Those three hundred Cloud Ships were still anchored at Helian Iron Mountain. Of the three million convicts and disgraced people here, only about half had managed to board so far.

Seeing this made Xie Anxuan Ye and the others frown incessantly. If it hadn't been for Zong Shou having already laid a trap for the Tai Ling Sect to fall into, attempting to use these nine hundred men to ambush them would likely have resulted in no survivors.

Among the convicts, nearly half were emaciated and clad in rags; even the sturdy ones were skeletal. Yet, at this moment, their spirits were high, their eyes shining with joy, as a glimmer of hope finally ignited in their dried-out gazes.

However, some of those not yet aboard were agitated, watching the great ships with intense eagerness and impatience.

Fortunately, hundreds of low-level outer disciples from the Cang Sheng Dao were working diligently to maintain order, preventing any disorder from breaking out.

Zong Shou glanced briefly at these people with an indifferent expression, not giving them much thought. At most, he felt a sense of pity and sorrow for the condition of these convicts, and he didn't mind extending aid when he had the capacity.

But to say he was filled with universal compassion, truly feeling the suffering of these three million people as his own, was absolutely impossible. Zong Shou’s sympathy was simply not that boundless.

Of the three hundred Cloud Ships—some hastily constructed, others gathered from nearby—one was kept empty, reserved exclusively for the disciples of the Cang Sheng Dao.

As soon as Zong Shou stepped aboard, he saw his Senior Brother Han Fang waiting for him inside the room assigned to him, a broad smile on his face.

Two items were placed before him: two jade talismans, and one jade boat.

Zong Shou took everything without ceremony. He casually clapped the two jade talismans, which instantly dissolved into points of light and merged into his sect token—they were the twenty thousand merit points Han Fang had promised.

As for the jade slip, it naturally contained the sections pertaining to the eighth and ninth meridians of his World-Shaking Spiritual Art.

Zong Shou examined it with his intent. A moment later, a silent joy surfaced in his heart: As expected, a Divine Realm expert has already fully deduced these levels of the technique.

It even included the preceding sections, and they were more complete than his own deduced version, capable of correcting many oversights.

However, his expression remained casually unconcerned. "Senior Brother, did you not have any extra rewards this time? When Senior Brother gave instructions before, you never mentioned exchanging people with the Tai Ling Sect..."

Han Fang chuckled, as if he had anticipated this. Showing no surprise or dissatisfaction, he instead asked curiously, "Then what else does Junior Brother desire? You all certainly exceeded the sect's mission this time. As long as the request isn't excessive, I can agree."

Zong Shou’s expression instantly brightened, his eyes gleaming sharply. "I wonder if there are any sixth-tier young beasts of the Qilin or Azure Dragon bloodlines? If not, fifth-tier will suffice."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he saw Han Fang frown, showing a troubled look. Zong Shou immediately understood that Han Fang either couldn't produce them or was unwilling to part with them.

Muttering a silent complaint, Zong Shou shifted his intent and settled for the next best thing: "If there are no spiritual items capable of reshaping the body of a fifth-tier Cold Nether Tiger and advancing its bloodline to the Gold element, that will also work."

Han Fang’s expression finally relaxed, and he nodded. "That, I do have. I carry two such spiritual items. One to reshape the body, and one to upgrade the bloodline..."

Midway through his sentence, he waved his hand. As his wide sleeve swept past, two items materialized abruptly before Zong Shou.

One was a jade box faintly emitting wisps of chilling aura, and the other was a small vial no longer than an index finger.

"Tissue Jade Dew? The Heart of the Cold Gold Tiger King..."

Zong Shou scanned them with his spiritual sense and raised an eyebrow. These two items far exceeded his expectations.

The Tissue Jade Dew within the small vial was rumored to be able to revive the dead and regrow flesh on bones, capable of restoring even if only a wisp of residual soul remained.

That legend was somewhat exaggerated, but Zong Shou had personally witnessed its miraculous effect in his previous life. It was especially potent for reshaping the physical form below the Immortal Dao.

And within the jade box was the heart of a ninth-tier Cold Gold Tiger King. Not only did it share the exact same lineage as the Cold Nether Tiger’s bloodline, but it was also extremely close to the Divine Beast bloodline—at least sufficient to barely meet the requirements for the Five Spirits balance.

After accepting the items, Zong Shou’s face immediately warmed. Having secured benefits, Senior Brother Han’s face suddenly appeared much more amiable in his eyes.

However, Zong Shou soon felt a touch of strangeness. "Senior Brother, the traitor Yuan Jiuchen was executed by our Cang Sheng Dao this time. The Tai Ling Sect has also been severely damaged and will take years to recover its vitality. Why is there still worry in your eyes, Senior Brother?"

"One reason is the Sword Master Jue Yu!"

Han Fang hesitated slightly before finally sighing, "Just three days ago, the Snow Flower Gate of our sect was visited by Jue Yu. As a result, several disciples of the third generation of the Snow Flower Gate could not withstand a single sword strike from Jue Yu. The outcomes for several eighth-tier cultivators were defeat within ten strikes. The four elders at the ninth-tier level also had no certainty of victory and dared not easily enter the fray, only letting him leave. Thinking about this Sword Master challenging us a year and a half from now gives me a headache..."

Zong Shou was startled, recognizing the Snow Flower Gate.

It was one of the Three Major Sects and Six Gates under the Cang Sheng Dao, occupying a spiritual domain and possessing considerable strength.

