A sheet of superior cloud-patterned snow paper was spread across the desk. Xu Zhengyuan leaned slightly forward, holding a brush in his left hand, applying ink with sweeping strokes, his expression utterly concentrated on the writing.
Moments later, a single, massive character—‘Endure’ ()—leapt onto the paper.
As the character was fully completed, Xu Zhengyuan felt a quiet satisfaction, gazing at his own left arm.
The power had penetrated the paper, the stroke finished in one breath, without a single tremor mid-way. It seemed this hand had completely recovered, with no lingering hidden dangers.
And half a year prior, he had already broken through to the Xuanwu Sect realm.
This meant that Xu Zhengyuan had not only fully restored his strength but had ascended to a higher level!
Ever since the withered-and-flourishing sword energy within his arm was expelled, his cultivation in the ensuing days had been like a divine ascent, growing by leaps and bounds, almost explosively, as if compensating for a decade of dormancy.
The Seven Meridians were established; the Eighth seemed no longer distant.
As he was deep in contemplation, the study door was suddenly pushed open. Lian Cheng, the chief steward of the City Lord’s Mansion, strode in, his expression carrying a faint trace of something unusual, as if something significant had just transpired.
Xu Zhengyuan turned, feeling a touch of surprise. He observed Lian Cheng’s expression closely, and then, a sharp glint flared in his eyes: “Has the battle on Qian Tian Mountain concluded?”
He thought to himself how fast it was; he had assumed Zong Shou would need at least another month to deal with that Feng Nü the Hegemon.
Neither of those two was an easy opponent; a single misstep could even allow the other to reverse the situation entirely.
“Precisely!”
Lian Cheng approached, bowed deeply, and then his gaze fell upon the large character on the desk. He felt the blade resting on his heart become extraordinarily sharp, piercing directly into his core when he saw the character ‘Endure.’
His brow twitched slightly before he immediately regained his composure: “After decisively routing Cloud Wave City, His Highness led only two legions of elite cavalry toward Tiger Ridge Hill. He dispatched his subordinates, Zong Yuan and He Li, each leading elite cavalry to strike deep behind enemy lines, burning down Gu Shan City in one fell swoop. It is rumored that was where Cloud Chasm Mountain City truly stored its provisions.”
Xu Zhengyuan was initially confused, but as he heard the final sentence, his eyes instantly brightened: “His Highness truly possesses the foresight to see the minute details and has sharp judgment. Using the Pei River’s navigation route as bait to ambush the fleets of Qian Tian Mountain—that Feng Nü lives up to his reputation. Had it been anyone else, they likely would have fallen for it!”
“Exactly so! Post-investigation, we discovered that Cloud Chasm Blazes had deployed two hundred Yuan Extinguishing Crossbows on either side of the riverbanks—”
Lian Cheng also sighed at how dizzying the back-and-forth exchanges between the two sides had been.
He had also held his breath for Zong Shou and the situation at Qian Tian Mountain at that moment.
“Then, at noon that day, the three cities negotiated a truce at Tiger Ridge Hill. Feng Nü the Hegemon was forced to sign the oath under the city walls. Qian Tian Mountain recovered all the territory lost months ago, and moreover, compelled the two cities of Cloud Chasm Blazes to each cede half a province’s territory. Qian Tian Mountain now controls twelve provinces. Not only has its prestige been fully restored, but it even surpasses the influence Zong Weiran held in his time—”
As he spoke of this, a subtle hint of awe permeated Lian Cheng’s expression: “Observing His Highness’s successive victories, his swift incursion into the Three Provinces of Illusory Dragon was lightning-fast, giving the Cloud Wave City no time to react. The battle at Tiger Ridge Hill struck directly at the vital point. People say Zong Yuan is an unparalleled general, but in my view, when it comes to veteran military strategy, this Purple Thunder Spear falls far short of His Highness.”
Xu Zhengyuan let out an unrestrained laugh. Others did not believe Zong Shou possessed such skill and would push all the credit onto his subordinates.
But the two of them knew clearly: that Highness was a young hero who concealed his depths.
Then his expression sharpened as he heard Lian Cheng continue: “Shang Xiao Sect’s Han Nishui was also present at the time, supposedly acting as a mediator for the various sects in this conflict. As a result, His Highness showed him absolutely no deference, not only disregarding him but also uttering insults that stripped him of all face, directly forcing Feng Nü and the Hegemon to sever an arm in apology—”
“Shang Xiao Sect, Han Nishui?”
Xu Zhengyuan muttered the name a few times, then tossed aside the brush in his hand and burst into wild laughter: “Well done, Your Highness! I, Xu Zhengyuan, clearly did not misjudge him. This news deserves a grand celebration! Hah! With His Highness’s capabilities, now that Qian Tian Mountain’s prestige is established, what can these sects do to him, aside from using underhanded tactics?”
He then shook his head: “I originally thought His Highness might need the influence of the Azure Life Sect to resolve the situation. I never expected His Highness’s great talent and strategy to render the various sects helpless in just a few battles. After this war, His Highness commands twelve provinces, bordering the Cloud Continent in the east, controlling nearly two-and-a-half tenths of the region. Establishing a kingdom and proclaiming himself king would be no issue. Those like Long Ruo and the others only thought His Highness was easy to bully. I am now increasingly anticipating the day they realize the person they looked down upon is actually a direct successor of the Azure Life Sect.”
“His Highness’s talent is unrivaled among his peers in the East Cloud Continent,” Lian Cheng conceded, though a slight worry crossed his face. “However, observing His Highness’s temperament and actions these past days, he does not seem like someone consumed by ambition or craving power. Perhaps His Highness’s goals lie elsewhere—”
Xu Zhengyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling the dispatches received from Qian Tian Mountain earlier.
