The next day, in the afternoon.
Lin Zhao stood at the edge of the southern cliff of the mountain-top villa, looking down. In the distance, on the official road, appeared a series of dark blue battle banners – the banners of the Cangnan Iron Cavalry. Ten years had passed, and the army of the Great Shang Dynasty had finally returned to Xueyu Tianchi. Soon after, the Cangnan Iron Cavalry began to camp on the plains south of the mountain, drawing water, cooking, and so on. Dafeng Novel Network.
Lin Zhao descended the mountain, but on the mountainside, he encountered the Palace Commander Chen Xi, accompanied by several deputy generals.
Chen Xi, clad in dark blue armor, appeared exceptionally spirited. Her pretty face was filled with the triumph of a great victory. Seeing Lin Zhao personally greet her from the mountain, she immediately stopped by the roadside and, with her subordinates, cupped her fists in a respectful salute: "Chen Xi greets Commander Lin!"
"Chen Xi, no need for such formalities."
Lin Zhao returned the salute with cupped fists and smiled, "How many Cangnan Iron Cavalry have arrived in the first batch?"
"Not many, only thirty thousand."
Chen Xi pursed her red lips and smiled, "But Commander Lin need not worry. At the latest, tonight or tomorrow, Han Yetang will lead one hundred thousand elite troops to Xueyu Tianchi. The accompanying supplies and equipment will follow closely. Additionally, the forces from various prefectures and counties coming from Yunzhou will also arrive later. Within about ten days, we will be fully prepared for the northern expedition."
"Good, ten days!"
Lin Zhao nodded, "Then I will tentatively set the date for the northern expedition in ten days."
"Yes!"
After watching Chen Xi and her party descend the mountain, Lin Zhao turned to look in the direction of the mountain-top villa and said, "Old Huang, Shan Zhi, Tang Guangjun, Yu Wan Ning, the four of you, come with me."
A few moments later, four peak powerhouses from the mountain-top villa descended one by one. Three were thirteenth-realm Sword Cultivators, and one was a Rebirth Realm female martial artist comparable to a thirteenth-realm Sword Cultivator. In terms of true combat power, this group was effectively composed of individuals at the thirteenth-realm. Compared to them, Lin Zhao's cultivation seemed the lowest, his strength the weakest among the group.
However, not one of the four dared to look down on Lin Zhao's strength. Respect for the Mountain Master was one thing, but Lin Zhao's current strength was truly different from before. Previously, Lin Zhao's peak combat power was limited to the moment he drew the Dragon Slaying Sword, almost at the cost of his life. Now, it was different. Drawing a wisp of the divine intent of the Dragon Slaying Sword was a common occurrence for him, and once he transformed his realm, his true combat power would likely not be too far behind the thirteenth-realm, even if it wasn't equal.
"Lord, where are we going?" Shan Zhi asked.
"The East Sea."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "We are going to meet the East Sea Flood Dragon clan. Does anyone know their hiding place? Lead the way."
"I know."
Tang Guangjun cupped his fists and said, "Mountain Master, when I observed the world from the Upper Realm, I saw the stirrings of the flood dragon clan in the depths of the East Sea. Jiao Chen recently returned to the fourteenth realm. Now, it seems they are coveting the human realm's lands and waters again, harboring a bit of presumptuous ambition."
Huang Tingyu's expression was solemn, "Lin Zhao, why are you looking for Jiao Chen? That old scoundrel is completely incorrigible. After taking a beating from Lin Wanhua back then, he only behaved himself for ten years. The Flood Dragon clan in the East Sea are all fools who serve whoever is in power. Even if you have some plan to approach them, it will likely be a waste of words."
"We have to try."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Tang Guangjun, draw your sword and lead us to the East Sea. Go directly to find Jiao Chen."
"Yes!"
Tang Guangjun raised his hand, and a streak of flying sword transformed into a brilliant light, enveloping their bodies. They ascended into the sky and headed directly towards the East Sea.
…
Not long after, in the depths of the East Sea.
"Boom!"
