Hearing Chai Yuan’s voice from over there, Zong Shou couldn't help but grin. A smile touched the corners of his lips; it turned out just as he expected.

These people were truly laughable, did they really think he wouldn't resort to mutually assured destruction? Meanwhile, Hu Zongyuan let out a soft breath.

At least the situation hadn't devolved into the worst possible outcome. Immediately, a fresh wave of joy washed over him: forcing the Chai clan and the Wind Bear tribe to surrender would undoubtedly cause Zong Shou's strength to surge once more.

The battle for the Demon King title today now seemed to have about a seventy percent chance of success. Zong Shou didn't dwell on it further and simply urged his horse toward Chai Yuan’s position once more.

He wasn't afraid that this man would suddenly turn hostile; if a fight were truly necessary, he wouldn't hesitate to use Chai Yuan's severed head to establish his dominance! Even knowing that this man was an old retainer of Zong Weiran, Zong Shou didn't particularly care.

When it came to friend or foe, he always drew a very clear line. Within the Wind Bear tribe, there were certainly other branches he could foster.

Zong Yuan and Li Luo, however, remained cautious and diligent, fully alert for any move from Chai Yuan. But when their group finally reached the side of the Wind Bear Tribe Chief, Duke Hao, they saw that Chai Yuan was utterly crestfallen, appearing utterly disheartened and soul-dead.

Hu Zhongyuan couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth, secretly feeling a pang of pity. He knew Chai Yuan had always been proud.

Being forcibly compelled to submit by Zong Shou was undoubtedly an unprecedented blow to him. Zong Shou, meanwhile, couldn't be bothered with him, his eyes fixed on Zong Ming, who had been tossed onto the ground.

While this man’s vital circulation points were indeed suppressed, he could still speak. Seeing Zong Shou approach, Zong Ming spoke with a gloomy tone: “Has the Young Lord not released me yet?

I am the Great Elder of the Celestial Fox Clan, Zong Ming. Zong Shou, you are only the Young Lord right now.

As long as you have not inherited the Demon King's throne, I, Zong Ming, can command you! Is this how you greet an elder?

I don’t know what Zong Weiran taught you; you are truly arrogant and unfilial, showing no respect for seniority!” Zong Shou secretly clicked his tongue, wondering if this fellow had any grasp of his current predicament. Glancing around, he saw that Zong Lan and Li Luo were both frowning, clearly disgusted by the outburst.

Sensing the growing killing intent from the few people before him, Zong Ming dared not push things too far. After spitting curses for a while and realizing Zong Shou had no intention of letting him go, he turned his efforts to persuading Chai Yuan, struggling as he shouted: “Brother Chai, why haven't you acted yet?

With your strength, killing this wicked spawn within ten paces is more than enough! Do you truly intend to let this good-for-nothing inherit the Qiantian Mountain?

If that happens, whether it’s your Chai lineage of the Wind Bears or our Celestial Fox Clan, won’t you both decline? If you put this wicked blight out of its misery early, nothing more will come of it!” Being constantly called a ‘wicked spawn’ by Zong Ming, Zong Shou remained unfazed and watched the two quietly.

Chai Yuan still kept his head lowered, lost in thought, but clearly showing no intention of attacking. Zong Shou let out a sigh of regret, and the Thunder Wing Sword in his hand drew out of its sheath with a sharp clink.

Zong Ming visibly started, then his expression shifted violently as if he suddenly understood something, and he began to curse incoherently: “Zong Shou, you dare kill me? I am an Elder of the Zong Clan, your own paternal uncle!

I, Zong Ming, am innocent; no one can kill me. You wicked spawn, if you dare lay a single finger on me today, to slaughter a relative without cause, then never even think of inheriting our Zong Clan Chief position in this life!

Above me, there is Clan Uncle Zong; he will surely invoke the clan law…” “Zong Clan Chief? Without cause?” Hearing this, Zong Shou smiled, entirely unconcerned.

