Fang Ming looked toward the direction of Sacred Palace.
The night above Imperial Court blessed land was silver.
Behind him, the remaining eagles gathered.
The three crown eagles spread their wings first. The mutated bronze-feather hawk followed slightly behind them, its broken injuries already stabilized. Around them were the surviving rank four eagles and hawks, while the lower-rank birds formed scattered layers beneath.
Compared to when he entered Imperial Court blessed land, his force had changed greatly.
The two storm chaser hawks were gone.
The two thunder eagles were gone.
Many rank four flyers had died.
But Fang Ming did not regret it.
Eagles could be replenished.
A complete food path inheritance could not.
Nor could the totem strength inheritance be measured by ordinary beast losses.
Inside his storage Gu were sealed eggs, inheritance records, food path recipes, and formation blueprints. Every loss had been paid for with something greater.
"Enough," Fang Ming said softly.
The crown eagle beneath him cried once.
Then the flock moved.
They flew toward Sacred Palace.
Sacred Palace appeared on the horizon like a mountain built by heaven.
The closer Fang Ming got, the more immense it became.
Eight levels rose one above another, each level towering like a city in the sky. Snow-white walls surrounded every layer, joined so perfectly that there seemed to be no gap at all. Rainbow towers stood at intervals along the walls, glowing red, orange, yellow, green, azure, blue, and purple.
From afar, it looked like a sacred mountain.
From nearby, it felt like a world.
Even Fang Ming, who had seen Lang Ya blessed land and Imperial Court's vast golden plains, paused for a breath.
Giant Sun Immortal Venerable's shadow still covered this place.
That was not a metaphor.
It was power turned into architecture.
As Fang Ming descended, many Gu Masters looked up.
His name had already spread through Hei Lou Lan's alliance.
Eagle Commander.
The enslavement path expert who controlled the sky.
The hidden strength path expert who had captured Shadowless Sword.
Now, he arrived at Sacred Palace with three crown eagles, a mutated bronze-feather hawk, and a flock of newly subdued birds from Imperial Court blessed land.
Naturally, people noticed.
"Fang Ming has arrived."
"Those are crown eagles…"
"That bronze-feather hawk feels strange. Is it mutated?"
"He gained more inside the blessed land already?"
"Enslavement path experts really are troublesome."
Fang Ming ignored the whispers.
Before entering Sacred Palace, he stored the important flying beasts and stationed the rest outside.
Inside Sacred Palace, Gu Masters could not ride beasts.
This was done out of respect for Giant Sun Immortal Venerable.
Fang Ming did not care about the reverence, but he cared about rules backed by Giant Sun's arrangements. There was no need to test them for no reason.
After arranging his birds, Fang Ming entered on foot.
A Gu Master responsible for receiving experts quickly came forward and bowed.
"Lord Fang Ming, your residence has already been prepared. Please follow me."
Fang Ming nodded.
They passed through great halls, wide courtyards, and shining corridors. Sacred Palace was filled with famous sites. Entertainment halls, hot spring palaces, wine pools, meat forests, drawing halls, beauty palaces.
The escort introduced them enthusiastically, hoping Fang Ming would slow down.
Fang Ming only listened briefly.
His expression did not change.
Sacred Palace was grand.
It was also mostly irrelevant.
The real treasure was not here.
It was above.
Eighty-Eight True Yang Building.
"Take me to the residence," Fang Ming said.
The escort's enthusiasm faded slightly, but he did not dare complain.
"As lord wishes."
Because Fang Ming was a rank five expert and had contributed greatly during the war, he received a high-level residence.
The room was spacious and quiet, with defensive Gu arrangements already prepared. From the window, one could look toward the upper levels of Sacred Palace.
Fang Ming stood by the window for a moment.
The peak was still empty.
But not for long.
That evening, Hei Lou Lan sent someone to invite him.
Fang Ming entered the hall.
Hei Lou Lan sat in the main seat, laughing with several tribe leaders. When Fang Ming arrived, his eyes brightened.
"Fang Ming, you came quickly."
"Alliance leader summoned me. Naturally, I came."
Hei Lou Lan liked hearing that.
Compared to Chang Shan Yin, Fang Ming was much easier to speak with.
Wolf King was powerful, but his arrogance made people uncomfortable. Fang Ming was not weak either, and he was definitely not harmless, but at least he gave Hei Lou Lan face.
