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This Qiang Cavalry unit, previously impoverished along the vast frontier line, finally achieved its centuries-long dream of equipping all its riders with armor, thanks to the strong support from both the Northern Wilderness and the Southern Dynasty. Unlike ordinary cavalry, the Qiang Cavalry's sabers were ring-arm knives that had long been retired from the theater of war. These weapons were bound as one with ring-arm plate armor on their arms, and unless someone chopped off the entire limb, the blade would never leave their grasp. Apart from the ring-arm knives, the Qiang Cavalry carried traditional short knives called "Thigh Patting Knives" strapped to the outside of their thighs, much like a farmer harvesting autumn grains. They would use these blades to sever enemies' ears and heads as trophies.

Over eight thousand Qiang Cavalry sprinted southward. At the front was a burly man who bent forward, caressing a Thigh Patting Knife passed down through generations. The Leader of Ten Thousand's gaze was fierce, brimming with hatred.

Back then, those surnamed Xu from the Central Plains invaded the northwest, slaughtering all rebellious adults on the spot. Even children barely taller than a horse's back did not escape. While they were not immediately sentenced to death, Xu Family cavalry severed their thumbs! This meant even if the children miraculously survived, they could never wield a weapon firmly, nor could they brandish blades against the Northern Liang Frontier Army. This middle-aged Leader of Ten Thousand, surnamed Jin, belonged to a tribe massacred by the Xu Family cavalry. He was lucky. On that fateful day, as a teenager, he had been out hunting with a small group of young men to gather food for the winter. By the time they returned, all they saw were corpses strewn across the ground and children sobbing in agony, their hands drenched in blood. At their feet lay the bodies of their parents.

He swore on that day to personally use his Thigh Patting Knife to sever the thumbs of every person surnamed Xu within Northern Liang territory. No exceptions—not even newborn infants wrapped in swaddles! Especially the son of that butcher, the new Liang Monarch inheriting the title, he vowed not only to cut off that young man's thumbs but also to claim Xu Fengnian's head, limbs, and all ten fingers!

The Leader of Ten Thousand slowly straightened his back, gazing toward the sprawling southern landscape with a vicious grin.

It was said that within Liu State, a butcher's son named Xu Longxiang was infamous among Southern Dynasty aristocrats. Last year, he reportedly left several military towns in Gusai State riddled with holes and destruction. Jin Cheng did not expect his fewer than nine thousand cavalrymen to single-handedly capture this man. But before aiding Great General Liu Gui in completely annihilating Liu State, he vowed to savor the blood of Northern Liang citizens and drive that young man, whose veins carried the butcher's filthy blood, into unspeakable despair. That boy, commanding the Dragon Elephant Army with merely thirty thousand riders, thought he could defend all of Liu State? To Jin Cheng, this was nothing more than an old Central Plains farce: a vendetta between brothers. Clearly, the young Vassal King feared his brother's grand frontier achievements and deliberately sent Xu Longxiang and his direct lineage to their deaths!

In the season of dried rivers and yellowed grass, warhorses were far less robust compared to autumn and summer. For the Central Plains, especially the Jiangnan common folk, winter was the least suitable time for waging wars. Yet for the seasoned, cold-resistant Northern Liang and Northern Wilderness forces, once their resolve to fight crystallized, even the cursed weather of heavy snowstorms couldn't prevent life-and-death struggles across any battlefield.

Jin Cheng, the Qiang Cavalry Leader of Ten Thousand, actually relished the winter's brutal skirmishes. He found the sight of spears piercing enemy chests and dragging bloody trails across snow-covered terrain far more exhilarating than drinking fine wine.

The Qiang Cavalry's rapid assaults were world-renowned for their lightning-fast strikes that caught enemies off guard. However, alongside the admiration came the acknowledgment of their weakness: their tactics were mere "one-hit wonders." Despite their maneuverability, it was challenging to expand their gains in evenly-matched battles before achieving an overwhelming advantage that enabled pursuit. They lacked infantry phalanxes and heavy cavalry to hold the line. This time, the Northern Wilderness envoy showed open disdain toward this cavalry unit. Even though they needed the unit, their attitude remained arrogant. Before negotiating terms, they outright condemned the cavalry as mere ornaments, warning that if they dared to plunder excessively, their lives would be forfeit. They even threatened that if they disobeyed General Liu Gui's orders, they wouldn't be allowed to return. In such a case, the Northern Wilderness army would directly treat the Qiang Cavalry as enemy forces.

Grinding his teeth furiously, Jin Cheng thought, "Damn it, if not for my hatred toward the Xu Family, who the hell would want to deal with these pig-headed, fat-gutted bureaucrats?"

