Wash Sword River.
As Lin Zhao arrived on his sword, the clear waves parted. Wang Yue, a female official in a golden dress holding a sword, looked exceptionally beautiful. Accompanied by two water deities, she bowed gracefully to Lin Zhao and said with a smile, "Brother Lin Zhao, Her Majesty sent me to guide you to the River God Shrine!"
"Mm, let's go."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile and walked on the waves with Wang Yue.
At the bottom of the river, in the palace of Lin Xingchu, the River God Empress, Lin Zhao was no stranger to this place. Yet, each visit felt like returning home, like a wandering soul finally arriving at his aunt's home. This was, at least, half a home.
In the main hall.
Only Lin Xingchu and Xiao Ke, a thirteen-realm Flood Dragon subordinate clad in a green short shirt, were present. Upon seeing Lin Zhao, Xiao Ke immediately knelt with a thud, a sheepish grin on his face. "Xiao Ke, the most loyal servant under Her Majesty, greets young master Lin Zhao. So many days have passed, and your cultivation has truly progressed by leaps and bounds. Entering the Rebirth Realm is surely just around the corner!"
Lin Zhao pinched his nose, unwilling to acknowledge him, and turned to Lin Xingchu. "Aunt, I am about to depart on a campaign."
"I know."
Lin Xingchu smiled. "Leading troops into battle and protecting our human race's dominion is precisely what the fine sons of the Lin family should do. However... as a mountain and river deity, I cannot draw my sword to help you in battle. After all, the karma involved would be too great."
"Mm, I understand."
Lin Zhao nodded. In "Tian Xia," there was always such a rule: those in the Upper Five Realms generally did not participate in "grinding troops" as the karma involved was too heavy. Therefore, when the human and demon armies clashed, Lin Xingchu, Lin Wanhua, and others generally did not intervene. The heavy karma could easily lead to inner demons in their cultivation.
As for the others like Zhuo Zhi, Mu Zha, Chen Ben, and Chu Yu, they were from Xue Yu Tian Chi. Constantly immersed in the aura of battle formations and military strategies, they had not left their names in the ancestral records of the military. However, with their long-honed decisive killing skills, even grinding a large number of minor soldiers wouldn't be an issue, and the karma involved would not be too significant.
Lin Zhao smiled slightly and said, "What I'm thinking about might be the same as what you're thinking about, Aunt."
"Oh?"
Lin Xingchu smiled. "Tell me first."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao cupped his fists gently and said respectfully, "Lin Zhao is about to depart on a campaign, so I wish to borrow a person from you, Aunt. I hope he can accompany me into battle."
"Who?"
"Xiao Ke."
Lin Zhao said with a smile. Lin Xingchu's eyes immediately brightened, truly a case of minds thinking as one.
"Ah?!"
Beside them, Xiao Ke, who was kneeling respectfully on the ground, trembled all over. "Young master Lin Zhao means... you want me to accompany you on this expedition to the Northern Regions?!"
"Precisely."
Lin Zhao turned around, gave him a meaningful glance, and said with a smile, "And it's to fight the demon race."
"..."
Xiao Ke was terrified. This was too damn scary! You want me to devour a twelve-realm human? You want me to grovel and be subservient, those are all fine. But... you want me to kill demons? This is a transgression of taboos! Once I strike against the demon race, there will be no turning back for me in this life. The Demon Ancestor old man will surely be enraged and might even personally arrive on the battlefield to slay me!
"What?"
Seeing his hesitation, Lin Xingchu's expression immediately soured, and she gently raised her long, willow-leaf eyebrows.
If the Demon Ancestor can kill you, can't I, Lin Xingchu, do the same? Don't forget, you still have a vital lifeblood that is in my grasp. Killing you now would be as easy as crushing an ant.
"Ah!"
Xiao Ke suddenly knelt and kowtowed again, his face beaming with a blissful smile. "Young master Lin Zhao values Xiao Ke enough to bring me on this campaign. This is a fortune I've cultivated for eight lifetimes. How could I possibly refuse? Please do not doubt me, my loyalty to Her Majesty and young master Lin Zhao is as evident as heaven and earth, as the sun and moon, and as mountains and rivers!"
"Understood."
