In the early morning, without snow or wind, a thin layer of mist enveloped the entire Northern Territory.
At Panyun Mountain, two demon army tents stretched out, like two sharp wedges driven into the heart of the Northern Frontier. Under the deterrence of these two tents, the human army did not dare to look north. Although Grand Executioner Li Chunyang of the Great Shang Dynasty, wielding the 230,000 strong Linlu Army, was stationed at Guyao Pass, he absolutely did not dare to venture out of Guyao Pass. Commanders like Yue Hao, who dared to charge headlong into over a dozen demon army tents with hundreds of thousands of cavalry, no longer existed.
Inside the command tent, only a few people were present.
After annihilating the 200,000-strong expeditionary force of the human players led by the Star River Guild, most of the cultivators in the Upper Five Realms from the two tents had already withdrawn. Thirteen-realm Fu Sheng, Nan Qingfeng, twelve-realm Long Zheng, Lu Xiuyuan, and several eleven-realm great demons had returned to the ancestral mountain to continue their cultivation. Currently remaining in the command tent were only the commanders of the two tents, eleven-realm Bai Ye, twelve-realm Feng Quan, and Shi Jungang, who was wearing a black long dress, her entire face covered by a veil.
They only had to face the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. The strongest cultivator in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, eleven-realm Zhu Zhi, had already fallen out of the Upper Five Realms. If it weren't for their fear of the Juque Umbrella and Lin Wanhua and Lin Xingchu in the distance, Feng Quan alone could have ascended the mountain with his sword and killed Lin Zhao and the others.
"Yu Feng has lost."
Shi Jungang's face was shrouded under her hood, exuding a misty aura. The once beautiful face had been torn apart and was now merely a stitched-together visage. For Shi Jungang, this was an immense humiliation. Women's love for beauty was innate, especially for Shi Jungang, a queen among her people, who naturally placed great importance on her appearance. However, her injuries were too severe. Unless she could return to the Upper Five Realms, it would be impossible to repair her current broken and dilapidated body.
She harbored hatred, wishing she could tear Zhu Zhi, Mu Ya, and the others limb from limb. But her most hated person was, of course, Lin Zhao. This man had caused her plans at Jiuzhangyuan to crumble into dust. At the demon ancestral mountain, she, Shi Jungang, had become a laughingstock, bringing shame upon the demon ancestor and her master. For her, this was the greatest shame of her life, an indelible stain.
Feng Quan frowned and said, "It was expected. Yu Feng dared to march south with only fifty thousand cavalry. Did he truly think humans were mere sheep? Moreover, he faced an opponent he himself was unaware of. This devastating defeat was foreseeable."
Bai Ye sneered and said, "Yu Feng fancies himself one of the Ten Great Divine Cavalry Captains, truly believing his literary and military prowess to be supreme. His first battle south brought him face-to-face with Lin Baiyi, who had reincarnated through self-destruction. It's fitting that he's unlucky. Even Elder Sister Shi has been defeated, so who is Yu Feng to dare compete with Lin Zhao in strategy and tactics? He is truly ignorant of heaven and earth."
As he spoke, he glanced at Shi Jungang.
Although Shi Jungang was currently only in the Middle Five Realms, she had her master Ning Yuansheng behind her. Ning Yuansheng was a thirteen-realm great demon and one of the four guardians of the ancestral mountain. Ning Yuansheng was considered second only to the demon ancestor in the demon race, and his words would be carefully considered even by the demon ancestor. This indicated his extremely high status. As long as Ning Yuansheng stood, his only direct disciple, Shi Jungang, would hold a position close to that of the foremost among the younger generation of demons.
As for Bai Ye, although he was the cousin of the great demon Yu Zhi, Yu Zhi was not overly protective. Therefore, in front of Shi Jungang, Bai Ye maintained a very low posture. His words both insulted Yu Feng and flattered Shi Jungang.
"Hmph..."
Shi Jungang let out a cold, soft hum. She had no desire to engage with this useless fellow Bai Ye. If not for his sister Yu Zhi supporting him, this kind of person would have long been slain in the martial world of the demon race. What did being in the eleven-realm matter? There were far more great demon cultivators stronger than him. She turned to Feng Quan and asked, "What about the matter of Qingliang Sect?"
"It's being handled."
Feng Quan smiled slightly and said, "You may await good news. Perhaps, we won't even need to attack the mountain to present Lin Zhao and Zhu Zhi's heads before us without shedding a drop of blood."
"Mhm."
Shi Jungang nodded, "It's better to be cautious."
"Yes, I understand."
Feng Quan clasped his fists and bowed his head.
Shi Jungang's face showed a smile. Although Feng Quan was a twelve-realm demon and a sword cultivator with formidable strength, he had no powerful backing. Having cultivated from a mere egret absorbing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth into its current state, he was truly a great cultivator from humble beginnings. After taking on the role of commander of the tenth army tent, he remained cautious and prudent, a very steady individual. Shi Jungang was willing to speak with Feng Quan. As for facing Bai Ye, she would avoid speaking if possible.
...
Afternoon.
Before heading down the mountain to hunt monsters, Lin Zhao sat on the cliff of North Mountain, gazing at Panyun Mountain. He couldn't see far, only faintly making out the outline of Panyun Mountain. Beside him, Chen Ben stood in a martial stance, practicing his Rongma Fist, looking into the distance with Lin Zhao.
"Brother Lin Zhao."
Chen Ben asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Looking at the demons,"
Lin Zhao pointed into the distance and said with a smile, "They are at Panyun Mountain, two army tents, 400,000 troops."
