A middle-aged man, dressed in a robe with a restrained aura, arrived at the Prince of Jinan's mansion. He wore a jade crown adorned with a dazzling red coral at its center.
The visitor was none other than Huang Qingning, the head of the Shan Hai Division, a twelfth-realm spirit cultivator and a second-rank official of the Great Shang Dynasty.
"Your subordinate pays his respects to Your Highness!"
Huang Qingning bowed deeply.
"Rise," Zhao Qiyang said with a smile. "Director Huang, there's no need for such formality here. We are all family."
Huang Qingning stood up and smiled. "Thank you, Your Highness! May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me on such short notice?"
"First, take a look at this."
The Prince of Jinan handed Huang Qingning two imperial decrees from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
"This..."
Huang Qingning's brows furrowed. He quickly knelt again. "A large spirit stone mine... this is no small matter... To think such a spirit stone mine was hidden in this world. It is the Shan Hai Division's negligence, my negligence. I beg Your Highness to punish me!"
"Huang Qingning!"
The Prince of Jinan narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "You are too bound by rules, both towards others and yourself. I, Zhao Qiyang, have always considered you an elder brother. Why be so constrained? I summoned you here to discuss this spirit stone mine. Now that the mine has been occupied by those from the Snow Domain Celestial Pool, this matter... ultimately falls to your Shan Hai Division."
"Oh?"
Huang Qingning smiled. "What about the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
"Can the Embroidered Uniform Guard handle a large-scale battle?"
The Prince of Jinan laughed heartily. "Select a Shan Hai Commander from your Shan Hai Division, grant him a Flood Dragon Ship, and lead several hundred Shan Hai Division cultivators. If a fight is necessary, we absolutely cannot let the Snow Domain Celestial Pool gain any advantage."
"Yes!"
Huang Qingning asked, "Your Highness, what do you think of... Lin Xuanzhi?"
"Lin Xuanzhi?"
The Prince of Jinan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "That fellow... wasn't he chased by the Dowager Empress with a broom from Jing'an Palace all the way to Kunning Palace last month for pursuing the Eldest Princess? He almost lost his official position. Of all the Shan Hai Commanders in the Shan Hai Division, he's the most unreliable one. Huang Qingning, are you serious?"
"I am serious."
Huang Qingning stated, "Lin Xuanzhi is indeed a bit unruly, but his mind is agile. When faced with a major event, his ability to handle it is exceptional. Your Highness, consider the location of Luoyan Mountain. It's only fifty li south of the Snow Domain Celestial Pool. Not only humans can reach it, but also demons, and even the spirits hiding in the deep mountains to cultivate. If there isn't someone with strong battlefield adaptability to lead, our Flood Dragon Ship might soon become someone else's property in the Northern Territory. Furthermore, this fellow successfully broke through half a year ago and is now an eleventh-realm sword cultivator with profound sword intent, fully capable of undertaking this important task!"
"Hmm."
The Prince of Jinan nodded. "You know your men best. So be it. Lin Xuanzhi is ordered to lead 500 Shan Hai Division cultivators. Upon arrival at Luoyan Mountain, he will declare the Great Shang's stance: everything south of the Snow Domain Celestial Pool is Great Shang territory, and the natural resources within this territory are under the jurisdiction of the Shan Hai Division. If that person in white is willing, the Shan Hai Division will offer 1,000 Golden Cicada Coins as compensation for them to withdraw from Luoyan Mountain and return the spirit stone mine to the Shan Hai Division. If the person in white is unwilling, then we will have to take forceful measures."
"Yes, your subordinate understands."
Huang Qingning clasped his hands and bowed. As he looked up, his brows were still furrowed. "Your Highness, it will not be difficult for the Shan Hai Division to capture this spirit stone mine, but the challenge lies in how to defend it. Luoyan Mountain is too far from Great Shang. We must plan ahead. Before the Shan Hai Division's Flood Dragon Ship departs, the defending troops should prepare their provisions and set off."
"I am aware of that."
The Prince of Jinan smiled. "Tomorrow at the morning court, I will have His Majesty issue an decree, ordering the Commander of Yangping Pass, Lin Ruo, to select 100,000 Rock Army soldiers, and the Commander of Hulao Pass, Lü Fengxian, to select 100,000 Wu Zhenlou elite troops. Both armies will march north together. With 200,000 elite troops of our human race, and the presence of Lü Fengxian, a martial artist of the Rebirth Realm, I believe even the demon race will not be able to push south with their forces."
Huang Qingning smiled faintly. "Your Highness is wise!"
...
Shan Hai Division.
A magnificent Flood Dragon Ship slowly ascended. This spirit vessel was approximately 300 meters long and 50 meters wide. Its keel was forged from the spinal bone of a flood dragon that failed its journey across the river, a masterpiece by a great Mo School cultivator. It was said that the construction of this Flood Dragon Ship alone cost as much as 50,000 Golden Cicada Coins. The entire Shan Hai Division of the Great Shang Dynasty possessed only two such ships.
The Flood Dragon Ship was reinforced by numerous formations, equipped with over a hundred spirit crystal cannons and a considerable number of divine dragon crossbows, all originating from the Mo School. It could be said that the combat power of a single Flood Dragon Ship was terrifying. Some even claimed that one Flood Dragon Ship was equivalent to the combat power of a twelfth-realm sword immortal of the human race. Although this had not been verified, no one doubted the combat strength of a Flood Dragon Ship.
"Damn it, hurry up, all of you!"
At the bow of the Flood Dragon Ship, a young man in a deep blue robe slung his sword over his shoulder, smiling. "Thanks to the Director's trust, we must be extremely cautious on this expedition to Luoyan Mountain. The Northern Territory is perilous. Everyone, bring all your belongings, don't hide anything. It's uncertain if we'll even return."
