In the afternoon, in the human race's great tent.
...
There were six people in total, all six grand marshals were present.
Shao Shiyu, Lü Fengxian, and Bei Minghai were seated on the left, while Qin Yushan and Li Conghai were on the right. The one occupying the marshal's seat, however, was an old man in a green shirt, the same elder who had taught Lin Zhao martial arts a while ago.
Chen Wanli, commander of the Cangnan Iron Cavalry, and the foremost among the six grand marshals of the Great Shang.
This twelve-realm Rebirth realm martial artist had a distinguished military record and immense prestige within the army. He was second only to Yue Hao as a commander, with no exceptions. Even Qin Yushan, the master of the Jade Bamboo Garden, a thirteen-realm cultivator, showed him utmost respect. Now, with all six grand marshals gathered, only the Cangnan Iron Cavalry had not dispatched a single soldier, sending only their grand marshal. Yet, everyone still deferred to Chen Wanli's leadership!
"What is the order of battle?"
Lü Fengxian frowned and said, "In the past few days, Lin Qing'er, Yan Beichen, Wen Liang, and Gu Zixi, four participating experts, have already arrived. Coupled with Old Marshal Chen, how should the order of engagement be arranged? Should it be decided in advance, or should we wait until the demon race sends their representatives before we decide?"
Shao Shiyu nodded. "Based on strength, Yan Beichen is perhaps the strongest among the twelve-realm cultivators, not just of the human race, but the strongest in the world."
"Indeed."
Qin Yushan, a thirteen-realm cultivator, slowly nodded and said, "Yan Beichen is a true innate sword seed, possessing three Sword Infusion Lakes and three flying swords. Two of these three flying swords have never been revealed to the world. Such a prodigy... any twelve-realm great demon sent by the demon race would be mere fodder. Logically, Yan Beichen should be held for the fifth match, serving as our decisive piece."
Li Conghai nodded in agreement.
"Lin Qing'er also has an extremely high chance of winning."
Bei Minghai said, "In terms of talent and comprehension, she might not be much inferior to Yan Beichen. The only thing she lacks is the foundation of a sect. These two are the ones with the highest probability of victory."
Lü Fengxian chuckled, "Add Old Marshal Chen to the mix, a twelve-realm Rebirth realm martial artist with unparalleled fist techniques, the finest in the world. Which twelve-realm cultivator of the demon race would dare face Old Marshal Chen's fists?"
Chen Wanli smiled slightly, remaining silent.
Shao Shiyu frowned slightly. At such times, she disliked speaking because Shao Shiyu's own cultivation realm was very low. As one of the dignified six grand marshals, Shao Shiyu was merely a mere nine-realm sword cultivator. She felt she didn't even have the right to speak.
"None of this is important."
Chen Wanli said with a smile, "Regardless of the outcome of these five duels, the demon race will inevitably turn hostile. What we need to do is deploy our forces and fortify the entire Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, making it impregnable. Even if the demon race mobilizes ten encampments of troops, we can ensure the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool remains foolproof. Only then can we be truly considered fully prepared. Moreover..."
He smiled slightly, "The order of engagement has long been decided. It was already set in the flying fish message sent by Marquis Wen. There is no need for speculation. We will all witness it on the day of the decisive battle."
"Understood!"
Everyone nodded in unison.
Chen Wanli continued, "Spies in the north have sent flying fish messages, reporting that the demon race has dispatched three more encampments of troops recently. The demon race has mobilized over a million cavalry. These cavalry are now stationed five hundred miles north of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool and can reach it in half a day. Furthermore, the ghost race has also mobilized a large number of puppet legions. Scouts have detected at least over a million ghost puppet troops appearing to the northwest of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. This battle is only a matter of time."
Shao Shiyu nodded. "During this period, everyone should strengthen defenses, intensify training, and prepare for the great battle."
"Yes!"
"Alright."
Chen Wanli rose, waved his hand, and said with a smile, "Return to your respective camps for training and rest. The ten thousand Mo family cultivators sent from the ancestral home of the Mo family will construct formations for our entire position. You do not need to worry. Even if we are outnumbered, we may not necessarily lose."
"Yes, Old Marshal!"
The grand marshals departed one by one.
Chen Wanli then rubbed the flying fish message paper in his hand. It bore a few lines written by Marquis Wen, Wen Shuoyang, specifying the order of engagement for these five duels:
The first match: Chen Wanli.
The second match: Gu Zixi.
The third match: Wen Liang.
The fourth match: Lin Qing'er.
The fifth match: Yan Beichen.
The old marshal looked up at the sky and smiled slightly. This meant he had to win the first match, otherwise... before Yan Beichen could even appear, the human race might have already lost. While Gu Zixi, Wen Liang, and Lin Qing'er were all outstanding cultivators of the human race, they might not be able to guarantee victory against a twelve-realm great demon with terrifying physical prowess.
The five duels were without rules. The loser died. A loss would most likely result in immediate execution. This was undeniable. A twelve-realm cultivator was extremely important to the human race and the four northern tribes. If given the chance, human cultivators would never miss an opportunity to execute a twelve-realm great demon, and the demon race would be the same. If they had the chance, they would certainly execute a human twelve-realm cultivator.
...
Days passed, and the time for the five duels drew closer.
Mountain peak villa.
After Lin Zhao sent off Xiao Shitong, he felt a slight sense of emptiness. That honest and stubborn rascal had diligently practiced martial arts with him every day, unsparing of his effort. While other children his age were playing with windmills all over the mountains, Xiao Shitong was practicing martial arts and fishing every day, working hard for his livelihood and future. It could be said that Xiao Shitong was the most sensible among his peers, even more sensible than the innocent and carefree Xiao Jiu'er.
