes shattered, and a light began to grow within them.

It turned out he had finished absorbing the Clear Water Ganoderma, a Spiritual Object. This caused the beak of his Fire Eagle Illusion to solidify to 22%.

Once the beak reached 25%, he would be able to break through to the Tier Four Middle realm.

He estimated that in a month at most, he would become a Tier Four Middle cultivator.

Such a cultivation speed was truly terrifying, far beyond the comprehension of prodigies like Fang Min.

...

Because Fang Yang had experience commanding the White Feathered Eagle Bronze Tribe and leading the garrison at the Leran Grassland, he did not rashly alter the Golden Saber Stronghold’s original defensive forces.

He simply kept a tight leash on the Chieftain and the few other high-ranking members.

As for his free time, he mostly dedicated it to secluded cultivation and refining his Magic skills.

This attitude of his, contrary to their expectations, allowed the Chieftain and his men to breathe a sigh of relief.

But soon enough, their tension returned.

A beast horde had come to attack the stronghold and seize the mine!

"ROAR—"

"RAAAGH—"

One after another, Fierce Beasts roared ferociously. The sound of their rage dispersed the clouds, and a surge of Evil Qi shot into the sky.

The cultivators in the stronghold took up their weapons and moved to their posts, determined to defend their home.

Meanwhile, Fang Yang stood in his courtyard cottage, looking down on the scene from above.

A quick glance revealed that many of the weapons, array patterns, and array flags on the field were made from Cyan Cloud Ink Stone.

’They truly live off the land.’

The horde of Fierce Beasts, which resembled a black tide, was mostly composed of Stone-eating Scorpions.

The Stone-eating Scorpion had tough, hard skin that was a dark, purplish-black.

Their tails were not stingers, but venomous snakes that either coiled around the scorpions’ bodies or stood erect, flicking their crimson tongues.

These Fierce Beasts fed on ore. The more Primordial Qi and the higher the tier of the ore, the more powerful the energy they could obtain, allowing them to undergo life-form transitions.

This was precisely why they relentlessly attacked the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone vein.

"Kill them!"

"Die for me..."

Under Fang Yang’s watch, the people of the Golden Saber Stronghold fought fiercely, determined to keep the horde of Fierce Beasts at bay.

For a time, the sky was filled with a waterfall of ice arrows and a rain of Fireballs, which bombarded the enemy like a brilliant display of fireworks.

By leveraging the favorable terrain, the people of the Golden Saber Stronghold temporarily held the line and defended the mine.

’However, something even more dangerous is coming.’

Fang Yang clasped his hands behind his back and gazed toward the rear of the black beast tide.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the earth began to tremble.

A series of sounds of the ground breaking open could be heard, followed by the appearance of giant black rats that walked upright.

Earth-Digging Demonic Rats!

"Fuck, why are there Earth-Digging Demonic Rats?"

"We’re done for, we’re done for! The Earth-Digging Demonic Rats have special eyes that can easily spot the flow of Primordial Qi in an Array and destroy it."

"I can’t die, I can’t die..."

The appearance of the Earth-Digging Demonic Rats caused the hearts of the warriors at the front to sink, and their morale plummeted.

The Chieftain of the Golden Saber Stronghold’s expression also changed instantly. If something happened to the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone vein, he would be the first to be held responsible.

"SCREE~"

"HISS~"

Just as everyone hesitated, the cries of eagles and hisses of pythons suddenly erupted.

In the sky, over a thousand Flying Eagles appeared. Led by a White Feathered Eagle, they converged into a strange grand Array, summoning the Five-Colored Wind and Thunder as lightning descended.

On the ground, nearly a hundred pythons also emerged. Under the guidance of an electric python, Reversed Scale Electric Snakes activated their Lifebound Skills, causing the lightning to gather even faster and augmenting the power of the eagles’ Five-Colored Wind and Thunder Slave Array.

BOOM—

Thunder fell like a river from the sky, crashing down with immense force, blasting white-hot holes into the beast tide.

Countless eyes watched, their faces filled with horror as they stared at the handsome figure commanding the eagles and pythons.

The scene was like a display of heavenly might!

’Wait, my attainments in the Array Dao are actually improving?’

’Is this the mystical benefit of having a powerful Soul? Interesting, very interesting...’

A smile touched the corners of Fang Yang’s lips, and joy filled his heart.

He could clearly feel that the Mystical Skills of the Array Dao that Chang Ruhui had once explained to him were now gradually being absorbed and understood.

「At the same time.」

Inside the Shuqing Pavilion, Layman Shuqing was watching Fang Yang closely. "A Tier Two Array Master? Slave Array Convergence? The Thunderous Strike Skill?"

After witnessing this, even someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Layman Shuqing couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.

"Fang Yang’s strength far surpasses that of his ancestor, the Carp Eagle. It feels like he doesn’t even need my protection."

"But the Ten Thousand Beasts King is almost a demon, already possessing high intelligence. I wonder if he’ll be able to survive an encounter with it?"

...

After Fang Yang made his move, the world seemed to clear, and the beast horde could only flee in disarray.

After that, he settled down and began to lie low, cultivating in silence.

The Magic he was currently cultivating was not the *Yimu Divine Thunder Skill Department*, but the *Indestructible Body of the Carp Eagle*.

He had indeed chosen the *Indestructible Body of the Carp Eagle* as his fourth Lifebound Skill and had successfully begun cultivating it.

However, the cultivation of the *Indestructible Body of the Carp Eagle* was unique; it focused on tempering the physical body!

The *Indestructible Body of the Carp Eagle* could draw upon heavenly lightning and Earth Flame to temper the user’s body, gradually making it as indestructible as a Wild Beast Carp Eagle, with immense vitality.

If one cultivated this skill to a profound level, their blood could flow like flames and lightning, severed limbs could be regrown, and it might even be possible to be reborn from a single drop of blood.

While Fang Yang was in secluded cultivation, the Fierce Beasts coveting the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone vein were also undergoing a new transformation.

「Outside the Golden Saber Stronghold.」

This was the gathering place of the Stone-eating Scorpions.

"Yiii..."

A sound emerged from the Beast King’s lair, like the cry of a baby, yet also like the wail of a woman.

Immediately after, a massive Stone-eating Scorpion slowly crawled out.

Strangely, its skin was a shimmering purple, and the tail on its back was a ferocious great python.

The Ten Thousand Beasts King!

The Stone-eating Scorpion, the Ten Thousand Beasts King!

"ROAR, ROAR..."

At that moment, ten thousand scorpions prostrated themselves, roaring in unison.