Though under seclusion, Zong Shou was far from entirely ignorant of the outside world. Through Weak Water and the more than one hundred hidden guards, his reach still extended in all directions.

He could not yet know every corner of this Yuanlian Realm, but the general situation was perfectly clear to him. He also knew that along the eastern border, at least seven million, four hundred thousand troops were amassed, poised and ready for deployment.

And almost every passing day saw more soldiers arriving from various regions, numbering thirty thousand or fifty thousand, successfully creating an aura of endless manpower, a continuous stream of forces pressing down like mountains and seas. “This Hong Jiuchen certainly understands the art of warfare.

I wonder if this is the work of his subordinates or his own design?” To conquer by force, without fighting, most emphasizes this quality of Shi (momentum/aura). When Shi is sufficient, the enemy is intimidated, allowing one to overwhelm them with a display of grand, righteous military might.

This approach to warfare is quite brilliant. Zong Shou sighed, though he had given the people of the Seven Kingdoms, and their rulers and nobles, a sliver of hope.

Yet, whether these people could withstand the pressure of this overwhelming momentum was truly a cause for worry. However, there was also good news: upon taking office, Zhuang Yu immediately began reorganizing the troops of the various states and selecting the elite.

This man had fought for ten years without a single defeat, enjoying a formidable reputation. The rulers of the Seven Kingdoms were cooperating to the best of their ability, and everything was proceeding smoothly enough.

The second thing this man did was send his entire family, young and old, to the Yuanjing Immortal Palace. This action served both as a guarantee and a trust—placing the fate of his entire clan in Zong Shou’s care.

He was not alone in this; this man had even persuaded the rulers of the Seven Kingdoms to collectively send the families of their domestic nobility, and almost all dependents of generals commanding a thousand men, to the Yuanjing Palace. “This way, at least the morale of the army can be stabilized—” The general is the spirit of the soldier; if the commander is resolute and willing to fight to the death, then the fighting strength of this army can be relied upon!

With the rear stable and supplies assured, they can become a unified entity. This is securing victory before the battle begins, placing oneself in an unassailable position.

However, with this single maneuver, Zong Shou could already predict that even if Hong Jiuchen managed some gains by deploying his massive army, he would undoubtedly fail to achieve his ultimate goal. “Still, this fellow is truly overflowing with confidence!” A hint of a smile played across Zong Shou’s features.

A figure like Zhuang Yu would never entrust his family to another’s hands lightly. This action was both to stabilize the army’s resolve and to gain Zong Shou’s trust.

Moreover, he likely already felt victory was within grasp, confident he could hold the line, secure in the belief that Zong Shou would not harm his kin. Even if he lost, he would have a clear conscience.

Looking at his deployment strategy, it was also exquisite, with certain placements holding profound meaning. Even if Zong Shou were to handle it personally, he likely could not do better.

Because he lacks complete knowledge of the enemy, he might even fare worse. Now, Zong Shou was somewhat convinced that this man could actually hold off the Divine Emperor’s massive army for a full seven years!

This man had been planning for six or seven years, and if his objective was to eliminate Jiujing, the primary consideration must have been the combined siege of the other states. Therefore, he must have laid many traps; even if he didn't win, he certainly wouldn't lose easily.

In this round, Zong Shou had won by sheer luck! His worries completely lifted, Zong Shou laughed heartily several times.

The tension in his mind finally eased slightly, the gloom vanishing. He then immediately plunged back into meditation.

This was the crucial moment for him to perfect the ‘Three Thousand Star Fall,’ comprehend the Star Dao Seed, and fuse the Dragon Elixir. However, only after arriving in the Yuanlian Realm and reaching this point could he truly let go of everything to fully deduce and study.

He still used the Book of Cosmic Time to accelerate the passage of time. Once immersed, a full twenty days passed before Zong Shou’s consciousness gradually awoke.

This day was the appointed time for his meeting with Tan Jing. As expected, the moment Hong Jiuchen would make his move was today.

“These laws of time and space are truly wondrous. The faster one moves, the slower time flows.

If a person reached the absolute limit of speed, they would never age.” “It’s not just speed; an object’s size and mass can also affect the surrounding time and space—” Zong Shou opened his eyes, then stared intently, lost in thought, at what was before him. This was the moment of epiphany he experienced three days prior.

Suddenly, the mysteries of the entire world seemed to unfold before his eyes. He felt that the space before him was composed of several interconnected, inseparable lines.

All the Great Daos, all developments, were intertwined within them. The concept of ‘Dao’ became clearer and more substantial in his mind, the ethereal feeling gone, replaced by the sight of a concrete path.

Even the Star Dao Seed in his soul began to transform. The positions of many stars were shifted and corrected, and unseen threads connected them together.

But in Zong Shou’s sight, a strange look emerged. “Why do these stars now appear so similar to the fixed stars of the Heavenly Cycle?” There should have been no connection, yet now he found almost no discernible difference between the two.

And when Zong Shou manifested his mental construct outwardly into the void, It actually looked more orthodox than the ‘Heavenly Cycle Secret Star Fall Technique’ derived from Daoist observation of the Heavenly Cycle stars. Every star point, every corner, exuded potent Dao (Dao charm/rhyme).

