The Northern Region, where snowflakes danced.
A Mo family sword cultivator, clad in a green robe and carrying a Mo family sword on his back, walked slowly about fifty li south of the Snow Region Heavenly Lake. This person was Xu Shuo. He strode across the snow-covered ground, then suddenly stopped. He lowered his head to look at his feet. Deep below, the base of a mountain belonging to the Heavenly Lake range was emanating a dense spiritual energy. The mountain range of the Snow Region Heavenly Lake extended extremely widely underground. To set up a stable mountain protection sword formation, every point had to be taken into account. Although Xu Shuo had come on the orders of the Mo family ancestral court, he did not want to be perfunctory. This matter had to be done well, to the utmost perfection.
After all…
He looked up towards the distance, at the Snow Region Heavenly Lake shrouded in snow. The female Sword Immortal of the Star River realm he had encountered eighty years ago when he descended the mountain. She was one-armed, practiced left-handed swordplay, and her swordsmanship attainment was truly outstanding. Xu Shuo had fallen for her at first sight. However, Tuo Zhi held too many secrets in her heart, leaving no room for him at all.
At that time, Xu Shuo was very dejected. He was only a 140-year-old Mo family sword immortal of the Twelve realms; why would Tuo Zhi not even spare him a glance? Whose heart did she truly harbor?
At this moment, the answer should have already appeared.
Lin Baiyi of the Snow Region Heavenly Lake, Tuo Zhi's former master.
Xu Shuo let out a sigh, his heart filled with mixed emotions. She had fallen for someone else, and he still had to work for that person, without complaint or regret.
"How tragic…"
He lightly patted his forehead, then continued his work with seriousness. In fact, Xu Shuo absolutely could not accept the fact that Tuo Zhi had fallen for someone else. However, if it was the person whom even his master and uncle praised so highly, then perhaps it was not so unacceptable.
…
Nine Zhang Plain, south side.
Lin Zhao, alone with his horse, slowly approached the map that had long been occupied by the demon race. From afar, demon tents stood in great numbers on the Nine Zhang Plain. The demon race had approximately 50,000 troops stationed on the Nine Zhang Plain. Stealing 5,000 should not be a problem. He wasn't going to attack the encampments, just kill some scouts on the periphery.
Just then, a troop of demon scouts arrived from the west, about a hundred in number. Their levels were not low, starting from level 90, and they were all flow gold-grade monsters. Lin Zhao, without a second thought, urged his horse forward. He immediately cast a Sword Qi Cage to start and then charged into the monster horde, slashing and killing.
A group of demon soldiers panicked, shouting incessantly.
"Not good, a sword cultivator from the lower five realms has gone mad and dares to attack our scout camp!"
"Kill him, tear him to shreds, and leave his brain matter for me!"
"Charge! Shatter his flying sword and snatch his wife!"
As a result, the demon soldiers' shouts of battle were not weak, but when they truly fought, it was just so-so. After Lin Zhao's frenzied slaughter, over 100 demon corpses lay on the snow. Only one armored, rat-faced scout leader, holding a steel saber, turned and fled, growling, "Report back to the Lord! You dog thief, your death is near!"
This was a level 90 flow gold-grade quasi-boss. How could he let it go?
As Lin Zhao galloped to pursue, his flying sword Ming Yue "swished" through the opponent's chest. Instantly, a thick layer of frost condensed on the quasi-boss's body, drastically reducing its movement speed. In a blink of an eye, Lin Zhao caught up. A few skill combos dealt over 20% of its health. The quasi-boss's health was low, far less difficult to kill than a regular boss.
In the blink of an eye, this level three rat demon let out a whimper and fell to the ground, dropping a round, golden helmet and, surprisingly, a golden skill book!
Lin Zhao's expression sharpened. He stepped forward to collect the loot. The helmet was a level 85 gold-grade item, useless, mere street vendor fare. As for the skill book, it made his eyes light up—
[Li Jian Shi] (SS-grade Skill Book): Thrust out a brilliant sword qi, dealing three consecutive attack effects to targets in a line ahead. Requires Level: 80, Profession: Sword Master, Cost: 1 Charm Point.
…
Li Jian Shi, a new level 80 skill, had appeared!
In an instant, Lin Zhao felt his heart race. He immediately waved his hand, and the skill book disappeared. A golden button appeared in his skill bar. He directly cast it on the empty ground ahead, instinctively thrusting out a sword. With a "bang," a golden sword light at least 40 yards long erupted. Then, he flicked his wrist, and this long sword qi "bang bang bang" continuously twisted and struck three times in place, forming three segments of damage. Moreover, the attack range was not small, about 5 yards wide. Attacking targets in a line would be extremely ferocious!
Satisfied!
Lin Zhao turned his horse, eager to test the power of his new skill. He narrowed his eyes in the wind and snow. Red dots appeared on his minimap not far away. It seemed another group of demon scouts was returning to camp. He then drew his sword and charged over. As expected, it was a scout team of over 100 people. He passed straight through them, letting the demon soldiers chase him. The next moment, Lin Zhao turned and unleashed the skill he had just learned on the horde of demon soldiers.
Li Jian Shi!
A streak of sword qi pierced through the monster horde, followed by three consecutive twists and strikes. Dense damage numbers rose—
"6882!"
"7003!"
"6741!"
"7044!"
"6999!"
