The Snow Region Heavenly Pool, human army camp.
...
Six Hall Marshals, along with Marshal Chu of the Great Chen Dynasty, had been engaged in heated discussions within Chen Wanli's command tent since midnight. It wasn't until noon the next day, with meals and guards denied entry, that the arguments continued.
"I still don't think it's quite right," said Li Conghai, Hall Marshal of the Rock Army, frowning. "While this strategy does have some apparent feasibility, Lin Zhao is still so young. A mere fifteen-year-old boy, and we're entrusting the survival and future of the entire human race to him?"
"Indeed," agreed Bei Minghai, Hall Marshal of the Sea-Calming Army. "What if this strategy is just talk on paper? I beg the old marshal to reconsider. If Lin Zhao's strategy is used and we fail, who will be responsible?"
Chu Huai Xi took a deep breath. "Unless, esteemed sirs, you have a better strategy?"
"Precisely," Chen Wanli said, slowly rising and surveying the others. "I have reviewed all the proposed strategies. Only Lin Zhao's truly cuts to the essence of military momentum and battlefield tactics. If there is no better strategy, I am willing to adopt Lin Zhao's plan. As for success or failure... if we truly lose, no one will be responsible, for the world of humanity will have truly come to an end."
Shao Shiyu stood up. "I also agree with Lin Zhao's strategy. It is indeed unique in every aspect. What we cannot conceive, the demon race surely cannot. Since there is no better strategy, why not use it? Is it simply because Lin Zhao is too young and lacks the experience of all of you?"
Li Conghai, Lü Fengxian, and the others remained silent.
Chen Wanli pondered for a moment. "If you gentlemen are still uneasy, then how about this: I will immediately dispatch someone to transcribe a copy of the strategy Lin Zhao submitted and send it to Duke Wen via swift fish messenger. If Duke Wen also approves, surely you will all be at ease?"
"Yes!" Lü Fengxian nodded. "If Duke Wen approves, we will have no objections whatsoever and will undoubtedly execute all arrangements of this strategy to the death!"
"Good!"
...
White Emperor City. Heavy snow still fell at dusk.
At this moment, a swift fish message was delivered to the Prime Minister's mansion, and soon after, it reached Duke Wen Wen Shuoyang. As he opened the letter, his eyes fell upon the words "Heavenly Furnace Strategy." Subsequently, as Duke Wen read through the densely packed, tiny characters, he found himself unable to look away. Only after finishing the entire strategy did he put down the letter.
"My Lord," said a purple-robed strategist beside him. "Is this a battle report from the front lines?"
"No," Duke Wen gently pushed the letter forward. "Chen Wanli has opened the floor for discussions at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, soliciting strategies to counter the demon and devil armies. This is a strategy Chen Wanli favors. Would you like to take a look?"
"Yes, your subordinate obeys!" The purple-robed strategist quickly scanned the strategy. "This Heavenly Furnace Strategy... advancing by retreating, luring the enemy deep, encircling and annihilating. It is indeed unheard of. However... such a strategy is too bold. Using a battlefield of five hundred li behind the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, isn't that too reckless? It gives the impression of armchair strategy. If the demon race breaks through like a rampaging force, won't everything be lost?"
"Even you think so?" Duke Wen smiled slightly. "I suspect the Great Demon Yu Zhi on the demon race's side will also think so. The strategists of the devil race probably also wouldn't imagine that our human race dares to use a strategy of advancing by retreating, nor that we truly dare to fight them to the death."
"Then, my Lord, you intend to?"
"Adopt it," Duke Wen said calmly and with a smile. "Such a brilliant strategy, why not use it? Not only will we use it, but we must also fully cooperate with the front lines. Immediately issue an order for half the cultivators and martial warriors from the Fusang Great Wall to proceed to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool to assist in the battle!"
"Yes!" The purple-robed strategist asked, "Who wrote this strategy? Could it be... Chu Huai Xi? If so, this person should be eliminated as soon as possible."
"It wasn't Chu Huai Xi, it was Lin Zhao."
"The young man who came to the mansion last time carrying a bamboo basket and a long sword?"
"Precisely." Duke Wen stood up, gazing at the flying snow, and smiled. "Heaven has bestowed Lin Zhao upon us... I was originally planning to use feints and stratagems to gamble on the survival of the human race. Now, with Lin Zhao's Heavenly Furnace Strategy, there's no need to gamble. As long as the demon and devil races dare to enter the game, our chances of victory will be extremely high!"
...
Late at night, Duke Wen's reply arrived at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, consisting of only a short line: "Approved. White Emperor City will fully support this strategy." This was Wen Shuoyang's personal handwriting. Upon receiving it, Chen Wanli was greatly invigorated. He immediately summoned the five Hall Marshals and Chu Huai Xi again late into the night to arrange comprehensive strategic deployments. On the strategy itself, Lin Zhao had clearly written that three camps should be built in the Nine Zhang Plain area north of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool to act as a sharp edge against the vanguard forces of the demon and devil races. In the rear, trenches and pitfalls were to be widely dug, and abatis were to be set up, with defenses laid out in a network. Each node was to be equipped with a human camp of ten thousand soldiers. Each camp was to possess a terrain advantage, either protected by a river, concealed by traps, or ambushed in mountainous areas. In short, as long as the demon race was willing to enter the fray, they would not escape without losing a layer of skin.
