A few days later.
Neon Robe World, Qingqu Mountain, Silver Dragon Sword Sect.
The Phantom King ascended from the foot of the mountain on a flying sword. Now, as the chief disciple of the Silver Dragon Sword Sect, he was truly in his prime. He was the only one who had formally joined Sect Leader Cao Yan's tutelage. Core sword cultivators like Flying Dragon Ascending and Chaotic Peony, however, were disciples of the Vice Sect Leader, an eleventh-realm sword cultivator who lacked the depth of Cao Yan.
"Qingcheng!"
The Phantom King roared, and a bright flying sword shot out from the Sword Concealing Lake. It was a genuine sword embryo of Immortal Sword rank, naturally gifted by his master, Cao Yan. Immediately, he let out another low cry: "New Snow!"
Instantly, a second flying sword surged from the Sword Concealing Lake. Two Sword Concealing Lakes, two Immortal Swords. The Phantom King was no longer the man he used to be. He now directly purchased Qingxin Rock to refine his flying sword, his upgrade speed was incredibly fast. If he were to encounter the Sword Emperor again, the outcome of the battle would be uncertain. In the Phantom King's mind, his chances of victory were higher.
"Boss!"
On the plaza halfway up the Silver Dragon Sword Sect's mountain, a group of players from the Flourishing Peony guild clustered together. This was where they received sect missions. Every day, they could complete 20 free sect missions, earning sect contribution points and considerable rewards. Gold coins and equipment were obtained randomly, and there was even a chance of receiving extraordinary rewards like Azure Cicada Coins or Flying Fish Coins.
Speaking of sects, Cao Yan's Silver Dragon Sword Sect was quite benevolent, at least far better than Tan Xin's.
"Hmm."
The Phantom King nodded and said, "Brothers, finish your sect missions for today quickly, don't delay any further. Also, if you have some money in your pockets, don't be stingy. Directly purchase another 20 sect missions. Accumulate more sect contribution, and when you have enough, go to the elders to exchange for flying swords. There's a chance to get Immortal Sword embryos."
"Yes, yes!"
A group of people nodded with smiles.
The Phantom King, full of ambition, sat on a nearby railing and said, "A Long, everyone's level is still too low. Let's increase it further as soon as possible. Our Sword Immortal Cavalry will soon take shape. When that happens, I will choose a time to head south and let the players of the national server have a good taste of how powerful the Flourishing Peony is after its rebirth!"
Flying Dragon Ascending's brow furrowed. "Alliance Leader, are we going to join the Demon Race?"
"What Demon Race?"
Beside him, another Swordsman player, "Chaotic," smiled slightly and said, "That is the great Divine Bloodline of our Neon Robe World."
Flying Dragon Ascending shrugged awkwardly and rubbed his nose. "Stop with the empty talk. After we join the Demon Race, and then form a Sword Immortal Cavalry to slaughter the Human Race, won't the people of the Huaxia server curse us? Won't we be branded as infamy for eternity?"
"Are you afraid of that?"
The Phantom King laughed. "Ding Chunqiu was also cursed heavily, but did he lose a single hair in the end?"
"No."
Flying Dragon Ascending scratched his head. "But being killed by Lin Zhao, Su Xinghe, Leng Yan and their ilk until he dropped out of the top ten of the White Emperor City level leaderboard, can we say that's retribution?"
"No..."
Chaotic frowned. "A Long, what exactly are you thinking? Just say it directly, don't beat around the bush with me and the Alliance Leader. Why should we be so indirect with each other?"
"Alright."
Flying Dragon Ascending's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "I think Ding Chunqiu's fate is a warning from the past and a lesson for the future. Although we are joining the Demon Race and becoming players of the Neon Robe World, we originally came from White Emperor City and are part of the Human Race. Therefore, we don't need to learn from Ding Chunqiu, carrying the banner of the coffin bearers and plundering everywhere. We will surely face backlash. If our Flourishing Peony is to progress, we must choose a more stable path."
The Phantom King couldn't help but take a deep breath, feeling that this young man, A Long, had grown a lot during this time. He then said in a deep voice, "A Long, tell us, whatever you have to say, take your time."
"Hmm."
Flying Dragon Ascending said, "My idea is, after we form the Sword Immortal Cavalry, regardless of whether we join the Demon Race cavalry camp or not, we should not engage in indiscriminate killing and plundering after heading south. We need to set a tone. Let me be direct: our first opponent will be Envy Fish. We will only fight Envy Fish. We will also publicize on the national server forums that we are a guild with principles. This way, even though we are very strong and are a player team affiliated with Neon Robe World, we will absolutely not be ganged up on. As for our development... after defeating Envy Fish, we will undoubtedly be very strong. Then we will choose our next opponent, using the method of 'boiling frogs in warm water' to grow stronger through combat. By the time the players of the national server wake up and realize that our Flourishing Peony has the potential to dominate, it will be too late, and no one will be able to defeat us."
"Damn..."
The Phantom King lightly slapped the railing and said, "I never expected you, A Long, to be a strategist. I see your talent is no less than Lin Baiyi of Snow Region Heavenly Pool..."
Flying Dragon Ascending covered his face. "Does the Alliance Leader think my proposal is useful?"
"Useful!"
The Phantom King raised his eyebrows and said, "From now on, this will be the development strategy of our Flourishing Peony, our basic national policy. It's decided!"
"The Boss is wise!" Chaotic grinned.
Not far away, Blood of the King and Sword Shall End embraced and bowed. "Our King is supremely wise and will undoubtedly create unparalleled achievements!"
"..."
