Even though there were still three assassins within the attic, all bearing the cultivation of Xuanwu, no one paid them any mind, nor did anyone believe these three still posed any threat.

All eyes were fixed upon the corpse of Yue Guanyun. There was scornful mockery, pitying regret, and utter disbelief—a complex mixture reflected in every gaze.

Qiaohan’s mind remained hazy, wondering if this hegemon who had dominated the western expanse of the Yun Continent for over twenty years, the King of the West Sea, was truly dead just like that? What an absurd way to die. It wasn't just Qiaohan who was stunned; the four city lords, who had been utterly bewildered since the assassination attempt began, were equally aghast.

Led by Luo Shui, the City Lord of Xuanshui, the four had proposed that the cities under their command be converted to direct administration, but this proposal had a deeper, unavoidable motive.

Yet, seeing with their own eyes how Zong Shou had caught the sword barehanded, completely unharmed, while that generation’s formidable figure, the renowned City Lord of Taoyun, was slain by a single sword strike, they didn't know whether they should be celebrating or feeling relieved.

In that instant, they had been certain that Zong Shou would die this time, and they had secretly been regretting their position. But in the next breath, the situation flipped against all expectations.

It turned out their new master of Qiantian, this young monarch, possessed not only extraordinary strategy and unparalleled planning but also martial prowess that reached such heights! Strong enough that Yue Guanyun, a peak-stage Xuanwu cultivator, couldn't withstand a single sword strike from Zong Shou.

Earlier, Qiaohan had mentioned something about the Royal Way Secret Martial Arts; they knew about that too. It borrowed the strength of a nation and the momentum of a vast army, but regardless, this was Zong Shou’s own ability!

Following this realization, the four city lords, just like Qiaohan, recalled the wild rumors. Thinking back now, perhaps ninety percent of them were true!

This Highness had truly concealed his power, hiding his brilliance. Within that slender frame resided a peerless sharpness that, once revealed, made one feel a chill to the bone!

Despite having comprehended the Royal Way Secret Martial Arts and possessing strength clearly superior to Yue Guanyun, he had maintained a facade of patience and inaction for over a decade. It was astonishing that this new Demon King of Qiantian was willing to remain subservient for so long!

Considering it closely, City Lord Yue Guanyun was truly ridiculous! He launched the assassination without fully grasping the situation, walking right into Zong Shou’s blade.

After slaying Yue Guanyun, the vital energy within Zong Shou still surged restlessly. Though not seriously injured, his two meridians were in constant conflict due to the impact of Yue Guanyun’s sword qi. His continuous coughing sounded as if his lungs were being torn apart. This was unavoidable; using this man to test a new method of overcoming enemies naturally came with a cost.

It took several long breaths before he managed to stabilize himself. Ignoring the remaining Xuanwu Grandmasters upstairs—leaving them to Zong Yuan and the others to handle the cleanup—he walked casually towards Lin Ji, who still stood there, bewildered and unable to accept that his lord was dead. With a flicker of coldness in his gaze, Zong Shou unleashed another flash of sword light, instantly decapitating the man.

As blood sprayed, Zong Shou didn't spare it a glance. Only when the attic finally grew still did he let out a self-mocking laugh. “Hiding one’s light and biding one’s time, it seems there are indeed benefits. Yue Guanyun was a persistent threat to me. I was worried about how to eliminate him, yet unexpectedly, he delivered himself right to my doorstep.”

“Hmph! He sought his own death! It’s a wonder he managed to stand firm in Taoyun City for so many years and was called a formidable figure. I’ve never seen such a clueless fool!”

Zhao Yanran spoke sharply, though even her barbed tone maintained an alluring grace. “You can still laugh, even though you knew you might be assassinated and were still so careless, allowing them to find an opportunity. You were lucky; this man might not have understood the Royal Way martial arts, but he was an expert in military formation strategy, and yet, the thousand-odd cloud ships under his command were all destroyed. He couldn't leverage his forces, or the outcome of today’s fight would have been uncertain. Forget it, I have no standing to lecture you. I only ask: how do you plan to handle the aftermath here?”

As if finally remembering that even she had been caught off guard by this assassination, Zhao Yanran’s face flushed slightly.

Zong Shou secretly scoffed. Wasn’t this current trouble ultimately caused by Zhao Yanran? If she hadn’t spread wild rumors, Zong Shou’s name would have long been famous, and there wouldn't be so much trouble.

Frowning in thought, Zong Shou spoke again after a moment. “Yue Guanyun’s assassination failed, and he died by Zong Yuan’s hand. This is his own doing; I doubt the other sects will have any objections.”

Hearing this, Zong Yuan’s mouth twitched. He was being made the scapegoat for his lord again. Killing Yue Guanyun single-handedly—would anyone believe it? Yet, his face remained expressionless as he woodenly nodded.

Zong Shou then looked towards Qiaohan. This one was a real problem; should he kill him to silence him? This man was actually quite decent.

