Kong Yao mused, "Our Great Qian still maintains an army of three hundred thousand in Southwind, and a month prior, we had conscripted close to a million martial artists—we can hold on for a while longer. If we seize this opportunity while the Great Shang is consumed by internal strife to take the entire Central Plains, we can then spare a fraction of our strength to deal with the Shi family's seven hundred thousand troops. What worries this servant, however, is that Shi Yue's methods might not stop here."

"To resist our Great Qian, it's impossible that Shi Yue only possesses these few tricks."

The speaker was Zhang Huai, who had just arrived, striding through the air. He had been observing the battle from within the Wine Pool Palace, and now that the army had won, he emerged just in time to catch the end of their conversation.

"Don't forget his father, Shi Qianli, who currently serves as the General Who Pacifies the South, Governor of Subai Continent—controlling seven provinces and nearly two hundred thousand soldiers!"

Zong Shou and Kong Yao exchanged glances; this was news to both of them. The latter's expression immediately grew solemn.

Shi Qianli?

The Shi family was one of the great aristocratic clans in Great Shang, second only to the Five Great Dynasties. Because Emperor Yuanchen harbored suspicions against them, they had been relegated to lower official posts for years, their status deliberately unremarkable.

However, Kong Yao had heard of this man. His talent for warfare was surely no less than that of Fei Yin, perhaps even superior. Legends had long circulated in the Northern Wilderness Army: Fei Yin as commander could repeatedly send the northern barbarians retreating in defeat, but if Shi Qianli commanded, those tribes would not dare advance south.

"He is merely the Governor of Subai Continent, commanding only two hundred thousand troops. The Great Shang's southern campaign has likely already drawn away all his elite forces—"

"But there is still Shi Yue!"

Zhang Huai shook his head, "The world Shi Yue commands is unlike our Great Qian Celestial Dynasty, surrounded by enemies and needing to guard against the Shadow Demons and Night Demons. Returning this time, he absolutely could not have brought back only seven hundred thousand troops. The key lies in that Hundred Victories Pass and the Yangtze River!"

Zong Shou considered it briefly and immediately understood Zhang Huai's meaning.

Hundred Victories Pass lay to the east of Great Shang, west of Zexi, near Ganxi Continent. Its terrain was strategically vital, guarding the critical passage to the southeast.

If sufficient force were deployed to block this choke point, even an army of millions could not break through.

As for the Yangtze River, within Great Shang's water system, the situation here was the reverse of the Min River. There, the Great Shang's naval forces were supreme, while Great Qian's side was completely void of a proper navy.

And the Yangtze River, even at its narrowest point, spanned over forty thousand zhang. Without naval cover, it would be nearly impossible for the Great Qian army to cross.

And Shi Qianli, as the Governor of Subai Continent, had the authority to mobilize naval assets.

A strategic sacrifice? Completely abandoning the five southern continents, concentrating a million troops to hold the vital junction of Hundred Victories Pass, thereby preserving the rest of the Great Shang territory?

This must be what Shi Yue meant by the necessity of taking losses as a general—the art of choosing what to abandon?

"It still comes back to the initial problem."

Kong Yao shook her head, "Shi Qianli is only the Governor of Subai Continent; his authority is limited! He has no jurisdiction over Zexi. Even if Shi Yue rescues Yin Yu and obtains Emperor Yuanchen’s decree to command the southeastern theater, mobilizing troops will take time. The south is flat plains; if I advance with cavalry, Shi Qianli will be utterly powerless."

"He can forge an imperial decree beforehand!"

Seeing Zong Shou and Kong Yao stunned, Zhang Huai chuckled, "Given the current predicament of that Emperor Yuanchen, he has no leisure to scrutinize such matters; on the contrary, he will rely heavily on them. Furthermore, this matter benefits the Shi family immensely—do you think Shi Qianli would dare not? Those Central Plains aristocratic clans are notoriously arrogant and bold!"