Hei Lou Lan waved the others back slightly.
"I will speak directly. Fang Ming, after we leave Imperial Court blessed land, are you interested in becoming an external elder of Hei tribe?"
The hall quieted.
This was not a small offer.
External elders of super tribes had status, resources, and backing. Many demonic and lone cultivators dreamed of such a chance.
Fang Ming's expression remained calm.
"Alliance leader values me. I am honored."
Hei Lou Lan smiled. "Then?"
Fang Ming did not agree.
He cupped his hands. "The matter is important. Right now, Eighty-Eight True Yang Building is about to appear. My mind is on the opportunities ahead. After this matter is over, and after we leave Imperial Court blessed land, I will give alliance leader a proper answer."
Hei Lou Lan stared at him.
Fang Ming met his gaze calmly.
A refusal would be disrespectful.
Immediate agreement would create obligations.
Delay was best.
After a moment, Hei Lou Lan laughed.
"Good! You are cautious. I like cautious people, as long as they are useful."
"I will do my best."
Hei Lou Lan nodded, then waved his hand.
"Go. Prepare well. True Yang Building is not ordinary."
Fang Ming left the hall.
Behind him, Hei Lou Lan's smile slowly faded.
"This person also hides deeply," he muttered.
But he was still easier to handle than Wolf King.
For now.
Two days later, Sacred Palace shook.
Fang Ming opened his eyes inside his residence.
Outside, cheers rose like a tide.
He walked to the window and looked up.
At the peak of Sacred Palace, light gathered.
At first, it was only a vague blur.
Then colors appeared.
Red, gold, blue, purple, green — countless hues mixed together like wet ink, forming the outline of a tall tower. It trembled continuously, not yet stable, as if heaven and earth were still deciding its shape.
Eighty-Eight True Yang Building.
The legendary rank eight Immortal Gu House.
Fang Ming's eyes became serious.
The tower was not complete yet.
It was only the initial form.
Only after the blizzard fully covered Northern Plains and the small towers across Imperial Court blessed land sank into the ground would each layer stabilize enough for proper exploration.
But even in this unstable form, the pressure it gave off was terrifying.
Sacred Palace erupted in celebration.
Gu Masters shouted.
Mortals knelt.
Some cried out praises to Giant Sun Immortal Venerable.
Fang Ming watched in silence.
His heart was calm, but not unmoved.
This was the true center of Imperial Court blessed land.
Not Sacred Palace.
Not the scattered inheritances.
This tower.
Only Giant Sun's descendants could enter normally.
Outsiders needed guest tokens.
Fang Ming looked at the shifting tower for a long time before closing the window.
The chance would come.
But not by rushing.
Hei Lou Lan did not invite outsiders at first.
That was expected.
Why share benefits if he could devour them alone?
He entered Eighty-Eight True Yang Building with Hei tribe Gu Masters.
The people of Sacred Palace watched them go in with envy.
Several hours later, Hei Lou Lan returned.
The cheers stopped.
He was wounded.
His clothes were torn, blood stained his body, and his expression was ugly. Behind him, the surviving Hei tribe Gu Masters looked pale and shaken.
Only around sixty percent returned.
The rest had been left inside.
Rumors spread immediately.
True Yang Building was spectacular.
True Yang Building was dangerous.
Every step inside could kill.
But the rewards were also extremely tempting.
The Sacred Palace became restless.
Every expert wanted to enter.
Every tribe wanted a share.
But the power remained in Hei Lou Lan's hand.
Inside Hei tribe's hall, Hei Lou Lan's rage erupted.
Bam!
Hei Qi Sheng was kicked to the ground.
"Useless thing!"
Hei Lou Lan's face twisted with fury. "The 54th round is an enslavement path test, and you cannot pass it? What did Hei tribe raise you for?"
Hei Qi Sheng coughed blood and lowered his head.
"Lord tribe leader, I deserve death!"
The elders did not dare speak.
Hei Lou Lan paced like a furious bear.
"You are all useless! Speak! Give me a method! The tribe does not feed trash!"
The elders looked at one another.
Finally, first elder Hei Pei stepped out carefully.
"Lord tribe leader, this round requires enslavement path attainment. Hei Qi Sheng is skilled, but he is not at master level. To pass, we need stronger enslavement path assistance."
Hei Lou Lan's eyes turned cold.
