"My Lord!" Chu Yu said with her mind voice, "Isn't this too hasty? Our Snow Domain Heavenly Pond is already struggling to get by. Feeding over 1,800 cavalry is a tough task, especially since we have no income. The armor, warhorses, and weapons were a gift from Duke Han Yetang, and the food supplies are funded by Zhu Zhi and Mu Zha themselves. Supporting these thousands of people… I'm afraid the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond won't be able to sustain it."
"I know," Lin Zhao replied. "But these people can farm once they reach the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond. There are so many wastelands on the Heavenly Pond that can be used to grow grain. Moreover, once these people are rooted in the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond, the younger generation can provide fresh blood for our Snow Domain Legion. Also, my decision to do this is largely because of that young man named Chen Ben."
"Just because he's an eighth-realm martial artist?" Chu Yu pursed her red lips, sounding somewhat indignant. "I'm a tenth-realm martial artist, you know…"
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. "Actually, it's not about him being an eighth-realm martial artist, but rather that he's naturally an eighth-realm martial artist without having learned any boxing techniques. What a raw gem! Once he goes to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond and Mu Zha teaches him to box, after a bit of refinement, will he still just be an eighth-realm?"
Chu Yu was taken aback, then smiled with realization. "Yes, my Lord's considerations are indeed far-reaching. However, after so many people go to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond, my Lord really needs to consider the thin coffers of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond and expedite the process of acquiring funds."
"I will," Lin Zhao said.
Not long after, Lin Zhao led numerous cavalry soldiers away from the village, bringing over 2,000 hunters and their families back to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond.
…
Deep within the mountains.
Qing Gu, an eleventh-realm ghost cultivator, sat on a blue rock. A sword wound on his cheek made his speech slightly slurred, rendering him quite disheveled. His body was covered in scars, and he was filled with indignation. In truth, the tenth-realm martial artist wasn't particularly formidable, and his punches weren't that heavy; his physical body could withstand them. However, this tenth-realm martial artist was also a sixth-realm sword cultivator, and the interspersed flying sword attacks with his punches were simply unreasonable.
"My Lord," a ghost cavalryman stepped forward and reported on the day's combat. "Out of 2,850 ghost cavalrymen, over 2,600 were killed. Less than 200 remain. We originally had over 5,000 ghost soldiers, and now less than 2,600. Of the 1,200 great-mouthed ghost soldiers, less than 300 are left. Those human cavalrymen took away the corpses of the fallen and cleared out that village. So, despite our heavy losses today, we didn't even acquire a single corpse."
"Damn it!" Qing Gu slammed his palm down, shattering the giant rock beside him, and gritted his teeth. "Who are these human cavalrymen? Have you found out their origins?"
"We have found out. They came down from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond," a ghost cavalry centurion said with a frown. "The leader is called Bai Yi, reportedly a young sword cultivator from another realm. Additionally, the martial artist who fought with you is Chu Yu, formerly Duke Chu of the exiled army. Another is Xiang Ji, a defeated general of the human race. These are the very people who recently repelled two thirteenth-realm great demons on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond."
"What?!" Qing Gu's body trembled. "It's really them?"
"Yes!" For a moment, Qing Gu's heart turned to ash. He had originally intended to seek revenge, but it turned out to be those people. How could he seek revenge now? He couldn't afford to offend them. Even the combined might of the great demons Fu Sheng and Lu Hai was defeated. What use was a mere paper tiger like him, an eleventh-realm ghost? Seeking revenge on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond would likely only lead to his own demise.
"Forget it…" Qing Gu frowned. "We won't build the pile of white bones for now. Let the ghouls and great-mouthed ghost soldiers search more diligently. We must find that treasure. The mountain forest we are in should be the former imperial tomb of the Xia Dynasty's Spirit Emperor."
"Yes!" In the deep mountains, a horde of ghouls and great-mouthed ghost soldiers dug tirelessly, excavating mountains. It was unclear what kind of treasure they were searching for.
…
Snow Domain Heavenly Pond.
A group of hunters from the deep mountains were arranged to temporarily stay in tents. Xiang Ji led a group of cavalry soldiers to erect new tents, while Zhu Zhi and Chu Yu were in the command tent, accompanying Lin Zhao on either side.
Just then, a figure entered the command tent. It was Mu Zha.
"My Lord!" His face showed unconcealed joy. "I have examined young Chen Ben."
"How is he?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile. "Is he a prodigy in boxing?"
"Indeed!" Mu Zha's face was filled with ecstasy. "His physical foundation is extremely solid, truly naturally powerful. He likely possessed the strength of an eighth-realm martial artist by the age of ten. He just hasn't been refined and trained through boxing, so he doesn't understand techniques like 'Opening Mountains,' 'Returning to Origin,' or 'Peak Strength.' If you give me some time to teach him the basics of boxing and open his meridians and bones, he might reach the ninth-realm Cloud Wandering realm within a month."
Zhu Zhi and Chu Yu both smiled.
Mu Zha still looked incredulous. "My Lord, this is a true born general! If cultivated properly, he will have the Heavenly Origin realm as a foundation. If his luck is good enough and he works hard himself, he should have a great chance of reaching the Rebirth realm. The human empire stretches for thousands of miles; how many Rebirth realm cultivators are there? Tsk tsk, this lad is truly blessed… My Lord, such an excellent prospect… are you really going to give him to me as a disciple?"
"Otherwise?" Lin Zhao glanced at him and smiled. "In the entire Snow Domain Heavenly Pond, who else's boxing skills and intent can surpass yours, Mu Zha? To put it in the words of a scholar, you are the most suitable person to be Chen Ben's master."
