A pair of scarlet eyes fixed upon them. If it weren't for Zong Lan and Tan Tao watching coldly, the crowd would have surely erupted in turmoil.

Chu Xue, however, was boiling with indignation, glaring back at the multitude with wide eyes. Today, she thought, the one who truly led them to crush those forty thousand troops across the two cities should have been their own Young Lord!

Had it not been for the Young Lord, every single one of them would have died here. Though, it was also he who had led them all to this Ruohai Strait.

But for whose sake? Her mind wasn't sharp, but her memory wasn't poor. She recalled Tan Tao mentioning to the Young Lord that the forces gathered at Blazing Flame Mountain and Cloud Scars Mountain were actually planning to build a city here, aiming to seize the dozens of spirit stone mines jointly owned by the Qiantian Mountain and Xuanshan City in the Ruohai Mountain Range.

Speaking of which, she wondered when the Young Lord would finally take to the field himself, to let these people see clearly who it truly was that could shatter a thousand armies! It would be best if their eyeballs popped out!

Then she violently shook her head, deciding it was better if he didn't join the battle. Warfare was perilous; the Young Lord remaining safely behind was for the best.

At this moment, Zong Shou appeared lost in thought, seemingly weighing pros and cons, believing the time was nearly right to semi-coax a favorable outcome. Just then, Zong Yuan abruptly stopped, his gaze fixed with intense, serious concentration.

"Today, I, Zong Yuan, swear by blood to be the servant of the Young Lord!"

He suddenly drew his saber and sliced his own wrist without changing expression: "For all lifetimes, I shall never betray or stray. If I violate this oath, may I, Zong Yuan, fall forever into the abyssal depths!"

The moment his words faded, thunder cracked in the sky. Countless arcs of purple lightning streamed down, dyeing the entire firmament a deep azure.

Including Li Luo, Zong Lan, and Tan Tao, they all stared at Zong Yuan in stunned silence for a moment before looking up at the heavens.

A blood oath itself was nothing rare, but for thunder to strike precisely as the vow was sworn was rather unexpected.

They remembered that the sky above the Ruohai Strait had been clear blue moments before. Suddenly, dark clouds rolled in instantly. If they hadn't confirmed there was no Spirit Master's spiritual power manipulating things, they would have sworn another Spirit Master was casting a spell.

Zong Shou was also somewhat surprised, watching the sky for a good while before refocusing his gaze.

Fu Dao commented, "This is too coincidental. Could it really be a celestial phenomenon? Perhaps Zong Yuan's destiny is somehow peculiar?"

He then scrutinously examined the blood dripping from the man's wrist, which seemed to form a naturally occurring crimson rune.

Zong Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he smiled and shook his head: "There’s no need for such a thing. In fact, even if you hadn't mentioned Zong Yang and Zong Hao, I wouldn't tolerate them anyway. Rise, I accept you!"

Zong Yuan's expression flickered in surprise, then understanding dawned. He couldn't help a self-deprecating chuckle; he had been too impatient.

However, serving his cousin was not something he truly resisted. In fact, he almost wished Zong Shou could control his body for longer; he was sure he could grasp much more then.

As he stood up fully, Zong Shou pointed toward his waist: "You still carry Feng Yu’s head? Don’t tell me you really intended to turn it into a chamber pot?"

Zong Yuan glanced at his own waist, where a massive head hung, its eyes still wide open, as if unwilling to close them in death.

Looking at Feng Yu’s head, Zong Yuan pondered for a moment, then nodded faintly: "Why not? This location is somewhat inconvenient. Once we return to Qiantian Mountain, Zong Yuan will certainly have someone extract the skull, lacquer it gold, and sell it." He finally unhooked the head and tossed it far away.

Zong Shou felt a sudden churning in his stomach. A chamber pot made from a head? Who would ever want that? Wouldn't they be unable to sleep at night?

Immediately, he saw Hu Qianqiu’s eyes gleam, and an equally intense gaze followed from behind. Even Chan Tao seemed tempted.

Zong Shou was speechless. No wonder ten thousand years ago, the East Lin Cloud Continent was regarded as barbaric by the Central Cloud Continent; there had to be a reason.

Shaking his head in resignation, Zong Shou ignored them and turned his attention to Xiong Kui, whom Zong Lan had dragged over. He was currently sprawled on the ground, eyes closed, his face mottled purple and gold, seemingly still unconscious. If his breathing hadn't quickened slightly during Zong Yuan's oath, they might have assumed he hadn't woken up yet.

After examining him closely for a moment, Zong Shou’s lips curled into a cold smile: "Isn't this Young Lord Xiong Kui, who was preparing to give me a hard time? If you keep feigning unconsciousness, believe it or not, I'll have someone turn you into a urinal right now?"

Xiong Kui remained still, showing no reaction, his breathing shallow. Zong Shou shook his head and waved his hand: "It seems he won't wake up. Guards! Drag this fellow away to feed the dogs, but make sure you retrieve the head!"

Before the words were fully spoken, Xiong Kui sprang up in a tumble: "Young Lord, wait!"

