In the early spring, a heavy snow descended upon Snow Domain Tianchi.
At this time, Snow Domain Tianchi stood a majestic white city. The city walls were incredibly sturdy, especially the northern wall, dozens of meters high, built with Mohist techniques. Its outer surface was covered with dense reinforcement formations, and behind the ramparts, countless arrow towers and cannon towers stood tall.
Currently, the cavalry of the Snow Domain were reinforcing a large number of heavy cannons from the Great Shang Dynasty onto the cannon towers within the city. They were densely packed; the northern city wall alone had at least a thousand powerful heavy cannons, not to mention ballistae, catapults, and the like, which were even more numerous.
Inside the white city, in the northern district, a watchtower was built not far from Baiyuxi Creek. The watchtower was several dozen Zhang high, offering an extremely wide field of vision. At this moment, on the edge of the watchtower, sat a young sword cultivator in white robes and silver armor, cross-legged. It was Lin Zhao.
He sat motionlessly in the wind and snow, his epaulets and hair already covered with a thick layer of snow. From last night until today, he had been nurturing a surge of majestic sword intent and a breath of true qi in his chest, without moving.
Beside him, Liu Liying, clad in a red long dress, stood guard. She held a folding fan in her right hand and a bamboo basket in her left. The basket contained a few appetizers from Dongcang Shao, a plate of steamed buns, and a pot of wine. She said softly, "Young Master, the food is getting cold. Would you like to have some?"
"I won't eat."
Lin Zhao closed his eyes and said gently, "Liying, there's no need to trouble yourself further. From now until Wuwang Mountain falls, I will not eat anything. Go and discuss it with Dongcang."
"Discuss what?"
"You two, go south."
Lin Zhao sighed and said, "Wuwang Mountain is about to crash down. After all, you and Dongcang are an apricot spirit and a celestial spirit, respectively. Although your cultivation realms are not low, your combat power is somewhat lacking. So, head south immediately and await our news in Furongzhou. If Snow Domain Tianchi wins, you can return. Otherwise... you must live well. This is my wish."
In an instant, Liu Liying's beautiful eyes became misty with tears. She knelt gently before Lin Zhao and said, "Young Master, Liying will not leave... In this world, Young Master is Liying's only support. If Young Master dies in Snow Domain Tianchi, Liying is willing to die with Young Master. I have no regrets in this life!"
"Liying..."
Lin Zhao finally opened his eyes and looked at the fan-wielding goddess weeping profusely beside him. He couldn't help but feel heartbroken. He reached out and wiped the tears from Liu Liying's fair cheeks, saying, "If you don't want to leave, then don't. Go and tell Dongcang that once the great battle of Snow Domain Tianchi begins, you two should hide in the Mountain Peak Villa and guard our Mountain Peak Villa. As for fortune or misfortune... you will have to bear it yourselves."
"Yes!"
Liu Liying stopped crying and smiled, "Yes, Young Master!"
"Go."
"Yes!"
Liu Liying respectfully rose, turned, and left.
...
"Rustle..."
Below the watchtower, a figure walked through the wind and snow, clad in white, a sword on his back. It was the God of War Han Xin. He ascended the watchtower step by step, seeming to enjoy the sound of his feet treading on the snow.
"Did I interrupt your tender moments?" Han Xin asked with a smile.
Lin Zhao couldn't help but smile wryly, "Big Brother Han Xin, why would you say such a thing? Liying and I are just friends."
"Hahaha~~~"
Han Xin showed a hint of feigned ignorance of good fortune, then took out a pile of formation-related rune stones from his embrace and said, "The 'Muddy Ox Enters the Sea' and 'Stars Shift' formations were completely consumed in the battle of Wuwang Mountain. This formation I am giving you now is my life's masterpiece."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao's eyes lit up immediately, and he smiled and asked, "What do you mean?"
"This formation is called the Ten Directions Grand Formation."
Han Xin took a deep breath and smiled. "In the past, Xiang Yu, the God of War, was a formidable figure, yet he still fell victim to my 'Ambush from Ten Sides.' Once this 'Ambush from Ten Sides' was unleashed, it made even a God of War a turtle in a pond, a bird in a cage. Now, so many years later, I have created this Ten Directions Grand Formation based on the true intent of 'Ambush from Ten Sides,' so it is naturally quite formidable."
He glanced at Lin Zhao, a hint of pride in his eyes, and said with a smile, "The Ten Directions Grand Formation incorporates all ten directions of heaven and earth. It can deploy ten military formations within White City, condensing the morale and fighting spirit of the entire Snow Domain Tianchi within the formation's core. This Ten Directions Grand Formation has a formation controller and a formation eye. The formation controller oversees the overall situation, while the person holding the rune stone of the formation eye can gather the power of the ten directions into their own body."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Big Brother Han Xin, please explain it more clearly!"
"The meaning is very clear."
Han Xin said, "This Ten Directions Grand Formation can gather the fortune, morale, and combat power of the entire Snow Domain Tianchi onto one person. The formation controller should be someone with a steady mind, responsible for overseeing the overall situation. As for the formation eye, it can be entrusted to any powerful fighter, allowing them to withstand a million troops with their own power."
He slightly raised his eyebrows and said, "There are countless powerful individuals in Mountain Peak Villa, such as Su Qingjiu, Wu Zhi, Tang Guangjun, and others who are all capable of taking on this responsibility. When the previous holder of the formation eye dies, the next one will take over. This will maximize the power of the Ten Directions Grand Formation."
Lin Zhao understood instantly. The Ten Directions Grand Formation was tailor-made for Snow Domain Tianchi and White City. Han Xin had been busy in Snow Domain Tianchi for a long time and had prepared such an incredible divine formation, which truly deserved his gratitude.
