The deer forest, where the 200,000-strong army of human players swept through, encountered no resistance from the ghost tribe. Even the pallbearer ghost cultivators like Tan Xin had vanished, leaving behind only numerous corpse-raising grounds filled with death qi in the jungle, and nothing else.
"What's going on?"
In the chat channel of the major guild leaders, Yi Shi Cang Liang frowned and said, "Damn it, have those ghost cultivators heard the wind and fled?"
"No way?"
Shu Mei Jian Qing Feng said in a deep voice, "Ding Chunqiu, Jiumozhi, and Qiu Qianren have been incredibly arrogant lately. They wouldn't just run away."
"Indeed, they haven't."
Su Xinghe said, "We just received news from our inside sources. Ding Chunqiu is leading over 80,000 ghost cultivators south. They are currently gathered around the northern bank of the Xiujian River, and they've even chained their coffins together across the river. They're probably trying to absorb the spiritual energy of the Xiujian River. Perhaps Tan Xin has other plans, it's not certain yet."
"What should we do?"
Yi Shi Cang Liang asked, "Should we stay and burn down the pallbearer lineage's nest, or head south directly?"
"South!"
Lin Zhao frowned, "We absolutely cannot let Ding Chunqiu and his group have the spiritual energy of the Xiujian River. If they get it, it will become even more troublesome. Furthermore, it wouldn't be good for our human race if the Xiujian River's spiritual energy is drained."
"Alright."
Su Xinghe said in a deep voice, "We'll head south as a group. The 'All Bad Guys' faction is scattered, so let the seven major guilds head south individually. We'll disrupt them with speed. If any place is in urgent need of reinforcements, just send the coordinates here. Everyone should look out for each other."
"Mm!"
Everyone nodded.
Thus, the 200,000-strong army marched south again, charging towards the Xiujian River from the deer forest area.
...
At 11:30 AM, Lin Zhao was riding his sword through the air, leading the 18,000+ members of the Scarlet Moon Knights into the Xiujian River region. In the jungle on the north bank, ghost cultivator players, each carrying a coffin on their backs, appeared. There was no need for pleasantries. Chen Xue raised her spear and pointed forward, and the Scarlet Moon Knights charged directly into the jungle.
In an instant, players swarmed the mountainside. The Scarlet Moon Knights had many experts, and streaks of flying swords and offensive artifacts zipped through the air. Ding Chi, Chen Xue, Roman, Lu Han, and Bu Su Liren had already engaged the enemy in close combat. Shen Xingchen, Mo Chenxue, and Lu Li's attack teams focused on breaking through defenses.
The battle became quite intense as soon as the two sides made contact. Among the enemy forces, at least 300+ were veteran members of the "All Bad Guys" guild, with an average level of 124 and above, giving them a significant advantage. The Scarlet Moon Knights, on the other hand, had an average level of only 115. Lin Zhao, with the highest level at 126, was an exception. However, the Scarlet Moon Knights' hard strength and coordination were excellent, pushing forward step by step and giving the enemy little room to breathe.
"Hold them back!"
On the front line, a level 128 ghost cultivator sword user, wearing a team leader's badge, wielded his flying sword and wildly attacked forward. After a round of strikes, he immediately used the blood-red coffin behind him to block incoming damage. The dense attacks from the Scarlet Moon Knights were all deflected by the coffin, causing little damage. Even Bu Su Liren's full combo only depleted less than 40% of the enemy's health, which was quickly replenished by the healers behind them.
"Damn..."
Bu Su Liren gritted his teeth. "This is too tough! I can't even break through. Is this even a sword cultivator?"
"Li Ren!"
A voice descended from the sky. "Duck, let me handle it!"
"Alright!"
