North of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond.
On a giant rock by a cliff, Shen Xingchen and Leng Yan sat side by side, gazing at the snowscape in the distance. The sun was unusually warm today, making them feel comfortable. Their snow-white legs were particularly captivating in the sunlight. Behind them were Su Xinghe, Yi Shi Cang Liang, Xian Bai, Jian Huang, and another seven people. All ten beta testers from the Huaxia region had arrived.
Su Xinghe looked at Shen Xingchen, his eyes full of adoration. He adored Shen Xingchen’s current lazy and pure demeanor. Despite being a beautiful strategist who planned for the world, her appearance was so pure that it made him unable to extricate himself.
Xian Bai gazed enviously at Leng Yan’s jade-like legs, finding them incredibly perfect. He wished he could touch them. Unfortunately, Leng Yan was difficult to pursue, always keeping him at a distance. Thinking of this, Xian Bai felt a pang of annoyance. He had poured over and memorized countless inspiring quotes and romantic verses, yet Leng Yan remained so cold-hearted.
Yi Shi Cang Liang gazed into the distance at the beautiful mountains and rivers, and the grand battlefield. When "Tian Xia" officially launched, he, Yi Shi Cang Liang, would be the commander of tens of thousands of human cavalry, the supreme commander of the three armies. He eagerly anticipated this day. Why should a man not wield a sword and conquer fifty states? A man's life should be lived like this! Thinking of this, Yi Shi Cang Liang felt a bit envious of young Brother Lin Zhao, who, at such a young age, was already the commander of a thousand cavalry in the Death Camp.
Jian Huang held his sword, coldly observing the others. He disdained Su Xinghe's "unwavering devotion," Xian Bai's "perverted gaze," and Yi Shi Cang Liang's "ambitious intentions." He, Jian Huang, simply did not care for these things. His only desire was to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship, where no one would dare to draw their sword beneath his.
"The decisive battle is upon us..."
Shen Xingchen's beautiful eyes looked to the north and said, "The camps of the demon and beast races are almost visible. The demon ancestor and beast emperor were injured last time, likely enraging them, as they are now planning to force their way through the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond and head south."
"Mm."
Leng Yan nodded with a smile. "There are only a few days left until our beta test ends. The rankings are mostly fixed. If we want to contend for the top spots, we'll have to see how well we perform in the grand decisive battle~~~"
Currently, in the beta test rankings, Su Xinghe was first, Shen Xingchen second, Xian Bai third, Yi Shi Cang Liang fourth, and Leng Yan fifth. Jian Huang, Yan Yu Han, and others occupied the last five spots.
"Will we win this decisive battle?"
Xian Bai looked into the distance and chuckled, "Last time, Marquis Wu Yue Hao led an army of 930,000 in a surprise attack, which was considered successful. Yet, they only managed to kill about a million demon and beast race soldiers. How many soldiers does the human race have left? The men of the northern three prefectures are truly depleted. The remaining six prefectures combined have less than two million. The demon and beast races combined still have several million? How can we fight, it's impossible..."
Su Xinghe sneered, "So what then, surrender? Xian Bai, Xian Bai, when you say things like that, you sound particularly spineless..."
Xian Bai retorted, "I'm just stating facts. Alliance Leader Xinghe, please don't target me. My humble Seeking Immortals Guild can't afford to offend your so-called T0 guild, Xinghe. There's nothing I can do..."
Yi Shi Cang Liang grinned, "Brother Xian Bai, how about we join forces when the game officially launches? If the Azure Dragon and Seeking Immortals guilds join forces, can't we take down just one Xinghe?"
"Oh, is that so?"
Shen Xingchen smiled slightly and said, "If that's your plan, then I'll have to strike first. A Yan, our Xinghe guild is willing to form an alliance with Shengtian to fight against Seeking Immortals and Azure Dragon. What do you think our chances of victory are?"
"Wouldn't that be a sure victory?" Leng Yan replied.
Yi Shi Cang Liang laughed heartily, "Just kidding, just kidding... Don't be so serious... Besides, we're all guilds from the Huaxia region. Chinese people shouldn't fight Chinese people, right? Internal strife is the most pointless thing."
Leng Yan rolled her eyes.
Shen Xingchen then said, "Are we still going leveling today? These last few days, let's kill more stray demon and beast soldiers to earn some merit points. Perhaps we can get a few more rewards during the public beta."
"Sure!"
Su Xinghe nodded with a smile.
...
Fu Su Great Wall.
A decree from the Great Shang Dynasty sent shockwaves throughout the entire Fu Su Great Wall.
Inside the city, in an ancient, open-air council hall, a large group of old sword immortals and martial artists of the Upper Five Realms were gathered, along with the cream of the younger generation. Dozens of people, representing almost the highest fighting strength of the Fu Su Great Wall, present and future.
Lu Xinghe, the Lord of Fu Su Great Wall and an old sword immortal, sat on a stone table, holding his sword, looking unenthusiastic and disinclined to speak.
Beside him, Long Zai Tian, an old sword immortal of the twelfth realm, frowned and said, "The Great Shang Dynasty's decree has been issued. Fu Su Great Wall must participate in the war and send more than half of its cultivators and martial artists to battle."
"Hmph!"
A middle-aged martial artist of the tenth realm sneered. "There are no good people in the court of the Great Shang Dynasty. They want us to send more than half of our fighting strength, what do they mean by that? Do they truly wish for all the tough bones of our Xia clan to be extinguished?"
"Exactly!"
By the window, a middle-aged sword cultivator of the eleventh realm frowned and said, "I think resisting the demon and beast races is just an excuse. They want to take this opportunity to destroy Fu Su Great Wall. Hmph, the people of Great Shang are despicable and shameless, what are they incapable of doing?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, even erupting in curses.
