Fierce, the iron cavalry thunders forward, stealing the morale of the entire army. Gazing into the distance, Li Luo couldn't suppress a sigh of admiration. In less than half an hour, they had already broken through three formations, and the fourth was on the verge of collapse. That contingent of three thousand heavy cavalry remained an unstoppable force. At this moment, the morale of the tens of thousands of allied troops in the Yunxia Blazing Flames camp had sunk to an absolute nadir, completely stripped of their former mountain-like imposing spirit. Yet, though his words praised the Black Armored Cavalry fighting below, the corner of his eye remained fixed on Zong Shou. He knew well that the reason Zong Yuan could be so invincible, leading the three thousand horsemen rampaging through the enemy lines, was all due to this youth. Whether it was the peerless spear skills or the tactics for breaking through enemy formations, every move was breathtakingly brilliant.

Shi Dan’s eyes also flickered with a strange light, then she suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked toward the sky. “It’s here!” She saw that above the valley, dark clouds had gathered unexpectedly, and balls of electric light were fiercely drawing together from the space between heaven and earth. By eye estimation, the coiling thunder serpents were already as thick as water buckets, seemingly ready to strike down at any moment. Shi Dan’s delicate eyebrows knitted together. Her soul power had recovered partially, and she had made some preparations, but a Daoist technique of such massive scale left her utterly helpless. Even if she exerted herself to the utmost, she could only slightly diminish the lightning’s power; dispelling it was impossible. This bolt of lightning, once descended, no matter where it struck, possessed the power to decide the entire course of the battle. If it aimed ten miles away, it could easily claim Zong Yuan’s life. But if it were directed here, it could just as easily shatter their chariot defenses.

Just as she resolved to activate her spiritual arts with all her might—no matter what, secure Zong Shou—Zong Shou suddenly let out a heavy sigh, looking as though he were suffering intense heartache. Shi Dan initially thought he was lamenting that the battle was already unwinnable. But in the next instant, she saw Zong Shou pull three pale gold talismans from his robes and offer them over with visible reluctance. A single glance was enough to change the expressions of both Shi Dan and Li Luo. “These are the Primal Annihilation Spirit-Disrupting Talismans?” At this moment, Shi Dan felt an intense urge to land a punch squarely on Zong Shou’s head. With these talismans, inherited from the ancient Yunhuang era—each one costing the equivalent of five Rank Seven Beast Cores, and whose crafting methods were lost—why worry about a mere Rank Six lightning technique? This young lord truly never ceased to cause anxiety. Possessing such trump cards, yet deliberately holding them back, causing her such needless worry.

Without hesitation, Shi Dan took them. With a pull of her spiritual power, she activated the sealing runes. The entire talisman immediately dissolved, shockingly transforming into a four-foot-long azure sharp arrow that shot toward the clouds. It only exploded when it reached about a thousand feet high, shattering into countless blue motes of light that enveloped the entire area spanning nearly ten miles. The next instant, the thunder serpents writhing within the overhead clouds suddenly dispersed in all directions, and even the gathering dark clouds began to recede.

Li Luo looked up at the sky, then turned back to Zong Shou with a knowing, meaningful smile. “My Lord certainly possesses extraordinary means and unparalleled strategic acumen. I, Li Luo, have never met anyone quite like you.” This time, his admiration was genuine. All these arrangements, all these preparations, were clearly not made without purpose. Shi Dan also showed a look of appreciation in her eyes. She had previously thought Zong Shou’s move was reckless, leading himself to certain death. Now, she felt a measure of confidence. Both the Three-Armed Spirit Crossbow and this Primal Annihilation Spirit-Disrupting Talisman were clearly targeted trump cards capable of turning the tide of the battle. This youth, clearly, had come fully prepared today! Seeing the three thousand cavalry break through several formations with such momentum, it was clear he was no stranger to military strategy, contrary to her initial assessment!

Zong Shou, however, felt an intense urge to pound his chest and stomp his feet. He had only purchased these Primal Annihilation Spirit-Disrupting Talismans after the price of Beast Cores plummeted. The three talismans had cost him a total of one hundred and fifty Rank Seven Beast Cores. In terms of relative value, this expenditure was even greater than his acquisition of the four thousand five hundred sets of Blood Cloud Armor. Using each one felt like tearing flesh from his own heart. Though he had been putting on a show of wealth before, his ingrained habit of being frugal from his past life was impossible to shake. Unlike the Three-Armed Spirit Crossbow, which might still have some use later, these Spirit-Disrupting Talismans, like the Wind Flame Explosive Arrows, were single-use consumables. Once gone, they were like a meat dumpling thrown to a dog—no return possible.

With a mournful sigh, Zong Shou refocused his mind, centering his attention on the dark mirror. To minimize his spending, the key was how quickly he could utterly crush the forty thousand allied troops before him. Although Ruoshui could offer some containment, given her physical condition, she couldn't hold them for long. This time, the mere investment had already cost close to one hundred and seventy Rank Seven Beast Cores. If they still failed to win, the loss would truly be catastrophic.

Watching Zong Shou’s expression of extreme heartache, Li Luo couldn't help but cover his mouth and let out a soft laugh, shaking his head before his gaze returned to the distance ten miles away, his expression growing increasingly grave. As his qi gathered in his eyes, he could clearly see powerful, vast pillars of essence shining toward the high platform. If the combined might of the Xuanwu Sect masters could shatter that defense, then this battle might indeed end in a grand victory. But if Zong Yuan perished, then they, the mortals, would have no choice but to flee quickly.

