Finally, freedom from this cage was within reach, and the time to act had arrived!
Lin Zhao was exhilarated but quickly became anxious.
Above him now lay Mount Wuwang. Although the human race had decimated most of the great demons of the Upper Five Realms over the past decade, powerful beings like Chen Feng, Liu Bai, and Yu Zhi still remained. If they were to make a move, would he be re-imprisoned the moment he emerged?
This was unacceptable! Not only did the world need him, Lin Zhao, but he also desperately wanted to break free. After all, as a player, being perpetually confined within this cage was hardly a way to live.
Emerging required careful planning!
He glanced at the time and immediately opened his friend list, finding Leng Yan and initiating a voice call—
"What is it?" Leng Yan asked with a smile.
"I'm about to break free."
Lin Zhao took a deep breath and said, "A'yan, I will break free from Mount Wuwang's suppression at precisely midnight tonight. I'm a bit worried I won't be able to leave, that the great demons of the Upper Five Realms will re-imprison me, so I need your help."
"Alright!"
Leng Yan readily agreed. "Tell me how you need help."
Lin Zhao said sternly, "First, find Wu Zhi and inform her of my breakthrough time, have her stationed at Xue Yu Tian Chi. Then, go to Xi Jian Jiang and inform my aunt. After that, visit Dong Ting Lake and invite Shang Hu Jun. With my aunt, Shang Hu Jun, and Yu Wan Ning present, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Okay!"
Leng Yan replied, "I'll leave now. Just wait for good news."
"Mhm!"
…
Night fell, the moonlight was like water, and the northern lands lay desolate.
In the forest area of Ji Zi Lin, amidst snow-covered woods, a contingent of human cavalry was making camp. Tents were set up in rows, illuminated by bonfires.
Beside one of the bonfires sat a Yuan Ying stage woman with an empty sleeve on her right side – it was Wu Zhi. With the human race's fortunes improving, a faint smile graced Wu Zhi's beautiful face. Opposite her sat Yu Wan Ning, clad in armor, her fist intent strong, her beauty breathtaking.
Beside them was Wan Qi Chang Chen Qi, who had already reached the Tian Yuan realm. Chen Qi was now a crucial pillar of the entire Snow Region Army, ranking third after Wu Zhi and Yu Wan Ning. He was currently roasting two seven-to-eight-pound fish and a rabbit over the bonfire. Given the prodigious appetites of these two martial artists, it was unlikely that anything less would suffice.
"Swish!"
A streak of sword light sliced through the sky, like a firefly in the cold night.
"Hmm?"
Wu Zhi immediately frowned, looking in the direction of the light. Yu Wan Ning frowned, her fist clenching as she prepared to rise.
"Don't rush."
Wu Zhi smiled and shook her head. "No need to worry, it's one of our own. A confidante of the Master from before his passing."
"Oh?"
Yu Wan Ning looked closely and indeed, descending from the sky on a flying sword above the forest was a woman in armor, her cloak billowing. Her jade-like legs seemed to gleam under the moonlight, exquisitely beautiful. While many women possessed beauty, few had such legs. Thus, Wu Zhi recognized her by her legs and knew it was an old acquaintance.
"So it's Miss Leng..."
Yu Wan Ning stood up, cupped her fists, and smiled. "It's been a long time since we parted ways at Bai City."
"Indeed."
Leng Yan looked at Wu Zhi and Yu Wan Ning, cupped her fists, and smiled. "It has been a long time. You are both here!"
"Mhm."
Wu Zhi stood up, her smile gentle. "Miss Leng... you must have a reason for visiting us this time?"
"Yes," Leng Yan pursed her red lips. "I've come to bring you a message from Lin Zhao."
"What!?"
Wu Zhi's delicate body trembled, her beautiful eyes suddenly becoming misty. "The Master... he asked you to bring us a message?"
"But..."
Yu Wan Ning, despite being in the Rebirth realm, hadn't detected Lin Zhao's presence beneath Mount Wuwang. Her beautiful eyes stared blankly at Leng Yan. "Our Mountain Master... he didn't die sacrificing himself ten years ago?"
"No."
Leng Yan shook her head. "Actually, Lin Zhao never died. He was suppressed beneath Mount Wuwang all along. It's just that his condition was very poor back then, and we weren't sure if he could ever leave Mount Wuwang, so we didn't dare give you too much hope. Only today, when he is certain he can break free from Mount Wuwang, did he send me to deliver a message."
Saying this, Leng Yan chuckled. "Wu Zhi, Yu Wan Ning, do you trust me?"
"We do!"
The two women from the mountaintop nodded in unison.
"Good."
Leng Yan smiled. "Return to Xue Yu Tian Chi immediately. In less than a day, Lin Zhao will break the seal and emerge from Mount Wuwang. You need to be there to assist him, lest he be re-suppressed by the great demons on Mount Wuwang the moment he steps out."
"Okay!"
Yu Wan Ning smiled and nodded.
Wu Zhi also beamed. At this moment, this renowned general, known as Nanyang and Beizhi, who had strategized for years, felt a rare moment of disarray, a mixture of overwhelming surprise and joy.
If Lin Zhao were well, then Xue Yu Tian Chi and the Mountain Top Villa would once again have a leader!
…
Leng Yan bid farewell and left. Wu Zhi and Yu Wan Ning packed their belongings, urged their armies to depart, and returned to Xue Yu Tian Chi.
Xi Jian Jiang, a scene of shimmering river water.
Leng Yan landed gracefully on her sword. She had intended to emulate Lin Zhao and Yu Wan Ning's "one-reed crossing the river" but lost her footing and nearly plunged into the water. As a Golden Core sword cultivator, it was rather embarrassing. She quickly maneuvered back to the shore and cupped her fists. "Aunt?"