“They say the starry sky is the manifestation of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, hence its immeasurable and vast power. It seems this is truly the case—” As this thought arose in Zong Shou’s mind, there was a slight hint of pride.

In other words, his technique, the ‘Three Thousand Star Fall,’ was genuinely aligned with the Great Dao. Furthermore, after repositioning the stars, Zong Shou also discovered that the ‘Ten Absolute Dao Governing Annihilation Sword Array’ had become significantly easier to control.

One cultivation technique and one sword array, used simultaneously, showed hardly any disharmony. In these twenty days, although the Star Dragon Elixirs had only increased to forty-two, and the Ten Absolute Dragon Fangs Swords remained twenty-four, Zong Shou felt his combat power had increased by at least half.

All the stars truly moved at his will, and all the Dragon Swords were controlled by his mind. Even though the Ten Absolute Dao Governing Annihilation Sword Array clearly possessed its own will, If he wished, he could suppress it!

It was nothing like a few months ago when he felt utterly helpless. “Hmm, in another ten-odd days, the Sword Intent of Time will also reach the Soul Realm level!

By then, even if that person is at the peak of the Immortal Realm, I might still be able to fight them!” He now felt a degree of anticipation towards the arrival from the Lu family. Pleased, Zong Shou’s face was beaming.

Roaring Sun seemed to sense his mood, leaping onto him and sniffing him playfully, appearing satisfied and blissfully intoxicated. Zong Shou’s gaze, however, was already fixed upon the void.

A purple-gold invitation card was hovering just outside the boundary of the void, within a spatial rift. He hadn't woken up intentionally; although today was the day of the great battle, there wasn't much he could do right now.

He just needed to meditate here and await the outcome. However, someone was unwilling to grant him peace.

This talisman was one such disturbance, and outside his quiet chamber, several Spirit Realm Elders were suppressing their anxious impatience. They looked worried, clearly hesitating whether to disturb him.

Zong Shou smiled and casually beckoned, snatching the invitation card from beyond the void. The contents were brief, merely stating that the Wuxin Immortal Palace was holding a banquet today, gathering many Dao friends, and inviting him to attend.

The signature read: “Hong Jiuchen, Lord of the Yuanlian Realm from the Jiudu Immortal Court.” Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, wondering what this meant. With a major battle imminent, why invite him to a feast?

Was he worried Zong Shou would violate their prior agreement, or was he planning to mock him in person? Did he truly believe victory was assured?

What sort of trick was this individual planning? After pondering for a moment, Zong Shou shook his head, preparing to crush the invitation card.

But as he exerted force, he felt a sudden surge of green light rise from within. It transformed into fine, pale-green threads that permeated his palm.

“Is this poison?” Zong Shou was momentarily stunned. His internal circulation pulsed, and a sharp sword energy instantly responded to his thought.

Like a breaking wave, it struck down and dissolved every thread of green light that had invaded his body, expelling it outside. “No, this is not true poison, but condensed spiritual energy!

Even if ignored, it would dissipate on its own. Of course, Hong Jiuchen, confident of victory, wouldn't commit such a foolish act.

So, this move is a threat?” Zong Shou’s gaze sharpened. The strength of the person who made this move had indeed reached the late Immortal stage, perhaps even the peak.

“Interesting, actually achieving the Immortal rank by employing poison as a Dao—” The implication of this note was clear: it informed Zong Shou that if he chose not to come, he should at least understand that this Yuanlian Realm was not entirely without power capable of restraining him. He had best remain honest and abide by his promises.

Zong Shou chuckled coldly. He hadn't intended to attend the banquet anyway.

He preferred to let these petty characters revel in their moment of triumph without paying them any mind. But now, he found himself slightly intrigued.

Having been provoked to his doorstep, if he showed no reaction, wouldn't people assume Zong Shou was timid? With a flash, Zong Shou arrived outside the door.

He glanced at the astonished crowd there, then withdrew his gaze. “For today’s battle, this sovereign has long made arrangements.

Zhuang Yu’s military talent is no less than that of Zong Yuan and Ren Tianxing under my command; there is no need for worry. You all merely need to guard this Yuanjing Palace.

If any cultivators dare attack, ensure they never return!” A slight curl played on his lips: “The foreign cultivators here all look down on us, claiming that since our Cloud Realm has enjoyed peace for ten thousand years, we are unskilled in combat. But the struggles among the various sects in the Cloud Realm—which one of you here hasn't faced storms?

Despite the decline of the spiritual tide in the Cloud Realm, we managed to carve a path to where we are now; how could we fear these people? You gentlemen are the elites selected from the Three Sects.

In the past, fighting one against three at the same level was routine for you. Even if they pour out their entire force today, what is there to fear?” These few simple words instantly stabilized the expressions of those present, bringing smiles to their faces.

They were not truly afraid of battle, only concerned about the fighting on the distant front, which was beyond their control. Zong Shou paid them no further mind and soared into the air, heading east through the void.

Wuxin Immortal Palace, then? Let Zong Shou see what surprises this immortal feast held.

(To be continued)RQ