Eternal Life through Drawing Lots

Chapter 366: Chapter 357: The Monarch’s Wisdom

Fang Yang had an incredibly clear vision for his future.

He needed to raise the cultivation of his first aperture to Tier Five Peak within a year, at the very least. This would allow him to condense the Kunpeng Saint Body.

Only then could he effectively stand against the Great Sun Dragon Lady, and perhaps even Sen Yue.

But he had only just broken through to Tier Five Advanced not long ago.

To rush straight to Tier Five Peak within a year was clearly an incredibly difficult task.

Take his own Fang Clan, for example.

Within the Fang Clan, those who had become Tier Five Peak Great Cultivators were few and far between.

Members of the older generation, like Second Uncle Fang and Seventh Uncle Fang, were stuck at the Tier Five Middle and Tier Five Advanced stages, unable to progress.

This just went to show how incredibly difficult it was to reach the realm of Tier Five Peak.

For him to attempt this right after reaching Tier Five Advanced made the task even more daunting—it was tantamount to ascending to heaven in a single step.

But he had to hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Therefore, Fang Yang naturally had to consider the consequences if he failed to reach Tier Five Peak within a year.

’If, within a year, I can’t push my first aperture’s cultivation all the way to Tier Five Peak, then...’

Inside the Monarch’s Camp, Fang Yang’s eyes narrowed as a thought crossed his mind.

’Then, my only option is to temporarily withdraw from the battlefield and re-enter once I reach Tier Five Peak, but...’

But if he really did that, he would inevitably disappoint Longevity Heaven and Sub-Venerable Han Wu.

After all, a Monarch who shied away from responsibility, no matter how powerful, would have retreating as his first impulse whenever he encountered a remotely difficult enemy.

’Cowardly.’

’Unfit for great responsibility.’

But Fang Yang also knew that ensuring his own survival was more important than anything else.

Of course, this was a last resort.

He absolutely would not take such a path unless he had no other choice.

「Early morning.」

A faint mist hung in the air.

Just as Fang Yang was considering his fallback plan, a voice called out from outside his tent.

An old man then entered, clad in a plain white Daoist robe and radiating a scholarly air.

This old man was known as Shan Jushi.

He was part of a quartet of advisors referred to as Mountain, River, Sun, and Moon; the other three hermits being Chuan, Ri, and Yue.

He was a figure comparable to the likes of Elder Chong—a man of profound intellect and a first-rate, veteran Wisdom Dao Cultivator.

These four hermits—Mountain, River, Sun, and Moon—were all individuals meticulously chosen from the two great alliances: the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life and the Golden Clan.

Their intelligence and loyalty were beyond doubt.

They held positions akin to chief strategists, responsible for assisting the four commanding Monarchs, including Yu Zither Immortal and Fang Yang.

"Monarch, the battle pet tempering ground you requested has been constructed."

Shan Jushi smiled. "Your battle pets can be sent in for tempering at any time."

Hearing this, Fang Yang’s eyes lit up. "Excellent."

Within Fang Yang’s combat repertoire was a killer move, the Celestial Eagle Cross Spear.

The stronger his battle pets were, the greater the enhancement it provided him.

Not only that, but their emotional and mental fortitude would also be strengthened.

Therefore, it was perfectly reasonable for him to use the army’s resources and have Shan Jushi build a tempering ground. This would allow his three battle pets to undergo intensive training and accelerate their growth at a frantic pace.

As a Monarch, he shouldered immense responsibility; increasing his own combat strength was an absolute necessity.

Of course, Fang Yang was only accelerating their training because all three of his battle pets had already reached Tier Three or higher, with exceptionally solid foundations.

’So, every move I make is now army policy.’

Fang Yang suddenly came back to his senses.

In that moment, he understood something.

He suddenly understood why, in his past life, the CEOs of large corporations always said they were working 24/7 and never had a day off.

’Damn the privileged class...’

’Oh, wait, I’m one of them now. Never mind.’

***

A single action could trigger a chain reaction.

Across the vast battlefield of the Burying Moon Mountain dreamscape, the flames of war raged.

