Deep in the night, at the Ancestral Mountain of the Demon Race.
Long-burning lamps flickered, casting shadows. The last time, accompanied by the sword of that one, many long-burning lamps were extinguished. The Ancestral Mountain of the Demon Race suffered heavy losses. Now, Qing Kui, the Demon Ancestor, sits guard at the foot of the mountain wall, protecting the last remnants of the demon world's foundation.
Beside him, a great demon named Yu Zhi, clad in a fiery red dress, stood by a sand table. The sand table was exquisitely crafted, displaying the terrain of the entire demon world, from the Snow Domain Celestial Lake to the Shanhai Pass, Yun Prefecture, and Ji Prefecture.
At this moment, Yu Zhi, with her red lips pressed together, was placing fiery red flags representing demon army camps onto the sand table, nearing the completion of her offensive and infiltration plans against the human territory.
This war had the support of Mount Wuwang from the upper realm, and even the Demon Ancestor's senior brother, an ancient Kunpeng from the upper realm, had been mobilized. Therefore, Yu Zhi had very little to consider; it was an almost guaranteed victory with a swift march south.
However, the opponent was Lin Baiyi!
Thus, Yu Zhi could only be meticulously cautious. Even with an absolute advantage, she was considering every detail of the attack. For example, in the Snow Domain Celestial Lake alone, Yu Zhi deployed five army camps for the offensive, supported by 200,000 cavalry from the Nichang Realm assisting the attack. Furthermore, there was Mount Wuwang, along with the million umbrella-wielding heart demons within it.
With such an overwhelming force, if they couldn't forcefully push through the Snow Domain Celestial Lake, then Lin Baiyi would truly be a divine being.
"Rustle..."
Amidst the sound of footsteps, a beautiful figure in a verdant dress appeared on the peak of the Ancestral Mountain. Her figure was enchantingly graceful and slender. She carried an oiled-paper umbrella on her back and a celestial sword in her hand. She was Long Zheng, the twelfth-realm sword cultivator of the Demon Race's Ancestral Mountain.
"Long Zheng?"
Yu Zhi smiled faintly and asked, "What brings you here?"
"I request entry into the ancestral land."
Long Zheng frowned and said, "I heard that among the demon cultivators who descended from the upper realm, there are quite a few thirteenth-realm sword cultivators. If that's the case, wouldn't it be a disgrace for our lower realm demon world to have no thirteenth-realm sword cultivators? Demon Ancestor, Lady Yu Zhi, Long Zheng requests entry into the ancestral land to kill and prove herself. I will return within a day, and I will return with thirteenth-realm cultivation."
The Demon Ancestor lightly waved his sleeve and chuckled, "Long Zheng, go. I have no reason to stop you from contributing your sword to the demon world. Once you enter the ancestral land, you may kill, but only those of the Sinful Clan. To nourish your killing intent, even complete annihilation is permissible. Return quickly; the battlefield needs your long sword."
"Yes!"
Long Zheng bowed respectfully with a cupped fist, then said to Yu Zhi, "Lady Yu Zhi, I shall depart."
Yu Zhi nodded gently.
Long Zheng transformed into a streak of sword light, emitting a continuous sharp cry as she tore through the air and departed.
"Yu Zhi, what do you think of Long Zheng?" the Demon Ancestor asked.
Yu Zhi smiled faintly and replied, "She is arrogant and ambitious, seeking fame and fortune. There's no good or bad about it. As long as her sword dao talent is high enough, we can use her. Such a person, given enough opportunities and status, can contribute to the demon world."
"Aren't you afraid of being backstabbed by someone so eager for quick success?" the Demon Ancestor asked with a smile.
"Not afraid."
Yu Zhi smiled slightly, "Doesn't the Demon Ancestor have tens of thousands of true demon world life lamps hidden in his sleeve?"
"Hahaha~~~"
The Demon Ancestor laughed without a word. This Yu Zhi was truly extraordinarily intelligent. If she weren't his confidante, she wouldn't have lasted this long.
