Kong Yao's senses sharpened, and she glanced toward the left flank. Immediately, she saw a force of elite cavalry, clad in crimson armor, numbering around thirty thousand.

They were harassing the front lines of the Viet army on the left flank, charging back and forth. They split into dozens of smaller groups, advancing and retreating with fluid ease, accelerating one moment and slowing the next. The arcs they cut through the air were dazzling, almost like the most exquisite, magnificent art imaginable, worthy of awe.

These were the newly established Crimson Steel Cavalry of Da Qian, inheriting traditions from the earliest Qin era. They were a basic troop type, mid-to-upper tier in combat power among Fourth-Tier Dao Soldiers, yet remarkably low in cost and vast in number. In Da Qin’s heyday, they could have flooded the entire Cloud Realm.

In this age, they were already considered an exceedingly elite cavalry force. Da Qian had only managed to muster thirty thousand to date, a contingent established by Qiu Wei after taking charge of the Privy Council—it was his lifelong ambition realized.

Da Qian could not muster enough Innate experts, yet every knight selected for this unit held the potential to break through to the Innate realm within a few years—

These thirty thousand riders alone projected the aura of a massive army, forcing the Viet forces opposite them into a desperate defense. Their once orderly formation was beginning to break apart. The soldiers looked terrified, their faces the color of earth.

Just as Zong Yuan had said, the moment was ripe.

A single thrust was all it would take to shatter the Viet left wing!

"Marshal Zong truly lives up to his reputation as an unparalleled famous general; cavalry charging formations are invincible. After only three hours of standoff, before even engaging the Blood Cavalry, the Viet forces already show signs of collapse. If this battle is won, Marshal Zong must claim the principal credit!"

At this, He Li clicked his tongue repeatedly in admiration from the side.

The task assigned to the Danhe Clan's army in this battle was light cavalry swift raids to harass the territory of the Great Yue and deplete their national strength. For the past month, He Li had led his clansmen racing across the Southern Wind Cloud Continent, only now finding a moment of respite.

The main decisive battle was imminent, and the role of the Crane Clan's light cavalry was minimal; frontal assaults were not their strength. Thus, He Li was permitted to observe this grand engagement near the commander-in-chief.

"In this esteemed one’s view, the principal credit should go to General He—"

Upon uttering the term 'this esteemed one' (), a faint blush colored Kong Yao's delicate features. She still hadn't quite adjusted to this form of self-address. Each time she used it, she was reminded of the preposterous farewell scene with Zong Shou. Yet, she had no choice, especially in the military, where decorum could not be compromised.

Furthermore, Kong Yao was currently not acting as the Inspector of the Left Army, but as the Princess Consort, commanding and overseeing all armies of Da Qian. She was temporarily managing the greater situation on behalf of Zong Shou during his absence.

Xuanyuan Yiren was engrossed in alchemy, seeking Dao through the refinement of elixirs. Even when she occasionally managed affairs, it was mostly policy matters. Like Zong Shou, she never casually intervened in matters she was not adept at.

Da Qian appeared secure, yet peril lurked beneath the surface; she could not allow Zong Shou’s absence to jeopardize the empire. Zong Shou’s delegation of authority, allowing her to command and dispatch armies as she pleased to campaign afar, was precisely what she had dreamed of her entire life.

"If not for General He and the Xuanhu Clan wreaking havoc across their borders, causing panic throughout the Yue Dynasty, Da Qian, despite possessing a mighty army, might not have landed on the Cloud Continent so smoothly—"

He Li smiled, offering no argument, yet showing no sign of complacency either. Indeed, without their month of arduous fighting forcing the Yue forces to draw back troops and reinforce the rear, Da Qian would never have made landfall so easily.

However, if countless warships and two million troops were patrolling outside the Cloud Sea, firmly tying down ninety percent of the Yue army’s strength, how could the Crane Clan move so freely within Yue territory? This was not solely the merit of the Danhe Clan; the Xuanhu Clan also deserved immense credit. The Crane Clan excelled at swift flight, while the Fox Clan mastered illusionary arts; their combined efforts were perfectly complementary.

"I observe many Daoists opposite; it seems they truly intend to intervene in this battle. These individuals lack the power to turn the tide, but they could assassinate the commanders. I urge the Princess Consort to take utmost caution."

"They are merely jumping clowns."

Kong Yao gazed across the distance, several dozen li separating them, at the dense crowds opposite. She could already see the ruler of Yue, Ruan Weiling, positioned on his carriage. The man’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression filled with furious distortion. It seemed he had foreseen his own fate months ago, leaving his face sickly pale.

She had heard whispers: after the defeat at Huizhou, this man had plunged into debauchery, neglecting state affairs and committing countless absurd acts. It was perhaps understandable; Zhang Huai had struck him devastatingly at Huizhou. Nearly eighty percent of his elite army was lost, and more than half of the Yue Dynasty's thousand warships had sunk into the Cloud Sea. Blockaded by the Da Qian Navy for over a year, trade had nearly ceased. Internal factions, instigated by Da Qian, frequently stirred up rebellion.