Among them, Lin Wanhua, representing the younger generation, clad in white and carrying her long sword, was exceptionally beautiful. She frowned and remained silent. When the elders spoke, it was not her place to interject. Beside her, Qin Yu, Liu Xilong, Ye Lin, and others remained equally quiet, unwilling to step forward. After being "humiliated" by that fellow last time, the arrogance and spirit of the young prodigies of Fu Su Great Wall had indeed been considerably diminished.
"Quiet, everyone."
Lu Xinghe gently tapped the ground with his sword sheath. A prolonged sword hum filled the air, silencing everyone, and all eyes turned to the Lord of Fu Su Great Wall.
"Actually, although Great Shang has its own plans, their actions are not wrong."
Lu Xinghe looked at the crowd and said, "In recent days, Great Shang Dynasty’s armies have continuously passed through our Fu Su Great Wall heading north. According to our calculations, at least a million troops have passed, including a significant number of armored soldiers and cavalry from Yuzhou and Furongzhou in the south. Therefore, Great Shang is truly determined to fight the four northern races. Whether from a moral standpoint or for the future of the human race, our Fu Su Great Wall should participate in the war."
"Old sir."
Liu Xilong frowned, "Have you already decided?"
"Mm."
Lu Xinghe nodded. "Fu Su Great Wall must send half of its fighting strength to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond. Did the people of the Great Chen Dynasty retreat when they encountered the demon and beast races? Has Chu Huaixi not been fighting the demon and beast races all these years? We always look down on the Great Chen Dynasty, thinking they are all weaklings, but when the Great Chen Dynasty's forces swept north, the descendants of our Xia clan didn't even know where the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond was."
Han Fang, a sword cultivator of the twelfth realm, nodded. "We will follow the old sir's arrangements."
"Good."
Lu Xinghe said, "Fu Su Great Wall, heed my command!"
"Here!"
Everyone clasped their fists in unison.
Lu Xinghe slowly declared, "All those in the Upper Five Realms will follow me into battle. All cultivators and martial artists over the age of thirty will follow me into battle. Everyone else will remain here and continue to guard the Fu Su Great Wall!"
"What!?"
Everyone was shocked, especially the younger generation.
Lin Wanhua stepped forward, clasped her sword, and bowed to the old sword immortal. "Old sir, Wanhua requests to join the battle!"
"No!"
Lu Xinghe waved his hand. "This matter is not open for negotiation!"
Seeing Lin Wanhua's somewhat wronged expression, his tone softened slightly. "Wanhua, you are the most sensible child of the younger generation. You should know that our Xia clan has guarded Fu Su Great Wall for hundreds of years with great difficulty. Now, our older generation is getting old and can barely lift their swords. The future of Fu Su Great Wall rests entirely on you young ones. So, Wanhua, can you promise me one thing?"
"Yes."
Lin Wanhua bit her red lips.
"Mm."
The old sword immortal nodded and smiled. "Fu Su Great Wall is going to fight the demon and beast races. If we do not return, you, Lin Wanhua, must guard Fu Su Great Wall for the rest of your life, never leaving, unless it is for an extremely important matter. Can you do this?"
Lu Xinghe's words sounded like he was making his final arrangements.
Tears welled up in Lin Wanhua's eyes. "Wanhua obeys!"
"Mm..."
The old sword immortal flicked his sleeve. "Everyone, go about your business. Those going to battle, begin preparing your gear immediately and depart at dawn tomorrow. Those not going, cultivate diligently at Fu Su Great Wall."
"Yes, old sir!"
The crowd dispersed one by one. The old sword immortal softly said, "Han Fang, you stay. I have something to say."
"Yes!"
Han Fang, the sword cultivator of the twelfth realm, remained. "Old sir, what is it?"
The old sword immortal said, "You stay too."
"Why!?"
Han Fang was anxious. "Am I, Han Fang, not in the Upper Five Realms?"
"No."
The old sword immortal shook his head. "All those in the Upper Five Realms from Fu Su Great Wall are going to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond to face death. Only a group of young people will remain in this city. Who will command them? In the future, the Lord of Fu Su Great Wall will undoubtedly be her, Lin Wanhua. But before Lin Wanhua matures, Fu Su Great Wall needs an authoritative figure. And you, Han Fang, are that authority. You will remain to garrison Fu Su Great Wall until Lin Wanhua's strength surpasses yours, only then will you regain your freedom."
"I see..."
Han Fang stood rooted to the spot, his expression complex.
"Is there anything else?"
The old sword immortal asked.
"Why... can't I, Han Fang, be the next Lord of Fu Su Great Wall?"
"Oh?"
The old sword immortal smiled. "Han Fang, I advise you to put away your improper thoughts. Even if I, Lu Xinghe, die, if you try to usurp Lin Wanhua's power, or even attempt to kill Lin Wanhua, do not even entertain such notions, otherwise, you will die first. I am letting you stay to garrison the city because you are a useful person. There are many sword immortals from Fu Su Great Wall who will go to their deaths with me. Who do you think you are, Han Fang? To covet the life-and-death power of Fu Su Great Wall?"
Han Fang gritted his teeth. "I... understand. Please rest assured, old sir, Han Fang will not fail this mission!"
"Mm, I'm leaving."
...
On the battlements.
Lin Wanhua, dressed in white, sat on the city wall, letting the cold wind blow. She narrowed her beautiful eyes, trying to see further north. Her heart felt a pang of sadness. What if... that person were to die in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond in this battle?
The thought sent a sudden ache through her chest, and Lin Wanhua couldn't help but place her hand over her heart. What was this feeling of heartache?