After catching up for a long time, Gu Lingyu met his disciples again. Those young scholars knelt in a row, tears streaming down their faces. Gu Lingyu smiled and told everyone to rise, saying that scholars should not be made a spectacle of.
Under the white tree, a cup of warm tea.
Lin Zhao and Gu Lingyu sat opposite each other. Lin Zhao asked, "Lingyu, what state are you in now?"
"From human to spirit and deity."
Gu Lingyu said, "Actually, I refined a withered branch of the white tree, and that's how I got my current form. If not for that, I might not have been able to protect Héfēng Academy. But now I've chosen to confine myself here, and I can never go to distant places. The upper realms, the Confucian literary world... are all beyond my reach."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "So now... you can come and go freely on the Snow Domain Celestial Lake?"
"Sort of."
Gu Lingyu said, "For the ten years little martial uncle was suppressed under Mount Wuwang, I never showed myself. Firstly, I was transforming from human to spirit and deity, and hadn't fully integrated many hidden threads of fate. Secondly, I feared being attacked by demons if I left the white tree. Now that little martial uncle has returned, I have no more worries."
"That's for the best!"
Lin Zhao was slightly invigorated. "Then you will still be Gu Lingyu, still the head of Héfēng Academy, just with the essence of a white tree. There's no significant difference."
"Mm."
Gu Lingyu smiled and nodded.
Lin Zhao frowned and asked cautiously, "As a spirit and deity, Lingyu, can you still marry a wife in the future? In our lineage, you are the truly refined and elegant scholar. It would be a pity if you didn't marry."
"Ah?"
Gu Lingyu was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "No rush, no rush. Little martial uncle hasn't even married yet, why should I be in a hurry? These things shouldn't be forced. Little martial uncle should marry first, little martial uncle should marry first..."
Lin Zhao's face was a mess. Although Gu Lingyu was a Confucian sage and a wise man, he seemed as slow as Mr. Qin when it came to romantic matters, or perhaps, ordinary mortal women simply didn't catch his eye.
But Lin Zhao could guess the greater reason: like Mr. Qin, Gu Lingyu was actually afraid of implicating others.
...
At this moment, Yu Wanning brought Chen Qi forward. They knelt on one knee and cupped their fists in salute to Lin Zhao. Yu Wanning explained everything, informing Lin Zhao that for the past ten years, the true commander of the thirty thousand Snow Domain cavalry had been Chen Qi, and it was he who had led the Snow Domain cavalry eastward, thus narrowly escaping disaster.
"Chen Qi, I know you."
Lin Zhao nodded. "I knew you when Mu La and Chu Yu were still here."
Chen Qi nodded and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Commander Lin!"
"Yu Wanning is a Rebirth realm martial artist. Her main task is still to practice her boxing and nurture her intent. Therefore, the Snow Domain army will still be led by you. Immediately issue orders to establish temporary camps on the Snow Domain Celestial Lake. Once we are settled, we can rebuild White City."
"Yes!"
Chen Qi agreed with joy.
Lin Zhao stood up, cupped his fists towards Gu Lingyu, and said, "Alright, the mountain villa is now just a ruin. I need to go back and get busy. I'll call you up the mountain for drinks when Tiánrán Jū starts cooking and warming wine again!"
"Okay!"
Gu Lingyu smiled gently and elegantly. "I've been waiting for ten years for this drink from little martial uncle!"
Lin Zhao's eyes reddened, then he raised his hand. "Zhū, Yu Wanning, let's head back to the mountain villa."
"Yes!"
The two women nodded happily. The next moment, Lin Zhao unsheathed his sword. As an eleventh-realm sword cultivator, he no longer needed to stand on his flying sword, Hong Ye, but instead became one with the sword, transforming into a beam of sword light that shot towards the mountain villa. Zhū and Yu Wanning followed closely.
...
In the blink of an eye, the three stood in front of Tiánrán Jū.
When the demons attacked the mountain villa, most of the buildings were reduced to ashes, including the residences of Zhū and Yu Wanning. Only Tiánrán Jū, which the great demon Yúzhī had claimed as her own, was spared. In the following years, Yúzhī would return to Tiánrán Jū whenever she had time, using Lin Zhao's study and sleeping in his bed, attempting to understand the man thoroughly.
Unfortunately, Yúzhī never fully understood him. Instead, she inadvertently preserved Tiánrán Jū for Lin Zhao. Otherwise, if Tiánrán Jū had also burned down, Lin Zhao would have had to live in a simple hut.
Now, only Lin Zhao, Zhū, and Yu Wanning remained among the large group at the mountain villa. The three felt a pang of sadness as they looked at the familiar surroundings. After a brief moment of melancholy, they began to tidy up, dusting Tiánrán Jū. Soon, although many parts of Tiánrán Jū were damaged and couldn't be repaired for the time being, it was already clean and bright.
The kitchen was empty. The food that had been stored there had long been eaten by the demons. There wasn't even a single grain of rice left in the rice vat. Lin Zhao wasn't in the mood to cook, so he gave up and began practicing his boxing in front of Tiánrán Jū.
As he began his boxing form, an extraordinary aura naturally emanated from him.
Lin Zhao was now a Celestial Origin martial artist, his cultivation surpassing that of Chu Huaixi at his peak. He had also reached the eighth form, the Overturning Sea form, of the Nine Farmer's Punches. As he executed his techniques, he displayed the demeanor of a boxing master. Zhū and Yu Wanning watched with squinting eyes and smiles, this was a sight they hadn't seen in a long time.
