This second-tier magic treasure was indeed incredibly swift. What was surprising was how minimal the consumption of magical power was. Even for Zong Shou, despite being a full major realm below his opponents, he could sustain its use for over three days, controlling it with perfect ease.

This gave Zong Shou a considerable sense of anticipation regarding the remaining scattered components of this artifact.

Landing at the Hanyan Palace atop the mountain peak, hundreds of guards immediately rushed forward.

Once they recognized the arrival as Zong Shou, they dispersed. The level of vigilance was clearly higher than when Kong Yao had visited previously.

Expanding his spiritual sense, Zong Shou could detect several powerful cultivators whose auras reached the Ninth Tier within the palace grounds.

Besides Ming Du and Lie He, whom he had personally invited, there were at least six other Ninth Tier cultivators strategically positioned around the four cardinal directions of the Hanyan Palace.

As Zong Shou was pondering this, the word "Initiate" boomed from each of the four directions, immediately followed by a deafening roar. The entire mountain body shuddered violently.

In the next instant, Zong Shou finally understood what these people had been doing. He felt the surrounding heaven and earth being violently tugged, as several Dragon Veins were forcibly drawn in and converged beneath Qiantian Mountain.

There were a total of six massive Dragon Veins gathered beneath this peak, instantly saturating the area with an extraordinary abundance of spiritual energy.

Qiantian Mountain, through Zong Shou’s management over the past few years, already had a considerable accumulation of Spirit Veins beneath it, including two Dragon Veins. With this latest concerted effort by these individuals to reinforce the flow, the location had truly transformed into a true spiritual haven.

At this point, Ren Bo and others had arrived, having heard the news. The remaining numerous Ninth Tier cultivators also converged before Zong Shou.

Ming Du and Lie He both offered him a respectful bow. As for the other six, their initial gazes were scrutinizing, sizing up Zong Shou from head to toe.

But they were swiftly taken aback. Zong Shou bore numerous injuries, and his aura was somewhat dim. More troublingly, the Sword Intent left behind by Yuan Wushang in the wounds remained impossible to purge, causing the spiritual energy around Zong Shou to constantly erupt outwards. Fortunately, his flesh and blood were also reinforced by Zong Shou’s own spiritual power, preventing further harm from the Sword Intent.

At a glance, they couldn't gauge Zong Shou's true depth; they were almost injured by the spiritual bursts emanating from him.

The Sword Intent, reaching the level of Sword Soul, made the scalps of everyone present prickle with alarm.

Among them, someone discerning raised an eyebrow. "This is the Myriad Spirit Sword Intent, at the first level of Sword Soul. In this world, the only person capable of cultivating this school of swordsmanship to the Sword Soul level while only at the Eighth Tier is the Mad Sword, Yuan Wushang. May I ask, My Lord, if you have crossed swords with him?"

Zong Shou looked towards the speaker with slight surprise. Ren Bo, sensing his intent, smiled and introduced the newcomers: "These esteemed elders are the recent retainers invited by Qiantian Mountain. These two seniors are named Zong Fei and Zong Han; they are of your clan, My Lord. And these three are Elder Hu Ruodong..."

Ren Bo continued his introductions in turn. Besides Zong Fei and Zong Han, who hailed from the Seven-Tailed Zong Clan—members of the Zong family from four hundred years ago—and Hu Ruodong, who was also an ancestor from the Iron Tiger Clan, the other three were named Chai Kong and Ling Jiuchen. Merely hearing their surnames revealed that these individuals originated from Qiantian’s other two great clans, which were nearly equal in standing to the Zong Clan.

The final individual was named True Man Hong Ling, though he was of Human race origin, personally invited by Ren Bo.

Everyone offered their greetings. It was Zong Han, the one who had first questioned Zong Shou, who still wore a look of profound confusion.

However, before Zong Shou could reply, Ling Xueyun spoke up beside him. "Two days ago, My Lord did indeed encounter that Sword Maniac. My Lord defeated him after three hundred and forty-seven exchanges, severing half his body and forcing Yuan Wushang to flee severely wounded..." Upon hearing this, everyone present, except for Ren Bo who was entirely unaware of who Yuan Wushang was, stiffened slightly, finding the statement hard to believe.

Hearing "defeated him after three hundred and forty-seven exchanges," the crowd felt it was reasonable—some even wondered if Zong Shou was exaggerating to have held out so long, or perhaps Yuan Wushang had held back. After all, an Eighth Tier cultivator wielding Sword Soul level power was someone they themselves would keep a significant distance from.

But the phrase following it—"...severing half his body"—evoked a completely different sensation.

Initially, it felt unbelievable, impossible to accept; even after calming down, the report still sounded absurd.

Ling Xueyun, however, had anticipated this reaction. He spoke calmly, without any sign of displeasure: "I am Ling Xueyun! Though I have been in secluded cultivation these past years, a century ago, I held some minor renown in the Cloud Realm." Upon hearing this, the complexions of the eight Ninth Tier cultivators changed once more, becoming grave.

"So it is Brother Ling. Even now, your name, the Thousand Cold Snow Sword, is known throughout the world!" Zong Han exclaimed in surprise before falling silent. He understood that Ling Xueyun was staking his reputation on his word, making it impossible for others to question his credibility.

However, the way they looked at Zong Shou now was entirely different. Beyond the superficial respect shown to the Demon Sovereign, there was now a far deeper sense of deference.

