"As far as I know, three months ago, the Grand Spirit Sect had already dispatched dozens of elite disciples, along with six hundred Dao Soldiers, to garrison the Yan City Pass ahead of time to protect Yuan Jiuchen."

Zhao Yanran said, her face ashen: "Among them, Mu Ling, Long Ling, and Tai Ling have all stepped into the Seventh Tier. But the one who requires the most attention is Ji Lingzi. These four are the most outstanding figures among the younger generation of the Grand Spirit Sect. Ji Lingzi is at the forefront; not only is he close to breaking through to the Eighth Tier, but his scheming is also the most terrifying."

Zong Shou frowned, listening intently to Zhao Yanran's accounts and evaluations of these individuals.

"When Ji Lingzi was merely a Sixth Tier Yang Returning Spirit Master, he once single-handedly defeated ten Martial Grandmasters of the Black Tortoise Sect. He is hailed as a genius of talismanic arts, a figure spoken of in the same breath as the Three Peerless Swords of the Cloud Realm. It is said that this time, this individual deliberately suppressed his cultivation, preventing a breakthrough to the Eighth Tier, to rush to Yan City Pass to manage affairs. Furthermore, the Grand Spirit Sect is not the only power waiting there—" Hearing this, a chill spread through Zong Shou's heart. He knew this sect mission would be exceedingly difficult, but he hadn't anticipated it would be this dire.

Excluding Yuan Jiuchen himself, who was a formidable presence, there were already four Seventh Tier experts merely named by Zhao Yanran.

Moreover, Yan City Pass was a formidable fortress in the southwest of the Central Dynasty, garrisoned by a massive army of a million men. Yuan Jiuchen was certainly not the only Seventh Tier master stationed there. The other Daoist sects and the Confucian school would undoubtedly dispatch their own powerhouses as well.

That location had effectively transformed into a battleground between the Grand Spirit Sect and the Cang Sheng Dao.

In Zong Shou’s mind, an immediate urge to flee flared up.

Or, as Han Fang suggested, perhaps simply rescuing those three million people would suffice.

The assassination of Yuan Jiuchen—that task was simply out of the question for now; he could revisit it a decade or two later.

Frowning, Zong Shou let out another soft sigh.

Ultimately, he could not stand idly by. The Cang Sheng Dao treated him with great regard; the mere fact that the immense Scripture Pavilion was opened to him without reservation inspired deep gratitude. Precisely because of this, he felt compelled to exert every effort.

If the opportunity arose, Zong Shou wanted to test whether he could salvage the future fate of the Cang Sheng Dao.

To guide his own sect away from decline and toward ascendancy.

He rubbed his temples with his fingers, but after a long pause, he still found no solution.

Zong Shou then let out a sudden, self-deprecating laugh. Chen Rou’s words were apt: only by knowing oneself and knowing the enemy can one be victorious in every battle.

In this matter, apart from knowing that the Grand Spirit Sect had already intervened, he was completely ignorant of everything else. What solution could he possibly devise?

His mind suddenly stirred, and he glanced toward the other girl beside him, who also looked deeply worried.

"Yunlan, I know your Light Sound Gate always has the best intelligence network in the Central Cloud Continent. Could you perhaps help me investigate every single detail about Yuan Jiuchen? Where are his family members? Who is he allied with and who is his enemy at Yan City Pass? Which positions will be promoted? And who will be the incoming Commander of Yan City Pass? Also, everything concerning his patron, the Han King, and that Liao King. Oh, and detailed topographic maps of the area around Yan City Pass and Helian Tieshan—"

Xuan Yunlan froze upon hearing this. Both the Han King and the Liao King were princes of the current Central Dynasty, dispatched to guard different territories.

The Han King and the maps were understandable—the latter being essential, and the former being Yuan Jiuchen's direct superior. But why investigate the Liao King, whose domain was tens of thousands of miles away, in the northeast of the Central Cloud Continent, entirely irrelevant to this situation?

After pondering carefully for a moment, Xuan Yunlan was perplexed, but she still nodded her head.

Since His Highness desired it, she would do her utmost. For the Light Sound Gate, this was hardly a difficult task. This man, having ruled for less than a year, had expanded his territory by ten thousand li—a rare, young, and formidable leader. His instructions must carry profound meaning.

Zong Shou then let out a soft "Hmph," recalling that his first choice of sect to join previously was the Grand Spirit Sect.

Now, he was destined to face them across a battlefield.

"Right, Ruoshui, the dynastic name of the Central Dynasty now is Da Shang, correct?"

Ruoshui, rubbing her drowsy eyes while seated behind him, didn't understand Zong Shou’s intention but merely uttered a soft "Mm," serving as an answer.

Zong Shou then looked silently into the distance.

He hoped that the historical records he casually read during his bored moments in later generations were true...

Xuan Shu’s experience was indeed rich. Leading these five hundred people, they traversed the barren mountains and rugged terrain. Every aspect—food, drink, necessities—was handled perfectly, requiring absolutely no input from Zong Shou.

Even Zong Yuan, an expert in his own right, observing with the most critical eye, could find no flaw, nor could he discern any vulnerability that might betray their whereabouts.

Satisfied, Zong Shou simply handed over all responsibilities to Xuan Shu to manage. Having someone else oversee these five hundred men was a welcome relief. He could remain within the Cloud-Flipping Carriage to consolidate his own cultivation.

