"Elder Xie!" Ye Xiu's eyes flashed with hatred. He naturally understood that Elder Xie's True Essence was the key to fusing the Quicksand Sword. "Since the City Lord has a plan, just say it plainly."

Xuan Hu waved his hand, "The Profound Poison Mist relies on the Wing Clan's wings to generate the north wind and carry it upward. At that time, Yi Jianjun and Ye Feng Beiming will lead the elite Sword Guards to launch a surprise attack on the Wing Clan members, while Ye Xiu and Zuo Wencheng will lead the main army straight to the Beast Clan's encampment. However, all of this depends on my signal. Tomorrow, I will use my internal energy to resist the poison mist from approaching. Everyone only needs to observe the wind direction; once the wind direction changes, that is our signal to attack."

"Yes!" Everyone bowed deeply, but Ye Xiu harbored some doubt. What level of power did Wan Jian Xuan Hu possess to be able to alter the wind direction generated by the Wing Clan's Heavenly Wings single-handedly? Had he truly been concealing his strength all this time?

With the great battle imminent, the entirety of Ten Thousand Sword City was enveloped in an atmosphere of fog and tension. Upon the city tower, Wan Jian Xuan Hu was already issuing commands, ordering the battalions led by Ye Xiu and Zuo Wencheng to assemble for departure.

"Brother Ye, I'm counting on you." Xuan Hu raised the Thunderclap Startle that he held, and then a thunderous war drum resounded through the heavens. Clad in dark red light armor, Ye Xiu led the ten thousand elite Sword Guards of Ten Thousand Sword City to array themselves and set out. The concept of organized warfare in his heart had long since blurred; at this very moment, replacing his myriad thoughts was the mysterious Beast Clan Elder Xie, for the Quicksand Sword on his back required that elder's True Essence.

"Brother Ye!" Shen Ying ignored her attendants' dissuasions and climbed onto the tower to call out to Ye Xiu, "You must return alive."

"Rest assured, Shen Ying," Ye Xiu looked up and smiled while astride his horse, then raised the famous sword Heng Chen in his hand, "You know just how capable I am."

"Mm." Shen Ying held her hands across her chest, praying. Why did men always flock to the battlefield? Because that was the way they proved themselves.

Ye Xiu nodded toward Xuan Hu, waved a hand, and the large contingent marched out in grand procession, quickly establishing their position by the dark banks of the You'an River, facing the Beast Clan army across the water, not far from Ten Thousand Sword City.

On the other side, Elder Xie had also discerned the movements of the Human Clan. The Beast Clan vanguard, led by Feng Lei Cangshen, had already arrayed their formation, ready to strike and meet the enemy.

"Report to Elder Xie, the Abyss Heavenly Sovereign, leading the Wing Clan members, has appeared behind our camp." A guard delivered this crucial piece of intelligence to Elder Xie. Elder Xie let out a cold snort and beckoned Ming Bao to follow him, "I need to ascend the Shenlin Peak behind us to cast the spell. Follow me."

"Yes." Ming Bao nodded. The feather fan he had been holding was nowhere in sight; in its place was a slender, long spear.

Moments later, Elder Xie, accompanied by Ming Bao, ascended Shenlin Peak, where the Abyss Heavenly Sovereign had already been waiting for a long time: "Elder Xie, I hope your Eight Desolations Profound Pearl can exert the power it is due."

Elder Xie stepped into the pre-set formation and spoke slowly, "You Wing Clan's Heavenly Wings must hold steady, otherwise, if the poison mist backfires, not a single one of you will escape."

"Rise!" The Abyss Heavenly Sovereign had no desire for verbal sparring with Elder Xie. He only needed to utter his command, and the Wing Clan members began beating their wings, soaring into the sky. Immediately, swirls of vortex airflow formed on the ground below. He suddenly spread both hands, using his palms to control the chaotic whirlwinds, and with another burst of rapid concentration, all the Wing Clan members used the same method to slowly adjust the angle of their wings until they all pointed toward Ten Thousand Sword City, "Let the north wind rise!"

"Oh, they do have some skill," Ming Bao shielded his head with his hand; the intense force of the wind nearly kept his eyes shut.

"Very good," Elder Xie laughed sharply, revealing the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl. He lifted the pearl on his palm, then furrowed his brow deeply, concentrating all his internal energy into that single hand. Instantly, a green energy coiled up from his arm and ascended into the air, enveloping the entire Profound Pearl. The Eight Desolations Profound Pearl was well-named; the previously crystal-clear sphere immediately began to emit terrifying green and black colors, one deep, one shallow, interweaving and causing the entire pearl to spin ceaselessly.

"Elder Xie, is that broken bead of yours ready yet?" Although the Abyss Heavenly Sovereign agreed to cooperate with the Beast Clan, he inwardly disdained these fellows who only knew how to win through brute force.

Elder Xie ignored his taunt, continuing to channel his internal strength to catalyze the energy conversion within the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl. The green color had now grown denser, even beginning to spread from the pearl into the surrounding air: "Your north wind is insufficient! The Myriad Ages Yin Toxin, emerge!"

"Heavenly Wing Wave!" The Abyss Heavenly Sovereign spread his arms, raising the vibration frequency of the Wing Clan's wings to another level. A violent gale erupted, tearing up the nearby vegetation by the roots. Simultaneously, the green poison mist from the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl expanded, filling the entire sky. Driven by the Wing Clan's north wind, it raced rapidly toward Ten Thousand Sword City.

"City Lord, look! That mass of green smoke." A guard on the tower of Ten Thousand Sword City alerted Xuan Hu.