At the Great Sun Dragon Lady’s command, young Great Saints like Qi Xuanxian, the Seventh Prince, and the White Tiger Demon Lord launched another operation against Fang Yang.

They instigated skirmishes, harassing his forces and probing his defenses.

Their primary goal was to prevent Fang Yang from cultivating in peace.

Although these were just probes and harassment, they could turn their feints into an all-out assault at any moment.

Faced with the menacing enemy, the atmosphere within Fang Yang’s army grew increasingly solemn.

HUMMM...

The grand formation rumbled, and Talismans flashed.

Top prodigies like Su Xi, Ling He, and Jiuming were all utilizing the grand formation’s Talismans.

This was to achieve something akin to a "Void Heaven real-time online conference."

"The commanders are attending the ’Monarch’s Council’?"

"Sigh, I wonder when I’ll be able to catch the Monarch’s eye and get to participate in such an important event?"

That morning, numerous top prodigies had gathered for the meeting.

Throughout the army, it was considered an honor to participate in this "real-time online conference."

More Cultivators secretly resolved themselves.

Next time, their names would be on that list.

At that moment.

The grand formation rumbled as a Talisman burned to ash.

Immediately, the spiritual presences of young Great Saints like Su Xi, Ling He, and Jiuming materialized.

Though they remained in their respective command tents, their figures were projected one by one into Fang Yang’s Monarch’s Camp.

"Monarch."

"Monarch!"

A chorus of voices echoed through the Monarch’s Camp.

As Fang Yang’s own projection appeared, the commanders all gave a slight bow in his direction.

Aside from those who were truly unable to leave their posts, basically every commander was present.

"Time is of the essence."

Fang Yang asked, "The enemy is advancing. What are your proposals?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the projections, lingering for a moment on Su Xi.

’Truthfully, I already have an answer: continue to hold our ground.’

But he wouldn’t say it out loud.

For one, a Monarch should not compete with his subordinates for credit.

For another, he intended to solidify Su Xi’s position as his second-in-command.

It was an unofficial title, not a formal rank.

Although he had already decided on her for the role, Su Xi still had to earn it with her own merits to win the conviction of the entire army.

The next moment.

Jiuming gave a faint smile. "What’s the difficulty? Monarch, give me ten thousand elite soldiers, and I’ll lead the charge myself!"

"I disagree," Ling He immediately retorted. "We don’t have a clear picture of the enemy’s strength. We can’t launch a direct assault. We should wait for them to suffer a setback and then look for an opening."

Not to be outdone, Su Xi’s crisp, pleasant voice cut in. "Our army currently holds the geographical advantage. As long as we remain steadfast and defend our base, it’s the enemy who will grow anxious, not us."

A leopard never changes its spots.

Just as Fang Yang expected, the three young Great Saints stuck to their initial proposals.

The other commanders also fell in line, echoing one of the three viewpoints.

Time was short. After a brief exchange, it was clear no one could convince the others.

Soon, everyone had taken a side, falling into factions behind Su Xi, Jiuming, and Ling He.

Their gazes all turned to Fang Yang, waiting for him to make the final decision.

Seeing this, Fang Yang was about to give Shan Jushi a look, signaling him to step forward and speak first.

But just then, the orb of light in his mind—his Seek Fortune, Avoid Misfortune ability—flashed and produced a stream of text:

*A Monarch’s wisdom lies in his choice of counsel. The result may be gathering storm clouds or days of clear skies.*

*Neutral Fortune: Defend your position, deploy your forces with restraint, and wait for the turmoil to subside. No gains, no losses. Outcome: Neutral.*

*Neutral Fortune: Attack proactively and strike deep into the Great Wilderness. When the tiger roars and the dragon cries, you may obtain a Tier Five opportunity. You will be besieged for a month, but will emerge shaken yet unharmed. Outcome: Neutral.*

*Slightly Ominous Fortune: Attack proactively and overturn the Saint Spirit Great River. You may obtain a Tier Five opportunity, but danger will lurk at every turn. You will be trapped in a dire situation, facing hardship with every step. Outcome: Ominous.*

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