Before the entirety of the seventeen thousand elite armored soldiers, a vast, brilliant yellow canopy was held aloft. Beneath it sat a large carriage. This was not the type Zong Shou had recently commissioned, but one temporarily requisitioned from nearby—yet it remained sumptuously decorated.
However, positioned before this massive army, it appeared incongruous no matter how one looked at it.
Approximately four thousand zhang ahead stood a formidable stone rampart, thirty zhang high. Its depth was unknown, as was the number of armored soldiers garrisoned atop it. The parapet bristled with crossbows, chilling the heart.
Logically, this four-thousand-zhang distance was well within the effective range of those Eight-Armed and Ten-Armed Ballistae.
Yet, at this moment, several experts of the Xuanwu Sect level—including Hu Qianqiu and Qiu Wei—stood beside the yellow canopy. Thus, no one presumed these common crossbows could harm the person beneath the canopy; they would merely be wasting their arrows.
Zong Shou sat inside the carriage, studying a slip of silk paper, his expression grave.
Written upon it were names, and this paper had come from Ruoshui.
“As expected!”
With a soft sigh, Zong Shou carefully placed the silk paper into his Qiankun Pouch.
Across the entirety of the Yu Ning and Sheng De provinces, Ruoshui’s network of spies had either been purged, disappeared, or flatly defected. The scout cavalry dispatched by the Hu Zhongyuan army had also suffered devastating casualties. Just among the experts at the Martial Sect level, there were several killed or wounded.
—It would have been impossible for the combined might of the Yun Xia and Lie Yan families alone. It was speculated that those few major Sects must have intervened to assist in establishing such a tight cordon.
This completely blocked the intelligence flow from Hu Lingqiu, confusing his and Hu Qianqiu’s assessments.
“When this matter concludes, these individuals shall receive enhanced posthumous benefits…”
Hearing this, Ruoshui immediately stepped off the soft couch and executed a solemn, kneeling bow toward Zong Shou, her expression strangely tranquil.
Zong Shou offered a self-deprecating smile. Truly, none of Zong Weiran’s opponents were simple folk.
He had narrowly avoided having the situation completely overturned by Feng Nu and Xiong Ba.
Qiu Wei, standing respectfully nearby, seemed to sense his thoughts. He turned his head toward the carriage: “My Lord need not concern yourself. The sight of death and injury grows commonplace; it is merely the nature of things. This is how it is in chaotic times. As for Xiong Ba and Feng Nu, they are indeed sharp and wise, worthy of the title of ruthless strategists. But compared to my Lord, they amount to nothing. Both will ultimately fall into your hands.”
Zong Shou let out a wry laugh. He was not the sort to feel sentimental over such minor losses.
It was merely a moment of contemplation—to fight for the world truly was not easy. Just holding sway over a single region, with two such tenacious opponents, was difficult enough. One could only imagine the formidable power held by the overlords of the other Five Continents and Twelve Islands.
He wondered how the Divine Emperor in later ages managed to unify the Cloud Realm. Perhaps he should just quietly return to practicing and perfecting his own Way of the Sword.
Hu Qianqiu, however, was growing impatient and slightly bewildered. “My Lord, you claimed Feng Nu and Xiong Ba would come to meet you personally, yet there is still no sign of them. Are you perhaps trying to fool this old man? Given their natures, they wouldn't sue for peace unless they were pushed to the very edge.”
“Uncle Hu, please be patient. Let’s wait a bit longer…”
Zong Shou stopped abruptly mid-sentence. He gazed into the distance and saw a line of figures emerging from beyond the stone ramparts—the leading figure was none other than Feng Nu.
And then, moments later, another group of about five thousand riders thundered into view, charging forward. The one leading them was exceptionally imposing; it was Xiong Ba.
In an instant, the two men rode abreast, heading toward Zong Shou’s carriage. They halted about two thousand zhang ahead, their expressions a mixture of coldness and curiosity as they looked over.
Zong Shou remained silent, gazing at them with a slight smile.
It was Feng Nu who finally lost patience and spoke first: “Feng Nu has come to see City Lord Zong to sue for peace. Tell me, City Lord, what terms will lead you to cease the conflict?”
“This war was initiated by you. What do you think my terms should be?”
Zong Shou straightened up, studying both men in turn. When they had met on Tongling Island previously, it had only been a fleeting glance.
Only now did he begin to feel a genuine interest, observing them closely.
In later ages, in the era that marked the beginning of the Divine Emperor’s reign, neither of these two figures would still be alive. Furthermore, he possessed nearly ten thousand years’ worth of accumulated knowledge compared to them.
Yet, there was no denying that these two were formidable adversaries. Had he not destroyed their Cloud Ships, a direct confrontation would have left the outcome truly uncertain.
Hu Qianqiu was momentarily stunned. Feng Nu had actually swallowed his pride and genuinely sought peace. A moment later, a group of riders galloped up, whispering a few words into his ear.
Hu Qianqiu burst into booming laughter that echoed across the heavens. It turned out Zong Yuan had arrived, and his initial assault was proving devastatingly sharp.
Feng Nu shot Hu Qianqiu a grim look before refocusing on Zong Shou: “I propose using the heavy gold of the Lingyun Shangxiao Sect and others as guarantors, allowing us to yield Yu Ning Province in exchange for a five-year truce. Should either side violate the agreement and wage war within those five years, let the guaranteeing Sects attack us jointly. City Lord Zong, what do you think?”
Xiong Ba frowned, looking somewhat displeased, but he forced himself to speak: “If the Lingyun Sect guarantees it, then I, this King, can also yield half of Sheng De Province!”
