Yin Yu's lips curled coldly, offering no confirmation.

The matter of Kong Yao had always been a splinter in his flesh, impossible to ignore.

Ever since Kong Yao rose to prominence, displaying unparalleled military genius, and began leading armies in the Cloud Realm to constant, undefeated victories, rumors circulated within the Central Land Cloud Continent that Yin Yu was blind, incapable of recognizing talent, having freely gifted such a brilliant strategist to the Dry Heaven Mountain.

And now, every major victory Kong Yao achieved was another slap across Yin Yu's face. Even with his temperament, years of this had accumulated considerable frustration.

"I have heard of her! General Fei insists that all of this woman's achievements in Great Qian were pure luck, and she will surely reveal her true colors before him. Regardless of right or wrong, her fighting spirit is certainly commendable."

He naturally knew that Kong Yao did possess some measure of strategic brilliance. Yet, when Fei Yin commanded the northern armies a few years prior, his assessment of Kong Yao was extremely low. Not only was Fei Yin one of those who "misjudged," but his error had directly influenced Yin Yu's own judgment.

Whether this remark stemmed from Fei Yin's unwillingness to admit his mistake or his genuine belief was difficult to ascertain.

However, if the myth of Kong Yao's invincibility in the Defense of the Sovereign could be shattered here, it would certainly bring him immense satisfaction, silencing those persistent whispers.

Rising, Yin Yu walked to the window and gazed beyond the imperial carriage.

He could clearly see a colossal contingent of cavalry approaching from the rear.

They rode on Black Flame Golden-Scaled Beasts, bearing three-zhang long flaming lances, clad in purple-gold precious armor, their gazes fiercely glittering.

Not only was their aura powerful and vast, but they also exuded splendor and nobility. A cursory glance revealed a force numbering sixty-five thousand strong, moving across the barren plains like an endless tide.

Yin Yu’s eyes brightened, and a surge of martial spirit rose within him. This force was the very foundation of his confidence in personally leading the expedition into the Southern Frontier.

"It seems Daoism has truly given its all this time—"

Chong Xuan, though a Daoist himself, did not rely on his identity as a member of the Dao Sect. He offered a slight note of admiration.

Among the Profound Rank Dao Soldiers of the Cloud Realm, the Life-Bound Profound Dragon Knights were naturally premier in terms of growth and potential. In terms of sheer combat power, the Unending Sword Cavalry of the Sword Sect stood unsurpassed.

But in terms of perfection and balanced offense and defense, the Dao Sect’s Purple Scale Flame Lance Cavalry was peerless. Their crushing defeat in the previous Dao Spirit Heaven Realm battle was not their fault; they simply could not bring their full combat potential to bear.

This time, however, the Dao Sect had deployed every single Purple Scale Flame Lance Cavalry unit.

"Great Qian is in for a hard time now!"

It wasn't just the Purple Scale Flame Lance Cavalry; there were over fifty thousand other scattered Profound Rank Dao Soldiers, including the two myriad Purple Firmament Sword Cavalry from the Grand Spirit Sect.

One hundred and twenty thousand Profound Rank knights followed the imperial carriage in a majestic procession.

And immediately trailing them came five thousand knights clad entirely in black armor, joining the ranks—the Profound Rank Dao Soldiers known as the Demonic Heaven Battle Cavalry from the leading Demonic Sect, the Heaven Demonic Firmament Realm!

"The Demonic Sect held back somewhat last time. This time, they too are sparing no expense."

Chong Xuan narrowed his eyes, a strange glint flickering within them.

"The Demonic Sect’s main bases are largely not in the Central Land, but spread across the other four continents and twelve islands. These fifty thousand Demonic Heaven Battle Cavalry should represent their absolute limit."

Yin Yu smiled faintly. If the Demonic Sect’s full strength were concentrated in the Central Land, it would be a far greater headache. Moreover, although this battle was paramount, their strength would be useful later when attacking the Eastern Border and the Southern Wind Cloud Continents.

In the battle of the Life-Bound Firmament Realm, the combined might of the Three Teachings was repelled, resulting in the loss of three Supreme Realm masters.

If the Dao, Demonic, and Confucian Three Teachings wished to reclaim victory and salvage their dignity in this engagement, they naturally could not afford to hold back. "The Demonic Sect’s strength inherently struggles to match that of the Dao Sect!"

