As twilight began to creep over the landscape, the resounding drums and palpable killing intent still dominated the battlefield. Tens of millions of iron-clad soldiers, arrayed in vast divisions, clashed violently across the plain bordering the great river, carving a bloody line between two opposing forces. Countless corpses littered the ground in every direction.

One side was the army of Qiantian Mountain City. Their numbers were meager, just 1.8 million, arranged in over a hundred ordered phalanxes.

Their flanks were protected by more than two hundred Cloud Ships positioned in the great river, forming an imposing barrier that absorbed the enemy’s relentless assaults. Compared to the forces of the Thousand Cities Alliance, their numbers were vastly inferior—only about a quarter—yet their quality was obviously superior. The armor they wore and the weapons they gripped faintly shimmered with spiritual light, all artifacts of the Spirit Grade. For the most part, even direct blows from enemy weapons left them entirely unharmed. Consequently, despite their smaller numbers, their morale was higher. Along the sixty-seven li expanse of their front line, they were predominantly pushing back the Alliance’s vast army of millions. They were efficient, disciplined, and continuously reaping lives. However, after every offensive surge that shattered the enemy ranks, they would immediately retreat, falling back into the fortified camps behind them, relying on their meticulously constructed defenses and never pursuing the fleeing foe.

The Thousand Cities Alliance was no different; routed again and again, they repeatedly threw themselves back into furious assaults. Before the meat-grinder of the fortifications, their formations fell away in swathes.

Xiong Yu, however, sat with a grim, ashen face, seventeen li behind the main battle line, within a command tent. Though not on the frontline herself, the Spirit Masters beside her were using Cloud Light Illusions to project every corner of the battlefield before her eyes. Flanking her were either the lords of the allied cities or highly esteemed generals from the Eastern territories. A clamor of voices filled the tent with chaotic discussion.

“It has been seven full days since the fighting began! Seven days we have been stalled here. We’ve suffered nearly a million casualties and haven't advanced an inch! If this continues, I fear we will run out of our eleven million men before we can break this position—”

“Our desperate situation in this battle is entirely due to the Fleet Master's dereliction of duty! With the fleet in the river, Qiantian Mountain could have spared at least thirty percent of their forces. I heard they mobilized from Lidong City a full month ago. Why have they not arrived? Are they all useless fools?”

“We cannot entirely blame them. Since Qiantian Mountain City annihilated the fleet of Taoyun City, their naval power has been supreme. In the past two years, they constructed thirty Seven-Tusk Great Ships, and nearly a hundred Five-Tusk Ships besides. Moreover, at the mouth of the Daishui River, they have fortified four strongholds, each mounting more than fifty Yuan Mie Divine Crossbows. It will be difficult to win quickly!”

“So, that Demon King was prepared, anticipating the battleground would be here. No wonder Qiantian Mountain has been systematically clearing out nearly every major vessel on this river for the past two years.”

“They were definitely prepared. Our patrols of elite cavalry scouted their rear in recent days, but found no supply trains or munitions moving. Nothing within three hundred li. They must have stockpiled sufficient reserves here, unafraid of a siege—”

“I’ve always wondered where Qiantian Mountain procured such wealth. Even obtaining the Beast Tomb, it shouldn't make them this prosperous. A behemoth like a Seven-Tusk Great Ship—even with the resources of an entire province, it would take a year to construct one, perhaps less—”

“Can’t we simply go around this position?”

“Ha! What ignorant brat dares speak here? A pampered wastrel who doesn't belong here, yet presumes to lecture on military tactics! Do you not know the fundamental principle of warfare—armies must march alongside water? Leave the Daishui River, and where will our allied armies draw water from? Can the various sect storage pouches sustain us for even a single day?”

As the words fell, roaring laughter erupted throughout the tent, leaving the questioner flushed with shame and humiliation.

Yet, once the laughter subsided, worry still dominated most faces. It wasn't that they doubted victory; with the Lingyun Sect orchestrating events from behind the scenes, unifying the cities, and having already laid a trap for the Demon King to willingly step into, the outcome of this battle was essentially decided. Their current anxiety stemmed from the sheer scale of the casualties they would sustain in achieving it.

Xiong Yu pondered alone, ignoring the hubbub. These men were not under her direct command, so she couldn't expect them to move at her beck and call. If she could command them so easily, the Eastern Sects would certainly mistrust her.

“My division has suffered 40,000 casualties in seven days, breaking four times under the strain! And we still haven't breached the first layer of their defensive wall. I did not expect the soldiers of Qiantian Mountain to be this elite! No wonder they seek to pare down their armies, needing no vassals or subsidiaries.”

“You think 40,000 is bad? An entire corps of elite cavalry I cultivated over many years was wiped out entirely in that formation recently. Qiantian Mountain’s ten most elite garrisons each boast over three hundred Xiantian experts. If they don't move, fine, but when they appear, it is always a decisive victory, resulting in immense slaughter!”

“This battle is simply unwinnable! I wonder how the other fronts are faring?”

“Word is, not much better. Qiantian Mountain holds the high ground in defense; they take heavy losses, but they cannot be taken down—”

Xiong Yu gave a cold laugh, understanding that while these men seemed to be speaking amongst themselves, their words were deliberately directed at her—a thinly veiled criticism. Frowning, she gazed at the Cloud Light Illusion before her, her eyes filled with an unyielding chill. After a moment, she made her decision. Her gaze, sharp as a drawn sword, swept over the hall, and the sheer oppressive aura instantly silenced the chamber once more.

