Through the Endless Beginning and Ending Evasion Technique, augmented by the blessing of the Profound Sustenance Method Wing, Zong Shou's evasion speed within the Cloud Realm was comparable to that of a cultivator at the Zenith Realm.

Yet, his immortal energy was finite, and his sustained endurance nowhere near as great. However, if he maintained only forty percent of his speed, traveling as a ray of light, he could instead draw upon the nearly omnipresent light and spiritual energy to replenish what the evasion technique consumed, resulting in no personal drain whatsoever.

Thus, when Zong Shou arrived at the Imperial Capital two hours later, his vital energy remained entirely full.

Gazing from a hundred li away, the capital of the Great Shang Kingdom still exuded an aura of peace, appearing as tranquil as usual. Only a faint, almost imperceptible black mist veiled the sky.

Zong Shou glanced at it dismissively and continued forward. Yet, before he drew near, a figure intercepted him. The person appeared to be around twenty, their face stern.

"Shi Yue?"

Zong Shou halted his streak of light, staring coldly at the man before him. "Do you intend to bar My path?"

Shi Yue's expression was complex, followed by a bitter smile. "At this moment, I myself do not know how to choose! Whether Yin Yu or you perish, the outcome will be devastation for the populace. The Dark Night Demon Court has already made its move; it is likely the other major foreign races will follow suit. The time when they march upon the Cloud Realm is not far off. Yet, here within our Cloud Realm, internal strife continues unabated. How many Saint-ranked masters died just over the Tomb of Emperor Qin? At a time like this, Great Shang and Great Gan ought to be as close as lips and teeth. Waging war needlessly will only allow a third party to profit—"

Zong Shou's face remained cold, offering no reply. With his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes held a look of icy derision.

"If My memory serves Me correctly, your father is currently leading four million troops, besieging the newly constructed border city of My dynasty. Is Jinling City now also in imminent danger? Why do you not take these words to Yin Yu?"

Shi Yue frowned, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his eyes. It was indeed Great Shang that initiated the hostilities. And his father, Shi Qianli, was the supreme commander appointed by the Shang Monarch. By all rights, Shi Yue had little ground upon which to make such pronouncements.

However, Shi Yue was not discouraged. "My Emperor was merely confused for a time, ignorant of the true strength of the outer foreign races, which is why this war was launched. In truth, once the Night Demon Clan truly descends upon the Cloud Realm, he will surely recognize reality. At that time, he will naturally choose to ally with Great Gan."

Zong Shou paused, regarding Shi Yue with a smile that held no warmth. "Are you suggesting that I should temporarily abandon the Tianfang Earth World, compelling Yin Yu to join forces with Me?"

Truly worthy of the person he was in memory—a man whose life was openly upright, yet who, in many situations, could be ruthlessly relentless and unscrupulous.

Shi Yue evaded the question, bowing deeply. "The Ten Great Commanderies of the Dark Night Demon Court, with two million Dao Soldiers, are by no means something the Great Gan alone can withstand. Even if Your Majesty wins this battle, the other foreign races will follow in droves. To repel the enemy and prevent the conflagration from spreading, the only way is to unite the entire Cloud Realm—the strength of both nations and the Six Teachings. For the sake of the greater situation in the Cloud Realm, I implore Your Majesty to exercise patience just a little longer. Furthermore, Your Majesty truly did not need to take such a risk today; it was not worth it—"

"The greater situation?"

Zong Shou laughed, the derision in his eyes deepening. "In My eyes, only the weak concern themselves with the 'greater situation.' Even if Yin Yu does not care, I certainly will not. Whether the central Cloud Continent descends into scorched earth and widespread death—what business is that of Mine? As for the Dark Demon Court and the Tianfang World, you need not trouble yourself. Even if Great Gan were to fall, not a single step of the Ray Pool would the Night Demon army be allowed to cross!"

As he spoke, Zong Shou swept past Shi Yue. Killing intent gathered and interwove between them.

Yet, even as their figures intersected, Shi Yue made no move.

Zong Shou’s eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp gleam appearing within them.

The Son of Heaven Sword, the Great Qin Son of Heaven Sword! So this artifact had fallen into this man's hands! Then who obtained the River and Mountain Pearl? Since it was that sword, even if this man possessed the Profound Sustenance Method Wing, he would still possess some degree of ability to resist. Truly, one of the few individuals favored most by destiny in this era!

A cascade of thoughts flashed through Zong Shou's mind, then paused. He stopped again, speaking placidly. "For the matter of Jin Buhui, Zong Shou is eternally grateful! However, today, whoever dares impede Me, that person is My enemy! Even if the Venerable Saints of the Heavens themselves descended, I would still draw My sword to slay them! You, Shi Yue, are no exception—"

A sigh drifted from behind him. Then, Shi Yue’s aura gradually faded until it vanished completely.

"My Emperor's mastery over the Twelve Town-Guarding Bronze Men is also growing more adept, and Li Biexue has already arrayed the Spirit Slaying Formation of the Yin Veins within the city. In short, Your Majesty, take care of yourself!"

By the time the words ended, Zong Shou could no longer perceive Shi Yue's presence.

Zong Shou paid it no mind, crossing the fifty li of empty sky directly to the Xuanhua Gate at the east of the Imperial Capital.

He tilted his head back, gazing upon the severed head of Jin Buhui hanging from the city wall.

At this gate, traffic was still ceaseless, a clamor of humanity coming and going. Perhaps because a month had passed, few paid it much attention now. Still, occasionally, voices could be heard discussing and cursing the sight. Some bolder individuals would even throw rotten vegetable scraps toward the wall. The Great Shang guards stationed here made no move to scold or stop them; rather, most watched with grinning faces, savoring the misfortune.

