Hei tribe's army marched toward Cao Fu.
Wolves moved across the grassland like a dark tide.
Above them, eagles circled under the cold sky.
Fang Yuan's wolf army dominated the ground, while Fang Ming's eagle group controlled the air. One was endless pressure, the other was like a net cast over heaven.
From the moment Hei tribe began moving, Fang Ming's eagles did not rest.
Lower-rank eagles flew in wide circles.
Wind chaser eagles patrolled the middle range.
The three crown eagles stayed higher, occasionally changing direction to reinforce different scouting routes.
The system was not perfect, but it was constant.
Dust clouds from moving troops could be seen.
Messengers crossing open ground could be followed.
Strange movements near hills and ravines could be reported.
Even if Dong Fang tribe wanted to send hidden detachments, they had to move under the gaze of the sky.
Inside the main tent, Hei Lou Lan threw an information report onto the table and laughed.
"Zhao tribe tore down their camp and fled?"
The surrounding Gu Masters laughed with him.
"A large tribe fleeing before the battle, truly shameful."
"Dong Fang Yu Liang personally invited them, yet they still ran. He must be furious."
"Alliance leader's might frightened them without even fighting!"
The atmosphere in the tent was lively.
Fang Yuan sat quietly, his expression indifferent.
Fang Ming also remained silent.
He did not think Zhao tribe's retreat was only cowardice.
Hei tribe had Fang Yuan's wolves on the ground, Fang Ming's eagles in the sky, and enough experts to match Dong Fang tribe directly. If Zhao tribe joined Dong Fang tribe now, they would be placing themselves under pressure before the true battle even started.
More importantly, Dong Fang tribe could no longer give the same confidence as before.
Ambushes were difficult.
Hidden movement was difficult.
Even retreat routes could be watched.
Fang Ming's eagle network had not killed anyone yet, but it had already changed the shape of the battlefield.
Hei Lou Lan looked toward him.
"Fang Ming, anything unusual from the sky?"
Fang Ming replied calmly, "Dong Fang tribe's movements have become more conservative. Their scouts are avoiding open ground, and their messengers are using longer routes."
Hei Lou Lan grinned. "So they are afraid of your eagles."
"They are afraid of being seen."
"That is the same thing."
The tent laughed again.
Fang Ming did not smile.
A wisdom path Gu Master would not sit still after being blinded.
Dong Fang Yu Liang would respond.
The only question was how.
At the same time, within Dong Fang tribe's camp, rain fell softly.
Dong Fang Yu Liang stood by the window, looking at the gloomy sky.
The information on his desk was not good.
Hei tribe's wolf army was expanding.
Their ground pressure was already great.
But the bigger issue was the sky.
Fang Ming.
A rank five eagle enslavement path Gu Master.
He did not command hundreds of thousands of beasts like Wolf King, but his eagles constantly watched the battlefield. Several of Dong Fang Yu Liang's early arrangements had been delayed or abandoned because movement could not be hidden.
A wolf tide could be countered with formations, terrain, and sacrifice.
But eyes in the sky were troublesome.
If Hei tribe saw everything too early, many wisdom path arrangements would lose their sharpest edge.
Dong Fang Yu Liang lowered his gaze.
"Wolf King threatens the battle. Eagle Commander threatens the preparation before battle."
His fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"Then first, blind the sky."
A shadow moved behind him.
A woman in black appeared silently. Her face was covered by black gauze, revealing only a pair of narrow red phoenix eyes.
Bian Si Xuan.
Shadowless Sword.
Dong Fang Yu Liang did not turn around.
"Fang Ming is an enslavement path Gu Master. He specializes in eagles. If a rare injured eagle appears before him, he will be tempted."
Bian Si Xuan said softly, "A mutated eagle?"
"Yes. Rare enough to move him, injured enough to make him think it can be captured."
"And if he is cautious?"
"Then you act when there is an opening."
Bian Si Xuan lowered her head. "Understood."
Dong Fang Yu Liang looked back at the rainy sky.
"Do not underestimate him. Anyone who can control the sky at this stage is not simple."
Bian Si Xuan smiled faintly. "No matter how skilled an enslavement path master is, once I reach his side, the result is decided."
Dong Fang Yu Liang did not answer immediately.
After a moment, he only said one thing.
"Be careful."
Two days later, Hei tribe's supply camp reported a discovery.
A rare injured eagle-type mutated beast had been found near a broken cliff.
Its wings were damaged.
Its aura was weak.
It had been driven toward a ravine by several scouting Gu Masters, then trapped with difficulty.
The news spread quickly.
Many people became excited.
