A sudden hush fell over the entire hall. The smile on Yang Suixue's face froze mid-air.

After a long pause, he managed to regain his composure. He was still smiling gracefully, his demeanor impeccable.

"I've heard it said that Your Highness possesses a resolute character; even when cornered two years ago, you never conceded an inch. Seeing you now, the rumors are true! However, I, Yang Suixue, must still state this: the cities of Yunxia and Lieyan formally joined my Thousand Cities Alliance half a month ago. Our Alliance commands the support of twelve hundred and seventy-four cities, twenty-seven provinces, and thirty million troops. We request that Your Highness return the provinces of Longze and Fuyao, for the sake of goodwill!"

"Thirty million troops? Hah, I’m utterly terrified!"

Zong Shou curled his lips into a smile devoid of warmth, letting out a dry chuckle. "You are quite an interesting fellow; you get slapped on the left cheek and immediately offer up the right. Didn't I just make it clear? If you want war, then let us fight! Since that is the case, after today, our two sides are officially hostile nations. You have three days to evacuate the borders of the Qiantian Mountain Kingdom!"

Yang Suixue’s pupils constricted; he was slightly taken aback. He had expected Zong Shou to refuse. What he hadn't anticipated was that the other party seemed practically eager for a confrontation.

Zong Ling, too, sneered, his cold gaze sweeping lightly across the envoys. Not only did he show no intent to dissuade his lord, but a chilling, bloodthirsty glint flickered in his eyes.

It suddenly struck those present that although this man was aged, he was a powerful Spirit Master who had followed Zong Weiran through hundreds of bloody campaigns.

For a moment, Yang Suixue hesitated. Could it be that the Qiantian Mountain held some hidden trump card?

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Suixue shook his head again. "Your Highness jesting. War is a matter of life and death. Once hostilities commence, the devastation will be immense. How can it be treated so lightly?"

His purpose in coming here was merely to probe. He had never truly intended for an immediate war.

A feeling of deep frustration welled up inside him; with this exchange, it seemed as if the Thousand Cities Alliance had become the side reluctant to fight. While the Alliance was currently at its zenith, coordinating and deploying its armies properly would still require considerable time—it truly was not the opportune moment for a full-scale war.

A subtle realization dawned on him: perhaps Qiantian Mountain was acutely aware of this fact and was preparing to strike precisely at this moment?

Even after its recent demobilization, Qiantian Mountain’s strength still surpassed that of Lieyan and Yunxia combined. However, due to the five-year truce agreement, they could only mass troops near the borders. This moment might indeed be Qiantian’s last chance to turn defeat into victory.

Clearing his thoughts, a sharp glint appeared in Yang Suixue's eyes. This Demon King of Qiantian was truly decisive in temperament!

Beside him, Ge Xin's expression also shifted, followed by a cold, harsh laugh. "The words of His Highness shall be conveyed verbatim to my Lord by Ge Xin. We bid you farewell!"

Zhang Zhe also bowed slightly with a detached expression. "Since negotiations have broken down, there is no point in Zhang Zhe lingering here! Oh, and our City Lord Xiong Yu sends a message to Your Highness. She states that the shame of the territorial concession by the former ruler Xiong Ba, and the vengeance for the loss of her arm by our Master, are remembered daily and will certainly be avenged—"

He stopped abruptly at that point. He felt an incomparably sharp killing intent suddenly wash over him, striking deep into his very core, as if uttering one more word would result in his immediate decapitation.

A chilling tremor ran through his body, and his teeth began to chatter audibly. After a long moment, Ge Xin managed to speak with difficulty. "Even when two armies clash, envoys are not slain. Is Your Highness planning to massacre the diplomatic party?"

Zong Shou chuckled. This man was indeed sharp-tongued and tenacious. In any other setting, a character like this would have been silenced with a single sword stroke long ago, merely for being an annoyance. But in this particular circumstance, striking him down would be complicated.

He simply waved his sleeve and uttered a single word: "Scram." He truly couldn't be bothered to bicker with such a petty figure.

Ge Xin immediately felt a wave of relief as the bone-chilling killing intent finally receded. He dared not continue his message, and with slightly unsteady steps, he stumbled out of the hall doors.

Over there, Kong Yao watched with amusement but secretly shook her head. Her perception of the Demon King of Qiantian was becoming increasingly complicated.

On one hand, she admired the fierceness and resilience of his nature; on the other, she inwardly scorned the Demon King's handling of the situation.

It was too absolute, leaving no room for maneuver. If Qiantian Mountain truly held superior military might, then so be it. But even at its peak before the demobilization, Qiantian Mountain could not compare to the military power of the Thousand Cities Alliance.

Furthermore, behind those three major powers, the shadow of the Eastern Ling Sects loomed.

If it were Her Majesty handling this, she surely would not be so unwise, opting instead for a more seasoned and subtle approach to the negotiations.

Yang Suixue’s expression could no longer maintain the façade of the refined gentleman amidst a corrupt world. He cast a cold look toward the figure on the throne above before speaking again.

"Since these two have departed, it is also fruitless for this outer envoy to remain. I bid you farewell!"

He gave a slight bow, and Yang Suixue followed it with a cold, chilling laugh. "However, I ask Your Highness to reconsider today's matter! The Thousand Cities Alliance’s tenets are to resist tyranny, halt the tide of war, end the age of chaos, and ensure harmonious coexistence among the cities of Eastern Ling, thus we are reluctant to start conflict lightly. Nevertheless, if pushed to the extreme, we will not hesitate to deploy our armies. But if Your Highness is willing to return the territories annexed a year ago—Yunxia, Lieyan, and the Three Cities of Taoyun—the Thousand Cities Alliance can accept Qiantian Mountain. In that case, Your Highness and your kingdom would certainly be granted the position of Vice Alliance Master. The grievances between Your Highness and the Eastern Ling Sects could be settled here and now—"

Mid-sentence, Yang Suixue frowned and looked up, only to see Zong Shou lazily yawning, then casting a slightly curious look down.

