Zong Shou, along with Feng Taiji and others who had come to observe out of curiosity, returned to the Yuanlian Realm.

Only Ao Kun and Ao Yi did not accompany them, remaining outside the domain, still piloting Zong Shou's Demon-Warding Divine Shuttle.

By this time, the naval battle in the Realm River had definitively concluded.

After several hours of fierce fighting, one of the Grand Unity Divine Thunder Warships under Shi Ruolan's command had been sunk, and three others sustained minor damage requiring repair.

However, they had ultimately forced the surrender and landing of no fewer than six Cold Crystal Shadow Blade Warships.

This increased their dedicated Immortal-grade warship fleet to a substantial fifteen vessels.

When added to the ten Grand Unity Divine Thunder Warships the Asura Clan was scheduled to deliver in a few months, the Outer Domain Fleet of the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty would command a force of twenty-five ships, its strength finally taking shape.

Though still young, it was no longer negligible!

It could effortlessly suppress the vicinity of the Yuanlian World.

Inside the Yuanlian Realm, the battle had entered its final phase. Along the borderlines, remnants of the fleeing enemy were being pursued everywhere. Armies advanced eastward, conquering cities and seizing territory with unstoppable momentum.

The defeat of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court from the Outer Domain meant that the Xuanling Cultivation Society and the Extreme Absolute Immortal Court had also suffered heavy losses.

The inhabitants within the realm would likely receive this news a little later.

But it was distinctly perceptible that as time wore on, most of the eastern nations gradually saw their morale disintegrate and panic spread. Instances of forces surrendering without a fight were commonplace.

The crucial Battle of Moyang City had already been decided.

The Earth-rank Dao Soldiers of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court were almost entirely annihilated. Their commander, in desperation, could only use his million-strong army to pin down and resist the five hundred Spirit-Transforming Demon Slayers.

But this force was violently broken at the front by the Black Fox Iron Cavalry, personally commanded by Zhuang Yu, trampling the enemy's main camp and crushing their formations.

Following this, forty thousand Heavenly Dipper Sword Troops pressed the attack from the rear, securing a decisive victory.

Yet, even after this, the allied forces of the eastern nations, though clearly losing, still managed to cling on and resist for a considerable time.

It was only when news from the Outer Domain reached the Cloud Realm that the several million troops completely collapsed.

In his discourse, Zhuang Yu held the enemy commander in high regard.

"This man is an unparalleled general. With equal troop strength and identical conditions, in a direct battlefield confrontation, I am not his match."

While praising his opponent, Zhuang Yu's statement carried a subtle undertone of arrogance. By specifying only "direct battlefield confrontation," Zhuang Yu implied that this was the one area where the commander surpassed him, suggesting that while tactically inferior, the commander excelled in overall military strategy.

If the opponent was unbeatable under equal conditions, then the solution was simply to deny them that fair fight.

Zong Shou chuckled inwardly. However, hearing Zhuang Yu speak of him this way made him take special note of this general from the Nine Capitals Immortal Court.

To have Zhuang Yu admit he couldn't win a direct clash on the field of battle—and to have held out for four or five hours under such disadvantage—spoke volumes about this man's ability to command troops.

Unparalleled talent, regardless of where it is placed, is an extremely scarce resource.

According to Zhuang Yu, after the situation became irrecoverable, this great general of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court chose to surrender without needing persuasion, giving himself up willingly.

Simultaneously, the three major factions of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court surrendered as well, totaling one hundred and forty thousand Xuan-rank and Huang-rank Dao Soldiers.

Unlike the Tian-rank and Di-rank Dao Soldiers, who usually possessed inherent restrictions or peculiar arts making conversion difficult—and whose supplementary cultivation techniques were largely unchangeable—the Xuan-rank and Huang-rank soldiers were much easier to repurpose for one's own use.

While restrictions existed, they were not insurmountable. Their supplementary cultivation techniques could also be easily adapted.

