Zong Shou merely grunted in acknowledgment and didn't dwell on it, refocusing his gaze upward. These people were helpless to resist, so this was all they could do; one couldn't be overly critical.

With several million people gathered here, it would require just a bit more effort. The Scarlet Flame Cavalry hovered in mid-air.

After circling once, they paused. Their formation was tight and precise, suspended in the sky with an air of casual readiness.

It was faintly discernible that several powerful divine senses from above were observing the scene from afar. Then, a light chuckle drifted down from the distance: "I wondered who it was, but it turns out to be you, fellow.

What? Has your injury just begun to mend, and you're already rushing here to court death?

Ten days ago, the old nun Xiaoyue shielded your life. Today, I fear you won't be so lucky—" The voice carried a distinct note of mocking nonchalance.

Zong Shou recognized the speaker as Lu Xichen, whom he had met once ten days prior on the back mountain of the Shuiyue Nunnery. A cold smile touched the corner of his lips, and Zong Shou shook his head dismissively.

Too lazy to respond, he merely kicked the tortoise shell beneath his feet. "Bihuo, what are you dawdling for?

You may begin! First, shatter the foundation array below the mountain.

Today, not a single blade of grass shall remain here!" The Bihuo Xuan Gui's eyes lit up, and it grinned fiercely, baring its teeth. Its twelve pairs of ice wings unfurled, and it charged once more toward the opposing peak.

Jingyin watched this unfold, immediately struck with profound alarm. She gasped instinctively, "Benefactor, what are you attempting?

You must not—" Before the words were fully out, a deafening boom echoed. The mountainside shuddered violently, sending rock and debris cascading down.

The restrictions of the great array in this area began to shatter in sections. The Bihuo Xuan Gui was inherently endowed with boundless strength.

Recently, after Zong Shou infused it with wish-power, its rank had been elevated, increasing its strength by more than fivefold! Once it activated the Xuanwu Yuangang Qi, it completely ignored the restrictive spells and spiritual laws within the array.

Its body, a thousand zhang tall, brandished its two colossal shields, charging forward with unmatched, ferocious momentum. The chaotic force radiated outwards, stirring up dust and dirt, turning the complexions of the millions gathered at the mountain's base ashen gray.

However, a strange power inherently guarded this location; though the emanating force was fierce, it did not harm them in the slightest. Zong Shou stood steady on the tortoise's back.

Only then did he reply, "Were you not the one who desired that every woman in the Cangling Realm would no longer suffer the pain of losing a child due to the innate fire essence marrow? You saved my life, and I owe you a promise.

Now, it is only right that I attack and eliminate those primary culprits." Jingyin let out an "Eh?" upon hearing this, finding it utterly unbelievable. She didn't have time to process it before countless arrows of light rained down from above.

Spiritual arts unfolded, permeating the area like a vision of the apocalypse. Yet, in an instant, the sky above returned to peace.

Jingyin was initially confused until she shifted her gaze to the side. Tens of thousands of zhang away, she discovered Zong Shou, utilizing a secret divine ability to shift every incoming arrow, flying spear, and spiritual manifestation entirely away to a distant location tens of thousands of zhang distant.

Explosions of energy and tremors of spiritual power erupted over there, reducing everything within a thirty-thousand zhang radius to dust. This destruction even managed to obliterate several inscribed restrictions and spiritual runes within the array.

However, the disturbance there was now completely disconnected from their immediate vicinity. Even if residual shockwaves struck, protected by the Xuanwu Yuangang Qi, they could not be harmed in the least.

The Bihuo Xuan Gui, meanwhile, acted with even greater impunity. It smashed its shield into the main array structure, forcefully carving out a breach.

If it saw anyone it disliked, a shield strike would follow; anyone who dared block its path would be met with a blast of blue flame, instantly freezing them into icy slag. It crushed everything underfoot, finally slamming its head into the base of the mountain, triggering another earth-shattering boom.

At this moment, the entire mountain peak glowed with spiritual light, countless array runes and restrictions manifesting in the void, only to instantly collapse into countless motes of light that drifted away into the air. The spot where the Bihuo Xuan Gui struck was precisely a critical nexus point of the great array that Zong Shou had indicated.

After that single impact, the protective spirit array of Tianyan Mountain immediately saw its might reduced by a full two-tenths, with the outer perimeter already largely compromised. A cold snort then echoed from the sky.

A figure clad in azure suddenly shot down from the mountain summit. It was Lu Xichen, clad in green armor, riding a crimson mount with four eyes and six legs, arriving before the contingent of Scarlet Flame Cavalry.

Instantly, scarlet flames ignited, sweeping across the firmament. A sharp, absolute intent shot like a spear toward Zong Shou's position.

"Those who violate my Tianyan Prefecture shall be killed without mercy! You are seeking death!

Do you truly believe that relying on this divine beast for protection grants you license to run rampant in this realm? Arrogant—" The ten thousand-plus Scarlet Cavalry immediately surged forward, plunging down from the high altitude of several tens of thousands of zhang.

The crimson flames subtly coalesced into a conical shape. The combined power of over ten thousand sixth-tier cavalry merged into one.

Lu Xichen took the lead, and upon approaching three thousand zhang, he abruptly brought his sword down in a furious slash. Already at the peak of the Immortal Realm, this single strike channeled the combined force of the ten thousand-plus Scarlet Flame Cavalry.

It caused the entire expanse of space to twist and break down! Zong Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Beneath the fierce flames, the void ceased to exist! Burning away laws, incinerating the Great Dao!

