The early morning.
The east was turning a fish-belly white. Only then did Lin Zhao, leading the Snow Domain Legion, completely break through the forces of the demon race's three encampments. The thirteen-realm Flood Dragon he stood upon had endured countless attacks from the demon race's upper and middle-tier experts, its body covered in wounds and on the verge of collapse. Lin Zhao took it into his sleeve, instructing it to rest well, and Little Ke repeatedly thanked its young master for sparing its life.
Further ahead, the hills were densely packed with the archers of the Rock Army.
"Loose arrows to kill the demons, cover the brothers of the Snow Domain Legion!"
Someone shouted from the mountain, and immediately, arrows rained down from the hills, felling the demon soldiers pursuing the Snow Domain cavalry. Moreover, Rock Army warriors armed with spears and shields had already emerged from their positions to provide support. At this very moment, Lin Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief and led his men into the Rock Army's encampment. Cavalry, after all, were ill-suited for sustained combat; both man and horse would be exhausted. In Lin Zhao's plan, the Rock Army's encampment would serve as a base for continuous sorties and resupply, disrupting the demon race's offensive in this manner.
However, the Snow Domain Legion's fierce assault had indeed inflicted heavy losses on the demon race, even forcing Shi Jun Gang to withdraw troops from the fifth encampment, committing the full strength of five encampments to encircle the thirty thousand iron cavalry from Snow Domain Tianchi.
...
In the mountain forest, countless Snow Domain cavalry dismounted to rest, eating their rations and feeding their horses. The Rock Army was struggling to fend for itself and paid no mind to these Snow Domain riders. However, wounded soldiers from the Rock Army could be seen continuously arriving from the east, their state most tragic. Some had their limbs severed, while others were trampled by warhorses, with many suffering severe injuries.
Lin Zhao frowned, sitting on a rock in the forest with Wu Ya, Chen Ben, Xu Sheng, and other warriors. He took out a piece of winter-preserved flatbread from his satchel and took bites, finding it utterly tasteless.
Wu Ya's fists were covered in blood, and his body bore many wounds. Chen Ben was not faring any better; the battle had been too fierce. Old General Xu Sheng was the most severely injured, having taken two arrows to the chest, one of which nearly pierced his heart. Simultaneously, his left arm had been impaled by a spear wielded by a mid-tier cultivator of the demon race. He had been bandaged, his white gauze stained with blood.
"My Lord."
Chu Yu, bandaging a sword wound on her wrist with one hand, held the end of the gauze in her mouth and tightened it with the other. She sat beside Lin Zhao with a furrowed brow. "The various battalions have tallied the losses. As of now, we have lost over 6,500 men, with many more severely wounded, making it difficult for them to fight on horseback again."
"So many?"
Lin Zhao frowned.
"Yes."
Chu Yu nodded gently, "We likely have no more than twenty thousand men still capable of fighting."
"Commander Lin, what's the next step?" asked Old General Xu Sheng.
"Eastward."
Lin Zhao took a deep breath. "As you have seen, although the demon race's offensive is fierce, the western defense line of the Rock Army remains relatively stable, relying on strategic terrain for a tenacious defense. The demons cannot overcome it easily. Furthermore, after our night of assault, the demon race has also suffered significant casualties. The greatest threat now comes from the east. The Rock Army will not be able to withstand the attack of two to three hundred thousand demon cavalry. If we do not provide reinforcement, the eastern defense line of the Rock Army could be breached at any moment."
Chu Yu bit her red lip. "But our situation is also dire. Can we give the brothers some more time to rest?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao looked at the sky. "Tell everyone to rest quickly. We depart at dawn and head east to face the demon cavalry. Have everyone prepare their bows and crossbows."
"Yes!"
...
"Lin Zhao."
Shortly after, a figure arrived with several legion commanders. It was Lin Ruo, who had heard the news. Lin Ruo's fists were also stained with blood, indicating he had personally engaged the demon cavalry. His expression was grim, and seeing Lin Zhao and the heavily wounded Snow Domain cavalry, Lin Ruo's mood grew even heavier.
"I'm sorry, for letting you also fall into such danger."
Lin Ruo clenched his fists and sat on a rock ahead. "What about the losses at Snow Domain Tianchi?"
"It's fine."
Lin Zhao shook his head and smiled, "We can still fight. Don't worry about us. How about your side... what are the Rock Army's losses, and how much combat power remains?"
"The situation on the western front is acceptable. The demon race's main attention was on you, so we only lost over five thousand armored soldiers. However, the situation on the east is very bad. Yu Feng has dispatched at least one hundred to one hundred fifty thousand demon cavalry to charge our eastern positions. Our first and second defense lines have already fallen, and we are now defending the third and setting up the fourth.
His eyes reddened. "On the eastern battlefield, we have lost nearly thirty thousand men."
"This battle is rather stifling..."
Lin Zhao let out a sigh. "The initiative is entirely out of our hands. It's been a long time since I've fought such a frustrating war."
"Indeed."
Lin Ruo said gravely, "What is your plan next?"
"Reinforce the eastern front."
Lin Zhao said, "I still have about twenty thousand Snow Domain cavalry, and a Flood Dragon Boat. We can relieve the pressure of about one hundred thousand demon cavalry for the Rock Army, right?"
Lin Ruo frowned, filled with guilt. He understood that Lin Zhao was risking his entire fortune to save his Rock Army. Under such circumstances, if the Rock Army did not fight with all its might, how could they face the fallen Snow Domain cavalry with honor?
