The one who spoke was a Commander standing behind Yin Yang, commanding a detachment of three hundred Blood Cloud Knights. His tone carried a hint of excitement.

At this time, the Blood Cloud Cavalry boasted over forty Xuanwu Grandmasters of the Sixth Tier. Most were former subordinates of Zong Shou, who had broken through from the Martial Ancestor realm to the Sixth Tier thanks to the power of the Spiritual Salamander Blood Essence Pills, forming the backbone of the elite Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry.

Beside this Commander, several others also showed heightened spirits, gazing over with intense anticipation.

Even the usually steady Yin Yang held a spark of eager readiness in his eyes.

The Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry was reputed to be invincible and almost undefeated in ancient times. Though it was rebuilt thanks to Zong Shou, it was he who had truly poured countless efforts into this army over the last two years.

But ever since its formation, the Blood Cloud Cavalry had been ordered by Zong Shou to remain in hiding, concealed from the public eye. It wasn't just the subordinates who were frustrated; he, the Blood Cloud Commander, also felt a growing impatience. He yearned to taste blood, to unveil their fangs and claws, and let the world know that Qiantian Mountain City possessed this peerless heavy cavalry!

Since the Blood Cloud Cavalry's auxiliary cultivation method was named 'Blood Cavalry Slaughter,' it naturally required being watered with blood!

Zong Shou remained noncommittal, recognizing the strong desire for battle etched on the faces before him. He was rather pleased to see it; that was how armies should be. If everyone obeyed meekly like sheep, it would be cause for concern instead.

Just as he was about to speak, a clear whistle suddenly echoed from the distance. A streak of bloody, malevolent light shot skyward within the encampment, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Yin Yang’s brow twitched slightly, then smoothed out: "It is Zong Yuan—"

As his voice faded, Zong Yuan’s figure indeed reappeared from a distant tent. Carrying a blood-red halberd, he approached Zong Shou.

A faint trace of bloodlust flickered in his eyes at first, but it vanished without a trace almost immediately afterward: "My Lord, Zong Yuan has not failed in his mission! This auxiliary cultivation art is complete."

Zong Shou smiled upon hearing this. He had guessed that Zong Yuan's breakthrough would occur within these past two days.

Zong Yuan’s primary cultivation focused on lightning arts, which did not align well with the Blood Cavalry Slaughter, so Zong Shou had never ordered him to practice this auxiliary technique. It was only three months ago, after achieving the Black and White Cave Dharma Manifestation and gaining insight from observing the Primal Core, that Zong Shou had slightly modified this technique, finding parallels between it and the Heaven Swallowing Primordial Transformation.

Though Zong Yuan used a spear, the halberd evolved from the ge (a type of ancient spear/halberd), and the spear itself originated from the halberd through simplification. There were inherent connections; using this great halberd would allow him to retain over ninety percent of his combat power!

If he himself were absent, Zong Yuan could take charge of the army in his stead—

"It is good that it is done! Very well, since you all are eager for battle, so be it as you wish! Yin Yang, send a few men to rally the armies for me. The Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry, the Mystic Fox Iron Cavalry, and the Guards Cavalry—all follow me into battle!"

The crowd first froze slightly, only reacting a moment later. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disbelief and wild elation. Then, they immediately scattered, rushing toward their respective subordinates.

Yin Yang aggressively snatched the bugle horn from his subordinate and brought it to his lips, whereupon the desolate sound suddenly resonated across the sky.

After a brief moment, countless sounds like rushing thunder erupted from all directions.

First, all four thousand three hundred and fifty Blood Knights lined up perfectly before the camp gates. Nearly every one held excitement in their eyes; though their battle intent soared high, their postures remained steady as mountains.

Immediately following them, tens of thousands more cavalry thundered into view. The three thousand Mystic Fox Cavalry, clad in silver armor and riding Silver-Scaled Wind-Treading Beasts, possessed an aura less imposing than the Blood Cloud Cavalry, yet their speed generated a terrifying momentum.

Almost every member was a congenital expert proficient in both Spiritual and Martial cultivation, possessing the bloodline of the Fox Clan and skilled in illusory arts. Even their armor was enhanced with illusionary spells; at a glance, they seemed like shadow and mist, resembling thousands of troops and horses, birthing new illusions in the viewer's mind.

The Guards Cavalry was even further behind in power, but thanks to Qiu Wei’s disciplined training, the entire force of thirty thousand knights moved with perfectly synchronized hoofbeats, as if they were a single entity. Upon entering the valley, they stood silently on their horses, their bodies ramrod straight like javelins.

Hu Zhongyuan and Ling Xuan were among them, each commanding a contingent, their faces flushed with fervor, their burning gazes frequently flicking toward Zong Shou.

Just as the full force of forty thousand cavalry converged, several beams of light descended from the sky—these were the Ninth Tier Enshrined Masters who had been cultivating in seclusion on Qiantian Mountain.

The first two were Ming Du and Lie He. The moment Ming Du dispersed his light shield, he eagerly turned to Zong Shou and inquired, "My Lord! With the armies assembled, are we preparing to strike?"

"Indeed! Zong Shou prepares to make a journey to Shangxiao Mountain—"

Zong Shou smiled, nodding slightly, then stated gravely, "I must trouble the two of you to accompany me into battle, bringing the Ten Absolutes Sky Vault Formation!"

A look of undisguised joy flashed across the faces of Ming Du and Lie He. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with inexplicable delight. They could barely restrain themselves from bursting into laughter right there, but maintaining their composure, they suppressed the urge to lose face in front of the assembled crowd.

