Ningcheng.
The evening glow of the setting sun cast upon the opposite buildings, reflecting into Xu Yan's room.
Xu Yan had not logged in all afternoon.
The matter of the "Tian Xia" closed beta was all but settled. Xu Yan ranked within the top five, leaving no necessity to compete further. If she were to log in again, it would only be to accompany Shen Xingchen sightseeing, and perhaps catch a glimpse of that person in the midst of battle.
"Drip, drip~~~ Drip, drip~~~"
The communicator for her social software was incessantly ringing.
Xu Yan frowned and connected one of the contacts. It was a woman with an appearance rating of around eight out of ten. Her holographic projection rose directly from the control panel. She frowned and said, "A Yan, you've been offline for too long recently. The main guild still needs its guild leader to be active, you know? You can't just stay in the closed beta. This way, people's hearts are bound to scatter."
This woman was none other than "Broken Connection Kite," the vice guild leader of the Sheng Tian guild and one of Xu Yan's closest friends.
"Kite, this is quite a bother for you!"
Xu Yan leaned back on the sofa, eating a piece of tiramisu, and chuckled, "Do you think your position as vice guild leader is just for show? Maintaining the atmosphere in the main guild chat is part of your job. Also, those male players who flirt with you in the guild, you can't just tell them to get lost every time. Sometimes you have to play along a little, otherwise, you can't keep people united."
"Damn it!"
Broken Connection Kite huffed, pouting her lips, "What? Are you, Cold Yan, the great guild leader, really going to be a hands-off manager now? And you want me to play along? Why don't you do it yourself... I'm playing a game, and I'm about to become a public relations manager... Damn, you're pissing me off!"
Xu Yan chuckled, "Is it that serious? A public relations manager? Think about it, how many top-tier players have you driven away? If you were really a public relations manager, I would have fired you that very day."
Broken Connection Kite let out a snicker, "That seems to be the case. Speaking of which, how's the closed beta going?"
"It's alright. I can't reveal any specific information to you, of course, since I signed a non-disclosure agreement. Only closed beta players can discuss specific game information. However, my ranking in the closed beta is good, top five. Mostly because there are so few people. If those freaks could also get into the closed beta, I suspect I wouldn't even make it into the top ten of our national server."
"It's fine. The closed beta data will be wiped anyway. We can make a grand plan when the public beta launches."
"Mm."
Xu Yan pursed her red lips and said, "Tian Xia is about to launch. You handle the internal affairs, and I'll handle the external. You must control the situation in our Sheng Tian main guilds. If there are people who want to jump to other guilds, if you can resolve it with gentle persuasion, use a soft approach. Otherwise, just tell them to get lost. Our Sheng Tian doesn't lack people who are double-minded. As for diplomacy, I've already gotten acquainted with high-level figures from guilds like Xing He, Cang Long, Han Cheng, and Wu Wang. The diplomatic situation for Sheng Tian in the early game won't be too difficult. Just focus on development."
"Understood, I'll take care of the internal matters."
"Mm-hmm."
...
After ending the call with Broken Connection Kite, Xu Yan opened another chat window. Immediately, a holographic projection of a young man appeared before her. Xu Yan quickly used a cushion to cover her alluring legs. Hmph, even if it was someone from her own side, she couldn't let them see just like that. He wasn't Lin Zhao, so why should he get that privilege?
The person in the chat window was named Drunk Invincible, another vice guild leader of the Sheng Tian guild, and one of Xu Yan's right-hand men.
"Invincible."
Xu Yan frowned, "What is it? You had to initiate a video call? What if my boyfriend was here, how embarrassing would that be?"
Drunk Invincible scratched his head and chuckled, "Damn, you already have a boyfriend? Then all these years I've been working my butt off, and I've been doing it for nothing, being a lackey for someone else?"
Xu Yan chuckled, "Less nonsense, get to the point!"
"Mm!"
Drunk Invincible said solemnly, "Boss, I want to talk about a trend. Because 'Tian Xia' is a metaverse concept, major banks will be deeply involved. Therefore, in-game gold coins can be directly exchanged for universal Earth currency in reality. In-game equipment and data can be directly converted into real-world tangible assets. What kind of concept is this? Top players could potentially become rulers of this planet! Therefore, I think our Sheng Tian shouldn't be complacent. We need to launch a contract plan quickly and sign players with strength under our banner early on. Then, with a large number of people, we can compete for virtual resources in the game, and every player in Sheng Tian guild can live a life of luxury. This is also something you, as the guild leader, should be doing."
"I know."
Xu Yan narrowed her eyes and smiled, "It's very constructive, but it's too much trouble. If our Sheng Tian guild wants to sign people, we have to establish a corporate group. Although it can be done online, it's really troublesome..."
"Damn!"
Drunk Invincible looked helpless, "You find even this troublesome and you still dare to be a guild leader?"
Saying that, he rubbed his forehead and continued, "Boss, how about this... You handle the online registration and create Sheng Tian Group under 'Tian Xia.' Then, leave the recruitment and contract negotiations to me and Kite. We two lackeys will handle it perfectly for you, okay? As for you, you can travel wherever you want, date whomever you please, alright?"
"This attitude is commendable."
Xu Yan smiled, "But have you ever seen me dating some rich guy over the years? Hmph, who do you think I'm interested in?"
