"Ding!"
System notification: You have obtained the main quest [Slay Wolfwalker] (S-rank)!
Quest content: Accompany the garrison commander Han Yi on an expedition to Golden Orange Forest, and within the forest, kill the mid-fifth realm demon cultivator Wolfwalker. However, you must be extremely cautious, as this mid-fifth realm demon cultivator is a wolf demon with extremely potent killing power, who has given himself the name "Wolfwalker". His methods are exceedingly brutal. This quest requires the completion of three conditions: 1. Slay Wolfwalker, 2. You remain alive, and 3. Garrison commander Han Yi remains alive. Failure to meet any one of these conditions will result in quest failure!
...
"Someone!"
Han Yi emerged from the camp and called out, "Bring a horse for the young hero to use temporarily!"
"Yes, sir!"
A soldier led a warhorse forward. This warhorse was a temporary "prop" that could only increase movement speed, but it provided no attribute bonuses. Thus, Lin Zhao expertly mounted the horse and, with a tug of the reins, followed the garrison commander out. This greatly surprised Han Yi. This swordsman is not simple, such skilled horsemanship... even regular Yunzhou cavalry might not possess it. How did he learn it?
Naturally, he did not know that the person before him was Lin Baiyi of Snow Domain Tianchi from a hundred years ago, otherwise, it would not be surprising. He was once the supreme commander of the human race's armies, so exceptional horsemanship was to be expected.
Under the moonlight, nearly two hundred cavalry soldiers mounted their horses and charged out of the camp with Han Yi.
"Light the torches!"
Han Yi gave a low command, and everyone raised their torches to illuminate the surrounding forest. Lin Zhao, however, held his Qinglu Sword, too busy to light a torch. As a player, his vision was quite clear. The group sped forward and, in the blink of an eye, entered the Golden Orange Forest. Most of the wolves in the forest had not yet spawned; Lin Zhao had already killed them all. Thus, the cavalry charged deep into the heart of the Golden Orange Forest unimpeded.
The further they went, the stronger the demonic energy became, causing Lin Zhao's brow to furrow. When he left, he had sensed a detestable feeling emanating from the depths of this forest, and now that feeling was growing stronger.
The wolf demon was not far away.
Now, Lin Zhao could only hope that this wolf demon's cultivation realm would be lower. If it were too high... he might not be able to bear it, and neither would this human cavalry unit.
"The demonic energy is so strong!"
A centurion sniffed the air.
"Follow the army cultivators!"
Han Yi raised his steel spear and shouted, "Demon-Suppression Talismans!"
"Yes, sir!"
Several accompanying cultivators ignited various Taoist Demon-Suppression Talismans. Instantly, the talismans, burning fiercely, were suspended between the trees, sealing the surrounding pervasive demonic energy. However, Demon-Suppression Talismans could only suppress demons when they were close to them; their indiscriminate use at this moment was of little significance.
Lin Zhao, following a short distance to Han Yi's left, couldn't help but frown. They shouldn't be using Demon-Suppression Talismans now; they should be using Tracking Talismans! But... Tracking Talismans seemed to be unique to military scholars, an original creation of his senior brother Ding Muchen. The accompanying cultivators did not have them, which made Lin Zhao anxious. If his military scholar skills were still intact, they could be put to use now, but it was a pity... that Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow had been lost on the battlefield with him, and they would likely never meet again.
"Earth Masters!"
Han Yi gave a low command, "Set up the Demon-Suppression Formation!"
"Yes, sir!"
A group of Earth Masters dismounted and buried talisman stones around the forest. In a flash, a faint, shimmering Demon-Suppression Formation appeared around the trees, bringing some measure of comfort to the group.
But just a few seconds later, an Earth Master suddenly let out a miserable cry, stumbled back several steps, and fell to the ground, dead on the spot.
"Maintain vigilance!"
Numerous cavalry soldiers dismounted, raising their battle shields in front of their warhorses to form a unified line.
"Quickly investigate the cause of his death!"
A group of people crowded around, their torchlight illuminating the Earth Master's corpse. They found no wounds on his body. It was only when Lin Zhao noticed a barely visible golden sheen on his forehead that he gently reached out and pinched. A golden hair, tens of centimeters long, was pulled out. It was this hair that had killed the Earth Master, instantly crushing his brain.
"Golden wolf hair?"
Han Yi couldn't help but tremble all over. "This is... a great demon nearing the fifth realm!"
At this moment, a demonic wind swept through the forest!
...
"Hahahaha~~~~"
A young man's voice came from an unknown direction. "Congratulations, congratulations! You guessed correctly. The reward is to leave you with a complete corpse, how about that!?"
"Who's there, come out!"
Han Yi, a sixth-realm martial artist, raised his steel spear, his expression solemn.
In the air, a figure gracefully descended onto the top of a nearby golden orange tree. With a light tap of his toes on the crown, he hovered in mid-air. The man wore a golden long robe, was a rather handsome young man, and held a slender sword. He chuckled, "How amusing. A mere few hundred human cavalry dare to challenge me? Do you truly think our demon race is made of mud?"