And those observing these two renowned and powerful invincible cavalry forces were not limited to Yin Yu and Chong Xuan.

The Cloud-Flipping Carriages traveling rapidly along this route all raised their window coverings. The knights escorting the carriage also turned their heads, gazing upon the scene with expressions of shock.

"Is this the Purple Scale Flame Lance Cavalry, hailed as the strongest army under heaven?"

"What a tyrannical aura!"

"The Purple Firmament Sword Cavalry and the Demonic Heaven Battle Cavalry are not weak either. With such mighty forces, our Great Shang is surely victorious!"

"The saying goes that the righteous gain much support, while the unjust gain little. It is because our Great Shang abides by Heaven’s will and the people’s desires that all factions obey and follow!"

"That Sovereign of the Defense of the Sovereign in Great Qian acted against the natural order; he deserves to have his nation perish. It is only a pity that the common folk of the Southern Frontier and Eastern Border must endure this calamity of war!"

"Another act of burning books and burying scholars? Absurd! He is merely a savage king of the borderlands, yet he dares to be so arrogant!"

"The Holy Sovereign personally leads the campaign, commanding millions of troops and a million iron cavalry. He will surely annihilate Great Qian in one swift stroke!"

"This man dared to injure our Sect’s Saint Dong. If I can capture him, I will certainly petition His Majesty to subject him to the Lingchi execution, the most severe punishment in the world, to deal with this tyrannical ruler of Great Qian!"

The officials traveling south in the entourage were all engaged in animated discussion, while the armored elite cavalry escorting the procession felt their spirits lift, their morale soaring.

Every Profound Rank Knight was a Martial Path Sixth Stage Xuanwu Sect master. The concentrated brilliance emanating from nearly one hundred and seventy thousand peak Earth Realm experts shot straight toward the heavens. Hooves pounded, and thunder rolled ceaselessly.

Yin Yu also clenched his fist fiercely, only to be overcome by a sudden shadow of regret.

The Daoist soldiers of the various sects were the very things he most detested, yet they had now become his reliance.

If those thirty myriad Dao Soldiers were present now, how wonderful it would be. His resentment toward Zong Shou grew even sharper.

However, if he achieved his goal this time, recreating his Primordial Star Blood Fiend Cavalry would not be difficult.

He was even more curious about Great Qian’s Blood Cloud Cavalry lineage.

They were only Fifth Stage knights, yet when their vital blood essence was drawn to its peak, they could contend against several times their number of Sixth Stage masters.

If he could acquire that secret—

Shaking his head and chuckling, Yin Yu mocked himself for dreaming too much while looking toward Chong Xuan at his side: "State Preceptor, what do you foresee for the fortune of this campaign?"

Chong Xuan’s expression turned solemn. He scrutinized Yin Yu carefully until his eyes burned with the intensity, then respectfully replied, "Your subject still cannot discern fortune or doom, but Your Majesty's Imperial Aura is currently blazing and in turbulent flux. This clearly signifies a great turning point about to occur in the national destiny of our Great Shang!"

"A turning point? A sign of great change?"

A sharp light flashed again in Yin Yu's eyes. Before meeting Chong Xuan, he recalled a certain enlightened master predicting before him that Great Shang was destined to fall in the fifty-sixth year after the Spiritual Tide.

Even Chong Xuan had been highly secretive about this matter. Thus, for the past century, Yin Yu had diligently managed the empire with utmost caution. Could Chong Xuan’s pronouncement of a 'turning point of great change' finally mean that Great Shang’s national destiny had arrived at its opportunity for alteration?

Chong Xuan was about to elaborate when he suddenly felt the ground begin to shake.

Startled inwardly, Chong Xuan looked outward, then his face drained of color in horror: "It is the several Saint Realm masters of the Confucian Sect! They are joining forces to forcefully level the mountains to expand the Emerald Gorge—"

Yin Yu paused in shock before comprehending.

The Emerald Gorge was one of the exits of the connecting mountain range, a strategically vital choke point where only a hundred thousand troops could deploy effectively!

Several Saint Realm masters acting to flatten mountains and widen the Emerald Gorge—this was equivalent to completely negating the geographical advantage held by the Great Qian army.

He could not help but burst into laughter, feeling utterly exhilarated. It seemed that ten days would not even be necessary!