The next evening.
At the summit of the mountain peak villa, the setting sun illuminated Lin Zhao's diligent figure. His stance was broad and open, with strands of profound fist intent flowing through his body, exhibiting a great master's demeanor. Moreover, Lin Zhao was no longer practicing just the Farmer's Three Punches; he had integrated the essence of the subsequent six forms, and even his foundational stances were the complete Nirvana Fist stances.
Alas, he still couldn't break into the first realm of martial arts, unable to return to the martial path.
Something's not right!
He was drenched in sweat, unsure of what was amiss. But it didn't matter; training his fists until he sweat was actually quite beneficial for cultivating his state of mind. Although he hadn't broken through, he could clearly feel that practicing his fists made his Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator realm more stable, steadily solidifying his foundation.
Overall, it was a good thing.
Time to descend the mountain and take a cold shower!
...
Not long after, as night fell, Lin Zhao finished dinner with Tong Yu, Xu Zhi, Dong Cang, and Chu Yu. He glanced south, then unsheathed his sword and ascended into the sky, heading towards the Tongjing Lake area. In the night sky, as he arrived ten miles west of Tongjing Lake, a human encampment appeared in his sight. Beside the official road, tents stretched in connected rows, flying the banners of the Great Shang royal family and the Shanhai Division.
As Lin Zhao gracefully landed in the encampment, the curtain of a large tent slowly lifted, and Zhao Shutong's exquisite face appeared. She smiled slightly, "Commander Lin, you've arrived!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded, "There is one matter that still requires the Crown Princess's assistance. It is a small personal request of mine."
"Everyone has personal requests."
Zhao Shutong smiled, "Commander Lin, please speak freely."
"Alright."
Thus, Lin Zhao recounted the story of Han Yurou, the Peach Blossom Demon of Tongjing Lake, and Zhang Xicheng, the general of the Xia tribe. Zhao Shutong's pretty face was filled with longing. As the Crown Princess, hailed as the most beautiful woman in the Great Shang royal family, she was naturally not short of suitors, even among them were outstanding young talents like Lin Xuanzhi. Yet, Zhao Shutong still yearned for the story of Han Yurou and Zhang Xicheng, their meeting at humble beginnings, and their steadfast devotion to each other. Such a bond was the most precious in the world.
"Commander Lin, rest assured."
Zhao Shutong said, "This matter is on me. Perhaps... Commander Lin would like to enter the tent and look at our topographical map to choose a suitable mountain for Zhang Xicheng?"
"Mm, alright!"
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded, then stepped into the tent side-by-side with Zhao Shutong.
Inside the large tent, several officials responsible for surveying landscapes and recording the register of deities stood respectfully. Clearly, after the Battle of Xijian River, Zhao Shutong had consolidated her power. The enfeoffment of deities in the northern lands was now largely decided by her. Zhao Qiyang and Lin Yan were powerless. If they were to interfere, they might displease the River God Mother of Xijian River, and they might not live long. How ferocious was the thirteenth-realm Flood Dragon under her command!
"Check the register."
Zhao Shutong said to her subordinates, "Zhang Xicheng of the Xia tribe, let's see his battle merits."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
A Nascent Soul realm landscape cultivator raised his hands, and a topographical atlas before him began to flip. At a certain moment, he opened his eyes, and the atlas stopped on a page filled with densely packed small characters. The landscape cultivator then respectfully said, "Reporting to Your Highness, Zhang Xicheng, formerly a thousand-man commander of the Xia tribe legion, died and transformed into a heroic soul. He commands tens of thousands of Xia tribe heroic souls in Luoxia Valley, and has repeatedly intercepted demon and devil armies, achieving great military exploits. On the roll of honor for the northern territories, Zhang Xicheng is ranked 27th!"
"Understood."
Zhao Shutong nodded and smiled, looking at Lin Zhao, "Zhang Xicheng has achieved great military exploits. He deserves to be the Mountain God of any mountain in the Tongjing Lake area. Here, these blank mountain peaks on the map are unassigned Mountain Gods. Their height and area have been marked. Commander Lin can choose one for Zhang Xicheng."
"Alright, let me see."
Lin Zhao leaned over the topographical map, studying it carefully. Some mountains were vast, and after enfeoffment, Zhang Xicheng's divine form would be more potent with divine power. However, they were too far from Tongjing Lake. Others were almost adjacent to Tongjing Lake but were merely small mounds, not even qualifying for Mountain God enfeoffment, perhaps only for a local Earth God. That would be too much of an injustice to Zhang Xicheng, a heroic soul of the human race with outstanding contributions.
Finally, Lin Zhao's gaze fell upon a mountain five miles south of Tongjing Lake. This mountain was called Ziyun Mountain. It was the tallest in the surrounding hundred-mile radius and covered a large territory, encompassing over a dozen nearby peaks. This meant that if Zhang Xicheng were enfeoffed as the Mountain God of Ziyun Mountain, he would also oversee over a dozen other peaks, and his incense offerings would be quite prosperous.
"Here..."
Lin Zhao's finger pressed on the topographical map and said, "Your Highness, Ziyun Mountain, what do you think?"
"Mm."
Zhao Shutong narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled, "Initially, my first thought was also Ziyun Mountain. Firstly, Ziyun Mountain is large enough, ranking ninth among the mountains in the northern territories, which is not a disgrace to Zhang Xicheng. Secondly, Ziyun Mountain is very close to Tongjing Lake. I can have the Ministry of Rites draw a line on the map to include Tongjing Lake within Ziyun Mountain's domain. This way, Zhang Xicheng going to Ziyun Mountain would be like walking in his own backyard, which would be very convenient. Moreover, with him guarding it, no one would dare bully Han Yurou anymore."
