When Kong Yao averted her gaze, a surge of violent anger swept through Fei Yin's heart.
He had envisioned this former subordinate regretting her choices, sinking into despair. He had even guessed that she might remain fiercely defiant, determined to fight to the death. Yet, he had never once conceived that she would completely disregard him.
Nothing was more infuriating than the cool, emotionless look she had just given him.
But for a commander, maintaining composure was paramount. Fei Yin had commanded troops for decades, weathering countless battles. Even with fury scorching his insides, he forcibly suppressed it. A few sharp commands set the entire cavalry formation into motion.
The center, still anchored by him, pressed forward as the army's sharpest spearhead. On the far right flank, an arrowhead formation likewise jutted out, possessing a terrifying, razor-sharp momentum.
The two hundred thousand cavalry moved as if extensions of his own will. With the prestige he had built over decades of campaigning in the Northern Frontier, even the recalcitrant Daoist Purple Lin Flame Spear Cavalry willingly submitted.
Should the Blood Cloud Cavalry not be shattered immediately, this right-wing spearhead would drive diagonally, piercing the enemy formation's midsection. Then, with six times their strength, they would crush and overwhelm the thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry with irresistible force!
After that, the entire central formation of the Qian Army would be laid bare before him!
He had originally intended to plead for leniency for Kong Yao after the battle, but thinking about it now, it was better to abandon the idea.
Just a few minor victories, and she had become so insufferably arrogant. If she were a general under the Great Shang, she might not be a blessing to the dynasty.
As murderous intent flared within him, Fei Yin’s distracting thoughts gradually settled.
His eyes did not blink; his entire focus was riveted on the blood-red cavalry formation opposite him.
Though only thirty thousand strong, the army was led by Zong Yuan, one of the Twin Heroes of the Eastern Qian, hailed as the peerless Cavalry General.
His skill in charging enemy formations was unmatched in the world. Despite being outnumbered, he might still attempt some unexpected maneuver.
Closer and closer they came, yet the opposing cavalry showed no change, still pressing forward like a single arrow, a solid wall.
The blood-red armor reflected a cold sheen, and even the gaze directed their way seemed capable of freezing a person solid.
Truly worthy of being the Blood Cloud Cavalry; even facing six times their number, they showed no waver. Rumor had it that their Blood Cavalry Killing Art could control the mind, subtly ensuring every rider remained fiercely loyal to their lord—willing to die without hesitation. They were the most terrifying cavalry among the Profound Tier Dao Soldiers. Seeing them now confirmed the legend!
But, that was all they amounted to—
Under the trampling of two hundred thousand iron hooves, any Daoist soldiers would be pulverized beneath his steed’s charge!
Kong Yao, oh Kong Yao!
The old man misjudged you once, but today, the foundation of your pride will be thoroughly shattered!
The thunder of hooves surged forward, less than twenty zhang apart. Suddenly, Fei Yin heard a strange, guttural roar pierce his ears.
It was filled with majesty, the sound deep yet supremely authoritative. Fei Yin paid it no mind; distraction was fatal right before the clash of armies. He sensed countless gazes around him turning, anticipating the outcome of this collision.
Even the Outer Realm River held dozens of powerful intentions focused upon them.
Zong Yuan, who had been riding steadily forward, finally made his move.
His Dragon-Horned Winged Horse suddenly accelerated, his blood-red halberd raised high, his entire body enveloped in a mist of blood and arcs of violet lightning. His clear, cool voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Fellow comrades, follow me, Zong Yuan, and let our steeds tread upon a thousand armies!"
The thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry remained utterly silent, offering no reply. But simultaneously, they all increased their pace, their morale surging. The one hundred twenty thousand iron hooves hammered the earth, resembling an unstoppable tide of crimson iron.
Treading upon a thousand armies? Such audacious boasting!
Fei Yin gave a cold sneer, raising his own saber, beginning to channel the momentum of his entire army.
A practitioner of war must be skilled at harnessing Shi (momentum/power)! He might not match Zong Yuan’s application of martial Shi, but the army Shi he commanded was several times stronger!
But in the very next instant, the expression on his face froze solid. He felt the momentum of his entire force behind him dissolving and collapsing with terrifying speed.
Countless cries of alarm and rage erupted. Interspersed among them were the roars and shrieks of the Profound Flame Golden-Scale Beasts, laced with anxiety, panic, and sheer terror.
Horror gripping his mind, Fei Yin spun his head back. He saw the entirety of the sixty-five thousand Purple Lin Flame Spear Cavalry thrown into chaos—horses rearing, men falling. Tens of thousands of Profound Flame Golden-Scale Beasts either braked abruptly and spun around; went into a complete rampage, bolting in all directions; or simply knelt down, trembling violently.
The orderly ranks had devolved into utter disorder. And the famed Purple Lin Cavalry formation, renowned throughout the world, naturally shattered along with it.
"What is happening? How could this be?"
Fei Yin’s shock momentarily gave way to vacant bewilderment. This was the last thought that crossed his mind.
A streak of crimson cavalry flashed before him—it was Zong Yuan. The blood-red great halberd swept down, delivering a crushing blow of immense, unstoppable force that instantly pulverized Fei Yin's body along with his mount!
Then, the thirty thousand Blood Cavalry surged after him like a flood, crashing into the enemy formation ahead.
Where the iron hooves passed, flesh and blood scattered. Every Daoist Purple Lin Flame Spear Knight and every Profound Flame Golden-Scale Beast blocking their path had their bodies ripped apart.
They disintegrated into wisps of blood-essence energy mist, which were then sucked into the Blood Cavalry formation. The dense, bloody haze dispersed, spreading over ten li within mere breaths!
