Days later.
The Snow Domain Celestial Pool grew increasingly lively as the garrisons from the Six Great Passes of Great Shang arrived one by one, deploying on the Celestial Pool Ridge.
On the first day, Lu Fengxian, the Commander of the Martial Town Tower and an eleventh-realm Celestial Martial Master, arrived with fifty thousand martial troops. Following him, Bei Minghai, the Commander of the Dinghai Army and a tenth-realm Star River realm Sword Cultivator, led one hundred and fifty thousand Dinghai Army cavalry and infantry into the Snow Domain Celestial Pool.
On the second day, Li Conghai, the Commander of the Panshi Army and an eleventh-realm Celestial Martial Master, arrived with one hundred thousand infantry.
On the third day, Qin Yushan, the Commander of the Yuzhu Garden and a thirteenth-realm Spirit Cultivator, arrived with fifty thousand Yuzhu Garden cultivators. The Yuzhu Garden guarded Tong Pass. Unlike other commanderies, most of their soldiers were cultivators. Their combat strength was exceptionally high. Although the entire Yuzhu Garden only had a hundred thousand soldiers, their combat power might rank first among the Six Great Commanderies, comparable only to the two hundred thousand Cangnan Iron Cavalry guarding Yumenguan.
...
In the early morning, in the Celestial Pool Army Commander's tent.
Chu Huaixi, Huang Tingyu, Lin Zhao, Chen Yu, Liu Ping, and others were present. The sandbox depicting the Snow Domain Celestial Pool was already adorned with flags representing the forces from the Six Great Passes.
"Five duels..."
Huang Tingyu mused, "Forgive my bluntness, but if the demon race truly possessed integrity, they wouldn't be the demon race."
"Therefore, we have prepared a contingency."
Chu Huaixi frowned, "If we didn't distrust the demon race, there would be no need to invite the forces of the Six Great Commanderies up the mountain."
Lin Zhao chimed in, "The Vermillion Bird Camp, Martial Town Tower, Dinghai Army, Panshi Army, and Yuzhu Garden—five major commanderies have already arrived in succession. Who is the one still missing?"
"The Cangnan Iron Cavalry guarding Yumenguan."
Liu Ping, Commander of the Breaching Camp, said gravely, "The two hundred thousand Cangnan Iron Cavalry, hailed as the most elite cavalry in the world. However, the Cangnan region faces threats from the barbaric world, so the Cangnan Iron Cavalry cannot be easily moved."
"Indeed."
Chu Huaixi nodded, "The Cangnan Iron Cavalry also has someone here. Though it's only one person, they are worth more than an army of thousands. After the death of Marquis Yue Hao, this is the most prestigious individual among the entire Great Shang army."
"Who?" Lin Zhao inquired.
"Chen Wanli."
Chu Huaixi smiled, "He is the oldest among the Six Great Commanders and also the most venerable. All six commanders defer to Chen Wanli."
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao, not knowing the person, didn't press further. Chu Huaixi and Huang Tingyu exchanged a knowing smile.
...
"There is something we should start working on."
Chu Huaixi suddenly remarked.
"Oh?"
Chen Yu looked up at him, "What is it?"
"To prepare for the future of the Great Chen Dynasty," Chu Huaixi furrowed his brow. "The upcoming battle might see the destruction of the Snow Domain Celestial Pool and Celestial Pool Town. However, the bloodline of our Great Chen Dynasty must continue. Therefore, Old Huang and I made preparations years ago. In these coming days, we will begin sending the children under fifteen from the town down the mountain to cultivate in the lands of Great Shang and seek their own paths. We will do our best to arrange it."
Chen Yu's eyes reddened, "Has this day truly come?"
"It has."
Chu Huaixi stated, "If we don't plan for this early, I fear that when the mountains and rivers shatter and the entire Celestial Pool Town turns to ruins, it will be too late."
Huang Tingyu added, "For years, Commander Chu and I have been corresponding with those down the mountain. Among them, the Moonflower Academy, Linlu Academy, Mingde Academy, and Qiulu Academy in the southern part of Great Shang have agreements with us. In the next few days, a group of scholars from these academies will arrive in Celestial Pool Town to select promising young students from our children and take them away. From then on, no matter where they go or where they establish themselves, they will be considered descendants of our Great Chen Dynasty."
"Yes!"
Chu Huaixi nodded emphatically, his gaze falling on Lin Zhao. "It's a pity, Lin Zhao, that you are currently the Commander of the Death-Seeking Camp. Otherwise, you too would have had the opportunity to study at an academy..."
Lin Zhao gave a wry smile, "I never had much of a chance anyway, so Commander Chu needs not feel any guilt towards me."
"Mm!"
Chu Huaixi continued, "In ten days, the matter of the five duels has little to do with our Snow Domain Celestial Pool, as we don't even have a single twelfth-realm cultivator. So, our only task is to send the town's children and the women and children away, preventing them from perishing needlessly in Celestial Pool Town. It's unnecessary."
"Yes, Commander Chu!"
...
Three days later.
The scholars from the four great academies arrived as scheduled. In the early morning, as the sun dispersed the mist, carriages ascended the mountain. From these carriages emerged a group of scholars exuding an aura of literary grace. Some were young, in their early twenties, while others were in their twilight years. Yet, each wore impeccably neat attire, their hair tied up with jade hairpins, their scholarly elegance and refinement fully displayed.
As these scholars appeared on Celestial Pool Ridge, the literary Dao's fortune in the sky continuously ascended, repelling a significant portion of the encroaching demonic and fiendish energies from the north.
