"Shua~~~"
Ahead, a dense forest stretched out, and as Lin Zhao turned back, he had already left Luoxia Village. When he opened the large map, the previously invisible map was now visible. It turned out to be within the territory of a prefecture under Ji Province in the Huaxia region. This prefecture was located at the northern end of Ji Province, far from Baidi City, but quite close to Yun Province!
"Heaven helps me!"
Lin Zhao clapped his hands lightly, smiling brilliantly. His initial best-case scenario was that this新手村 (newbie village) belonged to Yun Province, Yan Province, or Ning Province, closest to the Fusang Great Wall. Now, being at the northern end of Ji Province was still acceptable. Passing through Yun Province would lead to Shanhaiguan. As for why he could pass through the map zone earlier, it was inexplicable. Was it due to the karma of his past and present lives? Or perhaps, as the human commander who secured a hundred years of peace for humanity, he was recognized by the Heavenly Dao, granting him a halo similar to that of his senior brother?
He couldn't figure it out, so he stopped dwelling on it. The important thing was that he had gotten out.
He glanced into the distance, his mind made up.
He would travel the official road, no monsters!
Thus, this level 1 probationary sword immortal, carrying his wooden sword, passed through the jungle and stepped onto the official road of the Great Shang Dynasty.
...
Afternoon, 1:40 PM.
On the official road of Yun Province, a level 47 Forest Gray Bear swatted a level 1 probationary sword immortal to the ground. It then swaggered away. After resurrecting and sitting on the ground to recover his stamina, Lin Zhao was in tears. Damn it, even the official roads weren't safe! The setting of "Tian Xia" was indeed infinitely close to reality. Even on the official road, wild beasts didn't recognize it; they would still come to take advantage if they had the chance.
He was unyielding, vowing not to return until he reached the Snow Region Heavenly Pool!
...
Afternoon, 2:51 PM.
When Lin Zhao fell once again under the sword of a level 96 Wandering Forest Beast, he was utterly dejected. His wooden sword and cloth armor had both been destroyed. Now he was truly left with only a pair of shorts! That wooden sword had dropped right at the feet of a level 100 elite monster. Who would dare to pick it up? Did he want to die even more? He had already died enough, and each death was quite painful. However, Lin Zhao could endure it. Compared to the death at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, the current pain was merely a drizzle. Da Feng Novel Network.
However, at this moment, a bell-like sound echoed in his ears—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations! As the first player on the server to sustain over 10,000 points of damage on the opening day, you have obtained the skill [Perfect Defense]!
...
This is possible too!?
In his skill bar, a skill button flashed, a passive.
[Perfect Defense] (S-class): Greatly increases the chance of successful defense, and has a certain chance to defend against fatal blows.
"Excellent!"
Lin Zhao was overjoyed. This was exactly the skill he needed most! There were still many monsters along the way. With this skill, perhaps he could die a few less times!
As it turned out, he had thought too much. This skill was built upon a sufficiently high combat power; it was merely an enhancement, not a means of invincibility. Thus, he would still die as he should.
He "lay dead" all the way through Yun Province and, around four in the afternoon, arrived at Shanhaiguan.
This ancient and majestic pass still stood as it always had. However, the commander guarding Shanhaiguan was no longer Shao Shi Yu. When Lin Zhao arrived at the foot of Shanhaiguan, he found it under strict lockdown. Moreover, the Vermillion Bird Camp now had not only female Vermillion Bird cavalry but also many male Vermillion Bird cavalry, indicating a reorganization of the legion.
A male Vermillion Bird cavalryman, clad in fiery red armor and mounted on a warhorse, stood beneath the city wall, looking down at Lin Zhao with disdain. "Young man, if you don't want to die, hurry back. This place is under lockdown. In recent days, there have been continuous incursions and harassment by cultivators of the Middle Five Realms from the demon race. We have already suffered many casualties. With your weakness, what right do you have to head north of Shanhaiguan?"
Lin Zhao frowned and cupped his fists. "I truly have urgent matters in the north. I hope for your understanding!"
"Don't bother!"
The Vermillion Bird cavalryman said coldly, "There are hundreds of people like you every day! What right do you have to ask for my understanding?"
