Teng Qingshan, standing atop the mountain peak, turned his gaze westward. "It's Duan family's army." Teng Qingshan instantly recognized the force slicing in from the western entrance of the Huoliu Iron Gorge as the combined army of the Duan and Fu families, because Teng Qingshan himself had sealed the eastern entrance.

This move left the thousands of soldiers from the Tantai, Wu, and Dong families trapped within the gorge without rear support, turning them into a source with no water! "Run for your lives!" "Quickly!" Those soldiers scrambled desperately, trying to clamber over the massive boulders blocking the exit.

Some nimble individuals managed to slip through. But the vast majority never stood a chance.

"Those who surrender shall live!" "Those who surrender shall live!" "Those who surrender shall live!"... The allied forces of the Fu and Duan families roared deafeningly, advancing with war blades and long spears, slaughtering as they went.

Terrified, the enemy troops who couldn't escape could only throw down their weapons and kneel. Those who did so were naturally bypassed by the Fu and Duan soldiers, their lives spared.

In the hundred-clan hegemony across the Duanmu Continent, the practice of accepting and integrating surrendered troops had long been established. After all, given the chaotic state of the world, it was unreasonable to expect these soldiers to resist to the death.

... Atop North Dwarf Mountain peak, the forces aligned with the Tantai, Wu, and Dong families initially held the upper hand.

However, because Teng Qingshan had sealed the eastern entrance, the lack of support caused deep panic among their troops, drastically lowering morale. Now, the Iron Sword Martial Saint's side was gaining a steady advantage, and even many soldiers from the Tantai family faction were beginning to surrender.

If things continued this way, the Iron Sword Martial Saint's faction would capture North Dwarf Mountain within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. Alas, reality was not as rosy as the Iron Sword Martial Saint envisioned!

"Move out!" "Hurry, climb!" The moment the Duan and Fu allied forces burst into the gorge, many elite soldiers from both families rapidly scaled North Dwarf Mountain using ropes, ladders, and tools left behind by the Tantai faction. "Kill!" "Die!" The elite soldiers of the Duan and Fu faction howled as they charged the enemy.

Among these elites were a contingent of special soldiers—troops wielding massive greatswords, with pairs of small axes clipped to their waists, clad in strange, jet-black, full-body armor! This group of specialized soldiers, silent and dedicated only to swinging their heavy blades, brought instant advantage to the Duan and Fu side.

Slash! Slash!

Slash! Be it cleaving men in two or sending heads flying...

These silent swordsmen immediately put the Iron Sword Martial Saint's forces on the retreat. "Truly formidable," Teng Qingshan mused internally.

"What kind of specialized unit is this? Impeccably disciplined, silent killers, moving like machines.

And they handle such colossal blades so easily... clearly, every one of them is at least a Second-Rate Martial Artist." This unique army’s quality was evidently comparable to the Black Armored Army of the Guiyuan Sect!

"Is this the Fu family's Divine Blade Guard, or the Rising Sun Merchant Guild's Cloud Dream Guard?" Teng Qingshan knew his own faction possessed two special units, but he had never encountered either. "However, from Mu Yunji's tone...

they seem reluctant to commit the Cloud Dream Guard, so this is likely the Divine Blade Guard!" "The Fu family... a mere family controlling a small city, yet they maintain such an army." "This Fu family is not as simple as they appear on the surface," Teng Qingshan reflected.

** Among the Iron Sword Martial Saint's troops. "Brother Helian, North Dwarf Mountain is about to fall to the Duan family, and the Hanyu Guard has just arrived here—why aren't you letting the 'Hanyu Guard' engage?" Xiahou An urged, growing anxious.

Yan Baishou also looked worriedly at the Iron Sword Martial Saint: "Brother Helian, the special unit up on the summit wielding the great blades—only the Hanyu Guard can counter them!" "It's useless." The Iron Sword Martial Saint gazed toward the peak of North Dwarf Mountain. "When the Tantai faction suddenly launched their ambush earlier, it was only because the Hanyu Guard led the other troops to hold the line against the Tantai attack that we managed to rally and counterattack.

Now, while the Hanyu Guard has arrived from the front lines, Teng Qingshan is on the summit." "With Teng Qingshan present, and that giant blade unit that materialized from nowhere, sending the Hanyu Guard up would just be sending them to their deaths," the Iron Sword Martial Saint shook his head. "Are we just going to concede?" Yan Baishou pressed anxiously.

"Certainly not!" The Iron Sword Martial Saint's eyes turned cold, his voice low. "Our Tianfeng family will never admit defeat.

However, the current situation is clearly unfavorable; it is entirely unsuitable for a direct assault! This Rising Sun Merchant Guild is truly formidable...

to produce such a special army, complemented by the strongest Martial Saint, Teng Qingshan!" The Fu family's 'Divine Blade Guard' was a closely guarded secret! The Rising Sun Merchant Guild had managed to discover it, but the Tianfeng family had failed to uncover it.

"For now, we can only temporarily retreat!" "We are unwilling to yield, and the Tantai faction and the other two families feel the same!" The Iron Sword Martial Saint's gaze was sharp as he looked towards North Dwarf Mountain. "Teng Qingshan is powerful, yes, but...

when the time comes, our side, along with the forces of the three Tantai families, will press them with over three hundred thousand troops! I refuse to believe that just the Duan family, coupled with a weak Fu family, can withstand us!" ...

Indeed, the situation unfolded as the Iron Sword Martial Saint had predicted: in the great game of world conquest, there are rarely eternal enemies. Previously, the three Tantai families and the Iron Sword Martial Saint's faction were locked in a bloody feud.

