"I have always had unshakeable faith in the Blood-Sword Demon Lord of the Invincible Cloud Realm! Why is it that you, someone close to him, lack that confidence? Rest assured, we are far from a desperate situation. Just wait! With the Blood-Sword Demon Lord’s capabilities, once he returns, this minor chaos will be quelled instantly!"

Ruo Shui was taken aback, examining Feng Taiji closely. Indeed, deep within his pupils, there was not the slightest tremor.

It seemed he still possessed absolute faith in Zong Shou. And he shared the willingness to endure hardship with those present.

This man had been an enemy, not a friend, to Zong Shou in the past. It was unexpected that he would hold such high regard for Zong Shou now.

She also knew that within the Sword Sect, there were considerable dissenting voices, murmuring complaints about the current predicament.

Feng Taiji’s decision to stand firm carried immense pressure.

"Brother Feng, your righteousness fills me with indescribable gratitude. If the Sovereign knew, he would surely be immensely pleased—"

Ruo Shui’s words were cut short by Shi Ruolan’s voice: "You really have some backbone, I didn't expect it. Brother Shou didn't misjudge you! But truly, all we can do now is wait; I’m completely helpless too."

As she spoke, Shi Ruolan rubbed her temples with a headache, gazing at the charts before her.

While Zhuang Yu was struggling to cope within the Cloud Realm, her situation here was no less taxing.

The sheer disparity in the number of warships on both sides was too great. Even with countless strategies swirling in her mind, she was at a loss now.

The three fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

However, that moment of stillness in the chamber was broken in an instant.

Zhao Yanran’s figure suddenly stepped in from outside the cabin.

"Wait? There’s no need to wait any longer!"

Drawing the attention of the three, the corners of Zhao Yanran’s lips curved upward in a meaningful, slanted smile.

"The Sovereign has already returned. He will arrive within a few days at most."

Shi Ruolan and the others instantly felt a surge of energy, exchanging glances, their faces alight with excitement.

Knowing the Dao Embryo connection between Zhao Yanran and Zong Shou, her words must stem from a direct sensation.

Ruo Shui’s eyes also sparkled with brilliance, overwhelmed with joy. Yet, constrained by her cool temperament, she quickly regained her composure.

Thinking about a few days from now, she could finally indulge in her favorite pastime again: sleeping in. She deeply missed Zong Shou’s tail—so fluffy and warm, it was the most comfortable pillow imaginable… Inside the Demon-Dispelling Divine Shuttle, Zong Shou sat cross-legged.

And before him, there was an Immortal-rank cultivator dressed in prisoner's garb.

As Zong Shou formed hand seals, streams of spirit patterns were driven into the body of the meditating Immortal Cultivator.

If one could observe closely, they would notice that within the spirit apertures of this Immortal Cultivator, incredibly profound talismans were gradually forming.

They bore a slight resemblance to the patterns on the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record.

Though significantly simplified, there was no need for the same level of complexity. That piece of parchment contained not only the refining methods and the cultivation techniques for the Dao Soldiers but also several sets of corresponding Laws.

The restrictive talismans Zong Shou was implanting into this cultivator could faintly resemble a spirit formation. Not only could they transform the nature of the Dao Soldier's original True Qi and Soul Essence, but they could also guide their regular cultivation.

And when engaging in battle, the spirit formations among several Dao Soldiers could instantly merge into one integrated whole.

Since Ao Kun arrived, Zong Shou stopped rushing his journey. It took a full twenty days before they reached the vicinity of the Primordial Lotus World.

Zong Shou and the others had been studying that copy of the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record for over two hundred days.

With two Saints present, alongside Zong Shou and Ye Xuan, they had managed to digest almost the entire scroll.

The remaining incomplete sections had been more than halfway restored.

This was testament to the profound nature of the ‘Origin Sea Spirit Transformation Art’ created by Xi Zi, which truly encompassed the profound mysteries of heaven and earth.

Many sections could be directly implemented with almost no alteration required.

However, there remained a very small number of parts where even Saints at the peak, like Ao Yi, or even those nearing the Quasi-Emperor realm, were helpless.

But by this stage, this Dao Soldier technique had exceedingly few flaws.

Even with the insight of Ao Yi and Ao Kun, unless they had seen the formation diagrams and knew their weaknesses, it would be difficult to pinpoint the Dao Soldiers' vulnerabilities.

Even if known, utilizing those weaknesses was another matter entirely.

According to Ao Yi, "There has never been anything perfect in this world, nor any flawless spiritual art or Dao technique. Even within the Daoist Sects, the lineages of the Lu Family and my Dragon Clan, spanning tens of thousands of years, their respective Dao Soldiers are not truly perfect. Seemingly mighty and renowned, they still harbor subtle flaws, albeit rare and unknown to many. This fragment of the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record is truly one of the most perfect Dao Soldier cultivation methods I have ever seen. Complemented by Xi Zi’s ‘Origin Sea Spirit Transformation Art’ for completion, it ranks among the absolute elite, at least on par with the other top five techniques—"

Ao Yi, hailing from the Glacial Chi Dragon Clan, began venturing into the Outer Domains early on, gradually ascending to the Saint realm.

She had witnessed countless types of Dao Soldiers and was intimately familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of every faction. Her assessment was likely quite objective.

Zong Shou therefore ceased striving for further perfection in this Dao Soldier art. About thirty days prior, he began the refinement process, transforming these Immortal-rank cultivators into Dao Soldiers.

Initially, some were extremely unwilling, preferring death to submission. Being true Immortal Cultivators, voluntarily stepping onto a divergent path to become Dao Soldiers with an uncertain future seemed abhorrent.

