Here in the Wuxin Immortal Palace, Zong Shou’s laughter subsided. Under the strange gazes of everyone, he offered no explanation.

He closed his eyes, sitting in meditation, paying no further heed to the assembled company. Fu Yue Sanren’s eyes shifted, followed by a dry chuckle, and he turned back, returning to his original seat.

Though he did not know what Zong Shou was laughing about, he sensed that today’s affair might indeed take an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Hong Jiuchen and Tan Jing exchanged looks of doubt and surprise.

Finally, the former let out a cold snort. “Playing obscure games!” Since Linxu City had already fallen, what was there to worry about?

His look of concern vanished, and he closed his eyes in silence. Tan Jing’s gaze flickered, a trace of disdain flashing deep within his eyes, and he, too, fell silent.

Silence descended once more upon the Immortal Palace, but it was brief, lasting only two hours. Outside the Wuxin Immortal Palace, a streak of spiritual light suddenly pierced through and entered.

It was an Immortal-rank cultivator, carrying an air of haste. In a mere flash, he arrived in the hall.

He glanced at the people gathered there, his expression extremely grim, furrowing his brow. After a slight hesitation, he spoke directly toward the seats above, using a secret, spiritual whisper that no one else could hear.

Whatever he said, Hong Jiuchen also frowned deeply. Tan Jing was equally baffled, but immediately afterward, a fiery red spirit sparrow flew out of the void.

In just a moment, Tan Jing’s eyes were also filled with deep gloom. Fu Yue Sanren and the others below watched with curiosity, knowing that the situation must have shifted.

“What matter is so mysterious that you two dare not speak of it openly?” Fu Yue sneered, mocking them, “Surely, those of us gathered here are all well-informed, possessing countless eyes and ears. How long can you keep such things hidden?” Hong Jiuchen’s face was ashen, his features taut.

Just as he was about to speak, Mu Fang had already snatched a silver crane from the void. After closing his eyes for a long while, his expression became strange, and he glanced at Zong Shou.

“Fellow Daoist Fu Yue need not ask anymore. An hour ago, Zhuang Yu personally led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to intercept the enemy at Qingjian Gorge.

They clashed with Gui Xuan’s six hundred thousand iron cavalry. After two hours, they advanced ten miles, claiming seventy thousand enemy heads.

That Zhuang Yu actually spearheaded the attack, personally slaying three Spirit Realm cultivators under Brother Hong’s command. Where his blade pointed, no force could stand against him.

They are engaged in a fierce battle now—” Fu Yue was momentarily stunned, then realized the implication: “Qingjian Gorge? Isn't that just behind Linxu City?

In other words, Zhuang Yu was prepared long ago. Isn't he only Seventh Order?

His forces are nearly twenty times weaker than Gui Xuan’s. How could he possibly slay Spirit Realm experts?” Before his words died away, Fu Yue’s expression changed.

A faint light suddenly flew into his hand from a distance. A moment later, his complexion turned odd, then he let out a hearty laugh: “Well done, Zhuang Yu!

You concealed your depths indeed. A native of the Yuanlian Realm, yet he is at the peak of the Spirit Realm, and he personally cultivated such a strong army—the Xuandu Guard?

If the Old Hermit Jiujing didn't die under Fellow Daoist Zong’s sword, he will likely perish at this man’s hand.” He continued: “What a masterful scheme! In a place like Qingjian Gorge, only ten thousand troops can be deployed effectively, and the undulating terrain is unfavorable for cavalry charges.

First, lure the enemy with apparent weakness, using Linxu City as bait. Then, engage the enemy with elites, crushing their vanguard head-on.

Brilliant! But the question remains: what will be the outcome of this battle?

Will Zhuang Yu achieve an upset victory against your Nine Capitals Immortal Dynasty, or will your great general Gui Xuan ultimately turn the tide?” As he spoke, he also looked toward Zong Shou, a distinct, strange look flashing in his eyes—a mixture of admiration, caution, and wariness. Hong Jiuchen merely snorted in dissatisfaction, though his demeanor remained relatively composed.

The battle at Qingjian Gorge was a setback for Gui Xuan, but not yet catastrophic. As long as they handled it carefully, it would not affect the larger situation.

However, the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly oppressive and strange. Zong Shou remained seated with his eyes closed, Fu Yue Sanren wore a half-smile, and Mu Fang looked deeply perplexed.

They all waited for the next development. Nor did they wait long; only another hour passed before another ray of faint light traveled through the void.

This time, the message reached Fu Yue Sanren slightly faster. The light fell directly into his hand, and Fu Yue raised his thick eyebrows, laughing heartily once more.

“Gui Xuan’s forces at Qingjian Gorge have routed completely! The sixty thousand iron cavalry suffered four defeats in four battles and have scattered, trampling each other, losses amounting to half their number!

Gui Yu’s thirty thousand troops have advanced thirty miles, slaying over two hundred thousand enemies. Led by two thousand cavalry, they are sweeping all before them—” His voice was cut off mid-sentence by a soft ‘thump.’ Everyone looked over to see that Hong Jiuchen had crushed the wine goblet in his hand into powder.

Fu Yue smiled, unconcerned, and continued addressing Zong Shou: “That Sixth Order cavalry force must be one under the command of your Lord, correct? Truly formidable!” Zong Shou did not reply.

Fu Yue seemed slightly embarrassed but didn't mind, instead sipping his wine with a faint smile and an easy manner. The decisive collapse of Gui Xuan’s army at Qingjian Gorge introduced a variable into the situation in the Yuanlian Realm.

