"Is Jin Buhui really not regretting being cut in half, and still hanging on the city walls of the Imperial Capital?"

Zong Shou remained stunned and silent, pondering that Yin Yu had indeed made his move.

He had only thought that this Emperor of Yuanchen was not a fool. He just hadn't anticipated that the Emperor's political maneuvering skills were top-tier, and that he was already impatient.

The sorrow and anger in his heart could hardly be greater. Yet, at this moment, Zong Shou did not rage but smiled instead.

That fool Jin Buhui! He could have clearly withdrawn from the Great Shang long ago. He clearly knew the state of the Great Vision Dynasty—that from top to bottom, it was utterly rotten, and his efforts alone could not turn the tide. Yet, he foolishly allowed himself to be manipulated by Yin Yu.

What was so wrong with staying obediently in the Heavenly Prison? He could simply treat it as seclusion, cultivate in peace, and wait a few years; he could naturally come out then.

But he insisted on uttering those untimely words that struck Yin Yu's nerves.

Did he not know this was a dead end? Regardless of the Great Shang's future—be it prosperity or decline—Yin Yu could not tolerate him.

Yuan Wushang’s words concerned more than just Jin Buhui. There was also Yin Yu, who had praised Kong Yao’s beauty and mentioned taking her as a hostage.

Zong Shou did not pay much attention to these matters, not because he wasn't angry, but because with his level of self-control, he shouldn't lose his temper just because Yin Yu tried to provoke him.

That Emperor of Yuanchen could, at most, gain some verbal advantage.

It was the siege of Baicheng Pass that gave him slight pause. He wondered about the situation there now.

Shi Qianli had arrived with his full force, yet Da Qian needed to detach an arm and exert its strength elsewhere.

Zong Shou could almost picture Kong Yao right now, stretched thin, trying to cover one thing while neglecting another.

Taking a deep breath, Zong Shou’s knuckles cracked as he tightly clenched his fists, forcefully suppressing the worry and anger surging in his chest.

"How did that Supreme Primordial Demon become the Grand Preceptor of the Great Shang? Are cultivators at the Zenith Realm not bound by an agreement not to interfere in the affairs of the Cloud Realm? Who first impeached and accused Jin Buhui? Those major aristocratic families and high officials must know the consequences of offending me."

"I know nothing of Li Biexue, only that this person suddenly appeared before the Fenghua Palace, causing a stir across the world these past few days. But if he truly allied with Yin Yu, with the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men as his main force, even if all the Zenith Realm experts of the Cloud Realm joined forces, he need not fear them. That so-called joint agreement, naturally, can be disregarded."

This time, the one answering was Lin Xuanxuan; she herself found the matter strange. Li Biexue’s actions seemed utterly reckless.

"It seems he no longer cares about the survival of the Demonic Path, as if he’s given up trying—"

What Lin Xuanxuan said was only speculation, but Zong Shou had already grasped a part of it.

Li Biexue must have known that once the battle at the Qin Emperor’s Tomb concluded, he and Zong Shou would become irreconcilable enemies.

He might also be worried about the Azure World’s (Qiong Jing), being jointly besieged by the five Zenith Realm experts, or perhaps the Wings of Profound Holding Decree falling into the hands of the Xiuguan.

With the current strength of the Azure Dao, if they were willing to pay a small price, Li Biexue would surely perish.

His alliance with Yin Yu was both unexpected and understandable.

But what about Jin Buhui?

"It was Zuo Xin! The current Censor-in-Chief, Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy."

Yuan Wushang sneered, "He was Jin Buhui's former mentor. Perhaps he wishes to completely sever ties with Jin Buhui to showcase his righteousness in eliminating a relative and gain fame. Or perhaps someone manipulated and instructed him behind the scenes—who knows—"

Zong Shou instinctively felt that the breath he exhaled carried a searing heat.

The blood flowing through his body seemed to be burning.

Zuo Xin? It seemed this man’s memory was truly terrible!

Were his words from before completely disregarded by this man?

