The autumn of the eighth year after the Battle of Baicheng.
With the fall of Tianji City, Yun Province officially fell. Millions of demon and devil armies advanced south, launching attacks on Ji Province, Shu Province, and Liang Province the following year.
Offline.
For the entire morning, Lin Zhao continued to ferry dozens of fighter jets transported by Feiyue back and forth between Xicheng and Sucheng in the suburbs, rescuing people everywhere. However, after the sea beast tide, the mutated creatures in the jungle became even more ferocious, with white bones visible everywhere, a gruesome sight.
It wasn't until noon that Lin Zhao and Chen Xue returned to the base, covered in dust. They still hadn't found any trace of Roman's parents. In fact, Lin Zhao had been so busy that he hadn't even had time to go online and check the progress of the battle in the game, Ninth Day.
...
In the game, another year passed. As spring returned, the Xueyu Tianchi area gradually donned a layer of lush greenery.
At this time, only the Hefeng Academy stood above Xueyu Tianchi. In the center of the academy, a white tree shimmered with a rich literary fortune, the manifestation of Gu Lingyu. Within the academy, Gu Lingyu's disciples diligently swept dust, grew vegetables, and weeded, living self-sufficiently. Under the protection of their teacher, they had lived peacefully for nine years.
On Tianchi, rows of devil cavalry galloped. The demon race had mobilized their entire force, with over fifteen camps deployed for the southern campaign. Therefore, Xueyu Tianchi was temporarily handed over to Ni Changtian for defense. The devil race dispatched a cavalry force of 2,000 men to garrison Xueyu Tianchi, sending out dozens of scout patrols daily to prevent the human race from establishing a foothold in the northern region.
The last time humans had come to Xueyu Tianchi was when Shuang Zhi and Yu Wan Ning led thirty thousand Xueyu troops. However, they had come and gone in a hurry, only managing to slaughter the devil garrison stationed on Xueyu Tianchi. Afterwards, Shuang Zhi and Yu Wan Ning passed by Hefeng Academy and bowed respectfully towards the white tree from a distance, without causing much disturbance.
With Lin Zhao absent, Shuang Zhi and Yu Wan Ning didn't even know how to face the scholar who had transformed into a white tree spirit.
Xueyu Tianchi, outside North Mountain.
The Jiuzhangyuan area was still covered in snow. However, beneath the snow, patches of green were beginning to emerge, signaling the imminent arrival of spring. Beneath the snow also lay traces of the past. After the Battle of Baicheng nine years ago, many bones and shattered armor still remained in the Jiuzhangyuan area.
"Swish!"
A ripple of golden light spread through the air, accompanied by a strong military aura. A Great Cultivator of the Military School, clad in white and carrying a sword, descended from the upper realm. It was the Military Immortal, Han Xin.
Nine years had passed. As Han Xin looked again at Xueyu Tianchi and the ruins of the mountaintop villa, he felt that everything had changed. The world was still in turmoil, but if it weren't for that young man's strategy back then, it would have been more than just turmoil; the demon and devil races would likely have already gnawed away all of humanity's bones.
"Alas..."
Han Xin's gaze swept across the land. After Xueyu Tianchi fell, the mountaintop villa was plundered by the demon race. Anything with even a bit of substance was looted, and even the lotus pond was dug up. The natural residence had long since fallen into disrepair, dilapidated and riddled with holes in its windows, covered in cobwebs. Only the bamboo forest remained lush and verdant.
The Military Immortal was lost in thought, experiencing a fleeting illusion, as if someone were affectionately calling out "Brother Han Xin!" and as if he could still enjoy a bowl of incredibly flavorful spicy white fish soup at noon. But alas, things had changed, and the old friend was long gone.
"Alright."
He collected his thoughts and walked through the snowy forest of Jiuzhangyuan. His eyes scanned the area, and his right hand gently unfurled, summoning a flowing river of bloody martial intent.
"Tang Guangjun of the Military School."
Han Xin raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Han Xin has come to escort you back to the Martial Temple. Why don't you reveal yourself quickly?"
In the wilderness, there was only silence.
"Hmph!"
