The ancestral court of the Mohist school.
Su Qingjiu entered the ancestral court with her sword. She felt nothing was amiss, but the young Mohist disciple standing on the sword-checking platform looked bewildered. This mistress of Changming Mountain seemed to not understand the rules, completely ignoring him, the one responsible for guarding guests' weapons. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Xu Zhan, beside the Grandmaster, shake his head, indicating it was unnecessary.
Su Qingjiu was a rare Sword Immortal in the lower realm who was willing to contribute to humanity. Moreover, she was at the peak of the twelfth realm. She could have directly entered the thirteenth realm of Sword Immortal without suppressing her cultivation, but she did not. This point alone was enough for the Mohist ancestral court to regard her highly.
"Sword Immortal Su!"
The Grandmaster of the Mohist school rose and greeted her with a smile.
Xu Zhan also clasped his fists, "Greetings, Sword Immortal Su!"
Su Qingjiu bowed with a smile, "Greetings, Grandmaster, greetings, Sword Immortal Xu!"
Xu Zhan nodded with a smile.
Xu Shuo also followed them in.
Su Qingjiu got straight to the point, explaining that Lin Zhao needed to borrow several Mohist disciples who were proficient in concealment formations. The Grandmaster and Xu Zhan exchanged knowing smiles.
"Sword Immortal Su,"
Xu Zhan said with a smile, "A hundred years ago, after our Mohist school assisted the Great Shang Dynasty in defeating the Northern Four Tribes, do you know what happened to the Mohist ancestral court?"
Su Qingjiu nodded, "I've heard a little. Decades ago, the Demon Ancestor personally led three thirteenth-realm cultivators to visit the Mohist ancestral court. It is said that he almost dismantled the Mohist ancestral court in his rage."
"That is correct."
The Grandmaster of the Mohist school, resembling a benevolent elder, rose, holding a cup of tea, and offered it to Su Qingjiu. "Fortunately, there was some movement from the Military School's ancestral court. The Saint of War, through the heavenly and earthly barrier, pierced a sword tip through the heavenly and earthly restrictions, which made the Demon Ancestor withdraw his power. Otherwise, our Mohist school might not have been able to withstand the onslaught of a group of great demons."
"Thank you, Grandmaster Grandpa."
Su Qingjiu accepted the tea and nodded with a smile.
The Grandmaster of the Mohist school's smile grew wider. If only he had such a filial and capable granddaughter. Su Qingjiu also felt that this Grandmaster was a kind person, with a seemingly benevolent smile, to the point that she almost forgot he was a fourteenth-realm cultivator of the Mohist school, capable of standing against the Demon Ancestor.
"So!"
Xu Zhan chuckled, "The Sect Leader's intention is that for the next few decades, the Mohist school should avoid offending the demon race as much as possible. That Demon Ancestor is petty and tends to make trouble if he feels even slightly wronged. We in the Mohist school are also very troubled by this."
"Is that so..."
Su Qingjiu said, "A formation that can only conceal five thousand troops doesn't require many people. Is the Mohist school unwilling to even help with this small matter?"
"Master."
Xu Shuo clasped his fists, "I met Lin Zhao at Xueyu Tianchi. His character, military strategy, and tactics are all superior. If Master approves, I am willing to go alone."
"Xu Shuo."
The Grandmaster of the Mohist school glanced at him and said, "You stay in the ancestral court to cultivate your state of mind, don't wander around. Last time you went to the mortal world, you became infatuated with a woman. If you go again this time, I fear your twelfth realm will be depleted."
Xu Shuo looked ashamed, "Your disciple obeys your teachings!"
"Junior Brother."
The Grandmaster of the Mohist school looked at Xu Zhan beside him and smiled, "The talented young disciples who have achieved great success in the Mohist school's mechanical formations are basically all your disciples. What do you think?"
Xu Zhan frowned. What else could he think? His beloved daughter had fallen for that boy at first sight. If he, as a father, rejected Lin Zhao's request this time, wouldn't Xu Qingyi pluck his beard the next time she visited the Mohist ancestral court? That little girl had always been lawless since she was young; there was nothing she wouldn't dare to do. Moreover, what if that boy eventually became his future son-in-law? Helping now was not a problem.