The smile on Zong Shou's refined face grew wider, yet it was bone-chillingly cold. Veins throbbed visibly on his forehead.

Chuxue held her breath, shivering involuntarily. She felt that Zong Shou's current rage was no less than when Su Xiaoxiao took her own life in the underground palace back then.

The result of that rage was the subsequent demise of fifteen Saint-Rank experts at Zong Shou's hands.

So, what would be the result this time?

Fearing that the world was not chaotic enough, Yuan Wushang continued to sneer, "What are you still thinking about? If I were you, I would raise an army of ten million and just annihilate the Great Shang to settle things. Jin Buhui was his own fool, beyond saving, and he has no one to blame but himself. However, his own woman was insulted; he must make Yin Yu pay the price! The rise and fall of the Cloud Realm, the lives of its people—the Dao Sect doesn't care, the Confucian Sect doesn't care, and the Great Shang is completely confident. Why should you, Zong Shou, care? What grand strategy? Just abandon that Tianfang World entirely. To hell with the Dark World Demonic Court!"

Lin Xuanxuan was torn between laughter and tears. This man's actions were driven by impulse. This was both his strength and his weakness.

Fortunately, the ruler of Da Qian was Zong Shou, not Yuan Wushang.

"Brother Yuan’s suggestion is improper—"

Zong Shou closed his eyes in deep thought. After half a moment, he shook his head and opened his eyes.

Simply for the sake of the billions of Da Qian citizens under his rule, he would never abandon the Tianfang World. This was the responsibility of a monarch!

If the Dark Night Demonic Court could limit its attacks only to the Great Shang and the other nations of the Cloud Realm, he wouldn't care about anyone else's fate.

However, at this time, the Tianfang World was the only thing capable of blocking the Night Demon Army and preventing the flames of war from spreading to the Cloud Realm.

Therefore, raising an army to crusade against the Great Shang now was absolutely out of the question.

Just as Yuan Wushang snorted in dissatisfaction, Zong Shou’s tone suddenly shifted, growing solemn.

"It seems I have been too benevolent, which is why everyone dares to offend me and scheme against me! Time and time again, without ever tiring of it! Today, this disciple will temporarily not return to Qiantian Mountain. I ask Martial Aunt Xuanxuan to relay a message for me in three days: on the twentieth of the seventh month, I will personally arrive at the Imperial Capital to demand Jin Buhui's corpse. Furthermore, I will take Yin Yu’s head to pay tribute to my closest friend! The world calls me the Blood Sword Demon Lord, peerless in this era. Since I reign supreme, how can I tolerate being bullied?"

The last two sentences were spoken with absolute finality, as if carved in stone, each word deliberately emphasized.

Yuan Wushang and Lin Xuanxuan’s expressions changed slightly.

Personally arriving at the Imperial Capital to demand Jin Buhui's corpse and take Yin Yu's head to mourn his close friend—

What kind of joke was this man playing?

No matter how much the Great Shang had declined, over the past few years, Yin Yu had managed to gather several Zenith Realm Venerables.

They had the Four Great Clans, a million-strong army, the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men, and the Supreme Primordial Demon Li Biexue.

Even Zenith Realm cultivators approaching now would face the peril of death!

Zong Shou going there was no different from courting death?

Even Yuan Wushang felt a pang of regret, wondering if his previous words had provoked Zong Shou too much?

Leading a massive army in crusade was entirely different from infiltrating an enemy capital alone.

However, Zong Shou's gaze was utterly serious, without a hint of jest.

"Martial Aunt Xuan Shuang! I wish to ask, if there were a chance for our Azure Dao to surround and kill the Supreme Primordial Demon Li Biexue within the Imperial Capital without suffering any losses, would the Azure Dao be interested?"

Lin Xuanxuan started, listening carefully to Zong Shou's tone, which suggested he was serious.

Did Zong Shou truly have some confidence?

