As for Zong Shou’s luck, Zong Ling did not elaborate on its specifics. She simply walked past and settled into a private box not far away, to the side.

Before leaving, however, Huang Xiao looked at Yin Yang and said, “The Purple Thunder Spear Sect did not come to Yun Sheng City to assassinate the Heir Apparent. But Brother Yin must still be cautious. Are you aware that six days ago, the one from Yun Xia Mountain dispatched all two thousand of his subordinate Fire Wolf Riders to garrison East Wei Mountain?”

Yin Yang’s expression tightened, and he gave a slight nod in response. However, he offered no further comment, neither confirming nor denying belief.

Meanwhile, deep within his chest, Zong Shou inwardly thought, Just as I suspected. The situation in Qian Tian Mountain had indeed shifted.

East Wei Mountain was a geographical location, also situated west of the East Lin Yun Continent. It lay three thousand seven hundred li south of Qian Tian Mountain, not only occupying a vital strategic point but also lying extremely close to Gu He City, the great demon city controlled by Qian Tian Mountain. Traveling at full speed on a Wind-Treading Colt, it would take only an hour to reach.

The Fire Wolf Riders were also renowned throughout the East Lin Yun Continent. Rumor held that the weakest among them possessed the cultivation of a fifth-tier Martial Master, with as many as a hundred being Secret Martial Masters. Furthermore, they were recruited entirely from the young and vigorous members of the Fire Wolf clan, naturally capable of controlling fire and flame. They were one of Yun Xia Mountain’s most elite forces.

Zong Shou was not entirely clear on the precise details. He vaguely knew that Gu He City served as the southern anchor for Qian Tian Mountain’s power.

The cities of the East Lin Yun Continent rose and fell like scattered tiles, interlocking and overlapping; some areas even functioned as a kingdom within a kingdom. Although Qian Tian Mountain controlled several provinces and millions of demons, it did not encompass all the humans within its territory.

It merely held sway over a dozen or so great demon cities scattered across the region. Due to its overwhelming strength, quite a number of human cities also sought refuge under Qian Tian Mountain’s banner.

And Gu He City was not only a formidable pass and the center of trade routes, but it was also the linchpin controlling the demons of an entire province and over a dozen human towns within a thousand li radius.

Should it fall, the entire southern territory of Qian Tian Mountain, spanning thousands of li, would likely be lost to the enemy.

Before this external threat emerged, Zong Shou and Zong Yang had contended fiercely for the title of Demon King of Qian Tian Mountain, leaving Zong Shou constantly on precarious footing.

But now, with a great enemy looming, unity and cooperation would be necessary to preserve Qian Tian Mountain’s domain. Losing this foundation would benefit no one.

If he were to die now, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for Qian Tian Mountain. The disintegration of morale was an almost certain outcome.

Even if those three parties still harbored designs against him, the various clan leaders of Qian Tian Mountain, and even the elders of the Tian Hu Clan, would likely not permit it.

Reflecting on this, Zong Shou couldn't help but let out a soft, wry laugh. So that was it. The reason ‘he’ had managed to survive after being expelled from the Ling Yun Sect and held the position of Demon King for several years was likely due to this Yun Xia Mountain situation.

Since neither side—the east wind nor the west wind—could utterly crush the other, achieving a stalemate, the optimal strategy would be to first establish a puppet whom everyone could accept.

Yet, inwardly, he was secretly astonished. The people of Yun Xia Mountain were perhaps too obtuse. If it were him, he would have withdrawn his influence, waiting for the enemy’s internal chaos to escalate. Wouldn’t that have been better?

Rushing to move two thousand Fire Wolf Riders to East Wei Mountain was truly an act of supreme foolishness—

Who was the Demon King of Yun Xia Mountain again? He couldn’t recall. Considering that he had managed to hold off Zong Weiran for five years using the power of three provinces, only falling slightly behind, he shouldn't be a fool. Could there be another reason?