Even if the vast majority retained loyalty to their original faction, they could be sold to Outer Domain slave merchants for resources and coin.

Those who habitually dealt in slave cultivators possessed the means to process them. This was the unspoken convention of this domain, and Zong Shou had no intention of breaking tradition.

His compassion was reserved for his own kin and subjects; it would not be wasted on his enemies.

Leaving their lives intact and treating them without cruelty was, in itself, a sufficient display of benevolence.

One hundred and forty thousand Dao Soldiers!

Zong Shou felt a brief surge of pleasant surprise. Even if only the Xuan and Huang ranks were captured, and the Xuan-rank contingent numbered only twenty thousand, it was still a substantial asset.

What interested him even more among this captured force was their commander, Lie Que.

This man, in his thirties, possessed a tall, robust physique and an unruffled demeanor, unmoved by fortune or disgrace. Even when restrained and brought before Zong Shou, his expression remained placid, showing no change whatsoever.

Zong Shou regarded him up and down, feeling a sense of astonishment.

Unparalleled military talent was rare in this domain. A renowned general who could manage vast armies while simultaneously advancing his cultivation to the Divine Realm was even rarer.

"I heard just now that upon your capture, you offered your service to me in a conversation with Zhuang Yu?"

"That is correct!"

Lie Que inclined his head slightly. "I observe that the Lord Sovereign has few capable generals under his banner. Lie Que humbly recommends himself, wishing to serve the Lord Sovereign as a loyal dog, fighting in the Outer Domain."

Zong Shou smiled. In truth, the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty was not lacking in commanders.

In terms of overall command, there was Kong Yao and Zhuang Yu—both figures who could be called military gods. Qiu Wei was an experienced and astute general capable of independent command.

Furthermore, Zong Yuan and Ren Tianxing were both peerless generals capable of leading vanguard assaults. Even those like Hu Zhongyuan and Chai Zhou held extraordinary potential for growth.

However, the majority of these talents were stationed at the critical heartland, the Cloud Realm.

In the Yuanlian Realm, the only ones Great Qian could present as truly formidable were Zhuang Yu and Gui Xuan, who had surrendered several years prior.

Because the matter involved a former master, Zong Shou had been hesitant to entrust Gui Xuan with significant responsibility this time. Even Zhuang Yu, who had recently begun to feel overwhelmed, did not recommend reinstating him to overall command of troops.

Gui Xuan was not an unparalleled talent, but his capacity for rapid decision-making on the battlefield was only marginally less than Zhuang Yu's. Following this battle, he could likely be used with greater confidence.

Still, Zong Shou remained short of qualified commanding generals.

If Lie Que was genuinely willing to serve him, it would be a tremendous surprise.

This man was unlike Zong Yuan and the others, who were still merely potential assets not yet fully matured. As a Divine Realm cultivator, he must have experienced numerous campaigns in the Outer Domain over the last millennium. His understanding of conquering the Outer Domain far surpassed that of Zong Yuan or Zhuang Yu, perhaps even exceeding Zong Shou's own.

Once surrendered, he would instantly become a front-line great general ready for deployment.

His heart swelled with joy, but Zong Shou maintained a reserved expression, revealing nothing.

"It is said that Liu Muchen spent a full seven years trying to recruit General Lie. As an Emperor, he humbled himself to personally invite you, employing every possible method. Yet, General Lie, you switch your allegiance so readily today. Do you not feel you are betraying your former master?"

"A fine bird chooses its branch. If Liu Muchen were a worthy master, why would I have needed to spend seven years serving the Nine Capitals Immortal Court? Lie Que was forced into it. The methods used were not only those of courteous encouragement but also coercion through power and threats against family."

Lie Que stated this expressionlessly. Noticing the growing displeasure in Zong Shou's eyes, he did not alter his tone. Any monarch would dislike someone who betrayed a former master without compunction, even denigrating them verbally.

