As Xuan Yuan Tong worried about the troubles brewing at Yun Xia Mountain and Lie Yan Mountain, on a desolate, dusty road near Xuan Shan City, two groups of people in distinctly different attire faced off across the thoroughfare.
The numbers were not large, perhaps only a hundred in each contingent, yet their auras were undeniably fierce and imposing. Every mount was a rare Wind-Riding Steed, and the iron armor they wore was exquisitely crafted, etched with potent talismans. Furthermore, both parties displayed subtle, somewhat bestial characteristics.
At the very center of the road sat two figures opposite one another. One was immense, built like a massive bear, his face covered in a thick beard, his eyes ferocious. The other was of average height but possessed a lean, hardened physique, slender and wiry, with only moderate musculature. He sat there lazily, yet exuded an aura of extreme danger. His well-proportioned limbs seemed coiled with explosive power.
“That Heir Apparent intends to return to Qian Tian Mountain. He dare not trespass on our Yun Xia Mountain’s territory, and he is forbidden from traversing the lands under the jurisdiction of your Lie Yan Mountain—”
Over four hundred torches were planted nearby, illuminating the scene as brightly as day.
The slender man kept his head down, using a twig to sketch on the ground. In a mere moment, a map of the Eastern Lin Yun Continent sprang into existence. He then tapped the twig lightly on a long, narrow stretch of mountains running nearly halfway through the southwestern cloud paths.
“As for beyond the Cloud Sea, with the Western Sea’s Tao Yun City blockading, he cannot go that way either. When all is counted, there is only this one route left for him to take. —”
“The Ruo Hai Mountain Range?”
The eyes of the imposing man opposite narrowed slightly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips: “This place is truly troublesome. There are at least four major paths in and out of this region, and they are vastly separated. The closest is over a thousand li apart, separated by towering peaks thousands of feet high. Even with cavalry mounted on Cloud-Treading Steeds, redeployment would take three days. To intercept him will not be easy. If it were just the few around him, it would be simple; even we at Lie Yan Mountain could dispatch a few Xuan Wu Masters at any time. But if Xuan Yuan Tong truly throws his full support behind him, a massive army will be required for an interception. Yet this territory lies precisely between Qian Tian Mountain and Xuan Shan City. Sending too few troops risks annihilation; sending too many risks undermining the foundations of both our factions. I suspect that Heir Apparent wouldn't dare come. Is such a monumental mobilization truly necessary?”
“This isn't about Zong Shou himself. It’s merely about severing the connection between Xuan Shan City and Qian Tian Mountain, clipping his wings. If Xuan Yuan Tong is willing to dispatch a large army for him, so much the better; we will meet them in a decisive battle within the Ruo Hai Mountain Range. If not, we can establish strongholds here. Each of us takes two sectors, and all twenty-five spirit stone mines within the Ruo Hai Mountain Range—currently divided between Qian Tian and Xuan Shan—can fall into our hands. Surely, Heir Apparent Xiong Kui didn't come solely for this? In the past, those three hoped Zong Shou would return to the mountain. But now, this child has secured Xuan Yuan Tong’s backing. And that Iron Tiger’s stance is still unpredictable. Whether it is Zong Shi or Zong Yang, they must be deeply uneasy. In normal times, if Qian Tian Mountain simply sent any contingent of troops, we wouldn't stand a chance; only now is there a slight possibility.”
The slender man let out a cold sneer: “Spare me the probing, Xiong Kui. Most tribes of the Xiong Clan are straightforward and honest folk, yet your Yan Xiong Clan is as cunning as a fox. Be straightforward. I won't take advantage of you, but this Ruo Hai Mountain Range is somewhat distant from my Yun Xia Mountain. We can commit at most four hundred and fifty thousand elites and seven Xuan Wu Grandmasters. How about your Lie Yan Mountain provides six hundred thousand? With over two hundred thousand troops guarding each of the four exits, that force will be enough to contend with Xuan Shan City!”
“That would be for the best!”