Aside from those eye-opening decrees, Zong Shou had barely involved himself in governance, leaving everything to his subordinates to manage, and had not promoted many confidantes.
This was hardly the behavior of an ambitious ruler. Moreover, the Cloud Sea Hunt and this recent military campaign carried a strange urgency, too swift! It was as if he was desperate to resolve everything so he could completely let go of Qian Tian Mountain—
“This matter is of no concern!”
Reflecting on this, Xu Zhengyuan merely smiled, unconcerned: “Given His Highness’s nature, if Qian Tian Mountain were truly in peril, he would never stand idly by. Since he has already succeeded the Demon King, he will ultimately be unable to act purely on his own accord.”
At this point, his speech paused again: “So, it is time for my side to move as well—”
Lian Cheng’s brows lifted, then he hesitated, seemingly wanting to advise against it but unsure how to phrase it.
“There is no need to worry, I have a measure of control!”
Xu Zhengyuan understood his meaning and chuckled: “Do you know why, even though Qian Tian Mountain’s rise and potential establishment of a dynasty does little actual harm to the various sects, they still fight tooth and nail to suppress it?”
Without waiting for Lian Cheng to answer, Xu Zhengyuan picked up his brush once more: “It is due to private interests. For the sects, there was no tangible loss. But the disciples of these sects each have their own families and private interests; how can they allow others to encroach? That is why I was too naive initially. I, Xu Zhengyuan, will not make the same mistake twice.”
Lian Cheng fell silent. Since the City Lord’s mind was made up, any remonstrance from him would be fruitless.
In truth, a faint sense of anticipation stirred within his heart as well.
In the Cloud Sea, atop a solitary reef floating above the waves, Long Ruo’s hand reached out and snatched a Red Swift Bird fluttering nearby.
He pulled out a silk scroll from the bamboo tube tied to its leg. In mere moments, Long Ruo’s expression turned utterly gloomy.
“Zong Shou!”
He uttered the name softly, and Long Ruo’s eyes filled with complex, indescribable emotion.
Upon close examination, the man had done nothing to directly wrong him, yet for the past few months, this name had become his nightmare, clinging to him incessantly.
He couldn't even deal with this child in this manner! Not only was he not eliminated, but Zong Shou had become even more arrogant—five victories in five battles across the two provinces of Tianfang, and seizing the initiative at the Battle of Tiger Ridge Hill. This Zong Shou’s military tactics were shockingly sharp.
He had truly underestimated him initially.
The current situation felt like a blockage in his throat that needed immediate relief, an impending sense of crisis. If this continued, even if he wanted to suppress him later, it might be too late.
Taking a deep breath, Long Ruo casually tossed the scroll into the Cloud Sea and fell into deep thought.
After a moment, a hearty laugh rang out behind him: “Senior Brother Long, you seem deeply absorbed. Are you concerned about the Dragon Gate affairs?”
Long Ruo started and turned abruptly: “It is Junior Brother Zu! I had not expected you.”
The person behind him was Zu Renkuang. Long Ruo relaxed slightly: “I am somewhat worried. This projection at the Dragon Gate is, after all, left by a Martial Dao Saint. I don't know how much Senior Brother Long Ruo can glean from it, thus I feel a sense of gain and loss.”
Zu Renkuang paused slightly. Long Ruo’s usual impression was one of confidence and composure; he shouldn't act this way.
However, he didn't dwell on it long and offered comfort: “Spiritual arts and martial ways eventually converge. A Saint Realm expert is already close to that boundary. Senior Brother Long, you will surely gain something this time.” He then added with a smile, “Master said you and I can depart in twelve days. Oh, yes, accompanying us will be two juniors, Martial Nephews Yan Feibai and Ge Hanyun. Senior Brother Long must have heard of these two?”
Long Ruo nodded slightly. One of them had reached the peak of the Martial Ancestor realm in less than a year after joining the sect, while the other had reached the realm of Night Roaming Six Talismans. It was said that shortly after entering, they had separately struck and broken the Bright Sword Terrace and the Heavenly Talisman Terrace within the sect’s Cloud Palace, becoming core disciples.
Talents of this caliber from the sect’s fourth generation were among the best in the entire sect. How could he not have heard of them?
He immediately thought of Zong Shou again. While Yan Feibai and Ge Hanyun were exceptional, the only person in the sect’s ten thousand years who managed to break both the Bright Sword and Heavenly Talisman terraces while still only in the Body Rotation realm was Zong Shou alone!
“Oh, yes, there is one more matter, rather peculiar,” Zu Renkuang suddenly chuckled. “One other person will be going to the Dragon Gate with us. Senior Brother, you certainly won’t guess who it is—it’s Zong Shou. He earned the qualification to enter from the Outer Sect. I don’t know who submitted his name. I hear even our Master was quite surprised! He has the dual-meridian body, burdened by the Heavenly Barrier, possessing a fractured soul; I wonder what he plans to do there—”
Long Ruo’s eyes instantly contracted, an unnerving light flashing within them.
Just two days later, in the center of a vast stretch of land, inside the most opulent palace in the heart of the one-hundred-and-twenty-mile giant city, an elder clad in bright yellow dragon robes suddenly raised his white eyebrows and looked down at the memorial report in his hand.
“Qian Tian Mountain, six victories in six battles, conquering seven provinces. Interesting!”
The old man murmured, picking up the memorial and examining it closely. Moments later, he added with piqued interest: “This Young Sovereign of Qian Tian is actually powerless to lift a chicken. Such a young prodigy exists in this savage land—”