Accompanying her arrival, a torrential downpour descended upon Lanxi City.
…
Within the Marshal's Mansion, Li Chunyang's heart trembled. He hurriedly rose, leading a group of generals from the three northern prefectures to welcome her outside. Unmindful of the pouring rain, Li Chunyang stepped out and knelt on one knee in the rain, cupping his fists and stating in a deep voice, "Li Chunyang pays his respects to Your Highness!"
The other generals were all aghast. The "Your Highness" spoken of by Li Chunyang was adorned in radiant golden light, exuding an aura of boundless Dao. She stood in the rain, yet not a single drop landed on her. A golden cloak billowed behind her, channeling profound Daoist water energies, as if guiding gentle streams.
Without a doubt, the only female deity in the mortal realm possessing such an aura was Lin Xingchu of Xiujian River!
Everyone immediately followed Li Chunyang, kneeling on one knee as well. "We pay our respects to Your Highness!"
Lin Xingchu frowned.
She did not speak, merely strode across the threshold of the Marshal's Mansion. Accompanied by two Jiang God female officials, she entered the largest palace in Lanxi City within a few steps. This palace had originally been the imperial palace of the Great Chen Dynasty, the capital of a vassal state of the Xia tribe. Now, it had become the Marshal's Mansion of the Great Shang Dynasty's northern commander, which Lin Xingchu found quite amusing.
Li Chunyang and the others hurried to catch up, flying to the Marshal's Mansion and standing beneath the golden steps as if attending a military council.
Lin Xingchu, the Jiang God of Xiujian River, ascended the steps as if she were the mistress of the estate. In fact, she had been the commander-in-chief of the Xia tribe's three armies in her lifetime. She paid no heed to this palace of the Great Shang Dynasty. Turning to face the generals of the Great Shang Dynasty, Lin Xingchu narrowed her beautiful eyes and said, "Li Chunyang, have you heard no news from the Xiujian River region?"
"Reporting to Your Highness!"
Li Chunyang cupped his fists and bowed his head. "I have only just received news of the demon cavalry raiding villages throughout the northern territories."
"Hmph!"
Lin Xingchu said calmly, "These demon cavalry circled south from the snowy mountains upstream of Xiujian River and are now lingering by the river. They nearly came to wash their killing swords in my Xiujian River. Li Chunyang, as the Grand Master of Arms of the Great Shang Dynasty, why do you not send troops to eradicate them? Do you expect me, the River God, to personally intervene?"
Li Chunyang's face turned pale. "I... I understand."
Lin Xingchu's gaze was icy. "Does your Great Shang Dynasty believe that I, Lin Xingchu, am destined to guard the northern gateway of humanity at Xiujian River? Years ago, my Xiao Zhao planned a great victory at Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. I thought at the time that humanity's resolve would be strengthened. Who would have thought you would all become so soft now? You have a million troops stationed in the three northern prefectures – are they all for show?"
"Your Highness, please quell your anger..."
Li Chunyang's brows furrowed. "I understand. I will immediately convene a council to discuss dispatching troops and will not allow Your Highness to bear the burden alone in the north. The men of our Great Shang Dynasty are not all dead!"
"It is best so."
Lin Xingchu cast a deep glance at Li Chunyang, then, with her two female officials, transformed into a wisp of mountain and water aura and departed. The moment she left, the torrential rain over Lanxi City also vanished.
Inside the Marshal's Mansion.
Li Chunyang was already drenched in cold sweat. Lin Xingchu possessed a cultivation of the fourteenth realm when she presided over Xiujian River, and even the thirteenth realm when she left. What did the thirteenth realm, Ascension Stage, signify? Even in White Emperor City, the Lord of the Great Shang should have personally welcomed her to avoid showing disrespect! Fourteenth realm cultivators were as rare as phoenix feathers, and thirteenth realm cultivators were equally few. The arrival of a thirteenth realm mountain and water deity in Lanxi City to hold him accountable would likely result in the loss of his old face once word reached the imperial court!
"Grand Master of Arms."
Wang Jingzhi, commander of the Lingnan Legion, frowned. "What do we do now?"
"What do we do?"