Today's battle was merely a death throe. A man of such ambition and strategy would surely recognize the irresolvable nature of his predicament.

Although the Daoist Sect was interfering, they would never commit too deeply before absolute certainty. The more ruthless a hero, the more desperate and unpredictable their actions become when cornered.

Speaking of absurdities, Kong Yao instinctively recalled that night. With a soft huff, she concluded that his current state likely couldn't surpass that fellow—

She suddenly shook her head, snapping back to the present. She straightened her back, her expression regaining its stern authority.

"Send the order to all armies to advance! Also, inform Marshal Zong that routing the left wing today is sufficient. He must conserve strength for future engagements—"

At the command, the crimson ocean of armor instantly erupted with the clang of overlapping plates, and with a booming surge, the army began to advance slowly. Their momentum was vast, like towering walls of steel crushing toward the opposition.

He Li remained silent. Simply routing the enemy and then withdrawing? Holding back even now, when victory seemed assured? He was certainly cautious, recognizing that the adversary might possess some desperate, final gambit.

By pressing the army forward methodically to crush the enemy, the already tottering Great Yue would be completely toppled. True masters of war achieve no spectacular single victory; they must skillfully leverage momentum, creating an overwhelming trend toward national collapse. The factions within Yue would inevitably reveal themselves, and the cities would defect one by one. The elite cavalry would maintain readiness to guard against the unexpected.

The outcome of this battle was now beyond external influence!

Today would mark the end of the Great Yue...

...just before the last sliver of consciousness completely vanished, he plunged into this world that constantly called to him, yet felt utterly alien.

Zong Shou recalled the Bi Huo Xuan Turtle and strained to propel himself through the air. His mind was blank; his body moved purely on instinct, flying toward the place in this realm that felt safest to him.

After a long moment, there was a heavy splash. He felt himself fall into a small lake. Then, his vision went dark, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

He didn't know how long he slept before Zong Shou finally awoke from his stupor. His first action was to cast his divine sense outward, surveying his surroundings. First, he let out a soft sigh of relief; he was still alive, meaning he hadn't fallen into Lu Wushuang's hands. The power of faith he had frantically absorbed before blacking out had, thankfully, proven somewhat effective, keeping him just out of reach of Lu Wushuang.

Next, examining his environment, Zong Shou frowned slightly.

"Such dense wish power. It seems to be a Buddhist temple, yet extremely secluded—" He recalled falling into a lake before losing consciousness. How had he ended up here? Moreover, this temple was eerily isolated, built deep within vast tracts of primeval forest, as if afraid of being discovered.

Suddenly, a creaking sound came from outside the door as the wooden panel was pushed open. Zong Shou forced his eyes open and stared out, then froze, experiencing a rare moment of shyness. Only then did he realize he was completely naked.

Yet, this was nothing compared to the shock delivered by the woman entering the doorway.

Jing Yin—

It was the woman he had seen in his spiritual vision, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Jing Yin, as if they were born of the same womb. How could this be such a coincidence?

Then Zong Shou understood: this was no coincidence. Before he lost consciousness, he had subconsciously fled toward the remnant of his divine sense left in this realm. This location was where the wish power was strongest in this world.

This 'Jing Yin' entered, saw that he was awake, and immediately brightened with joy, followed by a flicker of bashfulness. But it passed in an instant. Her expression smoothed, becoming composed; even when glancing at Zong Shou’s body, it was as if she were observing something utterly mundane.

"You are awake?"

Carrying a basin of water, 'Jing Yin' approached his side and began gently wiping his body with a damp cloth. "About three days ago, my Master and I were passing Little Lin Lake when we found you unconscious in the water. So, I pleaded with my Master to bring you back and treat you. How do you feel now, honored guest? Jing Yin was very worried. Master said she couldn't discern your condition; the warmth within you was a hundred times stronger than normal, and she was helpless, able only to wait for you to awaken—or perhaps never awaken at all—"

Zong Shou felt a profound strangeness. So, this girl was also called 'Huan' Jing Yin? How could such a coincidence exist in the world—not only the identical appearance but the identical name? Even the feeling they projected was similar: both pure and pristine.

Since he had only arrived in this world today under unforeseen circumstances, her demeanor showed no surprise. He almost believed this was a setup specifically designed for him. But what was truly happening?

Zong Shou’s body was already an immortal physique. While not yet perfectly incorporeal, it was pure and translucent, like crystal. Impurities should not form internally, yet somehow, his entire body was coated in a layer of dark sweat, emitting a slightly pungent odor.

Jing Yin paid it no mind, diligently cleaning him. Only when tending to his lower body did a slight awkwardness settle upon her. After a few clumsy wipes, the mere touch of the cloth caused his manhood to stiffen instantly, standing erect like a towering pillar, remarkably imposing.

Jing Yin became even more flustered, all previous composure gone. She dared not look again, diverting her gaze elsewhere. (To be continued) RQ