Lin Xingchu narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled. "Go with Little Zhao. Be sure to obey him in all things. If you achieve merit in battle, I will... slightly reduce your punishment, allowing you to suffer less from the burning of your soul."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Ke knelt. "Your Majesty is benevolent and merciful, truly moving Xiao Ke!"
"Alright, alright..."
Lin Zhao said with a helpless expression. "Xiao Ke, you have the transformation technique to become smaller, right? Don't be too ostentatious when you're by my side. I don't want the demon race to know too early that you'll be participating."
"A piece of cake!"
Xiao Ke leaped up and transformed into a small green snake, no longer than a chopstick, then burrowed into Lin Zhao's sleeve. "Whenever young master needs Xiao Ke to fight, Xiao Ke will fight. I shall obey young master's decree!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile, feeling even more confident in his heart. To charge into battle with a thirteen-realm Flood Dragon subordinate... this was something countless players wouldn't even dare to dream of!
Afterward, Lin Xingchu repeatedly warned Lin Zhao to be careful on the battlefield. After all, Lin Zhao was facing five demon army camps and three hundred thousand demon cavalry. Lin Xingchu was naturally very worried. Lin Zhao, however, took out a few small dishes that Dong Cang had just finished cooking from his bag, leaving them for his aunt to eat breakfast. He then cupped his fists and took his leave. The Xue Yu Legion was on the verge of departure, and there was truly no time to delay.
...
In the morning, at Lin Zhao's instruction, Han Buyu caused a heavy snowfall near Xue Yu Tian Chi. Under the cover of the blizzard, countless Xue Yu cavalrymen, riding their robust Yun Xi warhorses, headed north from Bei Shan and then eastward. On the ground, four martial artists—Mu Zha, Chu Yu, Chen Ben, and Xu Sheng—led thirty thousand troops eastward, while Zhuo Zhi and Tang Guangjun guarded the flying dragon boats in the air. Lin Zhao, on the other hand, rode his flying sword, with Old Huang by his side. The two of them flew parallel to the dragon boats.
"Our foundation has truly become so robust~~~"
Huang Tingyu stroked his beard and said with a contented smile, "Back then, our Xue Yu Tian Chi could never have dreamed of such a force. Tsk tsk... Thirty thousand elite cavalry! In those days, our entire Tian Chi army couldn't even muster four thousand men. And with three twelve-realm sword cultivators and three Tian Yuan realm martial artists leading the way, if Commander Chu were to know, seeing our current formation, he would smile in his eternal rest."
"He will."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Not only that, but the spirit of Commander Chu will also bless the descendants of our Da Chen Dynasty to be victorious in every battle and conquer all!"
"Mm!"
Huang Tingyu nodded with a smile. These words were pleasant to hear! With Commander Chu gone, this young man Lin Zhao seemed even more extraordinary. It was indeed true that the Da Chen Dynasty produced famous generals. Chu Huaixi and Lin Zhao were both first-class generals, especially Lin Zhao. The title of Lin Baiyi was simply too resounding, celebrated for a hundred years throughout the human race's dominion. Even now, he had countless admirers. Particularly when the Da Shang Dynasty suffered defeats on the border, many scholars and literati would write poems to express their aspirations, such as "If only the white-robed man of Xue Yu were here, how could the demons cross Qin Mountain?" and so on, endlessly.
In truth, Huang Tingyu sometimes missed Chu Huaixi dearly. If it weren't for Chu Huaixi saving him in Huang Ting back then, he, Huang Tingyu, wouldn't be where he was today. But Chu Huaixi had fallen in battle many years ago, and there was no longer any opportunity to share a drink with this old friend who had shown him such kindness and opportunity.
Noon in the game.
The thirty thousand Xue Yu cavalry had traveled hundreds of miles, but they were still some distance from the eastern border. According to Lin Zhao's calculations, it would take at least another four to five hours for the Xue Yu cavalry to reach the area around Gu Xiao Pass. Upon arrival, they would not be able to engage in battle immediately but would need to rest briefly. The cavalry would eat hot soup, and the warhorses would consume fodder, yellow beans, and the like. Only after their strength was fully replenished could they launch an assault on the demon army camps.
At this very moment, the great battle around Cui Yu Mountain had already begun.
...