Bu Su Liren knew who it was without looking back and immediately lowered his body, clearing his attack position. A figure descended from the sky on a flying sword. It was Lin Zhao. Holding the immortal sword Li Quan in one hand, he landed a heavy sword strike on the level 128 ghost cultivator leader. In that moment, the ghost cultivator leader's eyes filled with fierce pride and arrogance. He laughed, "Hahaha, Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi is here! Come, let's see how I smash your dog head!"
"Boom!"
With a loud noise, Lin Zhao's normal attack landed on the blood-red coffin, depleting 8% of the enemy's health. This person was a seventh-realm cultivator, and Lin Zhao's realm suppression wasn't particularly effective. But in the next second, Li Quan gently flicked, and the Rising Dragon Slash lifted the level 128 sword user into the air. Following that, the flying sword Mingyue, infused with sharp cold, shot through his throat. The flying sword Haoran, with a normal attack, pierced his abdomen. In an instant, his health was reduced to below 50%. Then, Lin Zhao unleashed his Sweep the Armies and Heaven and Earth Throw combo.
"Heal!"
The level 128 sword user roared in the air, "Quick, heal!"
A group of nomads rapidly cast healing spells.
But Lin Zhao was faster. Amidst his onslaught, the five immortal swords within his spiritual void appeared around him and continuously shot out, depleting the enemy's remaining health. A level 128 ghost cultivator sword user was instantly killed by Lin Zhao, a level 126 sword user, in a single exchange! Even with the coffin blocking damage, he could still be force-killed!
"Fuck!"
Someone yelled, "The leader is dead! Focus fire, kill Baiyi! We can't let him be so dominant on the front line!"
The "All Bad Guys" members focused their attacks.
Lin Zhao raised his hand gently, and the flying sword Haoran activated its "Enlightenment" effect, transforming into a white shield that attached to him, significantly reducing incoming damage. Moreover, he was a ninth-realm sword cultivator, while most of the players focusing fire on him were only fifth or sixth realm. They naturally had their attack damage reduced by 30%-40%. Coupled with Lin Zhao's own 37% damage reduction, the attacks from this group of people were not painful at all.
In the next second, Lin Zhao swung his sword, and the Sword Qi Cage enveloped a group of high-level players. Following that, the Sword Departure Style and Sword Break Style activated their long-range assassination effects, becoming quite formidable. The combo of a ninth-realm sword cultivator's ultimate skills was terrifying, and Lin Zhao's combat power was still ranked first on the Bai Di City Heavenly Ranking. Coupled with the damage suppression from the realm advantage, the ghost cultivator players, who could have rivaled the elite corps of the Scarlet Moon Knights, felt like they were being toyed with under Lin Zhao's sword.
"Impressive..."
Shen Xingchen watched from nearby with a sweet smile. After spending so long in Xueyu Tianchi and participating in so much story, it wasn't in vain. His combat strength was incredible!
Chen Xue and Roman, on the front lines, also stole glances at Lin Zhao and smiled happily. Having Lin Zhao on the front line felt amazing. With him there, the opponents suddenly seemed much weaker.
A few minutes later, Lin Zhao ascended into the sky, riding his sword, and no longer participated in the player skirmishes. During the few minutes he was involved, he killed more than half of the 300+ veterans of the "All Bad Guys" guild. The remaining few could no longer cause any significant trouble. What Lin Zhao truly cared about was the Xiujian River. His aunt, Lin Xingchu, would return one day. He couldn't just stand by and watch Ding Chunqiu and his "evil villains" defile the Xiujian River before she returned.
"Axue, Xingchen."
He looked down at the crowd and said, "I'm going to check on the Xiujian River. You guys push forward freely, and report any developments promptly."
"Understood."
Chen Xue and Shen Xingchen looked up together and smiled, "Go ahead!" Da Feng Novel Network
...
A streak of sword light dragged across the sky, immediately drawing the attention of many players from the "All Bad Guys" guild.
"Boss!"
A level 126 assassin frowned. "The Scarlet Moon Knights have clashed with our men in the northeastern corner. Baiyi participated for less than ten minutes before disengaging and heading this way on his sword. It seems he wants to scout our situation!"