Xuan Hu composed himself and saw a dense green mist suddenly appear by the You'an River, surging toward Ten Thousand Sword City like a deluge: "This must be the Myriad Ages Yin Toxin Elder Xie spoke of. Hmph! Utter nonsense."

Ye Xiu's army clearly saw this strange phenomenon, and morale inevitably wavered somewhat.

"What is this, Zuo Wencheng? Have you seen anything like this before?" Ye Xiu asked Zuo Wencheng beside him. "Is this green smoke the poison mist the City Lord mentioned?"

"It is indeed. Looking at its speed, it will reach us soon. If it is truly poison mist, we are in danger," Zuo Wencheng was anxious but felt helpless. "The City Lord told us to wait for his signal; I truly don't know when that will come."

Ye Xiu leaned low over his horse, focusing on the movement of the poison mist. He waved to summon a messenger and said steadily, "Tell all soldiers to await my command. This smoke is nothing more than cooking fumes from the Beast Clan's kitchen; tell everyone not to worry. Say that Ye Xiu commanded it."

"Yes!" The messenger quickly summoned his subordinates and relayed Ye Xiu's order instantly.

"What do you mean by that? Cooking fumes!" Zuo Wencheng didn't fully grasp Ye Xiu's intention.

Ye Xiu smiled at him and said, "If even you doubt the City Lord's actions, never mind the situation of the soldiers down there who don't understand anything. In short, we must trust the City Lord this time. We will only issue the order to attack once the direction of the poison mist shifts."

As a mere deputy general, Zuo Wencheng was not qualified to debate military authority with Ye Xiu, but after Ye Xiu explained, he understood his intent. Everyone knew the importance of morale; if they were terrified by this strange smoke, wouldn't they lose before the fight even began?

"Report to the City Lord, that mass of smoke is almost upon the vanguard!" The guard on the tower once again alerted Xuan Hu.

Xuan Hu completely ignored his presence. At this moment, he had already picked up the Thunderclap Startle and was channeling his internal energy. He was still not entirely skilled in using the Savage Meridians; forcing them to obey his emotions might lead to backlash. At this juncture, what he needed to do was use the Savage Meridians to activate the ninth level of the Myriad Sword Art.

"Damn it! What in the world is Wan Jian Xuan Hu doing!" A cold sweat broke out on Ye Xiu's forehead. And at this moment, it wasn't just cold sweat—the enormous poison mist had almost moved directly over the entire army. What should he do?

"Hah!" At this critical juncture, Wan Jian Xuan Hu held his sword high above his head. There was no more time to wait. He couldn't worry about manipulating the Savage Meridians; waiting another second might result in the entire army being wiped out.

"Myriad Swords to Eight Directions!" A purple energy surged to Xuan Hu's brow. The power from both the Myriad Sword Art and the Savage Meridians caused dark clouds to gather over all of Ten Thousand Sword City. Dust and debris flew, mountains split and earth cracked in an instant. Wan Jian Xuan Hu thrust his sword down, and ten thousand sword lights, like flood dragons surging from the sea, shot out in all directions, stirring the surrounding air into a reversal. In a mere moment, the poison mist above the Human Clan army abruptly halted its advance.

"This..." Ye Xiu felt a surge of energy rapidly move through his body, and he instantly slumped powerlessly onto his horse.

"General Ye, what's wrong?" Zuo Wencheng was nearly terrified to death; his general had collapsed right before the formation.

"Hahahaha!" Wan Jian Xuan Hu let out a long roar, tossing the Thunderclap Startle into the air. Then, freeing both hands, he continuously poured powerful internal energy into the sword. The Savage Meridians within him were almost entirely released at this moment, and his entire body was enveloped in bursts of purple energy. "Myriad Sword Splendor!"

"Wooo..." A south wind rose, as if sighing for someone. Those on the city tower were stunned by the power Xuan Hu displayed, never imagining the City Lord possessed such an overwhelmingly dominating force.

"Pfft..." Ye Xiu spat out a mouthful of blood, nearly falling from his horse. How could this be? He looked down at his palm and saw a black current rotating back and forth. He knew that was the Desolation Meridian surging. He hadn't consciously activated any technique, so why was the Desolation Meridian in such a frenzied state? Had Gu Du Bing Chen appeared? Ye Xiu nervously glanced back at Ten Thousand Sword City, where a shroud of purple smoke enveloped the area. Who was standing there? Shouldn't that be Wan Jian Xuan Long? How could the same malevolent energy as Du Gu Bing Chen manifest?

"All troops, prepare!" Zuo Wencheng ignored Ye Xiu's inexplicable reaction and instead ordered the ten thousand Sword Guards to reform their ranks and prepare to force their way across the You'an River.

After that surge of power subsided, Ye Xiu recovered his senses. He looked up to see the poison mist slowly receding in the direction from which it came. Unrestrained excitement flooded him, and he raised Heng Chen high with a loud roar, "All soldiers, charge!"

Instantly, the ten thousand brave troops swiftly formed a square formation and surged forward. Their momentum was like ten thousand charging horses, unstoppable. This was the spirit that Human Clan soldiers should possess, the charge fueled by a resolve to die. That day, the Beast Clan massacred relentlessly in Ten Thousand Sword City; today was their moment for revenge. There was no need for mercy; this was war—a war that extinguished humanity!

"Not good!" On Shenlin Peak, Elder Xie suffered a backlash of internal energy from the Eight Desolations Profound Pearl, causing chaos. He looked up at the Abyss Heavenly Sovereign in the sky and cursed, "This is your north wind, hmph!"