He spurred his horse forward and sliced down with his sword! With a crisp crack, Zong Ming was severed cleanly in two, his head flying free.

Chai Yuan snapped his head up, staring in utter shock as the head lifted into the air, then fell, tumbling several yards across the ground. It seemed he hadn't anticipated Zong Shou’s decisiveness and swiftness in taking a life.

A subtle shift occurred in his heart, and he stared intently at Zong Yuan’s corpse. Although the strength of this Great Elder of the Zong Clan was far inferior to his own, his entire body was covered in skin as tough as steel, having reached the Eighth Meridian of the Earth Wheel.

Anyone below the level of a Secret Martial Master would find him impossible to wound, even if they were allowed to hack at him. The fact that this head was severed so cleanly, the cut perfectly smooth, meant either the Young Lord’s strength had already reached a considerable realm, or he held a blade of extreme sharpness.

He didn't ponder too deeply, reasoning that one with a dual-meridian body, even if capable of practicing martial arts, would likely not achieve much success. Seeing Zong Shou’s gaze turn back toward him, Chai Yuan sighed inwardly once more and spoke, “My Wind Bear tribe’s eighty thousand soldiers pledge to follow the Young Lord’s command!

However, the Young Lord must understand the saying about a cornered dog leaping over a wall. Young Master Zong Shi has the aid of the Ming Dao and Xuan Su factions, and the alliance forged through marriage with the Xue clan.

If pushed too hard, he is capable of anything. As the saying goes, ‘take a step back and the sea and sky grow wider’…” Hearing this, Zong Shou shook his head, considerably disappointed.

It seemed Chai Yuan still harbored loyalty toward that man. But Zong Shou couldn't be bothered with what he was thinking.

Unwilling to listen further, he interrupted, a faint trace of mockery curving his lips: “There’s no need to say more! A compromise won’t work with me.

Even if he intends to fight me to the death and drag the entire Qiantian Mountain down with him, he must first possess the capability to do so. I give you a quarter of an hour to send your Chai clan's entire immediate family over to me.

In half an hour, I require six divisions from your private army to march with me toward the Ling family in the West City!” Chai Yuan raised an eyebrow. Sending his family over as hostages wasn't unexpected.

But the subsequent demands were what truly shocked him. A deeper chill settled over him as he secretly mocked himself.

Since the other party could conceive of subduing him, how could he not have already planned the final arrangements? XXX At the peak of Zhenqian Peak, just as Chai Yuan apprehended Zong Ming.

Silence descended upon the stone platform, so profound that a needle might be heard dropping. Hu Qianqiu and Qiu Wei were naturally stunned on the spot, and the guards behind them stood like statues, their gazes fixed below in disbelief.

“The Young Lord’s methods are indeed decisive, sharp, and utterly unexpected!” As the streak of blood light vanished, tens of miles away, Zong Shou beheaded Zong Ming. Qiu Wei hissed, sucking in a cold breath, his eyes flashing with complicated thoughts: “If they refuse to surrender, they perish with the enemy—that is true spirit.

Perhaps the Young Lord cannot practice martial arts, but his strategy and temperament are sufficient to rule a city, an army, or even a nation!” “To die today or to die tomorrow—this choice requires almost no thought. Even I would have to yield a step, gaining a few months of preparation time, even if Qiantian Mountain falls in a few months.

Young Master Zong Shi saw through me, but was our Young Lord not seeing through them just as clearly? I, Hu Qianqiu, truly underestimated Shou’er.” While speaking, Hu Qianqiu mused over the point about being unable to practice martial arts—that might not be true.

An undeniable itch began to stir within him. He wondered when Zong Shou would finally reveal to these old ministers how terribly wrong they had been.

Baring his tiger teeth in a wide grin, Hu Qianqiu abruptly shook his head: “Enough talk! Judging by the situation now, our Young Lord has no intention of negotiating with Zong Shi and the others!

He plans to sweep through and destroy their foundation and capital. Heh heh, I like this method!

