"Proactive attack? That Kong Yao is a rare genius in ten thousand, her ability to command troops was evident in previous major battles. Why is she acting like this?"

"The right flank only has thirty thousand Blood Cavalry; most will be wiped out in a single strike!"

"Could it be a deliberate feint? To keep us guessing—"

After Fei Yin departed, generals skilled in military affairs still accompanied the imperial carriage.

Gazing at the Da Qian army pressing forward like a wall, they were all utterly bewildered and perplexed.

"Our Great Shang has a slight advantage in the central army, but the enemy general is Ren Tianxing, one of the peerless famous generals, so for the time being, the fighting will be evenly matched. Therefore, the victory in this battle must be decided by the cavalry wings! While an immediate charge is indeed improper, it would allow the opposing two hundred thousand iron cavalry to build momentum—"

"That makes sense. The enemy has five hundred thousand troops. But the Qian army alone boasts an astonishing one hundred and ten thousand Xuan-rank cavalry. Is this about playing to our strengths and avoiding weaknesses?"

"It must be a necessary evil, right? Kong Yao's predicament is clear enough! Our Great Shang is destined to win this battle."

As the generals debated amongst themselves, Chong Xuan cast a final, cold glance at Zong Shou across the field, as if looking at a dead man. He lingered no further, turning away alone to walk toward the rear of the great army, stepping through the air.

The Snow Hermit hesitated, his lips trembling, wanting to stop him, but not a single word escaped until the very end.

Yun Tai, however, curled his lip and sneered silently without end. He thought this was for the best; if Chong Xuan was willing to sacrifice his lifespan, that was perfect.

Yin-Yang Nail-Heart Technique? Regardless of whether this battle ended in victory or defeat, that demon king could finally be eradicated.

Meanwhile, Zong Shou was frowning, using his World-Burning Blood Pupils to pierce through the void, gazing out into the Outer Boundary River.

The Spirit Refining Sword flew up into the distance, and in a moment, it established connections with the six other nearby swords. Runes encircled them, and as the sword formation began to take shape, it started to gradually mobilize and pre-control the might of heaven and earth.

But simultaneously, a massive, sovereign-level will pressed down upon him.

The vital energy was intensely familiar; it belonged to the Confucian Sage, Master Zhu, with whom he had clashed twice before. This time, Master Zhu had also infused himself with the power of three Sovereign-level Divine Venerables.

Even facing the sharp edge of the All-Living Sword Formation, he would not be at a disadvantage.

But now, Master Zhu was merely entangled, firmly locking down and suppressing the entire set of sword instruments.

This caused Zong Shou's attempt to leverage the sword formation to break through the sealing array of this region to fall completely flat.

In the Outer Boundary River, which appeared calm on the surface, undercurrents raged fiercely.

More than a dozen Sovereign-level divine senses were crisscrossing, constantly colliding and probing, achieving a temporary stalemate among themselves.

With his Eye of World Burning, Zong Shou could roughly identify them. Two Sovereign-level Divine Venerables from the Buddhist and Sword Sects were involved.

Besides them, the Qing Xuan faction had one more participant.

"The Grand Beginning Demon Lord?"

Zong Shou was slightly startled internally. He had severely wounded this Demon Lord previously. He should have been far away in the Cloud Realm recovering from his injuries. That day, Zong Shou had driven the Will of the Heavenly Dao to strike directly at his primal core.

Since both cultivated the Path of the Ultimate End, Zong Shou knew his flaws and weaknesses better than anyone.

This Demon Ancestor’s injury must be even more severe than everyone imagined.

If he did not focus on recovering now, not only would the date of his advancement to the Half-Step True Realm be delayed, but in the future, he might even fall from the peak of the Sovereign Realm.

Given his immense pride, this was unthinkable.

"So it's an external incarnation—"

Differentiating carefully, the residual will was more than ten times weaker than during the battle at the Azure Heaven Realm of All Living Things!

If this were his true body, even Xiu Guan would struggle to maintain the situation.

However, it also showed that the recovery of his injuries was indeed exceptionally fast. In just a few months, he had mustered enough residual strength to interfere with the Cloud Realm once again.

Zong Shou shook his head. Looking at the situation, it was certain that he could no longer borrow strength from those at the Sovereign and Sage levels.

The Spirit Refining Sword needed to act as the core of the sword formation, unifying the other six swords, so it could not be used either.

Fortunately, he had known this before the battle began and had never counted on it.

Furthermore, within the Boundary River, nineteen Sage-level venerables and one hundred and eight Divine-level cultivators from the Dao, Confucian, and Demon schools were each holding an inscription, stationed around this void.

There were also at least seven other Sages acting as guardians for these formation-holding venerables.

"The Dao Gate's Zhou Tian Void-Sealing Absolute Domain Grand Array? No—"

In addition, methods from the Confucian and Demonic schools were interwoven, making this grand formation, which sealed the spatial-temporal barrier, even more formidable and profound, offering no opportunity for exploitation.

Zong Shou instantly understood. Only a Sovereign-level cultivator could merge the profound insights of the Dao and Demon schools' spiritual arts.

This formation was most likely a temporary joint derivation created by the Sovereign Qing Xuan Tai Huang, the Supreme Demon Lord, and even the heavily injured Tai Shi.

They truly took him seriously—

"It must be the Supreme Demon-Locking Heaven Grand Array!"

This was a heritage technique of the Demonic path, comparable to the Dao Gate's Zhou Tian Void-Sealing Absolute Domain Array. It took the strengths of both arrays and possessed power that could rival the Thirty-Three Heavens Array from the Azure Heaven Realm of All Living Things.

It was only slightly weaker because it had been set up hastily.