"Commander of Shan Hai!"
A Nascent Soul stage cultivator chuckled, "Can't you say something more pleasant?"
The young sword immortal named Lin Xuanzhi laughed heartily, grinning at the bow and cursing. "You still want to hear me say auspicious words? Fine. After we secure that spirit stone mine, we won't return. We'll cross the Snow Ridge and charge into the demon army's camp, capture that woman Shi Jungang, and make her your wife. When the Great Demon Yu Zhi arrives, we'll join forces to capture her, and I, your elder brother, will reluctantly take her as my wife!"
"Hahahaha~~~"
A group of cultivators laughed and cursed the Commander of Shan Hai for his shamelessness.
Lin Xuanzhi stood at the bow, his bearing heroic. He was indeed handsome, undoubtedly among the most attractive men in the human race. A powerful sword intent emanated from him. He was also good-looking and had a high cultivation realm – an eleventh-realm sword cultivator. Everyone in the Shan Hai Division envied him. Yet, this Commander of Shan Hai was always joking and cursing, never serious. The only woman he loved was the Eldest Princess of the Bai Di City imperial family. Her husband had died of illness, making the Eldest Princess a widow. She was the Emperor's sister. Did he dare to covet her?
Lin Xuanzhi dared. He loved only one person in his life, and that was Zhao Shutong.
Fortunately, he was a third-rank Commander of Shan Hai and possessed an eleventh-realm cultivation. Otherwise, let alone his official position, his head might not have remained on his shoulders.
Not long after, a Flood Dragon Ship ascended from the Shan Hai Division of Bai Di City, carrying over 500 Shan Hai Division cultivators towards Luoyan Mountain.
...
Panyun Mountain, shrouded in mist.
Demon Race Commander's Tent.
"Lin Zhao has dispatched 3,000 cavalry, and even Mu Zha and Shuo Zhi are no longer at the Snow Domain Celestial Pool."
Feng Quan said gravely, "Judging by the situation... something major must have happened in the south. Otherwise, given Lin Zhao's caution and prudence, such a significant oversight would be impossible. If it were up to me, we would dispatch one army to attack the mountain and another to provide support. We might truly be able to take advantage of this opportunity and flatten the Snow Domain Celestial Pool!"
"No rush."
Shi Jungang's eyebrows were slightly furrowed. "No one knows if this might be Lin Zhao's trap to lure us in. Lin Zhao is cunning and deceitful; haven't we suffered enough losses from him? Based on my understanding of Lin Zhao, there's likely something fishy going on. Even if we are to attack the mountain, there's no need to rush. At the very least, we need to figure out what's happening in the north that's holding Lin Zhao back."
"Hmm!"
Feng Quan nodded in agreement.
Bai Ye frowned. "I heard from the fire crow demons under my command that Lin Zhao, Shuo Zhi, Mu Zha, and others have stationed troops at Luoyan Mountain. I also heard from hunters who have traversed Luoyan Mountain that crystal stones have appeared deep within a valley of Luoyan Mountain. Sister Shi, do you think there might be a spirit stone mine at Luoyan Mountain? If not, Lin Zhao wouldn't have gone to such great lengths."
"And..."
Feng Quan added, "Not long ago, Xu Zhan from the Mo School's Ancestral Court visited the Snow Domain Celestial Pool. This makes things even more understandable."
"Understood."
Shi Jungang frowned. "Lord Feng Quan, you will personally make a trip to Luoyan Mountain. Your cultivation realm is the highest here. Ascertain what has happened at Luoyan Mountain, and then we will decide whether to send troops to attack."
"Yes!"
Feng Quan rose.
"Wait."
Shi Jungang raised her hand, and a secret treasure floated towards Feng Quan. It was a mace emitting a faint glow, exuding a powerful aura of the Great Dao. She frowned. "This mace was bestowed upon me by my master. I will lend it to you for now to ensure utmost caution. Do not engage in combat unless absolutely necessary, as its power is too immense. I had originally intended to use it to break the Giant Que Umbrella sword formation of the Snow Domain Celestial Pool."
"Thank you!"
Feng Quan accepted the treasure and transformed into a gust of wind, gracefully leaving the commander's tent.
...
Traveling south, Feng Quan passed the Snow Domain Celestial Pool and continued flying south. However, he did not fly directly towards Luoyan Mountain, as the flight path was too obvious and could easily attract the attention of Shuo Zhi and Mu Zha. Therefore, Feng Quan circled east for dozens of li, planning to approach Luoyan Mountain from the southeast, which was a more secure approach.
Amidst the clouds, Feng Quan's sword brows were tightly knit, and he flew with his sword with extreme caution.
Soon, a "dududu" sound emanated from ahead, as if some machinery was in operation. Feng Quan suddenly leaped hundreds of feet, concealing his body within the clouds. Looking down, he saw a massive human spirit vessel appear in his sight. The spirit vessel was reinforced with dense and intricate Mo School formations, a legendary Flood Dragon Ship!
Moreover, the Flood Dragon Ship was crowded with human cultivators. Many were in the middle five realms, while among the upper five realms, only a handsome man in a deep blue robe sitting by the ship's railing was in the eleventh realm!
"How can this be?!"
Feng Quan's gaze turned cold. This Flood Dragon Ship was undoubtedly heading for the two demon army camps. The Great Shang Dynasty had been plotting for so long; were they planning to destroy the ninth and tenth army camps with just one Flood Dragon Ship? What a fantasy!
He drew his sword and descended through the sky. There was nothing more to say.
As the human race aptly put it, when paths cross, the brave one wins!
...
"Oh?!"
Lin Xuanzhi, sitting at the bow of the ship, suddenly started, sensing something approaching?
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Eight chapters completed. Brothers, please vote for recommendations!!!!