"That Jiu Jing has been extorting and plundering in my Yuanlian Realm, taking whatever he desires. Several of my subordinates' kin have perished because of it; even if I harbor thoughts of rebellion, it is only right!"

The words were sharp, laced with an incredibly dense resentment, yet also imbued with profound helplessness.

"Is that right? That is indeed a fine justification, though I hope you are entirely sincere!"

Zong Shou nodded slightly, then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "If we eliminate Jiu Jing, then what? Will I be surrounded and slaughtered by Hong Jiuchen, Tan Jing, and the others? And the Yuanlian Realm will continue to wallow in decline. With your wisdom, Zhuang Yu, surely you have already prepared for this?"

Zhuang Yu's pupils contracted, his face suddenly paling dramatically.

In that instant, he understood that everything Zong Shou had said before was merely a prelude to this very question.

His mouth felt dry, wanting to argue or defend himself, yet finding no words adequate for the situation.

He felt as if this person before him had completely stripped him bare, leaving no secret untouched. He knew that even if he offered a defense now, this man would not heed it. The power Zong Shou wielded vastly overshadowed his own, and Zhuang Yu possessed no means of counteraction. His life or death rested entirely on the other's whim—this single fact rendered all his cunning plots and years of accumulated strength utterly useless. Indeed, a single suspicion from Zong Shou was quite enough.

What need does one holding absolute power have to debate principles with others?

"If you remain silent, then I shall take it as an admission!"

Zong Shou turned his head, continuing to watch the marketplace below with genuine interest. This renowned general of the Yuanlian Realm was now completely within his grasp, beyond any hope of escape.

"Men like you, I also deeply distrust, and would never allow to rule a region. You will not be the sovereign of a nation, but I can appoint you as the Grand Marshal of the Vanguard for my Great Qian Immortal Dynasty, controlling the armies of the four kingdoms and overseeing the eastern campaign. I imagine you have some inkling of the current situation. My Great Qian is not yet firmly established, and how to respond to the challenges ahead remains unclear. For now, I must rely on you. If you can defeat the eastern kingdoms one month from now, all will be well, and I shall reward you appropriately. If you fail, then the moment I depart, I will sever your head—"

The position of Marshal of the Five Armies was just below the Inspector General of the Five Armies, but it was for this seemingly hollow 'Great Qian Immortal Dynasty,' not the Qian Kingdom of the Cloud Realm. It was a temporary measure for the present crisis. As for what would happen afterward—whether he would be discarded after serving his purpose—that would depend entirely on Zhuang Yu's performance.

Zhuang Yu was stunned again. After a long pause, he offered a complex, slight bow: "This subject thanks the Immortal Lord for valuing me! The Immortal Lord truly possesses magnanimous tolerance. One month hence, whether I achieve great victory or merely manage to repel the enemy, Zhuang Yu will endeavor to the utmost!"

Yet, there was not a trace of genuine connection in his tone, for he knew perfectly well this was merely an exchange. From beginning to end, it was filled with coercion and threats, allowing no room for refusal, nor did Zong Shou attempt any pretense. He made no attempt to hide the suspicion and vigilance in his heart. This made his second sentence sound peculiar—it was impossible to tell if it was praise or sarcasm.

"Magnanimous tolerance?"

Zong Shou chuckled, stroking his chin. He had maintained his youthful appearance too early; his chin remained perfectly smooth, utterly beardless, a perpetual regret for him. Yet, perhaps he did possess a degree of tolerance for others. In truth, he only had vague conjectures regarding the subtle maneuvers Zhuang Yu had been setting up over the years. Whether this man would ultimately succeed in the future remained unknown. However, more than a decade later, the Divine Emperor led a massive army on a campaign of conquest, only to suffer a major setback in the Yuanlian Realm, being held up for a full seven years. It was precisely this prolonged, costly engagement in Yuanlian that tied up vast military resources, preventing the swift unification of the Cloud Realm. Before Kong Yao's army, the Divine Emperor suffered repeated defeats, coming close to being driven out of the Cloud Realm at his lowest point. If not for the internal power struggles within the Great Shang, and the King of Liao, who inherited the throne, being excessively suspicious of Kong Yao, whether the Great Shang would eventually fall was truly debatable.

But Zong Shou had always been intensely curious about the one who held the Divine Emperor at bay in the Yuanlian Realm for seven years. Alas, the historical records he consulted mentioned no such figure; they were lost in the river of time, leaving not a single trace. He did not know if this person was indeed Zhuang Yu, but looking at the current situation, Zhuang Yu seemed the most likely candidate.

Did this world, this Heaven and Earth, truly possess a will of its own? Across all realms, whenever a world faced a crisis, countless heroes would inevitably emerge, rising one after another. The Yuanlian Realm was no exception; the Cloud Realm was the same!

Zong Shou’s thoughts wandered internally before his focus snapped back.

"You mean, I can tolerate even a treacherous hero like yourself?"

The muscles in Zhuang Yu's face twitched, yet he maintained his bowed posture: "A treacherous hero in times of chaos can also be a loyal minister in times of peace!"

"Is this perhaps a reminder that I must never give you an opportunity in the future?"

Zong Shou smiled: "I shall remember that! And I also hope that when you engage in such activities in the future, you will be more cautious. I am not Jiu Jing!"

Zhuang Yu offered a wry smile: "How dare this subject deceive the Immortal Lord now?"

"You dare not? Does that include your cultivation at the peak of the Spirit Realm?"

