September.
In the Great Shang Dynasty, within Bai Di City, the scent of osmanthus flowers perfumed the air.
Qixia Palace, one of Zhao Shudong's residences, housed a separate villa. This villa was guarded day and night by hundreds of White Deer Iron Cavalry. The daily necessities of those within were attended to by the female officials of Qixia Palace. At this moment, an osmanthus tree in the villa was exuding a fragrant aroma. Beneath the tree, a chessboard was set up, and two women were engaged in a game of chess.
One of the women, with an empty sleeve on her right arm, possessed an ethereal aura that radiated the presence of a celestial being from the mountains. This was Xu Zhi, who was recuperating in Bai Di City. During the battle of Bai Cheng, her injuries had been too severe. All ten of Xu Zhi's Demon Soul Swords and three of her life-bound flying swords had been shattered, and even her personal sword, Cheng Xin, had been broken.
Therefore, although Xu Zhi had survived, she had merely saved half her life. Six months had passed since the battle of Bai Cheng, yet she remained in the Nascent Soul realm, with no signs of returning to the Thirteenth Realm, nor even a hint of reaching the Tenth Realm.
Seated opposite Xu Zhi was a beautiful woman in a short shirt, exuding an air of competence. It was none other than Yu Wanning.
At present, Yu Wanning was still in the Rebirth realm, but the injuries she sustained in the battle of Bai Cheng were extremely severe and had not yet healed. Her face was gaunt with illness. Although her realm was Rebirth, her actual combat strength was likely inferior to even the Celestial Origin realm.
Within her body, internal injuries ran rampant. She would need to rely on her own years of practicing martial arts and cultivating her inner energy to gradually heal her injuries with her Rebirth realm physique. However, to recover to her true Rebirth realm standards would likely take ten to eight years.
"Xu Zhi."
After placing a chess piece, Yu Wanning cast her beautiful eyes northward and said, "We just received news that Ziyun Mountain has been breached. Zhang Xicheng and Han Yurou have both sacrificed themselves."
"Mm."
Xu Zhi's voice was gentle. "This was expected. Zhang Xicheng and Han Yurou were dear friends of the Master. They must have been individuals of great integrity, whom the Master has never forgotten for so many years. Now that the Master has sacrificed himself, their... grief would be immense, and following the Master in death is only natural."
Yu Wanning nodded and said, "Several groups of people dispatched by His Highness Zhao Shudong to scout have returned, but there is still no news of Huang Tingyu or Tong Yu. On the side of Neon Heaven, only two woodcutters saw a colossal dog, connecting heaven and earth, charging into the forest that day. No one has seen their tracks since."
"It's alright."
Xu Zhi said, "With Old Huang around, Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong, the three children, will certainly be safe."
"Mm."
Yu Wanning chuckled and nodded.
At this moment, a palace maiden approached and respectfully announced, "Two ladies, His Highness has arrived."
"Oh."
Xu Zhi and Yu Wanning rose simultaneously and walked to the entrance of the villa, cupping their fists in salutation.
"No need for ceremony."
Zhao Shudong, clad in armor, appeared to have just returned from outside the city, looking travel-worn. "The demon race has divided their forces and is attacking Fusong Great Wall and Qingliang Sect. The Fusong Great Wall is in a better position with ample troops and no major demons. However, Qingliang Sect is in a precarious situation. There is a Thirteenth Realm great demon named Chang Hen, and with the forces of two military camps under his command, it is unlikely that Xiang Ji and Zhao Suiguang alone can hold out for long."
"Chang Hen..."
Xu Zhi frowned. She had sparred with this Chang Hen during the battle of Bai Cheng. In terms of strength, he was only average. The Xu Zhi in her prime could have suppressed him and, in a one-on-one fight, had a chance to kill Chang Hen within fifty moves. However, that was then, and this is now. Xu Zhi, currently in the Nascent Soul realm, could no longer underestimate Chang Hen.
Yu Wanning also knitted her brows. After entering the Rebirth realm, Yu Wanning had also contended with this Thirteenth Realm great demon, even landing a punch on Chang Hen's face. Unfortunately, with so many enemies at the time, the force of her punch was not heavy enough to inflict serious damage.
Zhao Shudong said, "Regarding the matter of Qingliang Sect... you two should not concern yourselves with it. Although I know Xiang Ji is an old acquaintance of yours, with the demon race marching south, Qingliang Sect has long become an isolated island in the Northern Territory. No one can save Qingliang Sect. Moreover, your current condition is indeed not suitable for contending with the demon race."
"Of course."
Xu Zhi said softly, "Once the demon race sees us, they will pursue us relentlessly. As long as people from the Villa on the Mountaintop appear, the demon race will prioritize their elimination. This is inevitable."
Zhao Shudong nodded and asked, "Xu Zhi, Yu Wanning, have you considered your future?"
"Future?"
Yu Wanning was slightly taken aback, unsure how to answer.
"Yes."
Zhao Shudong continued, "Bai Cheng is no more, and the Villa on the Mountaintop is gone. The troops under Commander Lin are now scattered. If you are willing, you can stay by my side. Yu Wanning, you can command my fifty thousand White Deer Iron Cavalry, and if the demon race marches south and threatens Jizhou, the defensive line of hundreds of thousands of troops in all of Jizhou can be commanded by you."
She looked at Xu Zhi. "As for Sword Immortal Xu Zhi, you can remain in Qixia Palace to cultivate diligently, temper your state of mind, and return to your peak. If..."
Zhao Shudong paused, her brows furrowing. "If Lin Zhao is not dead, or if Lin Zhao has been reincarnated, I will not detain either of you. You can return to Lin Zhao's side, and I will have no objections."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."
