It has truly arrived!
Lin Zhao shot up from the city wall, drew the Qinglu Sword, and gazed afar at the appearance of this Star River realm Snow Lotus Demon. The next second, a general introduction to the Boss appeared, entering his field of vision—
[Snow Lotus Demon] (Gilded Grade Boss)
Level: 65
Attack: ???
Defense: ???
Health: ???
Skills: ???
Introduction: The Snow Lotus Demon, Star River realm. She was originally a Tianshan Snow Lotus guarding the mountains and rivers. After absorbing the grand dao spiritual energy of heaven and earth for years, she finally developed sentience and transformed into a Snow Lotus Demon. After gaining sentience, she was designated as a member of the demon race by the Demon Ancestor in the demon race's genealogy, receiving the demon race's destiny. Gradually, she took form, eventually cultivating to the Star River realm and thereafter dedicating herself wholeheartedly to the demon race.
…
"A level 65 Gilded Boss…"
Lin Zhao frowned. This was somewhat troublesome. Within the Chaos Temple, level 60 Gilded Bosses had already caused everyone a great deal of trouble. Now, this level 65 Gilded Boss would undoubtedly be even more terrifying. More importantly, being in the midst of a storyline, the opponent had been granted a "Star River realm" power boost, which made it even more fearsome.
He gritted his teeth slightly. This battle could only be a head-on clash. At the very least, he had to ensure the human camp did not fall. Otherwise, the deaths of so many Yunzhou cavalry would be truly heartbreaking. In truth, these cavalry were just NPCs, and Lin Zhao was well aware that even if they died, new cavalry would respawn. Yet, Lin Zhao still felt the pain. He had once been Lin Baiyi on the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. Every single soldier of the human race was precious in his eyes, possessing life. Deep within his heart, he could not allow these cavalry to die meaninglessly.
Therefore, Lin Zhao would naturally put forth his utmost effort in this battle!
"Archers!"
The Thousand-Cavalry Commander, Sun Jialiang, leaped onto the command platform, sword in hand, and roared, "Take aim and loose your arrows!"
In an instant, countless archers aimed their arrows at the Snow Lotus Demon below the city. The next second, a volley of arrows rained down, piercing the air like a swarm of insects. The Snow Lotus Demon, however, raised her delicate eyebrows and glanced at them, a mocking smile curling her lips. She said, "Do you think you can contend with me with just this little ability?"
As she spoke, she stomped her foot lightly. Immediately, countless snow-white petals swirled around her, forming an impenetrable barrier. The arrows then plunged in like stones into the sea, instantly dissolving and grinding into dust. The Snow Lotus Demon stepped into the air, opened her palm, and numerous petals appeared. With a smile, she gently blew on the petals in her palm. Instantly, the petals flew towards the city wall and arrow towers like hidden weapons.
"Careful, dodge quickly!"
Lin Zhao shouted.
Immediately, the cavalry holding their bows on the city wall dropped to the ground to take cover. However, four or five of them still fell, their throats completely severed by the petals, dying on the spot!
"Ballista, take aim!"
The Thousand-Cavalry Commander, Sun Jialiang, pointed his sword and barked, "Fire!"
With the clang of mechanisms, a stone ballista shot out, transforming into a dark silhouette in the night sky. These cavalry were well-trained; the stone ballista fired with extreme accuracy, heading straight for the Snow Lotus Demon's exquisite and flawless face, poised to shatter her entire head in an instant. But as a Star River realm cultivator, the speed of this ballista was far too slow in her eyes. She raised her hand, and her jade-like hand instantly pulverized the circular boulder. At the same time, her beautiful eyes lifted, and she looked at the Thousand-Cavalry Commander, Sun Jialiang, on the command platform, laughing, "You're making too much noise, quiet down!"
With that, the Snow Lotus Demon suddenly swung her palm, and a jade-hand Dharma form surged through the air, smashing the command platform into pieces. The Thousand-Cavalry Commander was sent flying back, spitting blood mid-air. By the time he landed, he was severely injured. Fortunately, his health bar was still at about 20%, so he wasn't killed, nearly causing Lin Zhao to lose his breath.
It's time to act, I can't just stand by and watch!
The next second, Lin Zhao leaped off the city wall, his battle boots lightly treading on the accumulated snow as he sped away. His speed instantly increased to its maximum. At a distance of 40 yards from the Snow Lotus Demon, he unleashed a sword energy that enveloped her. The next instant, the Sword Qi Impact skill activated, and he transformed into an afterimage, charging towards this level 65 Star River realm Boss!
"Ballista, aim again!"
The moment Lin Zhao collided with the Snow Lotus Demon, he loudly commanded the cavalry on the city wall to prepare. During the brief moment of stunning the Snow Lotus Demon, he unleashed a flurry of attacks, executing a sequence of Basic Attack + Sweeping Army + Basic Attack + Throwing Kunlun + Basic Attack onto the Snow Lotus Demon's body, dealing massive damage. Simultaneously, he shouted, "Aim and fire, don't mind me!"
"Alright!"
A cavalry captain gritted his teeth and pulled the trigger. Instantly, the second ballista shot out like an afterimage in the night sky, heading straight for the Snow Lotus Demon!
"Just with these little tricks?!"
The Snow Lotus Demon raised her delicate eyebrows, her eyes fixed on Lin Zhao. The aura she exuded at this moment had a rather commanding presence. She spread her hands, and petals swirled around her. Another large-scale spell was being prepared. But how could Lin Zhao allow her another chance to cast a barrier? With a flick of his sword, he instantly unleashed an Ascending Dragon Slash, interrupting the Snow Lotus Demon's prepared spell. At the same time, his body sank, and his sword cut through the Snow Lotus Demon's body, clearing the path for the ballista's attack.
