Sword light flashed, and the group departed from the East Sea.
Tang Guangjun formed a hand seal, transforming a flying sword into a small boat to carry everyone. He stood at the bow and chuckled, "I never imagined it would go so smoothly. The Mountain Lord's words actually made that old fox, the Flood Dragon Minister, nod in agreement."
"Hmph!"
Huang Tingyu crossed his arms and said with a smile, "When it comes to strategizing and plotting, your Mountain Lord is full of schemes. These words were spoken by his old rival, the Great Demon Yu Zhi, not me."
Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "After Yu Zhi ascended, he truly has no worthy opponents left. Shi Jun Gang, Nan Qing Feng, and the like are not worth mentioning."
Yu Wan Ning knitted her brows slightly, "Mountain Lord, since this Flood Dragon Minister agreed so readily, will he go back on his word? If, when we attack the Demon Realm, the Flood Dragon Minister does not lead the East Sea Flood Dragon tribe as agreed to attack the Nishang Realm, and our main army's right flank is struck by the Demon cavalry, the losses could be immense."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded, "You're right. We do need to make preparations for both eventualities. That's why, during the Northern Expedition, all thirty thousand of our Snow Domain cavalry will be deployed to the right flank of the battlefield, ready to guard against any attack from the Nishang Realm. Additionally, Lin Ruo's Rock Solid Army can also be put to use. In short, we must strive for stability."
"It shouldn't come to that."
Wu Zhi pursed her red lips, "I think... although the Flood Dragon Minister is an old fox, he wouldn't risk the entire Flood Dragon tribe. If he truly acts deceitfully, he'll be risking our retribution later."
"Precisely."
Lin Zhao smiled, "It's essentially a matter of placing a bet, seeing whether the Flood Dragon Minister is willing to bet on the human race or on the demon race and the Heart Demon Legion. Currently, the human race holds a significant advantage in the lower realm. As for the upper realm, although the Heart Demon Legion is powerful, the human race's Five Heavens are not to be trifled with; we can at least achieve a fifty-fifty balance, right? Therefore, it's understandable for the Flood Dragon Minister to bet on our side."
"What about now?"
Tang Guangjun asked, "What are we going to the Ghost Realm for?"
"To further expand our advantage."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, "Since we've decided to counterattack and invade the Demon Realm, we must utterly crush the demon race, leaving them no opportunity whatsoever. We must resolve the millennia-old problem that has plagued the human race once and for all."
Yu Wan Ning nodded with a smile, already guessing who Lin Zhao intended to find.
...
Late at night.
In the Ghost Realm, at the Nine Nether Dragon Court.
A newly rebuilt Nine Nether Dragon Court now stood on the desolate land, exuding an unspeakable density of death. Ghost guards patrolled for hundreds of miles around the Nine Nether Dragon Court. On various mountain peaks, newly emerged ghost cultivators thrived. Since Tan Xin ascended to the Ghost Emperor's throne, the spiritual energy that had accumulated for so long had erupted, and ghost cultivators in the Ghost Realm were now appearing like mushrooms after a spring rain, giving rise to a new atmosphere.
Furthermore, large burial grounds stretched across the land, filled with the bones of corpses. However, most of these were the remains of birds and beasts from the forests, with very few human remains.
Previously, the Ghost Realm had used human corpses to nourish its corpse qi and death qi. But after Lin Zhao led the human race through two major battles, the human spine grew increasingly unyielding. With this shift, Tan Xin issued a blood decree throughout the Ghost Realm, forbidding all beings from consuming human flesh and instead nurturing animal carcasses, which was considered a path of unconventional innovation.
"Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, Lin Zhao, requests an audience with Ghost Emperor Tan Xin!"
On the wind, Lin Zhao stood atop his sword light, his voice drifting into the Nine Nether Dragon Court. Instantly, countless ghost cultivators emerged, each filled with trepidation. Before Lin Zhao had spoken, they had completely failed to realize that there were people in the sky, and as many as five of them, each radiating a powerful aura!
"Buzz~~~"
The entire Nine Nether Dragon Court trembled violently. Immediately, a dharma body shot out from a fissure at the top of the court. It was Ghost Emperor Tan Xin, clad in golden armor and a blood-colored cloak. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Lin Zhao, and she smiled, "Marshal Lin's personal visit is a rare honor. Please, come into the Dragon Court for tea. I will immediately brew a pot of the finest tea from our Ghost Realm."
"Thank you!"
Lin Zhao nodded, then glanced at Huang Tingyu, Wu Zhi, and the others. They maintained their vigilance as they flew into the Nine Nether Dragon Court with Lin Zhao. In truth, there was little to fear. The combat power of the entire Ghost Realm had been heavily depleted in the previous battles. Wave after wave of Ghost Kings had been killed. Currently, only Tan Xin, a thirteenth-level ghost cultivator, posed a significant threat. Her subordinate Ghost Kings were all at the eleventh level, and they wouldn't last two rounds against thirteenth-level swordsmen like Huang Tingyu. There was no need for apprehension.
Inside the grand hall of the Nine Nether Dragon Court, splendor abounded.
Tan Xin was a person who understood luxury. She had enslaved numerous human artisans to rebuild the Nine Nether Dragon Court. She even maintained contact with the ancestral court of the Mohist school, inviting great Mohist cultivators to draw up blueprints. Consequently, the Nine Nether Dragon Court was constructed with an outer perimeter filled with death qi, while its interior was resplendent. One grand hall, in particular, rivaled the palaces of human emperors in its opulence.
Thus, Lin Zhao and his companions felt no discomfort as they stepped into the hall.