Hesitating slightly, Lin Xuanxuan considered her words: "When Martial Brother Xi Zi fell, Li Biexue was involved. Furthermore, Martial Sister Yuan Jing has always suspected that Li Biexue possesses the seal location for a portion of Martial Brother Xi Zi's body. If this feud can be avenged, the Azure Dao will naturally go all out. However, Xiuguan has other urgent matters and is currently absent—"

"This battle does not require Martial Uncle Xiuguan to act."

Zong Shou shook his head. Seeing their confused expressions, he continued, "Within the Qin Emperor's Tomb, I managed to grasp a method to control the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men, so we need not worry about Yin Yu. I will explain the details later."

With another wave of his sleeve, he pulled the Azure Flame Profound Turtle carrying Su Xiaoxiao forward.

"I ask Martial Aunt to help me return this woman to the Azure Heaven Realm. Please ask Martial Master Xuan Shuang to heal her. Zong Shou must first visit someone; this person is crucial to whether this battle goes as I wish! If I am late, that venerable figure might have already left the Cloud Realm—"

Sharp light immediately flashed in Lin Xuanxuan’s eyes. Controlling the Twelve Imperial Bronze Men in reverse? Could this be true?

If so, the Imperial Capital would not be a lair of tigers and wolves, but rather a home field advantage for Zong Shou and the Azure Dao.

Yuan Wushang’s expression also brightened, pondering that if this were true, Li Biexue might have dug his own grave.

Zong Shou ignored the two of them and stepped alone into the void on the other side.

Lin Xuanxuan recalled something else and said thoughtfully, "Don't forget the situation in the Tianfang World is already critical. Without reinforcements, I fear they won't last half a month."

Zong Shou paused his movement, then continued forward.

No need for half a month; in ten days, he would give the Dark World Demonic Court a massive surprise.

※※※※

After parting ways with Lin Xuanxuan and Yuan Wushang, Zong Shou didn't even bring Su Chuxue with him.

Activating the Demon-Repelling Divine Shuttle using the Boundless Beginning and End Evasion Technique, his figure shot out like light or lightning, traversing toward the outer reaches of the Cloud Realm's void.

The celestial phenomenon now was completely different from when he first left the Cloud Realm.

When he was in the Spirit Realm, traveling to the Tianfang World had taken nearly a month.

At this very moment, it would only take one day—thirty times faster.

With the Void-Shrinking Dragon Pills to shift space, he reached over a hundred worlds away in just two days.

Sensing something here, Zong Shou sharply turned the divine shuttle’s light, and shortly after, saw several streaks of light in the void.

As if sensing Zong Shou's arrival, those streaks of light also leisurely stopped.

The person in the lead was Xu Fu. His eyes held confusion as he looked back at Zong Shou.

Zong Shou also halted the Demon-Repelling Divine Shuttle, revealing his figure at a distance equivalent to about one breath of Divine Realm speed.

"I thought Sir Xu Fu would linger in the Cloud Realm for a while longer."

Xu Fu let out a faint laugh. "With the Qin Emperor’s Tomb destroyed and all matters settled, there is nothing left in the Cloud Realm to make me stay. If the great cause failed, everything turns to dust and smoke. Xu Fu was preparing to return to Penglai to await death. However, it truly surprises me that Your Majesty managed to pursue me."

"Zong Shou, by a fortunate coincidence, absorbed a significant amount of Dragon Qi in the Afang Underground Palace, thus gaining the ability to sense a portion of the Qin Emperor's true spirit, allowing me to track your location, Sir."

Xu Fu's expression subtly changed, but Zong Shou continued in a calm tone.

"If Sir is worried that the true spirit has been devoured by me, you can rest assured. By then, the Qin Emperor's physical body was no longer in the underground palace—"

This was also something Zong Shou found consistently strange: the whereabouts of the Mountain and River Pearl and that Emperor's Sword were also unknown.

They had vanished as soon as the Qin Emperor's Tomb collapsed. It was one of the reasons the nine Immortal Treasures ultimately replaced them, gathering the Dragon Qi. RS