The combined might of Hong Jiuchen and Tan Jing might no longer be enough to suppress the others outright. At this point, messages had begun arriving for everyone else, confirming the news, and their expressions all held a degree of strangeness.

Hong Jiuchen’s eyes flickered as if deep in thought. He then exchanged a look with Tan Jing, rose to his full height, and announced, “This banquet has lasted for more than a day; it is time for the music to end and the guests to depart.

Hong Jiuchen bids you all farewell—” “Why the haste?” A cold, clear voice drifted from the lower end of the hall: “Brother Hong invited us here today not just to gather and watch the outcome of this battle? To prevent any of us from interfering in secret?

Now that things have gone awry, you wish to adjourn? That magnanimity is somewhat narrow.

Be aware, I am no subordinate of yours, to be summoned and dismissed at will!” The voice was sharp, carrying an undeniable tone of authority. Zong Shou opened his eyes for the first time, following the sound.

The speaker was seated directly opposite him—a man exquisitely beautiful, almost unbelievably so. It was said that men of the Fox Clan were alluring, but this member of the Asura Clan was even softer and more beautiful than them.

However, while Fox Clan members often possessed innate illusionary arts that instantly inspired goodwill, this person radiated a fierce aura, his gaze sharp and piercingly intense. A slightly weaker person in his presence would likely tremble with fear.

This man was Cha Houhu! In the entire hall, apart from Zong Shou himself, this individual possessed the lowest cultivation, merely early Celestial Realm.

Yet, no one in the hall dared to disregard his words. Not even Hong Jiuchen; his complexion flickered between pale and flushed for a moment before he sat back down.

Over the next few hours, news from the Yuanlian Realm seemed to erupt suddenly, pouring in like snowflakes. “Gui Xuan received reinforcements of twenty thousand infantry at the foot of Jianshan Mountain.

He reorganized the army and fought on foot, using fresh troops to meet Zhuang Yu’s sharp edge. The terrain here is open, allowing for the deployment of seventy thousand elite soldiers in a frontal assault—” “Zhuang Yu used five thousand crimson crossbowmen to fire dense volleys from three thousand zhang away.

Where the arrows fell, men were either killed or wounded. In ten salvos, over thirty thousand casualties were inflicted.” “Gui Xuan was forced to lead a counter-charge.

Zhuang Yu seized the opportunity to launch his cavalry into the formation, with the Xuandu Guard and five thousand crimson infantry following closely. The five thousand crossbowmen maintained a distant barrage to pin down the enemy formation.

Gui Xuan suffered another crushing defeat; forty thousand infantry and cavalry lost seventy percent of their strength!” “Linxu City has fallen and returned to the control of the Xuan Nation! Gui Xuan fled in disarray!” Hong Jiuchen’s hands clenched, the knuckles emitting a series of cracking sounds.

With Linxu City returned to Great Xuan, the war, after several days, had returned to the situation of days past. The seven southwestern states had not retreated a single step.

Meanwhile, the forces under his command had suffered heavy losses. The troops under Gui Xuan’s jurisdiction, reinforced by three thousand elite Daoist soldiers from his own ranks, had seen a staggering forty percent wiped out by Zhuang Yu’s charge of thirty thousand foot and horse at Qingjian Gorge!

It was a pain that pierced the heart, almost unbearable. With the war reaching this stage, completely annihilating the seven southwestern states in one swift move was nearly impossible.

The current predicament seemed to allow for nothing more than a swift, graceful conclusion. He couldn't help but cast a venomous glare at the silent youth seated below—the one still sitting motionless.

This Yun Realm’s Great Qian was supposed to be rootless duckweed in the Yuanlian Realm. They thought that by merely coercing this youth into an agreement and adherence to outer domain rules, they could easily expel him.

Yet, now, this person had firmly established his foothold. Zong Shou ignored the gaze, instead focusing intently on the incoming message talismans.

Following his instructions, Ruoshui had meticulously detailed every aspect of Zhuang Yu’s deployments, strategies, and on-the-spot adjustments for every battle in these talismans. Thus, Zong Shou, despite not being physically present on the battlefield, viewed these engagements as if he were an eyewitness.

“The scheme of a cunning warlord, the talent of a great general—” Observing his methods of warfare, he was only slightly inferior to Ren Tianxing and Zong Yuan in linear combat skill, with no fundamental difference. Against these two, the win probability was a four-six split.

In terms of overall strategy and grand army deployment, he was only less capable than Kong Yao among Ren Tianxing and Zong Yuan—a rare all-rounder—someone who could manage an entire region independently! This man—if he were to become a capable minister in his reign—absolutely no chance could be afforded.

Zong Shou felt a throbbing headache. Mastering such a person would be truly difficult.

Shaking his head, Zong Shou pushed the troublesome thought aside. Then, raising his eyelids slightly, he smiled and looked pointedly at Mu Fang.

“Fellow Daoist Mu! I wonder what your considerations are now?

Do you still recall our conversation that day? This opportunity is rare; miss it now, and such a favorable chance may never come again—” As these words left his mouth, the expressions of everyone in the hall shifted.

Hong Jiuchen and Tan Jing fixed their gazes, sharp as blades, upon Mu Fang. Could it be that this man was truly colluding with Zong Shou?

Mu Fang was secretly annoyed, resenting Zong Shou’s words but even more irked by the gazes of the men above. As he pondered, another streak of light descended rapidly outside the Wuxin Immortal Palace—another Celestial Realm cultivator from the Asura Clan.

After bowing to Cha Houhu, he cast a faint look over the assembled company. “Half an hour ago, the King of the Eastern Sea of the Ya Kingdom raised his banner and changed allegiance, declaring independence and seeking to join the governance of Great Qian!” (To be continued) RQ