As Zong Shou mused over these matters, he watched Huang Xiao flash him a flattering smile: “The Heir Apparent must also be careful. The great undertaking of Qian Tian Mountain still requires your succession. Now, it is not only the people of Yun Xia Mountain, but perhaps even Blazing Flame Mountain, who might move against you. While the Purple Thunder Spear has reached Yun Sheng City, the foremost among the Seven Swords of Yun Xia Mountain also arrived the day before yesterday, and is currently within this very place—”

Having finished speaking, Huang Xiao bowed respectfully once more before departing into the private box where Zong Ling was waiting.

Zong Shou wore a look of utter bewilderment. He knew of the Purple Thunder Spear Sect because the individual in question was inherently one of the Tian Hu Clan.

As for the so-called Nine Swords of Yun Xia Mountain that Huang Xiao mentioned, Zong Shou had never heard of them.

Yin Yang, however, physically shuddered, sweeping his gaze sharply across the room. In moments, his focus settled on the main hall below. There, at the furthest corner table on the left, sat a gaunt, middle-aged man dressed in black, seated alone. The seats beside him were empty, yet no one dared approach.

As if sensing Yin Yang’s gaze, the man glanced back before turning his head away. His face bore a centipede-like tattoo, making him appear incredibly ferocious, and his eyes were intensely frigid.

Zong Shou’s gaze narrowed as well. This person, too, was at the peak of the Earth Wheel Three Meridians—a peak Innate Martial Master!

After a Martial Master entered the Earth Wheel realm, opening each subsequent meridian brought about a world-altering change in strength.

The old man Zong Shou had killed previously was merely at the Earth Wheel Two Meridians, and his power was already constrained within the Blood Spirit Valley.

But this man before him, just like the Purple Thunder Spear cultivator earlier, had already grasped the 'Aura' of the Martial Way! He was only half a step away from the Martial Ancestor realm.

Just as Zong Shou was about to ask Yin Yang about this man’s origins, the entire teahouse suddenly fell silent.

Over a dozen men in green robes, escorting an elderly man, walked to the center of the teahouse. Each held a tray covered with silk cloth, which they placed sequentially upon a table.

The old man first cupped his hands toward the onlookers, offering a few perfunctory, polite words—something along the lines of gratitude for everyone’s kind attention.

Just as Chu Xue was growing impatient, the old man finally stopped speaking and lifted the silk cloth from the first tray.

Revealed within was a sword, lying quietly inside. It was pure black, its surface covered in wave-like patterns.

Then, the entire teahouse was silent enough to hear a pin drop. Everyone, whether a martial cultivator or a spirit master, stared at the tray with fervent eyes.

The old man’s voice began the explanation: “Most of you likely already know. This item was pawned to our shop a year ago by an Innate Martial Master, in exchange for one hundred third-tier Beast Cores. The pledge period has now expired, and it is up for sale. Whether it is genuine or not, you may sense it yourselves. Today, we set the starting bid at one hundred third-tier Beast Cores. Highest bidder takes it!”

As these words fell, the teahouse remained utterly silent. Everyone watched quietly, but no one made a bid.

Though this sword was precious, it was useless to anyone below a Martial Master or Spirit Cultivator who had achieved Innate Out of Body—it would only invite trouble.

The old man was not in a hurry, knowing that only a select few present qualified to bid on this sword. He waited patiently, not pressing for a bid.

Zong Shou also gazed intently at the spirit sword, his expression one of deep confusion.

This Black Wave Sword brought him no sense of pleasant surprise. It was utterly ordinary, perhaps the weakest type among spirit implements.

Yet, the instant his gaze connected with it, he felt an ethereal, profound sensation within his mind, akin to a spiritual resonance.

“This is ‘Rhyme’? Strange. I wonder who the owner was, to nurture Sword Rhyme into the blade? Did he carry it for thirty or fifty years without any damage? No, it feels slightly inconsistent. This feeling suggests invincibility, the power to shatter all things—how could that merge with a mere water-attribute Black Wave Sword?”

That faint Sword Rhyme was elusive, barely perceptible. Others might not notice it, but Zong Shou, whose martial intent was honed to the extreme, could never ignore it.