Tang Guangjun, being straightforward and not one for excessive pleasantries, brought them to the sky above the East Sea. He directly raised his hand, drew his sword, and unleashed a ten-thousand-foot sword light from its tip. He then thrust the sword into the sea, stirring it vigorously, immediately creating a massive vortex that caused the seawater to churn and surge.
The deliberate actions of a thirteenth-realm Military Sword Cultivator were enough to disturb the East Sea.
Lin Zhao squinted, a smile on his face. Tang Guangjun was becoming more and more useful, seemingly able to anticipate his thoughts. This was exactly what he wanted – to give the East Sea a show of force upon arrival, lest the Flood Dragon ancestor, Jiao Chen, think that the human race had lost its strength after ten years of bloody war and could no longer contend with the East Sea Flood Dragon clan.
In the blink of an eye, countless sea creatures were disoriented by Tang Guangjun's immense sword intent. Many fish floated to the surface, belly up, and even enormous deep-sea whales and giant crabs appeared, their massive bodies surfacing, quite awe-inspiring.
"Immortal, please stop! Immortal, please stop!"
Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the seabed. It was a young girl holding an immortal sword and wearing a dark green long skirt. She looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, with large, intelligent eyes and a delicate, dewy face. Her figure was graceful and budding. She looked at the people in the sky with anxiety and said, "Immortal, let's talk this through..."
This woman was a young flood dragon. Lin Zhao, using his twelfth-realm divine ability, could tell that her scales were still quite tender, but there were a few golden reverse scales on her neck. Despite her youth, her cultivation was quite profound; she had already reached the twelfth realm, and she was a Sword Cultivator. Sword Cultivators among the Flood Dragon clan were very rare. Naturally possessing a strong physique, they became extremely formidable once they mastered the way of the sword.
"Little girl, who are you?"
Huang Tingyu crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes with a smile, "When I, Old Huang, last traveled the East Sea, I didn't see anyone like you."
"This junior is called Yun Wu."
The female flood dragon cupped her fists respectfully and said, "I am a descendant of ancestor Jiao Chen. When seniors visited the East Sea last time, I was perhaps too young to come out and pay respects, so please forgive me."
"No problem, no problem!"
Huang Tingyu waved his hand and smiled, "However, we are not here to see you. This is the Mountain Master of our mountain-top villa, Lin Zhao. Please, little girl, go and relay a message. Say that Lin Baiyi requests an audience with ancestor Jiao Chen and asks the ancestor to meet with us quickly."
"Yes!"
The female flood dragon nodded, her gaze lingering on Lin Zhao. Although she was young, she was already very familiar with the name "Lin Baiyi." What cultivator in the human realm had not heard of this name?
She respectfully turned and plunged into the water.
Not long after, waves began to surge from the depths of the sea. Soon, a group of flood dragons who had transformed into human form appeared above the water, treading on the waves. Leading them was the vigorous Jiao Chen. After the Battle of Shu Prefecture's Submergence, he had endured hardships in the East Sea and finally cultivated back to the fourteenth realm. He was now the supreme ruler of the East Sea.
Following Jiao Chen were a young thirteenth-realm flood dragon, exuding an imposing aura. Even when looking at the thirteenth-realm human Sword Immortals like Huang Tingyu, Shan Zhi, and Tang Guangjun, he showed no fear. Instead, his eyes were filled with indignation, as if he strongly resented Tang Guangjun for disturbing the sea upon arrival.
In addition, there were three twelfth-realm flood dragons and dozens of eleventh-realm demon creatures. The remaining were insignificant disciples and grand-disciples. Even if there were any young prodigies among the Flood Dragon clan, they had not yet matured. As long as Lin Zhao willed it, the combat power of the mountain-top villa could annihilate the entire East Sea Flood Dragon clan at this moment.
"This old man, Jiao Chen, pays his respects to Mountain Master Lin." Jiao Chen's expression was quite respectful.
The other flood dragons also bowed.
Lin Zhao, always courteous, immediately descended on a streak of sword light to a position level with Jiao Chen. He cupped his fists in return and said, "This junior Lin Zhao pays his respects to Elder Jiao Chen!"
Jiao Chen narrowed his eyes and smiled, "This old man and the Mountain Master have never had much interaction. I wonder what business the Mountain Master has in the East Sea seeking me out..."