Jin Cheng looked into the distance and suddenly felt a strange unease creeping in.

Over eight thousand Qiang Cavalry galloped south, intercepting the towns of Qingcang and Linyao, isolating Qingcang City, Liu State's provincial capital, from rescue. To him, this unexpected strategy was excellent—it didn't expose the cavalry to risk. Yet, even as he advanced south, he continually dispatched twenty or so light cavalry scouts to probe ahead, requiring each rider to race ahead of the main army by ten miles. Regardless of whether they encountered enemies, they were to turn back, and the next rider behind would fill their position. This cycle repeated to form a meticulous system. By now, one of the scouts should have already returned to the main army's front. Besides, Northern Wilderness had deliberately gifted him a scout for this expedition—a dangerous old man whose sword hung at his waist and whose aura was calm and steady. He wasn't just any regular soldier; Jin Cheng could tell by instinct he was a deeply concealed martial expert from the underworld. Evidently, Northern Wilderness spared no expense in its bid to conquer Northern Liang, even mobilizing underworld forces cultivated for twenty years.

Jin Cheng

Within Saint Petersburg's Blessed Land, the Fox-tail Algae had finally been pulled into the orbit of the Senro Tribe, yet the Dark King sensed something amiss, unsure of what it was.

The Fox-tail Algae of Saint Peter's Blessed Land became the Tribe's eighth Great King, second only to the Dark King, and demanded the extermination of the Northern Desert Sandworm Clan to claim the Mongol Empire Blessed Land, thus replacing the Wolf Pack.

Though reluctant, the Dark King agreed, hoping for future strategic depth.

But it was a ruse—a coalition against Dragon Country!

The Theological Alliance also launched total war against Dragon Country!

The Evil Mandrake stirred to action once more!

Dragon Country descended into chaos, utterly shattered, leaving its people destitute.

Jiang Qingfeng waged a bloody war across the world before being rescued to Kunlun Mountains.

Jiang Qingfeng left humanity with only one message: "Subdue the Wolf Pack!"

Human armies advanced, the Wolf Pack emerged, declaring they would dominate the world, claiming Dragon Country as their own. "Who dares resist?"

The Deity came forward to challenge the Wolf Lord's prowess, questioning whether it remained as strong as in the past.

Defeated in a single move!

The Humanoid Shadow fled instantly!

The Dark King's shadow dared not make a sound.

The Senro Tribe once again became vassals to the Wolf Pack, while the Evil Mandrake ascended to Supreme Sovereign but refused to submit, daring the Wolf Lord to battle in the heavens!

After hundreds of rounds of combat, the Evil Mandrake was ultimately defeated, bringing its sea of flowers under the Wolf Pack's rule.

Thus, the Wolf Pack reigned supreme across the Northern Hemisphere.

Next, their path pointed sharply at the Science Alliance and the Soul-Attracting Other Shore Flower.

The Wolf Pack engaged in brutal war against the Soul-Attracting Other Shore Flower and the Science Alliance, slaughtering thousands.

The Soul-Attracting Other Shore Flower was completely annihilated!

The Science Alliance also suffered total annihilation, leaving only a handful of Spiritual Type scientists clinging to life!

After unifying the border, the Su Lin Wolf Pack made contact with the Serpent Civilization.

The Serpent Civilization had already decimated the Tropical Tree Tribe, joined forces with the Undying Cockroach Clan, and rose to become the dominant power.

But the Eternal Civilization also fell to the Beast Sovereign, and the Theological Alliance occupied three million square kilometers of Dragon Country's western frontier, connecting their territories into one.

The Senro Tribe lost six of its Great Kings in one single battle.

The Antarctic Insect Tribe and South America Alliance formed a new faction.

The Serpent Civilization clashed with the Eternal Civilization; the Theological Alliance with the Wolf Pack Civilization; the Insect Civilization ruled the Southern Hemisphere but faced invasions from the Deep Sea Leviathan seeking to land.

The world was thrown into chaos.

To these creatures, a Wolf Lord so mighty he rivaled the heavens had no need for underhanded tactics.

The Wolf Lord claimed Vincent was a human undercover agent; thus, it must indeed be true!

A high-ranking human betrayer,

Someone showered with unparalleled favor by the Wolf Lord, yet who dared to rebel—in their eyes, even death a hundred times would not atone!

With the majestic wolf shadow breaking the skies, the turmoil within countless top-tier Exotic Beasts' hearts dissipated entirely.

Indeed!

Who was the Wolf Lord?

No matter how esteemed Vincent was in the Wolf Pack, no matter his glory, if the Wolf Lord wanted him gone, did he need any justification?