Inside the River God Shrine, the River God Empress, clad in golden armor, instantly opened her eyes. Her golden pupils had already spotted the delicate figure of the sword cultivator by the river. She recognized this girl. Lin Xing Chu had once thought of her as her future niece-in-law, but Lin Zhao had too many romantic interests, making Lin Xing Chu bewildered and unable to definitively say which of the beautiful girls was his destined one.
"I recognize you."
The River God Empress stepped onto the golden ripples and appeared in the river in her divine form, smiling. "Your name is Leng Yan, and you are Xiao Zhao's friend."
"Mhm."
Leng Yan said, "Aunt, I'll be brief. Lin Zhao asked me to inform you that he will break free from Mount Wuwang's seal within a day. Please, Aunt, could you assist him with your sword to protect him, so he isn't captured again the moment he emerges from Mount Wuwang's confinement."
"Alright!"
Lin Xing Chu smiled and nodded. "I understand."
"Ah?"
Leng Yan's cherry lips parted slightly. She smiled. "Aren't you surprised at all that Lin Zhao isn't dead?"
"Not surprised."
Lin Xing Chu said, "When Lin Wanhua drew her sword twice towards the base of Mount Wuwang, I began to suspect something. I believe the karmic connection between Lin Wanhua and Xiao Zhao allowed her to see through some things, so both her swords were meant to pave the way for Xiao Zhao's breakthrough. Leng Yan, besides notifying me, who else did Xiao Zhao summon?"
"Wu Zhi and Yu Wan Ning."
Leng Yan pursed her red lips. "Oh, and Shang Hu Jun from Dong Ting Lake."
"Understood."
Lin Xing Chu smiled. "I'll prepare myself and head to Xue Yu Tian Chi to await Xiao Zhao's emergence. You go and inform Shang Hu Jun."
"Mhm."
…
Dong Ting Lake.
Shang Xu Li, the elegant and scholarly Jun of the lake, wearing wide sleeves, sat in a small boat, fishing on his lake. He used a straight hook, not expecting to catch anything substantial, merely indulging in his pastime.
A point of sword light appeared in the air, and then a human female sword cultivator landed on the lake surface before Shang Hu Jun on her flying sword. It was Leng Yan.
"Shang Hu Jun."
Leng Yan, mimicking the etiquette of a martial world maiden, cupped her fists. "I am Lin Zhao's friend, Leng Yan."
"Oh, I know."
Shang Xu Li smiled. "Miss Leng, the Vice Sect Master of Dong Quan Sword Sect. I've heard about Lin Zhao leading people to fight demons at Dong Quan Sword Sect."
Leng Yan said, "Lin Zhao asked me to convey a message to Shang Hu Jun. He will emerge from Mount Wuwang within a day. Therefore, we respectfully invite Shang Hu Jun to make a trip to Xue Yu Tian Chi. If necessary, you could lend him your strength when he emerges, to prevent the great demons on Mount Wuwang from causing trouble."
"Ah?"
Shang Xu Li was startled. "Lin Zhao... Lin Zhao isn't dead?"
"Mhm."
Leng Yan nodded firmly and smiled. "Shang Hu Jun, take your time to process this. When you are ready, head to Xue Yu Tian Chi. Not only you, but also Empress Lin Xing Chu, Wu Zhi, and Yu Wan Ning will be at Xue Yu Tian Chi together to protect Lin Zhao's emergence."
"Alright."
Shang Xu Li smiled. "Miss Leng, rest assured, I'll prepare some good wine and be there!"
…
The Demon Race, the summit of the Ancestral Mountain.
Qing Kui, the demon ancestor, saw the movements of Lin Xing Chu and Shang Xu Li heading north but was powerless to intervene. Before him stood Nan Qingfeng, Liu Bai, Long Zheng, Bai Xi, Qing Jian, and a group of other great demons from the Ancestral Mountain, all with furrowed brows, remaining silent.
"Lin Xing Chu and Shang Xu Li are heading north."
Yu Zhi's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "It's a pity we don't have time to do anything more."
The Demon Ancestor looked up. "The war in the Upper Realm has begun again. Ding Muchan has recalled Lin Wanhua and Jing Chu, joining forces with the four ancestral courts to counterattack the heart demon army of Tian Wai Tian. They have even dispatched a force to attack my senior brother Kunpeng's half of Mount Wuwang. At this critical juncture, we can no longer consider too much."
He took a deep breath. "In the Lower Realm, maintaining the current situation is already a great victory. And Yu Zhi and I are about to ascend. Before ascending, we still need to arrange matters concerning the Ancestral Mountain."
"Mhm!"
Liu Bai cupped his fists. "Please give your orders, Master!"
In truth, Liu Bai was eagerly anticipating that after the Demon Ancestor ascended, the position of Lord of the Ancestral Mountain would likely fall to him. After all, Liu Bai was Qing Kui's direct disciple and a thirteenth-realm demon king. His combat power in the Lower Realm's Ancestral Mountain was among the strongest. His command over water could nourish and enrich the spiritual脉 of the Ancestral Mountain. In his mind, he was almost the only candidate.
"..."
The Demon Ancestor seemed to see through Liu Bai's thoughts and frowned. "After Yu Zhi and I ascend, Nan Qingfeng will be in charge of the Ancestral Mountain. She is meticulous, and her style of doing things is quite similar to mine. Everyone must obey Nan Qingfeng's commands, or face severe punishment. Liu Bai, Chen Feng, Long Zheng, Qing Jian, Bai Xi, all of you listen clearly. From now on, you will all follow Nan Qingfeng's lead!"
"Yes, Demon Ancestor!"
The great demons bowed their heads in unison.
"Let's go."
The Demon Ancestor took a deep breath and, along with Yu Zhi, transformed into a surging beam of light and departed.