A Million Iron Riders Sweep West into the Central Plains; Before the Kunlun Mountains, Who Dares to Sit Aloft on the Clouds

The people of the Western Regions instantly perked up.

Someone asked, Are the vassal cities of the Holy Lands rich?

The Great Zhou official answered seriously, Very rich.

How rich?

Richer than all your chieftains' families combined.

The next day, the number of applicants exceeded the quota.

Some old chieftains even leaned on their walking sticks to sign up, only to be persuaded to go back by the military officers.

Old man, you are getting too old.

The old chieftain said angrily, I am at the Aperture Opening Realm! I can still hack people!

The officer said helplessly, You've almost lost all your teeth.

The old chieftain sneered, I use a saber to hack people, not my teeth!

In the end, the Western Regions Legion was formed with twenty guards, totaling 240,000 elite cavalrymen, all equipped with the Black Dragon Western Regions Flag.

The chieftains of the various tribes in the Western Regions joined the army as deputy generals and participating generals, but the main generals were appointed by the Great Zhou.

This was also Wang Hao's rule.

I give you glory.

I give you benefits.

But the hilt of the blade must be firmly grasped in my hands.

...

Two months later.

The northwest border of the Great Zhou.

An unprecedented army convergence took place.

The Mobei Army Corps had fifty guards, 600,000 cavalrymen.

The Northern Border Army had twenty guards, 240,000 cavalrymen.

The Western Regions Legion had twenty guards, 240,000 cavalrymen.

Plus four guards of the Capital Imperial Guards and four guards of the Royal Heavy Cavalry.

Totaling over a million iron cavalry.

Of course, it was impossible for all of them to follow Wang Hao directly into the heartland of the Central State.

Supply routes, the rear army, border garrisons, and grassland reserves all had to be arranged.

But even so, the vanguard and central army personally led by Wang Hao marching west still numbered 800,000 cavalrymen.

Eight hundred thousand.

This number falling on a map was just a few strokes of ink.

Falling on the earth, it blotted out the sky and covered the sun.

On the day the iron cavalry left the pass, the sea of sand trembled, the grasslands bowed low, and the mountains and rivers lost their voices.

The Black Dragon Flags, Heavenly Wolf Flags, Western Regions Flags, Border Army Black Flags, and Royal Golden Dragon Flags formed a boundless sea of banners.

Within the great army, there were not only soldiers.

There were also forty Sky-soaring Realm mighty figures of the Eastern Wasteland accompanying the emperor.

Wang Wudi commanded the central army.

Old Master Ren was responsible for keeping an eye on the aristocratic family representatives to prevent anyone from slacking off.

Old Master Li was in charge of military supplies coordination, scolding three Ministry of Revenue officials to tears in a single day.

Wei Zhongxian was responsible for the secret police and intelligence transmission. The other star eunuchs did not follow this time, as they had to help Empress Ren Mingyue guard the home front.

The Royal Heavenly Secret Academy set up formations and made calculations along the way.

The Demon Suppression Division investigated and cleared out any strange remnants.

The New Emperor Sword was responsible for asking Wang Hao every day: Who can I hit today?

Wang Hao answered every day: We aren't there yet.

The New Emperor Sword was disappointed every day: Then what is the point of me living?

Wang Hao said: You were never alive to begin with.

The New Emperor Sword suffered a massive blow.

The Thunder Abyss Demon Suppression Tower was much quieter.

It hovered over Wang Hao's shoulder, the lightning patterns on its body growing deeper and deeper.

Since absorbing the white lightning origin, the lightning pool inside the tower seemed to have undergone new changes.

Wang Hao could feel that the eighth-realm Lightning Phoenix could now be generated autonomously. The eighth floor had already recovered eight of them, which was an unexpected joy. Even the ninth floor had recovered one ninth-realm Lightning Dragon.

A peak strike of a Martial God.

Wang Hao's eyes deepened slightly.

At the Kunlun Gathering, if a Martial God really acted shamelessly and intervened, this strike might be his trump card.

However, he never liked preparing only one trump card.

True security came from others thinking you had one trump card, only for you to flip the table and reveal that underneath, it was full of blades.

...

The great army's westward march quickly reached the Central State.

At first, the major factions in the Central State thought the news was exaggerated.

It was normal for the Emperor of the Eastern Wasteland to bring some guards when attending the Kunlun Gathering.

After all, he had just slapped Xuan Xiao in the face and was afraid of retaliation, which was understandable.

Then the first intelligence report arrived:

The Emperor of the Great Zhou leads 100,000 iron cavalry out of the capital.

The elders of the Holy Lands sneered.

A small country in the Eastern Wasteland, fond of bluffing.

The second intelligence report arrived:

Wang Hao hunted north in Mobei, and the various tribes honored him as the Holy Khan.

The elders of the Holy Lands frowned.

The barbarians of Mobei in the Eastern Wasteland also dare to interfere in the Kunlun Gathering?

The third intelligence report arrived:

A grand muster in Mobei, 600,000 tribal elite cavalry reorganized into fifty guards.

The elders of the Holy Lands fell silent.