Kong Yao gasped in shock, suddenly realizing how fundamentally different her mindset and methods of conduct were from those of the aristocratic clans.

When she served as a general under Shang, she was utterly loyal, never daring to defy the Emperor's command, regarding it as sacred writ.

But these clans were different; within their own fiefdoms, they often ignored national law.

This was something others wouldn't dare attempt. Shi Qianli, as the head of the Shi family, would feel no pressure, nor would he spare a thought for Emperor Yuanchen's perception.

If that were truly the case, it would indeed be troublesome.

"Actually, it might be a good thing. If we try to swallow a whale. Even if we manage to swallow it, Great Qian will face even more trouble. One misstep, and we might rupture our own belly. It's better to solidify our foundation after this battle and then plan further! The Jiangnan region is equally prosperous, a land of plenty, yielding several times the grain output of other areas, densely populated, with Spirit Stone veins second only to Huizhou. Its taxes account for nearly half of the Great Shang's revenue—income equivalent to seven Tianfang Realms! However, due to rampant corruption and manipulation by those clans, most of the annual revenue flows into private coffers. Although the martial spirit here is somewhat weaker, it perfectly complements the Eastlin South. If governed well, it can become the bedrock for our Great Qian to unify the Cloud Realm, unchanging for ten thousand generations!"

Seemingly worried that Zong Shou and Kong Yao felt disappointed, Zhang Huai rambled on.

Zong Shou, however, showed no signs of disappointment. Being able to smoothly absorb these five continents was already more than satisfying, a supreme joy for him.

Past or future, these five southern continents were the essence of the Cloud Realm, the heartland of taxation!

If they could sweep away the demonic taint and eradicate the accumulated ills, these five continents alone, within a few years, could far surpass Eastlin Cloud Land. Without engaging in endless warfare, supporting an army of ten million would not be an issue.

But at this moment, his focus lay elsewhere.

"The strength of the Great Qian is established; there is no need for reckless gambling. After this battle, order Ren Tianxing to lead eight hundred thousand elite troops to garrison Southwind Cloud Land. The remaining forces will be commanded by Consort Yao, assisted by you, Zhang Huai. After crushing the Shang armies north of the Min River, you will be responsible for conquering the Central Plains! You will have the authority to make decisions on the spot—"

Kong Yao and Zhang Huai both bowed in assent. North of the Min River, although there were still millions of Great Shang soldiers, they were not in the eyes of the two commanders.

Without the support of Daoist Soldiers, simply cutting off their retreat routes with iron cavalry and severing their supply lines—at most ten days, and those sixteen million troops would have no choice but to collapse.

Zong Shou granting them discretionary power was specifically aimed at the Shi family contingency. If the Shi family truly managed to seal off Hundred Victories Pass, the Great Qian forces would stop at the southern few continents of Great Shang. But if they failed to do so, then Great Qian would need to show no mercy.

As for Southwind Cloud Land, the Shi family’s seven hundred thousand troops posed no great threat. The four million martial cultivators and spirit masters conscripted by Qiu Wei were currently being drilled. As long as Southwind Cloud Land could stabilize and suppress the rebellious cities, stability would be achieved within three months at most. If Shi Yue were sensible, he would retreat early.

"Expand the Blood Cloud Cavalry by fifty thousand, recruiting as many Sixth Order powerhouses as possible. Organize thirty thousand Black Fox Iron Cavalry within the Cloud Realm. Additionally, select elites from the various armies!"

A sharp glint flashed in Zong Shou's eyes. "Issue the Demon Extermination Edict! Order all martial artists in the realm to hunt down disciples of the Demonic Sects. For every Ninth Order disciple killed, they shall be rewarded with an Eighth Order Spirit Stone. The higher the cultivation, the greater the reward. The Great Qian Library shall also be opened; any individual who slays one hundred or more demonic disciples may choose and transcribe one martial art or spirit technique of Seventh Grade or higher from within the library. This time, I shall eradicate all demons!"