"Clang!"
On the massive Imperial Carriage, a deathly silence reigned among all observers. Only when the sound of a teacup shattering echoed did the occupants snap back to reality. Yin Yu abruptly stood up, his face ashen as he stared toward the right flank. Disbelief still clouded his eyes.
His general, Fei Yin—one of his trusted right and left arms—was killed in battle just like that?
The Purple Lin Flame Spear Knights, lauded as one of the strongest Profound Tier Dao Armies in the Cloud Realm, had collapsed so easily?
"What exactly happened?"
"How is this possible? Commander Fei and the Purple Lin Flame Spear Cavalry were defeated that easily?"
"That Zong Keeper must have used some wicked sorcery!"
"These Profound Flame Golden-Scale Beasts—the Dao Sect has bred and refined them over ten thousand years, making countless improvements. Their nature is ferocious yet docile; they fear nothing, not even Divine Beasts. They were nearly perfect! Why would they malfunction at this crucial moment?"
"They truly seem to be terrified of something? What force could cause the Profound Flame Golden-Scale Beasts to lose control?"
Daoist Master Yuntai was already consumed by anger and distress, his previous air of leisure completely vanished. It was he who had crushed the teacup moments ago. With his mounts out of control, the tens of thousands of Purple Lin Flame Spear Cavalry were now trapped on the battlefield, unable even to flee.
The sharp edge of the thirty thousand Blood Cloud Cavalry was pointed at them, sweeping aside everything in its path!
Sensing with his divine mind, he quickly identified the oppressive force blanketing the battlefield. The source was that Jade Chariot directly opposite!
"Demon spawn! What dark art did you use to harm my Sect's Qilin Dao Soldiers!"
He thrust his hand outward, conjuring a colossal five-colored mountain that hurtled across the sky toward the opposite side.
Zong Shou’s eyes flickered. The sword held tightly in his hand suddenly slid half an inch from its sheath.
However, at that very moment, a flash of blood-red blade light swept up from beside him, slicing through the void.
It was Chu Xue, controlling the Blood Moon Blade. With a single strike, she cleaved the giant mountain in two.
But the five-colored mountain instantly reformed. It coalesced immediately into the shape of a sword and attacked Chu Xue.
"Dao Sect Five Elements Returning Origin Qi—"
Zong Shou couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle. It turned out that Daoist Master Yuntai practiced the method of Five Elements Attainment, just like Chu Xue!
Though Chu Xue's cultivation was weaker, she could barely contend with him using the Blood Moon Blade.
The sword was still not fully sheathed, its murderous aura growing even stronger. Zong Shou faintly felt waves of immense, surging Kingly Qi pouring in from the direction of the Avici Throne. The power he could command through his Kingly martial arts was increasing exponentially.
It must be due to the shift in momentum! This was the moment he had long anticipated—the collapse of the sixty-five thousand Purple Lin Flame Spear Cavalry caused the National Fortune and Power of the Great Qian to surge dramatically at this instant, naturally causing the Kingly Aura to spike as well.
With Chu Xue intercepting him using the Blood Moon Blade, Daoist Master Yuntai immediately flung out a black steel whip, which expanded to ten thousand zhang across the sky, slamming down toward the bloody mist below.
Knowing that even a moment's delay might cost the Dao Sect more soldiers, Yuntai ignored investigating the source of the chaos and unleashed all his immortal treasures and magic power without hesitation.
"Yuntai alone may not be enough! Brother Xue Zhai, I ask for your assistance!"
Layman Xue Zhai, Liu Li, also looked sickly pale. Without hesitation, he nodded slightly. "The Dao and Ru schools are now bound by the same spirit; we must do our utmost! Execute this Demon Lord!"
If the sixty thousand Daoist knights were defeated, their current effort to slay the demon might fail completely, leading instead to a major rout.
He raised his hand slightly and tossed out a jade inkstone. It streaked toward the tip of the blood mist like a meteor, trailing thousands of auspicious rays.
Following that, a complex scripture covered in script flew into the air. As it unfolded, it solidified in the void into tens of thousands of the character 'Protect' (), raining down upon the tens of thousands of Purple Lin Flame Spear Knights below.
Zong Shou watched and shook his head slightly. Did these two take him for a dead man?
He suddenly felt a chill envelop him from above and below. His heart twinged slightly, and the red jade necklace on his chest began emitting abnormal crimson light.
But Zong Shou had no time to heed it. His mind fell utterly silent, and in that instant, he drew his sword!
The murderous intent and fierce energy accumulated over several months were finally unleashed from the blade.
By the time the sword left its sheath, its aura dominated the surroundings, a peerless wave of killing intent tearing through both the void and the physical realm.
Zhu Jue (Execute Absolutely)!
The faint sword light crossed the battlefield spanning dozens of li in a mere moment.
Daoist Master Yuntai gasped and unhesitatingly recalled the black steel whip. The five-colored energy condensed into a shield before him.
Layman Xue Zhai also paid attention to nothing else; the tens of thousands of 'Protect' light talismans were instantly recalled, coalescing into a light barrier enveloping him. The giant inkstone likewise hovered defensively before him.
The Blood Saint Demon Lord hovering above also changed expression. Just as he was about to move to help, he saw a figure flicker beside Zong Shou—it was Ao Kun—forcing him to stop helplessly.
He could only watch as the piercing sword light pierced the five-element shield, effortlessly slipped past the steel whip, and plunged into Daoist Master Yuntai’s throat!
Zong Shou’s gaze was cold. Months of arduous training in Zhu Jue had been for this single strike today!