It’s utterly domineering!” Qiu Wei gave a slight nod: “Chai Yuan has submitted; the next target is the Ling family of the Eyewolf Clan. Besides surrendering to the Young Lord, they have no other choice.

With three of the four great clans of Qiantian Mountain now aligned with the Young Lord, the Royal Zong Clan only needs a message from the Young Lord to fracture internally. The remaining remnants will pose no further threat.

Although the matter is not yet concluded, victory is certain. I will go arrange matters now and command my troops to assist him with all their might!” With that, he spared no further lingering glance and strode down the mountain with giant, powerful steps.

Hu Zhongyuan smiled and was about to follow when he suddenly paused. He glanced toward the opposing side, thinking that the person over there must be in a terrible mood right now.

That fellow named Zong Shi, who had been so arrogant! He had originally assumed the Young Lord would need to display that level of Spirit-Connecting Martial Dao to subdue everyone.

Instead, he returned and simply knocked everyone down with one decisive blow, resulting in this outcome. On the opposite Qiantian Peak, Zong Shi wasn't just in a bad mood; he was utterly miserable, so choked with anger he felt ready to vomit blood.

As the East City army deployed their formation, he had already guessed some of Zong Shou’s intentions. But it was too late; even guessing it, he could no longer reverse the tide.

And at this moment, the attitudes and expressions of those around him had changed drastically. Li Hu, Ji Chang, and Master Wuye all wore deep frowns.

The latter was slightly better, as Zong Ming was his martial uncle, though the loving light in his eyes had dimmed considerably. Li Hu, on the other hand, actually retreated several steps, refusing to meet his gaze.

Zong Hao glanced over inadvertently, his expression bearing a slight, cold smile. In Zong Yang’s eyes, there was a hint of schadenfreude and blatant provocation.

Zong Shi unconsciously clenched his fists, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh. Did these two father and son think that since his Uncle Zong Ming was dead, he had no support left in the clan?

Did they believe that if he failed, they alone would survive? That Zong Shi and Zong Yuan would let them off the hook?

Overwhelmed by fury and resentment, he longed to slap Zong Hao and Zong Yang across the face, yet he dared not move. Confidence built over more than a decade had utterly collapsed.

His greatest regret now was sending Zong Ming to persuade Chai Yuan. Had he known, he could have preserved some leverage even in defeat.

He had truly underestimated that good-for-nothing; who could have imagined such ruthlessness from that blight? Suddenly, a soft, distant sigh reached his ears.

Zong Shi spun around abruptly, and as he looked, he saw Ling Fakong had already turned, his wide sleeves billowing, walking down the path leading off the mountain. Zong Hao’s gaze immediately sharpened, and he took a sudden, aggressive step forward: “Brother Ling, where are you planning to go?” “Where am I going?

Must you ask? Naturally, back to my Ling family!

Since that Young Lord was able to force Chai Yuan into submission, how could he let my Eyewolf Clan off?” Without turning to defend himself, Ling Fakong said calmly: “Our defeat is settled today; my staying here is useless. Brother Zong Hao, if you wish to make a move, please do so.

However, if you attack, I, Ling Fakong, will certainly fight back with everything I have.” Zong Hao’s face darkened. After hesitating for a moment, he did not strike, but a strange light flickered in his eyes.

He then followed Ling Fakong, along with Zong Hao, rushing down the mountain. Zong Shiyuan on the other side showed no hesitation, offering a sneering smile before also striding away.

As these figures departed one after another, the atmosphere on Qiantian Peak became unnervingly heavy. Zong Shi’s face was pale and ashen as he stood silently, unwilling to acknowledge the shifting moods of those behind him.

He felt only bitterness, finding it laughable that just a moment ago he was entirely confident, yet now, in a blink, his great structure was collapsing. Suddenly, his heart gave a jolt, and the fighting spirit within him reignited.

He hadn’t lost yet today; there was still a chance! (To be continued)