"He's really unreasonable..."
Lin Zhao retreated several steps, his brow furrowed as he looked up at the city wall. He shouted, "I am Lin Zhao. I knew your Shanhaiguan commander, Shao Shi Yu. Let me pass!"
On the city wall, a group of guards burst into laughter. Some female Vermillion Bird cavalry covered their mouths and giggled, "This little fellow is quite interesting. Knows Shao Shi Yu? Who is Shao Shi Yu... Don't know~~~"
Lin Zhao was disappointed. It had only been a hundred years, and these people had already forgotten Shao Shi Yu from a century ago? Logically, Shao Shi Yu's feat of leading ten thousand Vermillion Bird cavalry to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool for a decisive battle against the demon race should have been recorded. This was a glorious achievement of the Vermillion Bird Camp. Why had everyone forgotten Shao Shi Yu now?
"Scram!"
A centurion frowned and said, "You know Shao Shi Yu? Stop embarrassing yourself. Our Vermillion Bird Camp has no commander named Shao Shi Yu, never has!"
"Silence."
Just then, an old voice rang out. An old woman in armor, with a sword on her back, appeared on the city wall. She frowned and looked at Lin Zhao below. "Do you really know Shao Shi Yu?"
"Yes!"
"Enter the city and have a chat with me?"
"Alright, thank you!"
...
Lin Zhao entered the city and met the old woman in a courtyard within Shanhaiguan. The old woman poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him. "Many years have passed. It has been a very long time since anyone mentioned that name. In those days, Lord Shao Shi was such a heroic figure. Today... no one remembers her anymore. Young man, how did you know Lord Shao Shi?"
"..."
Lin Zhao hesitated. He couldn't claim to be Lin Zhao again; no one would believe him. He frowned and said, "I am the reincarnation of a warrior who died at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. In my previous life, I was a member of the Death Squad of the Heavenly Pool Army. By chance, I met Commander Shao Shi. When Marquis Wu Yue Hao led the Yun Province Iron Cavalry in a surprise attack, I also followed Lord Lin Zhao in attacking the demon commander's tent. At that time, seventeen thousand Vermillion Bird Camp cavalry attacked with us. Our victory was glorious, but only a little over thirteen thousand returned."
"Ah..."
The old woman's tears flowed uncontrollably. These buried memories were no longer remembered, yet this young man in front of her described the situation exactly as it happened. She wiped away her tears and said, "Do you know, I was one of the two Vermillion Bird Camp prefects who followed Commander Lin on that expedition?"
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback. He looked closely at the old woman and murmured, "You... you are Wang Cheng Yan?"
"Ah?"
The old woman was struck as if by lightning. "You... you still remember me?"
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao nodded. How could he not recognize her? It was him who led them in the surprise attack on the demon race and crossed the Chiyue Pine Forest seven times. But he didn't say that. He gritted his teeth and said, "I remember, I remember... I never thought I would meet an old acquaintance again."
"Yes..."
The old woman nodded. "Now Lord Shao Shi has been martyred for a hundred years, and I never thought someone would still remember her."
"Wait."
Lin Zhao frowned and asked, "Shao Shi Yu sacrificed herself as a hero of the human race. Why would no one remember her? Could it be that later... someone deliberately concealed the facts of that year?"
"Yes."
The old woman's face was filled with grief. "Back then, Lord Shao Shi disobeyed Duke Wen's orders and led ten thousand Vermillion Bird cavalry to rescue people. This resulted in the complete annihilation of the ten thousand Vermillion Bird cavalry. Therefore, Duke Wen, in his fury, stripped Lord Shao Shi of all her military achievements and removed her from the rank of commander. What happened afterward is as you see. The historians dared not record anything about her, and people gradually forgot her merits."
"Wen Shuoyang was so unreasonable?"
Lin Zhao felt indignant for Shao Shi Yu in his heart.
"Esteemed young hero,"
The old woman looked at him and said, "You are crossing Shanhaiguan. What are you going to do?"
"Return to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
Lin Zhao said solemnly, "No matter what, I must go back and see. Otherwise, my heart will not be at peace."
