Ancient Dragon Marsh, Fourth Layer.
This was a map interspersed with lakes and swamps. Swarms of monsters spawned on the swampy ground. These were level 168 Ghost-God rank monsters, many of them "elite monsters" with exceptionally high drop rates, highly sought-after by players as rare resources. Currently, quite a few national server guilds had already entered the fourth layer.
Under the glow of the setting sun, Yi Shi Cang Liang, mounted on a warhorse, led a group of Cang Long players slowly along the shallow water by the lake. Beyond that lay a swamp, teeming with densely packed monsters. Even from a distance, three "elite monsters" with blue names could be seen. These Ghost-God rank elite monsters had far superior drop rates compared to normal monsters, making the probability of them dropping Ghost Artifacts quite considerable. Currently, the guaranteed price for a Ghost Artifact in the national server was 2 million general coins. This meant that casually dropping one Ghost Artifact could provide a lifetime of worry-free living.
"Be careful."
Yi Shi Cang Liang, holding his sword, furrowed his brow. "The terrain here is all close to water. Everyone, pay attention to your positioning. Don't fall into deep water. Who knows what lurks in the depths."
"Understood."
The vice-leader, Fu You Du Hai, smiled and nodded. "Boss, rest assured. We Cang Long have over 5000 players entering the fourth layer. We're very stable. No matter how difficult this fourth layer map is, can it really wipe out all five thousand of us?"
"Caution is paramount."
Yi Shi Cang Liang grinned. His mind was more meticulous. After all, Yi Shi Cang Liang had experienced system plots before. He knew that "Tian Xia," this game hailed as the second world, was not just a game but a world with chaotic and ever-changing plot developments. Nothing was entirely impossible. If one still held the perspective of playing traditional games in this "Tian Xia," they were bound to suffer losses eventually. In this regard, the vice-leader Fu You Du Hai was somewhat lacking.
"Sigh…"
A wave of emotion washed over Yi Shi Cang Liang. Speaking of vice-leaders, there were two of the best in the world. One was Cang Long's former vice-leader Chen Xue, renowned as the top guild manager in the national server, beautiful and possessing immense personal charm. In Yi Shi Cang Liang's heart, Chen Xue alone was worth a ten-thousand-man army. The other was Shen Xing Chen, the national server's best strategist-level vice-leader, capable of overseeing the entire situation, strategizing, and maneuvering with peak ability. Unfortunately, both these vice-leaders were now with the Scarlet Moon Knights.
He sighed, "My brother Lin Zhao, what good fortune he has!"
Just then, with a sudden "plop," something stirred the water not far away, creating a whirlpool. Yi Shi Cang Liang immediately grew alert. "What was that?"
"I don't know."
A middle-aged player chuckled. "Looks like a fish was thrashing in the water. It seems to be a large one. Too bad I didn't bring my fishing rod, otherwise, I'd have to try and catch it."
"Catch your ass!"
Not far away, a middle-aged mage pointed at the lake, looking as if he had seen a ghost, and roared, "Something just dragged Little Liuzi into the water! His health bar is dropping in the team interface, he's dead!"
"What?!"
Yi Shi Cang Liang quickly drew his sword and turned towards the lake, his voice low. "Everyone, be on guard! Beware of the deep water!"
However, it was too late. Waves and ripples continuously churned in the lake, followed by monsters covered in scales. Some wielded swords and pierced the hearts of Cang Long players. Others opened their bloodthirsty mouths and dragged knights, along with their horses, into the water. Some held long spears, impaling players who were only half-submerged. The water was now filled with demons!
"Damn it!"
Yi Shi Cang Liang roared, "Hold your ground! Move faster and get to the shore! The first squad will stay with me to hold back their attack! Quickly!"
Everyone entered combat mode. In the distance, figures emerged from the lake, all demons who had transformed into human form, some in the Fifth Realm, and even one Water Demon in the Star River Realm. Its lips were smeared with a smile, and with a gentle wave of its hand, it said, "Submerge the illusions before you. The damned shall all perish. Why struggle!"
Instantly, a wave nearly five meters high surged from the depths of the lake, directly crashing towards Yi Shi Cang Liang and his group. The Cang Long frontline, which had planned to defend in place and retreat strategically, was instantly scattered and swept away by the water, leaving no defense whatsoever. Yi Shi Cang Liang was forced to ascend into the air on his sword, leading a group of Golden Core realm players from the Cang Long guild who gritted their teeth and attacked from above. However, their numbers were too few to contend with the water demons before them.
Simultaneously, the depths of the lake parted, and a group of people rushed out of the water. It was Chang Ye Yu Huo and other players from the Cold Night Long guild, in the Seventh and Eighth Realms. They wielded swords, hacking and slashing, killing the unprepared Cang Long players one by one. This resulted in a tragic scene for the Cang Long guild. When Yi Shi Cang Liang led his group to the shore, he found that out of over 5000 people, fewer than 2000 remained, a devastating loss.
...
Ancient Dragon Marsh, Third Layer.
In the Burning Heaven Forest Valley, Lin Zhao continued to diligently grind monsters. Relying solely on killing people for experience points to level up was unrealistic and contrary to righteousness. As a half-military strategist, Lin Zhao's methods of leveling up were understandable, but he was a disciple of the Confucian scholar Qin Sui Han. For a Confucian Sage's disciple to advance himself through murder and plunder was somewhat hard to justify.
"Lin Zhao."
Amidst the sound of hooves, Chen Xue, holding the Human Emperor's Battle Spear, approached. "Something has happened on the fourth layer!"
"What do you mean?"