Xiong Kui agreed without hesitation, but a trace of probing curiosity immediately surfaced in his eyes: “However, Brother Feng, are you truly preparing to kill that Qian Tian Heir Apparent?”
The slender man raised an eyebrow, his tone chilling: “How could that be? Killing Zong Shou benefits me, Feng Yu, in no way. It would only serve those three others. Capturing him alive is far better, giving us an extra bargaining chip. If that fails, killing him is acceptable. On this matter, let our two factions compete on skill.”
Xiong Kui roared with laughter, then pointed at the map with his twig: “Then it is settled. However, before the main armies gather, I intend to scout the area myself. Brother Feng, are you interested in accompanying me on a trip?”
“This place—is it Jie Fu City?” Feng Yu’s brow immediately furrowed as he followed Xiong Kui’s gaze, his eyes thoughtful.
“Precisely that city!”
Xiong Kui nodded slightly: “Whichever route one takes to enter the Ruo Hai Mountain Range from the east, one must pass through this city. It is the third-largest cultivator market in the Eastern Lin Yun Continent. Rumor has it that Dan Quan Sect and Kong Qi Sect both have shipments of spirit artifacts and elixirs to sell here recently. It will be incredibly lively. I suspect that Qian Tian Heir Apparent will certainly go have a look. I must join in on this excitement, and while I’m there, gauge just what capability this Heir Apparent possesses, to make Xuan Yuan Tong nod and actually marry his daughter to that good-for-nothing—”
Feng Yu only pondered for a moment before nodding slightly. His Yun Xia Mountain also needed to acquire some high-grade spiritual treasures, so going to observe was worthwhile.
※ ※ ※ ※
Xuan Yuan Yi Ren refined elixirs at an astonishing pace, day and night. The few second and third-tier spirit elixirs Zong Shou required were successfully concocted within just a few days.
Zong Shou visited her thrice daily, without fail. He watched with his own eyes as his righteous little benefactor gradually grew tired and haggard. His heart ached terribly, and though he wished to assist, Yi Ren forcibly drove him out of the alchemy chamber every day, claiming he was in the way.
Helpless, Zong Shou vented all his pent-up frustration onto Zong Yuan. He subjected Zong Yuan to relentless, non-stop training from dawn till dusk. For twelve hours a day, Zong Yuan was allowed only half an hour of rest.
Watching this, Hu Zhong Yuan’s scalp tingled with fear. He deliberately kept his distance every day, and upon seeing Zong Shou, he would consciously hide in a corner, afraid that this Heir Apparent, clearly exhibiting abusive tendencies, might remember him and subject him to a similar brutal ‘coaching.’
But after five or six days passed, Hu Zhong Yuan began to feel a strange envy. Zong Yuan’s life was undoubtedly harsh, but his rate of progress was terrifying. Since breaking through the Martial Grandmaster realm, it was like a dam bursting; he couldn't be contained. Aided by the elixirs, in just over ten days, he managed to thoroughly refine the fourth cycle of his Earth Veins.
It seemed that with another half a month of effort, he could integrate another spiritual vein and truly reach the realm of four Earth Meridians.
Conversely, Hu Zhong Yuan had remained stagnant during this time. He had clearly touched the barrier to advancing to the Xuan Wu Ancestor realm but simply couldn't find the opportunity to break through. At this rate, he wouldn't make further progress for another four or five years of steady cultivation.
Jealous of Zong Yuan’s advancement, Hu Zhong Yuan immediately changed his strategy, sticking close to Zong Shou all day long, shaking his head and waving his arms, almost explicitly telling Zong Shou, I am here, notice me! Come on, Heir Apparent, come and torment me!
Zong Shou was speechless with frustration. He couldn't spare time for the fellow, so he casually pointed out some flaws in Hu Zhong Yuan’s saber movements and, fulfilling his earlier promise, personally taught him a saber technique he recalled from the Tiger Clan, causing Hu Zhong Yuan immense surprise and joy.
