The bloody frenzy formed by the Black Death Mycelial Mat twisted and crazily gathered, spiraled, and climbed upwards.

Buzz—————

When all sounds fell silent, amidst the spreading dust and fog, people on Tianyuan Main Peak... saw four enormous tentacles that seemed like pillars supporting the sky.

They appeared in a nauseating flesh color, covered with winding veins, faintly visible between the fog and dust, exuding an ominous glow.

Just like,

four gigantic tombstones erected for Tianyuan Main Peak...

...

...

...

Inside the commander’s tent of the Black Scale Army, lights burned brightly.

Hua Hong’s beard and hair stood on end, his old eyes bloodshot with anger. He slammed his palm heavily on the cold ironwood table and roared furiously at the iron tower-like strong man behind the desk:

"Zong Qingsheng, why didn’t you stop the Eldest Young Master?! Do you think you can bear the responsibility if anything happens to him?! Do you think the world can withstand the consequences now?!!"

Upon learning that Xu Yuan went alone to the Sword Sect’s mountain gate, Hua Hong rushed over, anxious, directly into the tent where Zong Qingsheng was preparing the next round of offensive.

Restricted by the Sword Sect’s Fog Array, if anything happened to Xu Yuan, the army wouldn’t be able to provide immediate support.

Zong Qingsheng lifted his abyss-like calm eyes, looking at the furious white-haired elder in front of him, his voice low and steady:

"Do you think I can stop the Eldest Young Master?"

Hua Hong squinted his eyes and pulled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth: "The Military Array Force of hundreds of thousands, how can it possibly not stop the Eldest Young...?"

"The Eldest Young Master is the supreme leader of this Military Array." Zong Qingsheng’s voice remained calm, with a hint of reminder.

"I know!!!" Hua Hong’s eyes were red, almost screaming in response.

"Then why come to me?!" Zong Qingsheng stood his ground, his voice like rolling thunder.

"Would you not offer your dying advice?!" Hua Hong’s voice trembled slightly, a mix of extreme anger and anxiety.

"..." Zong Qingsheng fell silent, but his deep eyes remained as steadfast as a rock.

Hua Hong, seeing his demeanor, became even more infuriated. He bypassed the desk, his thin fingers almost poking Zong Qingsheng’s nose:

"If you offer your dying advice, would the Eldest Young Master really cut you? Now with the army pressing the border and the threat looming, if you were gone, who would command these hundreds of thousands?!"

After a few moments of silence, Zong Qingsheng exhaled a heavy breath and said:

"You’re too anxious, Hua Hong."

"Don’t change the subject, Zong Qingsheng!"

Unyielding, Hua Hong’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, and he stared hard at the other’s eyes: "What are you thinking? Are you planning a rebellion?!"

The last four words were almost spat out through clenched teeth, instantly dropping the temperature in the tent.

Hua Hong was alone, without children, nothing to hold him back, but Zong Qingsheng was different.

He had a clan and ties, so Hua Hong had to think carefully about many things. If anything happened to the Eldest Young Master, limited by the Military Formation Technique, Zong Qingsheng would immediately become one of the two helms of the Black Scale Army.

The other, Yuan Hao, did not hold nearly as much sway in the army as he did. In other words, the entire Black Scale Army would fall under Zong Qingsheng’s control.

Those heart-piercing words seemed to finally ignite Zong Qingsheng’s anger. He stared at Hua Hong and spoke slowly:

"I hope you take responsibility for what you said. Matters that the Eldest Young Master has not doubted nor words he has not mentioned, you better not overstep! Now in the battlefield, if these words reach the Eldest Young Master’s ears, you’d likely be charged with disturbing the military’s morale!"

Hua Hong remained unwavering, sharply countering: "Then answer my question immediately!"

Zong Qingsheng slowly stood up, his towering body casting a massive shadow that enveloped Hua Hong entirely. He curled his lips into a cold arc, gazing down at his former comrade:

"I can’t answer that. The actions and ideals of the Eldest Young Master must have deep meaning. Unlike some people, I would unconditionally choose to trust the Eldest Young Master instead of adopting that laughable elder stance to question and negate his decisions!"

"What a big accusation!" Hua Hong laughed out of rage, but his laughter was cold. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"The ’rebellion’ charge you cast is much bigger than mine!"

"..."

The clear sounds of their argument reached outside the tent, startling the guards who could not help but shiver.

Hua Hong stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar friend, his chest heaving dramatically.

Even with unmatched cultivation, no one dared challenge the might of a Military Array. This was an understanding engrained in their bones. Yet Zong Qingsheng allowed the Eldest Young Master to venture alone into the enemy’s formation-shrouded mountain gate.

Hua Hong did not understand; he was completely unclear about Zong Qingsheng’s intentions.

The "rebellion" statement was largely an exaggeration born of urgency. The financial lifeline of the Black Scale Army was wholly controlled by Tian’an Commerce Assembly, not to mention the overwhelming majority of soldiers came from Tian’an Martial Hall, known worldwide for cultivating loyalty.

If anything happened to the Eldest Young Master, even if Zong Qingsheng wanted to rebel, maybe some would choose to follow him as commander, but most of the Black Scale Army would choose to return to the Eldest Young Master’s side.

A rebellion by Zong Qingsheng would only benefit the Imperial Family and the Sect Alliance.

At their stalemate, the tremors from two hundred miles away finally reached the Central Army camp. Zong Qingsheng frowned and glanced at his palm:

"The Eldest Young Master has made a move."

"What?"

"My control over the Military Formation has been severed."

"....."

Hua Hong’s pupils constricted.

The next moment,

Hua Hong and Zong Qingsheng flashed outside the tent and looked toward Tianyuan Main Peak.....