Finally, this time it was Su Qingjiu, the mistress of Changming Mountain, who came to request the Mohist ancestral court to send personnel. If they refused, it would not only offend Xueyu Tianchi but also create ill will from Changming Mountain.
"Senior Xu Zhan."
Su Qingjiu smiled slightly and said, "Please do not hesitate. Although I, Su Qingjiu, have a low cultivation realm and am too weak, if the demon race truly blames the Mohist ancestral court and decides to challenge it, I, Su Qingjiu, will surely come. I will do my part to contribute."
"Good!"
Xu Zhan nodded, "Since Sword Immortal Su has said this, it would be too stingy for our Mohist ancestral court to be hesitant any longer. In that case, I will send two of my personal disciples to accompany you!"
"Thank you!"
...
Not long after, Su Qingjiu took off on a sword light, returning to Xueyu Tianchi with two young Mohist disciples. Along the way, the two Mohist disciples looked at the maiden in front of them with awe in their eyes. This was Su Qingjiu, the mistress of Changming Mountain, a peak twelfth-realm Sword Immortal, said to be on par with Lin Wan Hua of Fusong Great Wall as the strongest twelfth-realm cultivator in the world!
Xueyu Tianchi.
With the arrival of the two Mohist cultivators, Lin Zhao mobilized troops overnight. He selected five thousand elites from the Xueyu cavalry, then appointed four generals: Mu Gua, Chu Yu, Xiang Ji, and Xu Sheng to accompany the army. Su Qingjiu and Wu Zhi, on the other hand, remained at Xueyu Tianchi to guard. After all, if a battle broke out in the area of Guyuan Pass, the demon race might take the opportunity to attack the mountain.
Su Qingjiu, a twelfth-realm Sword Cultivator, wielding the Ju Que sword, could ensure the safety of Xueyu Tianchi. Even if a thirteenth-realm cultivator from the demon race appeared, it would be fine; she could still fight.
In addition, an order was given to organize personnel at Xueyu Tianchi to transport a batch of food and water one hundred li east along the southern side of the mountain, for the hundred thousand human civilians to consume. Otherwise, they would not be able to travel far and might starve to death on the road before reaching Xueyu Tianchi. In this case, Xueyu Tianchi's support would be meaningless.
Lin Zhao made arrangements for everything he could think of, leaving the rest to fate.
...
Under the starry night, five thousand Xueyu cavalry descended the mountain, led by Lin Zhao, Mu Gua, Chu Yu, and others. The two Mohist cultivators each rode a Yunxi warhorse, holding talismans, and cast a concealment formation above everyone's heads, completely obscuring their figures and auras. Thus, even though these five thousand cavalry left Xueyu Tianchi, the demon race was completely unaware.
Two hours later, they arrived at Guyuan Pass.
After Li Chunyang retreated, the rebuilt Guyuan Pass was once again razed to the ground by demon cultivators. This created an aura of deterrence for humanity, suggesting that the demon race could attack at any time. Once the human army was on high alert and exhausted from constant vigilance, the day the demon race truly marched south would not be far off. The reason the demon race dispatched Shi Jungang with two tents to guard Panyun Mountain was actually as a vanguard for the Northern Four Tribes' southern advance.
Passing through Guyuan Pass, Lin Zhao led the five thousand cavalry westward for ten li along the snowy ridge and set up camp. From then on, they would simply wait for the demon race to arrive.
...
Panyun Mountain, the demon race's command tent.
Shi Jungang sat firmly in the commander's seat, with Feng Quan and Bai Ye on either side. Below them were a group of tenth-realm demon generals, each holding an important position in the tent and enjoying high status.
"My lord!"
A demon cultivator entered the tent and handed a flying fish message to Shi Jungang.
Shi Jungang glanced at it and sneered, "The five-year period has arrived again. The new batch of 'sheep-herding tribute' will arrive at Guyuan Pass in one day. The person responsible for escorting them is a ten-thousand-cavalry commander from Furong Province named Zhu Qiong, a mere seventh-realm martial artist. He is accompanied by five thousand Great Shang cavalry."