—After waiting for a full three months, this battle had finally arrived!

Zong Shou then bowed to the others: "I request Elder Protector and Protector Hu to accompany me, safeguarding Elders Ming Du and Lie He! The remaining few, please take command and oversee the various armies in my stead!"

Apart from Zong Fei, the others quickly returned the salute. They all understood that the border between Qiantian Mountain and the Thousand Cities Alliance spanned nearly ten thousand miles. The front line was vast, requiring several powerful figures to remain behind to secure different sectors, guarding against the might of the Thousand Cities and the Eastern Reaches Sects.

While their excitement might not match that of Ming Du and Lie He, it was close.

Especially the five individuals hailing from the four major clans of Qiantian Mountain; their gaze upon the Blood Cloud Cavalry held a particular significance. This was the foundation upon which their four Demon Clans would stand in the Cloud Realm, and the supreme cavalry that would dominate the Eastern Reaches in the future. How could they not anticipate the sight of this ancient, invincible iron cavalry sweeping across the battlefield?

Zong Shou, however, was gazing eastward, his eyes shimmering. Shangxiao Profound Spirit Sect, I am ready for you now. I wonder if you are prepared?

The forty thousand heavy cavalry each brought three horses and carried only seven days’ worth of rations, traveling light. Although Qiantian Mountain possessed over a dozen Minor Universe Bags, even when filled, they could only sustain forty thousand people for about a month. Martial cultivators beyond the Congenital realm had drastically increased appetites, and a Martial Ancestor realm expert could consume an entire shi (a measure of grain) after fierce combat depletion in a single sitting. Thus, even the several-hundred-zhang-wide Minor Universe Bags could not last long.

Zong Shou felt no concern, speeding eastward. Several hundred Spirit Masters accompanying the force shrouded them with illusionary magic. While this couldn't perfectly conceal their presence, it effectively masked the sharp essence and aura of the Blood Cloud Cavalry.

Only seven days later, the forty thousand cavalry crossed the Vast Sea Mountain Range and arrived within the territory of Profound Mountain City.

As Zong Shou reached the outskirts of Profound Mountain City, he saw another massive cavalry force already waiting there. A rough count showed nearly twenty thousand troops! Among them were six thousand Congenital experts. After two years of flourishing under plentiful resources, the Profound Armor Wind Dragon Cavalry of Profound Mountain City had swelled to four thousand strong.

The leader was Xuan Yuan Tong, accompanied by Lin Shi Na and Luo Yan.

Zong Shou rode out alone and had just reached the group when he heard Xuan Yuan Tong speak in a measured tone: "Half an hour ago, news arrived from the Elixir Spring Sect stating that their Elders Xun Dan and E Dan have agreed to the marriage proposal from the Shangxiao Sect. Yi Ren is currently being sent to the Shangxiao Sect—"

Zong Shou’s gaze flickered briefly, then returned to its composure. He had long anticipated this outcome. Profound Mountain City had been managed by the Elixir Spring Sect even earlier than Qiantian Mountain, and due to Xuan Yuan Yi Ren’s connection, they naturally received the news sooner than he did.

Lin Shi Na, however, was deeply displeased, her face gloomy as she let out a cold snort: "I think they truly do not know how to value their own lives!" Her gaze never left the resting blood-colored cavalry nearby, her eyes flashing strangely. So this is the Blood Cloud Cavalry? Truly extraordinary.

In ancient times, the Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry, numbering only three thousand, was capable of destroying an entire nation or sect. Despite being only Fifth Tier Dao Soldiers, they possessed the might comparable to Sixth Tier Dao Soldiers, and their sheer numbers made them unstoppable. Zong Shou now commanded four thousand of them. A force like this would command respect even from her own sect.

Unbeknownst to her until now, her son-in-law had managed to cultivate a vast force capable of standing against the great sects of the Cloud Realm without disadvantage—

Back then, she must have been blind to think Han Ni Shui was a suitable son-in-law. Compared to him, Han Ni Shui was still scum. After being humiliated once, he actually refused to retreat, was he walking right into his own death?

Zong Shou knew his mother-in-law’s temperament and largely ignored her, offering a faint smile before turning back to Xuan Yuan Tong: "Why is General Zhu Junhou not here?"

Among the generals of Xuan Tian Mountain, Xuan Yuan Tong was the one he rated highest—even stronger than Hu Zhongyuan, a commander capable of leading independently in the future, much like Qiu Wei.

"Jun Hou? He is in the city." Xuan Yuan Tong’s gaze was also fixed upon the blood-colored iron cavalry, his face full of admiration. "I cannot simply stand by regarding my own daughter’s affairs. This time, I will accompany you. Profound Mountain City needs him to hold the fort!"

Zong Shou was momentarily stunned, then laughed softly: "The Profound Armor Wind Dragon Cavalry of Qiantian Mountain is also battle-hardened elite, famous throughout the Cloud Realm. Zong Shou could not ask for more. In that case, Father-in-law, please join me on the journey to Shangxiao Mountain. You have destroyed countless cities in your life; I imagine you have yet to destroy a sect—"

Xuan Yuan Tong immediately burst into hearty laughter, filled with bold ambition.

"Good! Good! Good! Xuan Yuan Tong has truly never witnessed the destruction of a sect in his life. I, Xuan Yuan Tong, admit I lack the power to do so, but you, my boy, possess the might to wipe out sects and overturn nations. To witness the downfall of this Third Spirit Prefecture with my own eyes would be a blessing!"

Zong Shou was pleased and was about to turn back to his own ranks when Lin Shi Na spoke up again, calling him back. (To be continued)