Zong Shou paid them no mind, nor did he intend to offer gentle persuasion. With Ao Kun overseeing, the forced refinement proceeded.

However, invariably, once he implanted the restrictive arcane formations completely within their bodies and taught them the corresponding methods, these Immortal Cultivators ceased their resistance.

This Dao Soldier method did not damage their original cultivation base; in fact, it offered a slight increase in lifespan, and their future prospects were not entirely bleak.

They could still cultivate and advance, with the only caveat being that after reaching the Divine Realm, their strength would be weaker than a normal Divine Realm expert for a long time before they could complete the Root Solidification and Essence Nurturing stage.

For them, however, this was acceptable. Many had been imprisoned in the Nine Hells Prison for years, wasting too much time. Progressing through the orthodox path, few could overcome the tribulation of the Divine Realm.

Instead, this Dao Soldier method, allowing three individuals to form arrays and work together to face the tribulation, offered them significantly more security than conventional advancement.

The array formations recorded in the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record also provided them with sufficient hope and confidence.

Yet, they were also aware that from this point forward, they likely could never escape Zong Shou’s control, their fortunes inextricably linked to his.

No one would allow the core secrets of such a supreme Dao Soldier technique to be known by outsiders.

Even if they eventually reached the Divine Realm and attained relative 'freedom,' it would still be a limited one.

Consequently, once Zong Shou completed the refinement of anyone who had no other path, they would immediately enter a secluded chamber within the Demon-Dispelling Divine Shuttle, focusing entirely on converting their Dao Power while simultaneously immersing themselves in understanding this Dao Soldier technique.

Thirty-six days had passed, one person per day; this was already the thirty-sixth individual.

The formation diagrams in the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record totaled seven varieties, based on the number 'Three':

Three people, six, twelve, eighteen, thirty-six, seventy-two, up to a maximum of one hundred and eight people, forming a Grand Heavenly Cycle Array, the most formidable configuration.

Thirty-six Heavenly-rank Dao Soldiers could already form a set of the ‘Grand Supreme Heavenly Constellation Demon Slaying Array.’

The seven array configurations recorded in the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record had no inherent names.

Zong Shou, too lazy to invent new ones, simply added terms like 'Three Potentials,' '**Twelve Heavenly Capitals,' and 'Heavenly Constellation Earthly Fiend Cycle' based on the 'Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Array' foundation—simple and clear.

As for the Dao Soldiers, since the core technique was derived from the Grand Supreme Demon Slaying Record, integrated with parts of the ‘Origin Sea Spirit Transformation Art,’

And this cultivation method also encompassed Earth-rank Dao Soldiers.

Zong Shou directly named the Heavenly-rank Dao Soldiers 'Origin Sea Demon Slayers.'

For the Earth-rank Dao Soldiers, those at the Spirit Realm, they were named 'Spirit Transformation Demon Slayers.'

Dao Soldiers were categorized into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Zong Shou currently had none of the Earth-rank Dao Soldiers under his command.

Conversely, the Heavenly-rank level suddenly boasted a formidable thirty-six individuals.

"Once these individuals completely convert their True Force and Soul Essence, uniting to deploy the ‘Grand Supreme Heavenly Constellation Demon Slaying Array,’ they should possess the strength to slay peak Divine Realm experts. They might even contend against ten or more peak Divine Realm masters! However—"

The strength of Immortal Cultivators converted into Dao Soldiers was far superior to that of orthodox Dao Soldiers, granting greater power when arrayed together.

Furthermore, the thirty-six Zong Shou chose at this time were all late-stage or peak Immortal Realm experts.

They were the strongest among the one hundred and eighty cultivators on the Jade Disk.

However, at this point, the materials he possessed for refining Dao Soldiers were nearly exhausted.

Even with the two Saints accelerating things, over a hundred days of continuous effort, even countless Immortal Stones could not sustain such consumption.

He had enough spiritual materials left to refine only four more Origin Sea Demon Slayers.

"Enough! After refining these, I’ll have to wait for another time. Thankfully, having cleared these thirty-six from the Jade Disk, it will be easier to subdue the rest. In fact, Ye Xuan alone can contend against three Saints! Ao Kun, within the same rank, is likely invincible; within the myriad existences, no less than ten peak Saints could challenge him. As for Ao Yi, even if she forces her way into the Nine Hells Immortal Court and confronts the Nine Hells Immortal Emperor directly, she need not fear. Our strength is nearly sufficient—"

With this force, they could sweep across the Primordial Lotus World, and even advance upon the Nine Capitals Immortal Court, the Celestial Cultivation Assembly, and the numerous Minor Thousand Worlds controlled by the Profound Spirit Cultivation Assembly and the Extreme Saint Court nearby.

Several months ago, Lu Wubing advised him to adopt a strategy of feigning weakness to secure the moral high ground.

Now, it was time to reap the rewards. Both his intrinsic strength and his amassed forces could support his Great Qian Celestial Dynasty in launching assaults in all directions!

One hundred and eighty Origin Sea Demon Slayers would be enough to subdue over forty Minor Thousand Worlds.

Once stabilized, they could rapidly accumulate strength. Then, whether to continue expanding or counterattack back into the Cloud Realm would be entirely his decision.

The only lingering concern was whether the Quasi-Emperor existing behind the Nine Capitals Saint Court would make an appearance—

Zong Shou pondered for a moment, then let out a silent, cold laugh.

Was that likely? For a few meager territories, it was hardly the level requiring a Quasi-Emperor’s intervention.

Even if it did happen, it would mean the opponent had already lost.

His side had no fear.

With his wings sufficiently grown, he was ready to meet whatever challenge arose—