Yet, amidst the elation, Hu Zhong Yuan felt a flicker of dissatisfaction, musing that having a good appearance truly counted for more. This Zong Yuan was fair-skinned and handsome, looking entirely like a pretty boy. Could there be some ‘illicit affair’ between him and the Heir Apparent? Otherwise, why would the Heir Apparent always prefer to abuse him rather than seek me out?
About ten days later, the final ingredient on Zong Shou’s formula, the Cool Snow Fearless Pill, was finally produced. Xuan Yuan Yi Ren was almost completely exhausted, which caused Zong Shou greater heartache and guilt. For the last two days in Xuan Shan City, he stayed by her side constantly.
It wasn't until the fifteenth day since arriving in Xuan Shan City, when Zong Shou remembered his agreement with Hu Zhong Yuan, leaving him only about twenty days remaining, that he reluctantly set off.
The group was accompanied by Xuan Yuan Yi Ren to just outside the city gates. But the moment they passed through the gates, they saw a dense mass of cavalry lined up neatly by the roadside.
They were all clad in black talisman armor, each equipped with a four-foot long broadsword, an eighteen-foot steel spear, and a vermilion longbow.
Their mounts were also quite peculiar. Some resembled lizards but were distinct from them. Not only were their forms graceful with slightly elongated legs, but their exterior was pale green, and they possessed two seemingly vestigial wings on their flanks. They could hover in the air, resting about a foot above the ground.
“Is this the Wind Wing Dragon Beast? The Xuan Jia Wind Dragon Cavalry of Xuan Shan City?”
Zong Shou’s pupils immediately constricted. The Wind Wing Dragon Beast was also a third-tier spirit beast; its top speed was slightly higher than the Cloud-Treading Steed but a notch below the Wind-Riding Steed.
However, the hide armor on these beasts was impervious to blades, and they possessed immense strength, making them better suited for combat formations. Though slower, they outnumbered the Wind-Riding Steeds immensely.
The Xuan Jia Wind Dragon Cavalry of Xuan Shan City was a renowned elite cavalry force throughout the Eastern Lin Yun Continent. In terms of ranking, they were even above the Fire Wolf Cavalry of Yun Xia City.
The only force capable of firmly surpassing them was his father, Zong Wei Ran’s personal guard, the Xuan Hu Iron Cavalry. Legend held that every rider within that force was a dual cultivator of Spirit and Martial arts. Numbering only about a thousand, they were considered invincible globally; even the reclusive sects feared their edge.
But after Zong Wei Ran retreated into the Sunken Cloud Sea, the whereabouts of this Demon King’s personal guard became unknown.
During his time in the east of the Cloud Continent, especially after leaving Dan Ling Mountain, the various factions had only sent small fry to test the waters partly because they feared this Demon King’s personal army.
Glancing casually over these knights, Zong Shou noted there were dozens of initial-stage Martial Grandmasters alone, along with ten Martial Ancestor powerhouses, each commanding ten squads of a hundred men.
Though each possessed formidable martial prowess, there was not a trace of arrogance. They stood solemnly by the roadside, utterly silent, yet exuded a powerful aura that made it difficult to breathe.
It was estimated that this thousand-strong cavalry force alone could trample Xuan Sheng City and Lian Hai City flat!
After a brief moment of stunned realization, Zong Shou understood Xuan Yuan Tong’s intentions. While filled with gratitude, he also secretly grumbled; he had planned to spend some tender moments with Yi Ren before leaving, but given the current situation, that hope was dashed.
Riding forward to the front of the cavalry contingent, Zong Shou saw Xuan Yuan Tong smiling: “Your mother-in-law still refuses to see you. Her nature is intensely proud; she has always been this way. Don’t blame her for being too stubborn to humble herself.”
Seeing Zong Shou nod and offer a polite salute without showing any unusual expression, Xuan Yuan Tong looked back: “This is the personal army I have spent decades cultivating. From this day forward, they are yours! These men have followed me for more than ten years; you can trust them—” (To be continued)