Although it ranked lowest among the nine branch sects, this result was too devastating.

Was Jue Yu truly that powerful? Even ninth-tier experts felt no confidence in winning?

A flicker of interest arose within him to fight this person. But upon careful thought, he dismissed the idea; his current cultivation was far too low.

Even a year and a half later, he would likely only manage to break through his spiritual techniques to the seventh tier, while his martial path remained far behind.

He knew precisely how terrifying the combat strength of such an eighth-tier expert, who was also a master of the Sword Dao, could be.

If his own strength was insufficient, it was better not to invite humiliation. Only if his martial cultivation could also break through the seventh tier by then might he possess the strength to contend with him.

As for spiritual techniques, his current standard was still at the novice level; there was no need to make a fool of himself.

Han Fang clearly had no intention of pitting Zong Shou against Jue Yu either, shaking his head. "Originally, Junior Brother, you were the best candidate to fight for the Cang Sheng Dao. But your current brilliance is simply too dazzling; it’s best to tone it down a bit. In truth, I don't even expect a victory, only that we don't lose face. Yet, among this generation, although Xuan Ye and the other two have decent talent, their refinement is lacking, and they are not from the main line of the Cang Sheng Dao. Must we really send eighth-tier disciples out?"

Hearing this, Zong Shou’s heart stirred slightly. If it was merely about not losing face, he did have a way.

Glancing at Chu Xue, who was sitting respectfully to the side, not daring to even breathe loudly, the corner of Zong Shou’s lips curved slightly into a smile.

A year and a half later, if he could gather the Five Spirit Beasts, this little girl would at least not be inferior to Xie An and Luo Shi, those three.

However, this was not the time to speak of it. Zong Shou’s expression grew solemn, and he said seriously, "Actually, Senior Brother’s arrival is perfectly timed. I have a favor to ask. After leaving the borders of the Great Shang Kingdom this time, I have matters that require me to journey deep into the vast Guangling Sea. I request Senior Brother’s approval..."

Han Fang was immediately stunned, suspicion flickering in his eyes. He wasn't sure what trick Zong Shou was up to.

The depths of the Guangling Sea were no pleasant place.

Especially now, when Zong Shou, leading nine hundred Cang Sheng Dragon Guards, had sustained almost no losses, yet had crippled the Tai Ling Sect and taken Yuan Jiuchen's head, announcing his presence to the world with astonishing fame...

In the Great Shang Kingdom's capital, within the Feng Hua Palace's Council Hall.

The Eunuch-in-Chief, Gao Ruo, was respectfully and cautiously presenting a red memorial to an elderly man in a royal robe seated behind a large desk. He then stood quietly to the side, waiting.

The old man was engrossed in reviewing the memorials, completely lost in concentration. Only after all the dozens of documents on his desk were handled did he put down the brush in his hand. When he noticed Gao Ruo standing nearby, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

He then cast his gaze toward one side of the desk and indeed saw a red memorial.

"Red? That's rare. Does it concern military matters? Is there another conflict?"

He casually picked it up and read for a moment. The royal-robed elder first frowned, then let out a soft laugh. "Yuan Jiuchen is dead, and roughly eighteen hundred Purple Cloud Sword Riders of the Tai Ling Sect have perished. Does this mean my Quan'er and the Cang Sheng Dao conspired to play a trick on the Tai Ling Sect?"

Gao Ruo bowed deeply. "Regarding the specifics, Gao Ruo is not yet clear and has already ordered people to investigate thoroughly. However, stating that the King of Han and the Cang Sheng Dao have allied might be an exaggeration; in this servant's view, it is at most a tacit understanding."

The royal-robed elder smiled faintly. "Must you remind and explain this to me? As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father. I am well aware of my child's disposition. With all the courage he possesses, he wouldn't dare truly collude with the Cang Sheng Dao. If I am not mistaken, the memorial stating the unrest in Quan'er's domain and his refusal to enter the capital should already be on its way, correct?"

Gao Ruo bowed slightly again. Although he said nothing, his meaning was perfectly clear. The royal-robed elder now showed a trace of surprise in his eyes. "However, my Han'er also having ties with the Tai Ling Sect is indeed somewhat unexpected. Without making a sound, he has already become a direct disciple of the Tai Ling Sect. Ha! Quite capable..."

The full name of the Prince of Liao was Yin Han. Gao Ruo maintained his silence throughout, as these were the domestic affairs of the imperial family, not for him to comment on.

Indeed, after a moment, the old man behind the desk narrowed his eyes, a chilling coldness emerging. "An external sect dares to interfere in the struggle for the Great Shang imperial throne? This reach is too long! It is fitting that they received a lesson at the hands of the Cang Sheng Dao this time. You may order the Ministry of Rites to send envoys to the Tai Ling Sect to demand an explanation; the Tai Ling Sect must account for this incident."

Gao Ruo quickly bowed again and acknowledged the order, but then he tentatively raised his eyes. "Then how should we deal with the Cang Sheng Dao and Tan Qiu?"

The yellow-robed elder frowned and did not answer, carefully examining the final part of the memorial. After a full quarter of an hour, he closed it. Unmatched in battle formation, with supreme control over the sword intent, he could make Yin Quan and the Tai Ling Sect apprehensive and hesitant with only eight hundred Cang Sheng Dragon Guards. If this man commanded an army of thousands, what then?