Although he had integrated the sixth pair of meridians, the flow still felt somewhat unstable. It took a full six days before the two new spirit channels circulated smoothly within his wheel of bones.

And the essence of his true qi began to reinforce his entire skeletal structure.

Drawing upon the dormant Dragon Essence within his body, and the remaining essence of the Thunder Roc, Zong Shou felt his physique grow stronger with almost every passing day. Since his realm breakthrough, the strength of his physical body had begun to increase at an explosive rate.

And after only twenty-odd days, led by Xuan Shu, the group passed through the vast Guangling Sea and reached the other side of this immense desert. They were now only thirteen thousand li from Yan City Pass.

At this point, the Cang Sheng Xuan Dragon Knights were relatively unbothered by the harsh desert environment.

However, the elite disciples from the various sects were listless. Only now, knowing they were about to leave the sandy wastes, did they regain some vitality.

Yet, their resentment toward Zong Shou continued to boil and intensify without abatement.

It was during the night encampment on this very day that this accumulated resentment showed early signs of eruption.

Zong Shou’s camp was always situated in the very center of the entire encampment. That evening, as he sat by the bonfire, meditating on the Earth Talisman within the Five Elements Talismans, he saw Xie Guan suddenly pace over from a short distance away...

He stopped about three zhang away, then cast a cold glance toward Zong Shou.

"Chief Disciple, are you aware that many of our co-disciples harbor resentment toward you?"

Zong Shou sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to concentrate on his meditation now. He paused and opened his eyes: "I am aware, but what does this have to do with the matter at Yan City Pass?"

Xie Guan pursed his lips, resting a hand on his sword, his expression scornful: "I can't be bothered to argue with you. Chief Disciple, since you wish it so, Xie Guan can do nothing. I only wish to ask: did you ever say to my Junior Brother Li that the abilities of us Xuan Yang Sect disciples are merely so-so?"

Zong Shou started, looking over toward Li Zhe in the crowd not far away. He saw the youth looking back with a startled expression, tinged with nervousness, clearly surprised that Xie Guan would confront him directly.

Zong Shou frowned, a cold sneer crossing his mind.

"I never said that!"

Xie Guan’s expression immediately softened slightly, but he refused to leave. He suddenly stepped forward one pace, and a compelling sword aura flared up instantly.

"I wonder if Martial Uncle-Master Tan is willing to swear upon his inner demon oath?"

Zong Shou’s pupils contracted sharply. Regardless of his usually gentle nature, a measure of anger arose.

His peripheral vision caught sight of Li Zhe, whose face was flushed crimson, his tension deepening.

Knowing he could expose the lie with just one sentence.

Zong Shou simply gave a cold laugh and decisively shook his head: "Unwilling!"

Li Zhe’s expression clearly faltered for a moment, then he let out a slight chuckle, his face shifting to one of schadenfreude.

Xie Guan’s eyes turned dark in an instant. After a long moment, he took a deep breath: "Very well! In one year, I, Xie Guan, will fight you, challenging your position as Chief Disciple. I will show you exactly what the disciples of the Xuan Yang Sect are capable of. I hope by then, you will have broken through to the Seventh Tier!"

With that, he refused to speak another word to Zong Shou and turned sharply to leave.

Zhao Yanran, standing nearby, was already exhausted by the exchange. Not daring to wait for Xie Guan to move far, she looked helplessly at Zong Shou: "Chief Disciple Tan! You clearly know that Li Zhe is inciting discord—couldn't you just yield a little? You didn't do it; it’s just an Inner Demon Oath, why be so bothered?"

Xie Guan’s steps also suddenly halted, as if awaiting Zong Shou's reply.

Zong Shou shook his head lightly: "In the past, I, Tan Qiu, indeed never said those words. However, now, I truly believe that the current generation of disciples from the Xuan Yang Sect are indeed merely so-so."

The elite disciples of the Xuan Yang Sect were already glaring angrily. At these words, they all stood up, hands resting on their swords, instantly chilling the atmosphere in that area.

And Xie Guan abruptly turned back, his eyes sharp as arrows, fixing intently on Zong Shou, as if wishing he could pierce Zong Shou's body entirely.

Luo Shi, not far off, let out a light scoff: "What arrogance! Even we, the Cold Spirit Sect, consider ourselves merely on par with our fellow disciples of the Xuan Yang Sect. Does the Chief Disciple also think that disciples of the Cold Spirit Sect are merely so-so?"

Zong Shou smiled, unwilling to argue, but his expression and demeanor conveyed absolute agreement with Luo Shi’s assessment.

At this moment, not only were the Xuan Yang Sect disciples' faces ashen, but the members of the Cold Spirit Sect also looked extremely displeased.

Zhao Yanran was speechless, only able to stare blankly at Zong Shou alongside Xuan Yunlan.

The latter, however, seemed oblivious, only secretly maintaining his guard. His nature was thus: Return respect with respect; repay a slight injury with a heavy blow. He was, in fact, looking for an excuse to thoroughly beat these people up. His purpose in bringing the Cloud-Flipping Carriage was precisely to provoke these individuals; it would be best if they turned hostile.

Were their temperaments not all unruly? Then he would beat them into submission. Were they undisciplined and disrespectful of orders? Using his fists would naturally make them obedient!

Xie Guan's expression grew increasingly cold. Luo Shi also hardened his face, pacing forward. The atmosphere across the entire camp was on the verge of explosion. But then, a cold snort suddenly echoed.