Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, Natural Dwelling.
...
Lin Zhao gripped the Thousand Cavalry Rolls Snow, strands of military aura rising from his body. At this moment, having strategized for the entirety of the human world, he was no longer a Confucian disciple but a complete military strategist.
All principles were temporarily set aside; the priority was to win this great war, to ensure the human world's survival from utter fragmentation amidst this catastrophe. Therefore, to achieve that goal, Lin Zhao's schemes spared no means.
On his chessboard, everyone was a pawn, including Su Qingjiu, Lin Xingchu, Huang Tingyu, Wu Zhi, Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, and others. In fact, he himself was also a pawn.
"Hoo..."
He suddenly put down the Thousand Cavalry Rolls Snow, his body still enveloped in military killing intent. His eyes reddened slightly as he looked at what he had written. He knew many people would die.
[Publisher's Note: "Big Wind Novels" appears to be an irrelevant tag and will be omitted in translation.]
Snow Domain Heavenly Pool and White City would inevitably fall. Shan Hai Pass and Yang Ping Pass were also destined to be lost. Even the northern three prefectures of the Great Shang Dynasty – Yun Prefecture, Ning Prefecture, and Yan Prefecture – might fall. However, it was precisely through these sacrifices that there was a sliver of hope to win the entire game.
"Shan Hai Pass..."
He gently stroked the words "Shan Hai Pass" on the imperial decree. Chen Xi, Han Yetang, could they survive this calamity? Would they live? And many other cultivators from the human world's mountains would rush to Shan Hai Pass.
Long Dongjun, Xiao Muchan, Sun Qinghe, and other top-tier cultivators, even Chen Mengjun might head to Shan Hai Pass. How many of these divine immortals from the human world's mountains would die in this battle?
Clearly, in the unfolding drama of divine mountains falling, the first major battle would be at Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, exhausting its entire foundation. The second major battle would be at Shan Hai Pass. The demon and devil armies, only by breaking through Shan Hai Pass, could they enter Yun Prefecture. Shan Hai Pass would undoubtedly become the second main battlefield.
Once Shan Hai Pass was breached, although Yun Prefecture was vast, it was a flat plain. Heavenly Mechanism City would become the third main battlefield.
As for Yang Ping Pass, Lan Xi City, Bai Ma City, and others, great battles were also destined to occur there, but they would likely be considered localized battlefields.
"Sigh..."
He suddenly sighed, hoping that after this great war, more of humanity's prodigies would survive, giving them a chance to plan a counter-offensive and completely reverse the situation in the lower realm.
Yet, the thought of so many people dying made Lin Zhao feel as if he were pierced by ten thousand arrows. He couldn't help but slowly sit down in his chair, trembling. After composing himself, he continued to draft this strategy.
...
In the blink of an eye, another day passed.
Lin Zhao had confined himself to his study for two days and two nights.
Outside the door.
Wu Zhi became increasingly uneasy, frowning, "Is Master really alright? Or perhaps... Old Huang, could you cast a sliver of your sword aura to let me take a peek at Master? What do you say?"
"Absolutely not, absolutely not."
Huang Tingyu repeatedly shook his head, "Mountain Master has said no one is allowed to disturb him, not even you. Wu Zhi, your state of mind is still not quite there. Concern makes you reckless. Mountain Master has become a demon in your heart, right at the tip of your heart. If the karma brought by your obsession backfires on Mountain Master, wouldn't that harm him?"
"Ah?"
Wu Zhi pursed her red lips, looking helpless. At the same time, a blush spread across her pretty face. It's fine to say a demon in one's heart, but saying a demon at the tip of one's heart! Old Huang is truly a shameless old man.
"Sister Wu Zhi!"
Not far away, Zhang Luobai, with Liu Cheng on his back carrying a long sword, slung his satchel over his shoulder, walked up and tugged at Wu Zhi's empty sleeve, saying, "Why hasn't Master come out of seclusion yet? I miss him. Master hasn't scolded me for two days, and I feel restless..."
"Oh?"
Huang Tingyu tilted his head and laughed, "So you, Zhang Luobai, are like a lazy donkey at the millstone, not knowing how to move without a whip, eh?"
Zhang Luobai said, "I've noted that sentence. When Master comes out of seclusion, I'll report it to him, saying Old Huang is talking nonsense and disturbing my Dao heart."
"Scram, scram, scram!"
Huang Tingyu made a motion as if to kick the little brat away, but Zhang Luobai fled like the wind. In the distance, under the morning sun, Tong Yu, with Zhuang Yirong, was waiting for Zhang Luobai to go to school. Seeing Huang Tingyu and Wu Zhi from afar, Tong Yu cupped his fists in salute, and the two great sword immortals returned the courtesy.
The rules of the martial world had to be observed.
The group of cultivators in the mountain-top villa, despite their casual interactions, maintained a respectful relationship with each other under Lin Zhao's influence. This was likely the school's ethos.
After the three descended the mountain, a beam of sword light arrived from the south.
Without stopping at the sword-unburdening stone at the mountain gate to ascend on foot, as if the rules of the mountain-top villa were nonexistent to her, the sword light dispersed gracefully in front of the Natural Dwelling. A stunningly beautiful figure descended with her sword, it was Lin Wanhua.
"City Lord Lin!"
Huang Tingyu and Wu Zhi both bowed in greeting.
Lin Wanhua returned the salute, her beautiful eyes glancing at the Natural Dwelling, then her delicate brows furrowed. "Lin Zhao has been in seclusion for two days and two nights?"
"Mmm."
