"Pang pang pang—"
Amidst the deafening roars, ten Demon Soul Swords stood like colossal pillars amidst the demon army. Each sword was dozens of meters tall, its blade surrounded by erupting flames and shockwaves, instantly shredding dozens of demon soldiers within a radius into a rain of blood. Simultaneously, a graceful figure descended from the sky, thrusting her sword forward with her left hand. With a piercing sound, a milky white sword qi, tens of zhang long, shot directly towards Shi Jun gang’s throat.
"How audacious!"
Shi Jun gang's beautiful face instantly contorted into a ferocious mask. With a wave of her hands, her jade-like fingers materialized into sharp claw-like phantoms. Her arms joined to push forward a palm strike. Amidst swirling demonic energy, a powerful palm force surged towards the stream of sword qi. However, Shi Jun gang had clearly underestimated the opponent's strike. As soon as the powerful palm force made contact, it began to shatter inch by inch. The opponent's sword qi, with its razor sharpness, almost instantly reached Shi Jun gang’s throat. It was utterly unstoppable. With just one strike, the opponent could injure her!
"Sister Shi, be careful!"
Bai Ye would not stand by idly. He retracted his folding fan and thrust it forward. With a "ding," it collided with the tip of Xu Zhi's sword. Instantly, both Bai Ye and Shi Jun gang were repelled dozens of meters back onto the rocky terrain. Xu Zhi, on the other hand, raised her hand and retracted her sword, her beautiful eyes coldly staring at the two Eleventh Realm great demons on the mountainside, showing no fear.
Back then, Xu Zhi had nearly died at the hands of the demons. The Heavenly Pool Army, whom she considered family, and the people of the Summit Villa had almost all perished under the demons' sharp claws. Therefore, Xu Zhi’s killing of demons was ruthless and merciless. There was no possibility of holding back.
"Sister Shi!"
Bai Ye waved his long sleeves, enveloping Shi Jun gang and retreating. At the same time, he let out a low roar, "Charge and kill them! Quickly! Don't you all want to go to Ancestral Mountain for cultivation? Whoever can slay the heads of human generals like Chu Yu and Xu Zhi, I will heavily recommend them for Ancestral Mountain!"
Instantly, numerous demon soldiers let out ear-splitting roars and charged forward as if driven mad.
Cultivating at Ancestral Mountain was an opportunity for demons to ascend to heaven in a single step. Since ancient times, very few had been able to follow the Demon Ancestor in cultivation at Ancestral Mountain. Shi Jun gang was one of them. After cultivating with the Demon Ancestor for a hundred years, she had already attained such a prestigious position in the demon realm. Who wouldn't want it? Even knowing that they would likely die, these demon cultivators still wanted to gamble for that minuscule possibility of not dying.
Bai Ye and Shi Jun gang retreated, undoubtedly to avoid their sharp edge. The two Eleventh Realm demons, upon encountering Xu Zhi, an Eleventh Realm peak Sword Immortal, had actually fled in disarray. It wasn't that Bai Ye and Shi Jun gang didn't care about their pride, but they were genuinely outmatched. If they had forcefully endured Xu Zhi's left-hand sword and the ten Demon Soul Swords, even if they could injure her, Bai Ye and Shi Jun gang would have at least one dead, perhaps both. They dared not risk their lives.
The demon army surged forward.
"Up!"
Lin Zhao led the vast cavalry of the Snow Region Army and instantly charged into the dense formations of snake-human archers, hacking and slashing with his sword. Skills like Sword Qi Cage, Departing Sword Style, and Ascending Dragon Slash were unleashed in succession. He loudly commanded, "Mu Jia, lead your men to break through the demon defense line as quickly as possible and rendezvous with the exiled army. Xiang Ji, lead your troops to fight and cover our retreat, do not let the demons block our path!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two martial warriors split into two paths. Xiang Ji drew his sword and led hundreds of men to flank and attack, while Mu Jia rose valiantly. The Yuan Realm martial warrior soared into the air, appearing like a god on the battlefield. The next moment, his fist intent surged, and he unleashed a string of consecutive fist strikes towards the ground like a barrage of cannons. Instantly, the ground of Nine Zhang Plain trembled repeatedly, and countless demon soldiers fell beneath Mu Jia's fist qi. There was no other way; this was the power of a Yuan Realm martial warrior on the battlefield. A single person could hold back tens of thousands of soldiers without issue.
...
Xu Zhi, riding a flying sword, soared through the air and stopped above Chu Yu’s exiled army. With her left hand forming a seal, the ten sharp Demon Soul Swords spun rapidly in the air, creating a storm of swordsmanship that crushed any approaching demon cultivators into bloody pulp. Not even the demons' arrows could penetrate. The sword control technique of an Eleventh Realm Sword Cultivator was truly impenetrable!
"Young Madam!"
Xu Zhi's willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly. "We are here to reinforce you under Marshal Lin's orders. Please lead everyone to retreat towards the Snow Region Heavenly Pool immediately. Be quick!"
"But..."
Chu Yu gritted her teeth, looking towards the distant mountains. "The demons intend to excavate my father's tomb and whip and expose his remains. If I cannot find his bones, how can I face him..."
"Rest assured."
Xu Zhi's voice softened slightly. "We have already found Marshal Chu's remains. He is carried behind Marshal Lin. After we return to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, we will re-inter his bones properly."
"Ah!?"
Chu Yu was stunned.
"Has the Young Madam forgotten? Marshal Lin was the one who personally buried Marshal Chu back then. He naturally knows where Marshal Chu's tomb is. We found Marshal Chu before the demons did."
