Just as the Yan family and the Xiahou family armies found themselves at a complete impasse, suddenly—

“Enemy attack!”

“Enemy attack!”

Loud, sharp cries came from the west. The Yan family army, already dispirited from failing to capture North Dwarf Mountain and suffering considerable casualties, was thrown into further alarm by the shout of ‘enemy attack.’ Every soldier gripped their weapon tightly, ready to heed orders and meet the foe. Already, the vanguard in the west was locked in fierce combat.

At this moment, securing North Dwarf Mountain was forgotten. Yan Baishou, Xiahou An, and the Iron Sword Martial Saint all turned their gaze westward. A soldier, bearing a small banner on his back, rushed toward them at full tilt.

“Which faction are they?” Yan Baishou’s expression shifted slightly.

“Reporting to the Family Head, it is the Duan family army,” the arriving soldier reported quickly. “The Second General is leading the Right Wing Grand Army, currently holding off the Duan family forces.”

Yan Baishou nodded slightly.

“Let’s go,” the Iron Sword Martial Saint stated gravely. “We need to see what’s happening at the front.”

Immediately, the Iron Sword Martial Saint, Yan Baishou, and Xiahou An headed toward the Right Wing together. As they advanced, they could hear the clamor of fighting ahead. Before long, just as Yan Baishou and the others reached the ranks of the Right Wing, a piercing shriek rang out: “Flee! Run!”

The army banner had already fallen. Like headless flies, the soldiers, facing the relentless assault of the Duan family’s elite, began a chaotic rout!

When tens of thousands clash, what is truly fought for is morale!

Once the front breaks, forming a tidal wave of defeat… even if the soldiers behind wish to hold the line, they will be crushed and scattered by the fleeing remnants ahead. It is said that when an army breaks, it collapses like a mountain collapsing—once the front is broken, reversing the situation from the rear becomes incredibly difficult.

“This is bad,” Yan Baishou’s face paled dramatically.

“How could the Duan family be so formidable, routing the Right Wing so quickly?” the Iron Sword Martial Saint was genuinely surprised.

“Brother Xiahou, it’s up to you now,” Yan Baishou declared, then shouted loudly, “Wu Jian, take your unit and hold them for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea… everyone else, break out toward the north!”

The fleeing army was in utter disarray. Yan Baishou was desperately trying to minimize losses.

Half an hour later, with the assistance of the Xiahou family troops managing to brace against the Duan family assault, the Yan family finally caught its breath, preserving the vast majority of their men. Even so… the surrounding forests were littered with countless blood-soaked corpses; a single fierce attack had cost the Yan family nearly ten thousand men!

“Duan Shijin, this debt of blood will be repaid, I swear I am not human if I fail!” Yan Baishou, his clothes filthy, looked westward and clenched his jaw in fierce hatred.

Losing nearly ten thousand men in that short half-hour, and seeing his own brother, Yan Bailie, trampled to death in the chaos—the death of his own kin, coupled with the sudden blow, sent Yan Baishou’s rage soaring.

“How can this Duan family army be so fierce?” Xiahou An’s expression was equally grim. “My Xiahou family was prepared, we timed our counter-attack perfectly, yet we were still driven back a full li, suffering several thousand casualties.”

“The armor!”

The Iron Sword Martial Saint spoke gravely. “The leading elite contingent of the Duan family army—their armor is all superior grade, fine suits costing thousands of silver taels each. Ordinary blades cannot easily pierce them. It’s not surprising that the initial thrust, comprised of a thousand elite soldiers clad in such gear, couldn't be stopped.”

“How does the Duan family possess such magnificent armor?” Xiahou An narrowed his single eye. “Superior armor like that—a piece or two is one thing, but over a thousand suits? Even with immense wealth, such a quantity is nearly impossible to acquire.”

On the Duanmu Continent, where a hundred clans vied for supremacy, military supplies were treated with the utmost importance.

The bulk trade of common, low-grade armor was already regulated, let alone armor of this superior quality. Several thousand silver taels per suit translates to millions of silver taels… the money itself was secondary; no ordinary family could procure thousands of such suits of armor.

“Perhaps the Duan family has been deeply secretive, hiding such armaments,” Yan Baishou stated coldly.

“Not necessarily. There is an even more dreadful possibility,” the Iron Sword Martial Saint murmured, drawing the attention of Yan Baishou and Xiahou An.

Worse?

“It is possible the Duan family has the backing of the Rising Sun Trading Company!” the Iron Sword Martial Saint declared.

Yan Baishou and Xiahou An both inhaled sharply. “If that is true, this situation has become truly troublesome,” Xiahou An’s face shifted slightly.

The Rising Sun Trading Company—it wielded influence across the entire world. In the slave trade alone, this company controlled perhaps thirty percent, and they maintained their own sworn guards in nearly every city! Though dispersed across the land, if they were ever to mobilize, the sheer numbers would represent a terrifying force.

“Let’s not rush things now,”

The Iron Sword Martial Saint said calmly. “Previously, we aimed to take North Dwarf Mountain in one swift push, which would have been a success of magnitude. But since we failed to take it, we should not be hasty about advancing. After all… to this moment, the Tantai family, the Dong family, and that Fu family have shown no movement whatsoever. They mobilized such large armies; they couldn't have done so just to watch the show.”

Yan Baishou and Xiahou An nodded in agreement.

“For now, we wait and observe,” the Iron Sword Martial Saint gazed toward North Dwarf Mountain. The base of the mountain was now occupied by Duan family troops. “Furthermore, Master Teng is on the summit of North Dwarf Mountain. It’s impossible for the Duan family army to capture the peak.”

“Yes, it is impossible.”