Zong Shou’s lips curved into a triumphant smirk. Without even looking, he could clearly sense the slight tremor in Zhuang Yu’s frame behind him, clearly showing immense shock.

"You were waiting until you broke through to the Immortal Realm in a few years before making your move? Jiu Jing probably never expected that his favored general would personally end his life a few years later."

As he spoke, Zong Shou shook his head. Was Elder Fei Han wrong to accuse him of enjoying 'playing the pig to eat the tiger'? If anyone was playing the pig, it was this man. He then asked with curiosity: "Your cultivation methods are quite profound. Are they self-created, or learned elsewhere? Yes, since this technique can conceal your presence from Jiu Jing, it must originate from an outer domain. Who is backing you?"

Zhuang Yu's face went ashen, his teeth clenched tight, refusing to speak. A few days prior, he had sensed that a figure like Zong Shou, though lacking Jiu Jing's frenzied recklessness, was far more troublesome and difficult to handle. Exempting thirty percent of taxes seemed a benevolent act, yet the rulers of the four kingdoms, to protect their borders and personal safety, still needed to maintain a high military footing, extracting heavy levies from the populace. But the resentment brewing among the people no longer directed itself toward the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty. Furthermore, by openly recruiting disciples throughout the Yuanlian Realm, Zong Shou was binding the elite of this world to the people of the Cloud Realm. In recent days, he had even set up soup kitchens outside the marketplace to aid the refugees. The ignorant common folk, unable to calculate further, would likely regard these people as saviors within months, believing them different from Jiu Jing, truly immortal beings rescuing them from hardship. How could they possibly grasp the sinister ruthlessness of this ruler of the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty?

If he had held any hope a few days ago, by this moment, he saw none whatsoever. He even felt an impulse to drag Zong Shou down with him, even if it meant death!

"Are you thinking of achieving mutual destruction with me in a suicidal act?"

Zong Shou shook his head slightly: "Think carefully! Even if you succeed, I would merely withdraw from the Yuanlian Realm. But the people within this realm would still suffer immense hardship. However, under my rule, they could live considerably better lives. My subjects, regardless of which world they originated from, will all be treated equally!"

Zhuang Yu paused, raising his head to look at Zong Shou. The hatred in his eyes receded slightly, and he clasped his hands solemnly: "This subject will certainly exert all effort! We only hope that in the future, Your Majesty will honor your promise!"

Zong Shou did not speak further. He casually tossed over a formal decree along with a golden seal.

"Manage yourself wisely!"

With that, he stepped into the air, ascending into the clouds seven thousand zhang high. Although he had managed to subdue Zhuang Yu this time, Zong Shou felt a degree of helplessness. Zhuang Yu’s life was in his hands, yet his own fate was equally dependent on this man’s decision. It was unavoidable; the strength he commanded was truly too meager. Thirty thousand elite troops sounded substantial, yet in a campaign in an outer domain, they were insignificant. What troubled him more was that the person from the Lu family could track him down at any moment, preventing Zong Shou from committing his full force to this conflict. Moreover, he was utterly unfamiliar with the people, resources, and affairs of the Yuanlian Realm. Even though he was confident in his battlefield skills, believing himself not inferior to those unparalleled strategists of past eras, the art of warfare most dreaded ignorance of the enemy and distraction. At this critical juncture, he could only rely on Zhuang Yu, hoping to leverage this man's military skill and his decade-plus of established influence to survive this initial hurdle.

"Warfare in an outer domain is truly difficult—"

Zong Shou sighed inwardly. It was no wonder the Daoist and Demonic Sects had been pessimistic about his venture. Even with support from cultivators at the Transcendent Realm, the outcome was uncertain. These two sects, over tens of thousands of years, had likely schemed in outer domains many times; perhaps the lessons learned were too severe, leading to their current timidity.

Continuing eastward for only half a day, he reached the southeastern region of the Yuanlian Realm. Just as he neared the border, a formidable wave of intent swept over him. When it brushed against Zong Shou, the intent faltered, registering a slight surprise.

Zong Shou smiled, ceasing his advance and stopping right at the boundary, waiting quietly. Several hours later, a figure flashed into view, stopping ten thousand zhang away from him. Wearing a tall crown and robes woven with stellar patterns, possessing an extraordinary aura, the figure offered a distant salute to Zong Shou.

"I did not expect the Sovereign of Great Qian to arrive here. What counsel do you seek from me, Mu?" He then added coldly, "If you wish to persuade me to cease my activities, or to join forces with you, then there is no need to waste words!"

Zong Shou was unconcerned, maintaining his composed demeanor as he returned the salute: "Zong Shou greets True Person Mu! It is quite amusing; my purpose in coming today is actually fulfilled simply by seeing True Person Mu’s face. I am satisfied!"

Mu Fang was initially startled, then immediately understood. As long as he appeared here and spoke with Zong Shou—even if nothing was agreed upon—those other individuals would surely become suspicious of each other. Looking around, he realized that this location, both in terms of sound waves and spiritual perception, was completely sealed off, unable to transmit anything. Furthermore, Zong Shou’s power vastly surpassed his own, making a breakout impossible at this moment. Thus, he dismissed further considerations and merely sneered: "The Sovereign certainly possesses deep schemes!"

Zong Shou nodded proudly, yet stated: "It is not that I am exceptionally scheming; it is that you all are inherently suspicious of one another!" If Mu Fang hadn't wanted to hear what Zong Shou would say and what conditions he might offer, how would Mu Fang have come to this spot? (To be continued) RQ