In the early morning, Lin Zhao returned to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake with over 600 Zhaojian Talismans. Lin Wanhua, who was at Fusu Great Wall, had just fallen asleep. Lin Zhao left after watching her sleep. After a night of nourishing over 600 Zhaojian Talismans, Lin Wanhua's spiritual energy and sword intent were heavily depleted. Fortunately, Fusu Great Wall was her stronghold, with sword immortals aplenty within the city, so there wouldn't be any issues.
Natural Dwelling.
After neatly arranging the over 600 Zhaojian Talismans, Lin Zhao stowed them into his storage bag. Next, he needed to draw more combat support talismans such as Binding Talismans, Swiftness Talismans, and Clarity Talismans. He wasn't in a rush; building up resources was a gradual process, something Lin Zhao was quite adept at. He never aimed for overnight success.
He spread a blank golden talisman on his desk. These golden talismans were purchased from Baidi City and could boost talisman effects by 50%. Although a bit expensive, Lin Zhao, now with substantial resources, could afford them. He had bought a large batch with a single Jin Zi Qian coin. He then used a paperweight to hold down the top and bottom of the talisman, picked up his brush, and prepared to draw.
At that moment, a dark shadow streaked across the sky. It was the Giant Turtle Immortal Boat.
The Giant Turtle Immortal Boat's destination was the west side of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. It seemed Mu Zha's words were true; the Mo Family's ancestral court had begun constructing the fourth and fifth Town Sword Towers. Although the engineering was immense, the Mo family cultivators' methods were truly remarkable, and the construction speed was incredibly fast. Snow Domain Heavenly Lake already had three Town Sword Towers spanning across it, guarded by a considerable number of military cultivators to ensure the Snow Ridge line was impregnable. Once all eleven Town Sword Towers were completed, the Snow Ridge would become an impassable chasm, forcing the Four Northern Tribes to be wary. Ordinary low-level demon and ghost cultivators were of no consequence, but if any cultivator above the fifth realm wished to cross the Snow Ridge, they would have to weigh their strength carefully. The Town Sword Towers housed flying swords, and these were not mere decorations but instruments of war!
"My Lord."
Outside, Wu Zhi floated in and said, "A human army from the south of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake is at our gate. They say it's the Rock Solid Army, stationed at Yangping Pass, personally led by Commander Lin Ruo, and they wish to see you."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly, "Lin Ruo... a name that rings like thunder, and even our family name. Let's go, let's go, summon Mu Zha, Chu Yu, Chen Ben, and the others, and let's go to the mountain gate to welcome them!"
"Yes!"
Not long after, a column of riders ascended the mountain. The Rock Solid Army, without cavalry, only a few scouts for reconnaissance. On the mountain path, the endless Rock Solid Army streamed up, all clad in dark blue armor, wielding pointed shields, long spears, and swords at their waists. Most of the soldiers in the Rock Solid Army were martial artists, with long-lasting true qi, renowned for their defense, and specialized in positional warfare, hence their name, the Rock Solid Army.
At the mountain gate, Lin Zhao led a group of generals from Snow Domain Heavenly Lake to welcome them. Tang Guangjun, the gatekeeper, stood not far away with his long sword on his back, his eyes narrowed as he looked at the Rock Solid Army soldiers ascending the mountain, a smile in his heart. An army clad in heavy armor, wielding long spears and heavy shields – how much combat power could such an army possess? In front of cultivators above the fifth realm, they were merely lambs to the slaughter. But he dared not utter such words, lest the Mountain Master's wrath descend and cost him his insignificant life.
At the foot of the mountain, at the forefront of the Rock Solid Army formation, was a young general clad in dark green armor. A golden commander's badge was inlaid on his collar. He looked very young and handsome, exuding a strong aura of fist intent. He was a martial artist at the Heavenly Origin realm, and not just any ordinary one.
The Commander of the Rock Solid Army, Lin Ruo.