"Ah?!"
The Snow Lotus Demon descended, landing precisely in the ballista's trajectory. She wanted to move away, but the mechanism of the Ascending Dragon Slash firmly trapped her. Even as a Star River realm demon cultivator, she could not evade this strike. The next moment, the ballista heavily impacted the Snow Lotus Demon's chest!
"Boom—"
With a loud bang, pure physical damage, the strike removed nearly 3% of the Snow Lotus Demon's health. Lin Zhao then followed up with another series of attacks, his figure flashing as he moved towards the city wall.
"You still want to leave!?"
The Snow Lotus Demon's face was filled with indignant rage. How could she, a dignified Star River realm demon of the demon race, be so humiliated by a sword cultivator of the lower realm? This was unbearable! She raised her jade hand, and an ice pillar enveloped in her palm fiercely smashed towards Lin Zhao's back!
Lin Zhao didn't hesitate. Almost instinctively, he turned around in an instant, his body sinking. The Qinglu Sword was held horizontally in front of his shoulder, adopting a perfect defensive stance. With a loud "boom," his body was violently pushed sideways by her palm strike. The defense was successful, and the damage taken was within the normal range of 10%-40%. His health bar dropped by over 2000 points, still within the bearable limit.
"How can this be?!"
The Snow Lotus Demon's face was filled with annoyance. She hadn't expected her fierce attack to be defended. At this moment, her hatred for this human sword cultivator deepened. She lightly opened her left hand, and threads of frost transformed into armor leaves that whirled and instantly surrounded Lin Zhao's body. Then, she clenched her fingers, and countless frost leaves rapidly converged, binding Lin Zhao tightly. With a wave of her arm, Lin Zhao's body was sent flying, crashing heavily against the outer wall of the camp.
"Boom!"
"5772!"
This impact left Lin Zhao feeling dizzy and disoriented.
"I thought you were so capable!"
The Snow Lotus Demon, with her slender and graceful posture, walked towards Lin Zhao step by step, her lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Archers!"
Lin Zhao looked up towards the top of the camp. "Aim and attack with the ballista, quickly!"
"Yes!"
At this point, with Thousand-Cavalry Commander Sun Jialiang injured, Lin Zhao, the only one daring to confront a Star River realm demon, had inadvertently become the commander of the entire camp. The numerous cavalry now followed his orders implicitly.
"With those crude things? You think you can hurt me?"
The Snow Lotus Demon sneered. "Lower realm, you are truly a lower realm. Your vision is limited to this extent. It's not your fault."
The next second, Lin Zhao, lying on the ground, smiled faintly. With a thought, with a "hiss," a flying sword pierced between the Snow Lotus Demon's soft peaks, leaving behind a trace of icy sword intent. In a flash, wisps of frost began to freeze the Snow Lotus Demon's body, greatly reducing her movement and attack speed. This was precisely the "Frost" divine ability of the flying sword, Mingyue!
"Hmph?"
The Snow Lotus Demon's delicate eyebrows knitted. She hadn't expected this mere lower realm sword cultivator to possess such a stealthy and high-grade flying sword, nor had she expected it to be so sharp. The next second, two ballista shots and a large volley of arrows rained down from the sky. The Snow Lotus Demon had no way to dodge and could only block them head-on. For a moment, the stone balls impacted her protective spiritual energy, creating ripples. The whistling arrows further depleted her spiritual energy with "puff puff puff" sounds.
A cultivator, even one in the Star River realm, if their spiritual energy is depleted, becomes nothing more than someone with a stronger physique than an ordinary person. They are no match for these formidable Yunzhou cavalry!
"Battlefield cultivator!"
Lin Zhao raised his eyebrows and said, "Prepare the demon-suppressing talismans!"
"Yes, my lord!"
A group of battlefield cultivators hidden among the cavalry one by one produced Taoist talismans provided by the imperial court's Shan Hai Division. These demon-suppressing talismans were quite precious, all written by the celestial beings under the Shan Hai Division after expending a great deal of spiritual energy. This cavalry regiment of a thousand men possessed only a few dozen such talismans, and they were only willing to use them when encountering demons at least in the middle fifth realm. After use, they had to submit written reports for materials upwards. Therefore, these battlefield cultivators were exceptionally cautious when using the demon-suppressing talismans.
Lin Zhao, while consuming blood potions, watched the Snow Lotus Demon's position and moved horizontally along the outer wall of the camp with the Qinglu Sword.
"Little thing, die!"
The Snow Lotus Demon's face was no longer young and beautiful, but had become ferocious. Her arms spread, and petals swirled around her as her body transformed into an afterimage, charging directly at Lin Zhao!
Lin Zhao had nothing else to consider. This quest had to be completed, and he wanted the kill reward for this Boss. Therefore, this time, he wasn't just focused on crowd control but also on dealing damage, firmly securing the ownership of the Boss for himself, no longer acting as a hired hand!
His gaze swept over, and all his skills were back on cooldown!
Sword Qi Impact!
He spun around sharply, repeating the same tactic. The Snow Lotus Demon, being inherently simple, couldn't have anticipated so many tricks and was instantly stunned. Lin Zhao's sword eyebrows rose. "Ballista, archers, demon-suppressing talismans, attack together!"
…
"Not good!"
The Snow Lotus Demon's heart tightened, knowing this strike would hurt immensely, but she was helpless. The moment she recovered from the stun of the Sword Qi Impact, she was lifted again by a sword from the Ascending Dragon Slash.
This little scoundrel, his cunning tricks are endless!