As for the south of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, the entire five hundred li area was to become the battlefield. Chen Wanli mobilized countless soldiers and laborers overnight to the south of the mountains, where simple fortresses were to be built at designated locations, or mountains occupied, or encampments constructed along rivers. The entire southern region of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool would become a strategic stronghold defended by heavy human forces for some time to come.
...
In the early morning, Lin Zhao awoke to a military order to lead the entire Death-Defying Camp down the mountain to assist laborers in digging pitfalls and manufacturing abatis outside the North Mountain. Upon receiving the order, Lin Zhao had a faint premonition that his strategy might have been adopted. Thus, clad in armor and with his long sword on his back, he slowly led the thousand elite soldiers of the Death-Defying Camp down the mountain.
"Lin Zhao!"
From the snowy forest, a stunningly beautiful woman emerged. She wore exquisite armor, with a sword at her waist, and her long legs left footprints in the snow. It was the player Leng Yan.
"It's Miss Leng!" Lin Zhao immediately left the cavalry and rode his horse to Leng Yan, dismounting with a smile. "You're here too?"
"Mmm," Leng Yan smiled slightly. "What are you guys up to?"
"Executing a military order!" Lin Zhao chuckled. "We're going to the North Mountain to set up the battlefield."
"Oh?" Leng Yan pursed her red lips. "Are we really going to war?"
"Mmm..." Lin Zhao nodded. "The demon and devil races delivered their challenge two days ago. This war is unavoidable..." As he spoke, he glanced at Leng Yan's beautiful face and felt a pang of regret. "War is about to break out. Miss Leng, you must be careful. If possible, leave the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. Once this place becomes a battlefield, it will be a scene of utter devastation. Your cultivation is not high, and you can't help much. Why not... return to White Emperor City?"
"Ah?" Leng Yan's delicate mouth opened slightly, a hint of grievance in her beautiful eyes. "Then what about you?"
Lin Zhao immediately tapped his chest with his fist and smiled. "I, Lin Zhao, am a warrior of the Great Chen Dynasty. I have long dedicated myself to the nation. Perhaps after this great battle, I will no longer be here. I wonder, many years from now, if Miss Leng will still remember a friend like me."
Leng Yan instantly felt like crying. "What do you mean, dedicated yourself to the nation? If you don't have to die, then don't die..."
"Of course," Lin Zhao smiled. "If I can avoid dying, I will. After all, I haven't seen how vast this world truly is yet."
"Yes..." Leng Yan pursed her small lips.
"Alright, I'm heading over." Lin Zhao mounted his horse, cupped his fists towards Leng Yan, and said with a smile, "Miss Leng, we'll meet again in the martial world!"
"Oh..." Leng Yan watched his retreating figure, a sense of loneliness in her heart. At this moment, she particularly did not want Lin Zhao to be harmed.
...
On the mountain, several figures approached from the temporary supply camp. It was Su Xinghe, Shen Xingchen, and Yi Shi Cang Liang. Su Xinghe and Yi Shi Cang Liang were riding steeds, while Shen Xingchen walked.
"Xingchen," Su Xinghe, who had been riding his horse slowly by Shen Xingchen's side, said sheepishly. "We've been leveling up together every day, and our intimacy is more than enough for us to ride together. You really don't need to be so bothered. There's no issue with riding together in the game."
"Senior, there is an issue," Shen Xingchen said with a light laugh. "Your horse's back belongs only to you and your future girlfriend. I, Shen Xingchen, do not have such good fortune. Besides, if my future boyfriend saw me riding with Senior, wouldn't that lay the groundwork for a future argument? So, it's unnecessary. No matter how good our friendship is, there must be boundaries."
"Disciplined!" Yi Shi Cang Liang gave Shen Xingchen a thumbs-up. "Miss Xingchen's boundaries are perfectly maintained. But you said earlier that riding with Su Xinghe would be seen by your future boyfriend? My heavens... besides Su Xinghe, there's only one other man here. Could it be... yours truly?"
"Oh?" Shen Xingchen turned to him, smiling. "Why doesn't Alliance Leader Cang Liang bring his face with him when he goes out? Isn't that too undignified?"
"Hahahaha~~~~" Yi Shi Cang Liang took the joke in stride. "Forget it, forget it. I know my place. A rough fellow like me can't possibly be worthy of the legendary Shen Xingchen, who is beyond the starry sky."
"Besides, there are more than just two men here." Shen Xingchen pointed to the back of a mounted general in the distance and said with a smile, "Look, there's another NPC over there."
"Ah?!" Leng Yan's delicate mouth parted. "Th-that's my Lin Zhao!"
"Ah?!" Shen Xingchen immediately dropped her hand, her pretty face flushing. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I was just pointing randomly!"
"Hmph hmph!" Leng Yan put her arm around Shen Xingchen's fragrant shoulder. Although her face was full of smiles, she felt a tiny bit uneasy in her heart. She didn't fear others, but if Shen Xingchen truly intended to compete with her for that person, the threat would be enormous. This girl... her looks were incredibly striking, her figure was also incredibly striking, she had a good temper, and she was intelligent and perceptive. If she was willing to be proactive, there was no man in the world who could resist her.
"Alright!" Shen Xingchen chuckled. "I won't snatch your Lin Zhao, ever. Okay?"
"Mmm!"