Two figures could be faintly discerned atop the high platform, suddenly leaping down. Mounting two extraordinarily powerful Gale Steeds, they began to flee wildly toward the barracks.

Below the high platform, only four or five hundred personal guards, their faces utterly ashen, gathered with several thousand soldiers stationed at the camp, blocking the main gate. However, having formed ranks hastily, and with fear churning in their hearts, they were virtually a chaotic mess.

Seeing this, a hint of cold disdain flickered in Zong Yuan’s eyes, bringing a slight wave of disappointment. These two men, even now, dared not join forces to face him!

Two years ago, during that encounter, even knowing death was certain, he hadn't retreated a single step before Feng Yu’s blade. Such a person was worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him?

Then, as if an electric current flashed through his mind, he recalled the words Zong Shou had spoken to him a few days prior in Jiefu City. He would sever the heads of Xiong Kui and Feng Yu and fashion them into urinals!

It wasn't just in Jiefu City; he had mentioned it that day when he was disheartened and downcast. Even today, before the battle, when his spirits were low, the Young Lord had brought it up again.

At that time, he had dismissed it as Zong Shou’s playful attempt at encouragement, something not to be taken seriously.

But now, his blood surged, and his spirits instantly lifted. His Young Lord truly did mean what he said, never uttering empty words. To say he would let him personally sever the heads of these two—he had actually provided the opportunity.

In an instant, countless images flooded his mind. Two years ago, on the battlefield, being relentlessly hacked at by Feng Yu’s greatsword, overpowered until he knelt on the ground. And the countless spiteful rumors over the past two years that made him almost too ashamed to face anyone. Even those utterly foul words spoken by these two in Jiefu City.

Zong Yuan let out a dry laugh. At this moment, he cared little for life, death, honor, or disgrace, but the pent-up frustration of these past years was simply too immense!

If he failed to take their heads today, wouldn't it be letting down the Young Lord’s good intentions?

"Kill!"

He violently urged his mount, causing the Dragon Horned Winged Steed to accelerate again. Zong Yuan, alone with his spear, charged into the assembled soldiers before the camp gate without the slightest hesitation. These few thousand armored troops were nearly routed in a single blow; even the desperate resistance of Feng Yu and Xiong Kui’s personal guards was futile. The three thousand heavy cavalry trampled them, creating no wave larger than a ripple before being completely crushed and submerged. The several-zhang-high wooden camp gate shattered under Zong Yuan’s single spear thrust! Then, the numerous Black Armored Knights poured in like a tide, continuing the pursuit of the fleeing duo.

By this time, Feng Yu and Xiong Kui were utterly panicked, the composed demeanor of their lordly demeanor entirely gone.

Although their Gale Steeds were both exotic breeds that had reached the Fourth Tier, they had expected that even if they couldn't win, they could escape. Yet, the Dragon Horned Winged Steed beneath Zong Yuan seemed to have gone completely berserk for some unknown reason; its speed was nearly forty percent faster than theirs! The distance of a hundred zhang would likely be closed in mere tens of breaths.

"Damn it, they’re running quite fast," Xiong Yu glanced back, his eyes exceedingly grim. He was powerfully built, and the Xiong Tribe members' weight was nearly double that of the Wind Wolf Clan. Even riding a Fourth-Tier mutated Gale Steed, he still lagged ten horse-lengths behind Feng Yu.

He had no will to fight to begin with; he knew it well. With Zong Yuan commanding the three thousand Black Mountain Iron Cavalry sweeping across the field, striking down thousands of troops, seizing a single head in the midst of ten thousand soldiers was like taking something out of one’s pocket!

In contrast, among their own side, six Profound Water Masters—one severely wounded, four dead—and the two Rejuvenation Spirit Masters had vanished without a trace. With morale shattered and spirits sinking, even forty thousand men piled together might not be enough to stop the enemy’s charge to slay the generals. Moreover, the two of them were now estranged, having no opportunity whatsoever to rally the army.

The original plan was to use the barracks as cover and escape through the rear. After all, the opponent only had three thousand men; no matter how many they slaughtered, they couldn't kill all forty thousand. Scattering now might actually allow more people to escape this narrow strait.

However, if he died here, he would truly lose everything.

But if this pursuit continued, he would be run down and killed by Zong Yuan’s spear before even escaping the barracks!

His eyes darted. Xiong Kui hesitated only briefly before abruptly turning his steed, galloping in another direction with a few attending guards. He still had his hundred thousand infantry over there; as long as Zong Yuan didn't relentlessly pursue him, his life could be protected. It was slightly risky, but death was the alternative, so he might as well take a gamble!

After separating from Feng Yu, Xiong Kui galloped another fifty or sixty zhang before looking back again.

He saw Zong Yuan, still rapidly pursuing, glance coldly at him once before ignoring him, continuing to speed toward Feng Yu’s fleeing figure. This brought a wave of genuine relief to Xiong Kui’s heart.

He secretly thought, What luck, what luck. Fortunately, the one who forced Zong Yuan to his knees two years ago wasn't me.