Drunk Invincible chuckled, "Indeed, indeed. Boss is pure, boss is the most beautiful in the world, boss is chaste and pure. Speaking of which, have you really never had a boyfriend?"
"Too picky, not picky enough, so nope."
A smile played on Xu Yan's lips, "But you definitely don't stand a chance, I don't fancy you. Go do your work."
"Alright Boss, I'm out of here!"
...
Snowy Domain Heavenly Pool.
The armies of the Demon, Devil, and Ghost races remained dormant. As for the Human race, all the necessary preparations had been made. Trenches, caltrops, ground spikes, water barriers, and countless other defenses were set up, waiting for the enemy to fall into the trap. Therefore, the next task for the Human race was to wait, waiting for the enemy's attack. There was nothing more to be done.
In the afternoon, Lin Zhao returned to Tian Chi Town. He bought some joss paper and candles at the incense shop, then bought a roasted chicken, some dumplings, noodles, and other items. Carrying a pot of wine and a shovel, he headed straight for the back mountain.
Originally, he had planned to go alone, but Shan Zhi insisted on following, saying that the Marshal needed to be taken care of.
Lin Zhao found it somewhat amusing. He, an eighth-realm martial artist, needed protection from a seventh-realm sword cultivator like her? However, Shan Zhi was probably worried about him being lonely, so she wanted to accompany him. Thus, Lin Zhao didn't think much of it and let her come along.
Back mountain, Lin family graveyard.
His father's and mother's graves were side by side. The tombstones were erected by the cavalrymen of the Heavenly Pool Army back then. Over the years, battered by wind and rain, they were now covered in moss.
Lin Zhao stepped forward, carefully clearing the moss from the tombstones. Then, he picked up the shovel and dug out the wild grass from the graves. After that, he dug some soil from nearby and re-covered both graves with fresh earth. He then placed two octagonal mounds on top. Finally, he knelt before the tombstones, offered the sacrifices, uncorked the wine pot, and poured wine before his father's grave.
"Father."
He knelt on the ground, frowning, "The demon race is about to attack the mountain. Back then... I heard a great demon attacked, and you were the one who stopped it. Now, countless demons are about to assault the mountain. I will do my utmost to stop them, so as not to disgrace our Lin family."
Then, he poured some wine before his mother's tombstone.
Instantly, the young man's eyes turned red. "Mother, I miss you so much..."
Beside him, Shan Zhi, having heard this single sentence, was on the verge of tears.
"The demon race and devil race are about to attack the mountain."
Lin Zhao forced himself not to cry, knelt before his mother's grave, and managed a smile, "Mother, I've been doing well these past few years. My qi sea, burned by the Qilin Fire Seal, was repaired by Sister Bai. Now I am an eighth-realm martial artist and a fourth-realm sword cultivator, quite a powerful person in this small town. Moreover, I have a senior brother, his name is Ding Mu Chen, the Saint of Soldiers from the ancestral court of the School of Military Affairs. And I have a senior sister, her name is Ming Yue Chi... yes, the fairy who ascended from the Snowy Domain Heavenly Pool. Senior brother and senior sister treat me very well. Also, the owner of the bookstore in town, Mr. Qin, treats me exceptionally well. And, and the commander Chu of the Heavenly Pool Army, Sister Chen Yu, Old Huang, they all treat me very well. Mother, please rest assured, I am doing very, very well..."
Shan Zhi looked at the young man's back. She knew he was lying. Lin Zhao had struggled through the mud and grime to survive these years. He had not been doing well at all. Even after his qi sea was repaired and he stepped into the martial path, he had lived in constant danger, nearly losing his life many times. If this was considered doing well, then what was not doing well?
"Marshal Lin."
Shan Zhi stepped forward, her eyes red, "May I pay my respects?"
"Mm."
So, Shan Zhi stepped forward, took the paper joss, burned some, and then, without regard for staining her white dress, knelt before the grave. She said, "Sir, Madam, Lin Zhao is no longer the Lin Zhao of the past. He is now an eighth-realm martial artist and a fourth-realm sword cultivator, and even a proud scion of the younger generation of our Great Chen Dynasty. He once offered counsel to Commander Chu and personally beheaded eight thousand elite demon soldiers at Jiu Zhang Yuan. He also led twenty thousand human cavalry eastward to attack two demon encampments, killing over a hundred thousand. And now, he has been enfeoffed by the Great Shang as the Commander of the Human Race's Three Armies, wielding the military power of over two million soldiers, holding the greatest military authority in the entire human world, and is the only one who can save the entire world."
She pursed her red lips and continued, "Please rest assured, Luo Yang, Mu Ge, and the other seven from the Mountain Peak Villa, we will all follow Lin Zhao to the death. In the future, whether it is to kill demons and earn merit, or to die defending the realm, we will never regret it."
"Shan Zhi..."
Lin Zhao gently waved his hand, signaling her to stop talking.
"Mother."
He looked at the tombstone again, his eyes blurring with tears, "I miss you, and I miss Father. Perhaps soon our family will be reunited."
"Sir..."
Shan Zhi's nose twitched, and tears streamed down her face.
...
Before the grave, on the tombstone, the inscription was clearly visible.
Father, Lin Zheng Xi.
Mother, Mu Rong Qin.