Zong Shou, however, recalled past events, his heart sinking into profound desolation and sorrow. Who could have imagined that the once greedy, good-natured, optimistic, and fiercely loyal little fatty would end up like this?

He simply reached out, and a beam of purple light shot out, drawing the head hanging high on the wall toward him from a distance.

Jin Buhui's head was already rotten; taking back the corpse was useless. Zong Shou went directly for the nascent spirit.

Within it were layered seals placed by the Spirit Masters of Great Shang. Yet, for Zong Shou, they shattered upon contact, requiring no effort.

It was at this moment that the Great Shang soldiers at the city gate gradually noticed something amiss, drawing their weapons with looks of shock and uncertainty.

"Who are you? The criminal of Great Shang is to be displayed for a hundred years; no one else may interfere! To attempt to take the body is tantamount to treason!"

One figure, clearly a commanding officer, advanced first. But before he could reach Zong Shou, his entire head suddenly exploded, flesh and blood pulverized.

Zong Shou had no patience to become entangled with these underlings. The fury accumulated over the past seven days surged up in his chest again. He simply unleashed his spiritual consciousness, letting his aura spread far, permeating a hundred li. This caused the spiritual energy around the city gate to violently erupt, sending protective gangqi scattering.

That vast spiritual consciousness instantly threw passing pedestrians into panic and confusion. The livestock and Cloud-Treading Steeds all collapsed to their knees, trembling violently. Alarms began to sound throughout the entire Imperial Capital. The soldiers at the gate were immobilized, their bodies limp, blood oozing from their mouths and noses.

Yet, someone on the battlements still activated the machinery, slowly lowering the ten-thousand-jin heavy iron gate.

Zong Shou ignored it. With a thought, he manifested Jin Buhui’s nascent spirit before him.

It was still chubby, resembling his appearance in life, though somewhat disheveled. Given his spirit realm cultivation, even after his physical body was severed, he couldn't maintain his soul form and was dependent on Zong Shou. Moreover, he seemed to be enduring some agonizing mechanism, leaving Jin Buhui's intent blurred, unaware even of Zong Shou’s arrival or his own strange state.

"Soul-Scorching Torture?"

Zong Shou's expression shifted. Even knowing this beforehand, his heart clenched painfully. Yin Yu’s decree was to apply the Soul-Scorching Torture once every seven days. This meant Jin Buhui endured agony every single day, finding no relief, only regaining clarity for the final day of the seven-day cycle to draw a breath. He had endured this for over a month without his intellect becoming completely clouded, a testament to the firmness of Jin Buhui's will.

Immediately, Zong Shou retrieved a drop of spiritual essence and flicked it, sending it directly into Jin Buhui’s body. Only then did the latter break free from the torment and regain consciousness. He looked around in confusion before his gaze locked onto Zong Shou, and he smiled faintly, understanding dawning.

"My Master said a few days ago that you would personally arrive at the Imperial Capital, to reclaim my body and take Yin Yu's life. You have indeed come—"

Zong Shou remained silent. He possessed the Death-Life Nether Flower and the Divine Ability of Death-Life Profound Transformation. With just a scrap of flesh or a fragment of soul, he could revive someone. However, Jin Buhui's current condition was one even he could not easily mend. Though the nascent spirit was intact, it had been tortured beyond salvage.

"Why go to such lengths?"

A light sigh escaped Zong Shou, his tone laced with both sarcasm and extreme coldness, bearing a hint of frustrated anger at his friend’s perceived foolishness. Knowing his own precarious situation, knowing Yin Yu would no longer heed counsel, and yet—instead of waiting quietly in prison—he spoke wildly. Truly an idiot, an unparalleled fool!

"A true man knows what he must not do, and what he must do. There is also the saying: 'I willingly risk my life and nation for the sake of righteousness; why should I shrink back from misfortune or seek advantage?' I was taught since childhood—"

Jin Buhui spoke righteously, but seeing Zong Shou’s icy stare, he trailed off, managing only an awkward smile.

"I was bored in prison, so I criticized current affairs. I got used to running my mouth, couldn't control my own tongue. How could I have imagined Yin Yu would actually bring back those Twelve Town-Guarding Bronze Men? If I had known, I wouldn't have said a word, even if beaten to death. 'When a ruler treats his subjects like hands and feet, the subjects treat their ruler like their own heart; when a ruler treats his subjects like dirt and weeds, the subjects treat their ruler like enemies.' Since Yin Yu clearly doesn't care about this old fellow, why should I care about the fate of Great Shang!"

His words carried a tone of regret, as if regretting his past actions.

Zong Shou felt a complex mix of amusement and exasperation; this was the Jin Buhui he remembered.

Then, he heard Jin Buhui mumble again, "However, Zong Shou, you don't know the suffering of the common people in Great Shang. In the brief three years I served in Great Shang, the number of refugees outside the Imperial Capital increased daily, already exceeding seven million. When I was demoted to a county magistrate governing a hundred li area, the one hundred thousand people there were already suffocating under the burden. Despite the great spiritual tide and fertile land, they could barely feed themselves. If the world were peaceful, it would be one thing, but if war erupts, countless people will surely lose their homes and families."

Zong Shou fell silent again, wondering if this was the true reason behind Jin Buhui's repeated, life-risking memorials to the throne. Then he let out a cold laugh, sweeping his gaze over the surrounding people.

"And now? You, Jin Buhui, are considered a traitor to the nation by that Yin Yu. Not only were you cut in half, but you are being subjected to soul-scorching torture, beyond even resurrection. These common people you cherished—they too now hate you to the core, reviled by millions. Was it worth it?"