"Thank you!"
He took the rune stones of the Ten Directions Grand Formation and said, "Lin Zhao, on behalf of Snow Domain Tianchi and the entire human race, thanks the God of War!"
Han Xin waved his hand and chuckled, "No need to be so polite. I, Han Xin, am also a human cultivator, someone who has walked this land. With heaven and earth on the verge of collapse, how could Han Xin not give his all?"
He frowned and said, "The war in the upper realm is pressing. Lin Zhao, it's not that I am unwilling to contribute to Snow Domain Tianchi, but I must leave. Shall we part ways?"
"Okay!"
Lin Zhao stood up and clasped his fists respectfully towards Han Xin, performing a military salute. "Lin Zhao respectfully sends off the God of War back to the upper realm!"
"I'm leaving."
Han Xin smiled slightly, his handsome figure instantly transforming into a golden streak of light in the wind and snow, having ascended back to the upper realm with a wisp of military qi. The movement was not great; perhaps, the higher one's cultivation, the smaller the movement of ascension. This is what is called "great dao is simple."
...
"Little Jiu'er, Old Huang, Wu Zhi, Tang Guangjun, come here for a moment."
Lin Zhao continued to sit on the edge of the watchtower, nurturing the sword intent and true qi in his chest, while also summoning the strongest combatants from Mountain Peak Villa.
In an instant, four thirteen-realm sword immortals arrived with the wind.
"Brother Lin Zhao, is something wrong?" Su Qingjiu asked.
"Yes."
Lin Zhao slowly pushed forward the ten rune stones of the Ten Directions Grand Formation gifted by Han Xin, explained the profundities of the formation, and then said, "Old Huang, subsequently divide the entire White City garrison into ten parts, three on the north, three on the south, and four in the center. Since the God of War has given us the Ten Directions Grand Formation, we will arrange the formation according to it."
"Yes!"
Huang Tingyu nodded respectfully.
Lin Zhao continued, "Old Huang, you will be the formation controller. Protect Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong in the center of White City as you control the formation. As for the formation eye rune stone, it is driven by the formation controller and granted to them. The person holding the formation eye rune stone will be the sword tip of the entire Snow Domain Tianchi, the one who will mobilize the entire fortune of Snow Domain Tianchi to attack. You decide the order among yourselves."
"Brother Lin Zhao."
Su Qingjiu said, "If the demons and monsters truly attack the mountain, the northern mountain will be the first to bear the brunt. The three military formations on the north side will be defended by Tang Guangjun, Wu Zhi, and myself. I will be ranked first. If I die, Tang Guangjun will take over the formation eye. If Tang Guangjun dies, Wu Zhi will take over the formation eye. This is the most reasonable arrangement."
She was ranking them according to their combat strength. Su Qingjiu wielded the divine sword Xunlu, had entered the thirteen-realm through sword heart communion with the gods, and possessed a natal star. Therefore, among the four great sword immortals of Snow Domain Tianchi, Su Qingjiu's combat power was the strongest. Huang Tingyu ranked second due to his ancestral Celestial Dog bloodline, followed by Tang Guangjun.
Tang Guangjun's thirteen-realm foundation might not be stronger than Wu Zhi's, but as a military strategist, his killing intent was too heavy. Therefore, in a direct confrontation, Wu Zhi might be slightly inferior.
However, Wu Zhi possessed ten demon soul swords. If she truly faced the demon race, Wu Zhi's combat power might be slightly stronger than Tang Guangjun's.
The reason Su Qingjiu ranked them this way was likely due to personal bias. Sister Wu Zhi was one of her favorite people; they had known each other since childhood. Therefore, Su Qingjiu hoped that through this ranking, she could save Wu Zhi's life, as the later one is, the more likely one is to survive.
As for Su Qingjiu, who was ranked first, she had already put her life and death aside.
From the day she ascended to Snow Domain Tianchi, Su Qingjiu had made up her mind. Her thirteen-realm cultivation was exceptionally transcendent. She could even contend against a fourteen-realm demon with a fight, and if she couldn't win, she could at least escape. However, if Brother Lin Zhao died, she, Su Qingjiu, would surely die.
In fact, the real key lay with Lin Zhao.
"Little Jiu'er..."
Wu Zhi pursed her red lips, her delicate eyebrows knitted. She clearly had reservations about Su Qingjiu's arrangement.
Lin Zhao frowned, feeling a pang of heartache. He naturally understood Su Qingjiu's intentions but was powerless. No one could escape the outcome of this battle.
Afterward, Yu Wanning, Chu Yu, Mu Zha, and others were appointed as the controllers of the remaining six rune stones. Everyone took on their respective duties and began deploying defensive zones. Only Lin Zhao remained on the watchtower, motionless, nurturing the sword intent and true qi in his chest.
...
Deep into the night.
On the southern mountainside of Snow Domain Tianchi, at the Mountain Lord Shrine.
As the common people gradually descended the mountain, the incense in the Mountain Lord Shrine had almost completely vanished. Su Shanjun, clad in white, could no longer hear the blessings of the people. Bored, he lay on a beam, immersed in a great dream.
"Lin Su."
Suddenly, a woman smiled at him, her dimples showing.
"Ah?!"
Su Shanjun quickly looked over. As the mist dispersed, he saw a young girl in a white dress approaching with a bag of five-spice peanuts, smiling and saying, "Mountain Lord Su, please have some peanuts. You can't be perfunctory with today's story."
"Alright, alright."
Su Shanjun's eyes lit up with joy.