A smile played on Han Xin's lips. "What? Are you still holding a grudge against me, or against Ding Muchan? Or perhaps, after you, Tang Guangjun, drew your sword on Xueyu Tianchi, slaying many Great Demons of the Upper Five Realms and rendering great service to humanity, you feel you've regained your standing?"
The surroundings remained silent.
Instantly, Han Xin's eyes reddened. "Is it truly at the point where your soul has almost completely dissipated? Your Tang Guangjun's sword is as unyielding as heaven, it shouldn't be..."
The battle-hardened Military Immortal, accustomed to life and death, felt a prickle of tears in his eyes.
However, at that very moment, the bloody martial intent in his palm stirred slightly, as if sensing something. Han Xin then revealed a smile. "That's more like it. With your temperament, you'd still think of yourself. Did you really do all those good deeds and want no worldly favor at all? You, Tang Guangjun, are certainly not that kind of person!"
With that, Han Xin leaped forward and landed on a snowy wasteland. He gently raised his hand, and the snow and soil on the ground rose up. Beneath them lay a rather decayed piece of armor, buried for nine years. It was already rusted and the robe had long since rotted away. But on the day it was unearthed, a trace of bloody intent flowed within it.
"Drew your sword for humanity at Xueyu Tianchi, died in body and spirit, and finally... your soul returned to your battle robe?"
Han Xin chuckled. "This is quite interesting. Based on this merit, you, Tang Guangjun, are certainly destined for the seventy-two generals of the Martial Temple, and your ranking might even be within the top twenty. Tsk, allow me to congratulate you in advance!"
With that, the Military Immortal swirled his palm and placed the armor, containing a sliver of Tang Guangjun's soul, into his storage bag.
"Alright."
He looked towards the south, saying, "There are still many things to attend to. It's time to make a trip to the south."
...
Yun Province.
In a wine shop, sat two Great Cultivators of the devil race. One was Ran Qing, a thirteenth-realm Great Cultivator in white robes. The other was Cao Yan, a twelfth-realm Silver Dragon Sword Immortal in a silver short shirt. They sat facing each other, with a few small dishes and two pots of good wine on the table. Although they were prominent figures from Ni Changtian, they did not have many fine foods and drinks in Yun Province City, as the hundreds of thousands of devil cavalry were on the verge of not having enough to eat.
Opposite them lay a Yun Xiang Tower reduced to ashes.
Shi Hanyin's single fire had not only incinerated Yun Xiang Tower but also killed the Divine Cavalry Commander Chen Chong and over three hundred generals among the devil cavalry. This fire had dealt a heavy blow to Ni Changtian.
However, after Yun Xiang Tower turned to ashes, the Divine Cavalry Commander Yu Feng ordered that the former site of Yun Xiang Tower be preserved, forbidding anyone from damaging it. This served as a reminder for future generations of Ni Changtian, showing them how a weak human woman had fought for the human world, and letting the people of Ni Changtian know that Chen Chong and others were, in fact, a disgrace to Ni Changtian.
It was now deep into the night.
Amidst the ruins of Yun Xiang Tower, a mournful voice seemed to drift out, softly singing.
It was a wisp of Shi Hanyin's soul.
"Hmph!"
Cao Yan turned his gaze towards Yun Xiang Tower and said with a faint smile, "Not completely dead yet. Still trying to disrupt the dao hearts of Ni Changtian's cultivators?"
"What is it?"
Ran Qing smiled slightly. "You want to completely extinguish Shi Hanyin's Yin spirit with a single sword strike?"
"Never mind."
Cao Yan sneered. "She's just an insignificant soul. Why would I bother with her? It's just a pity for those divine race warriors, to have been buried by Shi Hanyin, who possesses no cultivation at all, with just a fire. Truly a shame."
Ran Qing narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Actually, what divine race is there? They are all beings from the lower realm, flesh and blood. Don't you, Sword Immortal Cao, find the human world, both above and below the mountains, rather awe-inspiring? The demon race and Ni Changtian, two worlds combined, and they have still held on for nine years. Moreover, with Han Yetang in the south and Shuang Zhi in the north, they have stalled the advance of the demon and Ni Changtian races. In my opinion, the tide of the war is about to turn."
"How could I not see that?"
