"..."
Zhao Suiguang twisted his body and also appeared on the golden roof of the great hall. The moment he stepped forward, a small world rose again within the grotto-heaven, meaning layers of restrictions. Let alone thirteen realms, even if a fourteen-realm cultivator were standing outside the grotto-mansion at this moment, they might not be able to discern the conversation between him and Yu Wu.
"Yu Wu."
Zhao Suiguang frowned and said, "Flattening Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, this matter will likely have to be considered at length. Firstly, whether it can be flattened is an unknown. Secondly, the potential gains after flattening is also extremely important."
"What are the Sect Master's concerns?"
Yu Wu lay lazily on the golden roof, crossed his legs, and chuckled, "Is it Lin Xingchu of Xi Jian River? Or Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall?"
"Both."
Zhao Suiguang said calmly, "A few months ago, two thirteen-realm demon cultivators, Fu Sheng and Lu Hai, joined forces to attack Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. The result was that Lin Xingchu, Lin Wanhua, and Zhu Zhi routed them. Lu Hai almost fell out of the upper five realms. It was utterly pathetic. Even two thirteen-realm cultivators were defeated, what can we do? Two twelve-realm cultivators, even with Zhao Guangyi, who is in the eleventh realm, are still no match for Lin Xingchu and Lin Wanhua. It is said that Lin Xingchu has cultivated a technique to control water flow, possessing half the strength of a fourteen-realm cultivator even when away from Xi Jian River. Who dares to underestimate them?"
"Your worry is also my worry."
Yu Wu reached into his embrace and pulled out a treasure artifact shaped like a fiery red mountain. The moment spiritual energy was infused into it, a fiery red mountain rose from the ground, almost instantly threatening to burst Zhao Suiguang's small grotto-heaven. Just as Zhao Suiguang's face turned pale, Yu Wu retracted the artifact and put it back into his embrace, chuckling, "Still worried?"
"This..."
Zhao Suiguang's expression was aghast, "What is this object?"
"This treasure artifact is called Kong Shan."
Yu Wu said, "The ancestral mountain of the demon race, a top-grade immortal artifact personally bestowed by the Demon Ancestor. This Kong Shan can condense an incredibly thick small world, capable of covering an area of several hundred li. As long as we act swiftly, even if Lin Xingchu and Lin Wanhua arrive, they will not be able to break through this Kong Shan for a while. After we destroy Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, we can also use Kong Shan and Shrinking Ground Talismans to leave Snow Domain Heavenly Pool without a trace. In fact, Lin Xingchu and Lin Wanhua will never realize who committed the deed."
Zhao Suiguang narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Daoist Friend Yu, going to such lengths, expending this top-grade artifact Kong Shan to flatten Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, you must have something you particularly desire in Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, correct?"
"Yes."
Yu Wu smiled faintly, "The heads of Zhu Zhi, Mu Zha, Bai Yi, and Chu Yu. With these four heads alone, we can claim a bounty of 4000 Golden Zizhi Coins at the Demon Race's Ancestral Mountain. In addition, Zhu Zhi's ten Demon Soul Swords are also what I desire. If these Demon Soul Swords fall into my hands, whether for nourishing my cultivation base or for refining into protective artifacts, they would be enough to allow me to touch the threshold of the Ascension Realm."
"So that's how it is."
Zhao Suiguang chuckled, "But I am following Daoist Friend Yu, risking my life, and possibly offending both Xi Jian River and Fusu Great Wall, two major powers. I am even giving up being a Sect Master to accompany you in such a sneaky endeavor. What do I stand to gain?"
Yu Wu narrowed his eyes and smiled, "That sword on Bai Yi's back, it's yours."
"Oh?"
Zhao Suiguang couldn't help but laugh, "A mere sword carried by someone in the lower five realms, do you think I, Zhao Suiguang, am a beggar by the roadside, easily appeased with a few peanuts?"