Judging by the damage numbers, each attack of Li Jian Shi should be 200% of the attack power, for a total of three times. Thus, it dealt 600% damage to targets within its range, which was incredibly terrifying. It was definitely a god-tier skill for team battles. Others' Li Jian Shi might be manageable, but Lin Zhao's Li Jian Shi could already instantly kill people. His attack power was too high. Apart from heavily armored units, few could withstand Lin Zhao's 600% damage. After all, it was equivalent to six normal attacks. No one could endure that.
After Li Jian Shi, he followed up with a Sword Qi Cage. A group of demon soldiers wailed incessantly. The efficiency of killing monsters was far beyond what it was before.
Lin Zhao no longer hesitated and began diligently "free-riding" the scout teams of the Ninth Demon Army Camp on the edge of the Nine Zhang Plain. Anyway, the experience points, drop rates, gold coins, and so on were all maximized, and he was also completing quests simultaneously. It was purely an enjoyable experience.
…
The Demon Race, Ancestral Mountain.
This Ancestral Mountain was located deep in the Northern Region, a full ten thousand li away from the Snow Region Heavenly Lake. Deep within the Ancestral Mountain was the habitat of the Demon Ancestor, where no one dared to trespass. The front of the Ancestral Mountain was lined with magnificent palaces, exuding immense majesty. In a council pavilion hall at the summit, a group of the Demon Race's main decision-makers were secretly discussing a matter closely related to Lin Zhao.
The conference table was a massive, naturally formed oval stalagmite. Beside it were placed seats exuding demonic energy. The meeting was presided over by Yu Zhi, a great demon of the Thirteenth realm. In attendance were three Thirteenth realm beings, eleven Twelfth realm beings, and quite a number of Eleventh realm beings. They were all leaders with considerable influence within the Demon Race. Naturally, everyone looked to Yu Zhi for guidance. As long as the Demon Ancestor did not emerge from seclusion, all major affairs of the Demon Race were decided by Yu Zhi. Indeed, in their hearts, they understood that if the Demon Ancestor were to disappear one day, Yu Zhi would likely be the next leader of the Demon Race.
"Nian Kui is dead, and no one speaks?"
Yu Zhi narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled, "Are you all afraid of saying the wrong thing?"
The crowd remained silent. Everyone could see that Madam Yu Zhi was suppressing her anger.
"My Lady."
Beside her, a Thirteenth realm great demon spoke. It was Fu Sheng, the great demon who had broken Yan Beichen's sword heart during a battle in the past. He frowned and said, "Nian Kui was merely an Eleventh realm being. His death is his death; the problem is not there, but why would someone from the human race dare to kill our demon race's Upper Five Realms on the Snow Region Heavenly Lake? Who was responsible?"
At the lowest seat at the conference table, Bai Ye frowned and said, "There were three attackers: a female Sword Immortal of the Eleventh realm, practicing left-handed swordplay, who refined ten demon soul swords in the Northern Territory. She is said to be the most powerful Eleventh realm being in the human world. Additionally, there was a Ninth realm martial artist Xiang Ji, and a lower five realms sword cultivator skilled in various ingenious tactics. Nian Kui's death was entirely due to that female Sword Immortal."
"Her name is Tuo Zhi."
Yu Zhi said lightly, "She was once the leader among the top ten of the younger generation of the Great Chen Dynasty. Lin Zhao's top subordinate. You, as the commander of the front army, have not even figured out who she is until now?"
Bai Ye's face flushed with shame. "My Lady Yu Zhi, I…"
"Enough, I don't want to hear your explanation!"
Yu Zhi sneered, "A new camp has now been built on the Snow Region Heavenly Lake, and the battle flags of the human dynasty are flying. They are declaring that the Snow Region Heavenly Lake has returned to human hands. This is simply a great humiliation to us. An Eleventh realm being like Tuo Zhi could make our two hundred thousand strong demon army tremble endlessly. Are you not ashamed?"
Bai Ye gritted his teeth. "I am willing to accept any punishment!"
"No one wants to punish you."
Yu Zhi's expression was icy. "If our twenty thousand elite demon forces cannot destroy the Snow Region Heavenly Lake, then Bai Ye, you don't need to return. Just die in battle at the Snow Region Heavenly Lake like Nian Kui. I don't want to see a loser step into the Ancestral Mountain; you would defile this sacred land."
"Yes, your subordinate understands…"
Bai Ye stood up and said, "Upon returning this time, this general will certainly go all out and flatten the Snow Region Heavenly Lake!"
"Relying only on force, without wisdom, will that work?"
Yu Zhi sneered, "I will assign someone from the strategists of the Ancestral Mountain to accompany you. Remember, you must listen to her in all actions on the Snow Region Heavenly Lake. She is your strategist."
"Yes!"
Yu Zhi raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Senior Sister Shi, would you trouble yourself to make a trip?"
From the crowd, a woman in a long black dress, with her face veiled, stood up. She possessed a pair of stunning eyes and a slender, graceful figure. She smiled and said, "Shi Jungang is willing to serve Madam Yu Zhi and resolve worries for the Demon Race!"
Bai Ye couldn't help but frown. It was her…
Shi Jungang, hailed as a leader among the new generation of the Upper Five Realms cultivated by the Demon Race's Ancestral Mountain. Not only was her Eleventh realm cultivation foundation very solid, but most importantly, she was very cunning and resourceful. On the chessboard, she had even defeated her cousin Yu Zhi. Such a person was too formidable. Looking at the entire Demon Race, few could defeat Shi Jungang in terms of wit, strategy, and planning.
Bai Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was not familiar with Shi Jungang, it was good that she was going. At least, they could surely flatten the Snow Region Heavenly Lake and vent his anger.