This was the true Burning Sky Flame— Zong Shou had only ever witnessed it in his bloodline inheritance marks. And this sword strike from Lu Xichen clearly possessed some semblance of the true meaning of the Burning Sky Flame.

Yet, he did not truly take it seriously, instead scoffing with disdain. They couldn't sit still anymore, could they?

The truly spectacular part was only just beginning... Inside the main hall of Tianyan Prefecture.

Lu Yantian sat composedly on the treasure throne in the center of the hall. His expression appeared completely unconcerned by the commotion below, but anyone familiar with him could discern a shadow of grimness in his eyes.

"Interesting! Truly interesting!

For someone to come knocking so brazenly against Lu Xichen—this is the first time in thirty years!" Though he smiled, his words struck a chilling silence into everyone in the hall. Any being with even a modicum of sentience could detect the killing intent woven into his tone.

Xiaoyue also lowered her brows in solemnity, standing to the side. She, too, found today's events unexpected.

She hadn't anticipated that Zong Shou, who had been recovering from injuries in secluded cultivation, would dare assault Tianyan Mountain today, commanding an Immortal-rank divine beast. Her heart felt bitter and helpless.

She was already racked with worry over how to protect Jingyin. Yet, the very person she had saved was now unexpectedly drawing such catastrophic trouble.

His power was unfathomable; if he were healed, perhaps one could place some hope in him. However, she had just observed that while his vital pulse now seemed like that of an ordinary person, he was, for the moment, as weak as an 'ordinary person'—clearly unable to exert his true power.

Given that, he should have remained quietly at the Shuiyue Nunnery. Why come here to stir up disaster?

At this moment, she only hoped that the Lord of Tianyan Prefecture before her would completely forget she existed. Her thoughts raced rapidly, constantly seeking a way to extricate herself.

But the thing she feared most was precisely what happened next: Lu Yantian’s gaze turned coldly upon her. "You did well this time.

Of the six hundred women, ninety percent delivered successfully. I have just seen them; all yield superior innate fire essence marrow.

More than enough for my needs." Xiaoyue remained silent. Receiving such praise only filled her with sorrow.

Even though she exerted herself to care for the pregnant women during labor, it was mostly out of reluctance to see them die from the secret arts while giving birth. Could she possibly thank this demon, saying something like, "Thank you for your compliment, I dare not accept it"?

Pleading was useless, and resistance was impossible, so silence was the only recourse. If her prediction was correct, there should be a follow-up to this statement— Indeed, Lu Yantian’s voice immediately shifted: "But what about this person?

I heard Xichen mention that he stayed at your Shuiyue Nunnery to heal? Judging by his appearance, he bears a resemblance to the person my Prefecture is currently seeking.

I wonder, Reverend Master Xiaoyue, what explanation do you have?" Xiaoyue had prepared for this. She offered a silent bow.

"When Xiaoyue saved this person, it was before the Prefecture issued the warrant. Saving a life surpasses building a seven-story pagoda.

Since I encountered him, how could I stand idly by? I know nothing of his origins or identity." She added, "A month ago, Xiaoyue compared his features, and at that time, there was no perceived similarity.

I truly did not realize he was the individual your Lordship was searching for. If your Lordship wishes to use this as a pretext for punishment, Xiaoyue has no recourse." Lu Yantian froze for a moment, then ground his teeth and sneered coldly, "You are quite glib-tongued, evading responsibility completely!

But I must ask your true intentions—are you truly without knowledge? Very well!

Today, considering the circumstances, I shall not inflict heavy punishment; the quota for next month shall increase by one hundred. Let this not be repeated thereafter—" Upon hearing this, Xiaoyue's face gradually cycled from pale to ashen, her expression vacant.

Her jaw clenched tightly, and she remained silently unresponsive. Lu Yantian no longer cared.

Once today's business concluded, he had his own methods to bring this person around to his will. The corner of Lu Yantian’s lip lifted slightly, and a touch of amusement reappeared in his eyes.

Although he had lost some face today, and the area below the mountain was smashed into disarray, it wasn't a total loss. "Notify my unrivaled younger brother; his enemy has appeared.

If he doesn't come soon, he'll regret it endlessly—" Before the words had finished, another figure stepped forward: "My Lord, in that case, how shall we explain this to the Immortal Court and the two Nation Lords?" Lu Yantian cast a faint glance over. It was a man in his forties, dressed in the robes of a scholar.

He was also one of Lu Yantian's subjects, named Lu Jun, whose status and power were roughly equivalent to Lu Xichen's. However, this man's true loyalty lay elsewhere—not entirely with the Prefecture Lord.

Shaking his head, Lu Yantian emitted a scornful 'Hmph' of disdain. "Explain what?

I have already done my utmost to delay. It is Zong Shou himself seeking death; he cannot blame me.

No matter who it is, no one can say I was not forthcoming. Moreover, even if we wished to conceal it now, we might not succeed.

With such a massive disturbance, how could that person not know? He has already arrived!" Saying this, Lu Yantian took a crimson blood bead from a nearby dish and placed it in his mouth to savor slowly.

"Also, inform Lu Xichen to show mercy. This person is the heir apparent of my Lu family, backed by Fang Jue, and the personal grandson of the Saint Emperor.

Even if the Saint Emperor hates the Zong clan to the bone, we cannot take his life. He is not someone Xichen can afford to provoke.

Just hand him over to my unrivaled brother. What a pity—" Before the final word left his mouth, a tremor suddenly shook the area below the mountain again.

Lu Yantian frowned, then his expression drastically changed.