He showed no embarrassment, calmly adjusting his robes and cupping his hands toward Zong Yuan: "Xiong Kui of Blazing Flame Mountain pays respects to the Young Lord! This battle, the Young Lord won brilliantly; Xiong Kui admires you. But I wonder how the Young Lord intends to deal with me? If you could release me, Xiong Kui would be eternally grateful. Forgive my boldness, but given the Young Lord's current predicament, surrounded by enemies... Xiong Kui, though inadequate, offers himself as a friend to the Young Lord—"

Zong Shou heard this and let out a cold, silent sneer. Pretending death failed, so now he tried this tactic? After losing several hundred beast crystals this time, how could he possibly recoup his losses without flaying this fellow alive?

His expression remained unchanged, his demeanor placid: "We shall discuss that later. Currently, I dislike people standing while speaking to me. Especially those taller than I am..."

Xiong Kui’s face immediately flushed a deep, bruised purple. His eyes darted uncertainly; his chest felt so tight with frustration he was about to explode.

But when he looked at Zong Lan and Zong Yuan before him, both with chillingly cold expressions, glaring like hungry tigers, a wave of coldness washed over him. And Zong Shou’s predatory, wolf-like gaze made his anxiety surge.

After considering for a moment, he thought: A true man knows when to yield and when to advance; one who can endure what others cannot is fit to rule. What does kneeling matter now?

After a moment of hesitation, he bent his knees and knelt. In his heart, he seethed with the desire to carve Zong Shou into a thousand pieces, and chop Zong Yuan and Zong Lan into meat paste alongside him! He swore he would not be human if he failed to avenge this humiliation!

Immediately following this, Zong Shou’s face broke out in a warm, amiable smile: "Young Lord Xiong Kui, you wish to return to your Blazing Flame Mountain?"

xxxx

At the same time, dozens of miles away, still atop the high precipice.

"What is Zong Yuan's origin? A blood oath actually summoned a celestial phenomenon. Is he truly more than just an Unrivaled General Seed? That shouldn't be; if this person possessed such an auspicious fate, my Martial Uncle shouldn't have failed to notice it?"

Gazing into the distance at the swirling dark clouds, Lei Dong looked utterly astonished.

Then he frowned, sighed heavily, and continued writing on the blue silk cloth spread before him, speculating: "Zhao Yanran, I heard the Primordial Immortal Maiden is not only skilled in thunder methods and swordsmanship, but her physiognomy is also rumored to be extraordinary. Did you all see this long ago and deliberately keep silent?"

Zhao Yanran, however, was currently knitting her brows, paying him no mind whatsoever. She was also writing on a sheet of blue silk, but it was visibly more arduous. Each character took fifty to sixty breaths to form, nowhere near as effortless as Lei Dong's fluid script. Thus, her wording was kept concise, managing only a hundred or so characters.

"Zong Shou enters the Ruohai Strait, dispatching Zong Yuan to lead three thousand iron cavalry into the fray. They slay Yang Xuan, Mu Ling, Xie Nu, Mu Jiang, and Feng Yu, routing the forty-thousand-strong army! Suspect both are Unrivaled General Talents. Junior Brother Zong Shou is even more inscrutable. After the battle, Zong Yuan swore fealty with blood, triggering the phenomenon. Suspect this man's fate has changed."

Lei Dong read these words as well, letting out another sigh: "Fate has changed, then? I suspect the same. Today was truly a magnificent spectacle! Three thousand cavalry shattering an army. Not since that one figure have I seen such an achievement."

As he finished speaking, the writing on the blue silk cloth was complete. Lei Dong pressed his palms together and recited a few spirit incantations. The cloth suddenly ignited from within, transforming into smoke and dust that scattered. From it rose clusters of spiritual light, soaring toward the heavens, disappearing from sight within moments.

Zhao Yanran had also finished. The blue silk before her instantly burned away. However, when the cloth turned to ash, Zhao Yanran was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. She casually wiped her face with a handkerchief and rose, leaping nimbly across the jagged, rocky high cliff as she headed toward the distance.

Lei Dong’s eyes flickered: "Crazy woman, where are you going? Is your Cangsheng Dao not concerned with Zong Shou anymore?"

Zhao Yanran stopped moving and turned back to him with the look one reserves for an imbecile: "Naturally, I am going to invite someone over. Do you, Lei Dong, believe you can guarantee complete safety?" Lei Dong raised an eyebrow, then a look of contemplation dawned, followed by a bitter smile.

"I forgot. This matter of Zong Yuan is bound to cause a massive stir across the East Lin Cloud Continent, known to everyone. Moreover, this matter cannot possibly be hidden. Such talent serving under a crippled man who cannot cultivate—it's impossible not to incite desire, impossible not to stir murderous intent!" He gazed into the distance, seeing over a dozen Scarlet Flame Birds soaring a thousand li around the entire Ruohai Strait.

These birds were exceptionally swift, rarely seen in the world. In an instant, they were tens of li away, flying in all directions.

Lei Dong could not intercept them, nor did he wish to. Trying to conceal this news, even by wiping out the hundreds of thousands gathered here, would likely be useless.

In truth, knowing of Zong Yuan’s Unrivaled General Talent was not the main concern. The true worry was that this incident might implicate Zong Shou.

After speaking, Zhao Yanran paid him no further attention and sprinted into the distance. Lei Dong also leaped up, soaring into the air. A Heavenly Rank Martial Venerable traveling by air was much faster and more convenient. He covered ten li in a single stride, heading toward the direction of Jiefu City.

He had felt somewhat anxious initially, but as he reflected, a sliver of hope emerged: It would be best if one or two powerful Martial Uncles arrived; he could use the opportunity to slip away and return to the Central Cloud Continent sooner.