The entire Deer Forest was filled with a thick smell of blood. Corpses littered the corridors, and countless riderless warhorses roamed about, some even nibbling at the wild grass by the roadside.
A great victory!
Although Lin Zhao's expression remained calm, his heart was filled with joy. After this battle, Snow Domain Heavenly Pool's strength would greatly improve, especially in terms of warhorses, weapons, and armor!
"Clear the battlefield."
He walked down the slope and said, "Sheng Zhi, take your men to gather all the surviving warhorses. Send people to tend to the injured ones. We want to save as many demon warhorses as possible to maximize our gains."
"Yes, my lord."
Sheng Zhi happily led her men away.
"Mu Geng."
Lin Zhao continued to command, "Take your men to collect the armor and weapons from the fallen demon soldiers, as well as the armor from their warhorses. Strip them all off, we'll need them later."
"Yes, my lord!"
Mu Geng, though injured in the battle, cheerfully led his men to get to work.
"Chu Yu."
Lin Zhao looked ahead and said, "Take your men to collect the arrows from the Divine Dragon Crossbows, try to recover as many as possible. Also, behead all the demon corpses and bury them on the spot. Transport the bodies of the demon warhorses back to Snow Domain Heavenly Pool; they can serve as our rations."
"Yes, my lord!"
Lin Zhao rode his horse and slowly traversed the corridor. Soon, a large open area ahead was filled with injured demon warriors. Yu Feng had led 25,000 demon cavalry into Deer Forest, but only brought back a little over 3,000. Lin Zhao, leading the Snow Domain Army, had annihilated about 22,000 demon cavalry in one battle. Among them, over 4,000 demon cavalry were not dead but too severely injured to escape. They were now gathered on the open ground by Sheng Zhi's men.
"My lord."
Sheng Zhi stepped forward and said softly, "What about these demon captives?"
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth. A thorny problem.
"Kill them, or not?" Sheng Zhi asked.
"..."
Lin Zhao turned and looked at Sheng Zhi's pretty face, saying gently, "Sheng Zhi, we've all faced death. Do you remember? In the Battle of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, did the four northern tribes ever leave even half a human captive alive?"
Sheng Zhi's heart trembled. She already knew the answer. The demon race took no prisoners, the ghost race took even fewer. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such bitter enmity between humans and the four northern tribes.
"I understand."
Sheng Zhi nodded. "Leave it to me."
"Mm."
The next moment, Sheng Zhi led her men into the prisoner camp. With a swift sword strike, she gave each demon captive a quick end, their heads rolling on the ground. It was a somewhat heart-wrenching sight, but Lin Zhao only watched from afar, his expression unchanged. He was long accustomed to such scenes. During the Battle of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, the more than 8,000 men of the Heavenly Pool Army had all fallen in battle, just like this.
Just then, a chime sounded in his ear, and an incredibly generous plot compensation reward arrived.
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on completing the plot [Defeat Yu Feng's Division]. You have received plot compensation rewards: Level +2, Charm +4, Gold +15000, Prestige +5000, and an additional reward: [Conqueror's Helm] (Earth-grade)!
...
With a 'clink,' an orange helmet landed in his inventory. Another Earth-grade armor equipment!
[Conqueror's Helm] (Earth-grade)
Type: Armor
Defense: 850
Strength: +125
Stamina: +122
Agility: +120
Special Effect: Damage Reduction +6%
Special Effect: Precision, Hit Rate +75%
Special Effect: Increased Damage, Deal +20% Damage
Special Effect: Toughness, Increase user's HP cap by 5000
Additional: Increase user's attack power by 32%
Additional: Increase user's defense by 31%
Requires Strength: 1200
Requires Level: 100
...
The attributes were quite good. He equipped it immediately, and his combat power increased again, especially his survivability, which had improved by an entire level.
[White Robe] (Sword Master)
Level: 102
Attack: 3140-4155 (+295%)
Defense: 3600 (+305%)
HP: 46650
Critical Hit: 20%
Lifesteal: 52%
Damage Reduction: 29%
Increased Damage: 125%
Intelligence: 99
Charm: 58
Prestige: 69780
Combat Power: 10225
...
His combat power officially broke 10,000. Both his attack and survivability attributes were quite impressive. Coupled with Lin Zhao's two flying swords and his new Level 100 skill, "Sword Breaking Style," he could basically crush any player at the current stage. However, he was engrossed in the rise and planning of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, so he paid little attention to player affairs. The grand tides of the world held little relevance to him, as long as no one provoked the Scarlet Moon Knights. Otherwise, the Sword Immortal would descend, sweeping away all opposition.
That night, a grand celebration banquet was held in the camp of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
The commanders of thousands and hundreds of cavalry drank to their heart's content. Lin Zhao, after a few cups of wine, restrained everyone, forbidding them from getting excessively drunk, and returned to the command tent to discuss matters with Sheng Zhi, Mu Geng, Chu Yu, Xiang Ji, Xu Sheng, and others.
"My lord."
Chu Yu cupped his fists and said, "According to the tally, we acquired a total of 11,323 demon warhorses from this battle. These warhorses are said to be called Cloud Xi Warhorses, raised on the demon race's Cloud Xi Grasslands. Combined with the Cloud Xi Warhorses we obtained earlier, Snow Domain Heavenly Pool now possesses over 14,000 Cloud Xi Warhorses, and these are all tamed and can be used directly."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "From now on, we won't have to worry about warhorses for a long time. In the near future, try to get all the Snow Domain cavalry mounted on these purebred fine horses. Also, recruit horse trainers in Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. These Cloud Xi Warhorses must be well cared for. Spend more money if necessary to ensure foals are born and young colts are looked after."