They bowed again—a gesture reserved for a fellow cultivator whose strength equaled or even surpassed their own.

Zong Fei, among them, expressed undisguised delight. "My Lord is truly exceptional! I never expected that our Heavenly Fox Zong Clan could produce such a talent before the Spiritual Tide, one nearly on par with that man! Heaven truly favors our lineage!"

Zong Shou understood that this elder was different from Zong Han. The latter hailed from a collateral line of the Zong Clan, whereas Zong Fei was of the direct Heavenly Fox lineage from seven centuries ago. Yet, when tracing the direct lines, his own branch from seven centuries past was also considered a direct line. Therefore, in Zong Fei’s eyes, the distinction between direct and collateral lines held little meaning unless the blood ties were extremely distant. In fact, tracing the lineage might well reveal Zong Fei as an ancestor of Zong Shou himself. While he treated others as equals, this elder commanded sincere respect.

After exchanging courtesies with everyone, Zong Shou wished to shift the conversation away from the defeat of Yuan Wushang. If Ling Xueyun hadn't spoken first, he wouldn't have mentioned it at all. He smiled, changing the subject, and focused his spiritual energy towards the interior of the mountain, asking curiously, "Based on the alchemical positioning, how many more Dragon Veins can Qiantian Mountain gather?"

Zong Han frowned immediately. "At most, four more! This is due to the flourishing national fortune of My Lord. This location is the capital city, the confluence of your domain's vital energy, thus it possesses more than elsewhere..." As a nearly peak Ninth Tier Spirit Master with Heavenly Fox blood, his understanding of Array Formations was excellent. Among Spirit Masters of his rank, he was a standout, and his authority in this field was unquestionable.

"However, this location can accommodate six Ninth Tier cultivators if arranged properly. But here..." His voice trailed off, yet the unspoken meaning was clear to everyone.

Qiantian Mountain could gather twelve Dragon Veins, capable of supporting six Ninth Tier cultivators practicing here. But with nine people present, it was becoming insufficient.

Zong Shou also frowned. Before the Spiritual Tide, every two Dragon Veins could support one Ninth Tier cultivator, allowing them to maintain their current realm and even achieve minor advancements. His original plan only accounted for five or six Ninth Tier experts. He hadn't anticipated that Ren Bo alone would manage to gather as many as six Ninth Tier experts for Qiantian Mountain.

He was aware that his Heavenly Fox Clan, along with the other major tribes of Qiantian Mountain, possessed many Ninth Tier powerhouses—this was the foundation that allowed the Demon Race to maintain a foothold on the East Lin Cloud Continent. But he never imagined that the major clans could recall so many to serve as retainers for Qiantian Mountain. It was a pity that Ju Long Mountain had already collapsed; otherwise, some could have been housed there.

"I will find a solution for this matter; it will definitely be resolved within two months!"

Instinctively, Zong Shou thought of the small Dome Realm within the Dragon Palace. If he could persuade Elder Dragon Shadow or Ao Kun to move it over, he could afford to house even Immortal Realm cultivators, let alone Spirit Realm ones. Even if that wasn't possible, by that time, Qiantian Mountain’s national influence would likely be sufficient to gather over sixty Dragon Veins.

When he stated this, those around him chuckled, showing not a shred of doubt. Only Ling Xueyun paused, realizing that in two months, the great war between Qiantian Mountain and the Thousand Cities Alliance would likely commence. Did these people have no concern?

Daoist Ming Du spoke again, "My Lord, on command, Ming Du has brought the Ten Absolute Sky-Vault Grand Array of my Talisman Spirit Sect. Does My Lord wish to deploy it here in Qiantian Mountain?"

Zong Shou's eyebrows immediately lifted, his eyes alight with pleasure, followed by an inscrutable, profound smile tinged with a hint of wickedness. This Ten Absolute Sky-Vault, an array fiercely coveted by countless factions and sects in the mid-game of the Divine Emperor simulation, was not something he intended to use here as a primary defense for his mountain gate.

Upon seeing his expression, Ming Du and Lie He understood Zong Shou's intent. Far from being surprised, their bodies trembled slightly, their minds unsettled, causing their auras to stir restlessly, bordering on losing composure. This drew the astonished gazes of those nearby.

But how could the churning, lava-like turmoil in their chests be suppressed?

Ultimately, this was retribution. The Ten Absolute Sky-Vault Grand Array was originally refined by their Talisman Spirit Sect for establishing their own sect headquarters. Yet, in the end, the Talisman Spirit Sect perished, leaving only them as "remnants." And this protective array, never deployed by them, was now being used against their sworn enemies. Did the former Lingyun Sect, which commanded the Eastern Lin sects to destroy the Talisman Spirit Sect, ever imagine this day?

The Ten Absolute Sky-Vault Grand Array could lock down the world in ten directions, encompassing a hundred-mile radius. As long as spiritual energy was abundant, it was nearly impossible to break. Judging by the situation, this Sovereign, despite possessing thousands of Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry, remained deliberately restrained. He was clearly preparing to wipe out all the Eastern Lin sects in one fell swoop—to utterly annihilate them!

Truly ruthless methods!

Yet, they were intensely joyful... The more venomous the plan, the more exhilarated they became. Though they knew they had to wait at least another month and a half, their excitement within their chests was already becoming impatient.