"You want me to ask outsiders for help?"
Hei Pei bowed deeper.
"Lord tribe leader, they are not outsiders in this situation. They are alliance subordinates. Using them is natural. Everyone knows that all experts under the alliance leader's banner are part of alliance leader's strength."
Hei Lou Lan snorted.
He understood the logic.
He simply hated it.
He had only one guest token available.
One.
If he invited an outsider, the reward for passing the round would belong to that reinforcement according to True Yang Building's rules.
The thought made him unhappy.
But the 54th round blocked him like an iron wall.
If he did not pass, everything beyond it was meaningless.
"Wolf King…" one elder muttered softly.
The hall became quiet.
Chang Shan Yin was the obvious choice.
Wolf King.
A famous enslavement master.
A man with a massive wolf army.
In terms of mass enslavement power, no one in the alliance could compare to him.
But Hei Lou Lan's expression became even darker.
Chang Shan Yin was strong.
Too strong.
His wolf army was enormous. His attitude was arrogant. He already made Hei Lou Lan feel pressure. If he obtained more benefits from True Yang Building, would he become even harder to control?
And there was another issue.
Wolf King had been busy with his own matters recently.
Di Qiu.
That strange place had drawn some of his attention, though most people did not understand why.
Hei Lou Lan's fingers tapped against the armrest.
Then another name rose in his mind.
Fang Ming.
Eagle Commander.
Also an enslavement path expert.
His eagle army was smaller than Fang Yuan's wolf army, but his skill was real. He had shown usefulness throughout the war and inside Imperial Court blessed land. More importantly, he showed outward respect.
Fang Ming was not a saint.
Hei Lou Lan knew that.
But compared to Chang Shan Yin, Fang Ming felt less uncontrollable.
His eagles were harder to replenish than wolves. His force was elite, not endless. He could be rewarded, used, and watched.
Hei Lou Lan stopped pacing.
"Call Fang Ming."
The elders looked at one another.
Some were surprised.
But no one objected.
Wolf King was stronger, but Fang Ming was safer.
That was enough.
When Fang Ming received the summons, he was reviewing the totem strength inheritance.
The method was fascinating.
Permanent totems engraved through Gu materials, close to rank six-level power, with lifespan as the price of activation. It was not flexible like a true immortal killer move, and once understood, it could be countered more easily.
But the concept was brilliant.
A prepared body carrying a fixed power.
Fang Ming closed the record when the messenger arrived.
"Alliance leader requests Lord Fang Ming's presence."
Fang Ming was not surprised.
True Yang Building had blocked Hei Lou Lan.
Sooner or later, he would need help.
The only question had been whether he would call Fang Yuan or Fang Ming first.
It seemed Hei Lou Lan had chosen caution over maximum strength.
Good.
Fang Ming entered the hall.
Hei Lou Lan looked at him directly.
"Fang Ming, the 54th round is an enslavement path test. Hei tribe's own man failed. I want you to enter True Yang Building and help me pass it."
He raised his hand.
A token flew over.
Fang Ming caught it.
Guest token.
The surface was old and heavy, carrying the aura of Eighty-Eight True Yang Building.
With this, an outsider could enter.
Fang Ming lowered his gaze briefly, then looked up.
"I will do my best."
Hei Lou Lan narrowed his eyes. "You do not ask about the reward?"
The elders watched quietly.
This was the sensitive point.
Fang Ming smiled faintly.
"Alliance leader invited me because the round must be passed. If I haggle before even seeing the test, that would be ugly."
Hei Lou Lan's expression eased slightly.
Fang Ming continued, "Let us pass the round first. Ordinary rewards do not need to damage cooperation."
The elders nodded inwardly.
Reasonable.
Not greedy.
At least not openly.
Hei Lou Lan laughed.
"Good! Fang Ming, you speak more pleasantly than Wolf King."
Fang Ming cupped his hands. "Wolf King has Wolf King's pride. I have my own way of doing things."
Hei Lou Lan laughed louder.
But Fang Ming's thoughts were calm.
He was not entering for small rewards.
The early rounds might have good things, but not enough to fight Hei Lou Lan over.
His goal was deeper.
Better opportunities.
Greater gains.
The true value of Eighty-Eight True Yang Building would not appear in the shallow places.
Hei Lou Lan stood.
"Then come in this evening we will attack the stage once again."