Yu Wu revealed a mocking expression, "Zhao Suiguang, you are so foolish that I don't even know how you became the Sect Master of Qing Liang Sect... From the day Bai Yi set foot in Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, he first recruited the eleventh-realm cultivators Zhu Zhi and Mu Zha to his side. Then, through schemes and battles, he killed our Demon Race's Ancestral Mountain's Shi Jun Gang. Afterward, he gained the full support of Lin Xingchu of Xi Jian River and Lin Wanhua of Fusu Great Wall. Then he went to Qing Liang Sect to challenge your father, Zhao Jingyu, and in the Sword Cultivating Lake, the tip of the sword 'Han Niu Jian,' the sword of the Confucian Sage Qin Suihan, awakened. All these events have transpired. Do you still not know who Bai Yi truly is?"
"..."
Zhao Suiguang was struck by lightning. He stood there dumbfounded. With Yu Wu's reminder, he remembered almost everything. His brows furrowed as he said, "You mean... that Bai Yi, his true identity... is Lin Bai Yi of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, the legendary Lin Zhao?"
"Otherwise, why do you think he calls himself Bai Yi?"
"..."
Zhao Suiguang clenched his fists, "In that case, the sword on his back is the foremost among the ten great famous swords in the world, the Dragon Slaying Sword?!"
"That's right."
Yu Wu said calmly, "I want four heads, plus ten Demon Soul Swords. You want the Dragon Slaying Sword. This is the transaction between you and me. That Dragon Slaying Sword is an object of immense divinity. If you can achieve minor refinement, I believe you will be close to the thirteen-realm. If you can achieve mid-refinement, you will undoubtedly be a new thirteen-realm cultivator. With the Dragon Slaying Sword in hand, how difficult would it be to kill your deceased father?"
Zhao Suiguang pondered for a moment, falling into deep thought again.
Who this Yu Wu was, it was clearly not a human. This chief honored guest came from the demon race and was a twelve-realm great demon. Yu Wu, read backward, is 'Wu Yu.' 'Wu Yu' is the common name used by the people of the secular dynasties for a type of fish called 'Wu Li' in the water. Which twelve-realm great demon of the demon race has the true form of a Wu Li fish?
Clearly, the peak twelve-realm great demon, Wu Li, this was the true identity of this 'Yu Wu' before him.
Zhao Suiguang narrowed his eyes. The demon race was cunning, and he had to guard against them. He could not fully believe Wu Li's words, otherwise, he might lose everything in an instant. However, he could not completely disbelieve them either. After all, this was a heaven-sent opportunity for him, Zhao Suiguang. If he could truly obtain the Dragon Slaying Sword and refine it in secret, or continue to cooperate with Wu Li and outlive his Ascension Realm father, Zhao Suiguang could truly become the master of Qing Liang Sect!
Over the years, countless seeds of resentment had been planted in his heart. These seeds had been taking root and sprouting, waiting for the day they would grow into towering trees and tear apart his sky. And his sky had always been covered by one person, with one hand, and that person was his father, Zhao Jingyu. It could be said that Zhao Suiguang's hatred for his father, Zhao Jingyu, surpassed anyone's.
"How is it?"
Yu Wu smiled faintly, "Whether to cooperate, it only takes your word?"
"Please state your name first?"
Zhao Suiguang smiled.
"Wu Li!"
Wu Li cupped his fists and smiled, "Peak cultivator of the twelve-realm at the Demon Race's Ancestral Mountain."
"Zhao Suiguang!"
Zhao Suiguang also cupped his fists, "Lord Wu Li, if you want to cooperate, there is one more condition."
"What condition?"
"You and I will jointly control the artifact Kong Shan. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to entrust my life and fortune to Lord Wu Li!"
"..."
Wu Li narrowed his eyes. Did he want to lightly refine Kong Shan? As the saying goes, without entering the tiger's den, how can one catch a tiger cub? Wu Li hesitated for a moment, then his heart settled. He indeed needed the help of this grounded twelve-realm human cultivator, otherwise, it would be difficult to eliminate the few major concerns in Snow Domain Heavenly Pool without bloodshed. Thus, he directly offered Kong Shan and said solemnly, "To express my sincerity, Sect Master can lightly refine Kong Shan. After the cooperation is completed, I will erase the Sect Master's mark within Kong Shan. Do you think this is feasible?"