Although Lin Ruo was named "weak," his strength was anything but. On the contrary, he was the youngest eleventh-realm martial artist in the Great Shang Dynasty, a Heavenly Origin realm cultivator at the mere age of 27. Furthermore, he possessed a Soldier God Core, second only to the War God Core, making him a true prodigy among the younger generation of humanity. Unfortunately, besides Lin Ruo, there was also Chen Xi, granddaughter of Chen Wanli, also a Heavenly Origin realm martial artist. Chen Xi also possessed a Soldier God Core, but Chen Xi had taken a step ahead, breaking through to the Heavenly Origin realm at 25, while Lin Ruo had broken through at 26, a little later, thus he could only be considered the second-ranked Heavenly Origin realm martial artist in the human dynasty.
In terms of combat power, at the same Heavenly Origin realm, Lin Ruo's strength was far superior to Mu Zha's. His eyes concealed a sharp edge, but the moment he saw Lin Zhao, Lin Ruo's mind trembled, and the Soldier God Core within his body buzzed as if in worship. And the other party was merely a sword cultivator. This state left Lin Ruo somewhat bewildered; he hadn't felt this way even when he met the Rebirth realm cultivator Lu Fengxian.
He gazed at Lin Zhao, the young sword cultivator before him, was it the Lin Baiyi of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake from years ago? What Han Yetang and Chen Xi confirmed was generally not wrong. This made Lin Ruo, this born prodigy of the Great Shang Dynasty, hesitate on how to greet Lin Zhao from a hundred years ago.
He frowned, clasped his fists, and said in a deep voice, "Lin Ruo of the Rock Solid Army, greets Commander Lin!"
Instantly, the few generals and marshals behind Lin Ruo stiffened slightly. Who would have thought that the usually proud Lin Ruo would adopt such a humble posture?
Lin Zhao was also slightly taken aback. He clasped his fists and said, "Lin Zhao of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, greets Commander Lin Ruo! May I ask why Commander Lin has come to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake this time?"
Lin Ruo said in a deep voice, "To be frank, Commander Lin, the Town Sword Towers on Snow Ridge are being completed one by one. The threat from the Four Northern Tribes will only grow. Therefore, Lin Ruo has petitioned the Ministry of War to allow me to lead fifty thousand Rock Solid Army soldiers to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake to help defend the Town Sword Towers until all eleven are completed. Furthermore, it will not just be the Rock Solid Army; soon, the commanders of the other five garrisons may also lead their armies here."
"Good."
Lin Zhao said in a deep voice, "Does Commander Lin intend to station his troops within Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, or elsewhere?"
"Outside North Mountain."
Lin Ruo said in a deep voice, "Our army's provisions, equipment, and supplies will be continuously arriving. I ask Commander Lin to grant passage."
"Rest assured, there will be no problem."
"Thank you!"
Lin Ruo nodded and smiled, then led his men down North Mountain. Instantly, Snow Domain Heavenly Lake was teeming with people. The last time Snow Domain Heavenly Lake had stationed over fifty thousand troops was a hundred years ago.
...
Outside North Mountain, the encampments of fifty thousand Rock Solid Army soldiers were set up, forming a camp between Snow Domain Heavenly Lake and Jiuzhang Plain. Invisibly, it seemed to not only protect the three Town Sword Towers but also to shield Snow Domain Heavenly Lake behind them.
In the evening, after Dong Cang and Tong Yu had finished cooking, Lin Zhao carried a bamboo basket with a few dishes and a pot of wine. He mounted his flying sword, Red Leaf, and soared into the sky, flying directly towards the first Town Sword Tower. On the rooftop, he indeed saw the young military sage in white robes and silver armor bathing in the afterglow of the sunset.
"Brother Huo!"
Lin Zhao descended gracefully and said with a smile, "I've brought you food, eat while it's hot!"
"Great."
Huo Piaoyao smiled slightly, sat up, and said, "You have some too?"
"I'm not eating with Brother Huo today."
Lin Zhao pointed to the west and said, "Lin Ruo has led fifty thousand Rock Solid Army soldiers to defend the Town Sword Towers. When I just arrived, I saw him looking towards Pan Yun Mountain from North Mountain. I'll bring him some food later as well. The dishes are made at the Mountain Top Villa; no matter how bad, they can't be worse than the Rock Solid Army's rations."
"That's fine too."
