"Buzz—"
Just as Lin Zhao was about to get up, a light suddenly illuminated the sky above him. Immediately after, strands of fiery spiritual light poured down, engulfing Lin Zhao as if he were in a fiery inferno. Every inch of his body was being scorched by the intense heat. It wasn't just his body; even the nascent soul within his spiritual void was screaming in agony, its soul also being burned.
In the air, Qin Fei clasped his hands together, his thumbs and index fingers touching. His eyes spewed flames, which cascaded down from the gap between his hands. With a ferocious grin, he roared, "Did you think I would let you die so easily? Far from it! I intend to refine your soul, to make you my Fei Yun Sect's puppet for eternity!"
"I'll see you—"
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth, forcing his body upright with sheer willpower. His eyes were filled with rage. He was at the end of his rope, with no room for hesitation. The next moment, he activated his invincible skill. Instantly, strands of golden armor enveloped him, granting him nine seconds of invincibility. He shot up from the ground, thrusting his sword fiercely into Qin Fei's abdomen. The amount of damage was secondary; his sole aim was to exact revenge!
Qin Fei let out a mournful cry. As he looked down at Lin Zhao, he saw five immortal swords and twelve great desolate ancient swords whistling through the wind, piercing his body with sharp slashes. With a "噗噗噗" sound, they shattered every inch of his protective spiritual barrier, leaving Qin Fei's body bloody and mangled. Although not fatal, the sight was utterly desolate.
Simultaneously, Lin Zhao's shoulders were hit repeatedly by swords. The sixth-realm sword cultivator assassins remained like ghosts. Furthermore, black-clothed assassins began to emerge from the nearby woods, all waiting for an opportunity to kill and earn merit!
"Come!"
Just as everyone was preparing to kill Lin Zhao, a wave of righteous energy suddenly enveloped the entire forest. A beam of sword light appeared, it was the flying sword Haoran, returning after delivering Chen Changsheng. With a "slap," Lin Zhao's feet landed on a streak of crimson light – the flying sword Hongye. The next moment, Haoran activated his divine ability, Fang Cun, and directly whisked Lin Zhao away into the sky.
"Scoundrel!"
Qin Fei, covered in wounds, looked at the corpses strewn across the ground. His own men had suffered heavier losses, while Lin Zhao and Chen Changsheng had both escaped.
"Pursue!"
Qin Fei roared, giving chase towards the east. To the west lay the territory of Cui Wei Mountain, and Lin Zhao had no reason to seek death there. Therefore, his best escape route could only be eastward, towards the border of the ancient Shu Kingdom and the Xu Dynasty.
...
Deep night.
After the Fang Cun divine ability of the flying sword Haoran had passed, Lin Zhao, in a battered state, was flying on the flying sword Hongye. Behind him, with a thunderous roar, the ninth-realm Qin Fei used a divine speed talisman, moving through the forest with lightning speed, far faster than even the maximum speed of the flying sword Hongye. Lin Zhao frowned; his stamina was severely depleted after the intense battle. If he were to use a divine speed talisman now, losing another 20 points of stamina, he would likely be too weak to escape by sword.
"Lin Zhao, you dog!"
In the wind, Qin Fei, though disheveled, had a fiercer glint in his eyes. The aura of the military arts, brought by the divine speed talisman, enveloped him. He sneered, "If I don't place your skull in the ancestral hall as a sacrifice, I, Qin Fei, will have regrets in this life!"
Lin Zhao merely flew past the treetops on his sword, as fast as he could!
However, he did not expect to hear another thunderous roar from behind. Qin Fei had used a second divine speed talisman; his murderous intent was too strong!
"Die!"
In the blink of an eye, Qin Fei was tens of meters away. He raised his hand, and a fiery palm print shot through the air towards Lin Zhao's back. The palm strike was filled with potent spiritual energy, carrying a sense of absolute certainty. It was meant to heavily injure or even kill Lin Zhao.
"It's over!"
Lin Zhao gulped down a bottle of health potion, his health at 87%. He deployed the flying sword Haoran with his Ming Xing divine ability for protection, unsure if it would withstand the attack. The main problem was that he was currently in a lightly injured state, with all his attributes weakened by 10%, which was having a significant impact. Nevertheless, he turned around, assuming a defensive posture on the flying sword Hongye.
However, just as Lin Zhao was preparing to endure the palm strike, a thunderous fist intent suddenly erupted from the forest below. Immediately, a powerful fist aura shot into the sky. In Lin Zhao's vision, a female martial artist, clad in armor and a cloak, shot up from the ground. With a thunderous punch, she shattered the incoming palm print. Not only that, but she also dropped her body and delivered a second, potent punch.
"Boom!"
Her heavy punch landed squarely on Qin Fei's cheek, shattering his facial bones and causing him to spit blood. Qin Fei was sent reeling backward, completely outmatched.
"Yu Wan Ning!"
Lin Zhao exclaimed in shock.
Qin Fei, clutching his injured cheek, finally recognized the female martial artist who had thrown the punch. He was equally astonished. "Yu Wan Ning, what are you doing!?"
In the air, the female martial god of the ancient Shu Kingdom stood with her back to Lin Zhao. Her silhouette appeared delicate, but the immense fist aura radiating from her was undeniable. She looked at Qin Fei and smiled, "Lin Zhao is my life-saving benefactor. That is all."
"You..."
Qin Fei gritted his teeth and angrily retorted, "This beast Lin Zhao has committed countless evils in Cui Wei Mountain. Not only did he kill my personal disciple Liu Yu, but he also killed two Golden Core elders and several honored guests of my Fei Yun Sect. He has even killed many people from the Prime Minister's mansion of the imperial court! You, Yu Wan Ning, are protecting him now. Are you not afraid of failing to do so?"