"..."
Chen Ben said, "Why can't we humans and demons live in peace? Perhaps I am still too young and ignorant. I have never truly seen any demons. Are those demons truly so detestable?"
"How to say it?"
Lin Zhao pondered and said, "Back then, almost all the people most important to me... died by the swords of the demons."
"Ah?"
Chen Ben fell silent.
Lin Zhao thought of someone and said, "When I was a child, I had a playmate on the Snow Region Heavenly Pool named Zhang Liucheng. He was different from you, yet similar. The difference was that you were born an eight-realm martial artist, blessed by heaven. He, on the other hand, was naturally frail and could only carry a satchel and be a scholar all day."
He smiled slightly and said, "The similarity was that you eagerly wished to become a peak martial artist, wanting to contribute to the world. He, carrying a wooden sword every day, wanted to become a sword immortal, to roam between heaven and earth, to be the most carefree person in the martial world. The kind of sword immortal who could point his sword from afar and send the head of an Upper Five Realms great demon rolling."
Chen Ben scratched his head and chuckled, "Then, did he eventually become a sword immortal?"
"No..."
Lin Zhao said with some melancholy, "When the demons attacked the mountain, he stood on the stone bridge of the small town with his wooden sword, preventing the demons from entering. He was turned into a mist of blood by a palm strike from the great demon Lu Hai."
He smiled calmly, "Otherwise, your personality is dull, and Zhang Liucheng's personality is lively. Your temperaments would have complemented each other, and you could have become very good friends."
Chen Ben's eyes turned red, and he murmured, "What a pity. I missed out on a good friend... Brother Lin Zhao, I'm sorry for bringing up your sad memories."
"It's alright."
Lin Zhao smiled, stood up, his snow-white cloak fluttering in the wind, looking exceptionally handsome. He looked to the south and said with a smile, "Why do we stand our ground on the Snow Region Heavenly Pool? Because there are still many people like Zhang Liucheng in the human world behind us. They will also carry satchels to study in schools, get their hands slapped by teachers for being mischievous, and they will have people and things they care deeply about. We kill demons here merely to prevent such people in the world from being slaughtered."
He looked at Chen Ben and said with a smile, "In my opinion, this is the true path of righteousness."
Chen Ben was silent. He hadn't read much, but he knew Lin Zhao's words made sense. Therefore, this young martial artist took a step back, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply to Lin Zhao, not raising his head for a long time. This was the highest etiquette a young martial artist could use to express respect.
He felt a little happy. His mind had been somewhat clouded before, but now he was beginning to understand.
He understood why he had to stay on the Snow Region Heavenly Pool.
He understood the meaning of practicing his fist.
...
In the north, snow lay thick in a pine forest.
Feng Quan, the commander of the tenth demon army tent and a twelve-realm sword cultivator great demon, arrived in a flash. He carried two jars of wine, along with a bag of roast chicken and a bag of roast duck. He walked to the edge of the mountain peak and sat down on a patch of green rock not covered by snow.
In front of him, the space rippled. An invisible sword intent distorted the light before his eyes. The next moment, a disheveled man carrying a long sword walked over and sat in front of Feng Quan, reaching out his hand and saying, "Bring the food and drink!"
"Ha~~~"
Feng Quan did not mind the man's rudeness. He threw the roast chicken and roast duck to him, then tossed him a jar of wine.
Tang Guangjun drank from the mouth of the jar, a large gulp of strong wine entering his throat, feeling incredibly exhilarated. He then opened the paper bag, pulled off a chicken leg, and began to devour it.
"You've fallen this low?"
Feng Quan squinted and smiled, "How long has it been since you last ate meat?"
"About half a month, I suppose."
Tang Guangjun's mouth was full of chicken leg meat. He drank another jar of wine and said with a laugh, "So refreshing!"
"Why bother?"
Feng Quan frowned and said, "You are a twelve-realm sword immortal from the ancestral court of the military school, and you have the potential to enter the thirteen-realm. Yet you come to the Snow Region Heavenly Pool to be a handyman. What were you thinking? Even if you were to be a gatekeeper, isn't the gate of the ancestral court of the military school large enough?"
"It's different."
Tang Guangjun wiped his oily mouth and picked up the wine jar, smiling, "There is no Junior Brother here at the ancestral court of the military school. I feel at ease staying here; otherwise, I'd be restless all day."
"Lin Zhao?"
Feng Quan sneered, "When did you, Tang Guangjun, become so respectful of others, coming to be a doorman for a mere Lower Five Realms cultivator?"
"Damn it!"
Tang Guangjun slapped his thigh and said, "You, Feng Quan, watch your words. Do not show any disrespect to my Junior Brother. Otherwise, I, Tang Guangjun, may consider you an old friend, but this Deng Tian behind me will not acknowledge you!"
His sword was named Deng Tian.
"Alright, alright."
Feng Quan said, "I didn't come here to listen to your complaints. Today, I want a clear answer from you. If the demons attack, and if there is a battle to the death between the demons and Lin Zhao, whose side will you be on?"
"Do I need to ask?"
Tang Guangjun raised his sword eyebrows and said, "Heaven and earth are vast, but none are as great as my Junior Brother! The sect leader's orders, Tang Guangjun will obey without question!"
Feng Quan held his forehead, stood up slightly, his powerful sword intent surging, and roared, "Damn you, Tang Guangjun! We roamed the world together in the demon race, sharing life and death. Now, for some damn Junior Brother, you're going to turn against me?"