After completing a round of his boxing, Lin Zhao felt refreshed. Unfortunately, he could only progress to the Overturning Sea form; the subsequent moves were blocked. The true essence of the Nine Farmer's Punches lay in the ninth form, the Nirvana form. Once mastered, the boxing intent would elevate to a state of perpetual renewal, and when combined with the regenerative power of the Rebirth realm, it could unleash unimaginable effects.
This was also one of the drawbacks of the Nine Farmer's Punches: one could not master the Nirvana form without reaching the Rebirth realm. However, once one entered the Rebirth realm and mastered the Nirvana form, the combination of Rebirth realm and Nirvana form would be as simple as one plus one equals two. The overall combat strength would increase immeasurably.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Yu Wanning looked south, her delicate brows furrowed. "Mountain Lord, it seems someone is coming."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao also narrowed his eyes and looked. Under the Water Moon Gaze, he saw several Dragon Boats and the Spirit Ships of the Great Shang Dynasty. On the deck of the leading Dragon Boat stood a female sword immortal, dressed in exquisite armor and with a sword at her waist. It was Princess Zhao Shutong of the Great Shang. Behind her stood Han Yetang, Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, and others. Furthermore, Cao Ying, the Pavilion Master of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was also present. It seemed that after ten years, Cao Ying had become closer to Zhao Shutong.
"They're our people."
He smiled slightly and then, along with Zhū and Yu Wanning, turned to respectfully welcome the loyal officials of the Great Shang Dynasty.
...
The Dragon Boats spanned the Snow Domain Celestial Lake, and Zhao Shutong and the others arrived by sword and wind.
Upon seeing the living Lin Zhao standing there, Zhao Shutong's eyes began to redden. Her voice was slightly choked as she softly said, "Commander Lin, I never expected we would meet again..."
"Your Highness."
Lin Zhao cupped his fists lightly. "Actually, I never expected to be able to leave Mount Wuwang myself."
"Lin Zhao!"
Chen Xi, Han Yetang, and Lin Ruo cupped their fists in salute together.
Lin Zhao returned their salutes one by one and smiled. "Although I was suppressed under Mount Wuwang, my thoughts and consciousness had long since flown out of the mountain. I have seen all your efforts over the past ten years for the human realm. Han Yetang, Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, the human realm should be grateful for your distinguished military achievements. And Cao Ying, your swordplay at Shanhaiguan was also quite different from usual."
For a moment, the three marshals smiled and nodded, feeling a little embarrassed by the praise from the commander of the three armies.
Cao Ying's lips curled. She was originally loyal to Zhao Qiyang, but after the ten-year war, Zhao Shutong had gained control of most of the military and political power. Moreover, Cao Ying admired the princess's spirit and impartiality, so she gradually shifted her allegiance to Zhao Shutong. This had led to many disagreements with Zhao Qiyang, but with Zhao Shutong's current influence, Zhao Qiyang couldn't do much to the princess.
"Commander Lin."
Zhao Shutong ordered countless wines and foods to be brought down from the Dragon Boats and set up several tables by the entrance of Tiánrán Jū. She spread a map on one of the tables and said, "We have now fought bloody battles with the demons and fiends for ten years, and the war is gradually turning. The current situation is the arrangement you planned ten years ago, Commander Lin. Therefore, I request that Commander Lin continue to plan for the human realm!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao took a bite of a chicken drumstick and, holding his wine pot, went to the table. His hunger was nearing its limit, so he decided to eat something to replenish his strength. Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, Han Yetang, Zhū, and others gathered around.
Zhao Shutong pointed to various locations on the map, informing Lin Zhao of the current troop deployments of the demons and fiends. Her information was almost identical to what Lin Zhao had learned, with no discrepancies.
After waiting for a long time, Lin Zhao finished his chicken drumstick, wiped his hands, and said, "Chen Xi, Han Yetang, where is your main force now?"
"Yunzhou." The two sisters said in unison.
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded and gently pointed at the map. "You will dispatch your troops immediately and lead the main army to defend the Beixi River area. As usual, prepare ample defensive works, deep ditches, and high ramparts, presenting a posture of resisting the demon army's southward advance south of Shanhaiguan."
"Yes!"
"Lin Ruo." Lin Zhao's fingertip moved north, landing on the location of Guyao Pass. "You will lead the Rock Army and all the elites of Yanzhou northward, cross the Xijian River, and directly garrison Guyao Pass, creating a situation where we can 'trap the dog in its lair'."
"Ah?!"
Zhao Shutong was startled. "Commander Lin, are you planning to..."
Lin Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly. "Between Guyao Pass and Shanhaiguan, the demons have deployed six hundred thousand troops, and the fiends have deployed two hundred thousand. We will strive to eliminate both of these armies in one go. With the absence of these six hundred thousand elites, the demons and the Nightingale Realm will lose much of their confidence, and we can lay the foundation for unifying the world."
"Ah?"
This time, everyone was dumbfounded. It was the first time they had heard the concept of "unifying the world." It was rare for these four words to be spoken by a human commander.
"Any problems?"
Lin Zhao looked at everyone, frowning. "The world has been in chaos for too long. Why should only the demons and fiends be able to march south, while we humans cannot march north? This battle, we will pursue the victory and fight until the demons and fiends submit and pledge allegiance!"