The real world, early morning.
Lin Zhao decided to give Wang Yue a two-day holiday. He himself had a rare good sleep, from eleven last night to seven this morning, finally recovering his energy after many days of strain. After getting up, washing, and eating breakfast, Wang Ju needed to go to the market to replenish vegetables, so Lin Zhao volunteered to escort Xiao Juzi to school.
"I'll escort Xiao Juzi too."
Chen Xue stood up and said, "Staying in the studio playing games all day, my limbs are about to atrophy. Let's go out for a walk."
"Mm."
Shen Xingchen nodded, "Then we few will go online and continue with the quests."
"Okay."
In the morning, the sun was bright. Lin Zhao held Xiao Juzi's hand, with Chen Xue following beside him. Both of them wore the Xi He-class individual combat armor on their elbows, so they weren't worried about any accidents. As for Xiao Juzi, with her small backpack on, holding Lin Zhao's hand with her left and her water cup with her right, she had a smile on her face. Today, it was rare for Lin Zhao to personally send her to school, so she was especially happy.
At the school entrance, many parents were sending their children to school, with various vehicles parked along the road.
"Xiao Juzi!"
Inside the school gate, a female teacher wearing a pleated skirt smiled and greeted her.
"Teacher Xiao Zhang!"
Xiao Juzi smiled and waved.
That "Teacher Xiao Zhang" looked at Lin Zhao and was instantly stunned, "He is?"
"My Brother Lin Zhao!"
Xiao Juzi said with pride, "He's escorting me to school today."
"Is that so..."
Teacher Xiao Zhang looked at Lin Zhao and couldn't help but smile, "Alright, I'll take Xiao Juzi from here."
"Yes, yes, thank you!"
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded, then turned to leave with Chen Xue, saying with a smile, "Finally, I understand why so many fathers come to escort their children to school. Teacher Xiao Zhang is truly beautiful and has a good figure too."
"???"
Chen Xue glanced at him. Although she didn't say anything, her eyes were full of confusion. Don't I look good? What's wrong with my figure? In fact, Chen Xue had always been quite confident about her appearance and figure. Lin Zhao's words were somewhat irritating.
"You haven't been very active in the game recently."
Chen Xue frowned and asked, "How's the progress in the south?"
"Everything is going smoothly."
Lin Zhao asked, "What, is the studio having trouble?"
"No trouble," Chen Xue pursed her lips, "it's just that everyone is improving so quickly. You're busy with the storyline every day, so you might fall behind in level. I'm just a little worried."
"It's okay, level isn't the most important thing."
Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Even if someone is at a higher level than me, do you think I can't defeat them instantly?"
"Just bragging..."
Chen Xue smiled with a dimple, "In any case, it's good to be mentally prepared. Some things have indeed happened in the Northern Territory, for example... the ancestor of the Coffin Bearers lineage, Tan Xin, has broken through. She is now an eleventh-realm Coffin Bearer, and her flying zombie has absorbed a large amount of human blood and qi, becoming a twelfth-realm wandering zombie. It's said to be able to traverse the heavens and earth, entering and exiting yin and yang. Along with this, the strength of the 'All Villains' group has greatly increased. Ding Chunqiu is now extremely arrogant, level 129, the highest level player in the national server, relying on killing players to level up. Tan Xin gave him a set of flying swords, magical treasures, and so on, making his attack power incredibly strong. The two major guilds, Xinghe and Canglong, have tried to encircle and annihilate him several times, but he has managed to escape."
"He actually escaped?" Lin Zhao was surprised.
"Mm."
Chen Xue nodded, "A few days ago, this Ding Chunqiu also entered the Golden Core realm and even killed Su Xinghe once in a one-on-one fight. Quite surprising, isn't it? A player we once considered mediocre has actually become so successful through the sect system. In fact, many players in the Huaxia region are very envious, but they just hate that it's not them."
"As usual."
Lin Zhao was more open-minded and smiled, "It's fine. Let Ding Chunqiu be arrogant if he wants to be. It's just a game. If he's so arrogant, he'll eventually swallow his own bitter fruit. As long as he doesn't provoke our Scarlet Moon Knights."
"He's already started making threats."
Chen Xue said, "The 'All Villains' people are saying that among the sword cultivators in the national server, Su Xinghe can no longer suppress Ding Chunqiu. At least in this version, Ding Chunqiu is indeed stronger than Su Xinghe. Therefore, many people from 'All Villains' are crazily shouting in the world chat, asking why Lin Baiyi of the Scarlet Moon Knights has been silent for so many days, claiming it's simply because he's afraid he can't defeat Ding Chunqiu. Some have even instigated members of 'All Villains' to head north and directly attack the Scarlet Moon Knights' leveling teams in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
"So arrogant?"
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "You and Xingchen hold the fort for now. I can't go back for a while. Everything can wait until I get back."
"Mm."
Chen Xue smiled and nodded, "You take care of your own matters first."
...
Furong Prefecture.
Lin Zhao, accompanied by Wang Yue, traveled south, leaving Jizhou and entering Wang Yue's hometown. This Furong Prefecture was the southernmost part of the Great Shang Dynasty's territory, bordering the southern mountain ranges. Further south lay the barbarian lands. Lin Zhao did not travel in a hurry. Soon after, a great river lay ahead. On the map, it was called the Qingfu River, the largest river within Furong Prefecture.
