The surrounding atmosphere instantly fell silent, and after a long pause, a fine sweat began to bead on Zong Shou’s forehead. His first time trying to put on a show, and it ended in awkward silence?

Just as he felt immensely embarrassed, wondering why these people wouldn't grant him even a shred of respect, Zong Shou heard a faint sob. He looked over in shock to see Zong Lan and the others, including Hu Zhongyuan, all wearing expressions of extreme complexity—flickering between joy and sorrow.

Even the surrounding soldiers of the Black Fox Iron Cavalry silently turned their gazes towards him. Zong Lan tilted his head back to the heavens, tears welling in his eyes, and whispered, "It's so much like him! My Lord, if only your spirit in heaven could see! The Young Lord truly carries on your legacy. At this very moment, he is just like you were back then…"

The cold sweat on Zong Shou’s face now poured uncontrollably. So, his cheap father, the Dry Heaven Demon King Zong Weiran, was that ostentatious back in the day?

A closer look at the others revealed Tan Tao standing silently for a moment. Li Luo’s eyes, however, flashed with an even stranger light; no one knew what he was thinking. The way he was staring was spine-chilling. This guy, could he be one of those types? Truly, you can know a person’s face but not their heart.

After a moment of quiet, Zong Yuan suddenly spurred his horse forward. Though his expression was calm, there was a clear tension suppressed in his eyes. "Fang Xu, Commander of the East City Garrison. This man served under Zong Hao for many years, constantly as his deputy and his most trusted confidant. Young Lord, wait a moment, I will bring this man’s head back!"

With that declaration, he galloped away. As he passed the knights ahead, he casually snatched over a dozen steel spears, slinging them onto his back. Then, taking the lead, he charged toward the city gate.

The Black Dragon Knights of the Black Mountain who followed immediately kept pace, tailing closely behind Zong Yuan. Since the Battle of the Strait, these knights of Black Mountain City held a much higher regard for Zong Yuan than even Tan Tao did.

Zong Lan, meanwhile, discreetly wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes. He then also spurred his horse forward and called out loudly, "I will go give Zong Yuan support! Today, we must let those scumbags in the city witness the might of my Black Fox Iron Cavalry. A bunch of trash dare to block the chariot? They truly don't know how to write the word 'death'!"

Zong Shou paused for a moment, then gave a silent smile, following behind the main group, protected by Hu Zhongyuan and Li Luo, as they continued their advance.

Zong Yuan's horse was fast; in just a few dozen breaths, he reached the base of the city gate. He then stared up at the wall with chillingly cold eyes.

Since comprehending the Roaring Thunder Spear Intent, his consciousness could stretch several miles. He could clearly sense that the ramparts above were currently deserted. The arrangements within the barracks behind them were also mostly oriented inward toward the city.

However, the East City forces had clearly become alerted and were now mobilizing troops to defend the walls. And Commander Fang Xu of the East City was already standing atop the battlements.

Yet, on either side of him, the manpower was sparse. There were only five hundred archers and one thousand armored soldiers.

Thus, Zong Yuan wasn't in a hurry to assault the city. He quietly halted seven hundred zhang outside the gate, staring coldly. This was the man who had been on the very same battlefield as Zong Hao when his father died.

A murderous intent surged in his heart, making him itch to strike instantly and execute this man. However, after a moment of contemplation, he forcefully restrained himself.

Though he loathed this man, he was now serving under Zong Shou’s banner. He could not let personal grudges interfere with public duty. The Young Lord had bestowed a debt of gratitude upon him that was as heavy as a mountain; he must consider the Young Lord’s welfare first. He couldn't simply follow his own temper. Even if he were to execute the other party, it needed to be done legitimately.

He still held fast to his late mother's final words: that in this life, he must live without shame before the heavens, without guilt before the earth, and without remorse in his own heart!

Taking a deep breath, Zong Yuan managed to calm his mood and fixed his gaze firmly on Fang Xu.

"Is the East City Commander Fang Xu up there? The Young Lord has returned to the Mountain City and will arrive shortly. Why haven't you opened the gates?"

Fang Xu was about forty years old, tall, and somewhat stout.

However, when encased in his black scale armor covered in barbs, his physique appeared mountain-like, exceptionally imposing.

He had been vigilantly watching below, but upon hearing Zong Yuan’s words, he stiffened. After a moment, he asked with some hesitation, "You are Zong Yuan?"

The man below was alone, clad in Blood Cloud Armor that concealed his body, even his face. If not for the familiar voice, he almost wouldn't have recognized him.

A surge of rage instantly filled Fang Xu’s chest, but just as he was about to order his men to attack, a sudden jolt of terror struck his mind: "You Wusheng guards Trembling Mountain Pass; how did you get through?"

Zong Yuan gave a cold laugh, raising his eyelids slightly. "You Wusheng committed the offense of insubordination! Not only did he refuse to open the gates, but he also plotted rebellion, intending harm to the Young Lord. He was executed by me an hour ago. Fang Xu, are you also going to refuse to open the gates?"

Fang Xu’s gaze immediately contracted. His first thought was disbelief. Commander You Wusheng of Trembling Mountain Pass was actually slightly stronger than him. With three Black Tortoise Grandmasters garrisoned inside the pass, aided by the spirit formation, and an additional Yang Return Realm Spirit Master from the Xue Clan, how could it have fallen?

Could it be that Zong Yuan actually led an army of a million men? But even so, given the perilous nature of Trembling Mountain Pass, it shouldn't have fallen in less than two hours. In fact, there hadn't even been any sign of commotion until now.