"Yes!"
Zhao Suiguang revealed a smile, "When do we go up the mountain?"
"In a few days, it will be the Qingming Festival. Why not choose a good day for Lin Zhao, Zhu Zhi, and Mu Zha to have their death anniversary fall on Qingming? Let them depart openly. It will save people the trouble of picking a date for memorial services later."
"Yes!"
Zhao Suiguang pursed his lips and smiled, "Absolutely no problem."
...
Northern Region, within the Demon Race territory.
The Yu Clan Dynasty, one of the largest unified dynasties of the Demon Race.
Yu Feng, leading dozens of generals, rode Cloud Xi warhorses that had been replaced from their territory, and slowly entered the city. Bloodstains and deep fatigue still lingered on his face. He had finally returned to the capital, but his heart was filled with unhappiness. Fifty thousand cavalry had marched south, and only a few dozen returned north. What if they had killed two hundred thousand human soldiers? To Yu Feng, it was still a profound humiliation.
Within the city, a magnificently decorated carriage was already waiting. The carriage was pulled by two white dragon foals. From the carriage, a beautiful woman of no ordinary appearance hurriedly alighted with the help of her maids. She was none other than the Queen of the Yu Clan Dynasty, Yu Feng's mother, Madam Yun Gui. She held up her skirt and ran a few steps forward, grabbing the reins of Yu Feng's warhorse.
"Mother..."
Yu Feng dismounted and knelt on the ground, his eyes reddening. "Your unworthy son has disappointed Mother. In the southern campaign, my Yu Clan Dynasty's fifty thousand warriors died because of me. It is all my fault, Yu Feng, and has nothing to do with the soldiers!"
A group of generals who had followed Yu Feng back also knelt down in unison. One of the cavalry commanders said in a deep voice, "Madam, in the southern campaign, His Highness achieved victory in several battles, killing over two hundred thousand humans. Although we were ambushed near Snow Domain Heavenly Pool and suffered heavy losses, His Highness fought valiantly and did not betray Madam and His Majesty's expectations!"
"Feng'er..."
Madam Yun Gui reached out and stroked Yu Feng's face, looking at the dense injuries on his body with tears in her eyes. "My son is the Divine Cavalry Commander, a hero of the world, how can you speak of defeat? Fifty thousand divine warriors died for the glory of the divine race, and their deaths were fitting. My son need not feel guilty! It's just fifty thousand cavalry, isn't it? It's fine, your father will assign you more elites. One hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, even five hundred thousand cavalry, our Yu Clan Dynasty can still produce them!"
Yu Feng gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "If your son can fight again, he will surely not fail Mother's expectations and will avenge this disgrace!"
"Let's go, go back and see your father. Dinner has been prepared."
"Yes, Mother."
...
Yun Province, a small border town. As night fell, the town was brightly lit, with inns hanging red lanterns. This town was the most bustling in the northern part of Yun Province. Beyond it lay Shan Hai Pass, and further north, there was no such prosperity. Therefore, caravans and travelers heading north would stop here to rest.
In front of a shop selling yuanbao candles, a young girl leading a white horse stopped. She looked up at the goods in the shop and thought for a moment, realizing that it was almost time to buy some.
"Boss, I want to buy some yuanbao candles."
"Certainly."
The middle-aged boss glanced at her and smiled, "Young lady, your accent suggests you are not from around here. Buying yuanbao candles... are you going north for ancestral worship?"
"Yes..."
The girl smiled, "My father, mother, and brother's graves are all to the north, so I go there every Qingming."
"I see..."
The boss frowned and said, "I heard that there is fighting in the north again recently. The Lin Lu Legion has marched north and is fighting with the demon race at Gu Xia Pass and Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. You are going north alone, you must be very careful."
"It's fine."
The girl raised the sword in her hand and smiled, "I have this..."
The boss nodded, but secretly chuckled. Such superficial martial arts, relying on a sword for protection? It was a pity this girl was so beautiful. If she went beyond Fusu Great Wall, she would likely be taken advantage of by those bandits.
The boss felt heartbroken and shook his head repeatedly.