Sheng Zhi said, "Also, we collected 22,349 demon heads from this battle, from ordinary cavalry to the ten-thousand-man commanders of the Star River realm. I've already ordered them all to be loaded onto carts."
"Good."
Lin Zhao chuckled. "Send people to Shan Hai Pass overnight and ask Han Ye Tang to help us exchange them for money. As for military merits, give them all to Han Ye Tang; we don't need them much."
"Yes!"
Mu Geng's face was flushed with joy. "We also obtained a lot of demon armor, weapons, and warhorse armor. They are all stored in the military supplies depot of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Furthermore, the bodies of over ten thousand Cloud Xi Warhorses have been transported back. Tomorrow, we'll have people butcher the meat and dry it as reserve rations for Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. However... with so many warhorses suddenly acquired, we might not have enough fodder to last for a few days. We'll need to buy some more from the Great Shang Dynasty."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile.
...
The next morning, in the command mansion of Shan Hai Pass.
Carriages from Snow Domain Heavenly Pool were parked in the open space in front of the command mansion. The carriages were piled high with demon heads, and the smell of blood was strong. Han Ye Tang, who had just finished breakfast, was astonished. Looking at the heads on the carriages, she said, "My information isn't quite up-to-date. The last message I received was from a few days ago. Yu Feng led over 30,000 demon cavalry to a decisive battle north of Copper Mirror Lake with the 200,000 main forces of the Lin Lu Army. It's said that the Lin Lu Army suffered over 70,000 casualties and killed over 20,000 demon cavalry. I wonder if it's true."
Sheng Zhi smiled faintly. "Clearly, it's not true."
Han Ye Tang looked at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao said grimly, "According to our observations and deductions at Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, the Lin Lu Army did suffer over 70,000 casualties. However, the demon casualties were far less than 20,000, perhaps less than 10,000. Ye Tang, don't put too much faith in the military reports from Li Chunyang's side. If they really killed over 20,000 demons, they should produce over 20,000 demon heads. They can't."
"Then these?"
Han Ye Tang's gaze swept over the carriages in front. "What's going on?"
"Yesterday, in Deer Forest, our entire Snow Domain Army was mobilized and successfully ambushed Yu Feng's division," Lin Zhao said, taking a deep breath. "We beheaded over 22,000 and captured countless others. Yu Feng is now left with just over 3,000 cavalry. He shouldn't be able to cause much trouble."
"Oh?"
Han Ye Tang narrowed her beautiful eyes. "As far as I know, your Snow Domain Heavenly Pool only has about six to seven thousand men, right? Beheading over 20,000 demons? Lin Zhao, is there any exaggeration?"
"You can count the heads yourself."
Lin Zhao smiled. "Ye Tang, I'll have to trouble you again. Please help us exchange these demon cavalry heads for bounty money. As per the old rules, the military merits will still be yours."
"Lin Zhao ah..."
Han Ye Tang's beautiful eyes, like water, looked at him. "You've given me the military merits again. Do you know the consequences of doing this?"
"What consequences?"
"Shan Hai Pass has achieved one great deed after another, while Li Chunyang has suffered losses and gained no credit. There might be a voice in court suggesting that I, Han Ye Tang, should replace Li Chunyang as the Grand Commander."
"If you were truly the Grand Commander, it would be a good thing for humanity."
Lin Zhao looked north and said, "In the past hundred years, Li Chunyang has changed. He's no longer like a military strategist but more like a schemer. Otherwise, he wouldn't tolerate scoundrels like Yu Rang by his side."
"Mm."
Han Ye Tang nodded with a smile.
"By the way, after collecting the bounty, please help our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool buy a batch of grain and fodder, enough for 10,000 soldiers and 15,000 warhorses for three months."
"Yo~~~"
Han Ye Tang couldn't help but chuckle. "You won a battle and got rich? Remember to treat me to a meal when you have time."
"Certainly."
Lin Zhao cupped his fists and smiled. "You are always welcome to visit Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. I will host you with the finest cuisine and wine."
"Alright, it's a deal!"
...
Gu Xia Pass, snow fell heavily.
Human encampments stretched out, with many "deer horns" and "rejective horses" set up on the outer perimeter. The Northern Commander Li Chunyang emerged from his command tent, looking at the vast expanse of snow in the distance, a chill rising in his heart.
"Grand Commander."
Qin Shang, a strategist of the eleventh realm, appeared beside him gracefully. "Still can't sleep?"
"Cannot find rest."
Li Chunyang looked south and said, "Yu Feng still has nearly 30,000 demon cavalry. They could attack our camp at any time. How can I, the commander of the three armies, sleep? By the way, our supply routes need to be more secretive. We must not let the demons discover them."
"Yes."
Qin Shang frowned slightly. "Actually, Grand Commander, there's no need to worry. Our Lin Lu Army has 230,000 elite troops stationed at Gu Xia Pass, waiting for them. Yu Feng wouldn't dare to come. The demon cavalry, now starving, have likely chosen to head towards Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Therefore, Grand Commander, you shouldn't worry about the Lin Lu Army, but rather whether Bai Yi's Snow Domain Army can survive this cold night."
"Oh?"
Li Chunyang's body trembled. "The demons will attack Snow Domain Heavenly Pool?"
"Inevitably."
"Dispatch scouts to investigate. If Snow Domain Heavenly Pool is breached..." Li Chunyang narrowed his eyes and said indifferently, "We will then withdraw south of the Fusu Great Wall. It will be Bai Yi's incompetence, not the fault of our Lin Lu Army. The remaining matters will be handled by Xi Jian River and Fusu Great Wall."
Qin Shang smiled and nodded. "Scouts were dispatched this afternoon."