A mutated eagle was not a wolf.
It was far rarer.
For an eagle enslavement path Gu Master, such a beast was extremely valuable.
Soon, the report reached Fang Ming.
The Gu Master who delivered the news bowed respectfully.
"Lord Fang Ming, the beast is already trapped. Alliance leader said you may inspect it personally."
Fang Ming looked at the report.
An injured mutated eagle.
Found near a broken cliff.
Driven into a ravine.
Captured with difficulty.
Too convenient.
His first thought was not joy.
It was Dong Fang Yu Liang.
Fang Ming raised his head. "Who found it?"
"A scouting team from a small tribe attached to the alliance."
"Casualties?"
"Two dead, several injured."
"Old wounds on the eagle?"
The Gu Master hesitated. "There seem to be some."
Fang Ming's expression remained calm.
Old wounds.
Rare beast.
Convenient capture.
A valuable target appearing right after Dong Fang tribe began avoiding open movement.
He folded the report and stood.
"Lead the way."
The Gu Master relaxed slightly.
But Fang Ming did not go alone.
He brought two rank four wind chaser eagles circling above him, while one crown eagle flew high overhead. Several lower-rank eagles spread around the camp, watching the surrounding shadows and open spaces.
When they reached the temporary holding area, Fang Ming stopped before entering.
Inside the cage, the mutated eagle lay collapsed. Its feathers were dark blue, its talons were sharp, and even while injured, it still gave off a wild pressure.
Several Gu Masters stood nearby, looking nervous and excited.
Fang Ming did not approach.
He watched from outside the range of the cage.
A subordinate asked carefully, "Lord, should we prepare enslavement Gu?"
Fang Ming replied, "No."
The surrounding people were startled.
"No?"
Fang Ming looked at the injured eagle.
"Move the cage into open ground. Clear all tents within fifty steps. Leave no shadows nearby."
The Gu Masters exchanged glances.
One of them asked, "Lord, is there a problem?"
"There may be."
The moment these words fell, the air changed.
A shadow beneath the cage twisted.
A soft sigh sounded.
"Cautious."
The shadow stretched like black silk.
Bian Si Xuan appeared from the darkness.
Her plan had not reached the perfect moment.
Fang Ming had refused to enter the trap fully. He had not approached the cage, had not lowered his guard, and had even ordered the surroundings cleared.
If she waited longer, the chance would disappear.
So she attacked.
Multiple sword shadows erupted like a black fan, sweeping toward Fang Ming from several angles.
At the same time, a thin black snake-like Gu shot toward his ear.
Brain Explosion Gu.
Fang Ming's eyes sharpened.
So it was her.
Shadowless Sword Bian Si Xuan.
The woman tied to a Thieving Heaven inheritance in the future.
In that instant, Fang Ming made his decision.
Strength path was supposed to remain hidden.
But Thieving Heaven's inheritance was worth more than secrecy.
His aura erupted.
Boom!
The ground beneath Fang Ming's feet cracked.
The incoming sword shadows reached him, but his body moved first.
Not like an enslavement path master retreating in panic.
Not like a fragile commander hiding behind beasts.
He stepped forward.
A brutal force burst from his body.
His strength path Gu activated together, and the accumulated strength from years of Lesser Permanent Strength Gu surged like a sleeping beast opening its eyes.
His fist smashed into the sword shadows.
Crack!
The shadows broke apart.
Bian Si Xuan's eyes changed.
Impossible.
The black snake Gu twisted toward Fang Ming's ear, but Fang Ming turned his head slightly and grabbed it between two fingers.
The Gu struggled like a living thread.
Fang Ming crushed it with force.
Bian Si Xuan immediately retreated into shadow.
Fast.
Very fast.
But Fang Ming was faster than she expected.
Tyrannical Dash Gu activated.
His body exploded forward like a mountain collapsing sideways.
Bian Si Xuan had calculated how to kill an enslavement path master.
She had calculated eagle interference.
She had calculated guards.
She had calculated escape routes.
But she had not calculated this.
A peak rank five strength path expert hidden inside the body of an eagle enslavement path master.
Fang Ming crossed the distance instantly.
His palm struck.
Bian Si Xuan raised layers of sword shadows to defend.
They shattered.
She shifted into a nearby shadow, but Fang Ming stamped the ground. The force spread outward, tearing apart the loose ground and shaking the shadowed surface.
Her figure was forced out halfway.
Fang Ming's hand closed around her shoulder.
Crack.
Bone fractured.
Bian Si Xuan let out a muffled groan.
She tried to stab backward, but Fang Ming's other hand seized her wrist and twisted.
Her dagger fell.