"Excellent!" Mu Zha was invigorated. He cupped his fists and said with a smile, "Thank you, my Lord, for finding such a good disciple for me. My Lord, please rest assured, if Chen Ben doesn't reach the eleventh realm, I, Mu Zha, will remain unmarried for life!"
"Understood. Teach him well," Lin Zhao said.
"Yes!"
…
In the afternoon, the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond was bathed in gentle sunlight. To the south, the Mohist craftsmen and human artisans were still working on the teleportation array, with occasional loud noises. The rear mountain also began extensive construction, rebuilding the mountain-peak villas. These were all urgent matters. The Mountain Lord's Shrine was nearing completion, with a brand-new shrine standing tall. The Mountain Lord Su was almost unable to contain his joy as he basked in the sun each day.
On a hillside south of the training grounds, Mu Zha was teaching Chen Ben the military boxing techniques. The young man followed his master, diligently learning every move, which made Lin Zhao smile slightly. He was reminded of when Xiao Shitiao, back then, used to practice boxing with him on the stone bridge. Xiao Shitiao back then was just as meticulous, treating boxing practice as the most important thing.
…
Lin Zhao felt a surge of ambition. He glanced at the stone笋 wrapped in an ethereal mist in his pouch. It was the magical artifact called Sword Mountain, previously gifted to him by Lin Wanhua. It was said that once Sword Mountain was erected, it would generate many swords. However, Lin Zhao dared not deploy it rashly, as the Snow Domain Heavenly Pond was not yet truly stable. What if the demons attacked with all their thirteenth-realm experts? This Sword Mountain might be easily lost to the demons.
Not far away, on a piece of blue rock.
Tong Yu was practicing her sword stances. The delicate young girl looked beautiful as she practiced, and she cultivated with great seriousness, bearing the weight of her family's and country's grudges. The Great Shang cavalry had killed her parents and brothers before her eyes; this was an eternal hatred for Tong Yu. She knew that the higher her cultivation, the greater her chance of revenge. As for whom to seek revenge against? Those who entered the Prime Minister's mansion and killed people, every single one of them must die. And Yu Rang, the deputy commander of the Lin Lu Legion, must also die!
…
At this moment, Tong Yu saw Lin Zhao looking at her, so she immediately rolled down the hillside. She didn't particularly dislike Lin Zhao; she just couldn't bring herself to like this young sword cultivator. He had too many hidden thoughts in his heart; she preferred simpler people. Thus, the young girl dashed all the way to the mountainside, squatting to watch the lively scene at the nearly completed Mountain Lord's Shrine. Many craftsmen were painting the walls, and the smell of paint was strong, but the young girl liked that smell.
Outside the Mountain Lord's Shrine, there were two lounge chairs. Mountain Lord Su and the old sword immortal grandfather were chatting.
"Old Han, see that?" Mountain Lord Su said boastfully, pointing his thumb behind him at the Mountain Lord's Shrine. "My Mountain Lord's Shrine is almost finished, and people are already offering incense. You, Old Han, aren't doing so well, are you? You deities of wind and rain don't even have a shrine and can't receive incense, relying solely on your own cultivation. If your state of mind doesn't open up, when will you reach the Upper Five Realms? It's so worrying."
Han Buyu's eyes widened. "Damn it, I'm a tenth-realm Cloud Master, and I'm not supposed to be lectured by a mere eighth-realm mountain god like you. Mountain Lord Su, it's not that I want to say this, but you speak too sharply and are very annoying."
"Is that so?" Mountain Lord Su chuckled. "You really shouldn't underestimate me. Once my Heavenly Eye opens, humph, my realm will skyrocket. I'll ascend within the time it takes to eat a meal, do you believe it?"
"Keep bragging!" Old Han grinned and closed his eyes to rest.
Just then, the young girl who came down the mountain ran to Mountain Lord Su and placed a handful of roasted peanuts on the table beside him, smiling. "Mountain Lord Su, please have some peanuts, and tell me a story!"
"Alright!" Mountain Lord Su ate peanuts and said with a smile, "Once upon a time, there was a little girl selling nuclear bombs on the cold street. She said to passersby, 'Buy a nuclear bomb, Uncle. I haven't eaten for three days.' But no one paid her any attention. The little girl thought that if she couldn't sell it, she would starve to death. She was shivering from the cold. At this moment, she deeply missed her deceased grandmother, and tears streamed down her face. She was too cold to bear it, so she took out a red button from her pocket. This button brought her a little surprise. She pressed the button, and a mushroom cloud rose into the sky above the city. That night, as she wished, she saw her dear grandmother along with everyone in the city."
"Ah?" Tong Yu tilted her head. "Is that it?"
"Yes, was it good?" Mountain Lord Su asked with a smile.
Tong Yu was noncommittal, but she didn't take back the peanuts. In fact, she didn't understand Mountain Lord Su's story at all, but she liked to see his smile; he had a handsome and warm smile.
"Old Han, have some peanuts," Mountain Lord Su said with a smile. "Didn't you say I was annoying? Look how much Tong Yu likes me."
Old Sword Immortal Han rolled his eyes, pointed to his forehead, and said to the little girl, "Tong Yu, stay away from this person. Talking too much with him can lead to trouble here."
Tong Yu chuckled and gave Old Sword Immortal Han a handful of crisp roasted peanuts.
…
Among the mountains.
Suddenly, a mountain range trembled violently. Immediately after, a figure shot up from the mountain crevice. It was Qing Gu, the eleventh-realm ghost cultivator. At this moment, he was holding a seal engraved with a double dragon pattern, his face filled with joy. "Double Dragon Seal, I've finally found it!"
Just then, the bleating of sheep could be heard from not far away. An elderly shepherd, holding his whip, walked over. He looked up slightly at the eleventh-realm ghost cultivator in the sky and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Qing Gu, I trust you are well!"