The Western Border, the Savage Lands.
A Flood Dragon Boat, leading dozens of Spirit Boats equipped with firearms from the Ministry of War of the Great Shang Dynasty, descended outside a city in the Western Border. The city's architectural style was vastly different from the Great Shang Dynasty. The gate tower and barbican were both round-domed with pointed tops. The city walls were lined with archers holding sturdy bows, while inside, spearmen and cavalry were in full force, the neighing of warhorses forming a continuous chorus.
As the city gates opened, the State Lord, clad in furs, led his ministers to the outside of the gate.
On the Flood Dragon Boat, Zhao Shudong, in exquisite armor and a golden cloak, leaped out and landed gracefully. Behind him followed a group of civil and military officials from the Great Shang Dynasty. Further back, the Flood Dragon Boat and Spirit Boats carried over a thousand White Deer Iron Cavalry, their horses pounding the wilderness. Some had their hands on the hilts of their swords, while others held fluttering battle banners.
On this day, in Qilan City in the Savage Lands of the Western Border, Zhao Shudong met with the State Lords of the seventeen nations of the Savage Lands, officially inaugurating the alliance between the Great Shang Dynasty and the seventeen nations of the Western Border. From this moment on, the seventeen nations formally became vassal states of the Great Shang Dynasty. They signed state instruments, and for the next few decades, the Great Shang Dynasty would send numerous envoys to the seventeen nations, carrying vast amounts of seeds, books, and other items to help these vassal states in the Savage Lands cultivate their lands and establish schools to impart Confucian knowledge.
The price for this was that all seventeen nations would contribute their elite troops to join forces with the Great Shang Dynasty's armies at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, and together they would attack the demon realm.
...
Several days later, at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
Before a mountain cliff south of the mountains, Lin Zhao, clad in armor and a white robe, carried the three swords Zhanlu, Xunlu, and Zhanlong on his back. Accompanied by Leng Yan, Shen Xingchen, Chen Xue, Ding Chi, and a group of others, he gazed down at the southern land.
Within a radius of tens of miles, human tents stretched as far as the eye could see. Armies from the Great Shang Dynasty were continuously arriving. The Prefecture of Jizhou alone had dispatched as many as 400,000 troops. Combined with the forces from Yunzhou, Yanzhou, Furongzhou, and other prefectures, the Great Shang Dynasty had amassed a total of 2.4 million troops in the Northern Border. After a brief respite, they had already marched.
In addition, there was a large encampment in the southwestern corner, consisting of troops from the seventeen vassal states of the Savage Lands in the Western Border. They comprised a total of 170,000 cavalry and 330,000 infantry, making a neat sum of 500,000 troops. Furthermore, there were troops from the Fusu Great Wall, mostly from the eastern vassal states, with a total force of approximately 200,000.
Thus, south of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, over three million human soldiers had gathered, an unprecedented display of power.
"The war is about to officially begin!"
Leng Yan clenched her fists and said, "Will this trigger a version quest?"
"I don't know."
Lin Zhao shook his head and smiled, "But after this battle, the demons should be weakened. When everyone is leveling up, you won't have to worry about high-level demons descending from the heavens to harvest you. All the maps in the demon realm, including the ancestral land, should be open to players."
"That would be great."
Chen Xue narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled, "The monster levels in the human realm are too low. It's getting difficult to level up. If the sealed maps in the demon realm are all opened, the monster levels should be higher."
"Indeed."
Ding Chi took a deep breath and said, "Lin Zhao, the major battle should be within these one or two days, right?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled, "It's set for tomorrow. Tomorrow, orders will be issued to advance north, and we'll flatten Mount Wuwang first!"
Zhang Jun's brows furrowed. He turned to look in the direction of Mount Wuwang and smiled, "If we enter Mount Wuwang early, perhaps we can snatch some magic treasures or secret manuals. Breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm might be possible then."
"Then you have to try your best."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Many players are thinking about this, not just you, Da Jun."
"I'll do my best."
Zhang Jun said, "Alright, we're going to level up. What about you, Lin Zhao?"
"I'm not in a hurry."
Lin Zhao pouted and smiled, "I need to go to Guyao Pass to say a few words to Lin Ruo."
"Okay."
Chen Xue nodded, "Then we'll go level up."
Leng Yan also smiled faintly, "Then I'll go with Xingchen to leech some experience? When you have time, take me to solo!"
"Alright."
Lin Zhao smiled heartily, "Once the dungeon system is released, I'll take you through them all."
"Agreed, it's a deal!"
Leng Yan left joyfully, while Lin Zhao turned, conjured a flying sword, and headed straight for Guyao Pass.
...
It was currently the third month of spring, but the Northern Border had no spring. While peach blossoms bloomed in the third month of spring in Lingnan, heavy snow continued to fall at Guyao Pass. Inside the pass, 150,000 Stone Army troops were stationed. It was mealtime, and wisps of cooking smoke rose, adding a touch of life to this wilderness of mountains.
On the city wall, a commander in silver armor was exceptionally handsome. He was Lin Ruo, the former commander of Yangping Pass, who had long since led his troops north, following Lin Zhao's orders to guard this Guyao Pass. However, news had been constantly arriving from the south about the Great Shang Dynasty amassing troops at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. This was no longer a secret, and Lin Ruo felt increasingly restless. As the commander of the Stone Army, he couldn't help but want to participate in this human counterattack that was destined to be recorded in history.
"Whoosh!"
A beam of light descended from the sky, landing beside Lin Ruo and transforming into a figure with the bearing of a sword immortal. It was Lin Zhao.
"Greetings, Commander Lin!"