Therefore, after Xiao Shitong left, Lin Zhao felt a sense of loss, as if he had truly lost a younger brother.
The school in the small town had indeed been withdrawn.
The teachers and those from the Great Shang's academies had left together, so Xiao Jiu'er no longer had to study. However, her studies continued. Every day, she meticulously copied homework in Lin Zhao's room, transcribing the classics of the Great Sage and the Secondary Sage over and over again, appearing very diligent. In reality, Xiao Jiu'er also wished she could run around the town with a windmill like before, filled with laughter and joy. But she knew that if she did not do her homework well and learn the classics thoroughly, her Brother Lin Zhao would be disappointed in her. Thus, the little girl became even more diligent, spending all day with her bottom sticking out of the window, copying books.
"Xiao Jiu'er, still copying books?"
Tu Zhi stood at the window and asked with a playful smile.
"Sister Tu Zhi."
Xiao Jiu'er looked up and asked with a smile, "Aren't you forging swords anymore?"
"I forge them every day. It gets a bit tiring, so I'm taking a break."
Tu Zhi pursed her lips and chuckled, "Xiao Jiu'er, let me ask you, do you understand your Brother Lin Zhao?"
"I do!"
Xiao Jiu'er chuckled, "My Brother Lin Zhao is the best, the best brother in the world."
"Oh?"
Tu Zhi pursed her red lips and asked with a smile, "Then... your Brother Lin Zhao is now fifteen years old, almost sixteen. Does he have a woman he likes?"
"He does!"
Xiao Jiu'er raised her thumb high and pointed at herself, "Brother Lin Zhao likes Xiao Jiu'er the most."
Tu Zhi's forehead creased. "I mean, does he have someone he wants to be his Dao Companion?"
Xiao Jiu'er pouted, stood on a stool, and looked at Tu Zhi indignantly, saying, "When I grow up, I will be as beautiful as Sister Tu Zhi, and then I will marry Brother Lin Zhao and be his wife!"
"What did you say?!"
In the courtyard, Lin Zhao, who was practicing martial arts, suddenly turned his head, as if he had heard something.
"Ah!?"
Xiao Jiu'er immediately plopped down and furiously resumed copying books. Tu Zhi, meanwhile, mounted her sword and flew into her room through the window, her pretty face flushing red.
...
In the evening.
Lin Zhao took Xiao Jiu'er and Tu Zhi to Bai Wei Xuan for hot pot. Eating at the mountain peak villa every day could become tiresome. So, as the three of them sat down by the window, three other people were drinking in the distance: Yan Beichen, Wen Liang, and Gu Zixi.
"Hmm?"
Gu Zixi's gaze swept over and he smiled, "Fifteen years old, an eighth-realm martial artist. Impressive... won't he reach the Heavenly Origin realm before twenty?"
"He looks a bit familiar!"
Yan Beichen frowned. "When I met Old Marshal Chen... I think I saw this young man in the Death-defying Camp of the Heavenly Pool Army. He was wearing the armor of a Death-defying Camp commander at the time!"
"Could it be... Lin Zhao?"
Gu Zixi couldn't help but chuckle and said, "My junior uncle is escorting Lin Zhao, so logically... I could be considered his half-senior brother!"
Wen Liang grinned, "Then I... a less than half-senior brother?"
Yan Beichen laughed, "Interesting."
"Lin Zhao."
Gu Zixi stood up and cupped his hands towards the young man. "My name is Gu Zixi, from the Confucian Academy. Qin Suihan, the owner of the bookstore on the front street, is my junior uncle, so..."
"Oh, Boss Qin!" Lin Zhao nodded. "I know him, of course I know him."
Gu Zixi smiled, "So, I'm considered your half-senior brother. Aren't you going to greet your senior brother?"
"But..."
Lin Zhao was taken aback. "I haven't formally apprenticed myself to Boss Qin. Although Boss Qin's reading voice is very pleasant, but..."
"Cough, cough!"
Wen Liang stood up and said, "I was also Qin Suihan's junior nephew before, so you can call me Wen Liang, your less than half-senior brother."
Lin Zhao was bewildered.
"What, you're not willing?" Gu Zixi asked with a smile.
"I'm not willing."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "I have my own sect. Without the permission of my master, senior brothers, or senior sisters, I wouldn't dare call you senior brother."
"Is that so..."
Gu Zixi smiled and said, "Then... we'll talk about it later!"
Wen Liang grinned, "This kid is a bit like me!"
Yan Beichen simply drank his wine. He didn't want to bother with the affairs of the Confucian Academy. After all, those people spent their days studying and spouting grand principles, which was too annoying. For a sword cultivator, all that mattered was practicing swordsmanship well. What were grand principles for? As for him, Yan Beichen, he was born with innate knowledge. Swordsmanship, sword intent, sword rhythm – to Yan Beichen, they were clear at a glance. When others challenged him with their swords, he only needed to take a glance from afar to learn half of their swordsmanship and sword intent. Such a person was a true anomaly, and at this moment, he had become the hope of the human race.
...
Night.
After finishing the hot pot, they returned home, fully satisfied.
"Junior disciple!"
Just as Lin Zhao was holding Xiao Jiu'er's hand, walking across the bridge alongside Tu Zhi, someone suddenly called out to him.
In the distance, a person in a green shirt carried a silver empty sword sheath on his back.
The real senior brother had arrived!