The demon race.
Inside the central command tent, the great demon Yu Zhi, clad in armor, unceremoniously occupied the commander's seat. Flanking her were four thirteenth-realm great demons, and further ahead sat leaders of the twelfth and eleventh realms. These upper five-realm great demons were often "ancestors" or "sect masters" of their respective species, possessing immense influence among the demon race, hence their direct appointment as commanders in the tent, commanding absolute loyalty.
"Something's not right, something's not right at all."
Yu Zhi's delicate brows furrowed as she forcefully threw a brush into the sand table before her. "Everything feels off. What are the humans planning?"
"We don't know."
The great demon Bai Lan sneered, "These days, the human army seems to have borrowed quite a few cultivators from the Ink School's ancestral home. They've used formations and magical artifacts to erect a heaven-concealing barrier. Even I, a thirteenth-realm sword cultivator, can't see through this barrier. I can only perceive what's within my line of sight. Clearly... the humans are constructing fortifications and positions."
"Hmph!"
A twelfth-realm great demon, clad in red, scoffed, "So what if they're building fortifications? Won't our demon army sweep through them like nothing?"
"Exactly."
An eleventh-realm demon cultivator seated further back sneered, "Fifty thousand Yunzhou cavalry under Yue Hao, touted as the human race's strongest force, weren't they just reduced to a pile of white bones under our blades? Now, who have they gathered at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond? Ningzhou, Jizhou, Shuzhou – these places that have enjoyed peace for hundreds of years, can they still produce soldiers with spirit and backbone?"
"Hahahaha~~~"
A twelfth-realm demon cultivator, a battle axe slung across his back, chuckled, "Lord Yu Zhi needn't worry. No matter how strong or how well-prepared the humans are, what can they do? We have over twenty command tents here, with nearly five million troops. Are we truly afraid of a mere Snow Domain Heavenly Pond? Moreover, on our left flank, we have over a million demonic cavalry, and on our right, millions of ghost puppets. Crushing the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond should be child's play!"
"Oh?"
Yu Zhi slowly raised her head, her beautiful eyes fixing on the great demons who were boasting. She smiled, "If you gentlemen truly look down on the humans so much, and are so overconfident, then I grant you permission to go challenge them right now. Whoever can cleave open the Heavenly Pond Mountain with their sword, I will immediately report to the Demon Ancestor, and you will be the second-in-command of the demon ancestral mountain, second only to the Demon Ancestor himself."
The numerous great demons were struck dumb, their mouths shut tight, no longer daring to spout nonsense.
"Hmph..."
Yu Zhi slowly rose, her pretty face exuding a heroic spirit. Her exquisite armor accentuated her form. "Do you know who is setting up the formations at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond? His name is Lin Zhao. He caused me great losses at Jiuzhang Plain, costing us eight thousand elite demon warriors. In the Eastern Battlefield, he caused me second great loss. Seven times, twenty thousand human cavalry rode through the Chiyuan Pine Forest, carving a bloody path through my encirclement and costing us nearly a hundred thousand demon warriors!"
A smirk played on her lips as she coldly continued, "You dare to look down on such a person? Furthermore, the Great Shang Dynasty has already enfeoffed Lin Zhao as the Grand Marshal of the Human Race's Three Armies. Wen Shuyang is not a fool; he would not agree to enfeoff a sixteen-year-old marshal unless this person possesses extraordinary, exceptional qualities. Our four northern tribes are about to march south, and you think we've already won? Have you forgotten how the Demon Ancestor and Demon Emperor retreated? I tell you, never underestimate the human race and the peak prodigies among them, or you will lose terribly!"
"Yes!"
A thirteenth-realm demon cultivator smiled, "Lord Yu Zhi, please don't lose your temper. Tell us, how should we strategize next? Should we launch a frontal assault, or devise another plan?"
"No rush."
Yu Zhi slowly waved her hand. "We still have two more command tents whose troops have not arrived. Let's wait a bit longer. And the ghost race is plotting the 'Weeping Blood Spectacle.' If they intend to be the main attackers, we can simply observe from the sidelines."
"Yes!"
Everyone clasped their fists together. "Lord Yu Zhi is wise, heroic, and peerless!"
The eleventh-realm Yu Zhi leaned back in the commander's chair, her brows furrowed. In the past, she would have been overjoyed to hear such flattery, even feeling an urge to puff up her chest. But now, facing the misty expanse of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond, she had no idea what Lin Zhao's strategy was and dared not act rashly.
Perhaps, it would be best to let the demonic cavalry charge first?
...
The demon race, command tent.
The sound of cavalry thundering across the plains echoed from afar, disturbing the peace within the command tent. A handsome young man with short hair, clad in armor, sat solemnly at the commander's seat.
Su Chan, the Grand Marshal of the Demon Race's Three Armies, a young marshal at only twenty-five years old.
"Marshal Su."
A demon commander rose and clasped his fists. "The human positions are now obscured by a barrier. Our scouts can no longer gather any intelligence. And the demon race is dragging its feet. Should our demon race take the initiative and break through the city first?"
"Ah?!"
Su Chan blinked in surprise. "Why? If we break through first, will the Demon Ancestor award us a commendation? Or will the demon race cede thousands of miles of territory to us?"
"Ah, this..."
The commander sat down, looking embarrassed.
Not far from Su Chan, a young woman in a long dress with purple eyes smiled slightly. "Marshal Su Chan, they were merely offering a suggestion. Why must you be so sarcastic?"