Recalling the display of power Teng Qingshan had previously exhibited, Yan Baishou and Xiahou An felt even more secure.

“Let the Duan family also taste Master Teng’s methods,” Yan Baishou thought with a touch of malice.

The summit of North Dwarf Mountain.

Teng Qingshan remained seated cross-legged and still. The bloody carnage that had unfolded below had not disturbed him in the slightest.

“The Duan family does possess some skill, managing to force both the Xiahou and Yan families into retreat,” Teng Qingshan observed the armies below him.

The troops below formed ranks with disciplined order. Tens of thousands of soldiers simultaneously stared up at the peak, and the pressure of being targeted by so many eyes should have been immense. Yet, Teng Qingshan gazed down upon them with a faint smile, as if a deity observing countless ordinary mortals.

“Master Teng!” A clear yet resonant voice carried up from the army formations. “I am Duan Shijin. I have long admired your name. I was fortunate enough to witness your battle with the Iron Sword Martial Saint a few days ago—your talent is undeniable. However, my Duan family commands one hundred thousand troops, and we have no desire to become your enemy. I request you yield North Dwarf Mountain… in return, my Duan family will offer generous compensation afterward.”

Teng Qingshan shook his head and smiled faintly.

“Duan Shijin, I advise you to depart swiftly,” Teng Qingshan’s clear voice echoed through the forest.

“Master Teng…” Duan Shijin attempted another persuasion.

“Depart swiftly,” Teng Qingshan repeated, his tone chilling.

Duan Shijin, having not seen Teng Qingshan’s previous demonstrations of power, did not truly believe one man could repel an army of thousands intent on seizing a mountain top. He immediately gave the order. Nearly a thousand soldiers rushed toward various points at the base of North Dwarf Mountain and began climbing almost simultaneously. When these soldiers were halfway up the difficult ascent—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Burning pebbles whistled through the air, striking the rock face of North Dwarf Mountain, causing sections to explode. Great cascades of shattered rock tumbled down, smashing into many climbers who fell from their precarious positions, striking the boulders below, their skulls splitting open, resulting in instant death. A few were lucky enough to survive.

In just one volley, the Duan family lost several hundred men.

A chorus of pained groans and sharp screams rose up.

The Duan family soldiers watching the scene turned pale, dreading the order to climb themselves.

“This… this…” Duan Shijin, sheltered among his troops, was a refined middle-aged man, but his expression was now quite displeased.

“Brother Duan,” a low voice approached.

A man clad in darkened armor, his head also covered by a helmet, walked forward. His features were obscured by the steel mesh visor of the helmet, making his face impossible to discern.

Duan Shijin turned, rushed forward to meet him.

“Give it up,” the armored man approached and spoke quietly to Duan Shijin for some time. Initially, Duan Shijin disagreed vehemently, but a moment later, he finally consented.

“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan watched the soldiers below retreat, then begin tending to their wounded and dead, setting up camp. Wisps of cooking smoke even began to rise, indicating they were preparing meals.

“They gave up so quickly,” Teng Qingshan smiled faintly. “Giving up is fine, too. In any case, North Dwarf Mountain absolutely cannot be entirely seized by any single major clan. It would be best if the Tantai, Wu, Dong, and other families also moved their armies closer, encircling the canyon. Then, mutual restraint among all parties…”

Everything proceeded according to Teng Qingshan’s plan. No single family dared to completely surround the canyon; doing so would invite coordinated attacks from all other assembled clans.

Each family occupied a different section of the territory surrounding the canyon.

The Xiahou family, Yan family, Duan family, Dong family, Tantai family, Wu family—and the Fu family, which arrived on the second morning—all established positions near the Blazing Liquid Iron Canyon. These seven powers maintained a standoff, neutralizing each other. Among them, the Yan and Xiahou families, clearly allied, held the greatest overall strength.

Inside a large tent in the Fu family camp.

Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, Teng Shou, Yang Dong—along with the Azure Luan and the Gale Eagle—were all present.

“Master,” Fu Dao entered the tent.

“Master, you have worked hard this time. If not for you, the Xiahou and Yan families would likely have secured North Dwarf Mountain. With their combined strength holding the tactical advantage, and then sealing off the canyon, taking it back would require an army five or six times their size,” Fu Dao remarked cheerfully.

Teng Qingshan shook his head. “Fu Dao, your Fu family forces are too few; seizing this mine vein will be difficult.”

Even with Teng Qingshan’s transcendent power, he was still only one man.

“Indeed,” Fu Dao said anxiously. “Now that the seven powers are deadlocked, our Fu family can only maintain parity with the other six because of Master’s presence! With your strength, you could certainly claim North Dwarf Mountain alone. But our Fu family…”

Fu Dao understood their inherent weakness.

“Fu Dao, the other families outside are likely beginning to form alliances now, correct?” Teng Qingshan inquired.

“Yes.”

Fu Dao nodded. “The Wu family suffered heavy losses after being attacked sequentially by the Yan and Xiahou families this time. The Tantai family, the Dong family, and the others must realize the situation. If they don't ally, it will be incredibly hard for any single one of them to monopolize the Blazing Liquid Iron ore vein. Unfortunately, no one has approached our Fu family for an alliance yet.”

“Master Teng,” a voice called from within the tent.

“Come in,” Teng Qingshan replied.

The person who entered was the Fu family head, ‘Fu Yunzhan.’ Fu Yunzhan beamed as he looked at Fu Dao. “Uncle, envoys from the Duan family have arrived outside.”

“The Duan family?” Fu Dao couldn’t hide his sudden delight.

“However, they requested an audience specifically with Master Teng,” Fu Yunzhan turned toward Teng Qingshan.