Zong Shou tentatively tested it with the Fire of World Burning, and astonishingly, even after half an incense stick's time, it could not be shaken in the slightest.

"Your Majesty shows great insight! This array is named the Supreme Zhou Tian Void-Sealing Absolute Domain Demonic Seal Grand Array, specially established for Your Majesty by the three Sages!"

A chilling, sinister voice suddenly sounded beside Zong Shou, followed by a ghastly cackle: "So if Your Majesty intends to flee, please dismiss that thought!"

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow. Though he had spoken to himself just now, he had used True Force to constrain the sound, meaning only a few people nearby should have heard it.

Could this person hear it? Was it Tai Shi, who possessed the supernatural ability of Six Ears?

Yet, that felt wrong. The voice was somewhat familiar, but the intent was far weaker than Tai Shi’s formidable power, even less so than Tai Shi's external incarnation.

Turning to look at the source of the sound, he saw a pale, handsome youth, devoid of any living aura, materialize in the air twenty thousand zhang away.

His face was filled with mocking contempt: "Two months ago, I said the day of your demise was near; today, my words prove true. I have come specifically to watch Your Majesty be defeated and perish!"

He let out another cold laugh: "Your Majesty should pray that you do not fall into the hands of my Demonic Sect in the end. If you do, we will make you wish for death, yet be unable to attain it!"

Blood Saint Demon Lord Xiao Huanchen?

Zong Shou’s eyes widened slightly, and the deep-seated killing intent and rage accumulated in his chest immediately erupted like a volcano.

His gaze turned blood red, but at the last moment, he forcibly suppressed the urge to strike.

Since the Spirit Refining Sword could not be used, Zong Shou switched to a mid-grade Immortal Weapon.

But he nearly crushed the hilt with his bare hand!

Unable to vent the killing intent, he channeled it all into this spare weapon. The violet-gold scabbard could not withstand it, developing fine cracks and nearly shattering.

Zong Shou truly couldn't be bothered to speak with the Blood Saint Demon Lord. After this battle was decided, it would be time for him to settle all the accumulated blood debts with these Demonic sects!

The half-million-strong army began to advance slowly, their footsteps pressing forward. The thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry on the left flank also gradually started to accelerate.

The sound of hundreds of thousands of hooves thundered like rushing storms.

The opposing Shang army also made its move. Shouts rose from within their ranks.

"Slay the Demon! Slay the Demon!"

"Our Great Shang will surely triumph today!"

"His Majesty has ordered: the first to break the enemy formation shall be made a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households! The one who kills Zong Shou shall have lands granted for a kingship!"

"Following the command of the Sages, acting on behalf of Heaven, we strike down this tyrannical and foolish ruler!"

"Kill!"

The forty thousand cavalry flanking the Shang Emperor also began to gallop faster. Within a few breaths, they approached top speed.

The ten li distance between the two great armies was closed in mere moments.

The little earth dog nestled in Zong Shou’s arms also sensed the impending collision. It wriggled out of Zong Shou’s embrace.

Its body crouched low, as if preparing to pounce on prey, its face ferocious, letting out low growls.

Zong Shou, however, saw Kong Yao beside him staring into space, and could not help but chuckle.

"Little Yao'er, what are you thinking about? The great battle has begun; as the commander-in-chief, you shouldn't be distracted right now."

Startled by the sound of his voice, Kong Yao composed herself immediately and replied calmly, "I was thinking about Shi Yue—wondering when this man will make his move and what methods he will use to turn the tide. I also wonder if the arrangements I made beforehand can stop him?"

As she spoke, her tone held a distinct note of uncertainty.

She had never truly fought Shi Yue before, and in the Great Shang, she only had a vague understanding of his capabilities.

She knew very little about the Shi family’s strength or Shi Yue’s methods, leaving her completely uncertain.

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught her eye. With the corner of her vision, she saw a person looking at her with sharp, hawk-like eyes.

It was Fei Yin, the Grand General of Conquest in the South for the Great Shang, currently riding rapidly just before the sixty-five thousand Purple Lin Flame Spear Cavalry on the opposite left flank, holding a massive broadsword.

In his eyes at that moment, there were three parts provocation, three parts pity, three parts mockery, and one part greedy infatuation.

Kong Yao paused, then woodenly retracted her gaze, not bothering to look back. She didn't know why her superior was positioned within the left flank army, and it was no concern of hers anyway.

The battles along the Min River had thoroughly disgraced Fei Yin, allowing her to vent that particular anger.

Whether this man lived or died was irrelevant to her, as they shared no genuine camaraderie.

After several years as colleagues, all that remained between them was a cold estrangement mixed with resentment.

At this moment, Zong Shou was also meeting someone's gaze—a few eyes cast from the simple, unadorned imperial carriage opposite him.

The one in the center was Emperor Yin Yu of the Yuan Chen era of Great Shang. The others were negligible; only the Sage-level powerhouses accompanying him drew his attention.

Though no direct conversation occurred, he could discern what these individuals were thinking through the looks they projected toward him.

"What a decadent Wine Pool Palace! Such indulgence and luxury—this boy is no longer a threat; we can win this battle today!"

"A foolish ruler! An enemy of Confucianism! If you do not perish, where is the principle of Heaven?!"

"He is an eternal enemy of our Dao Sect; even if we cannot kill him personally, we must never allow this child to escape!"

Zong Shou smiled and met their gazes calmly. He felt as if he possessed mind-reading abilities, sensing all their thoughts and intentions.

He only found it slightly strange that True Master Chong Xuan was absent.

And he wondered what they were scheming behind the Great Shang army formation.

The thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry had now accelerated to their peak, piercing forward like an arrow.

Just then, Howling Sun suddenly reared up. His entire body was suffused with an intimidating kingly might, and a low roar echoed across the battlefield,