"Good!"
Chu Yu no longer hesitated. After repelling a group of demons in front of her with a punch, she said solemnly, "Everyone, heed my command! Retreat immediately and return to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool with Marshal Lin's forces!"
"Yes, Marshal Chu!"
The crowd retreated like a tide. Xu Zhi rode her flying sword, covering their rear. The ten Demon Soul Swords attacked in unison, and with a deafening roar, they pulverized the bodies of hundreds of demon soldiers into bloody mist. She then summoned a flying sword from the Sword Containing Lake. The flying sword soared into the air and instantly unleashed a torrential downpour of sword qi, like dense raindrops, striking the dozens of pursuing demon cultivators with countless fine blood holes. Among them was an Eighth Realm Golden Core cultivator, a considerable figure in the demon army's ranks. However, under Xu Zhi's flying sword, he was like an ant.
Seeing their retreat, Mu Jia did not retract his fist intent. Instead, his punches became even more ferocious. He continuously darted to the flanks of the retreating army, blasting the demon archers on the mountain into bloody rain. Lin Zhao, on the other hand, led his men back on horseback, his sword in hand. Unbeknownst to him, his white robes were already completely stained with blood, though it was all demon blood. As he galloped away, his mind surprisingly became calm. He hadn't experienced this kind of intense battlefield life in a long time and found it strangely grounding.
...
The two groups of soldiers merged and retreated together from Nine Zhang Plain. It wasn't until dawn that the majestic outline of Heavenly Pool Mountain appeared on the horizon, and the exhausted soldiers finally breathed a sigh of relief. Upon returning to the camp, Lin Zhao ordered everyone to rest. He then reverently carried Chu Huai Xi's remains towards the command tent. Before he arrived, he heard crackling sounds from a nearby shed. Xu Shuo, the Mohist wanderer, was chopping wood with his long sword, with a box containing various tools nearby, such as hammers, nails, and ink lines.
"???"
Lin Zhao was bewildered, not knowing what the man was doing. He went directly into the command tent and carefully placed Chu Huai Xi's remains on the bronze table scarred with sword marks.
"Father..."
Chu Yu stepped forward and knelt before the table, gently stroking the cloth wrapping the remains, tears streaming down her face. "Daughter is unfilial. For so many years, I believed Father had been laid to rest, and I dared not disturb his long slumber. I never imagined the demons would devise such a vicious plan. It is my daughter's lack of filial piety. I am sorry, Father..."
Several centurions from the exiled army knelt with her.
Lin Zhao immediately stood up and knelt beside Chu Yu on one knee.
Mu Jia and Xiang Ji knelt behind Lin Zhao, silent.
Outside, Xu Zhi lifted the curtain and entered, kneeling on one knee beside Lin Zhao. She whispered, "I've taken stock. Young Madam's contingent suffered heavy losses this time, with fewer than 600 survivors. Our losses were also significant, over a hundred men. The combined forces of both groups barely reach less than two thousand."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded and helped Chu Yu up. "There's no need to be overly sad. In a hundred years, there will still be people and armies of our Great Chen Dynasty atop the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. Marshal Chu would be gratified in the netherworld. The present matter is more important. The demons will not give up. Shi Jun gang will surely return."
Chu Yu nodded, wiped away her tears, and turned to the centurions of the exiled army. "From today onwards, we will be incorporated into Lin Zhao's army. From now on, we will all obey Marshal Lin's command."
"But, Marshal Chu..."
An old soldier looked up. "How can we..."
"Enough."
Chu Yu gently振 right fist, her body flowing with dense fist intent. Her clear eyes looked at her subordinates. "My father was a marshal of the Great Chen Dynasty in his time, but he always served His Highness Yu as his sovereign, never overstepping his bounds. The reason I called myself Marshal Chu was to inherit my father's legacy and ensure that our Great Chen Dynasty's fire continues to be passed down in the northern territory. I am merely a general of the Great Chen Dynasty, not a member of the royal bloodline. Do not put me in a position of unjustifiable authority. From now on, there is only Chu Yu the battlefield general, no longer Marshal Chu of the exiled army!"
The old soldiers gritted their teeth, lowered their heads, and said in a low voice, "We... obey!"
Lin Zhao frowned. "Between Chu Yu and me, there is no hierarchy. We are merely merging together, united in our efforts to kill demons and inherit Marshal Chu's will. From now on, Lin Zhao will never overstep his bounds. I ask all of you to watch carefully. If Lin Zhao fails Chu Yu, fails the old brothers of the exiled army, heaven and earth will not forgive me!"
"Sir..."
Xu Zhi's delicate eyebrows furrowed.
Just then, someone entered the command tent. It was Xu Shuo, the Mohist wanderer. He carried a wooden box about a meter long, exquisitely crafted, with luxurious patterns on its surface. He gently placed the box on the table. "It is too late to find a coffin for Chu Huai Xi at this hour. My craftsmanship is crude, but I have fashioned a simple coffin for Marshal Chu's remains. Let him be laid to rest as soon as possible."
"Thank you!"
Lin Zhao nodded.
Xu Shuo smiled. In fact, it wasn't entirely for Lin Zhao, but also to let Xu Zhi see that he wasn't heartless. When you like a woman, you can't help but treat her well.
...
Xu Zhi, with her sword at her side, stood next to Lin Zhao and nodded with a smile at Xu Shuo. "Thank you!"
Xu Shuo trembled all over, feeling as if spring had returned, almost breaking through his inner demons to reach the Thirteenth Realm.