Lin Zhao repelled a group of monsters with a single sword strike, then let his flying swords finish them off. He turned to look at Chen Xue. Chen Xue was naturally steady; she wouldn't have such an expression unless it was a major event.
"Chang Ye Yu Huo is causing trouble on the fourth layer," Chen Xue said, her brow furrowed. "It's said that Chang Ye Yu Huo used a spiritual talisman from a Dragon Zither to summon an Eleventh Realm great demon into the fourth layer map. This great demon is called Bai Yu, originally a white fish spirit. Its great Dao is close to water, making it thrive in the lake and swamp terrain of the fourth layer. It summoned a large number of water demons into the fourth layer map to attack players. Chang Ye Yu Huo, along with the people from Cold Night Long, took advantage of the chaos. Many guilds suffered losses, with Cang Long and Xun Xian guilds suffering the most severe, losing thousands of elites each."
"..."
Lin Zhao's brows furrowed. "It seems Chang Ye Yu Huo is still not giving up. Relying on Dragon Zither's protection, does he want to carve out a territory and become a king in the Ancient Dragon Marsh map? If so, it's best to deal with Chang Ye Yu Huo and that Eleventh Realm great demon as soon as possible."
"Understood."
Chen Xue replied, "Star Chen and I have discussed it. Our plan is for you to go first. You have the strength to solo, and your presence there can at least stabilize the overall situation on the fourth layer. As for us Scarlet Moon Knights, I will organize the cavalry class players who have obtained the Burning Heaven War Horse mount to enter the fourth layer with me, along with some elites from other professions. We aim to send 2000-3000 elites from the Scarlet Moon Knights to the fourth layer to alleviate everyone's pressure. However, the land area on the fourth layer is said to be less than 5%, with most of the map being water. We all need to be careful."
"Got it."
Lin Zhao was actually not afraid of fighting in water. With his superb movement technique, "Yi Wei Du Jiang" (A Reed Crossing the River), he wouldn't fear anyone on water. Moreover, as a Nascent Soul realm sword cultivator, there was little to fear.
Thus, he spun his body and ascended on his flying sword, heading straight for the fourth layer.
...
"Swish!"
Lin Zhao appeared in the sky above the fourth layer, a streak of light. He looked down and saw, as Chen Xue had said, that most of the map was water, with scattered patches of land surrounded by swamps. As he entered the fourth layer, a "ding" sounded, and a message arrived from Yi Shi Cang Liang: "Saw that your map changed to the fourth layer. You've arrived?"
"Yes, give me Chang Ye Yu Huo's coordinates."
"Alright!"
The moment he received the coordinates, Lin Zhao guided his flying sword, Hong Ye (Red Leaf), transforming into a fiery red streak and rushing along the ground. His mind was filled with a single thought: kill Chang Ye Yu Huo first! To put it plainly, Chang Ye Yu Huo was a disciple of the Twelfth Realm great demon Long Zheng. He was the instigator of the chaos on the fourth layer. Killing Chang Ye Yu Huo would resolve many troubles. As for the summoned demons, they could be dealt with slowly.
Ahead, a green lake. As Lin Zhao zipped past a dense forest, he saw a group of Cang Long guild players on the swampy land ahead being chased ashore by water demons. In the water, there were several mid-Fifth Realm demon cultivators, all dressed in long robes, bombarding them with various spells. The Cang Long players were in full retreat.
To the right of the Cang Long group, a group of players, shielded by the demon assault, were advancing rapidly, their swords cleaving those who fell behind into the shallows. Among them, the fiercest killer was Chang Ye Yu Huo.
Found him!
Without hesitation, Lin Zhao launched his flying sword, Hao Ran (Magnificent), from the Sword Cultivation Lake, creating a small "Hao Ran World" to envelop him. Instantly, Lin Zhao's figure turned into a gust of wind, leaving a shallow ripple on the water's surface as he sped towards Chang Ye Yu Huo. Chang Ye Yu Huo felt a chill down his spine but could see no one. He abruptly turned, alarmed, "What was that!?"
The next moment, a sword light ascended. The "Ascending Dragon Strike" directly sent Chang Ye Yu Huo's body flying into the air. Immediately, the flying sword, Xin Huo (Campfire), engulfed in fiery red light, pierced directly through Chang Ye Yu Huo's throat, dealing over 600,000 damage and instantly killing him. As the Cold Night Long players turned towards Lin Zhao, swarms of "Fu You" flying swords and "Ling Xu" flying swords attacked. Lin Zhao flickered his sword, Zhan Lu ( a famous sword), and unleashed a strike from the air!
"Slaying the Immortal with One Sword!"
With a deafening roar, the lake below the sword energy seemed to boil. The group of Cold Night Long players were instantly killed without even a scream. Lin Zhao's current attack power was terrifying. The damage output of "Slaying the Immortal with One Sword" was nearly 100,000, and a critical hit would guarantee an instant kill. Coupled with the damage from the "Fu You" flying swords, the more than ten people in the path of the sword light were almost all annihilated.
"Brat!"
On the surface of the lake, a demon cultivator in a grey robe, in the Star River Realm, looked furious. Long Zheng was his master, and Chang Ye Yu Huo was Long Zheng's only direct disciple. Chang Ye Yu Huo had been killed right before his eyes. Although he wouldn't die because Long Zheng had left a life lamp for him on the Demon Ancestral Mountain, it was still a loss to his cultivation. Once Long Zheng held him accountable for this, how could this mere Star River Realm cultivator withstand the thunderous wrath of a Twelfth Realm expert?
Therefore, this Star River Realm demon cultivator, with a face full of indignation, charged towards Lin Zhao. Anyone else could live today, but he had to die!