Cao Yan took a deep breath and looked north, narrowing his eyes with a smile. "Lin Baiyi is truly formidable. A strategy devised many years ago seems to have foreseen this current situation. By using nine years, Xueyu Tianchi, Fusang Great Wall, Shanhai Pass, and Yun Province, they have managed to deplete more than half of the forces of the demon and Ni Changtian races, and countless cultivators above the mountains have been killed or injured!"
Ran Qing took a sip of wine. "This wine has no flavor. Why not make a trip to Dongting Lake and visit the Lord of the Lake? Before Ni Changtian is defeated, it shouldn't be too much to ask for a drink, should it?"
Cao Yan couldn't help but laugh.
Shang Xuli, the Lord of Dongting Lake, was a twelfth-realm cultivator, and his presence in Dongting Lake was equivalent to a thirteenth-realm. However, he was still just a lake lord. His combat power was roughly on par with Ran Qing's. But if Cao Yan, a peak twelfth-realm sword cultivator, were added, Shang Xuli would surely be defeated. Moreover, the entire Yun Province was currently under the control of the demon and Ni Changtian races. It was the perfect time to request Dongting wine.
"Let's go!"
The Silver Dragon Sword Immortal brushed the dust off his clothes, stood up, and laughed, "Let's go find Lord Shang for a drink!"
...
The Confucian Wenlin.
A surge of literary fortune emanated from the Wenmiao. Near the Xuegong, the sound of reading could be heard clearly.
A figure floated in, clad in white as pure as snow, holding an immortal sword, Jinghua. It was Lin Wanhua, a peak thirteenth-realm cultivator. Compared to nine years ago, Lin Wanhua's cultivation was even more profound. Her sword, Jinghua, had already achieved remarkable feats in the upper realm, especially in the Battle of Fengshentai, where countless inner demons had fallen beneath its blade. Among the thirteenth-realm cultivators in the upper realm, Lin Wanhua's combat achievements were second to none, even surpassing most of the fourteenth-realm cultivators!
It was precisely these battle achievements that earned Lin Wanhua an opportunity to descend to the lower realm.
She stood outside the Wenlin, her brows furrowed, awaiting a reply.
Shortly after, two figures approached: one was the Elder Fu Sheng, and the other was Jing Chu, a thirteenth-realm sword cultivator of the Confucian school.
"Girl Lin."
Elder Fu Sheng clasped his hands behind his back, adopting the posture of an elder, and said with a smile, "You're going down to the lower realm to find my Xiao Zhao, aren't you?"
Lin Wanhua pursed her red lips, her delicate face tinged with shyness. But the next moment, she pouted defiantly and said, "Yes!"
"Good, good, good."
Elder Fu Sheng narrowed his eyes and smiled. "How did you know that my Xiao Zhao still had a sliver of hope?"
"I have a feeling in my heart."
Lin Wanhua said, "I always feel like he's still here."
"Oh..."
The elder looked disappointed and rubbed his forehead. He had thought the girl had guessed the truth. The truth of the matter was quite simple. The Grand Sage Master himself had descended to the lower realm and bestowed the Haoran Golden Token upon Lin Zhao. With the protection of a Haoran Golden Token, how could Lin Zhao be crushed to death by half a Mount Wuwang?
"Have you made up your mind?"
The elder's voice was gentle. "To exchange your nine years of hard-fought battles in the upper realm for an opportunity to descend to the lower realm?"
"Yes."
Lin Wanhua smiled slightly. "But let me say this upfront: if I kill demons in the lower realm, whether those battle merits count or not, as one of the Four Sages of the Confucian Wenlin, can Elder Fu Sheng's word be trusted?"
"It counts, it counts."
The elder felt a tingling sensation in his scalp. "Killing demons in the lower realm will also count as battle merits, and my word is also trustworthy. However, Jing Chu will accompany you for support."
"Mm."
Lin Wanhua glanced at Jing Chu and asked, "Why do you descend to the lower realm so frequently, as if attending a market?"
Jing Chu scratched his head, almost uttering a curse.
What else could be the reason? His cultivation was low, unlike her, Lin Wanhua, whose sword cultivation was transcendent. For her to descend to the lower realm once, the four great ancestral lands of the human race would have to expend considerable fortune.