"Commander Chu?"
Lin Zhao's heart tightened, and his mind immediately became a blur. On the Snow Domain Celestial Lake, who else could Commander Chu be but Chu Huai Xi? Could Chu Huai Xi not be dead? It was impossible… Back then, Chu Huai Xi was killed by Bai Lan, a sword immortal from the thirteenth realm of the demon race, with a single sword strike. His life force vanished, and Lin Zhao himself buried him. It absolutely couldn't be Chu Huai Xi. Then, who else in this mortal world dared to call themselves Commander Chu?
As he was lost in thought, figures of iron cavalry began to appear from the south. Lin Zhao squinted as he fought monsters, trying hard to get a clear look. Under the predawn light of the east, he saw figures of iron cavalry charging through the snow, plunging into the demon horde. Instantly, spears pierced the bodies of demon soldiers, swords decapitated demon soldiers, and shields sent demon soldiers flying. A cacophony of sounds intertwined.
These people were indeed human iron cavalry, and their combat effectiveness was quite formidable. However, their equipment seemed rather substandard. The weapons in the hands of these iron cavalry were varied: some wielded iron spears three meters long, like those used by spearmen; others had two-meter lances. Some used broadswords weighing at least twenty catties, while others used slender swords easily broken on the battlefield. As for their armor, it was even more diverse. Some wore the standard armor of the Yun Province iron cavalry, rusted and in need of repair. Some only wore scale armor, some wore silk armor, and others wore only soft armor. Their shields were also varied; some used the carp shields of the Yun Province iron cavalry, while others used small round shields, and many had no shields at all.
This group of iron cavalry fought the demons with exceptional bravery, covering and attacking in waves. They were quite well-trained, but their equipment was truly lamentable. Many didn't even have shields or armor, and even their weapons were spears with wooden handles and bronze heads. Once they encountered demon soldiers who could condense their vital energy, their spears would likely break, and they would then be killed by a demon soldier's sword.
...
"No way?"
Xiang Ji looked at the human iron cavalry charging from the south and frowned. "How did they get here?"
Lin Zhao swung his sword, killing monsters, and asked, "Do you recognize them?"
"Heard of them."
"What's their background?"
"A human legion in exile. They say they are led by a mysterious Commander Chu. There aren't many of them. They roam the north, enduring the wind and dew, tirelessly hunting down stray demons. Countless demons have died by the swords of this exile legion over the years. But they have no fixed abode and never engage in pitched battles with the demons. As long as the demon force exceeds two hundred, they will surely flee, engaging the demons in guerrilla warfare amidst the mountains and snowfields."
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned. Regardless of who this Commander Chu really was, if he could command battles as Xiang Ji described, he was definitely a talented general. Facing a demon race with absolute superior strength, the best strategy for scattered human forces was guerrilla warfare; otherwise, it was simply courting death.
"Damn it!"
In the distance, Yun Lang, a sword cultivator from the Star River realm of the demon race, soared into the sky, his entire body radiating sword intent. Strands of sword energy swirled around him. He glared south with his blood-red eyes and roared, "You vermin who only know how to hide finally dare to show yourselves? Since that's the case, it's all the better! Today, I will take advantage of this opportunity to capture all of you!"
With that, Yun Lang swung his sword, and a beam of sword energy streaked across the human iron cavalry legion. More than ten cavalrymen instantly fell from their horses, tumbling to the ground. A single sword strike from a Star River realm demon was something ordinary people could not evade.
"Boom!"
The moment Yun Lang unleashed his sword, thunder erupted from the south. It was the burst of true energy from a martial artist. This martial artist's aura made even Xiang Ji, a ninth-realm martial artist himself, tremble uncontrollably. His pupils contracted violently, and as he looked south, he saw a streak of white light shoot into the sky. Someone had powerfully punched Yun Lang's sword strike. Amidst the deafening roar, Yun Lang's body swayed backward in the air, appearing somewhat disheveled. Another figure was struck by the Star River realm sword cultivator's sword and fell like a meteor, crashing onto the snow with a "boom," leaving a long trail. Lin Zhao could see clearly this time. It was a slightly petite figure, clad in a well-fitting golden soft armor, with a deep red marshal's cloak behind her. Her entire body was enveloped in a potent fist aura. After enduring the strike of a tenth-realm sword cultivator, she was surprisingly unharmed. Instead, she seemed to grow stronger against a stronger opponent. Most importantly, this was a young woman, with a beautiful face and radiating the murderous aura of a martial artist!
A tenth-realm, Sea-Stepping realm martial artist!
Lin Zhao couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion in his chest and said solemnly, "Xiang Ji, guard the camp. I will try to help her!"
"Alright!"
Xiang Ji had witnessed Lin Zhao's abilities and knew he could certainly help that person. He immediately began punching with all his might within the camp, sending groups of demon soldiers flying. Meanwhile, Lin Zhao spurred his horse out of the camp, swinging his sword and hacking through the monster horde, charging forward. She was too far away; he couldn't even see the name of the female martial artist, nor could he get close to Yun Lang. This was not good.
...
"Is that all you've got?!"
