Amidst the howling cold wind, Chu Yu, her deep blue cloak fluttering, her delicate face appearing even more heroic and spirited under the moonlight, her sword at her waist, rode into the camp and began selecting a thousand elites. She knew what Lin Zhao intended to do; these thousand elites were for fighting the coffin bearers, and thus had to be the cream of the crop. She therefore selected only the most formidable martial artists from the army. Among them were one martial artist of the eighth realm, over ten of the seventh realm, and more than two hundred of the sixth realm. The rest were mostly of the fourth and fifth realms. This thousand-strong cavalry, she was confident, could even charge head-on against tens of thousands of demon cavalry and not suffer a disadvantage.
"Prepare, descend North Mountain!"
Chu Yu raised her eyebrows and said to everyone in a deep voice, "Our opponents this time are coffin bearers from the Ghost Realm. Those coffin bearers have refined zombies and fierce ghosts, so everyone must maintain peak alertness. Your fist energy and spirit must not falter. Do you all understand?"
"Understood!"
The Xueyu cavalry raised their heads in unison, displaying the pride of the Xueyu Tianchi warriors.
However, at this moment, Chu Yu spotted a youthful face in the crowd. She frowned and immediately walked over, grabbing a young cavalryman by the ear. "Do you think I can't see you, you brat?"
"Ahhh, Sister Chu Yu, that hurts, that hurts!"
Pulled out from the crowd by Chu Yu was Chen Ben, a young martial artist of the ninth realm. Among these people, Chen Ben's strength was the greatest, but he was also the youngest. Furthermore, Chen Ben had only been practicing boxing and cavalry tactics since joining Xueyu Tianchi and had never truly been on the battlefield. Therefore, Chu Yu would not allow him to face the terrifyingly powerful coffin bearers directly.
"You brat!"
Chu Yu released him, hands on her hips, and said, "Have you forgotten what Marshal Lin said? You, Chen Ben, must diligently practice boxing at Xueyu Tianchi until you become a martial artist of the tenth realm. Have you forgotten Brother Lin Zhao's words?!"
A group of cavalrymen burst into laughter.
Chen Ben was stubborn, his lips pursed, his expression defiant. "Sister Chu Yu, I joined the Xueyu Legion to slay demons and ghosts. With so many coffin bearers appearing in the north now, why can't I descend the mountain? Even if Brother Lin Zhao discovers it, I will say the same thing."
"Alright, alright, let's go. I'll take you to see Marshal Lin. If you can convince him, then so be it!"
"Ah?"
Chen Ben quickly grabbed Chu Yu's arm, his large eyes filled with pleading. "Sister Chu Yu, I was wrong, I was wrong. But I really want to descend the mountain with everyone to kill demons! Besides, I am now a ninth-realm martial artist, so I naturally need combat experience. Sister Chu Yu, be fair, is it fair that you never bring me along when we fight enemies? And even if we take a step back, those coffin bearers are so powerful, some even at the Star River realm. But Lin Zhao, although he plans meticulously, his cultivation is not high. What if something happens to Brother Lin Zhao? Can I, Chen Ben, live with myself? Take me with you, even if it's just to secretly be Brother Lin Zhao's guard. At the very least, I can punch and protect him when we encounter danger, can't I?"
Chu Yu frowned. Indeed, Chen Ben had a point. Furthermore, Chen Ben possessed natural divine strength, and his ninth-realm martial artist was equivalent to the tenth realm. Taking him would not only hone his skills but also better protect Lin Zhao. Moreover, if she protected him a little, and with the support of the ten demon soul swords from Xueyuan Tianchi, there would essentially be no major issues.
"Alright!"
Chu Yu gently patted his helmet, covering Chen Ben's face, and smiled, "Lower your head a bit later so Marshal Lin doesn't see you, or I won't be able to help you. Once we get there, you will stay right behind your Brother Lin Zhao and protect him well."
"Yes!"
The youth saluted rigidly with a clasped fist, then adjusted his helmet, a simple and bright smile on his face. "Thank you, Sister Chu Yu!"
"Let's go, descend the mountain!"
Thus, the youth, mixed in with the crowd, mounted a Yunxi warhorse, donned the armor of a Xueyu cavalryman, and carrying a long spear, descended the mountain with everyone. In the distance, Lin Zhao was waiting at the foot of the mountain to meet them. He drew his sword and joined them as they descended.
...
In the snowy forest north of Xueyu Tianchi, it was deep in the early morning, and the world was pitch black.
Lin Zhao did not order everyone to light torches, relying solely on the keen eyesight of the martial artists and the Yunxi warhorses to march. Not far away was a small hillside. On that hillside, at least fifty coffin bearers were digging for the bones left behind from a past great battle. The entire hillside was permeated with a chilling aura of death.
Lin Zhao took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Chu Yu, take your men and outflank from the right to encircle this hillside. Once the encirclement is complete, everyone will attack the mountain with full force. First, kill as many as possible with arrows and throwing spears, then draw your swords and charge the mountain. Seek a swift victory, leaving no chance for these coffin bearers to escape. Since they dare to come, we of Xueyu Tianchi must make them pay dearly!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Chu Yu nodded and led 500 men in two divisions. Lin Zhao took the remaining 500 men and outflanked from the left. The sound of hooves began to thunder. In the darkness, some coffin bearers had already become alert. Someone on the hillside shouted, "Be careful, those human scum from Xueyu Tianchi are coming!"
"Boom!"