Xu Zhi pursed her red lips and smiled. "However, we truly have no such plans at the moment. I wish to wait a little longer. Once Yu Wanning's injuries have further healed, I intend to take her north with me."
"North?" Zhao Shudong was surprised.
Yu Wanning was also slightly astonished.
"Mm."
Xu Zhi nodded gently. "During the period after Snow Domain Heavenly Pool was breached, my cultivation did not advance. I have always thought that when I was by the Master's side, I was merely a swordswoman who drew her sword. I never truly planned anything for the Master. Now that he is suppressed beneath Mount Wuwang, his fate unknown, should I not do something to truly plan a future for the Master?"
"Speak, what are your specific thoughts?" Zhao Shudong inquired.
"We have informants in the north who have sent back news."
Xu Zhi sighed. "Originally, the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool had eighty thousand Snow Domain Legion cavalry. After Bai Cheng was breached, most of these cavalry perished. However, a portion of them still received military orders from the old Marshal Huang Tingyu and, led by the ten-thousand-cavalry commander Chen Qi, marched eastward. There are about ten thousand of them, hiding in the wilderness of the Eastern Territory's snowfields. They must have gone into hiding."
Xu Zhi continued, "Therefore, I wish to return to the Northern Territory, find Chen Qi and his men, and lead them to skirmish with the demon race in the Northern Territory. I believe that if the Master were alive, he would do the same. As long as there is a human force alive in the Northern Territory, the demon race will be kept on the run and will not be able to fully attack Fusong Great Wall, Shanhaiguan, and other strategic points."
"You need to think clearly."
Zhao Shudong's beautiful eyes were like water. "The Northern Territory is now a dead end. Almost all humans north of Fusong Great Wall have been slaughtered. Once you go to the Northern Territory, you will lose supply of grain, ammunition, and equipment. Furthermore, if the demon race launches a mopping-up offensive, it will be extremely difficult."
"It's fine, I've thought of everything."
Xu Zhi said, "If it's just about harassment, the combat power of ten thousand Snow Domain cavalry is sufficient. They can even attack the ten-thousand-strong cavalry of the demon race. For food and supplies, they can plunder small units of the demon and devil races. We've done this before. The only concern is that the demon race might dispatch Thirteenth Realm great demons to hunt us. Therefore, I need someone by my side who can fight Thirteenth Realm great demons."
Her gaze fell upon Yu Wanning.
Yu Wanning pursed her lips. "My injuries are too severe. At present, it seems unlikely."
"That's why."
Xu Zhi smiled faintly. "I can wait. If one year is not enough, then two. If two years are not enough, then three. I believe I will always be able to wait for the day you, Yu Wanning, recover to the Rebirth realm. After all... even if the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool is rebuilt in the future, you, Yu Wanning, will be our absolute core fighting force."
Yu Wanning immediately felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. "I will do my best to practice martial arts, temper my body, and heal my internal injuries, but it may indeed take a while. During this time, send someone to contact Chen Qi."
"Mm."
Xu Zhi said, "Convey a verbal message to Chen Qi, telling him not to engage in conflict with the demon or devil races for the time being. Lead our ten thousand cavalry eastward, towards the Snow Dragon Dynasty, and rely on the Snow Dragon Dynasty to support our ten thousand cavalry. Within three years, we will surely counterattack."
"Alright!"
Yu Wanning was overjoyed. At this moment, Yu Wanning looked at Xu Zhi with newfound admiration. This trusted Sword Immortal, the most trusted woman under Lin Zhao, seemed to have transformed from a peculiar woman who only knew how to draw her sword and fight into a strategist capable of devising plans.
"I understand what you mean."
Zhao Shudong took a deep breath. "But ten thousand Snow Domain cavalry is too few. Before you depart, you can select ten thousand elite soldiers from my White Deer Iron Cavalry to accompany you to the Northern Territory. If you have twenty thousand cavalry, and a Rebirth realm warrior to oversee them, it should be enough to give the demon and devil races a headache. Rest assured, these ten thousand White Deer Iron Cavalry do not need to be returned; they are yours. Their military merits will be credited to their families."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Xu Zhi turned and bowed deeply, cupping her fists.
In fact, during this period, Xu Zhi and Yu Wanning had received great care and had long held Zhao Shudong, the Grand Princess of the Great Shang Dynasty, in high regard. She was a truly public-spirited woman. In the matter of resisting the demon and devil races, Zhao Shudong had shown no personal bias. To put it bluntly, without Zhao Shudong's mediation in the affairs of the Great Shang Dynasty, the overall situation of the world would have been difficult to predict. Even with Lin Zhao's prior planning, every step would have been extremely arduous.
...
Late at night.
Lin Zhao returned to his studio from the base, just in time for supper.
Chen Xue placed her mobile phone flat on the desk, projecting a real-time image of the battle at Qingliang Mountain. The demon race's attack on the mountain with two military camps had been ongoing for several months. Qingliang Sect's foundations were almost depleted. The two great protective mountain formations had been breached, and Zhao Suiguang and others had suffered injuries to varying degrees. As for the Mountain Lord Xiang Ji, he was covered in wounds.
As Xiang Ji unleashed a punch that shattered the body of an Eleventh Realm great demon, the Thirteenth Realm great demon Chang Hen emerged from the side and, with a fierce saber strike, severed Xiang Ji's entire arm.
In the protracted and arduous battle, Xiang Ji's Rebirth realm had long been precarious.
"This is not good..."
Ding Chi said with a frown.
Lin Zhao's heart nearly stopped as he watched. Zhao Suiguang and Xiang Ji were both in danger.