“I am aware that all armies have suffered grievous losses these past seven days! Xiong Yu also feels the pain. Continuing this entanglement serves no purpose—”

As she spoke this, everyone in the tent nodded in agreement. Xiong Yu then shifted her tone: “But have you considered that Qiantian Mountain’s situation is even worse? In today's battle, while the Thousand Cities Alliance lost 124,000 men, I observed that Qiantian Mountain also saw 3,000 fatalities!”

Some astute individuals in the tent offered cold sneers; they already roughly grasped what the Lord of Blazing Flame Mountain City was about to propose.

As expected, Xiong Yu continued: “And yesterday, Qiantian Mountain’s total casualties were barely a thousand. Qiantian Mountain is showing signs of exhaustion. Now is the time to press the attack with full force, not to abandon the effort halfway! Tonight, this King intends to press a night offensive. I propose we primarily use the armies of Blazing Flame, Yunxia, Dragon Elephant, and Yunsheng to strike once more. We will focus on the right flank; the terrain there is wide open, which is disadvantageous for defense. My observation today suggests this is their weakest point—breaking through should not be difficult—”

Before she finished speaking, a cold sneer echoed in the tent again: “Why trouble with such effort? The fighting on Shangxiao Mountain will soon be settled. Once Zong Shou is dead, the garrisons of Qiantian Mountain will collapse without a fight. Pressing the attack now is merely wasting lives.”

At this statement, many in the tent showed expressions of agreement.

“Exactly! The Lingyun Sect has made its arrangements; once Zong Shou dies, the overall situation is decided! Why waste energy here?”

“Our Deputy Alliance Lord seems highly ambitious, intending to use the soldiers of our various cities for her private gain—she should not dream of it—”

“This Princess Xuanyu does not value human life, but I must feel concern for my subordinates—”

Xiong Yu did not grow angry; instead, she smiled, her eyes narrowing as she directed a look filled with killing intent toward the first person who objected. This man was not from Dragon Elephant City, but before the formation of the Thousand Cities Alliance, he was a vassal of Dragon Elephant City. Observing the others, more than a dozen major city lords, including Lord Xu Zhengyuan of Yunsheng City and Feng Nu of Yunxia Mountain, remained silent.

Satisfied, she smiled again: “It is not impossible to halt the attack. But if we must wait until the Lingyun Sect handles everything before we reap the rewards, wouldn't that make us appear incompetent?”

That single sentence restored silence to the command tent. Xiong Yu then looked toward the two young men seated beside her. One was Zu Renguang, and the other, even younger, was named Yan Feibai. Both were core disciples of the Lingyun Sect. Xiong Yu, despite being a City Lord, held only the rank of an inner disciple.

She then offered a bright smile: “I request that the two of you dispatch Dao Soldiers to assist shortly!”

Zu Renguang felt a degree of admiration for this woman, yet he hesitated slightly over the matter. Within the Lingyun Sect, the Sixth-Tier Dao Soldiers formed the backbone. Beneath them were Fourth and Fifth-Tier Dao Soldiers. This time, he had brought a thousand men, and with contributions from the Eastern Sects, they totaled five thousand—not the true pillar of the sect, but certainly an assembly of the elite.

As he pondered, Xiong Yu continued: “These past few days, Xiong Yu has tried several times to lure Qiantian Mountain into a pursuit, but Qiu Wei lives up to his reputation as a great general; he always retreated promptly, refusing to be reckless. This suggests he has become wary of our sect’s Dao Soldiers. Since luring them out has failed, we must resort to a direct assault. Please rest assured, Martial Uncle, Xiong Yu will act cautiously and strive to minimize casualties among the sect’s elite. Today, I do not seek a breakthrough, only a serious wound to their forces for the sake of appearances. Otherwise, once the matter on Shangxiao is settled, the reputation of you and I will suffer greatly—”

Only then did Zu Renguang nod and smile: “Nephew, you are skilled in warfare, I trust you!”

Yan Feibai remained indifferent; Zu Renguang was the one in charge this time. He had accompanied them merely to observe and gain experience from this great battle. In his heart, he thought only of Zong Shou, wondering if that man was truly about to perish? What a pity, that he would never have the chance to fight him again! In two years, Yan Feibai had reached the Seventh Tier! He wondered what realm Zong Shou had attained by now?

Xiong Yu’s lips curved slightly, and her hand unconsciously brushed against her severed arm, clenching fiercely at the stump. Intense pain immediately shot through her heart. In the Cloud Realm, countless secret medicinal formulas dating back to the Cloud Barren Era existed. There were countless techniques for limb regeneration, and if one was favored like Long Ruo, one could even have one's true spirit remolded to reshape the body. For Xiong Yu, a City Lord, restoring an arm was trivial. But she had kept it, determined to remember the humiliating disgrace suffered on Julong Mountain, holding out for this very day. It should not be long now! Just a few more days, and she would surely hear news of his death—

Zong Shou, oh Zong Shou, I will destroy your Qiantian Mountain! Not a single tile will remain! (To be continued…)RQ