"Mm, mm, mm~~~"
Lin Zhao nodded, his eyes filled with brilliance, and smiled, "Then it's settled, Ziyun Mountain?!"
"Mm!"
Zhao Shutong chuckled, "I will immediately arrange for people to go to the forest south of Xijian River to gather Zhang Xicheng's soul. Tomorrow, craftsmen will go to Ziyun Mountain to build a Mountain God shrine. Commander Lin, rest assured, this matter is on me, and I won't let Commander Lin down."
"Thanks!"
Lin Zhao nodded, genuinely grateful. At this moment, he could feel the Crown Princess's sincere goodwill, truly treating him as one of her own.
...
Tie Fu Mountain, Twelve Peaks.
As night fell, disciples of Tie Fu Mountain filled the area below the Twelve Peaks. Even the Sect Master Long Dongjun and a group of elders, guardians, and honored guests had arrived. Their brows were furrowed as they looked at a distant mountain peak. On its mountainside, a young martial artist in a gray and white short shirt was climbing step by step. Although his shoulders were slightly bowed by the intense fist intent of the Twelve Peaks, he continued to urge the simple fist intent throughout his body, ascending higher and higher.
"This Chen Ben kid..."
An elder frowned, "He's already started climbing the ninth peak. What a martial foundation! Could he be the world's strongest Sea-Treading Realm martial artist, possessing abundant martial fortune? Otherwise, how could he consecutively receive the acknowledgment of the Heavenly Dao for nine peak summits..."
"People from the Snow Region Tianchi Mountain Peak Villa are indeed extraordinary."
Long Dongjun stroked his chin, a playful smile on his face. "Lin Zhao specifically instructed me to send this Chen Ben back to Tie Fu Mountain to cultivate and try the Twelve Peaks. I knew then that Chen Ben was definitely not simple, but I didn't expect him to be this extraordinary. A Sea-Treading Realm martial artist, a War God's courage, innate divine strength, coupled with his pure and flawless innocent heart, he is indeed a rare genius martial artist!"
The chief honored guest, with a mighty beard, smiled and said, "Sect Master, do you truly believe Chen Ben will surpass you?"
"Mm, perhaps."
Long Dongjun nodded with a smile. In fact, he didn't mind being surpassed. The world of martial arts was like this; one generation replaces another. Why must the person who surpasses oneself come from Tie Fu Mountain? As long as they are martial artists of the human race, their origin doesn't matter. Moreover, Chen Ben was taught by Lin Zhao. Let alone him surpassing his record of the Twelve Peaks, even if he conquered all twelve peaks, so what? Long Dongjun would be delighted. The martial artists of the human race, starting from that old gentleman, have been passed down from generation to generation, never to cease.
On the mountainside.
Chen Ben was already drenched in sweat, his eyes bloodshot, but he showed no hesitation. His muscles tensed, and surging true qi flowed through his entire body. He refused to believe in defeat, nor did he want to disappoint Lin Zhao. Although Chen Ben was simple, he was not foolish. He knew that Lin Zhao sending him south to Tie Fu Mountain must have been with great expectations. Furthermore, he believed that he could cultivate to the Heaven Yuan Realm martial artist at Tie Fu Mountain before considering returning home.
Chen Ben gritted his teeth. This was merely the ninth peak, and he was already considering giving up?
Impossible. Brother Lin Zhao, I heard, also challenged the Twelve Peaks. With his talent, he should have conquered all twelve. If that's the case, then I, Chen Ben, certainly cannot disappoint Brother Lin Zhao. What Brother Lin Zhao could do, I, Chen Ben, must also achieve. After all, Brother Lin Zhao is not a martial artist; he is a Sword Cultivator! If even a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator could conquer all twelve peaks, it would be too disappointing if I, a dignified Sea-Treading Realm martial artist, could not do so, wouldn't it?
He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and strands of righteous fist intent surged through his body. Currently, Chen Ben had learned both the戎马 (Róngmǎ) Fist style and the Nirvana Fist style. Originally, there might have been some incompatibility between the theories and intents of these two fist styles. However, what was rare was that Chen Ben possessed a War God's courage. With the War God's courage harmonizing them, the intents and theories of both fist styles began to fuse and become integrated. Therefore, it was difficult to say which fist style Chen Ben's fist intent belonged to, but it was filled with a vast and domineering aura.
He glanced back north, absolutely unwilling to disappoint Brother Lin Zhao. He would conquer all Twelve Peaks!
...
To the north, at the summit of the mountain peak villa.
Under the starlight, Lin Zhao meticulously practiced the Farmer's Nine Punches, his expression relaxed and carefree. After completing a set of punches, he was drenched in sweat, his fist intent more profound, and his physical body more solid. However, he still could not break through. He couldn't even feel the threshold of the first realm of martial arts, as if these fist techniques and the martial path had disappeared from his world.
Not long after, he practiced until he was utterly exhausted.
Panting heavily, he turned to look in the direction of Furong Province to the south.
He wondered how that kid Chen Ben was cultivating on Tie Fu Mountain. Speaking of which, it was rather embarrassing; he had only conquered two peaks on Tie Fu Mountain. You, Chen Ben, must be stronger than me, this half-baked martial artist who cannot return to the martial path!