But when he noticed the traces of blood on Zong Yuan’s body, and the distant sound of hooves carried by the night wind... Fang Xu mumbled and swallowed hard.

He did not know the fate of Trembling Mountain Pass, but he knew for certain the verified record of Zong Yuan slaying four Black Tortoise Grandmasters.

His thoughts shifted swiftly, and he immediately abandoned the idea of turning hostile, instead shaking his head. "Zong Yuan, my sworn brother Zong Hao treated you quite well..."

Zong Yuan's expression did not waver in the slightest, and he cut him off directly: "Once today’s matters are settled, I will seek you out to clarify the matter of my father’s death six years ago!"

Fang Xu's expression changed again. He pondered uncertainly until he noticed the impatience creeping into Zong Yuan's eyes. Only then did he speak again: "It is late tonight. By the rules of my Dry Heaven Mountain City, even the Young Lord must have his identity verified before entering."

Zong Yuan let out a derisive laugh: "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! Knowing the situation inside the city now, you still demand identity verification? You are stalling for time, hoping to send word to that father-son pair, Zong Shi and Zong Yang? Do you think I, Zong Yuan, am a fool who will play along? Those who betray their Lord and plot rebellion shall be killed!"

In the split second that Fang Xu's face turned pale and green, Zong Yuan spurred his horse into a wild dash, charging toward the city wall like a crashing thunderbolt.

His eight-foot Purple Lightning Steel Spear pointed directly upwards, his killing intent soaring to the heavens, his imposing aura sharp and decisive.

Fang Xu was momentarily stunned, instinctively stepping back a pace. The armored soldiers and archers on the wall fared even worse. Overwhelmed by the fierce spear intent, some couldn't even lift their weapons.

"Roaring Thunder Spear Intent! Zong Yuan truly comprehended the Roaring Thunder Spear Intent!"

Fang Xu was, after all, a Black Tortoise Grandmaster. Though his mind reeled for a brief moment, he quickly regained clarity. Yet, his heart churned with turbulent, surging waves.

He then gripped a steel spear in his hand, bit hard on his tongue, and roared: "Why aren't you waking up?!"

His roar was almost like a lion's bellow, jolting the minds of those around him who had been enthralled by Zong Yuan’s imposing spear energy.

However, another Black Tortoise Grandmaster, stationed on the wall in the guise of a deputy, silently retreated several steps.

As for those powerful Martial Ancestors near Fang Xu, they quickly drew their weapons, forming a defensive line in front of him, intending to hold their ground.

But in the very next instant, Zong Yuan suddenly reached behind him, and a long spear, wreathed in vast purple lightning, flashed into existence.

It moved so swiftly that even Fang Xu couldn't react. In a single thrust, one of the men was pinned!

Fang Xu’s face paled, and then he watched as the flying spears continued in an unbroken barrage, whistling sharply as they were hurled one after another.

Zong Yuan threw a spear roughly every ten zhang he advanced. Then, his figure soared upwards. Without the obstruction of the city’s spirit formation, his speed was now as swift as lightning. In a flash, he ascended to a height of thirty zhang. Instantly, purple lightning permeated the area, illuminating the space as if it were daylight.

Before his eyes, first, a powerful expert at the fifth pulse of the Earth Wheel realm had his chest and abdomen pierced. Then, the range expanded again; those beside him were successively pinned and killed where they stood within those mere dozen breaths. Even those at the Martial Ancestor realm possessed not the slightest power to resist.

And in the next moment, Zong Yuan’s boots stepped onto the city wall. His cold eyes were like those of a high-perched falcon contemplating its prey below.

"Spear Intent, it really is the Roaring Thunder Spear Intent!"

At this moment, Fang Xu felt as if he were on the verge of collapse. Just a few days ago, they had been mocking the Black Tortoise Grandmasters of Cloud Scar Mountain, thinking Zong Yuan, who was only at the fourth pulse of the Earth Wheel realm, couldn't possibly be so terrifying. Could they truly not withstand even one exchange?

But only now did he realize how laughable he had been.

In that instant just now, he wasn't entirely unable to block the incoming spears. But he knew that the moment he moved, a flaw might appear, and those deadly projectiles might redirect toward him, ending his life!

Whose life is more important than one's own?

However, facing the spear force Zong Yuan now pointed at him, Fang Xu felt only deeper despair.

At this moment, his hatred surged to the heavens! He cursed Zong Hao for meddling; if they had eliminated this vicious seed back then, such a calamity would never have arisen today.

The Purple Lightning Spear Intent, the sixth pulse of the Earth Wheel, an unparalleled general! That such an enemy was cultivated by their own hands—how ironic!

It was also a pity that such a talent ultimately would not serve them.

In the next moment, Fang Xu let out another low roar, finally suppressing the sliver of fear in his chest, and thrust his spear violently forward toward the figure before him!

No matter what, Fang Xu was still a Black Tortoise Grandmaster!

This single thrust utilized almost all of his strength, as if trying to carve a path through the very heavens as he lunged forward.

Moments later, however, purple lightning descended and enveloped everything. Spear energies intertwined. Then, his vision went black, a sharp pain shot through his neck, and consciousness vanished.

Wielding the Purple Lightning Spear, Zong Yuan pierced through Fang Xu's throat and severed his head. He then turned his gaze toward the other Black Tortoise Grandmaster. He recognized this man; he was Fang Xu's deputy, named Su Man, personally placed in the East Camp by the late Lord as a check. After the Lord’s disappearance, he was marginalized. With his killing intent momentarily subdued, Zong Yuan pointed his spear from a distance: "Do you yield, or do you not!"