The fourth intelligence report arrived:

Twenty guards of the Great Zhou Border Army converged, and twenty guards of the Western Regions were formed.

The elders of the Holy Lands had ugly expressions on their faces.

The fifth intelligence report arrived:

Wang Hao leads 800,000 cavalry marching west into the Central State, claiming to be attending the Kunlun Gathering.

Inside the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall, teacups shattered all over the floor.

One elder said angrily: Is he attending a gathering? He is going on a western conquest!

Another person said in a deep voice: Does he dare to attack the Central State?

He even dared to trample Xuan Xiao underfoot and slap his face, and you ask if he dares?

The hall was silent for a moment.

Xuan Xiao sat in the corner, his face gloomy.

The swelling on his face had gone down, but the humiliation left by those six slaps was carved into his soul like a brand.

Especially since there was now a nickname circulating privately in the Central State.

Six-Slap Holy Envoy.

It was said that because when Wang Hao slapped him, all six sounds were very crisp.

Xuan Xiao wished he could chop everyone who spread the nickname into pieces.

But the problem was that too many people were spreading it.

Some Holy Land disciples even secretly recorded musical imitations of the slaps using jade slips.

The Hall Master of the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall sat high up, his expression cold and detached.

Qing Heng failed, and the Fate Compass sub-talisman was snatched. Wang Hao already knows of the Fate Compass's existence.

Once these words came out, the atmosphere in the hall grew even colder.

An elder said in a low voice: Hall Master, if the matter of the Fate Compass is known by the Eighteen Holy Lands...

That is why we cannot let him speak.

The Hall Master said indifferently.

Xuan Xiao looked up: The Hall Master's meaning?

The Hall Master said: At the Kunlun Gathering, make him shut his mouth forever.

But he has Wang Wudi by his side, and he is bringing a massive army into the Central State...

The Hall Master's eyes turned cold.

Wang Wudi is not yet a Martial God, and the massive army cannot enter Kunlun Mountain.

The Kunlun Gathering has rules. Participants from all regions are not allowed to bring large armies into the mountain.

Xuan Xiao gritted his teeth: What if he doesn't follow the rules?

The Hall Master was silent for a moment.

This question was asked with a high level of insight.

Because no matter how you looked at him, Wang Hao did not seem like someone who followed rules.

Especially the rules of the Holy Lands.

The Hall Master said slowly: Then force him to follow them.

...

On the day the Great Zhou army entered the border of the Central State, the world was shaken.

The mountains and rivers of the Central State were different from those of the Eastern Wasteland.

The spiritual energy here was rich, ancient cities stood in great numbers, sects were like stars, and aristocratic families were like forests.

Spiritual veins crisscrossed beneath the earth, and rosy clouds of light frequently rose among the mountains.

Vassal cities of the Holy Lands hung high in mid-air, held up by formations like floating islands.

The people of the Central State were used to looking down on the other four regions.

They felt that the Eastern Wasteland was barren, the Northern Region was barbaric, the Southern Ridge was infested with mixed demons, and the Western Desert was desolate.

Only the Central State was the center of the world.

Until today.

They saw a black line appear on the horizon.

The black line grew closer and closer.

Finally, it transformed into a boundless iron cavalry.

Warhorses wore armor, knights held spears, and banners blotted out the sky.

When the massive army stepped into the border of the Central State, even the spiritual energy clouds were scattered.

That was not just simple troops and horses.

It was the destiny of the nation, the killing intent, the wolfish nature of the Mobei grasslands, the fierce bravery of the Western Regions' sea of sand, the century-old blood feud of the Great Zhou Border Army, and the table-flipping will of the new Emperor of the Eastern Wasteland.

Inside the Central State border city, Yunlan City, countless cultivators stood on the city walls, their faces pale.

This is the Eastern Wasteland's Great Zhou?

Aren't they here to attend the Kunlun Gathering?

Who brings this many cavalrymen to attend a gathering?

Maybe the Eastern Wasteland's etiquette is just more grand?

You call this etiquette?

The City Lord braced himself and went out of the city to welcome them.

He was a vassal of the Kunlun Law Enforcement Hall, with a cultivation base at the Astral Qi Realm, and was considered a figure of authority in Yunlan City.

But when he stood in front of Wang Hao and saw Wang Wudi behind him, the forty Sky-soaring Realm mighty figures, and the endless sea of iron cavalry as far as the eye could see, he suddenly felt like a rabbit holding a tray to serve tea to a fierce tiger.

The City Lord of Yunlan City pays his respects to the Emperor of the Great Zhou.

Wang Hao sat on his horse, his tone calm.

Which way to Mount Kunlun?

The City Lord paused in surprise.

Is Your Majesty not entering the city to rest?

Wang Hao glanced at Yunlan City.

Atop the city walls, countless cultivators shrank back in fear.

He smiled.

There is no need. I am afraid you all would not be able to sleep.

The City Lord gave a hollow laugh.

More than just unable to sleep.

If you entered the city, even the ancestral graves of Yunlan City would have to be relocated overnight.