A golden fist energy shot up into the sky from the north. Under Chu Yu's scorching punch, a Golden Core realm coffin bearer, along with his coffin, exploded into a shower of blood and dust. Immediately, a flying sword leaped out from the Yun Jian Lake, piercing the center of the eyebrows of a sixth-realm coffin bearer. Chu Yu, a veteran of many battles, struck precisely at the vital points, seeking only to kill, not to show off.
"Onward!"
Lin Zhao gave the order, and many Xueyu cavalrymen charged towards the hillside. Many raised their crossbows and fired volleys of "chichichichi" arrows, turning the purple, white, and green zombies jumping down from the mountain into porcupines. Then, they drew long spears from the saddlebags and hurled them with accumulated true qi. Many more zombies and coffin bearers were pierced by the spears, their blood staining the ground.
"Be careful!"
Someone shouted, and immediately a group of fierce ghosts swept down the mountain with the wind.
"Fist Energy Shatters Evil!"
Lin Zhao shouted, and many Xueyu cavalrymen punched simultaneously. Immediately, streaks of scorching fist energy exploded in the air. The martial artists cultivated a righteous and vast true qi of heaven and earth, while those fierce ghosts were Yin spirits unable to disperse, imprisoned within coffins. They were naturally terrified of the winds, rains, lightning, and energy of heaven and earth. Once they encountered the surging true qi of fist energy, they were naturally suppressed. In an instant, over ten fierce ghosts were dispersed by the fist energy, their cultivation greatly reduced. However, some Xueyu cavalrymen with insufficient cultivation were killed by the pouncing of mid-fifth-realm fierce ghosts.
In a confrontation of this nature, it was impossible to avoid losses.
"Kill!"
Lin Zhao spurred his horse and charged rapidly up the hillside, simultaneously drawing a Demon-Shattering Talisman from his embrace. He lit it and threw it out. This green Demon-Shattering Talisman exploded on the hillside like a thunderclap. Two green zombies and three fierce ghosts were blasted back, their vitality significantly depleted. However, this did not count towards Lin Zhao's output; talismans killing enemies were part of the plot, not the player's data.
"Scoundrel!"
In the air, a figure descended. It was a Nascent Soul realm coffin bearer. He had been hiding in an old pine tree for a long time, only emerging after Lin Zhao, the "ringleader," ascended the mountain. The Nascent Soul realm coffin bearer clasped his hands together and unleashed a scorching attack at Lin Zhao.
"..."
Lin Zhao saw clearly and locked onto a small animal to his side, unleashing a sword qi attack. His body instantly shifted sideways, escaping the opponent's lock. But at this moment, a figure leaped from his horse and landed a heavy punch on the Nascent Soul realm coffin bearer's face. With a "crack," his brow bone was split open.
"You're not allowed to hurt my Brother Lin Zhao!"
Chen Ben let out a thunderous roar, grabbed the Nascent Soul realm coffin bearer by the throat, and slammed him heavily to the ground. He then turned and kicked away a green zombie that was comparable to the ninth realm. His body was enveloped in fist energy as he leaped forward and delivered another heavy punch to the Nascent Soul realm coffin bearer's abdomen, causing him to spit blood.
"This brat!"
Lin Zhao's brows furrowed. He had never expected Chen Ben to follow them down the mountain. In Lin Zhao's eyes, this was the future number one martial artist of Xueyu Tianchi. What would happen if he perished here?
But Lin Zhao did not distract Chen Ben. He drew his sword and flanked to attack, igniting a Sword-Illuminating Talisman and unleashing Xiao Jiuer's scorching sword strike, forcing several coffin bearers to retreat, spitting blood.
"Chen Ben, be careful, mind your own safety!"
"Yes, Brother Lin Zhao!"
Chen Ben gritted his teeth and fiercely punched the head of the Nascent Soul realm coffin bearer beneath him, crushing it. He then soared into the air and delivered a heavy punch to a sixth-realm coffin bearer, turning him into a bloody mist. His strength, comparable to a tenth-realm wandering martial artist, could truly not be hidden!
...
"Hmm?"
As Chu Yu punched, she glanced over. She saw Chen Ben's figure soaring, his body enveloped in fist energy. He had no intention of hiding his strength. Although his combat achievements were outstanding, it was too easy for him to suffer in the chaotic battlefield. She would have to have a good talk with him later. Just then, a malevolent aura hidden within the gentle breeze suddenly assaulted her.
Not good, carelessness!
Chu Yu turned and raised her arms horizontally, rapidly enhancing her fist intent to resist the opponent's attack.
A blood-red palm emerged from the vortex of malevolent aura and struck Chu Yu heavily. This palm also carried a potent pressure from heaven and earth. The opponent was actually an upper-fifth-realm coffin bearer!
"Boom!"
Chu Yu let out a soft hum, and her entire body flew out, crashing heavily into the mountainside. From the spot where she had been standing, an old coffin bearer emerged from the vortex of malevolent aura, a smile playing on his lips. "A mere tenth-realm martial artist dares to be so arrogant. Haven't you ever died before?"
Behind him, a coffin-bearing maiden in a qipao, revealing her long, slender legs, appeared, her smile extremely bright. "Master, you've finally arrived. I thought you wouldn't make it in time for all this excitement!"
The eleventh-realm coffin bearer elder chuckled coldly. "Tan Xin, enough talk. Go, annihilate them first!"
"Yes, Master!"
The two, left and right, attacked Chen Ben, who stood amidst the wind. This young martial artist, with his arrogant aura and terrifying fist energy, was the first to be targeted.