Zong Shou offered no commitment and turned to Qiu Wei: “After my father disappeared, the territory swallowed by Lie Yan and Yun Xia—was it three provinces? Besides Yu Ning and Sheng De, was there also Ping Dao Province? My father worked so hard to establish these three great provinces, only for them to be handed over to others in the end. Would that not be an act of filial impiety?”
Qiu Wei’s eyes flickered. “Precisely those three provinces! At that time, Your Lord had not yet returned; this was due to our incompetence, not your fault—”
Upon hearing this, Xiong Ba’s eyes immediately flared with rage. Gripping his axe with his right hand, he spurred his horse forward a few paces: “Damn your ancestors! You push too far, taking an inch when given an ell! Do you truly think Xiong Ba fears you? Do you really believe you are invincible in war and unbeatable in conquest? If you want those three provinces back, you’ll have to kill me first, Xiong Ba! If it must come to a fight, even if I am destined to lose, this old man will ensure every last one of you from Qiantian Mountain is wiped out!”
Qiu Wei’s tiger eyes immediately snapped open, and he spurred his horse forward, positioning himself squarely in front of Zong Shou, meeting Xiong Ba’s gaze coldly.
Just then, a streak of light suddenly shot down from the distant horizon, descending between the two armies. As the radiance gradually dissipated, a young man in a green robe stood revealed before everyone.
“I am Han Nishui of Shangxiao. I greet you all!”
His voice was clear and carried across the vast expanse of ten li. Han Nishui’s gaze, however, was fixed directly on Zong Shou: “I come under my Master’s orders to persuade you all—the various Sects of the Cloud Land—to cease hostilities and to act as guarantor for the treaty. Warfare is merciless; I implore the three parties here to have pity on the common folk of this region and end this conflict swiftly.”
Zong Shou scrutinized the man as well. He had heard this name mentioned many times, but this was his first time meeting him.
He was indeed an exceptional figure. His cultivation was clearly already at the Sun Roaming realm, his foundation far thicker than that of Spirit Masters of the same rank, perhaps not even inferior to Long Ruo.
Seeing that Zong Shou showed no reaction, Han Nishui’s expression chilled, and he spoke again: “I observe that although Qiantian Mountain currently holds the upper hand in this conflict, the Yun Xia and Lie Yan cities are still capable of holding out. I offer myself as surety: let Feng Nu and Xiong Ba yield Yu Ning and Sheng De provinces back to Qiantian for a five-year pact. For my sake, Lord Han Nishui, will you agree to halt the fighting?”
Xiong Ba showed clear reluctance, opening his mouth to speak before forcefully suppressing himself.
Zong Shou remained silent for a moment. Just as Han Nishui’s expression began to hint at a smile, Zong Shou finally spoke, letting out a sudden, cold sneer: “For your sake? What exactly do you think you are, Han Nishui, to dare interfere in the war of my Lingyun Sect?”
At these words, everyone froze. All eyes turned toward Zong Shou in utter disbelief.
Even Hu Qianqiu and Qiu Wei looked surprised; they had genuinely believed Zong Shou was about to agree just moments before.
Han Nishui himself flinched, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Zong Shou then abruptly drew the Lei Yi Sword from his waist and flung it, embedding the spinning blade directly in front of Feng Nu and Xiong Ba.
“If you two wish to stop the war, vomit back everything you’ve consumed from my Qiantian Mountain! Then, yield an additional half-province each. I give you two choices: either become vassals to my Qiantian Mountain, or cut off one arm each as penance. Choose for yourselves!”
Xiong Ba stared blankly, then let out a scoffing laugh: “I think you’ve gone mad!”
Even Feng Nu looked at Zong Shou with undisguised mockery. Had this young man truly lost his reason?
While the losses suffered by Yun Xia Mountain this time were indeed embarrassing, they were far from being utterly destitute. They still possessed the capacity to fight desperately and defend their foundation.
To demand they cut off their limbs and swear fealty—this Zong Shou was clearly insane.
Han Nishui’s gaze turned icy cold as he looked at Zong Shou: “I shall remember this humiliation, Han Nishui. I advise the Lord not to push things too far…”
Zong Shou did not reply, merely gazing faintly into the distance above. Then, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, followed by a soft laugh. He Yan’s speed was faster than he had anticipated.
“Smoke is rising! City Lord Feng, won’t you turn around and take a look?”
Feng Nu was initially confused, then turned to look. In the southwest direction, a thick column of smoke was suddenly rising into the sky.
His expression immediately changed drastically: “That’s Gushan City?”
“Precisely Gushan! I ordered my men to set it ablaze. I wonder if City Lord Feng will feel the sting?”
Zong Shou nodded, then turned to ask Hu Qianqiu: “Uncle Hu, how long will it take for Commander Gu’s fleet to enter the Pei River?”
Hu Zhongyuan’s face brightened, and he cupped his hands: “I will urge them on. It should take about two days…”
There was no magnetic or repulsive force in the Cloud Land. Cloud Ships could not traverse the land, but by slightly modifying their spirit formations, they could sail on inland rivers.
Qiantian Mountain could easily amass a thousand Cloud Ships at this moment, capable of completely blockading the entire Pei River.
This could even force all the cities along the banks to defect.
Feng Nu’s complexion changed several times, draining entirely of color. Xiong Ba also seemed to realize the gravity of the situation; his face turned ashen, and he remained silent.
After a long pause, Feng Nu spoke again: “I can yield all the territory previously seized. But for me, Feng Yu, to swear fealty—that is absolutely impossible!”