The entire exchange lasted only a few breaths.
By the time the guards reacted, Bian Si Xuan was already pinned to the ground. One knee was pressed into the soil, one arm was twisted behind her, and Fang Ming stood over her like an iron tower.
The crown eagle above screamed.
Only then did the camp explode into noise.
"Assassin!"
"Protect Lord Fang Ming!"
"Shadow path assassin!"
Gu Masters rushed over from every direction.
Hei Lou Lan arrived not long after, his expression dark.
Fang Yuan also appeared in the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Everyone saw the same scene.
Fang Ming, the eagle enslavement path expert, had personally crushed a famous assassin using strength path.
No eagles.
No army.
Only raw power.
Hei Lou Lan's gaze changed.
For a moment, there was wariness.
The others were stunned.
An enslavement path master with three rank five crown eagles was already troublesome.
An enslavement path master who was also a powerful strength path expert was something else entirely.
Bian Si Xuan coughed blood, her red phoenix eyes filled with disbelief.
Fang Ming lowered his gaze.
"Shadowless Sword," he said softly. "Dong Fang Yu Liang sent you?"
Bian Si Xuan said nothing.
Fang Ming did not expect her to answer.
He took out a Gu.
Rank five Slavery Gu.
Fang Yuan's eyes flickered faintly when he saw it.
Hei Lou Lan's brows also lifted.
Before anyone could speak, Fang Ming activated it.
Bian Si Xuan struggled violently, but her Gu worms were suppressed, her body was injured, and Fang Ming's strength locked her in place.
Slavery Gu entered her.
Her resistance weakened.
Her gaze changed.
A binding formed.
Fang Ming released her.
Bian Si Xuan slowly lowered her head.
"Master."
The surrounding Gu Masters fell silent.
Then the silence broke into gasps and discussion.
"He enslaved the assassin!"
"Rank five Slavery Gu…"
"Lord Fang Ming actually had such a trump card?"
"Strength and enslavement together… fierce!"
Hei Lou Lan stepped forward.
"Fang Ming."
Fang Ming turned calmly. "Alliance leader."
"You hid deeply."
"I had no reason to display everything."
Hei Lou Lan stared at him.
The pressure in the air became heavy.
Fang Ming continued evenly, "I was originally a lone cultivator. In my early years, resources were scarce, and strength path was easier to support. Later, I obtained an opportunity in enslavement path and could finally afford the resources to walk it properly."
He looked at the gathered Gu Masters.
"By then, my strength path foundation already existed. Abandoning it would have been wasteful."
The explanation was simple.
Practical.
Believable enough.
Northern Plains respected strength. Dual cultivation was difficult, but not impossible. A lone cultivator walking whichever path gave him survival was not strange.
Hei Lou Lan's expression slowly changed.
Then he laughed.
"Hahaha! Good! Very good!"
He slapped his thigh.
"Dong Fang Yu Liang sent an assassin and instead gave me another reason to celebrate. Fang Ming, you truly hid a sharp blade."
The allied Gu Masters relaxed.
Once Hei Lou Lan laughed, the atmosphere changed.
The previous wariness became excitement.
"Our alliance has another fierce expert!"
"An enslavement path master who can fight in close combat, who would dare rush him?"
"Dong Fang tribe miscalculated badly this time."
"Before the war even begins, they already lost Shadowless Sword!"
Fang Ming remained calm.
Praise was wind.
Fear was also wind.
What mattered was gain.
He looked at Bian Si Xuan.
Her relationship to Thieving Heaven's inheritance might not be useful immediately, but it was worth the exposure.
Strength path had been revealed earlier than planned, but not completely.
They had seen his power.
They had not seen its true limit.
That was acceptable.
Fang Yuan stood in the distance, watching quietly.
His eyes moved from Bian Si Xuan to Fang Ming, then to the broken ground beneath Fang Ming's feet.
Fang Ming did not meet his gaze for long.
This was the price of gaining something valuable.
Suspicion would rise.
But opportunity had to be seized when it appeared.
Hei Lou Lan turned toward his men.
"Spread the word carefully. Dong Fang tribe attempted assassination and failed. Shadowless Sword has been captured by Fang Ming."
His grin became savage.
"Let Dong Fang Yu Liang hear it."
The camp erupted in cheers.
Morale rose instead of falling.
The trap had failed.
The assassin had been enslaved.
And Hei tribe's Eagle Commander had revealed that beneath his feathers, there was iron.
Above the camp, the eagles circled.
On the ground, wolves howled in the distance.
The war had not yet begun.
But Dong Fang tribe had already lost the first hidden exchange.