"I've been waiting for him!"
Ding Chunqiu suddenly kicked away the coffin floating on the river, picked up the coffin submerged in the water and carried it on his back. He said in a deep voice, "Team Dragon Slayers, follow me. We'll intercept Baiyi on his path. Everyone, remember, I'm going to duel Baiyi. No one is to interfere. Remember to record it for me."
"Yes, Boss!"
...
Above the northern jungle, as Lin Zhao passed by on his flying sword Hongye, a figure soared up from the forest, also riding a flying sword. It was Ding Chunqiu.
"Baiyi!"
Ding Chunqiu clasped his hands behind his back, a contemptuous smile on his lips. "I've waited too long for you. You must have wanted to kill me for a long time too, haven't you?"
Lin Zhao frowned. "No, I didn't even notice you before."
Honestly speaking, Lin Zhao was sincere. He had been busy traveling the world with Wang Yue to the south lately. He couldn't even sort out his own state of mind, so how could he notice a mere Ding Chunqiu?
"You bastard!"
Ding Chunqiu was infuriated and said with a cold smile, "A cooked duck still has a stubborn mouth? Today, I, Ding Chunqiu, will duel you. Just the two of us, no one else. Do you dare?"
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao glanced at him. "Fight in the sky, or on the ground?"
"In the sky."
Ding Chunqiu smiled. "We are both close to becoming Sword Immortals. You are in the ninth realm, and I am in the eighth. I'll let you have the advantage of one realm, but it doesn't matter. Today is when the Baiyi of your Scarlet Moon Knights will taste defeat at Xiujian River."
"Can we start?"
Lin Zhao glanced at the distant Xiujian River, where he could already see countless coffins floating on the surface. He couldn't help but frown. The iron chains and floating coffins on the Xiujian River were truly disgusting.
"Yes."
Ding Chunqiu let out a low shout and activated a streak of sword light that enveloped Lin Zhao's head. It was the Sword Qi Collision skill. The next moment, Ding Chunqiu charged forward, while Lin Zhao retreated and suddenly unleashed the Sword Draw Slash in mid-air. The instantaneous displacement effect missed the charge and stun effect. At the same time, the flying sword Haoran shot out from the Sword Cultivation Lake, transforming into an "Enlightenment" effect to protect his body.
"Chich!"
Ding Chunqiu missed his first attack and continued his assault. The first flying sword, "Heart Piercer," broke through the wind and pierced directly through Lin Zhao's chest, dealing over 8,000 damage and reducing Lin Zhao's armor by 30%. The next second, the second flying sword, "Heart Scorcher," turned into a blazing light and pierced through Lin Zhao's chestplate, dealing a massive damage of over 30,000.
No wonder even Su Xinghe couldn't defeat Ding Chunqiu in a one-on-one fight.
The two flying swords, combined with the flying swords' divine abilities, were indeed powerful. Even with the protection of "Enlightenment," he had lost over 30,000 damage. For others, it would be at least 60,000 damage, enough to kill them instantly.
But in terms of the number of flying swords, Lin Zhao was not afraid.
In the next second, Lin Zhao unleashed his Sword Qi Ascends to the Heavens, instantly repelling Ding Chunqiu dozens of yards. At the same time, the flying swords Mingyue and Haoran shot out together, piercing through Ding Chunqiu's chest. Just as Ding Chunqiu raised his coffin to block, five more immortal swords flew out of his spiritual void, leaving bloody holes on Ding Chunqiu's body with their "chichichih" sounds. Just when he thought he could survive with the remaining 15% health, twelve Great Desolate Ancient Swords, glowing with a brilliant radiance, flew out of Lin Zhao's spiritual void behind him and attacked like a tide!
"There are more? Damn it, why so many?"
Just as Ding Chunqiu was shocked, the twelve Great Desolate Ancient Swords passed through his body like streaks of light.