At noon, Lin Zhao’s breakfast was ready.
A whole yellow bone fish, a meter long, was grilled. It was seasoned with salt and cumin, brushed with oil to lock in its moisture, and roasted to a golden hue. It sizzled, its aroma filling the air, making all the fish, shrimp, and other spirits in the Washing Sword River incredibly envious. That yellow bone fish, relying on its five hundred years of cultivation and its sixth-realm power, had caused no end of trouble in this water territory. Whose kin had this fish not devoured?
Now, the handsome and imposing young man on the shore was roasting this wicked yellow bone fish. Therefore, the large white fish, catfish, blackfish, river shrimp, oysters, and others in the water couldn't help but clap their fins and feel overjoyed. They even wished they could come ashore and gnaw on a fishbone from the young man.
At this moment, Lin Zhao was naturally the happiest.
This fish was truly delicious. After all, it had achieved sentience. He first pulled off its head and ate the two tender pieces of flesh near its gills, his mouth slick with oil. It felt amazing. Moreover, after the fish meat entered his stomach, a warmth spread through him, and his true qi and spiritual energy began to surge. It was indeed the essence of a spirit, beneficial for cultivation.
The entire fish weighed at least twenty to thirty pounds. Fortunately, Lin Zhao was a martial artist, a martial artist of the middle fifth realm at that, with a large appetite. He ate half of it, along with three large flatbreads, before finishing his breakfast. He placed the remaining fish in the small hut, to be roasted again for lunch, another delicious meal.
In the morning, the young man practiced his punches by the riverbank. After working up a sweat, he picked up his long sword to chop wood. With nimble hands, he crafted a table facing the great river on the shore. Then, he took out a stack of yellow talismans and ordinary cinnabar. Using the "Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow" technique, he practiced drawing talismans by the riverbank. He was drawing the "Break Malice Talisman," which was more complex than the "Divine Speed Talisman" and "Sword Illumination Talisman." This type of talisman could be used to slay demons or expel evil spirits. It was similar to the "Demon Suppressing Talisman" but of a much higher grade.
Lin Zhao had been practicing this "Break Malice Talisman" for many days, but he was not yet proficient.
However, today, by the Washing Sword River, a place brimming with military killing intent, Lin Zhao felt a surge of inspiration. The first "Break Malice Talisman" was completed in just three strokes. The military artistic conception within the talisman formed naturally, as if phantoms of iron cavalry appeared on the paper, ready to attack demonic creatures. This greatly pleased Lin Zhao, and he began to draw the second one.
As a result, Lin Zhao drew one "Break Malice Talisman" after another, becoming increasingly skilled and proficient!
With each completed "Break Malice Talisman," the military artistic conception contained within it grew stronger. The moment a talisman was drawn, wisps of iron cavalry figures wielding long spears would rush out from the bank, as if merging into the source, and disappear into the Washing Sword River ahead in the blink of an eye.
...
Lin Zhao loved this feeling so much that he even skipped lunch. He stood by the table on the riverbank, drawing "Break Malice Talismans" one after another. By dusk, the surface of the Washing Sword River appeared calm, but the depths were in turmoil.
"Wail~~~"
A fourth-realm crab spirit spat out a mouthful of roe, its entire being in distress.
Not far away, a young maiden, her face deathly pale, her body draped only in sheer gauze, hid within a clam shell. She was a fifth-realm transformed scallop spirit. Looking up at the surface, her face was ashen. Those wisps of golden iron cavalry, wielding long spears and charging into the depths, were like a heavenly martial wind, causing her cultivation to rapidly decline.
"Scoundrel!"
At the bottom of the river, a mansion gate opened, and a burly man in a black short shirt stumbled out, leaning against the wall. He was a seventh-realm blackfish spirit, renowned in the lower reaches of the Washing Sword River. Few dared to provoke him. Yet, at this moment, the blackfish spirit coughed up blood, his face pale. The higher the realm of the spirits in the depths, the more intense the heavenly martial wind seemed to be. Those golden iron cavalry pouring down from the river surface were practically life-threatening.
Conversely, ordinary fish and shrimp had no problem, swimming freely, feeding on aquatic plants and microorganisms.
"Who is it?!"
A fifth-realm carp spirit, transformed into the appearance of a young man in white, coughed up blood and roared, "Which military sage is performing rituals on the shore? We... whom have we offended in the Washing Sword River to anger such a great virtuous one?"
No one knew.
On the shore, Lin Zhao continued to draw "Break Malice Talismans" one by one, completely unaware of everything happening below the water. He also had no idea that his focus and immersion had inadvertently triggered the heavenly phenomenon of the military path with "Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow." This kind of event... had last happened a hundred years ago.
"Hurry!"
The blackfish spirit trembled and said, "Someone, go upstream... and invite the River God Mother, otherwise... we will all die here..."
"Yes, yes, quickly inform the River God!"
In the water, the cultivated spirits descended into chaos.
...
"Hmm?!"
As night fell, Lin Zhao finally looked up at the sky. The sky was pitch black, but faint golden light flickered in the depths of the Washing Sword River. He couldn't help but be surprised.