"Is that so..."
The old woman thought for a moment. "Look, I am old now, but I am highly respected in Shanhaiguan and currently serve as a sword instructor for the army. Your journey has been arduous. How about this: I will dispatch a carriage and send a few Vermillion Bird cavalry to escort you to the Fusang Great Wall. Beyond that, I can do nothing more. The army of Great Shang does not cross the Fusang Great Wall."
"They don't cross anymore?"
Lin Zhao was stunned. "When did this happen?"
"About ten years ago. The Northern Four Tribes have become restless again."
"I know. In that case, thank you, Mother."
"We are fated, no need to be polite."
Not long after, a military carriage sped along, accompanied by sixteen tall and strong Vermillion Bird cavalry. Lin Zhao sat inside the carriage, finally no longer worried about being killed by monsters!
...
The carriage moved quickly, and by about five in the evening, they arrived at the Fusang Great Wall.
The spiritual energy on the Fusang Great Wall had thinned considerably, likely due to the Sacred Soldier's use of the Fusang Sword. The bustling scene of sword cultivators and martial artists that once graced the city walls was gone, with very few people on the battlements. However, inside the city, many sword cultivators sat in dilapidated taverns, nurturing their sword intent, and some martial artists sparred with each other, their fists and winds fierce. Among them was even a martial artist in the Sea-Stepping Realm!
Lin Zhao looked from afar, a sense of nostalgia washing over him. In the past, he himself was an eight-realm martial artist, with a golden battle spirit, known as invincible with his iron fist. Now, returning to this old place, his cultivation was long gone. As a level 1 nobody, he felt too embarrassed to interact with the "big brothers" within the Fusang Great Wall.
"Passerby?"
On a low, dilapidated wall, a middle-aged man sneered at Lin Zhao. "After the bastards of Great Shang became cowardly again, it's been many years since anyone new came to the Fusang Great Wall. Kid, you're so weak, are you looking for death by coming to the Fusang Great Wall?"
"No, no..."
Lin Zhao looked at this person and felt that the martial artist's aura was incredibly potent. Very strong. He cupped his fists and smiled. "May I ask, big brother, are you in the Upper Five Realms of martial arts?"
"Tsk tsk, you're weak, but your eyesight is good!"
The other party took a drink and smiled. "Fusang Great Wall, Liu Xi Long. Born into a military family, an eleven-realm Heaven Origin Realm martial artist!"
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao almost burst out laughing. An acquaintance! This Liu Xi Long had indeed gotten uglier over the years. Although he recognized him, Lin Zhao dared not be too presumptuous. After all, this person could kill him a hundred times with one punch. So he cupped his fists and smiled, "Impressive, impressive... May I ask, big brother, who is in charge here at the Fusang Great Wall now? The old sword immortal Lu Xing He died in battle a hundred years ago. Is the younger generation in charge of the Fusang Great Wall now?"
"Yes."
Liu Xi Long smiled slightly, his eyes filled with pride. "Currently, the peak twelve-realm Great Sword Immortal Lin Wan Hua is guarding the Fusang Great Wall. Her single sword is enough to make the demon race dare not look south towards the Fusang Great Wall!"
"..."
Hearing the name Lin Wan Hua, Lin Zhao couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart. "Impressive, impressive. I'm leaving then, big brother..."
"Go, don't die too quickly, little brother!"
"Will do, big brother!"
The two waved goodbye, parting ways reluctantly.
...
Lin Zhao passed through the Fusang Great Wall and headed directly north.
On the battlements, a young girl in a white dress, holding a snow-white long sword, stood. Her gaze followed the level 1 probationary sword immortal, and she felt that his back seemed somewhat familiar. Could it be him? No, it couldn't be. So many years had passed, and the news of his death in battle had spread throughout the world. Even if he were alive, he couldn't be this young.
Thinking of this, Lin Wan Hua's beautiful eyes seemed to glisten with tears. "I haven't even gone to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool yet, and you've already sacrificed yourself. Is being a hero that good?"
(Note: Why is Liu Xi Long an adult after a hundred years, while Lin Wan Hua is still a young girl? Because spiritual cultivators age slowly and live long.)