"Hmph!"
Su Chan laced his hands behind his head, resting his feet on the commander's table. He chuckled, "Wanting to earn merit is a good thing, but being greedy and rushing headlong is not. Remember, you command one hundred thousand divine cavalry. If these divine cavalry are buried beneath the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond, will you bear the responsibility?"
"I..."
The commander was rendered speechless.
"Enough."
Su Chan narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Ultimately, this war was proposed and initiated by the demon race. Our divine race is merely lending a hand. If we are to attack, the demon race must show sincerity first. If the demon race does not commit their main forces to the battlefield, our divine race can continue to observe from the sidelines. The southern lands are still there, and we can take them at any time. What do you think, Princess Mingyu?"
The young woman in the long dress was none other than the Demon Emperor's most beloved youngest daughter, bestowed with the title "Princess Mingyu." She had been intelligent since childhood, well-versed in military strategy, and held no less prestige in the demon army than Marshal Su Chan.
"Yes, then let us continue to observe."
Princess Mingyu smiled. "Send out more scouts to patrol eastward, and keep a close watch on the human race's movements. Hmph, that young man named Lin Zhao is full of cunning tricks. If anyone among the humans is most skilled at surprise attacks, I don't think it's Yue Hao, who killed millions of demon elites, but Lin Zhao. His surprise attacks are what have caused the most pain to the demon race."
Su Chan chuckled, narrowing his eyes. "No rush, no rush. There will be a time to confront Lin Zhao. Then we'll know if this sixteen-year-old human marshal is truly capable, or just a straw dummy, with the real strategist being Wen Shuyang of Bai Di City. As for him, Lin Zhao, he's just a puppet on the front lines, meant to deceive us and make the four northern tribes lower their guard."
"I didn't expect Marshal Su to think so far ahead."
Princess Mingyu chuckled softly.
The other commanders in the demon army exchanged glances. Damn it, if Su Chan hadn't said it, who would have thought of this? That imposing human marshal Lin Zhao, could he truly be just a mere puppet?
If that were the case, then Marquis Wen Wen Shuyang of Bai Di City's schemes would be too terrifying.
...
In the game, war was on the verge of breaking out.
In the real world, it was still a time of revelry and peace.
Xicheng, a city adjacent to Sucheng, was one of the cities prioritized for reconstruction after the great war. The city was not large but was economically prosperous and populous, with highly developed industries, finance, and food services.
At this moment, in the city center of Xicheng, within a shopping mall, a Japanese restaurant was open for business. Although Honshu Island, Hokkaido, and other parts of Japan to the east of China had sunk a hundred years ago during the great war, Japanese cuisine had survived. This Japanese restaurant was quite famous in Xicheng, attracting a large number of diners.
By the window, a man and a woman sat opposite each other.
The man was a middle-aged man, his face weathered, but his eyes held a shrewdness and the competence and seasoned wisdom of a middle-aged man. Opposite him sat a young and beautiful girl, exceptionally good-looking, wearing a short skirt, her long, slender legs drawing the fervent gazes of male diners from all directions.
Many diners secretly grumbled, "Damn it, these two are such an odd pair. It must be some kind of relationship!"
"Pah! Shameless!"
But the reality was different.
The middle-aged man was famous in the beta test of "Tian Xia" – the legendary "Yi Shi Cang Liang," leader of the Cang Long Guild, ranked among the top five in the national server. The woman was Chen Xue, ranked first among knights in "Conquest" for the Cang Long Guild, her beauty exquisite and captivating.
"What have you been doing these days?"
Yi Shi Cang Liang smiled. "It's so hard to get you to agree to a meal. I've been asking you out for a month, and you've finally agreed to grace me with your presence. I even felt compelled to bathe and fast before leaving home today."
Chen Xue smiled. "Dancing at bars, earning some pocket money. What else? Prices are so high these days, everything is expensive. Even a battery costs an outrageous amount."
"Still dancing?"
Yi Shi Cang Liang chuckled. "Stop dancing. Just sign with our Cang Long Guild directly. I'm participating in the beta test, and I can tell that 'Tian Xia' is bound to be a hit, likely to sweep the entire gaming market. Afterward, our human race's second world might be 'Tian Xia.' If you sign with Cang Long, I'll treat you to the best of everything."
"..."
Chen Xue fell into thought, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Yi Shi Cang Liang continued, "How about this, I'll go to the bar where you work and order a few 'Divine Dragon Sets,' a few '33333's' to show my sincerity? Honestly, as long as you're willing to sign with Cang Long, name your price. We have no issue with the highest price in the entire guild. I believe you, Chen Xue, are worth that price."
Chen Xue couldn't help but laugh. "Guild Leader Cang Liang, why don't you just tell me what it is about me that you fancy? That I'm worth this much?"
"Worth it."
Yi Shi Cang Liang stated, "If you officially join Cang Long, then we'll truly be a formidable duo. My diplomacy will be maxed out, and your internal affairs will be maxed out. It will be difficult for Cang Long not to reign supreme in 'Tian Xia.' You must understand, 'Tian Xia' is a game with a metaverse concept. It's about capital reset and reshuffling in the real world. At that time, real-world capital will continuously flow into the blockchain component. It will no longer be just a game, but an opportunity to change one's life. It's truly possible to become one of the top people in the world with a game character."
Chen Xue pursed her red lips. "No rush, I'll consider it further."
"Okay, fine!"