This was primarily due to martial arts. During his recent travels, Zong Shou had indeed gathered a significant number of martial Dao spirit techniques. Much of the heritage of the Nine Capitals Celestial Dynasty had fallen into his hands, alongside the legacies of the nearly two hundred Immortal Cultivators he encountered in the Nine Desolations Death Prison, including top-tier Divine Ability methods.

There were Eighth Grade Earth-Piercing, Ninth Grade Heaven-Shaking, and even Tenth Grade Saintly Spirit techniques. Zong Shou naturally looked down on them, but for the resource-scarce rogue cultivators of the Cloud Realm, these were invaluable treasures. Missing this opportunity, finding supreme techniques later would not be so easy.

Kong Yao and Zhang Huai were not surprised. The Daoist Sect had attempted a similar move in the past, but Zong Shou immediately marched toward the Central Lands and annihilated thirty-seven sects in succession. They had long perceived that the resentment accumulated in Zong Shou's heart was profound. To have endured until this moment was already incredibly difficult.

And now, there was no need to hold back. The Demonic Sect's Daoist Soldiers were nearly wiped out. Except for those powerful experts at the Supreme and Saint Realms who could still offer some resistance, the Demonic Sect held no power to oppose the Great Qian. Their few Spirit Mansions, Spirit Mountains, and Holy Lands were like lambs awaiting slaughter.

However, this meant further dividing troops. The possibility of leaving forces to contain Hundred Victories Pass and continuing to eye the southwest of Great Shang, advancing into the Central Plains via the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, diminished again.

But since that possibility was already slim, and knowing Zong Shou's mind was set and could not be swayed now, they remained silent, offering no objection, only expressing reservations about the rewards Zong Shou proposed.

"My Lord, our Great Qian's Spirit Stones are limited, as we need to maintain the army. Perhaps focusing on opening access to martial arts and spirit techniques would be better. Your Lordship’s terms are also a bit low. Those who kill one hundred demonic disciples may choose Seventh Grade martial arts or spirit techniques. For Eighth Grade, they should require at least a thousand kills, or at least ten Spirit Realm demonic cultivators. Ninth Grade requires ten Immortal Realm cultivators—"

"The demonic techniques are unique; their essence can be detected from the corpses, so we do not fear deception!"

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, offering no explicit agreement, but his posture implied consent.

By this time, the space above the sky had gradually settled down. The supreme barrier formation—the Grand Heavenly Void Air Sealing Demonic Prohibition Array—laid down by the combined might of the Harmonious Dao, Demonic, and Confucian Sects, had been withdrawn by those who recognized the turn of events.

The divine senses of those Supreme Realm experts no longer permeated the void.

The clouds above the battlefield dispersed, and shafts of sunlight streamed down. The private Dao Soldiers belonging to the aristocratic clans had been thoroughly routed by the Blood Cloud Cavalry commanded by Zong Yuan. At this point, they had no strength left to resist and were compelled to surrender.

Zong Shou gazed coldly into the void. Though those few figures had departed, their lingering intents still locked onto him, surrounding him persistently. Traces of malice surged toward him.

Zong Shou sneered, showing no fear. If these Supreme Realm experts did not act personally, this mere divine sense could not crush him!

As Zong Shou looked upward, the generals on the battlefield below watched him. As the yin power of the Yin-Yang Nail Heart Needles dissipated, the pillar of white energy vanished without a trace. Xiaori also reverted from its Qilin form and lay lazily on Zong Shou’s shoulder.

Yet, bathed in the sunlight, the White Jade Imperial Chariot remained enveloped in seven-colored spiritual radiance, looking incomparably sacred.

"Holy King!"

One person knelt, and the hundreds of thousands on the battlefield followed suit.

"Long live the Holy Sovereign!"

"My Great Qian conquers all and is invincible!"

The sound surged like a tidal wave. Zhang Huai smiled and also bowed deeply, "A name must be rightly established before words can be obeyed. I request Your Majesty ascend the throne!"