In an instant, Zong Shou changed his mind. He mused that hiding his martial skill was unnecessary. As long as no one discovered he was a practitioner of the 'Demonic' Way, a disciple of the Cang Sheng Sect, it would be fine. Wei Xulin had mentioned before leaving that the Dragon Gate would open in a little over a month, the time to observe the Martial Sage’s residual projection. This was one of the few remaining opportunities before the spiritual tide surged to significantly boost one’s strength and comprehend martial intent. He absolutely could not miss it.

With this thought, Zong Shou smiled again, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “Forget it! I’ll just say that Yue Guanyun died by my hand! Hang all these corpses out for those with sinister intentions to see. Do they really think Zong Shou is someone they can bully? They tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice—I really want to see their expressions now.”

As these words left his mouth, Zong Shou’s chest swelled with suppressed fury.

In his previous life, no one could plot against him without paying a price. In this life, it would be the same!

That Lingyun Longruo clearly did not wish for his Qiantian Mountain City’s influence to grow further. As for the other sects, he didn't know if it was due to their wealth or the involvement of Yinlong Valley’s Zong Weiran, but it seemed they had all developed an intense jealousy towards him.

This time, they had truly provoked him!

Did they not want him to expand? Did they not want him to take control of Yinlong Valley? Fine! He would do exactly the opposite of what they wished!

Qiaohan’s heart had turned cold, but as Zong Shou spoke his final sentences, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, a chill swept over him. Inexplicably, he felt waves of violent energy swirling around Zong Shou. His eyes were tinted with a faint crimson, piercing and intimidating.

Several miles away, in another attic, Xiong Ba and Feng Nu sat opposite each other across a table.

Before them were exquisite dishes and fine immortal wine, but neither had the appetite to touch them. They sat quietly, seemingly waiting for some piece of news.

Their expressions appeared calm, but their fluctuating breaths and tightly clenched hands betrayed that their moods were far from tranquil; anxiety laced their demeanor. Looking out the window toward the seven-story tower several miles distant, Xiong Ba knitted his brows, deep in thought, filling his wine cup.

“Brother Feng, what do you anticipate the outcome of Yue Guanyun’s mission to be?”

Feng Nu’s expression shifted slightly, pulling himself out of his reverie. Before answering, his gaze flickered toward the fleet of Qiantian Mountain City.

“I see that Gu Liekong, Zhu Junhou, and Ling Fakong are all still on the ships, completely unaware. With those three absent, Zong Shou has no worthy opponents nearby. Perhaps Zong Shou is already dead in his hands. Now, it only depends on how cleanly he handles the aftermath.”

Xiong Ba’s brow remained tightly furrowed. He drank the wine in his cup but was entirely unaware of its taste.

“But why do I have a feeling that something unexpected might occur this time? Yue Guanyun’s trip might not be so easy—”

Feng Nu started, a sudden ominous feeling rising in his chest as well. He sensed that this meticulously planned assassination might not succeed smoothly.

He wondered if it was because the matter carried such immense weight. It was a pity that the Kongqi Pavilion seemed open on all sides, yet its interior was crisscrossed with spiritual formations and strict restrictions. Ordinary cultivators below the seventh rank had absolutely no way to ascertain what was happening inside.

“How could that be?”

Feng Nu laughed dismissively, shaking off his stray thoughts, and steered the conversation away. “Yue Guanyun went alone this time; I feel somewhat guilty towards him. Zong Shou’s life or death isn't just Taoyun City’s business.”

“It’s certainly not just their business, but if Zong Shou returns safely, the city that stands to lose the most is undoubtedly Taoyun City!”

Xiong Ba gave a cold internal sneer. He was the last person to believe Feng Nu held any true guilt. It was merely crocodile tears.

“And if Zong Shou dies, the one who benefits the most is still Taoyun City. If he hadn't gone, who would have?”

After saying this, Xiong Ba felt significantly better internally, the worry in his chest suddenly diminishing. He realized his anxiety stemmed from being overly tense. If Zong Shou remained, the Blazing Mountain would likely lose at least one province, and in a severe case, face annihilation. But if Zong Shou perished, not only would this crisis be averted, but they could seize the opportunity to rise.

The life and death of this youth were tied to the grand situation of the Western Lin Domain; how could one not care?

While calculating how to maneuver against his two rivals once the news arrived and how to divide up Qiantian Mountain City, Xiong Ba suddenly heard a clamor from a distance. At first, Xiong Ba was displeased, but as a few sentences reached his ears, his own ears began to tremble.

In the very next moment, Xiong Ba’s figure shot upward. His imposing, twelve-foot-tall body glided through the air like a great bird.

After only a dozen swoops, he reached the distant tower. Standing there and looking down, he could clearly see the scene outside the entrance of the Kongqi Pavilion.

Moments later, Xiong Ba’s face instantly turned pale. Outside the pavilion, several carriages and wooden racks were clearly visible. And Yue Guanyun, whom he had assumed had already killed Zong Shou, was now split in two, rigidly nailed to a wooden frame. Several other corpses were similarly fixed to other racks on the surrounding carriages. (To be continued)