Li Chunyang glared at him. "You have the nerve to ask me? The demon cavalry numbered only fifty thousand, and you, Wang Jingzhi, with your vast army of two hundred thousand, failed to completely annihilate them, even suffering heavy losses? You actually have the gall to ask me what to do?"
Wang Jingzhi immediately knelt, not daring to utter a sound.
Beside Li Chunyang, Qin Shang, an eleventh realm elder and the foremost strategist of Yan Prefecture, cupped his fists respectfully. "Grand Master of Arms, there is no time to delay. If we are to dispatch troops, let us do so soon. According to the flying fish dispatches from our scouts, this demon cavalry still numbers thirty thousand, led by the eleventh realm general Yu Feng. Their combat strength remains formidable. We should send a strong force. I suggest that you personally lead the 300,000 strong Linlu Legion north, while the Jihan Legion supports from the Fusu Great Wall. The remaining legions will remain stationed in the three northern prefectures."
"Good!"
Li Chunyang nodded. "Immediately issue orders to the three armies. In one day's time, the Linlu Legion will march north with me!"
…
Several days later.
Li Chunyang led the 300,000 strong Linlu Legion out of the pass and marched north, unexpectedly arriving directly at Guyao Pass. The 300,000 troops were stationed at Guyao Pass in full force. Li Chunyang, being a renowned general of the former Western Shu, could see the fatal flaw of Yu Feng's 30,000 demon cavalry at a glance. They lacked supplies, and their only route of return was Guyao Pass. As long as Li Chunyang blocked Guyao Pass, Yu Feng and the demon horde would inevitably be annihilated.
In the afternoon, the sky above Snow Domain Heavenly Lake was clear and vast.
On a green rock, Lin Zhao sat upright, drawing talismans.
Not far away, Chen Ben was powerfully unleashing gusts of martial boxing, his boxing intent flowing, and streaks of boxing aura humming. Chen Ben's progress was indeed rapid, just as Lin Zhao had predicted. After arriving at Snow Domain Heavenly Lake and learning the martial arts of the Muya Sect, many of his boxing deficiencies had been addressed. Within half a month, he entered the Cloud Wandering Stage, his boxing intent now dense. He was likely not far from breaking through to the tenth realm, Sea Stepping Stage.
Lin Zhao drew talismans while listening to Chen Ben practice his boxing, a smile on his face. Soon, Snow Domain Heavenly Lake would welcome another Sea Stepping Stage martial artist. Excluding the influence of Huang Tingyu, the current strength of the Snow Domain Legion was definitely superior to the Heavenly Lake Army under Chu Huaixi. The Heavenly Lake Army of that year had only Chu Huaixi as a Sea Stepping Stage martial artist. The current Snow Domain Legion was formidable: it had the eleventh realm martial artist Muya, the tenth realm martial artist Chu Yu, the tenth realm sword cultivator Xu Zhi, and the ninth realm martial artists Chen Ben and Xiang Ji. Its overall strength was much greater, lacking only a twelfth realm Sword Immortal.
"Mountain Master, drawing talismans?"
Not far away, a disheveled man approached, holding melon seeds. His gaze immediately widened in amazement. "My heavens... Mountain Master's talent in talismans is simply peerless. This skill in military talismans must have been passed down by the Sect Master of our military family's ancestral court, the Sacred Master of Arms. Mountain Master has brought it to life and further sublimated the essence of talismans, truly surpassing the master. I am deeply impressed!"
Lin Zhao looked up and glanced at him. "Do you have something to say or not? If not, go practice your sword. Tang Guangjun, come back and flatter me when you reach the Upper Five Realms, lest all your efforts be in vain."
He was somewhat disappointed. Although his talismans could also evoke heavenly phenomena when he was engrossed, how could they compare to his third senior brother's? After all, his third senior brother's military talismans and swordsmanship were unparalleled in the world!
"Alright, as the Mountain Master commands!"
Tang Guangjun turned and walked away, sitting on a nearby rock to continue eating melon seeds.
Practice sword? What a joke, I've been a twelfth realm Sword Immortal for ages!