Putting away "Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow," the young man took a deep breath. He felt that all his true qi, spiritual energy, and stamina were depleted from drawing a large stack of "Break Malice Talismans." As he walked to the riverbank, he saw wisps of golden threads appearing in the river water. In an instant, countless golden threads connected in the riverbed, finally forming a head of long golden hair.
Golden light shimmered in the river as a figure slowly emerged. Her black hair, seemingly gilded, was tied into a bun, adorned with a golden coronet. She wore golden armor and a golden cloak, holding a golden long sword engraved with ancient script. The sword's blade was luminous and translucent, as brilliant as the morning glow. She possessed a stunningly beautiful face and a pair of deep golden eyes. Her figure was voluptuous, her legs long and slender. She stepped onto the golden, shimmering water surface, walking step by step towards Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao's heart trembled violently.
This woman was absolutely extraordinary. The aura she exuded was incredibly oppressive, causing his spiritual nexus to hum. Only a single bright moon within his first Sword Cultivation Lake seemed to defy it, wanting to rise and fight. Lin Zhao was both comforted by the moon's courage and forced it down, not allowing it to cause trouble, because this woman before him was definitely not someone he could afford to provoke, at least not at his current realm.
"River God of the Washing Sword River, Lin Xingchu."
She stood in the river, cupped her fists towards Lin Zhao, and smiled, "May I ask where this young friend comes from and what brings you here? Why have you disturbed the peace of my Washing Sword River below the surface?"
This boy, with his "Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow," had triggered the heavenly phenomenon of the military path. He was no simple person!
Therefore, even though their River God Mother was usually imperious and would kill a Star River realm cultivator on a whim, she was now remarkably courteous in front of Lin Zhao.
"Lin Xingchu?"
Lin Zhao's heart tightened. He seemed to have heard this name before. He instinctively cupped his fists and replied respectfully, "This junior, Lin Zhao, hails from the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, a descendant of the Great Chen Dynasty. This journey... is to roam the world and temper my cultivation."
He frowned, "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by 'disturbing the underwater world'?"
"..."
Lin Xingchu's brows furrowed slightly. "Does young friend not know that the military talismans you drew have triggered a heavenly phenomenon, forming countless heavenly martial winds that have poured into the river depths? It is not easy for the creatures in our Washing Sword River to cultivate. With just a few strokes from you, many spirits are on the verge of falling in realm."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao was stunned. "My talismans... triggered a heavenly phenomenon?"
"Precisely."
For a moment, the young man was bewildered. Although he didn't quite understand what a "heavenly phenomenon" meant, it sounded significant, as if he had stumbled upon some great cosmic opportunity. He cupped his fists again and said, "I'm so sorry, truly sorry... I didn't mean to. I was too engrossed in drawing talismans this afternoon and got carried away. I'm truly sorry..."
"It's alright."
Lin Xingchu smiled slightly and said, "You are surnamed Lin, and I am also surnamed Lin. One brushstroke cannot draw two 'Lin' characters. Since young friend has arrived at the Washing Sword River, why not visit my cave dwelling? As an elder of the Lin family, I can have the opportunity to fulfill my duties as a host, right?"
Lin Zhao paused. "I've already apologized profusely this afternoon. Now... wouldn't it be disturbing your cultivation and peace?"
"It's fine, there's no need to be polite. Come with me."
...
The River God Mother turned and left, followed by many maids in golden dresses, presumably serving deities from the River God's temple. They scattered flower petals on the water, forming a bridge. The moment Lin Zhao stepped onto the bridge, the river's qi surged, and the River God Mother activated her divine abilities, taking them hundreds of miles in an instant, arriving at a magnificent underwater cave dwelling.
The River God Mother turned, her figure tall and slender. She took Lin Zhao's hand and led him towards the main hall, smiling, "Lin Zhao, you are a descendant of the Great Chen Dynasty?"
"Mmm..."
Lin Zhao nodded. "I was born in Tianchi Town on the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. Since childhood, my parents told me we were people of the Great Chen Dynasty, but now we are like rootless duckweed. So, we consider the Snow Region Heavenly Pool our home."
"I see..."
The River God Mother smiled, "What is your father's name?"
"Lin Zhengxi."
"Oh?"
She paused slightly. "In that case, we are distant relatives. Hundreds of years ago, the Great Chen Dynasty was a vassal state of the Great Xia Dynasty. A branch of our Lin family was in the Great Chen Dynasty, said to be a military family. It should be your lineage."
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao felt a little nervous. Having his hand held by the River God Mother made him feel a bit awkward. He instinctively tried to subtly withdraw his hand, until it naturally slipped away from hers. Lin Xingchu smiled, not pointing it out. She was truly fond of this young man from the Lin family. His youthful passion, triggering the heavenly phenomenon of the military path, his knowledge and politeness – who wouldn't like such a young man?
Lin Zhao followed behind the River God Mother, looking at her golden figure. He finally couldn't help but say, "River God, I have a question, may I ask you?"
"Mmm, ask away."
Her voice was gentle and smiling.
The young man gathered his courage and asked the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"I previously read a general history of the transition between the Great Xia and Great Shang dynasties. So... so are you the Xingchu Gong of Bailu City of the Xia tribe from hundreds of years ago, the foremost general of the Xia tribe, the world-renowned Lin Xingchu?"