Late at night.
After the burial of Chen Ben's cenotaph, Lin Zhao stood alone in the courtyard of Chen Ben's residence. This courtyard was specially allocated to Chen Ben by the Mountain Summit Villa. It was not too large and was considered unremarkable among the many small courtyards in the villa. It had a main hall and a side room. In the courtyard stood a ginkgo tree, which Chen Ben had personally planted.
Under the moonlight, Lin Zhao stood in Chen Ben's study.
In reality, Chen Ben was a boy from the mountains and fields, barely literate. Although he would occasionally go to the Lotus Wind Academy to read and write with the young children, his imposing physique often made him the target of their teasing. Chen Ben was thin-skinned and rarely went.
However, Gu Lingyu had gifted Chen Ben a set of children's primers and many calligraphy practice sheets for him to practice writing.
Now, on the desk lay the calligraphy practice sheets Chen Ben used for writing. On a piece of white paper were the four characters "Guó Tài Mín Ān" (Peace and Prosperity), written crookedly, very much in Chen Ben's style.
Besides these, there were only a few elementary classics in the study. The rest were weapon racks. Although Chen Ben was a warrior, he was also a legitimate Wan Qizhang (Commander of Ten Thousand) in the Snow Domain Army. Therefore, he not only had to practice boxing but also master all eighteen types of weapons. On the battlefield, in the midst of charges, weapons were often the most direct means of attack.
Lin Zhao sighed, carefully put away Chen Ben's calligraphy practice sheets, and then placed them in his own pack as a memento. Afterward, he gently stroked the general's sword on the weapon rack, his heart filled with endless sorrow.
Back then, when he brought Chen Ben back from the wilderness to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool did not have much deep foundation. But Chen Ben followed him wholeheartedly and without hesitation, never disdaining the poverty of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. At that time, Lin Zhao had indeed been attracted by Chen Ben's natural divine strength and his warrior talent. He did not deny this.
A general dying on the battlefield was the highest honor in warfare. Logically, Lin Zhao should not have been overly saddened. However, Chen Ben's sincere loyalty and pure heart made Lin Zhao deeply remorseful.
He sat down by the window, looking at the moonlight outside. Tears involuntarily streamed down his face. He devised strategies for the world, and everyone was a chess piece, including Chen Ben. But after Chen Ben sacrificed himself in battle, Lin Zhao's self-blame was overwhelming.
"Young Master..."
Outside the window, Liu Liying looked at Lin Zhao's dejected appearance and felt a pang of sympathy. She said softly, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. Chen Ben has killed over a dozen demon race cultivators at the twelfth and thirteenth realms. He has already made great contributions to the human world. Young Master, you don't need to blame yourself so much. Take care of yourself and go back to sleep early?"
"I'm fine."
Lin Zhao waved his hand gently. "Liying, you go to sleep first. Don't mind me. Let me be quiet for a while."
"Yes."
Liu Liying held her folding fan, bowed slightly outside, offered Lin Zhao a full courtesy, and then turned and drifted away, a worried look on her beautiful face. In fact, Chen Ben's sacrifice was just the beginning. When Mount Wuwang directly collided with the lower realm, and countless great demons pointed their blades at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, that would be the real start.
Many familiar people would die. This was unavoidable.
Because the Young Master's strategy was for the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool to dare to be the first in the world!
...
Late at night, the cold wind was biting.
Lin Zhao felt groggy, his mind in chaos. Just as he was drifting off to sleep, he suddenly jolted awake. A warm current appeared in his chest, as if some power was awakening!
"Swish!"
Across the sky, a golden meteor suddenly streaked down from the firmament towards the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, instantly illuminating more than half of the Northern Region. This brilliance then pierced through the restrictions of the Mountain Summit Villa and the roof of the study, transforming into a benevolent fortune filled with a fierce aura that permeated Lin Zhao's heart.
"What?"
Lin Zhao was fully awake, frowning as he examined his body. The Da Feng Novel Network.
The very next moment, the chaotic fist intent gifted by Mr. Bai continuously escalated and surged. In an instant, Lin Zhao's martial artist realm was fully expanded. In his chest, a force seemed to be awakening, constantly consolidating. Soon, a luminous stone, filled with immense martial fortune, slowly formed within Lin Zhao's body.
The God of War's Gall!
It was the God of War's Gall that Lin Zhao had blown up in his previous life, now finally returned to its rightful owner.
For a moment, Lin Zhao looked up at the sky, tears welling up in his eyes. He knew that it was Chen Ben, after sacrificing himself, who had returned the God of War's Gall that he had gifted him back to him.
Instantly, Lin Zhao involuntarily rose to his feet, his fists clenched, his entire body radiating golden light. The Sea-Stepping Realm, which he had only recently broken through, was instantly filled to the brim. In just a few breaths, the foundation of Lin Zhao's ten-realm martial artist was solidified, and he could almost see the bottleneck of the Heavenly Origin Realm.
He frowned, walked into the courtyard, and stood under the ginkgo tree. He gently assumed the stance of the Farmer's Nine Fists and began to nurture his fist intent under the moonlight.
Ginkgo leaves fluttered down. Beneath the tree, Lin Zhao, dressed in white, was unspeakably elegant. As his mind calmed and he slowly circulated his fists, it seemed as if a burly young man stood beside Lin Zhao in the courtyard, circulating the same fist technique. Amidst the falling ginkgo leaves, their figures gradually merged. For a moment, immense martial fortune circulated within the God of War's Gall.
"Chen Ben..."