But now... the Duan and Fu families had seized Huoliu Iron Gorge, providing the Tantai faction and the Iron Sword Martial Saint's faction with a common objective and a common enemy—the Duan-Fu allied army!

** Inside Huoliu Iron Gorge. "Haha, Mr.

Teng, we truly owe you everything this time," Mu Yunji strode over, laughing heartily. Beside him, Fu Dao, Fu Yunzhan, and Duan Shijin all wore bright smiles.

Fu Dao even chuckled, "Mr. Teng, that stomp of yours truly shook the earth!" Teng Qingshan also laughed.

Everyone was joyous... because they had successfully occupied Huoliu Iron Gorge.

"Now, this Huoliu Iron Gorge belongs to us," Mu Yunji declared, looking over the blood-soaked canyon, a triumphant smile on his face. He knew...

that beneath this gorge lay an incomparably precious Huoliu Iron ore vein. "We shouldn't celebrate too early," Duan Shijin interjected.

"Agreed." Fu Dao and Mu Yunji both nodded. "We've taken Huoliu Iron Gorge, but whether it's the Yan family, the Xiahou family, or the Tantai, Wu, and Dong families—none of them will peacefully accept this outcome," Mu Yunji stated gravely.

"The most likely scenario is that those five families will surround Huoliu Iron Gorge heavily, but we... are not afraid of them!" Mu Yunji revealed a confident grin.

"Haha, we managed to seize Huoliu Iron Gorge, what is there to fear about defending it?" Fu Dao laughed along. "Brother Duan," Mu Yunji turned to Duan Shijin.

"For the two mountains flanking Huoliu Iron Gorge, North Dwarf and South Dwarf, assign five thousand soldiers to North Dwarf Mountain. Assign eight hundred to South Dwarf Mountain.

Issue them strict orders... if a single enemy manages to climb up, shoot them down!" "Relax, this small task is easily managed," Duan Shijin replied confidently.

Once they secured the high ground, with an endless stream of reinforcements arriving later, it would be nearly impossible for the enemy to capture the position! "Mr.

Fu," Mu Yunji addressed Fu Dao. "Mr.

Teng has sealed the Eastern Entrance. However...

the blockade is only a few dozen zhang high; the enemy might still be able to climb over. Therefore, the Eastern Entrance is entrusted to your Fu family.

Absolutely do not let the enemy pass through and enter the gorge." "No problem," Fu Dao replied with a confident smile. The Eastern Entrance was only a few dozen zhang wide and already blocked.

If several hundred Divine Blade Guards were stationed there, they could cut down any number of attackers. "Now, the most dangerous point remains the Western Entrance!" Mu Yunji looked west.

"South Dwarf Mountain stretches over three hundred zhang, while North Dwarf Mountain extends nearly four hundred zhang. Their lengths are uneven...

and while our combined forces are nearly a hundred thousand strong, the gorge, though large, cannot accommodate all our troops; many soldiers remain outside the canyon walls." "Holding off the enemy attack will be quite difficult." ... When Teng Qingshan arrived at the western flank, he finally understood Mu Yunji's anxiety.

If North and South Dwarf Mountains had been a hundred zhang longer, they could have sheltered everyone, simplifying defense. But as it stood...

the Duan and Fu families could only construct rudimentary defensive works outside using stones and timber. Large formations of soldiers stood neatly behind these barricades.

That afternoon. Outside the western defenses, vast enemy armies began to assemble.

The other five major families had clearly coalesced into a single bloc. "Duan Shijin, Fu Dao!" Wu Baiwei, the Patriarch of the Wu family, stood near the female Martial Saint and called out loudly, "This Huoliu Iron ore vein is not something the two of you can swallow alone!

It would be far better if our several parties sat down and properly discussed how to divide the vein, wouldn't it?" Inside the defenses, Duan Shijin, Fu Dao, Mu Yunji, and Teng Qingshan stood together, with Li Jun and Teng Shou nearby. "Haha...

Wu Baiwei, why didn't you want to discuss dividing the ore vein with my Fu family earlier?" Fu Dao laughed. "Haha...

now that I possess this ore, you ask me to share it with you—do you take me for an idiot? Or are you the idiot yourself?

Haha..." Fu Dao's booming laughter made Wu Baiwei in the opposing army's ranks grimace. "Duan Shijin, Fu Dao, do you truly intend to let rivers of blood flow?" A low voice rang out—it was Yan Baishou, enraged.

"Whether blood flows is for you to decide!" Duan Shijin responded loudly. "If you don't attack, do you expect us to turn around and assault you?" The voices of both sides echoed above Bull Head Mountain.

"Duan Shijin, Fu Dao, you should stop trying to smash a rock with an egg," the Grand Elder of the Dong family sneered, his gaze sweeping over them. But upon spotting Teng Qingshan, his eyes widened sharply; Teng Qingshan had once casually kicked him away when capturing Dong Zizhi.

At this moment, the two opposing sides were clearly unwilling to back down. Inside the defenses.

"Mr. Teng," Mu Yunji murmured quietly.

"Hm?" Teng Qingshan turned to him. "Mr.

Teng, I mentioned before that we might have to ask you to deploy that Fire Divine Bird! Defending against so many troops, my original plan would have resulted in heavy casualties among the Cloud Dream Guard.

But if the Fire Divine Bird attacks, the outcome will be much better," Mu Yunji whispered. Teng Qingshan looked into the distance at the endless, surging mass of enemy soldiers that stretched beyond sight.

What would happen if those soldiers were scorched by the Azure Luan Fire?