Wu Zhi said, "I don't know how he's doing now."
"No need to worry."
Lin Wanhua smiled, "He's merely drafting a strategy for the upper realm's sages to deal with the human world's situation."
"Ah?"
Wu Zhi was surprised, not expecting Lin Wanhua to know so much.
Lin Wanhua smiled slightly, "Perhaps it's because my realm is higher, and I am the lord of Fusang Great Wall, so I hear more news. Wu Zhi, you don't need to worry about Lin Zhao; he's fine."
She glanced again in the direction of the study. "It's just that drafting a strategy might exhaust him completely. The mental strain will be considerable, but it won't be fatal. Back then, he drafted the Heavenly Furnace Strategy overnight. This time, it's taken two days and two nights, indicating he is considering things more thoroughly."
"Right."
Huang Tingyu nodded, "City Lord Lin's considerations are indeed the most thorough."
Lin Wanhua chuckled lightly.
Just then, a subtle vibration seemed to emanate from within the sword aura restriction, indicating Lin Zhao was about to emerge from seclusion.
"I'm leaving now."
Lin Wanhua pursed her red lips and said, "I just came to check on the situation. Since there's no issue, then there's no issue. You don't need to tell Lin Zhao I came."
With that, she turned and left, transforming into an invisible sword intent carried by the wind, returning to Fusang Great Wall.
"Truly a strange person."
Huang Tingyu crossed his arms and watched in the direction Lin Wanhua disappeared. "She came all this way, yet left without seeing Lin Zhao. What was the point? I wonder if her state of mind has reached a more stable thirteen realm than mine, Old Huang."
"Hmph."
Wu Zhi chuckled, "Old Master Huang has never had a beloved, nor has any woman ever liked you. It's normal that you are completely clueless about the thoughts of these girls."
Huang Tingyu frowned, "You haven't used a single curse word in that statement, yet why do I feel like you're insulting me?"
"No, I'm truly not insulting you."
"That statement is even more insulting!"
Huang Tingyu was somewhat exasperated.
Just then, Lin Zhao stood up from his study and said, "Old Huang, dispel the restriction."
"Yes, Mountain Master!"
Huang Tingyu laughed heartily, and after dispelling the restriction, said, "Mountain Master emerges from seclusion, a cause for celebration!"
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao turned back, looking at his desk. The imperial decree placed there was already filled with text. At this moment, the decree trembled slightly, then transformed into wisps of golden light and vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a golden ripple, which also disappeared.
The imperial decree bestowed by a sage, after the strategy was drafted, was also recalled by the sage.
Lin Zhao felt a great sense of relief and slumped onto the steps, laughing, "Old Huang, Wu Zhi, thank you for guarding me. Fortunately, I didn't fail the mission and finally completed it."
Huang Tingyu narrowed his eyes, "This time, you'll truly become the human realm's marshal, won't you?"
"Who knows?"
Lin Zhao frowned, then smiled, "I only seek to bring peace to the world, not fame or fortune."
"Mountain Master, it's not that I'm saying this, but even if you don't value such things, if those powerful figures from the upper realm want to bestow something upon you, don't refuse. Our mountain-top villa is not wealthy; we might be ruined in an instant. Rebuilding will cost a lot of money."
"Indeed."
Lin Zhao heartily agreed and laughed, "Alright, if anyone offers benefits, I'll accept them all."
"Excellent, that's the spirit."
Huang Tingyu nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Dong Cang and Liu Liuying arrived gracefully, bowing, "Congratulations, Young Master, on emerging from seclusion."
"Mmm, as usual."
Lin Zhao lightly raised his hand and said, "Dong Cang, Liuying, go and make me some delicious food, the more the better. I'm starving."
"Okay."
Liuying smiled, "Anyway, Young Master's stomach is always empty."
"Hahahaha~~~"
Not long after, Lin Zhao ate heartily, feasting to his heart's content.
After eating and drinking his fill, the feeling of exhaustion washed over him, so he lay down and slept.
...
Upper Realm, Confucian Wenlin.
Inside the Ming Hall of the Confucian Academy, great cultivators from various schools and lineages gathered like clouds. The Supreme Sage Master, Dao Ancestor, Military Ancestor, and Mozi had issued statements, inviting top figures from influential sects in the upper realm to participate in this grand gathering.
The host was an old scholar from Confucian Wenlin, of extremely high seniority. He held an imperial decree in his hands, filled with text – precisely Lin Zhao's drafted strategy.
A debate began in the Confucian Academy.
Scholars from various schools and philosophical traditions spoke their minds, offering their opinions on Lin Zhao's strategy. For a time, arguments arose, and the old scholars repeatedly shook their heads.
The young scholars, however, had already rolled up their sleeves, gripping the hilts of their scholar swords, wishing they could immediately fight.
The strategy, which the Supreme Sage Master, Dao Ancestor, Military Ancestor, and Mozi all endorsed, how could you find so many flaws in it?
However, this forum of discussions was still necessary; it was merely a method employed by the Four Great Ancestral Courts to maintain their leadership in the upper realm.
...
Mountain-Top Villa, Natural Dwelling.
Undisturbed, Lin Zhao slept for a full day and night in-game. When he awoke, it was the morning of the next day, with sunlight streaming through the window and birdsong filling the air.
He stretched gently, feeling as if he had been resurrected.
However, in the next moment, Lin Zhao sensed the presence of another person in the room. He suddenly turned and saw a woman in snow-white robes sitting by the bedside, smiling at him.
Lin Zhao jolted up, his face filled with surprise.
"Sister Bai!!"