“With Zong Lanhun following him from the Central Plains, that must be correct. The person beside him is likely Zong Yuan of the Purple Thunder Spear Sect.”

“It is him! To slay Fang Xu with just a single spear thrust. This young man has truly grasped the True Intent of the Raging Thunder Spear!”

A wave of murmurs rose from the mountaintop. Zong Shi’s hands clenched, his knuckles emitting a string of faint ‘crackling’ sounds, deliberately muted beneath his sleeves. His face remained impassive. Outsiders might assume the Young Master Zong Shi was still completely composed, cool and unruffled.

Yet, his heart hammered like a tidal surge, uncontrollable. In that instant, he nearly suspected that Grandmaster Yuan Cun had betrayed him, played some trick. But when he cautiously turned his gaze sideways without changing his expression, he saw the other man—equally pale and utterly crestfallen.

Thinking back, he had secretly won over You Wusheng several months ago. And ever since the Xue Clan started considering a marriage alliance with him, they had begun leaning toward his side. This gradually eased Zong Shi’s suspicion. While Zong Shi managed to remain calm, Zong Ming beside him was boiling with rage, turning around with a dark expression.

“I want to know exactly how Zong Shou managed to return to Qiantian Mountain City! Wasn’t it said he needed at least another full day to get back to Qiantian?”

Zong Ming’s gaze fell upon a man in a brocade robe. He was at the peak of a Earth Meridian Six Channels Martial Master, yet under Zong Ming’s stare, cold sweat poured down his face as he bowed to explain: “About three days ago, my subordinates discovered Zong Shou and Zong Lan leading two thousand elite cavalry west of the Ancient Wave Forest Sea, disappearing into the woods. The Xuanhu Iron Cavalry all cultivate Spirit Arts and excel at illusions and stealth; even if others wanted to track them, it would be as hard as ascending to heaven. However, judging by their pace, even at full speed, they would still require another day to reach Qiantian Mountain—” Zong Ming’s expression twisted, then he let out a cold snort, strode forward, and delivered a fierce slap, sending the man, the Captain of the Reconnaissance Cavalry Camp, sprawling.

He still felt a surge of fury, but just as he prepared to lash out and kick the man flying, Zong Shi shook his head and said calmly, “Uncle, please calm your anger! This man was only fulfilling his duty; what he said is factually correct. The fault lies not with him—”

However, inside, his chest churned like a stormy sea.

West of the Ancient Wave Forest Sea—that was accurate. To arrive here at this time, they could only have come from Zhenshan Pass.

He couldn’t figure out how Zong Shou and his group had managed to traverse the distance.

He recalled contacting You Wusheng barely half a day ago. He simply refused to believe these people could conquer that formidable pass in less than half a day, completely unscathed.

Had they sprouted wings and flown over the Evil Spirit Gulch?

He vaguely sensed two gazes filled with boundless mockery peering from the Zhenqian Peak, a thousand zhang away.

Zong Shi felt his internal energy surge backward, rage attacking his heart.

He had been so utterly confident, but with Zong Shou’s inexplicable return, a thread of unease began to weave itself through him.

Then, he secretly sneered again: So what if he returned? His arrangements were more than sufficient to drag the opponent into the deepest abyss, from which he could never rise again!

He had initially intended to show some mercy, but at this moment, malice erupted fiercely. Across the distance of several dozen li, enhanced by the auxiliary Spirit Arts of the nearby Spirit Masters, he swept his gaze over the situation in the city, then looked at Zong Shou’s neck.

His thoughts grew colder: these former subordinates of Zong Weiran truly refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!

Did they really believe someone completely lacking in Martial Arts and Spirit Arts could securely hold the position of Demon King? If he hadn't been constrained by lingering concerns, he could have crushed him effortlessly!

But the current situation was fine too. If he ascended to the Demon King position today, the very first thing he would do was execute Zong Shou and display his head for three months!

This would extinguish the hopes of some and break the arrogance of Zong Weiran’s old guard!

Even if the entire Qiantian Mountain City fractured and suffered massive internal damage, he wouldn't care!

Since coaxing them was impossible, and they couldn't be used by him, it was better to eliminate them early! He didn't believe these people would disregard the lives of their own clansmen.

With his decision set, Zong Shi’s eyes regained a look of composed self-possession, though now tinged with ruthless cruelty.

Dozens of li away, Zong Shou, looking like an ant, was already equivalent to a dead man in his sight.

“My esteemed colleagues, there is no need for worry. Zong Shou’s return is actually not a bad thing. No, it is precisely what I wished for. Were we not just concerned that Zong Lanhun’s men from the Central Plains wouldn’t show up at the Chongzheng Hall? If these people don't arrive, how can we net them all at once? It only makes the cleanup slightly more troublesome; it’s truly not a major issue—” Upon hearing this, Zong Ming’s eyes flashed with renewed brilliance, reflecting deep thought. Zong Hao and Ling Fa Kong, however, looked at Zong Shi with wary jealousy.

The talent of this future Demon King was indeed worthy of envy. Zong Shou’s return at this moment would have thrown anyone else into disarray.

But Zong Ming instantly grasped the potential advantage and stabilized the morale of his faction. Although everyone present knew the situation could not possibly be as simple as Zong Shi described, they felt a small measure of relief nonetheless.

“However, with Fang Xu dead, the East City Army will likely be difficult to control… Our momentum is still somewhat lacking.”