Thinking of this, the Demon Ancestor looked up at the fiery red star continuously falling from the sky.
Senior brother, senior brother, I hope your plans go smoothly, otherwise, a conflict between brothers will be inevitable.
...
Early morning.
As the first light of dawn broke through the horizon, rays of morning sun cascaded upon the vast army on the ground. Instantly, the dawn light reflected off the soldiers' weapons, armor, and shields, creating a dazzling radiance. The golden luster formed a continuous expanse, as if golden, cast celestial soldiers and generals had descended from the heavens.
On the battlements of Shanhai Pass.
Han Ye Tang, clad in armor, stood beside the Palace Marshal Bei Minghai. She looked at the endless stream of Dinghai Army arriving in the distance and smiled, "Suddenly I recalled an ancient poem that seems quite fitting for the occasion."
"Oh?"
Bei Minghai chuckled, "Which line?"
"'Bow back with clouds reflecting, sword shining with frost, autumn wind carries horses from Xianyang.'"
Han Ye Tang pursed her lips and smiled, "I wonder if I remembered it correctly."
Bei Minghai clapped his hands and chuckled, "Unexpected, truly unexpected. I never imagined Han Ye Tang had read books. If you hadn't said this, I would have almost thought Han Ye Tang only knew how to draw her sword and hack."
"Hmph~~~"
Han Ye Tang cast a glance at the old marshal before her, feeling that talking to these old fellows was rather tedious. However, Bei Minghai's seniority in the army was simply too great. He was one of the six marshals of the previous generation of the Palace Commander, having served under Lin Baiyi and Wen Shuyang in the past.
An old person at home is like a treasure. No matter how temperamental Han Ye Tang was, she had to show respect to this elder.
"Old Marshal."
Han Ye Tang looked at Bei Minghai again and said, "Once the demon and devil armies attack, how do you plan to fight?"
"How else can we fight?"
Bei Minghai chuckled, "Although my Dinghai Army has always guarded the Eastern Sea, everyone is skilled in archery and horsemanship. We can fight on water, on land, and on horseback. This siege battle is precisely the time for the Dinghai Army's archers, strong bowmen, and sword and shield soldiers to showcase their talents. Commander Han only needs to dispatch a few captains to supervise. This city wall, leave it to us of the Dinghai Army."
"Tsk tsk..."
Han Ye Tang smiled, "Old Marshal, what you're saying makes it sound like our sixty thousand Vermillion Bird Battalion are mere decorations."
She raised her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly and smiled, "Old Marshal, do you believe that my Vermillion Bird Battalion, despite being small with only sixty thousand men, is the most formidable sixty thousand cavalry in the Great Shang Dynasty? Even if Chen Xi were to select sixty thousand elite cavalry from the Cangnan Cavalry to clash with my sixty thousand Vermillion Bird Battalion, it might not be a guaranteed victory."
Bei Minghai frowned, "I must mention this to Commander Chen Xi if I have the chance."
"It doesn't matter."
Han Ye Tang held her head high, proudly puffing out her chest, "True gold fears no washing. I am not afraid of Chen Xi getting angry."
At this moment, a figure came from the south, riding the wind. He was exceptionally burly, exuding an heroic aura, dressed in a simple short shirt that appeared neat and efficient. He was Long Dongjun, the Sect Master of Iron Floating Mountain. Following behind him was a group of martial artists from Furong Prefecture, including four eleventh-realm cultivators and a large number of Sea-Treading and Cloud-Wandering realm martial artists.
"Sect Master Long!"
Han Ye Tang floated up, cupped her fist in the air towards Long Dongjun, and then looked at the group of martial artists behind him. These martial artists were peculiar. Some carried bundles of grain, some had a string of rabbits tied to their waists, and some even carried a live wild yak on their shoulders, its hooves kicking and mooing loudly.
"Oh dear..."