Wang Hao continued, My army is merely passing through the Central State. We will not disturb the people, we will not pillage, and we will not enter the cities. I have prepared our own rations.

Just as the City Lord breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Hao added, But if anyone harasses our supply lines, spies on our formations, or provokes our military might, I will consider it an act of war.

The City Lord's heart trembled.

This humble official understands.

Wang Hao waved his hand.

The great army bypassed the city.

Atop Yunlan City, everyone watched the torrent of iron cavalry pass by outside the city. They marched for a whole day and night, yet the end was still not in sight.

Someone's voice trembled.

Just how many of them are there?

An old cultivator muttered, Enough to make the Central State listen when the Eastern Wasteland speaks.

...

Three days later.

Nine thousand miles outside Mount Kunlun.

The central army of the Great Zhou halted at the Canglan Plains.

This place was only a three-day journey from the Outer Domain Reception City of the Kunlun Gathering.

According to Kunlun's rules, representatives from each domain had to register at the Reception City and could only bring three thousand guards into Mount Kunlun.

Wang Hao looked at the Kunlun decree and smiled.

Three thousand?

Wei Zhongxian said in a low voice, Your Majesty, Mount Kunlun is, after all, a place jointly ruled by the Eighteen Sacred Grounds. If we forcefully bring the great army into the mountain, I fear it will invite the intervention of the Martial Gods.

Wang Hao nodded.

I know.

Wei Zhongxian breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Hao continued, Therefore, I will not bring the great army into the mountain.

Wei Zhongxian was stunned.

New Emperor Sword was greatly disappointed: We aren't fighting?

Wang Hao looked at the map, his finger landing on the Canglan Plains.

I will station the army here.

The twenty guards of the Mobei Corps will garrison the northern line.

The ten guards of the Western Region Corps will garrison the southern line.

The ten guards of the Border Army will control the eastern supply lines.

The Royal Heavy Cavalry will accompany me into the Reception City.

The remaining guards will set up camp forming a three-thousand-mile ring around Kunlun's periphery.

Wei Zhongxian's eyelids twitched.

This is called not bringing the army into the mountain?

This is surrounding half of Mount Kunlun!

Wang Hao said flatly, I am following the rules. Three thousand guards will enter the mountain.

But I never said the others couldn't have a picnic outside the mountain.

Wang Wudi couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Old Master Ren shook his head: Shameless.

Old Master Li added: But very safe.

Wang Hao looked at them.

Great-grandfather, seniors, at the Kunlun Gathering, the Sacred Grounds will definitely have a killing trap waiting.

Wang Wudi asked, Are you afraid?

Wang Hao smiled.

Of course I am afraid.

Everyone paused.

Wang Hao said seriously, I'm afraid there won't be enough of them to kill.

New Emperor Sword instantly perked up.

Now that's what I like to hear!

The Thunder Abyss Demon Suppression Tower vibrated gently, and the Thunder Phoenix within let out a low cry.

In the distance, the silhouette of Mount Kunlun finally emerged on the horizon.

It was a divine mountain that seemed to prop up heaven and earth.

Its peak disappeared into a sea of clouds, radiating boundless rosy light. The divine radiance of the Eighteen Sacred Grounds circled above it, hanging high like eighteen small suns.

That radiance was solemn, ancient, and oppressed all living beings.

For countless years past, visitors from the four domains would bow their heads when they arrived here.

Because Kunlun represented the rules.

It represented the Sacred Grounds.

It represented the slumbering shadow of the Martial Gods.

But today, on the Canglan Plains, the Black Dragon Flag of the Great Zhou unfurled in the wind.

The killing intent of a million iron cavalry bore down like dark clouds.

The divine radiance of Kunlun shone down, only to be forcefully blocked in mid-air by the military aura of the Great Zhou.

Wang Hao reined in his horse and stood tall, looking up at Kunlun.

There was no awe in his eyes.

Only amusement.

Everyone.

His voice was not loud, but it echoed throughout the central army.

Ahead is Kunlun.

The Sacred Grounds say that is where the rules of the world reside.

I came here this time just to ask them—

If the rules are unjust, can they be overturned?

Behind him, Wang Wudi laughed heartily.

Forty Sky-Soaring mighty figures of the Eastern Wasteland looked up simultaneously.

The Mobei Wolf Cavalry, the Western Region Elite Cavalry, the Great Zhou Border Army, and the Royal Heavy Cavalry all raised their weapons in unison.

A wave of voices soared to the heavens.

Overturn them!

Overturn them!

Overturn them!

On Mount Kunlun, the eighteen streaks of divine radiance trembled slightly.

It was as if, for the very first time, they felt the wind blowing from the Eastern Wasteland.

No longer bowing their heads.

No longer begging for forgiveness.

But arriving clad in armor and bearing blades, trampling across ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers.

Three days later, the Kunlun Gathering would begin.

Wang Hao would enter the mountain.

And outside the mountain, eight hundred thousand Great Zhou iron cavalry camped like an ocean.

Those who knew would say the Emperor of the Great Zhou had come to attend the gathering.

Those who didn't would only think—

The Central State was about to be turned upside down.