"Sister Shi!"
Bai Ye's lips curled, "Of the hundred thousand young men and women in the sheep-herding tribute, our demon race only gets fifty thousand. Why not send someone south earlier to capture Zhu Qiong and his five thousand cavalry as well?"
"Oh?"
Shi Jungang glanced at him and smiled, "Lord Bai Ye is truly wise!"
"Ah?!"
Bai Ye was very uneasy, "Did I say something wrong?"
"How could Lord Bai Ye say something wrong?"
Shi Jungang narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Since the Lingnan Alliance was re-signed many years ago, humanity has offered tribute of the sheep-herding tribute every five years without fail. If you were to capture these five thousand cavalry this time, Lord Bai Ye, do you think humanity would dare to send us tribute in the future?"
Bai Ye nodded repeatedly, "Sister Shi is right!"
Feng Quan frowned, "Lord Shi Jungang, whom do you plan to send to receive this tribute? Perhaps... I should personally lead fifty thousand troops?"
"No need."
Shi Jungang looked south and said, "The ones who truly pose a threat to us are on Xueyu Tianchi. Currently, Su Qingjiu is guarding Xueyu Tianchi and could march north at any moment. Once they learn that Lord Feng Quan is leading fifty thousand elites eastward, I worry that Su Qingjiu might charge into Panyun Mountain alone with her sword. At that time... who can stop Su Qingjiu if we don't have a twelfth-realm cultivator?"
"Indeed."
Feng Quan nodded with a smile.
Shi Jungang said, "Lord Yun Cheng, you are a Star River realm cultivator. You will lead ten thousand elite demon troops to Guyuan Pass to receive the tribute. Remember, do not have any conflict with the Great Shang cavalry, there is no need for it."
"Yes, my lord!"
In the early morning, a tenth-realm demon cultivator named Yun Cheng led ten thousand elite demon troops and set off. They marched grandly towards Guyuan Pass. By dusk, they had arrived at Guyuan Pass without any incidents. Inside Guyuan Pass, five thousand of the hundred thousand human civilians had already entered. Yun Cheng then led his subordinates through Guyuan Pass and came directly in front of Zhu Qiong. With a cold sneer, he clasped his fists and said, "Lord Zhu Qiong, on behalf of our demon race, thank you for your human emperor's tribute. Thank you, they must taste quite good!"
As he spoke, he looked at the young men and women, licked his lips, and revealed his ferocious fangs.
Yun Cheng, whose true form was a bat from a cave in the demon realm, had retained his love for human flesh and blood after cultivating into human form. He intended to keep dozens of people from this group for himself.
Zhu Qiong's expression was somewhat awkward as he clasped his fists and said, "You are too kind, my lord. This is what we should do."
"Mm."
Yun Cheng nodded with a smile, "Once all one hundred thousand people have entered the pass, you can return south."
"Yes!"
...
Not long after, one hundred thousand people entered Guyuan Pass. Zhu Qiong waved his hand and led the five thousand Great Shang cavalry to return south.
Yun Cheng, however, swaggered, leading ten thousand elite demon troops and urging the crowd westward. In the procession, countless human men and women's faces were purple with cold, and they were all exhausted and starving, nearing their limit.
"Hmph!"
Yun Cheng looked at a beautiful young girl in the crowd. Her neck was long and fair, making Yun Cheng's mouth water. He couldn't wait; he had to eat one now. It wouldn't matter if one was missing when they returned to Panyun Mountain.
"You, come here!"
Yun Cheng pointed at the girl with his hand, a ferocious smile on his face. "I have taken a liking to you. It is your good fortune!"
The girl was terrified and wanted to escape, but her hands and feet were tied together with others, making it impossible to move.
...
Just then, a thunderous voice suddenly rang out from above Yun Cheng's head.
"I have taken a liking to you too. It is your good fortune!"
"Ah?!"
Yun Cheng looked up and saw a human Heavenly Origin realm martial artist of ordinary appearance, with a powerful fist descending from the sky!