Huo Piaoyao smiled and said, "Lin Ruo, that kid... he's quite a character. Stubborn. If all our human martial artists and cultivators possessed such a mindset, perhaps the Four Northern Tribes wouldn't dare to cast their eyes south."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback, "What do you mean?"
"You don't know?"
Huo Piaoyao smiled and said, "In the court of the Great Shang Dynasty, the minister with the most influence is Duke Ju Yang, Lin Yan. Back then, when the Great Shang Dynasty signed the Lingnan Alliance with the demon tribes, Duke Ju Yang Lin Yan was one of the main architects. This old gentleman is old and has brittle bones; he likes to speak while kneeling. Lin Ruo is his grandson. The grandfather advocates for peace, while the grandson advocates for war. It is said that after this kid joined the Rock Solid Army, he never returned home, and even when he went to Baidi City for official duties, he never passed by his home, having completely fallen out with the Lin family."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao frowned and smiled, "In that case, Lin Ruo is even more admirable."
"Actually, you are truly from the same family."
After taking a sip of wine, Huo Piaoyao smiled and said, "Lin Yan's lineage is the direct line of the Lin family from the Great Chen Dynasty. Your lineage is a branch of the Lin family from the Great Chen Dynasty. In terms of seniority... you and Lin Ruo are actually of the same generation."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao took a deep breath. "Alright, Brother Huo, eat slowly. I'll go back and prepare some food for Lin Ruo."
"Mm, good!"
...
Not long after, Lin Zhao once again carried a basket of food from the Mountain Top Villa and ascended into the sky, then landed outside North Mountain, standing right beside Lin Ruo. Immediately, Lin Ruo stood up, clasped his fists, and smiled, "Commander Lin, why have you come?"
"I am merely the commander of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake's two thousand troops, so I dare not be called Commander Lin."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Conversely, you are the true Commander."
"I dare not!"
Lin Ruo truly dared not presume before Lin Zhao. He merely clasped his fists and bowed deeply, "In the entire world, in Lin Ruo's heart, only Lin Baiyi of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake truly deserves the title of Commander, and no one else."
"Alright, there's no need to be so formal."
Lin Zhao sat down, took out the wine and dishes from the bamboo basket, placed them on a stone, and said with a smile, "I brought you dinner. Miss Dong Cang's cooking at our Mountain Top Villa is excellent."
"Really?"
Lin Ruo said with pleasant surprise.
"Try it, and our Mountain Top Villa's homemade wine is also exquisite!"
"Good!"
Lin Ruo accepted the chopsticks and ate and drank with Lin Zhao. He tasted the cured meat and bamboo shoots cooked by Dong Cang, then took a gulp of wine, and immediately laughed, "The dishes are truly delicious, but this pot of homemade wine... is somewhat unsatisfactory!"
Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh. This Lin Ruo was indeed straightforward, like himself, a person of true feelings. So he smiled and said, "Lin Ruo, do you know that you and I are both descendants of the Great Chen Dynasty? You are from the direct line of the Lin family, and I am from a branch. In the genealogy, we are brothers of the same generation."
For a moment, Lin Ruo's eyes reddened. "After I became sensible, I actually knew... that Lin Baiyi of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake was my kinsman. But later, I heard from Han Yetang that you dissolved your cultivation and reincarnated. I was actually very afraid. I was afraid that after meeting you, I wouldn't dare to mention this, for fear that you would think I, Lin Ruo, was unworthy of being Lin Zhao's brother."
"How could that be?"
Lin Zhao glanced at Pan Yun Mountain in the distance and said, "The fact that you dared to come to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake means you are already qualified."
"Mm."
Lin Ruo nodded, and together they looked in the direction of Pan Yun Mountain, saying in a low voice, "Lin Zhao, do you regret it? Your War God Core, your rebirth realm that you could attain like plucking something from your pocket in your past life – all gone. Do you regret it?"
"No regrets."
Lin Zhao looked towards the north, his nose stinging. How could he regret it? He only regretted that he was not powerful enough back then to save Mr. Qin, to save Zhang Liucheng and Guo Dongyang.
He smiled and said, "In this life, I want to be a Sword Immortal!"
Lin Ruo also smiled along with him.