As the spear in his hand pierced the throats of the last few men in the ranks of the fourth ironclad formation, Zong Yuan suddenly narrowed his eyes and spotted the formidable aura ten feet away. Before him stood a man nearly nine feet tall, with bulging muscles, holding a massive steel shield—at least a Rank Three Spirit Tool—in one hand and a blade in the other. He stood at the front of the entire formation, staring back with icy, resolute eyes. His qi surged, clearly revealing him to be from the Xuanwu Seven Meridians. This man, Zong Yuan recognized, was Xie Nu from Yunxia Mountain! And nearby, there were two other Xuanwu Grandmasters, whose auras were no less powerful than his, concealed within that formation.

Zong Yuan’s expression remained completely unchanged; he merely allowed his muscles to relax once more. After the initial display of brutal strength, his fighting style had already shifted entirely from what it was before. His movements were concise, without the slightest excess, wasting not a single particle of energy. Every thrust of his spear was direct and simple. Even a Six-Meridian Martial Grandmaster could not block such a straightforward stab. It was simply because the speed was pushed to the absolute limit, and the precision was flawless. Truly masterful spear techniques suitable for life-or-death combat on the battlefield require no ornate flourishes. The simpler they are, the more likely they are to take a life!

Zong Yuan gained a sudden clarity, pouring nearly all his physical strength and spirit into the fight. He sought only for his spear to be faster, more economical! Though the young lord could control the projection of his body, he could not control every inch of his muscle or every fraction of his true qi transformation with one hundred percent accuracy. To make his spear faster and sharper, he could only rely on himself! Strangely, after leading the charge and breaking four formations, his internal true qi had not depleted significantly. The bright yellow bead at the base of his spear constantly absorbed the essence flowing in, ensuring that his vigor and blood remained perpetually robust. Even now, after completely crushing yet another Black Armored formation, he only needed a brief rest to return to his peak state! Therefore, Zong Yuan eagerly anticipated the battle against these Xuanwu Sect masters! His spear would surely reach a higher pinnacle because of these opponents! And he could more clearly glimpse the spear dao of that young lord. In the more than twenty years since his birth, he had never felt so close to the true gate of the Martial Dao as he did today. He could almost see the grand door opening for him; only a slight step was needed to cross the threshold! As for life or death, he had long forgotten. Just as the three thousand Black Mountain Cavalry behind him professed, Zong Yuan would die without regret today!

“Fourth formation, broken!” A hoarse roar erupted, followed by another wave of frenzied shouts behind him: “With me, none can stand! Kill!” The explosive shouts roared like dragons, and his momentum soared instantly. The distance of ten zhang was crossed in a flash. Zong Yuan’s muscles tensed simultaneously, his spear power coiling and striking out like a venomous dragon. Innumerable arcs of lightning suddenly converged at the spear tip and exploded outward, expanding to ten times their size! At this moment, some of the thunder serpents already scattering in the sky were drawn in by his spear momentum, swirling around him before pouring furiously into the Purple Thunder Spear, emitting crackling sounds. Xie Nu opposite him had been maintaining a vigilant, somber expression. Though fully focused, he hadn't paid much mind to the electric light. But at this instant, when the lightning from the sky was drawn in by Zong Yuan’s overwhelming power, his face instantly turned ashen white. “Drawing lightning into the body—no, this is the Fierce Thunder Spear Intent!” There was no time to react; the ten-foot-long purple spear crashed against the steel shield. Countless purple lightning bolts flashed, and the instantaneous high temperature directly melted and dissolved the center of the spirit shield! The spear tip followed immediately, piercing through his chest and abdomen with one strike. The exploding gang force violently tore his body apart, scattering flesh and blood.

Zong Yuan’s mind was momentarily stunned. This was Spear Intent! Not the Martial Dao's imposing presence, nor the manifestation of sword intent through sword momentum that he had seen from the young lord, but true Martial Dao Intent itself. Aided by the Five-Meridian Outer Elixir, his spirit artifacts, and the collective will of the three thousand behind him, he manifested the Fierce Thunder Spear Intent through his own hands! Fortunately, his body had developed muscle memory. Even after skewering Xie Nu, his hands continued their subconscious motions. When his spear momentum finally retracted, Zong Yuan’s mind snapped back to alertness. He sucked in a sharp breath and roared again, laced with thunder: “Xie Nu is slain! Anyone who dares impede me, die!” As the words fell, two auras no less potent than Xie Nu’s simultaneously lunged from the flanks. Gale winds swept, vital energy surged, and the blade light was blindingly bright. The incoming killing intent stung his skin until it ached.

Zong Yuan grunted, sending a thread of lightning into the horned-winged horse beneath him, stimulating its muscles and causing it to accelerate further while moving at extreme speed. It covered two zhang in a single leap, evading the combined sweep of the blades and swords. Then, the Purple Thunder Spear in his hand stabbed out diagonally in an impossible arc. More lightning rushed down from the sky, empowering the spear's momentum, reaching a speed barely perceivable by the naked eye. It flashed almost instantaneously before the face of a sallow-faced middle-aged man. It was Mu Jiang of the Seven Meridians from Blazing Flame Mountain! Zong Yuan recognized the man’s origin almost instantly. Yet, his spear momentum only grew sharper. One swift thrust, followed by a skillful flourish, completely shredded the man's skull into a pulp of bloody tissue!