Late at night, he arrived at the Xi Jian River.
Lin Zhao reined in his horse by the Xi Jian River, taking a step forward. His pair of war boots sank into the water weeds, and he cupped his fists with a smile towards the depths of the river, "Aunt, I brought you some food from Tian Ji City."
The river water shimmered with golden light. After a few breaths, a beautiful woman clad in golden armor and a golden cloak emerged from the river. Her divine form, like that of a mountain and river deity, seemed to have never aged in hundreds of years. Her exquisite, flawless face held a warm smile. She was tall, and as she approached, she scooped Lin Zhao up into her embrace from the water, laughing, "What did you bring Aunt?"
Lin Zhao found Lin Xing Chu's enthusiasm a bit overwhelming. His face flushed red. He struggled slightly, slipping from Lin Xing Chu's embrace and chuckling, "Some local specialties from Tian Ji City."
He opened the bundle and took out ten pots of the specialty Five Grain Wine from Tian Ji City. Tian Ji City was originally a harsh land, and even providing grain for the populace was a struggle, let alone brewing wine. This Five Grain Wine was brewed through a complex process, had a mellow taste, and was all the more precious, making it famous far and wide. He handed the Five Grain Wine pots one by one to the maid beside Lin Xing Chu, then took out packages of spiced beef jerky, delicious roast chicken, salted peanuts, shredded kelp, and other snacks from the bundle.
"So much?"
Lin Xing Chu exclaimed with surprise and laughter, "Little Zhao must have spent quite a bit on this trip."
"Indeed, quite a bit, after all, I'm asking for a favor!"
Lin Zhao scratched his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
Lin Xing Chu couldn't help but chuckle, "Go on, what do you need Aunt's help with?"
"Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake."
Lin Zhao found it difficult to speak. "Aunt, I plan to rebuild a human army at the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake. We already have Wu Zhi at the eleventh realm and Xiang Ji at the ninth realm, and we're still recruiting. Not long ago, we killed an eleventh realm demon cultivator named Nian Kui. The demon race likely won't let this slide, so I hope that when the demon race sends powerful demons to attack the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake, Aunt can do what she can."
"Rest assured."
Lin Xing Chu's eyes were gentle as she smiled, "Aunt's thirteenth realm isn't made of paper. While not a Sword Immortal, she's more than one. If the demon race truly dispatches a thirteenth realm entity to the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake, Aunt will not stand by idly. It's not uncommon for a River God to travel thousands of miles to slay demons. My Little Zhao is already slaying demons in the Northern Region, so how can Aunt bring shame to the Lin family?"
Lin Zhao shook his head, "That's not what I meant. I understand what your existence means to the entire world. A thirteenth realm River God, within the territory of Xi Jian River, you are akin to a fourteenth realm. And this Xi Jian River lies between the Northern Four Tribes and the human race. In fact, your role is comparable to a Fusang Great Wall. It would be a risk for you, a thirteenth realm expert, to leave Xi Jian River for the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake. If the demon race sets a trap, you might never return."
He frowned, "So what I mean is, before you help me, you must weigh all the possibilities and confirm that the Northern Four Tribes haven't set up a killing game. Otherwise, don't act. I have the mark of rebirth; I can revive even if I die. As for Wu Zhi, Xiang Ji, and the others... they are important, but for the entire human world, they are far less important than you."
He looked up at Lin Xing Chu, "In short, the prerequisite for you to help me is... to first confirm you can protect yourself. If not, then don't help. I don't want to become a sinner to the world."
"I understand."
Lin Xing Chu smiled faintly, "Don't worry, Aunt is very cautious in her actions."
"Good!"
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled, "Then... escort me across the river? I should return to the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake."
"Mm!"
...
After crossing the Xi Jian River, he headed straight for the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake. Upon reaching the area north of Tong Jing Lake, Lin Zhao galloped his horse along the overgrown official road. Before long, a group of burly men rushed out from the forest, each wielding a black gold saber. The leader grinned menacingly at Lin Zhao, "This is our road, these are our trees. If you want to pass, leave your toll! You're trespassing on our Invincible Fist Sect's territory, dismount and surrender at once!"
Lin Zhao directly raised his hand and drew his Ben Lei Sword. Lightning crackled around the blade. He lowered his sword tip and said indifferently, "Want to die?"
"Let's go, let's go..."
The group of burly men turned and fled, "So it's a sword cultivator master. Goodbye, goodbye!"
Lin Zhao watched them go and couldn't help but laugh with exasperation. What cowards! And they dared to call themselves the Invincible Fist Sect. Warriors who practice fist arts always rely on their vital energy to navigate the world. These men were truly disgracing the name of "Fist Sect."
He continued forward. About ten miles from the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake, it was midnight. Chen Xue sent a message, inviting him for a late-night snack. So, he didn't rush and stopped his account under a banyan tree by the roadside, then logged off. Eating was the most important thing. People are iron, meals are steel; one meal missed leads to hunger.
After eating, he slept. The second floor of the studio was extremely quiet; the girls were asleep. Downstairs, there were snoring sounds.
...
The next morning, he woke up early and continued his battle!
"Whoosh!"
Lin Zhao's figure appeared under the banyan tree by the roadside. Not far away, a level 86 wild boar was looking around furtively. Lin Zhao ignored it, summoned his Xue Yan warhorse, and continued on his way. Soon after, he arrived at the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake. He rode up the southern mountain path. Upon reaching the mountainside, he cupped his fists with a smile towards Su Shan Jun and the old Sword Immortal Han, then continued up the mountain.