The hundred-zhang distance was closed to less than twenty zhang in an instant. Feng Yu also seemed to realize he couldn't escape any further. After galloping for a moment, he discarded all lingering hope, let out a long shout, leaped from his horse, and immediately brought his sword down in a horizontal slash toward his pursuer!

"Two years ago, I forced you to beg for mercy on your knees! Two years later, I, Feng Yu, can still slay you! Leopard Leap Sword, Slash!"

The greatsword, seven feet long, generated a gale simply by being swung, shattering all tents and wooden stakes within several hundred zhang. The ground beneath Feng Yu suddenly sank a full two feet, causing the entire fifty-zhang radius behind him to collapse inwards. This single strike unleashed a staggering force of three million catties! The sword shadow flashed like the wind, arriving instantly, leaving a series of afterimages as it sliced toward Zong Yuan.

Zong Yuan didn't even blink. If this were an hour earlier, Feng Yu’s strike, even at his maximum strength, would only allow him to narrowly avoid death. Now, in his eyes, it was laughable.

Even if he himself wasn't capable, the Young Lord controlling his body could easily end this man’s life.

The spear in his hand performed an extremely simple upward flick, using leverage to shake the giant sword from Feng Yu’s grasp, sending it flying dozens of zhang away.

Then, as the Dragon Horned Winged Steed swept past at high speed, Zong Yuan swiftly drew the saber from his waist in a blur and struck, sending Feng Yu’s head flying high!

Following that, the Purple Thunder Spear flashed again, bringing the severed head back. Feng Yu’s eyes were still wide open in rage, his pupils not yet dilated, seemingly still conscious. They were filled with confusion, but mostly with resentful unwillingness. Zong Yuan couldn't be bothered with him, simply hooking Feng Yu’s head onto his waist sash.

He inwardly found it strange. Everything that just happened was driven by his own will. He had assumed the Young Lord wouldn't bother with such trivialities, yet it happened naturally, as if it were meant to be.

He tentatively flexed his limbs; indeed, they moved freely. After an instant, his confusion vanished. The battle must be won, and the Young Lord was no longer controlling his body. Behind him, all the Black Mountain Knights following closely were enveloped in silence.

When they first charged the formation with Zong Yuan, they were utterly despairing, only intending to take someone down with them. Only when Zong Yuan led them to nearly rout the fifty thousand cavalry and slay Yang Xuan did a sliver of hope begin to ignite in their hearts. Later, after breaking through seven formations continuously, even the renowned Black Cloud Dragon Lancer and the Mad Bear Armored troops were trampled under their horses’ hooves, a fire began to blaze in their chests.

But now, having witnessed Feng Yu’s head cleaved off by Zong Yuan’s saber, they were momentarily stunned. Disbelief and ecstasy surged into their hearts, leaving them unable to react. Everything before them seemed hazy; they couldn't believe such terrifying achievements had been created by their own hands!

Among the assembled men, only Tan Tao maintained his composure. He first took a deep breath, then let out a long roar: "Feng Yu is slain! Our Black Mountain is mighty!"

That voice, laced with internal energy, reverberated across the fields. The three thousand Black Armored Knights slowly snapped back to reality. Then they, too, roared wildly, their voices hoarse.

"Our Black Mountain Armored Cavalry tramples a thousand armies today, invincible!"

They then looked toward Zong Yuan with eyes full of reverence, raising their sabers and spears in a distant salute.

"Purple Thunder is unmatched, peerless in Eastern Lin!"

The combined roar of the three thousand men shook the area for over dozens of miles. Outside the barracks, the forces from Yunxia Mountain City were all ashen-faced.

Some commanders remained silent, without a moment of hesitation, leading their subordinates to flee madly toward the other end of the gorge exit. The army of over ten thousand scattered instantly. Although they didn't discard their armor, their retreat was panicked and utterly disordered.

Even the men from Blazing Flame Mountain looked distraught, filled with apprehension and worry.

Their Young Lord had been with Feng Yu. Since Feng Yu was dead, was their Young Lord still alive or dead now?

The thirty thousand cavalry that had been surrounding the chariot formation also quickly retreated.

At this moment, Xiong Kui had just bolted out of the camp gate from the opposite side. Two hundred zhang away lay his contingent of over a hundred thousand troops. The several tens of thousands of cavalry in the distance were also rapidly closing in.

Xiong Kui immediately breathed a sigh of relief, feeling secure. He couldn't help but turn back, looking with a hint of melancholy toward the rear of the barracks gate.

"Feng Yu actually died just like that? What a pity, what a shame. Yunxia Mountain will likely never have a successor, hehe!"

Just as he was shaking his head, preparing to slip into his cavalry ranks, Xiong Kui suddenly felt a jolt in his heart and turned his gaze to his right.

He saw that in that direction, a thin mist had inexplicably gathered, enveloping an area of a hundred li, rapidly expanding in all directions.

Xiong Kui initially raised an eyebrow indifferently, but then something occurred to him, and his expression instantly turned deathly pale. In the very next moment, he heard thunderous hoofbeats rapidly approaching his position.