Tan Xin did not carry a coffin. After reaching the thirteenth level, she seemed to have broken free from the shackles of being a coffin bearer. She wore golden silk armor and a cloak behind her, appearing much like a female emperor of the mortal world. However, on the outer sides of her arms were markings. The left side sealed a holy zombie comparable to the thirteenth level, while the right side sealed a ferocious ghost also comparable to the thirteenth level. Therefore, Tan Xin's overall combat power was immense, equivalent to the combined strength of three thirteenth-level cultivators.
Fortunately, Lin Zhao and his group possessed even greater combat power!
"Marshal Lin, please have some tea!"
Tan Xin respectfully offered Lin Zhao a cup of tea, which she had personally poured. The moment she saw Lin Zhao, Tan Xin's heart had turned cold. Her previous presumptuous thoughts vanished in an instant because she sensed that the Dragon Slaying Sword behind Lin Zhao was different from before. Previously, its spirit was sealed, like a bottomless ancient well. Now, this Dragon Slaying Sword gave Tan Xin the feeling of a volatile volcano within, suggesting Lin Zhao could draw his sword and kill at any moment. This sensation was profoundly oppressive.
Moreover, Lin Zhao was accompanied by four top-tier human cultivators. If a fight broke out, they could dismantle her hard-rebuilt Nine Nether Dragon Court in minutes.
Lin Zhao took a sip of the tea and smiled, "Indeed, it's excellent. You all sit down and try Tan Xin's brew."
"Yes!"
Huang Tingyu, Wu Zhi, and the others all took their seats. Tan Xin poured them tea one by one, her beautiful eyes filled with joy and not a trace of hostility. It was unavoidable; their fists were simply too strong, so such hostility had to be suppressed.
"Marshal Lin..."
Tan Xin sat down demurely and said, "You don't visit the Hall of Three Treasures without a reason. I presume Marshal Lin's visit today is to discuss something with me? If you have any requests, please do not hesitate to instruct me."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled, "It's not a matter of instruction. After all, the Ghost Realm and the Human Realm are inherently on equal footing. I've come this time, firstly, to inform the Ghost Emperor that our Human Realm is about to launch a Northern Expedition. The objective is to annihilate the demon race, and from now on, all demons in the world will bow their heads and restrain their wild nature."
"Oh..."
Tan Xin frowned. She had already anticipated this matter. After all, Lin Zhao employed open strategies, with every step meticulously planned, leaving the entire demon race unable to reverse their fate.
"The second matter."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Is to invite the Ghost Realm to join us in the Northern Expedition. After all, the number of demons in the north is immense. It would be somewhat difficult for the human army alone to completely annihilate them. If the Ghost Realm is willing to march north with me, I can promise that any demon corpses acquired after entering the ancestral land of the demon race will belong to the Ghost Realm."
"Ah?"
Tan Xin's lips parted slightly, and her heart immediately stirred. Demons were, in themselves, derivatives of the world's spirit. Their corpses were like delicacies to ghost cultivators. The many Ghost Kings of the Ghost Realm had followed her in abstaining from meat for ten years, and now a path to indulge was laid before them. Wouldn't they rush towards it?
However, Tan Xin's joy quickly turned to worry. She said, "Marshal Lin, Tan Xin is willing to lead the Ghost Realm in a Northern Expedition with you. But I ask that Marshal Lin draw a line for Tan Xin. Tan Xin does not wish to be an enemy of the human race, nor an enemy of Marshal Lin. After the demon race is annihilated, what arrangements will Marshal Lin make for the Ghost Realm? Let us be gentlemen first, and then consider other matters. This way, Tan Xin can be at ease."
At this, Lin Zhao couldn't help but give Tan Xin a thumbs-up and say with a smile, "Tan Xin, you have truly improved so much over the years, truly remarkable!"
Tan Xin's pretty face blushed, "One cannot only cultivate their power and not their intellect. After suffering enough losses, one naturally begins to think things through. Therefore, regarding matters after the war, I implore Marshal Lin to clarify, to show us, the Ghost Realm, a clear path forward."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao said, "This is my thought: after the great war, multiple Protectorates or Chief Clerk Offices will be established in the Demon Realm, where human armies will be stationed to govern the demon race. As for the Ghost Realm, I hope that within a thousand miles centered around the Nine Nether Dragon Court will still belong to you. Within this region, you can cultivate however you wish, and the human race will have no objections. The rest of the Ghost Realm's territories will be divided into various prefectures and counties. After all, it is fertile land, and the human race will migrate people to cultivate rice and establish strict laws. Neither side shall infringe upon the other."
He looked at Tan Xin and said, "If any ghost cultivator harms a human, you, as the Ghost Emperor, must severely punish them. And if any human cultivator kills innocent ghost cultivators, the human race will undoubtedly punish them as well."
"Agreed!"
Tan Xin gritted her teeth and said, "It's a deal. But on the contractual document, your personal signature must be present. I trust no one else. After all, the human race has never been short of schemers. I fear the Ghost Realm might end up following the same fate as the demon race. Only Marshal Lin's personal signature can keep those humans in check."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Then let us begin drafting the contract immediately. Once it is signed, you can mobilize your army."
Tan Xin nodded with a smile.
...
Yu Wan Ning pursed her red lips, listening intently. At this moment, she was filled with boundless admiration for Lin Zhao. His planning and strategizing were truly far-reaching. It seemed he had utilized every force that could be harnessed in the world, all to deliver a fatal blow to the demon race.
In fact, the moment Ghost Emperor Tan Xin nodded, it meant that the demon race of the lower realm was only one step away from annihilation.