Lin Zhao, holding Xiao Jiu'er and Xiao Shitong by their hands, stood with thousands of children in the town square, awaiting the scholars' inquiries.
"Brother Lin Zhao, what is this?!"
Xiao Jiu'er asked, her large eyes blinking.
"Going down the mountain to study!"
Lin Zhao crouched down, gently touching the little girl's forehead with a hint of reluctance. "The town's school will be dismantled soon. Little Jiu'er, you can't stop reading from now on, can you? This is an opportunity to send you to an academy below the mountain, to become a learned woman in the future."
Xiao Jiu'er's tears immediately fell. "I don't... I don't want to go. I don't want to leave Brother Lin Zhao..."
Xiao Shitong also clenched his fist, "I also... I don't want to go study. Brother Lin Zhao, I don't want to leave the town..."
"Be good!"
Lin Zhao raised his hand, gently stroking both children's heads. "People must learn to grow up. I am now busy with military affairs, and I will have very little time to take care of you. So, if you have the chance, you should all go out, study well, practice martial arts, and become even better people before returning to my side. Isn't that good?"
"But... but..."
Xiao Jiu'er sobbed, her pearly tears rolling down.
Xiao Shitong, stubborn, clenched his fists and refused to speak further. At this moment, he even felt that Lin Zhao might see him as a burden and no longer wanted to take care of him.
Having spent a long time with the two children, Lin Zhao naturally understood their feelings. He immediately turned and gently patted Xiao Shitong's head, saying, "Xiao Shitong, you are now a second-realm martial practitioner. You are destined to become a man who stands tall and upright. I have never thought of you and Xiao Jiu'er as a burden, because I, Lin Zhao, am also an orphan, and I know what it feels like to have no one to rely on. You have never been a burden by my side, but rather my family. I treat you, Xiao Shitong, as my younger brother, so I hope this younger brother can be ambitious, and be strong even when alone, so that your elder brother doesn't have to worry. Do you understand?"
Xiao Shitong finally burst into tears, wailing, "I know, I know... Brother Lin Zhao, I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
"It's alright."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, patting both children's heads again, and said, "You must perform well in front of the scholars later."
"Okay!"
...
Shortly after, a teacher from Linlu Academy approached and asked Xiao Jiu'er a few questions. Xiao Jiu'er answered them fluently, impressing the teacher. He smiled and said, "Little girl, are you willing to come to my Linlu Academy to study and become a renowned female scholar in the future, a person who upholds the world?"
"I am not willing!"
Xiao Jiu'er shook her head. How could she be willing? She was still sulking with Brother Lin Zhao!
The old scholar smiled elegantly, "Really unwilling?"
"Yes, unwilling!"
Xiao Jiu'er shook her head again, "I want to go to a better academy!"
The old scholar was at a loss for words, "Do you know... Linlu Academy is one of the four great academies of Great Shang, the best academy? And I... am Zhuge Fan, the Dean of Linlu Academy. Don't you want to be my student?"
"..."
Upon hearing the person's impressive background, the little girl became a bit timid. However, she still cautiously shook her head, quietly refusing him.
The old scholar laughed heartily, finding her more endearing the more he looked at her. If he had such a personal disciple, how wonderful would that be? She would surely surpass countless male disciples in the future!
"Ahem..."
Just then, a woman's voice came from behind the old scholar, "I want this disciple. Can Linlu Academy yield a little?"
"Ah?"
The old scholar turned and saw a graceful woman standing behind him. She wore a green dress, held a sword, and exuded a sharp, dazzling aura. She was a Sword Immortal, and a twelfth-realm Great Sword Immortal at that!
Such a young twelfth-realm Great Sword Immortal, the old scholar could guess who she was even with his eyes closed.
"Lin Qing'er, the Sword Immortal of Changming Mountain?" the old scholar asked.
"Indeed."
Lin Qing'er smiled slightly, "Dean, I am very fond of this little girl. She is a natural Sword Immortal seedling. Can you... part with her?"
"Ah?"
The old scholar was stunned. A young scholar beside him frowned, "Why? This girl was clearly favored by the teacher first. Does Sword Immortal Lin of Changming Mountain think she can claim her just because she arrived later and is of higher cultivation?"
Lin Qing'er gently pushed her sword forward and asked with a smile, "Young scholar... are you challenging me to a duel?"
The young scholar immediately fell silent.
As expected, sword cultivators in the world disliked reasoning. The stronger the sword cultivator, the more unreasonable they were. At the level of Sword Immortal, all reasoning resided in their swords.
"Let her decide for herself."
Zhuge Fan smiled faintly and looked at Lin Zhao and Xiao Jiu'er, "Whether to study at Linlu Academy or learn swordsmanship on Changming Mountain, you can choose for yourselves."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao nodded slowly, then looked at Lin Qing'er, "Sword Immortal Lin, is Xiao Jiu'er truly a Sword Immortal seedling?"
"Yes!"
Lin Qing'er nodded, "If she follows me, she will start at the twelfth realm as a Sword Immortal. However..."
She crouched down and gently stroked Xiao Jiu'er's chubby little face, smiling, "You'll have to wait a few more days. Master has a battle to fight. If Master is still alive after this battle, will you follow Master to learn swordsmanship, alright?"
Lin Zhao's heart tightened. Was Lin Qing'er one of the chosen contenders for the Human Race's five duels?
Immediately, his respect for Lin Qing'er increased.