Lin Zhao looked up, his heart trembling uncontrollably. He finally understood why this auxiliary quest was S-rank. The difficulty had instantly reached its peak—
[Demon Race·Wolfwalker] (Dark Gold Boss)
Level: 48
Attack: 800-1250
Defense: 800
Health: 600000
Skills: [Flying Sword Technique] [Demonic Flame Strike] [Ghost Flame Sunset Slash]
Description: Wolfwalker, a Star River realm sword cultivator of the demon race, a member of the wolf tribe. Wolfwalker awakened a Sword Lake from birth and was nurtured as a prodigy of the wolf tribe. His cultivation soared as he grew up, eventually reaching the Star River realm. He was then dispatched by the great demon Yu Zhi into human territory, causing havoc in Yunshang Commandery, like a venomous wedge that brought immense suffering to humanity.
...
Ten realms, Star River realm, and a sword cultivator at that!
This was troublesome.
Lin Zhao frowned. Could the human race, at the cost of several hundred cavalrymen, possibly kill a Star River realm demon sword cultivator? Perhaps. He didn't know. And what could he, a mere level 40 apprentice swordswoman, do? Restrict Wolfwalker's performance to the greatest extent within the rules? Perhaps that was the only way to slay this Star River realm cultivator.
"Archers!"
Han Yi gave a low command, and immediately over a hundred cavalry soldiers raised their crossbows. "Chichichi!" A stream of cold arrows shot into the sky.
"Simply preposterous!"
Wolfwalker sneered. He swept his long sword across, and a beam of sword light instantly appeared, shredding a large portion of the arrow rain. The next moment, he leaped down with his sword, and with a heavy strike, cleaved three cavalry soldiers who had formed a shield formation into a bloody mess. Following this, he pointed his sword at Han Yi, aiming to capture the leader first!
"Not so fast!"
Han Yi shouted in response, his steel spear filled with true qi. He fiercely clashed with Wolfwalker's sword. With a "clang" of immense sound, Han Yi was directly repelled from his horse, staggering back on the grass. As he looked up, a blood-red flying sword shot through the air, heading straight for Han Yi's throat. That was the life-bound flying sword of a Star River realm sword cultivator!
"Ah?!"
Han Yi's face paled in shock. A premonition of death descended, and his heart went blank.
However, just as Han Yi believed he was doomed, a figure appeared before him, unleashing a sword qi shield effect. The flying sword "chi" sound pierced through Lin Zhao's body, dealing 2400+ damage. How ruthless! Was the attack effect of a level 48 Dark Gold Boss really this terrifying?
Lin Zhao relied on the fact that the opponent had to abide by the combat rules between players and bosses and could not instantly kill him. The next second, he unleashed a sword qi that enveloped Wolfwalker's head.
Sword qi collision!
"You... dare?!"
Wolfwalker's eyes widened. The next moment, he trembled all over and was stunned in place.
"What are you waiting for?!"
The instant Lin Zhao stunned Wolfwalker, he roared, "Attack him!"
Immediately, a barrage of close-range crossbow shots erupted. Dense arrow rain "pipi pa pa" pierced Wolfwalker's face and upper body. Two accompanying cultivators even unleashed several spells. In just a short moment, Wolfwalker's health bar dropped by over 15%. No matter how high his realm, standing still and taking hits still meant losing health!
"How dare you insects treat me like this!"
Wolfwalker roared in fury, raising his long sword. The next moment, he searched for his target. That human brat, he would chop him down with one sword to vent his hatred!
However, as he lowered his head, he saw a strand of fiery red sword intent rising from the Qinglu Sword. A strange sense of foreboding rose in his heart. This was bad; this sword might not be so simple!
The next second, Lin Zhao launched his attack.
Rising Dragon Slash!
With a "peng" sound of a huge impact, Wolfwalker's body was sent flying by the sword. His body was suspended in the air for a full second. The human cavalry and accompanying cultivators did not miss such a heaven-sent opportunity, unleashing another barrage of spells and crossbow bolts. Some cavalry soldiers even went so far as to hurl their lances. These incredibly strong cavalry soldiers, though lacking in cultivation, dealt tangible damage when their lances pierced Wolfwalker's body, as he was "breached" and had lost his defenses.
"You scoundrel!"
Wolfwalker roared. As he fell, he saw that brat had already slipped into the nearby jungle like a cornered rat.
"Come out!"
Wolfwalker raised his sword, unleashing rolling sword qi. However, this sword qi was not particularly strong. Wolfwalker vaguely felt that his strength seemed to be suppressed by some heavenly law. In fact, this suppression came from the rule suppression of a level 48 Dark Gold Boss. As a level 48 Boss, you simply could not instantly kill Lin Zhao's 8000+ health. This was the heavenly law of the game. Never mind being in the Star River realm; even the fifth realm would be the same, you simply couldn't instantly kill him.
"Quick! Shoot!"
Garrison commander Han Yi raised his steel spear and directed his men to attack. At this moment, he finally saw a glimmer of hope. That young swordsman was there to distract this Star River realm great demon so that his own men could kill him. If Han Yi didn't understand this now, he would be too foolish!
...
"Die!"
In the wind, a sword light descended – it was Wolfwalker's Demonic Flame Strike.
In the grass, Lin Zhao bent his body, blocking with his sword held in front of him, adopting a defensive stance!
"Peng!"
"1303!"
He blocked it, but it still hurt. His body was jolted backward repeatedly. He was suppressed in terms of level and strength, but as long as he wasn't instantly killed, Lin Zhao had no fear.
"Yunshang Commandery Iron Cavalry, charge!"
As Han Yi raised his steel spear, countless cavalry soldiers drew their swords and rushed towards the Star River realm demon sword cultivator.