A sigh of undisguised admiration escaped Li Luo as he gazed into the distance. In less than half an hour, they had already broken through three formations, and the fourth was on the verge of collapse. Those three thousand iron cavalrymen remained utterly unstoppable. At this moment, the morale of the entire Cloud Scars Flame allied forces, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, had plummeted to its absolute nadir, completely abandoning the mountain-like steadfastness they once possessed. Though his words praised those fighting on the front lines—the Black Armored Cavalry—the corner of his eye remained fixed on Zong Shou. He knew full well that the reason Zong Yuan could be so invincible, leading the three thousand horsemen to sweep through the enemy ranks, was entirely due to this youth.

Whether it was the peerless spear techniques or the skill in shattering enemy formations, every move was breathtakingly masterful.

Shi Dan's eyes flashed with an unusual light, but then she suddenly raised an eyebrow, looking towards the sky above.

"It's here!"

Looking up, the sky above the valley had inexplicably become overcast, great masses of electricity gathering and converging between heaven and earth. By estimation, the coiling serpents of lightning were already as thick as water buckets, seeming ready to strike down at any moment. Shi Dan frowned; her soul power had partially recovered, and she had made preparations, but a Daoist technique of this magnitude was beyond her ability to counter. Even with strenuous effort, she could only reduce the lightning's power partially, utterly incapable of dispelling it.

When this bolt of lightning descended, whichever direction it struck would decisively determine the outcome of the entire battle. If it struck ten li away, it could certainly take Zong Yuan’s life. But if it shifted this way, it could forcefully shatter their chariot formation.

Just as she decided to exert every ounce of her power to activate her spirit technique, resigning herself to the inevitable, Zong Shou suddenly let out a heavy sigh, his expression conveying profound heartache.

Shi Dan initially thought he was lamenting that the battle situation could no longer be reversed. But the very next instant, she saw Zong Shou pull three pale-gold talismans from his robes and hand them over with visible reluctance.

A single glance was enough for both Shi Dan and Li Luo to change expression instantly.

"These are the Primeval Annihilation Spirit Disruption Talismans?" At that moment, Shi Dan felt an overwhelming urge to deliver a punch straight to Zong Shou’s head.

With these talismans, inherited from the ancient Cloud Wasteland era—each costing as much as five seventh-rank beast cores, and whose crafting method was now lost—why worry about a mere sixth-rank lightning spell?

This young lord truly gave people no peace. Possessing such trump cards, why withhold them until now, forcing her to worry needlessly?

Without hesitation, Shi Dan took them and guided her spiritual energy to activate the technique. The entire talisman instantly dissolved, transforming into a four-foot-long azure arrow that shot toward the sky. Only after reaching about a thousand zhang did it abruptly explode, scattering into countless blue motes of light that enveloped the entire area spanning ten li. Then, in the next instant, the lightning serpents thrashing within the overhead clouds suddenly dispersed in all directions, and even the gathering dark clouds gradually receded.

Li Luo looked up at the sky, then turned back to Zong Shou with a meaningful smile. "My Lord truly possesses extraordinary means and unparalleled strategy. I, Li Luo, have never before encountered someone like you."

This time, the admiration was genuine and deep. All these arrangements and preparations were clearly not made without foresight. Shi Dan also looked upon him with appreciation. Earlier, she thought Zong Shou's actions were reckless and self-destructive. Now, she felt a measure of confidence. Both the Three-Armed Spirit Crossbow and this Primeval Annihilation Spirit Disruption Talisman were clearly tailored trump cards capable of turning the tide of battle. This youth, today, had clearly come prepared!

Seeing the three thousand cavalrymen shatter multiple formations, possessing the momentum to sweep away an entire army, proved she had vastly misjudged his understanding of military tactics!

Zong Shou, meanwhile, felt such pain he wanted to beat his chest and stamp his feet. He had only acquired the Primeval Annihilation Spirit Disruption Talismans after the price of beast cores had plummeted. These three talismans together had cost him a total of one hundred and fifty seventh-rank beast cores. In terms of comprehensive value, they were even more expensive than the forty-five hundred sets of Blood Cloud Armor he had purchased. Using each one felt like tearing a piece of his own heart out.

Though he had put on a show of wealth before, his ingrained habit of being frugal from his previous life could not be erased. Unlike the Three-Armed Spirit Crossbow, which might have future utility, these talismans, along with the Gale Flame Burst Arrows, were single-use consumables—once expended, they were gone forever, like a meat patty thrown to a dog.

Sighing mournfully, Zong Shou refocused his mind, concentrating on the dark mirror. The key to minimizing his expenses lay in decisively crushing these four hundred thousand allied troops before him. While Ruo Shui could provide some containment, given her current condition, she couldn't hold them for much longer.

This single engagement had already cost him nearly one hundred and seventy seventh-rank beast cores. If they still failed to win, the loss would be truly catastrophic.

Watching Zong Shou’s expression of extreme agony, Li Luo couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle, shaking his head as he redirected his gaze toward the distance, his expression growing grave. Focusing his qi into his eyes, he could clearly perceive streams of powerful, vast pillar-like vital essence converging before the high platform.

If the combined forces of the Xuanwu Sect masters could shatter that defense, then perhaps this battle could genuinely end in a great victory. But if Zong Yuan perished, then they mortals would have no choice but to flee early.