Arriving at the camp, things seemed different. The city walls outside the camp had been reinforced, and men holding bows and swords stood on the walls as sentries. Above the camp, a flag with the character "Chen" fluttered in the wind, likely Wu Zhi's doing. As a descendant of the Great Chen Dynasty, she hadn't forgotten this fact.
Entering the camp, it was quite lively. The camp had been rebuilt and expanded considerably. In the center, a large crowd bustled about. At the back, more than a dozen tents had been added, with carriages, heavy chests, and various luggage placed beside the tents. A group of burly men gathered in the camp, drinking with bare arms, looking utterly lawless.
Lin Zhao frowned. What was going on?
"Sir!"
Wu Zhi emerged from the stone house, bowing her head, and smiled, "Sir, please don't be alarmed. These are people I've gathered from all over the Northern Region. Their character and cultivation don't matter; I will discipline them."
Saying this, Wu Zhi turned to the crowd, "Come and greet Sir."
"Yes!"
The group of burly men drinking with bare chests immediately became solemn, turned around, and all knelt on one knee before Lin Zhao and Wu Zhi, speaking in a deep voice, "We greet Sir! We pay our respects to Sir!"
Lin Zhao's expression was a bit awkward. He nodded, "No need to be formal, rise."
Wu Zhi nodded, and only then did they dare to rise.
Lin Zhao said, "Tell me about yourselves? You all seem... quite formidable."
"Haven't you heard Sir's words?"
Wu Zhi raised her delicate eyebrows, "Introduce yourselves one by one. Behave yourselves, or face the blade."
"Yes!"
A burly man stepped forward, cupping his fists, "This humble one's name is Li Lei, a martial artist at the sixth realm. I was doing business in the Northern Region. Later, I met Lady Wu Zhi by chance, and we hit it off immediately. We formed a bond. Now, Li Lei has come to the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake, willing to obey Sir's command. This life is now Sir's!"
Wu Zhi said calmly, "Actually, he used to be a mountain bandit, specializing in robbing cultivators below the fifth realm. Ten years ago, I cut him down to the fifth realm with one sword. Now he's cultivated back. If Sir needs a man, I've brought him here."
The burly man looked somewhat sheepish.
Lin Zhao suddenly understood. Oh, so this was the kind of business he was in.
Another lean man stepped forward, cupping his fists, "This humble one's name is Tian Caihua, a sword cultivator at the third realm. I'm responsible for patrolling the northern mountains, looking after lonely and helpless weak women, and bringing the last bit of light and warmth to their hearts."
"Actually, he's a lecher."
Wu Zhi said, "Five years ago, I chased him and shattered one of his life-bound flying swords. His character is rather poor. If Sir is not satisfied, feel free to slay him with one sword; no need to spare anyone's feelings."
The man immediately knelt, "Sir, I have truly reformed. For five years, I haven't even held a woman's hand..."
"Alright, alright..."
Lin Zhao waved his hand, signaling for the next person.
As it turned out, after each introduction, they were either ruffians who lived by plundering, or lechers who roamed the mountains, or rogue cultivators who scavenged everywhere like wild dogs, or shrewd merchants who dealt in spirit stones in the Northern Region. It seemed Wu Zhi had truly gathered a group of unsavory characters. Lin Zhao felt a headache coming on, but since the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake was short-handed, he had no choice but to use these people.
"Listen up."
Lin Zhao looked at everyone, "Most of you are people who deserve to die. Now, I'm giving you a chance to turn over a new leaf. Join the human forces of the Snowy Domain Heavenly Lake and fight demons with me. Are you willing?"
"We are willing!"
Everyone knelt in unison, seemingly truly intimidated by Wu Zhi.
...
With all plans made, Wu Zhi led the group to guard the camp, while Lin Zhao went down the mountain to hunt monsters and level up.
He reached the mountainside, where Xiang Ji was still practicing his punches on a piece of blue rock. As Lin Zhao conversed with him, a new quest was triggered. Xiang Ji was indeed quite reliable; he was becoming Lin Zhao's primary assistant for leveling up in the Northern Region—
"Ding!"
System prompt: You have accepted the main quest [First to Break the Formation i] (S-rank)!
Quest content: Head to the demon race's Ninth Army camp, slay 5,000 demon soldiers of level 90 and above, and kill 5 quasi-bosses of level 90 and above. You will receive generous rewards upon completion.
...
"First to Break the Formation?"
He frowned. This quest was rather dangerous. Was it asking him to directly provoke the eleventh realm Lord Bai Ye at the demon race's military camp? Xiang Ji, oh Xiang Ji, this is a bit unreliable. An S-rank quest asking me to throw my life away?
He walked.
Without hesitation, he drew his sword and descended the mountain. The demon race's Ninth Army consisted of 200,000 soldiers, most of whom were stationed in the snowy forests north of Jiu Zhang Yuan. Some were also on Jiu Zhang Yuan itself.
Therefore, his target was Jiu Zhang Yuan.
This map held too many stories. Lin Zhao had once advised Chu Huaixi to set an ambush here, to slay thousands of elite demon soldiers. Chu Huaixi was even buried on Jiu Zhang Yuan after his death. Now, Lin Zhao, alone on his horse, returned to battle Jiu Zhang Yuan!