"Didn't you say goodbye? Why haven't you left yet? I don't keep a table waiting for anyone!"

Yang Suixue let out a dry, mirthless laugh and immediately lost all further inclination to linger. He turned and headed toward the hall entrance.

Watching this man pace out of the hall, Zong Shou frowned slightly, deep in thought. After a moment, he tentatively used his true energy to mimic Zhang Zhe's voice and asked quietly,

"City Lord?"

Yang Suixue didn't pause to think deeply and instinctively responded. Then, his entire body froze stiff.

After a few breaths, he reluctantly turned around to see Zong Shou’s face lit with a mischievous, foxy grin that made one want to punch it clean off.

"It is Yang Fan! City Lord of Longxiang."

Yang Fan let out a soft breath, clasping his hands behind his back. "I wonder how Your Highness intends to deal with this subordinate!"

Although his identity had been exposed, Yang Fan's expression was not one of distress; rather, it held a probing curiosity.

"How to deal with you?"

Zong Shou narrowed his eyes slightly. "I haven't quite decided that yet. But since City Lord Longxiang holds my Qiantian Mountain in such high regard as to personally honor us with a visit, why not stay a while longer, allowing me to fulfill the duties of a host?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but let out a short, sharp laugh, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He struggled to suppress it, but the laughter grew louder, shaking the hall so much that the tiles above trembled.

"Hahahaha! Ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous! Since this King dared to come here, how could I not have prepared defenses? I think Your Excellency need not worry about playing the host."

The loud laughter finally subsided, and a chilling coldness gradually veiled the edges of Yang Fan's eyes.

"Very well! If I don't test it today, I won't rest easy. Heh heh, does City Lord Zong know the most grievous error you committed today? It was revealing my identity as Yang Fan within this very hall! The ancients said: when an enemy is at arm's length, the might of a common man's fury can spill blood within five paces! Since City Lord Zong and I are currently separated by barely sixty feet, let us see if I can take the life of City Lord Zong!"

Just as Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, Yang Fan's figure suddenly exploded outward. Then, a silver-armored figure, twice the size of a normal man, suddenly shot out of the dense mist, moving toward the depths of the hall, charging straight at them.

Upon closer inspection, it was not a real person clad in armor. The entire body was covered in layers of silver talismans, inscribed with blood-red runes that looked like a network of veins. Vast spiritual energy surged and flowed along these inscribed lines.

Though it was a paper construct, its aura was in no way inferior to the Eighth-Tier Yin Jiao that Zong Shou had encountered in the Evil Spirit Gully not long ago.

When it struck out with a punch, the resulting shockwave alone pulverized every single Red Profound Wood chair in the hall into dust.

Zong Ling frowned, raising his hand to launch a beam of light—it manifested as a Sixth-Tier spiritual artifact, a Golden Shield, blocking the path of the silver-armored paper construct.

But in the very next instant, the paper construct shattered the shield with a single, powerful blow! Zong Ling simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back several paces.

Yet, the fierce momentum of the silver-armored construct did not diminish in the slightest; its speed of assault was even faster than before.

Kong Yao frowned, her hand resting on her waist. She hesitated, wondering if she should intervene to help. However, she noticed that Zong Shou’s expression, from beginning to end, remained placid, showing not the slightest hint of alarm.

Her heart instantly settled. She remembered that the Demon King of Qiantian had become the personal disciple of Elder Longying a year and a half ago. How could he possibly lack any means of self-preservation?

And Qiantian Mountain, ruling over thirteen provinces, must surely have powerful allies seeking shelter.

This matter did not require her, an outsider, to interfere. Whichever side emerged victorious here would serve her current mission well enough.

Her hand also rested on her sword. Zong Shou’s gaze was like a cold, deep pool in an ancient well—clear, chilling, and utterly without fluctuation.

The Yuan Yi Sword, which he hadn't used in a long time, silently merged into the nearby Huo Yin Sword.

This sword had been nurtured within his soul and was long past its crude beginnings; dragon patterns were gradually beginning to writhe and flow within it.

And precisely at the moment the silver-armored paper construct closed within ten feet of him, the Huo Yin Sword in Zong Shou’s hand suddenly unsheathed.

The entirety of his aura instantly transformed, steady as a mountain range, as formidable as the majesty of heaven and earth!

As the scarlet-yellow sword light cleaved downward, it carried with it a gentle breeze that made the very soul tremble.

The very next second, there was a sharp, ringing clang. The vast sword energy cleanly split the silver-armored paper construct into two halves!

However, along with the sound of the explosion, more than a dozen thunder orbs suddenly shot out from within.

"Nine Yin Child-Mother Lightning? Heh, so that's what this is,"

Zong Shou snorted coldly, re-sheathing the sword in his hand. Then, he reached out and scooped up all the thunder orbs, causing the exploding spheres to instantly calm down.

At this moment, Kong Yao was utterly dumbfounded. It wasn't the awe of Zong Shou’s swordplay or spiritual technique that stunned her, but rather the scarlet-yellow sword energy itself.

The sword energy was scarlet and yellow, mixed with a pure white dragon shadow—this was the aura of a 'Saint King'...

For more novels, visit storyread.net.