"Shua!"
Lin Zhao summoned his flying sword, Hongye, picked up Wang Yue, and was about to cross the river by sword flight.
But at this moment, ripples appeared on the water. A lean man rose from the river, dressed as a Jianghu person, exuding a fiendish aura. He cupped his hands towards Lin Zhao and said with a smile, "Esteemed sword cultivator, this is the Qingfu River, within Furong Prefecture. Judging by your attire, you must be from the north?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded, "My friend, is there something?"
"Just a small matter."
The lean man smiled, "This Qingfu River, from upstream to downstream, has abundant water transportation. The banks are fertile lands of fish and rice. However, the previous River God was dismissed for an offense, and there is no River God yet. Therefore, the Qingfu River is currently presided over by various water deities and spirits in the river. The River God Shrine has long since ceased to be worshipped, but we have made great efforts to maintain the spiritual essence of the river. Therefore... all cultivators who cross the river are kindly asked to offer some incense oil money as a show of respect to the Qingfu River."
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "I have traveled south from the Northern Territory, and I have crossed at least dozens of major rivers and lakes. I have even passed through Washing Sword River, Dongting Prefecture, and Feng River, but I have never heard of such a rule. Your so-called rule, rather than an offering to the Qingfu River God Shrine, is more like a toll you're collecting here, isn't it?"
"That's right."
The lean man sneered, "This is the rule of our Qingfu River. Those well-mannered cultivators from the mountains will naturally not be stingy with such a small offering. But those who refuse a toast and insist on a fatted refusal will naturally receive certain punishment. Esteemed sword cultivator, you appear to be only a sword cultivator of the lower five realms. Your sword intent already has some semblance, but you are still in the lower five realms. If you wish to cross the Qingfu River, hand over five Qingfu coins, and I will let you pass immediately without any trouble."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Five Qingfu coins are also money. Why should I give them to you? If I don't pay, what can you do to me?"
The lean man frowned, "That means you refuse a toast and insist on a fatted refusal. Don't blame me for being impolite."
Saying that, he suddenly waved his hand. Immediately, a steel fork with a cold glint appeared in his hand. Lin Zhao, as an eighth-realm sword cultivator, had already seen through this guy's cultivation. He was a seventh-realm spirit, originally a toad spirit. With no River God, these spirits are now acting up. This kind of extortion of passing cultivators was certainly not the first time.
Lin Zhao had intended to travel south quietly, just to help Wang Yue resolve her issues. But circumstances dictated otherwise. He had no choice but to act righteously!
"Clang!"
He raised his hand and drew the Liquan sword from behind him, his aura sinking. His eyes were clear as he looked at this seventh-realm spirit. The opponent was merely a level 125 Earth-grade Boss, a piece of cake.
But just then, a "buzzing" sound echoed in the air, as if a majestic aura was crushing the Qingfu River, and with hostile intent.
"Someone else?"
Lin Zhao frowned. He had a very familiar sense of resonance. There was another person in the distance, and it was a martial artist. His realm was at least eleventh-realm, or possibly even above twelfth-realm. This martial artist's majestic aura felt somewhat similar to Chen Wanli back then!
Regardless, he would deal with the toad spirit in front of him first!
"You ignorant, overconfident sword cultivator of the lower five realms!"
The toad spirit was filled with malice and roared, "You don't know what's good for you, do you? You could have retreated unharmed with just five Qingfu coins, but you insist on leaving your cultivation to the Qingfu River. You can't blame others for this!"
"..."
Lin Zhao's gaze was calm. The atmosphere in the Qingfu River was truly bad, or rather, the entire Furong Prefecture's atmosphere was not good. They bullied the weak and feared the strong. How could such a place nurture true human armies capable of fighting against demons? No wonder, among the nine prefectures of the Great Shang Dynasty, Furong Prefecture was probably the weakest in terms of military strength. And the nobles of Furong Prefecture, such as Marquis Chun'an Zhang Yu'an's faction, were appeasers, none of whom wanted to go to war with the four northern tribes.
"Come!"
Lin Zhao's body sank. Immediately, the flying sword Hongye shot out, cleaving through a wave of water. The next second, the tip of Liquan was at the toad spirit's throat. A "Sweep Across a Thousand Armies" unleashed waves of chaotic sword energy, followed by an "Ascending Dragon Slash" that lifted the toad spirit's body above the water. Then, a "Qi Rush to the Dipper" sent the toad spirit rolling and retreating on the water.
In just a single exchange, this seventh-realm spirit knew Lin Zhao's strength. He hurriedly knelt on the water and said, "So it's a Golden Core realm lord. I was presumptuous. I'll be leaving now. Please, my lord, calm your anger!"
Saying that, the toad spirit plunged into the water and disappeared.
...
"..."
Lin Zhao looked up. In the distance, the river water surged. The toad spirit had been driven away, but a fifth-realm martial artist hundreds of miles away seemed to have been angered by him and was rushing over, carrying the river water. The entire Qingfu River parted, and countless pure water qi condensed into a fist, carrying dense and majestic fist intent, heading straight for Lin Zhao.