When the spear in his hand pierced through the last line of men in the fourth iron phalanx, Zong Yuan suddenly narrowed his eyes and spotted the formidable aura ten zhang away.

Standing before the entire army was a giant, nine feet tall, with corded muscles, holding a massive steel shield—at least a third-rank spirit artifact—in one hand and a blade in the other. His gaze was fixed forward, cold and sharp. His surging aura announced him clearly: a master of the Seven Meridians of Xuanwu Sect. This man, he recognized, was Xie Nu from Cloud Scars Mountain!

Nearby, there were two other Xuanwu Grandmasters whose energy signatures were no less imposing, hidden within that formation.

Yet, Zong Yuan felt no ripple of change in his heart. He simply allowed his muscles to relax once more.

His style had already shifted dramatically from the initial bloody onslaught.

His movements were concise, containing not a single extraneous motion, wasting not a sliver of energy.

Every thrust of his spear was devastatingly direct; even a Martial Ancestor of the Sixth Meridian could not block this simple stab. It was merely that its speed was pushed to the absolute limit, its precision absolute.

Truly superior spear techniques fit for life-or-death combat on the battlefield do not require unnecessary flourishes. The simpler they are, the more likely they are to claim a life!

Zong Yuan had gained a new understanding, pouring nearly all his physical and spiritual energy into the fight, seeking only for his spear to be faster, more streamlined!

Though the Young Lord could control the shadows of his body, he could not command every inch of his muscle or every subtle shift of his vital qi one hundred percent. To make the spear faster, sharper, that was something Zong Yuan had to achieve himself!

Strangely, after leading the charge and breaking four formations in succession, his internal vital qi had not been significantly depleted. The bright yellow bead at the base of his spear was continuously drawing in essence, keeping his spirit and vitality robust at all times.

Even now, after completely trampling over yet another Black Armor phalanx, he needed only a brief respite to return to peak condition!

Therefore, Zong Yuan eagerly anticipated the confrontation with these Xuanwu Sect masters!

His spear would certainly reach a higher pinnacle because of these opponents! He could also more clearly observe the spear dao of the Young Lord. In the more than two decades of his life, he had never felt so close to the true gate of the Martial Dao as he did today. He could almost see that great door opening for him, requiring only a slight step to enter!

As for life and death, he had long since forgotten. Just as the three thousand Xuan Mountain Heavy Cavalry behind him had declared, Zong Yuan was willing to die without regret today!

"Fourth formation, shattered!"

A soul-tearing roar ripped from his throat, followed by a surge of shouts behind him: "With me, invincibility! Kill!"

The explosive roar sounded like a dragon's cry, his momentum soaring instantly, closing the ten zhang distance in a flash. Zong Yuan’s muscles tensed instantaneously, his spear motion winding like a venomous dragon coiling to strike.

Countless streams of lightning suddenly converged at the spear tip, exploding outward and expanding tenfold! At this moment, some of the lightning serpents that had been scattering in the sky were actually drawn towards him by the spear’s momentum, gathering around his body and pouring frantically into the Purple Lightning Spear with crackling sounds.

Xie Nu, who had been preparing with a stern expression, did not pay much heed to the electrical energy, focusing entirely on defense. But the moment the lightning from the sky was drawn by Zong Yuan's power, his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Drawing lightning into the body—no, this is the Spear Intent of Raging Thunder!"

There was no time to react. The eight-foot-long purple spear crashed against the steel shield. Innumerable flashes of purple lightning erupted, the instantaneous high temperature directly melting and decomposing the center of the spirit shield!

The spear tip followed immediately, piercing straight through his chest and abdomen. The bursting hardened qi forcibly tore his body apart, spraying blood and flesh everywhere.

Zong Yuan's mind was momentarily stunned. This was Spear Intent! Not the martial momentum, nor the manifestation of sword intent through sword momentum that he had seen from the Young Lord, but true martial Dao Intent.

Utilizing the five-meridian external elixir, the spirit artifacts on his body, and the convergence of intent from the three thousand men behind him, he had unleashed the Spear Intent of Raging Thunder through his own hands!

Fortunately, his body had developed its own instincts. Even after impaling Xie Nu, his hands continued to move automatically.

When he retracted the spear’s force, Zong Yuan’s consciousness snapped back sharply. He sucked in a deep breath and bellowed into the thunder: "Xie Nu is slain! Anyone who dares obstruct me, kill!"

As the words fell, two auras matching Xie Nu’s in intensity rushed in from either flank.

Gale winds swept, vital energy surged, and knife glints flashed bright. The killing intent stabbing toward him made the skin ache.

Zong Yuan let out a muffled grunt. A trace of lightning was channeled into the dragon-horned winged steed beneath him, stimulating every muscle in the mount, causing it to accelerate further even at high speed. It leaped two zhang forward, evading the combined onslaught of blades and sword shadows. Then, the Purple Lightning Spear executed a strike that seemed impossible, lancing out diagonally. More lightning converged from the sky, fueling the spear’s momentum to the absolute limit perceivable by the naked eye. It flashed almost instantaneously, arriving before the face of a yellow-faced middle-aged man.

It was Mu Jiang, a Seventh Meridian Xuanwu master from Blazing Flame Mountain!

Zong Yuan recognized his origin almost immediately, but his spear momentum grew even sharper. A rapid thrust, followed by a sudden whip of the spear, completely shredded the man's head into a mass of bloody pulp!