Behind Lin Zhao, Xu Zhi stood on a cliff, her left hand held as if grasping a long sword, her sword intent swirling, continuously nourishing her sword intent and repairing her sword heart. Over the past century, Xu Zhi had endured too many setbacks. Her state of mind was already quite strong, and now that she had hope, as long as she was by Lin Zhao's side, her sword heart would be fully repaired in time.
…
Shortly thereafter, the sound of horses' hooves echoed from below the mountain.
"Hmm?"
Lin Zhao looked up. A large number of Great Shang Dynasty battle flags appeared on the mountainside. A highly disciplined Great Shang cavalry was ascending the mountain. The leading banner looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be the battle flag of the Linlu Legion. Lin Zhao's memory of the Linlu Legion's banner from the battle of Dongwu was vivid.
"..."
Not far away, Tong Yu, who had been diligently practicing her sword stances, suddenly opened her eyes. When she saw the Linlu Legion's banner, her beautiful eyes filled with intense hatred. It was the very banner carried by the group who had murdered her parents and brothers before her eyes. That scene... she would never forget in this lifetime.
The next moment, the leader of the cavalry troop came into view. It was an old general.
Instantly, Tong Yu's body erupted with sword intent, uncontrollable. The person was none other than Yu Rang, the deputy commander of the Linlu Legion, the one who had ordered the massacre of the capital of Dongwu!
"Chu Yu!"
Lin Zhao frowned. "Take Tong Yu away!"
"Yes!"
Chu Yu understood the gravity of the situation. In a flash, she embraced Tong Yu's body and whispered in her ear, "Listen to Lin Zhao brother. Even if you have to fight, it won't be today..."
Tong Yu's eyes turned red. "Mmm."
Then, Chu Yu took Tong Yu and flew towards the direction of the mountain peak's villa.
…
"Halt! State your name!"
A disheveled man with a long sword strapped to his back flashed onto the mountain path, raising his arms to block the cavalry. He said in a deep voice, "Who are you, and why have you come to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake?"
Yu Rang was stunned and let out a choked laugh. This white-clothed fellow's abilities were so limited that he hired such a person as a gatekeeper? It seemed Snow Domain Heavenly Lake was truly devoid of talent. Its destruction by the demon race was likely only a matter of time.
"Yu Rang, Deputy Commander of the Linlu Legion, requests an audience with the White-Clothed Sir!"
"Oh?"
Tang Guangjun grinned. "Esteemed Lord Yu Rang, I, this humble one, learned physiognomy and character reading in my youth. Your countenance is not auspicious. Could it be that you are a bad person?"
"You!"
Yu Rang was enraged. Several of his personal guards had already drawn their swords.
Lin Zhao could not stand it any longer. He descended in a flash and, without preamble, said directly, "Yu Rang, what is the matter that brings you to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake? Speak concisely."
"Yes."
Yu Rang clasped his fists in a perfunctory manner and smiled. "The Grand Master of Arms has personally led thirty thousand elite troops of the Linlu Legion to arrive and blockade Guyao Pass. In the coming period, we will dispatch troops south to intercept the remaining thirty thousand demon cavalry led by Yu Feng. Therefore, the Grand Master of Arms has sent me, your subordinate, to inform the White-Clothed Sir. If our army engages the demon cavalry, please have Snow Domain Heavenly Lake dispatch a certain number of troops, even if it is just to harass the demon cavalry. After we have annihilated the demon cavalry, the Great Shang Dynasty will surely offer generous rewards!"
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Please convey to the Grand Master of Arms that I will act opportunely."
"Good!"
Yu Rang gave his horse a tug, turned, and led his men down the mountain.
…
"Are we really going to assist the Linlu Legion?"
Xu Zhi approached Lin Zhao, blinking her eyes. "I think... this Yu Rang has the air of a superior ordering a subordinate, and he doesn't seem very sincere."
"There's no sincerity at all."
Lin Zhao said calmly, "When we were in Ye City, Yu Rang and I nearly drew swords against each other. Li Chunyang sending Yu Rang to negotiate shows little sincerity. We should focus on our own affairs and not be dictated by them."
"Mmm!"