In the wind, Yun Lang smiled faintly. "The legendary Commander Chu… Hmph, nothing but a joke. Your meager abilities are probably not even as good as Chu Huai Xi's from back on the Snow Domain Celestial Lake. Even Chu Huai Xi was cut in half by Lord Bai Lan's sword, so what are you, this Commander Chu, worth!?"
"What did you say?!"
The female martial artist gritted her teeth, extremely angry. Her angry expression made her look rather cute. She couldn't be very old, could she? She looked no more than eighteen or nineteen years old.
By now, Lin Zhao had reached the edge of the monster horde.
"..."
The female martial artist glanced in his direction.
Lin Zhao lightly pointed a finger at the ground.
Instantly, the female "Commander Chu" nodded slightly. She had understood Lin Zhao's intention. The next moment, she raised her proud head and looked at Yun Lang in the air, saying, "Trash, come down for a duel to the death?"
"As you wish."
Yun Lang smiled faintly. As a Star River realm sword cultivator of the demon race, he had to admit, Yun Lang had been incredibly confident these past few years. Who among the demon race, aside from those high and mighty upper five realms, dared to defy him? He had married several young and beautiful demon women within three years of reaching the Star River realm. They all say the wolf tribe is greedy, so he'd show them how greedy he could be. Now, this female martial artist was likely a tenth-realm Sea-Stepping realm martial artist, beautiful as a flower. After beating her to her knees, he'd take her back as his primary wife. It shouldn't be a problem.
With that, Yun Lang descended from the sky and fiercely slashed at her again. This time, the sword energy was even more potent, and the sword intent was more profound. The moment the sword was unleashed, countless dense sword energies surged towards the female martial artist, attempting to suppress her with a single strike.
The woman's body sank. Instantly, an area of tens of meters around her was filled with her intense fist intent. Fist auras rose, heading straight for his sword strike. The moment she punched, countless phantom images of charging cavalry flashed within the rapidly flowing fist intent, causing even the galloping Lin Zhao to slightly tremble. This fist technique… it was so familiar!
The Battlefield Fist Technique, Chu Huai Xi's fist technique from back then!
Could this woman really have some connection to Chu Huai Xi?!
He didn't have time to think. After the female martial artist exchanged a punch with Yun Lang, Lin Zhao spurred his horse into the air. He leaped five meters high, and instantly, rising sword light appeared at Yun Lang's lower flank!
When in doubt, use Rising Dragon Slash. Yun Lang, die!
"Boom!"
In an instant, Yun Lang's body was sent flying into the air, unable to move.
"Punch him!"
Lin Zhao shouted to the female martial artist while outputting damage.
"Mm!"
Although this woman practiced fist techniques, her mind was extremely agile, much smarter than ordinary martial artists. She leaped above Yun Lang. The next moment, her fist, like furious thunder, slammed into Yun Lang's crown, directly smashing him into the ground. He likely wouldn't be able to fly again this time.
"You… audacious!"
Yun Lang roared, his entire face gradually twisting into a ferocious expression. But the moment he raised his long sword, Lin Zhao behind him had finished charging his energy and unleashed a strike, " Qi Chong Dou Niu," directly at his backside. Instantly, the tenth-realm sword cultivator, a great demon Yun Lang who had the form of a wolf, had his rear end split open, and his entire body was sent flying, entering a state of dizziness.
"Continue!"
Despite meeting for the first time, Lin Zhao directly commanded the female martial artist.
"..."
The female martial artist felt indignant. I, the dignified Commander Chu, why should I be ordered around by this brat? The next second, she darted forward and leaped into the air again. She delivered three or four consecutive punches to Yun Lang, each punch landing with a thud, her fists incredibly hard. Yun Lang's health bar plummeted. A tenth-realm sword cultivator and a tenth-realm martial artist were actually quite close in strength, but having one take all the hits was not good. Although the demon race had robust physiques, the young lady's fist intent was too potent. One punch to the spine felt like his entire body was falling apart.
The next moment, Yun Lang broke free from his dizziness, but all his spiritual energy seemed to have been sealed. His two Sword Lake reservoirs were completely silent, let alone summoning flying swords from them to attack.
"I was careless..."
Yun Lang's brow furrowed. He desperately tried to use his spiritual energy to break through this faint seal. Soon, soon he would regain his freedom and unleash his full, potent spiritual energy. Then he would cut down that despicable, shameless lower fifth-realm sword cultivator with a single sword, and then he would slash at the female martial artist's toes. After all… her face was so beautiful, I, the great Yun Lang, cherish beauty. I absolutely cannot injure her face, and it's even more out of the question to slash her chest, those are extremely important areas. As for her back, that's not allowed either. During certain poses, having a few sword marks appear would be so unsightly. Similarly, the buttocks are also off-limits. As for her legs, I, the great Yun Lang, the number one leg fetishist of the demon race, would never dare to touch Lady Yu Zhi's legs in this lifetime. Would I miss the chance with this young lady's legs later?
Thinking of this, the great Yun Lang was so enraged that he almost vomited blood. I am truly a good man who cherishes beauty!
The sealing sensation grew weaker and weaker; Yun Lang was about to break free!
"Here I… come!"
Yun Lang's eyes were filled with smugness, but before he could draw his sword, a sword energy enveloped his head?
"Hmm?"
What was this trick of a sword cultivator called? It seemed vaguely familiar.