But Lie Que had always been this way; he harbored no fondness for Liu Muchen. He saw no need to conceal this or speak kindly of his former lord.

Some matters were verifiable with a simple check.

"Lie Que fought to the very end for the Nine Capitals Immortal Court today and did his utmost; his conscience is clear. I cannot join the Nine Capitals Immortal Court in its demise simply for a small favor shown to me. However, the Lord Sovereign of Great Qian's nation prospers like the rising sun. If Lie Que can pledge loyalty, he is certain to find favor with the Lord Sovereign—a good branch indeed—"

Zong Shou paused, feeling a moment of hesitation. Earlier, he had been overjoyed at the surrender. Now, hearing Lie Que speak this way, doubt crept in. If this man treated his former master thus, how would he treat Zong Shou?

Lie Que seemed to sense this, his gaze dimming slightly. "Lie Que knows well that if I had not surrendered in this battle, I would either be imprisoned for life or tortured to death. Neither outcome suits me, and in the end, I would have had to yield to the Lord Sovereign anyway. Since that is the case, why pretend?"

He continued, "This guilty minister cannot guarantee absolute, unwavering loyalty to the Lord Sovereign, but I can certainly promise diligence and devotion. I will carry out every task entrusted to me with full effort."

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, then let out a soft laugh. Diligence and devotion—that, in truth, was enough. Expecting everyone to be absolutely loyal was unrealistic.

Having made up his mind, Zong Shou hesitated no longer.

"With General Lie joining us, the strength of my Great Qian will certainly ascend to a new level. I appoint General Lie to temporarily serve as the Commander of the Right Army. How does that suit you?"

The Great Qian military was divided into five armies: Front, Rear, Left, Right, and Center, with the Commander-in-Chief (Du Jian Dian) as the head. The title of Commander (Du Du) was second only to the Commander-in-Chief. Zhuang Yu had briefly held this post after his submission.

Lie Que was different from the others; he had already proven himself a universally respected famous general on the battlefield. Thus, appointing him directly as Commander-in-Chief would likely not raise objections from others. However, Zong Shou wished to observe Lie Que's character first, to ascertain if he truly deserved such heavy responsibility.

Lie Que immediately bowed without hesitation, accepting the commission: "This subject is deeply grateful and will certainly not disappoint the Lord Sovereign."

Zong Shou currently had countless affairs demanding his attention. He needed to absorb the various nations of the Yuanlian Realm, prepare his armies for further conquests of surrounding worlds, and allocate forces to seize portions of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court's territory. He was so swamped with intricate matters that he wished he could split himself in two.

The meeting with Lie Que lasted less than a quarter of an hour. Without even time for a deeper discussion, Zong Shou had to dismiss the newly minted Commander of the Right Army.

However, before departing, Lie Que offered a reminder: "I heard that the Lord Sovereign's Fleet captured the Commander-in-Chief of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court's Fleet, Yi Lingsu? This woman is extraordinary. If possible, the Lord Sovereign should endeavor to persuade her to surrender."

Zong Shou started. He had witnessed the capabilities of the Nine Capitals Immortal Court's Fleet Commander-in-Chief. While perhaps not possessing Shi Ruolan's innate genius, she was not far behind. With her vast experience, she had kept Shi Ruolan occupied, even once rendering dozens of Great Qian's airships completely helpless. Why would Lie Que suggest he spend special effort trying to persuade her to surrender?

Then, he heard Lie Que explain: "This woman originates from a family of Artifact Masters, and her clan holds significant power within the Nine Capitals Immortal Court. Nearly all the Artifact Masters capable of refining the Cold Crystal Shadow Blade Warships are under her control. Furthermore, due to her long service in the military, her prestige is immense. Should we recruit her, we could secure at least ten of the remaining fifty Cold Crystal Shadow Blade Warships from the Nine Capitals Immortal Court!"