"A major matter."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Lin Zhao has come to invite ancestor Jiao Chen to lead the East Sea Flood Dragon clan to participate in a grand event, together to annihilate the demon race and bring peace back to the mortal realm. I wonder if the ancestor is willing."
"Ah?"
Jiao Chen's body trembled slightly, and the hand holding his cane tightened involuntarily. He naturally had his apprehensions. After all, the Flood Dragon clan was itself a member of the demon race. Although they had been banished to the East Sea for over ten thousand years, if the East Sea Flood Dragon clan were to attack the Ancestral Mountain, they would inevitably incur the resentment of the demon race in the Upper Realm.
After all, Kun Peng and Qing Kui, two great demons with unfathomable cultivation, were still alive and well in the Upper Realm. If they were to retaliate against the East Sea, who knew what kind of catastrophe they would bring.
"Mountain Master."
Jiao Chen's brow furrowed, "The Mountain Master commands the human armies and wishes to eradicate the demon race and restore peace to the world. This old man naturally supports it wholeheartedly. However... my Flood Dragon clan is itself a member of the demon race. If we were to join the Mountain Master in attacking the Ancestral Mountain, it would inevitably lead to accusations of disowning our ancestors from the world. I ask the Mountain Master to discern this."
Huang Tingyu frowned, "What? If I hear you say that, does it mean I, Huang Tingyu, am a traitor who disowned my ancestors?"
"Sword Immortal Huang suffered much disdain in those days, so it is naturally different."
Jiao Chen did not wish to argue with Huang Tingyu. He turned his gaze back to Lin Zhao and said, "This old man reiterates, I ask the Mountain Master to consider and discern, and not to place the East Sea Flood Dragon clan on the verge of a crisis."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded and said, "This time, I have brought Old Huang, Shan Zhi, Tang Guangjun, and Yu Wan Ning to the East Sea, not to use force to suppress anyone. It is purely for safety to have more escorts. I have never intended to subdue the East Sea Flood Dragon clan by force. Although the mountain-top villa could do it, there is no need. In these years, the East Sea Flood Dragon clan has not been involved in major wars, which can be considered as having shown great benevolence to us humans."
When he spoke with soft words, the expressions of the twelfth-realm and eleventh-realm Flood Dragon cultivators softened somewhat. They felt that although this Lin Baiyi was rumored to be cunning, he seemed like a decent person.
The next moment, Lin Zhao cupped his fists gently towards Jiao Chen and said, "Therefore, Lin Zhao will absolutely not force matters and ask ancestor Jiao Chen to lead the Flood Dragon clan to attack the demon race. I will handle the matter of attacking the demon race myself. What I seek is for ancestor Jiao Chen to lead the East Sea Flood Dragon clan to launch an offensive against the Ni Chang Heavenly Realm from the northeastern sea, using the East Sea's water transport to crush the Ni Chang Heavenly Realm. There is no need for a true attack; a posture of coercion would suffice, leaving the Ni Chang Heavenly Realm unable to divert its attention westward. That would be enough."
Jiao Chen pondered for a moment, remaining silent. His concern was still simple: even if it was a feigned attack on the Ni Chang Heavenly Realm, would it incur the wrath of the demon race in the Upper Realm?
Lin Zhao saw through the old scoundrel's thoughts and smiled, "If this matter is successful, when the opportunity arises, I will definitely go to the East Sea with my senior brother Ding Muchang, as well as Brother Yan Beichen and Miss Lin Wanhua, to treat ancestor Jiao Chen to a drink. In the future, I will also provide much protection to the East Sea Flood Dragon clan. I ask the ancestor to consider."
These words carried a strong sense of threat. Lin Zhao's meaning was obvious: you fear the demons seeking trouble, but do you not fear the humans seeking trouble? The current trend of the world favors the human race!
Although there was a hint of the wolf borrowing the tiger's might, he would not hesitate to use any resource that could be utilized.
…
"Fine, fine!"
Jiao Chen pondered for a long time, then gently cupped his fists and said, "My East Sea Flood Dragon clan will risk our lives for the Mountain Master this time, considering it is for the world, and also for the peaceful days of my Flood Dragon clan!"