Long Dongjun looked a bit embarrassed, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Iron Floating Mountain is all martial artists. My fellow disciples have appetites far exceeding ordinary people. I was worried the food at Shanhai Pass might not be enough, so I brought along our own rations for several days on the way."
Han Ye Tang's forehead twitched. She smiled, "Sect Master Long, you worry too much. Although Shanhai Pass is not large, the town within the pass is quite well-stocked. Moreover, provisions are continuously being transported from the three major prefectures of Yun, Ji, and Shu. For as long as the heroes of Iron Floating Mountain are at Shanhai Pass, I, Han Ye Tang, will absolutely not let anyone go hungry."
"That's excellent. Please, Commander, arrange our accommodation. A communal sleeping hall is fine too!"
"Truly unfussy!"
"Hahahaha~~~"
In fact, Han Ye Tang provided many conveniences for the cultivators from the mountains. Sword cultivators above the Nascent Soul realm all had their own rooms, and even sword immortals of the Upper Five Realms could reside in courtyards within the pass. No matter how arduous the situation, sword immortals must not suffer, for once the enemy pressed close, these sword immortals would undoubtedly fight without hesitation.
A short while later, an old man in a fiery red robe arrived, riding the wind. He stroked his beard and chuckled, "From Medicine King Valley, Sun Qinghe, here to defend Shanhai Pass! Commander Han Ye Tang, I have heard of you from Lin Zhao. A pleasure to meet you!"
"So it is the old master of Medicine King Valley who has arrived. Han Ye Tang is honored!"
Han Ye Tang, being one of the six Palace Commanders, was impeccable in her reception of guests.
Within a few minutes, another group of cultivators arrived. This time, it was a group from the Green Luan Sect of Yun Prefecture, led by the twelfth-realm Grand Sword Immortal Xiao Muhan. Almost all the disciples with notable cultivation within the sect were brought along.
Han Ye Tang naturally had a pleasant smile on her face. Excellent, excellent. The more sword immortals from the mountains that arrived, the greater the chance of victory at Shanhai Pass. Although Chen Xi had told her about Lin Zhao's plan, and Shanhai Pass was merely a chess piece, with contingency plans already in place for its fall.
However, Han Ye Tang was not one to believe in fate. With such a formidable force at Shanhai Pass, she, as the commander, would naturally think in a positive direction, aiming to defend the pass. Otherwise, the morale of the army might be unstable.
A little later, a group of female sword cultivators arrived from the south. The Lingyan Sword Sect had also arrived.
The twelfth-realm Chen Mengjun personally led them, bringing along a group of elders and a number of peers with considerable cultivation. Chen Mengjun spoke little. The Lingyan Sword Sect had over fifty people in total, and they only requested a small courtyard. Most of them did not need rest; having a place to sit and nurture their sword intent was enough.
...
Yangping Pass.
The troops from Yan Prefecture arrived in a mighty torrent. Over 200,000 Lin Lu cavalry marched north in their entirety, along with various military corps under the command of Li Chunyang, the Grand Officer of the Staff, and numerous miscellaneous armies. Even the garrison troops from Lanxi City were mobilized. In an instant, the total strength defending Yangping Pass reached over 600,000. In terms of troop numbers alone, this was more than double the defenders of Shanhai Pass!
On the city wall, Lin Ruo cupped his fist in greeting towards Li Chunyang, who was on horseback below the city. He then gracefully descended and respectfully said, "Lin Ruo, awaits the Grand Officer of the Staff."
"Commander Lin Ruo!"
Li Chunyang also cupped his fist and said, "Then Lanxi City will be left to Commander's hard work."
"Alright."
Lin Ruo handed over the city defense seal of Yangping Pass and said, "Grand Officer of the Staff, then this first major stronghold of the Western Territory is entrusted to you. Lin Ruo awaits good news of your victory in Lanxi City!"
Li Chunyang nodded gently, a smile on his face.
Whether this battle could be won, heaven knew. But Li Chunyang's resolve to fight to the death was already set.