The Phantom King rolled his eyes, too lazy to bother with them, but he couldn't truly abandon these two. After all, they were the main force for ranged firepower and were very strong in combat. To use Zhuge Liang's words about Wei Yan, it was "pitying his courage and employing him," not bearing to discard him!
...
Washing Sword River.
Seven days in the real world had passed, and in the game, a month had gone by. The Shan Hai Division of the Great Shang Dynasty had poured all its efforts into building an extremely magnificent River God Shrine within a month, a hundred times more magnificent than Lin Xingchu's previous one. As the completion date approached, Huang Qingning and Cao Ying became even more uneasy. After all... the one from Snow Region Heavenly Pool had kept his word. They wondered in what manner he would protest the new River God newly enfeebled by the Great Shang Dynasty.
However, the imperial decree had long been issued, and the ennoblement of a new River God was inevitable, and no one could stop it.
Soon after, a grand ennoblement platform was constructed in the river water in front of the River God Shrine. The platform had ninety-nine steps, even higher than the River God Shrine, and was flanked by sixteen jade qilin statues. Below, numerous Mianist formations were densely packed to consolidate luck and spiritual essence. It could be said that the Great Shang Dynasty was determined to ennoble a new River God and had made extensive preparations. As long as Chu Jun took office as River God, even if he had no cultivation, even if he were an incapable leader, the Great Shang Dynasty intended to use Golden Zither Coins and incense to forcefully elevate him to the Upper Five Realms. Moreover, the Washing Sword River was the foremost great river in the land, with abundant water transport. Even if a thirteenth-realm River God couldn't be achieved, a twelfth-realm was certainly possible.
There wasn't much the Great Shang Dynasty could do in the Northern Region, so this time they had truly gone all out.
Two days later, at night.
On the ennoblement platform, the river wind was crisp and cold.
Zhao Shutong, clad in a graceful palace gown and a snow-white robe, was unspeakably beautiful. She stood on the ennoblement platform, her beautiful eyes gazing north, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Lin Zhao had been completely silent for the past month, but Zhao Shutong could sense that the luck in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool was particularly prosperous, as if several people were on the verge of breaking through, attracting the sword and martial arts luck of heaven and earth, which lingered unceasingly.
She frowned. What was bound to come would come, there was no way around it.
"Your Highness."
From behind, Cao Ying and Huang Qingning walked onto the ennoblement platform side by side. Cao Ying's delicate brows were slightly furrowed. "The civil and military officials of the court will all come to witness the ceremony tomorrow. Furthermore, according to protocol, His Majesty will arrive at noon. As it is the ennoblement of an Yin God, the ennoblement ceremony will commence after sunset. We ask Your Highness to help us arrange the defenses of the surrounding area."
"Your Highness."
Huang Qingning clasped his hands and respectfully said, "Li Chunyang has already arrived, bringing fifty thousand Lin Lu cavalry. In addition, Chen Xi and Lin Ruo, two commanders, have also been personally appointed by His Majesty to escort him. Chen Xi has brought fifty thousand Cang Nan cavalry, and Lin Ruo has brought fifty thousand heavy armored soldiers. We request Your Highness to decide on the specific troop deployment."
"Defend against whom?"
Zhao Shutong turned to look at the two, smiled slightly, and asked, "Are we defending against the Demon Race, or defending against Lin Zhao?"
"Both."
Cao Ying did not evade the question. "The Fusu Great Wall is not far from here, guarded by the thirteenth-realm Lin Wanhua, so the possibility of demons attacking is extremely low. The possibility of someone from the Snow Region Heavenly Pool is much higher."
"Hmph..."
Zhao Shutong couldn't help but chuckle. "Lin Zhao is an unregistered disciple of the veteran Marshal Chen Wanli, and Chen Xi is the granddaughter of Old Marshal Chen. Therefore, Lin Zhao and Chen Xi are practically family. And Lin Ruo is Lin Zhao's relative, even of the same generation. Do you intend for Chen Xi and Lin Ruo to fight against Lin Zhao? That's too cruel."
Huang Qingning said in a deep voice, "We are merely loyal to our duties. Protecting His Majesty and the civil and military officials is what Manager Cao and I are supposed to do. We ask for Your Highness's understanding."
"Understood."
Zhao Shutong said, "Deploy the defenses as they should be. I have no objections. You two decide."
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness!"
The two slowly retreated, while Zhao Shutong's brows furrowed even more, her worry deepening. She hoped this would not truly escalate into a great battle, as it was unnecessary.
...
Deep night.
Fifty thousand Rock Army heavy armored soldiers were densely arrayed in the jungle on the north bank. Under the starlight, a young warrior in silver armor sat on the trunk of an old tree, looking north with a troubled expression. He had originally thought his next encounter with Lin Zhao, his brother, would be on the battlefield fighting demons. Lin Ruo never imagined that they would end up on opposing sides.
From behind, the sound of hooves approached. A portion of the Cang Nan cavalry had also been stationed on the north bank of the Washing Sword River.
"Rustle..."
Footsteps sounded from the jungle. A female warrior in dark blue armor strode over. She glanced up at Lin Ruo and tossed him a pot of wine. "A drink to drown your sorrows?"
"Okay."
Lin Ruo caught the wine pot, flipped off the tree, and asked, "Do you have any snacks to go with the wine? At least a roasted duck, right?"
"Dream on, just drink!"
"..."
Lin Ruo had nothing more to say. He turned and sat on a rock, raised the wine pot, and asked with a smile, "The first sip of wine, to heaven and earth, and conscience?"
Chen Xi couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, to heaven and earth, and conscience!"