Tilting his head in contemplation for a moment, Zong Shi suddenly smiled at Zong Ming: “Uncle, please make a trip to the Chai family! Persuade Elder Chai Yuan again. If Qiantian Mountain City is truly shattered, it won’t be good for anyone. With Qiantian Mountain under my control, even if I cannot dominate the four directions, I can at least ensure self-preservation. That is much better than falling into the hands of that good-for-nothing Zong Shou. Once today’s matters are settled, I will grant the Wind Bear Clan an entire city’s territory as compensation. And Third Uncle, I know you have good relations with the Lin and Fang families; I’m afraid I must trouble you as well…”

While speaking with Zong Hao, he was calculating that Zong Shou stopping at the East City Gate after entering the city was the height of foolishness. Then, he noticed the surroundings suddenly fall silent. Zong Shi frowned, looking down again.

The troops of the Five Garrisons stationed near the East City Gate were now suddenly forming ranks and marching north along the main road. They moved swiftly, advancing nearly two li in a moment.

Combined with the ten thousand troops Zong Shou brought, a total force of seventy thousand marched mightily toward the North City.

Why was Zong Shou mobilizing his troops toward the North City? The vital, strategic heart of Qiantian City was in the South City. To rendezvous with Hu Qianqiu and Qiu Wei, they should be heading North.

While wondering about this, Zong Shi’s gaze suddenly fixed on one particular location.

That location was the residential area of the Wind Bear Clan. It was also where Chai Yuan’s residence lay!

Frowning in thought, he could not decipher the reason. Finally, he could only shake his head slightly and let out a short, wry laugh. This Zong Shou was truly baffling, making even him slightly paranoid.

Going there—was he perhaps trying to win over Chai Yuan too? But how could the patriarch of the Wind Bear Clan be so easily persuaded without sufficient leverage and benefit?

Qiantian Mountain City covered an immense area. For the seventy thousand infantry and cavalry to travel from the East City to the North Gate, a distance of over thirty li, still took nearly an hour.

Along the way, Zong Lan and the others had incorporated several scattered small units. Following Zong Shou’s orders, the cavalry spread out, forcibly conscripting the populations of the clans along the route, grabbing everyone regardless of age, weakness, strength, or gender. By the time they reached their destination, the army of sixty thousand had swelled to a massive two hundred thousand.

Ahead lay the territory of the Wind Bear Clan, and the nearly eighty thousand armored warriors of the Bear Clan in the distance seemed to sense something was amiss. They quickly occupied key pathways, standing in full readiness.

Zong Lan, Su Man, and the others leading the troops ceased advancing. They systematically directed the massive army to deploy their formations right there. The few commanders were highly experienced; even though their subordinates were hastily organized, and the East City Army—the core force—had recently undergone a purge, they still appeared disciplined and orderly.

Beside Zong Shou were only Zong Yuan, Tan Tao, and Hu Zhongyuan Li Luo. Tan Tao was an outsider. The former commanded nearly ten thousand elite cavalry. Hu Zhongyuan and Li Luo served as leaders of the close personal guard. A thousand powerful and relatively steadfast armored soldiers were selected from the tens of thousands to protect Zong Shou.

Including the Xuanhu Iron Cavalry and the Iron Armored Wind Dragon Cavalry, the total force numbered close to ten thousand, all superbly equipped and well-trained.

However, the private army of the opposing Wind Bear Clan clearly possessed a much stronger aura. Though only eighty thousand strong, every warrior was nearly ten zhang tall, with bulging, knotted muscles, immensely imposing.

Yet, Hu Zhongyuan wasn't particularly concerned at the moment; instead, he worried for his liege: “My Young Lord, this approach seems rather poor, doesn’t it? This tactic is too ruthless. We’ll have to face these people day after day in the future.”

Tan Tao frowned, giving the man a slightly disdainful look: “How can you call it ruthless? On the battlefield, one must use any means necessary. This is what makes our Young Lord brilliant! Without decisive, thunderous action, how can he subdue these great clans?”

Hu Zhongyuan scoffed, clearly unconvinced: “You aren’t from Qiantian Mountain, so of course, you don't care—”

Zong Shou rolled his eyes slightly, pretending not to hear the argument beside him. He stood atop a four-story building, gazing into the distance.

When a rumbling sound echoed, his eyes brightened. He knew the action had started ahead.

Dust flew up as the captured laborers, under coercion from the auxiliary troops, began forcefully demolishing house after house. No matter the structure, everything was leveled.

With over a hundred thousand people working together, it took only the time it takes to burn a stick of incense to clear all the buildings in that area.

A significantly large expanse was cleared, perfectly exposing the Wind Bear Clan’s settlement before Zong Yuan’s nearly ten thousand cavalry.

Another ten thousand armored troops arranged and assembled the siege weapons, crossbow vehicles, and artillery vehicles they had brought.

Furthermore, the twelve thousand archers of the East Camp Army ignited their fire arrows one by one, nocking them on the strings, ready to loose.

Seeing this, Zong Shou nodded with satisfaction, stroking his chin, then glanced at the sky.

“It’s a southeast wind; perfect for setting fires and killing…”

Just as he was about to give the order, a loud roar suddenly echoed from the distance: “Stop!”

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow and looked into the distance. He saw an exceptionally broad and powerful figure emerging from the center of the Wind Bear Clan’s private army, accompanied by several attendants.