While traveling at speed, Lin Zhao asked Leng Yan to transmit the images from the front lines. In the images, the Pan Shi Army had already secured the advantageous terrain between Cui Yu Mountain and Que Yu Lake. The army was spread out, with countless spearmen, heavy shield soldiers, and archers positioned in the perilous terrain at the two exits. Moreover, Lin Ruo was a renowned general and naturally knew how to utilize the terrain. Thus, the Pan Shi Army's defensive lines were all set up on the slopes of the mountains, giving them an absolute advantage of high ground.
At noon, the demon race made its move. Shi Jungang ordered the forces from two army camps to push south directly, cutting off the path between Gu Xiao Pass and Que Yu Lake, thus severing the retreat route for the Pan Shi Army and the Ji Han Legion. Gu Xiao Pass was only defended by a meager force of less than ten thousand Ji Han Legion soldiers, and its fall was imminent.
Furthermore, Shi Jungang ordered two army camps, totaling 400,000 demon troops, to launch a fierce assault on the western flank of the Pan Shi Army. The area was already a river of blood, with swords and spears like a forest and arrows falling like rain. The demon race was attacking madly, and both sides were suffering heavy losses. Neither was willing to retreat even half a step. Lin Ruo had nowhere to retreat, and Shi Jungang had issued a strict order to the Upper Five Realm commanders of the two demon army camps: if they failed to take the Pan Shi Army's position, both of these Upper Five Realm commanders would have to atone with their lives!
Evening, as night fell.
Lin Zhao led the 30,000 elite cavalry of the Xue Yu Legion to the battlefield and dismounted to rest twenty li west of Cui Yu Mountain. They could even vaguely see the silhouette of a demon army camp in the distance.
...
Demon Army Camp.
Shi Jungang stood in front of the great tent, her beautiful eyes fixed on the direction of the Xue Yu Legion, and frowned. "He has arrived."
"Hmph!"
Beside her, Feng Quan sneered. "Indeed, he has arrived. But with merely thirty thousand cavalry, do they really dare to charge at our two army camps and four hundred thousand troops?"
"Why else would he come?"
Shi Jungang frowned and said, "Do not underestimate them. Order the vanguard to switch to spears and bows. I want these thirty thousand cavalry from Xue Yu Tian Chi to have no return!"
"Yes!"
Bai Ye smiled and nodded, then went to make arrangements.
...
Starry night.
Lin Zhao could almost hear the sounds of battle between the Pan Shi Army and the demon race in the distance. Although Lin Ruo was a renowned general, fifteen thousand Pan Shi troops would definitely not be able to withstand the hundreds of thousands of elite demon soldiers. Thus, there could be no delay. The next moment, Lin Zhao summoned his Xue Yan warhorse, mounted it, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, mount up and prepare to charge!"
Everyone mounted their horses.
The thirty thousand cavalry were divided into three attack arrows, led by Chen Ben, Chu Yu, and Mu Zha. Lin Zhao did not doubt the strength of these three, but he remained in the center, leading the charge forward with Chu Yu.
In the deep of night, the sound of hooves rumbled, and the entire Gu Xiao Pass area was no longer peaceful. Just as they reached a few hundred meters from the demon army camp, a dense volley of arrows rained down from the sky. They were from the demon race's serpent-men archers.
"Beware of the arrows!"
With a loud shout from Lin Zhao, everyone immediately raised their shields in front of them. Chu Yu, Chen Ben, Mu Zha, and the others simultaneously punched towards the sky, sending bursts of fist energy that exploded in the air, repelling the arrows. Soon, a dense formation of deer antlers and spears appeared ahead. A Star River realm wolf demon's face contorted in a ferocious grin. "Cavalry charging formation? Come on, I've been wanting to taste skewer meat!"
Lin Zhao frowned.
He was the first to charge into the spear formation. After hacking down a few demon soldiers, he lightly flicked his sleeve. Immediately, the ground beneath began to rumble, and the next moment, a colossal creature burst forth from the earth, lifting Lin Zhao onto its head. Its massive body slithered across the ground, and with a single gulp, it swallowed the Star River realm wolf demon whole.
This thirteen-realm Flood Dragon subordinate, with its ferocious head, roared at a group of demons, "Those below the thirteen-realm shall all die!"