"Beast? Who is the beast?"
Yu Wan Ning's gaze was calm. "Cui Wei Mountain is a renowned mountain of my ancient Shu Kingdom. Your Fei Yun Sect is a prestigious sect listed in the annals of my ancient Shu Kingdom. Should your imperial court not be the imperial court of the ancient Shu Kingdom? A Nascent Soul cultivator who consumes the resources of the ancient Shu Kingdom, yet whose heart belongs to the imperial court of Ning'an City in the Xu Dynasty? I believe the term 'beast' is most fitting for a traitorous dog like yourself."
"Oh?!"
Qin Fei narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Esteemed female martial god... are you going to pass judgment on me, Qin Fei?"
"Indeed, I am."
Yu Wan Ning sneered, "Return to your Fei Yun Sect and await my challenge on the mountain! Otherwise, you will die here right now. I will show no mercy!"
"..."
Qin Fei looked at Lin Zhao behind Yu Wan Ning, his teeth clenched in hatred. He growled, "We'll see!"
With that, Qin Fei turned and departed with two Golden Core elders.
Yu Wan Ning made no move to kill them. As the supreme commander of the ancient Shu Kingdom's army, with over two hundred thousand soldiers under her command, she had developed a cautious nature. The opposing party was not just an injured ninth-realm Qin Fei, but also two Golden Core cultivators, six seventh-realm cultivators, and dozens of elite soldiers from the Xu Dynasty. If a fight were to ensue, she would likely end up paying with her life.
...
"Miss Yu..."
As she turned, Lin Zhao bowed respectfully, clasping his fists and smiling. "I saved your life before, and now you have saved mine. We are even."
"Oh?"
Yu Wan Ning smiled. "Are you saying we should part ways after settling our debts?"
"No."
Lin Zhao felt a bit awkward. "Your life-saving grace is something I will always remember."
"Good, then. Come with me."
Yu Wan Ning led Lin Zhao eastward. Not long after, they saw the grand banners of the ancient Shu Kingdom's army by a great river, where they were currently camping. Not far from the camp, a village boy sat beneath a tree, weeping with his mother's head in his lap. The flying sword Hongye had brought Chen Changsheng here before returning.
"I am leading the army to hold the enemy here."
Yu Wan Ning pointed towards the opposite bank. "Across the Xian Ning River lies the Xu Dynasty's army of three hundred thousand. The two armies have been in a standoff for over half a month."
"I see..."
Lin Zhao nodded. He called out to Chen Changsheng and then, bringing him along, followed Yu Wan Ning into the camp.
...
On the riverbank, the ancient Shu Kingdom's army was preparing their meals. In the distance, the hooves of patrolling cavalry echoed.
Chen Changsheng still clutched his mother's head, sitting foolishly by the river, tears flowing freely.
Lin Zhao didn't know how to comfort him, so he set up a pot, caught a large white fish from the river with his flying sword, and began to simmer white fish soup. He also roasted a wild rabbit. As the food began to cook, Lin Zhao drew his sword and cut down a small redwood tree by the river. He summoned the flying sword Haoran and began to carve and chisel it.
Yu Wan Ning stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching Lin Zhao work in silence.
Shortly after, Lin Zhao crafted an exquisite redwood box. He presented it to Chen Changsheng. "Let your mother rest in peace. It is a troubled time, so we will keep things simple. We will bury her by the river, so she can watch the scenery of Xian Ning River every day and see you sail far into the future, becoming better and better. What do you think?"
"Immortal Master Lin..."
Chen Changsheng's eyes were red. "Thank you. I will do as you say..."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao carved a tombstone for Chen Changsheng's mother with a piece of wood and then buried her by the riverbank. After completing this task, the fish soup had finished simmering, and the rabbit was roasted, though slightly overcooked.
Lin Zhao also roasted some flatbreads, then tore off a large piece of rabbit meat, served a large bowl of fish soup, and two pieces of flatbread to Chen Changsheng. "Eat something."
"Mm..."
Although Chen Changsheng was filled with grief, he still followed Lin Zhao's instructions.
"Actually, this boy... has the potential for martial arts. If he is diligent enough, he might reach the eighth realm." Yu Wan Ning said.
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao's eyes lit up. He tore off a rabbit leg and offered it to Yu Wan Ning, then served her a bowl of fish soup and a flask of Dongting green bamboo wine, smiling. "Actually, I was also considering his future. Miss Yu, if you are willing, could you take Chen Changsheng with you, teach him martial arts, and let him join the army in the future, becoming a border soldier of your ancient Shu Kingdom?"
"I can."
Yu Wan Ning readily agreed.
"Chang Sheng, what about you?" Lin Zhao looked at the young boy.
Chen Changsheng nodded repeatedly.
...
Yu Wan Ning began to taste Lin Zhao's culinary skills. With a sip of the fish soup, it was both fresh and spicy, with an indescribable flavor. She, Yu Wan Ning, also came from a prestigious family. Although she had endured hardships as a martial artist, her background was not inferior. The Yu family was a top-tier noble family in the ancient Shu Kingdom, with many cooks in their household. However, it seemed none of their cooks could replicate the flavor of Lin Zhao's fish soup.
She took a sip of the green bamboo wine, and her eyes brightened even further. As a martial artist, Yu Wan Ning, who rarely went without wine, had seldom tasted such a fine brew.
Lin Zhao observed her expression, feeling a little disheartened. He had expected this reaction. The water in the Hundred Flowers Realm was ultimately too shallow. Although the territory might not be much smaller than the outside world, the spiritual energy and depth were far from comparable. In the world Lin Zhao came from, cultivators in the upper five realms were commonplace, but in the Hundred Flowers Realm, even a Star River realm cultivator could be called a king.