Lin Zhao was on the verge of tears. He now realized that although the young warrior was honest and not particularly bright, before launching his final strike against the Kunpeng Demon Ancestor, a portion of his thirteenth-realm peak martial artist's fortune had been sealed within the God of War's Gall.
Now, Chen Ben had essentially gifted a portion of his thirteenth-realm cultivation to Lin Zhao.
Originally, Lin Zhao had gifted Chen Ben a supreme treasure of the human world, the God of War's Gall. Now, Chen Ben had returned half of his thirteenth-realm martial fortune to Lin Zhao!
Within his body, his aura surged powerfully.
At this moment, for Lin Zhao to step into the Heavenly Origin Realm was merely a thought.
But he forcefully suppressed it. Although it was a realm gifted by Chen Ben, it was ultimately an external aid. Even if Lin Zhao broke through to the Heavenly Origin Realm at once, this realm would likely lack sufficient refinement to bear the foundation of this God of War's Gall.
Moreover, Lin Zhao had long been certain that his sect was the Sword Sect in the Eternal Secret Realm, and his master, senior brothers, and senior sisters were all sword cultivators. Therefore, he also intended to enter the upper five realms as a sword cultivator.
Thus, he would temporarily suppress the Heavenly Origin Realm martial artist, which he could break through at any time, and wait until he broke through to become an eleventh-realm sword cultivator!
...
"Swish~~~"
The Dragon Slaying Sword, which he had carried on his back, suddenly trembled. A milky white radiance emanated, and the peerlessly beautiful figure of the White Dragon Goddess flew out of the sword body, gracefully taking a seat on the stone bench in the courtyard, and said with a smile, "Little Zhao, congratulations on regaining the God of War's Gall."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao was not in high spirits, as this God of War's Gall actually came from Chen Ben.
"Don't be too sad."
The White Dragon Goddess said gently, "Although Chen Ben's life was short, it was extremely glorious. He began to follow you at sixteen and by seventeen had completed more of a martial artist's journey than most could in a lifetime, becoming a thirteenth-realm martial artist, rare in the three realms, and killing many great demons. Such brilliant achievements are rarely seen in history."
She looked at Lin Zhao with gentle eyes and smiled, "Chen Ben always wanted you to be proud of him, always wanted to prove that as your brother, he, Chen Ben, was no worse than anyone else. His performance during this trip to Mount Wuwang was too brilliant, shaking the entire three realms. The chapter of the Immortal Realm will certainly have a significant mention of Chen Ben. That is enough."
"Furthermore, he sacrificed himself with a smile for righteousness. How many people in the world have such a destiny?"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Sister Bai, I know what you mean. Chen Ben's sacrifice was indeed heroic. It's just that I still feel a little sad. My strategy can be said to be devoid of sentiment, but I myself cannot achieve such detachment."
"If you were truly devoid of sentiment, you wouldn't be you."
The White Dragon Goddess smiled and walked forward, gently placing her palm on Lin Zhao's forehead. "From now on, let go of your sadness, calm your heart, and nurture your sword intent and martial qi. You must become an eleventh-realm sword cultivator before Mount Wuwang descends, otherwise, you won't be able to bear the five-tenths awakened power of the Dragon Slaying Sword, and you won't even be able to draw the sword."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao was surprised. "Sister Bai has a strategy?"
"Yes."
The White Dragon Goddess smiled faintly. "But it requires you to unleash this sword strike, to carve out an era of peace and prosperity for the human world."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded. "If I were an eleventh-realm sword cultivator, coupled with an eleventh-realm martial artist, would this sword strike be even more powerful?"
"It would."
The White Dragon Goddess smiled. "At that moment, you can unleash this sword strike with all your might. It doesn't matter even if you shatter Mount Wuwang. This sword strike is of great importance. If this strike succeeds, your strategy will succeed. If it fails, your strategy will only succeed halfway. Even if you eventually reclaim the human world, the entire world will be scarred."
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded. "I understand."
"Mm."
The White Dragon Goddess smiled calmly. "These past few days, I have been busy repairing the original injuries of the Dragon Slaying Sword and have made some progress. I believe it will be in time for the sword strike you will unleash. Actually, I am quite looking forward to you reaching the thirteenth realm, Little Zhao. Only when you truly become a thirteenth realm cultivator can you truly be considered the master of the Dragon Slaying Sword, and you will undoubtedly be the strongest thirteenth realm cultivator in history."
"Good!"
Lin Zhao nodded heavily. "I will do my best!"
The White Dragon Goddess drifted back into the sword body, continuing to repair and nourish the Dragon Slaying Sword.
Lin Zhao then returned to the Natural Abode and began to cultivate in seclusion, nurturing his sword intent and martial qi.
...
The next day.
In the sky of the human world, a fiery red star was rapidly descending. The time for Mount Wuwang to collide with the lower realm was drawing closer.
As noon approached, Dong Zang and Liu Liying were busy preparing a sumptuous meal. Lin Zhao remained in the study, nurturing his sword intent. Huang Tingyu, Tang Guangjun, Lin Zhujie, and others waited for food. Mu Gua, carrying a pot of wine, stood by Chen Ben's tomb in the back mountain, drinking wine and speaking a few words to his disciple.
He had to say them, otherwise, in two more days, he might not have the chance.
Mu Gua felt quite dejected. In the previous generation of the Mountain Summit Villa, his cultivation was the weakest. Once the great battle arrived, who would die if not him? However, it would be good to die, to accompany his foolish disciple in the underworld.
At noon, a figure in white, as pure as snow, arrived from the south, holding the sword Jing Hua, exuding an ethereal grace.
Lin Wanhua had come to visit the Mountain Summit Villa.