"However."
Lin Zhao smiled. "After all, we are killing demons and demon cavalry. Even at a disadvantage, it's still quite satisfying."
"That's true."
Lin Ruo also smiled.
At this moment, a Rock Army legion commander who had followed Lin Ruo frowned. He was filled with worry, even despair. Trapped in Cuiyu Mountain, there seemed to be no hope. So, he said in a low voice, "Lord Lin Zhao, may I be so bold as to ask you a question?"
"Ask."
Lin Zhao nodded.
The legion commander cupped his fists respectfully and said, "We... we have been fighting fiercely with the demon and demonic races here for nearly a full day and night. When will it end? Do we still have hope of returning south? Is there still a possibility of survival?"
Lin Ruo frowned and glared fiercely at the legion commander. "You dare to ask anything, don't you? Did I tell you to ask?" The legion commander immediately looked dejected, scratching his head, realizing his mistake.
Fortunately, Lin Zhao was not offended. He smiled and said, "Of course, there is hope. Although it seems like we are trapped between Cuiyu Mountain and Queyu Lake by the demon and demonic races, and it appears to be a dead end, and the demon and demonic races probably feel like they have us cornered like a turtle in a jar, if they get bitten when they reach into the jar, and they get bitten repeatedly, making them truly feel pain, then that will be our chance for victory. When the cost of annihilating us far exceeds the reward, the demon and demonic races will naturally retreat. The logic is very simple."
"I see!"
The legion commander cupped his fists and smiled. "Thank you for clarifying!"
Lin Zhao nodded, waved his hand, and laughed, "Begone, you impudent fellow."
The legion commander laughed heartily, clasped his fists towards Lin Zhao and Lin Ruo, and went to organize his troops.
...
"Shu Zhi."
Lin Zhao called out, and immediately a female sword immortal, dressed in white as pure as snow, descended from the sky. She respectfully asked, "My Lord, is there something?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Chen Xi is currently stationed at Xijian River with one hundred thousand Cangnan cavalry. Go and see Chen Xi, and ask her to lead about 500 Cangnan cavalry north. I hope to see Chen Xi and her Cangnan cavalry banners appear on the battlements of Guxiao Pass by dusk today. Her appearance is sufficient; there's no need to actually attack."
"Yes!"
Shu Zhi drifted away.
Lin Ruo immediately smiled. "You want to use the prestige of Chen Xi's two hundred thousand Cangnan cavalry to intimidate the demon and demonic races?"
"Otherwise?"
Lin Zhao said with a wry smile. "Our Snow Domain Legion and the Rock Army's names are no longer enough. If ten thousand Cangnan cavalry were to descend from the sky at this moment, perhaps the situation would turn around. Shi Jun Gang and Yu Feng are both famous generals. Once Chen Xi appears on Guxiao Pass, she doesn't even need to attack. Just showing up will be enough to make Shi Jun Gang and Yu Feng wary. Moreover, if Chen Xi goes to Guxiao Pass alone, there will be no consequences from the Great Shang Dynasty court if they investigate, as she hasn't mobilized a large army."
"Yes!"
Lin Ruo nodded. "That's indeed the logic. I didn't expect you to understand even the trivial matters of the Great Shang court so clearly..."
"I know a little."
Lin Zhao leaned against a tree behind him and smiled, patting Chen Ben's head. "Get some sleep! Build up your strength. We'll be fighting the legendary demon cavalry soon!"
Chen Ben smiled. "Brother Lin Zhao, I'm a little hungry..."
"Hungry already?"
Lin Zhao was speechless. He took a roasted chicken and a piece of roasted venison from his satchel and threw them to him. "Eat quickly, then rest for a while."
"Okay!"
The young warrior wolfed down the food.
Lin Ruo smiled slightly, clearly seeing that Lin Zhao genuinely liked and relied on this young warrior. Although Lin Zhao was the commander of the three armies of Snow Domain Tianchi, and Chen Ben wasn't even a legion commander, there was no distinction in hierarchy. He treated the young warrior completely like a younger brother.
...
Early morning.
An old general clad in pale golden armor left the Town Sword Tower. Behind him followed two thousand Confucian scholars. The group rode down the mountain, treading on the snow, and approached the battlefield at great speed. Just as the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, the old general, accompanied by two thousand Confucian scholars, arrived on the plain south of Cuiyu Mountain, facing a dense mass of demon cavalry.
"We've arrived."
The old general chuckled, turned to face everyone, and said with a smile, "Lin Ruo may be left to his fate, but Lin Baiyi cannot be. Otherwise, the sect leader will blame us all. Moreover, how can we, Confucian scholars, temper our minds without going to the battlefield? Gentlemen, follow me in a fight to the death. If we survive, we will be able to further refine our killing intent. If we die, it will be a worthy death. What do you say?"
Everyone drew their weapons and said with a smile, "We are willing to fight to the death with Old General Huangfu!"
...
Demon encampment.
Yu Feng squinted into the distance, full of suspicion. "A mere two thousand armored soldiers, are they... joking with our divine race's iron cavalry? Someone, dispatch ten thousand iron cavalry. Within half an hour, I want to see that old fellow's head presented to me."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
At this moment, this highness was still unaware that the old general was a twelfth-realm Confucian sword cultivator, nor did he know that the two thousand men he led were the elite of the elites!