Immediately, Lin Ruo and the four generals on the city wall knelt on one knee. Then, the armored soldiers guarding the city further away also knelt in unison.
"Rise."
Lin Zhao raised his hand, signaling everyone to get up, and then looked at Lin Ruo.
Lin Ruo understood and stepped forward, entering a martial aura realm, equivalent to a cultivator's small world. For a moment, only he and Lin Zhao were in the martial aura realm. He smiled and said, "Speak, what are your arrangements for the Stone Army going forward?"
"North."
Lin Zhao pointed north and said, "Beyond Queyu Lake, there is Qinghu Pass. It was originally a strategic stronghold of the Neon Realm. However, I have already sent people to scout it and confirmed that Qinghu Pass is now an empty city. After testing the Mountain Peak Villa, the Demon Emperor has withdrawn all his forces back to the Neon Realm. So, this is a golden opportunity to occupy Qinghu Pass."
"Oh?"
Lin Ruo frowned and asked, "What happens after occupying Qinghu Pass?"
"Qinghu Pass is the necessary passage for the Neon Realm to advance south."
Lin Zhao looked at the drifting snow in the distance. "In a while, you will order 10,000 cavalry from the Stone Army to march north, carrying enough arrows and supplies. They will occupy Qinghu Pass immediately and defend it from north to south. Once it is confirmed that Qinghu Pass has been occupied, the entire army will set off. The mission for the Stone Army in this great war is to hold Qinghu Pass firmly and block the passage for demons to reinforce the demon realm from the southern plains."
Lin Ruo nodded. "What if the demons don't go through Qinghu Pass? After all, the Neon Realm and the demon realm are adjacent, and there are several passes in the northern central land that lead to the demon realm."
"Don't worry, someone will contain them."
Lin Zhao said, "Your Qinghu Pass is the key. When the time is right, I will send you a flying fish message to order the Stone Army to march north."
"Yes!"
Lin Ruo cupped his fists and smiled. "It's just a pity that I can't personally set foot on Mount Wuwang or Mount Zu. My sword cannot personally decapitate those great demons."
"We are all fighting for humanity, there is no distinction."
Lin Zhao smiled. "In short, Qinghu Pass and the passage for demons to advance south will be yours to guard."
"Yes!"
Lin Ruo cupped his fists and nodded.
...
It wasn't until late that night.
Lin Zhao was stationed at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, secretly ordering Zhao Shudong, Chen Xi, Han Yetang, Lü Fengxian, and others to lead their respective troops. At dawn, they would cook and eat, and then the three armies would set off, crossing the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool and heading directly for Mount Wuwang. However, until dawn, no system notification had been received, so it was likely that attacking Mount Wuwang would not trigger a version quest.
Early morning.
The snow in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool region had stopped. North of Jiuzhang Plain, the sound of hooves shook the snow-covered ground. Commander Lin, riding the Burning Heaven Beast, was followed by Huang Tingyu, Shu Zhi, Tang Guangjun, Yu Wanling, and others, each riding a warhorse. They led 30,000 Snow Domain Cavalry from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, galloping across the snowfield. Behind them, Zhao Shudong, Chen Xi, Han Yetang, and others led hundreds of thousands of human cavalry, kicking up billowing snow dust, heading straight for Mount Wuwang.
In the sky, players above the Golden Core realm were visible, each piloting flying artifacts and overlooking the impending great battle. Among them were Leng Yan, Shen Xingchen, Chen Xue, Su Xinghe, Yishi Cangliang, and others. Although no version event had been triggered, the major guilds were all paying attention. Each had selected thousands of elites and were already waiting outside Mount Wuwang to receive the human army.
"Hmm?"
Huang Tingyu looked up at Mount Wuwang and frowned. "Something's not right. There's no aura of a great demon on Mount Wuwang. Have they used some means to conceal it? Are they planning an empty city stratagem against us?"
"It doesn't matter."
Lin Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly. "With absolute strength, even an empty city stratagem is useless. Old Huang, take 5,000 cavalry and cooperate with the Great Shang Dynasty's cavalry to attack the mountain. Let's take Mount Wuwang first."
Huang Tingyu grinned. "So I, Old Huang, am really the vanguard? You're making me go first for something like this?"
Tang Guangjun smiled, "Since you, Old Huang, are a descendant of the Celestial Hound among demons, in terms of toughness, can you compare to me and Shu Zhi?"
"Hmph!"
Although Huang Tingyu grumbled, he didn't waste any more words. He raised his hand, drew his immortal sword Amber, pointed the tip forward, and shouted, "First Battalion's 5,000 cavalry, follow me! We're going up Mount Wuwang first!"
The cavalry drew their sharp blades, then accelerated, following Huang Tingyu up the mountain path.
...
"Break the mountain gate's restriction!"
Huang Tingyu suddenly swung his sword, and hundreds of feet of sword light erupted. The restriction in the air was continuously crushed with explosive sounds. With just one sword, he shattered the already very fragile mountain gate restriction. Immediately after, blood-red arrows shot out from several stone platforms behind the mountain gate towards Huang Tingyu, which were mechanisms set up at the mountain gate of Mount Wuwang.
As a result, Huang Tingyu shattered each of them with a single sword, his sword light flashing and destroying all these trivial tricks.
Then, 5,000 Snow Domain Cavalry charged up the mountain, stirring up clouds of snow. They moved as if in an empty land, slaughtering all the minor demons guarding the mountain. It wasn't until Huang Tingyu led them all the way to the mountaintop that Lin Zhao officially confirmed that Mount Wuwang was indeed an empty city. Jian Chen, Nine Tails, Nan Qingfeng, and others had never intended to defend Mount Wuwang.