Snow Domain Heavenly Lake.
A white tree exuded literary providence, its grand aura dense.
Gu Lingyu had transformed into a white tree, guarding the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. At this moment, he was considered a martyr of the realm, yet not entirely so, for his aura still lingered, having become a spiritual deity.
He had sacrificed greatly, his profound thirteen-stage Confucian cultivation, the decree of a Confucian Sage, and by transforming into the white tree, he had essentially confined himself, likely forever unable to leave the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake or return to the Confucian literary world.
Within the white city, the battle continued.
The Golden Dragon, Silver Dragon, and Iron Dragon formations were deployed, and countless Snow Domain cavalry charged forward, clashing with demon soldiers and demon cavalry within the formations. The strength of the players was also not to be underestimated. Guilds like the Scarlet Moon Knights, Victory Heaven, Star River, and Azure Dragon were truly fighting to the death, pushing wave after wave of troops forward, aiming to kill just a few more demons and devils.
...
Within a pitch-black cage.
Lin Zhao let out a soft sigh, "Lingyu..."
Leng Yan consoled him gently, "Lin Zhao, don't be too sad. Gu Lingyu is emulating Mr. Qin from a hundred years ago, abandoning his Confucian Sage decree just to leave a shred of righteousness in the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. It is truly commendable."
"It's not that I'm too sad."
Lin Zhao frowned, feeling a sense of bewilderment, and said softly, "Yan, to be honest, I've grown numb. Xiao Jiu'er, Tang Guangjun, Lingyu, Mu Ma, Chu Yu, Yu Wan Ning, everyone is gone. I feel... as the lord of the Summit Villa, I seem to have nothing left to lose..."
Leng Yan remained silent, but her heart ached terribly.
This was Lin Zhao's own plan, and he should have anticipated such an outcome long ago. But with everything that had happened, he still couldn't bear it.
...
Afternoon, Snow Domain Heavenly Lake.
The human army was in continuous retreat. The player army led by Leng Yan, Shen Xingchen, Chen Xue, and Su Xinghe suffered heavy losses, being wiped out wave after wave by the power of the demon camps. Even Leng Yan had fallen five times. If the players continued to be depleted like this, it would take a long time to recover their levels, let alone recoup the rewards for this version event.
Some, like Ding Chi, Lu Han, Bu Su Liren, and Roman, had fallen more than ten times each. In such a situation, even ranking would be a loss. The loss of levels was a loss of time, and catching up would require a great deal of time and effort. For these individuals, it was unbearable, yet they had no choice but to accept it.
Within the city, the three great formations.
The Silver Dragon and Iron Dragon formations had been completely breached. Within each formation, tens of thousands of Snow Domain cavalry lay scattered and lifeless. The demons and devils, however, had paid an even greater price.
A flaw had been opened in the northern part of the Golden Dragon formation, and its power was weakening. Yet, a commander of the Snow Domain Legion, his sword in hand and face covered in blood, roared orders: "Target the front with the heavy artillery, fire at will without interval! All crossbowmen on the flanks, aim for those lower-realm demon soldiers, every single one, shoot them down!"
His name was Chen Qi, a ninth-stage martial artist, a standout in the Snow Domain Legion, and highly regarded by Huang Tingyu. He had been personally promoted to commander by Lin Zhao. Now, with almost all the other seven commanders of the Snow Domain Legion dead, only Chen Qi remained.
Therefore, this young general gritted his teeth, clutching the Golden Dragon formation's talisman, and held his ground, fiercely engaging any demon cultivator who dared to approach with his sword.
Under the barrage of artillery fire and arrows, the demon camps' forces continued to fall, with mountains of corpses piling up in front of the Golden Dragon formation. To conquer the last line of defense of this white city, the demon armies had pressed forward, and the demons had also sent nearly fifty thousand cavalry to charge.
But under Chen Qi's command, over ten thousand Snow Domain cavalry fought valiantly. Even when reduced to just over 3,000 men, they showed no fear; instead, their killing intent intensified.
Even if it couldn't change the tide of the battle, every kill counted. Chen Qi thought this with a sense of peace.
...
On the south city gate.
Huang Tingyu frowned, watching the distant offensive of the demons and devils. He knew the white city had been completely breached. He furrowed his brow, slowly stood up, and said, "Children, it's time to go. I will reveal my true form, and you will all climb onto my back. Hold on tight. From this journey, we will have no home. From now on, we will wander the world, with no return date."
Zhang Luobai's eyes welled up with tears, "Old Huang, aren't we going back to the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake to find Master?"
"If your master is not dead, he will find us."
Huang Tingyu smiled faintly, suddenly drew his sword, and soared into the air. He shouted to those still stubbornly resisting in the distance, "It's almost time. We need to leave some embers for the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. Chen Qi, I know you're brave and fearless, but don't waste all of Lin Zhao's assets here. If the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn. Don't all die here. Fight and retreat, abandon the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake!"
"Old Marshal Huang!"
Chen Qi gritted his teeth, his face smeared with blood, "Yes!"
Saying this, he turned to a group of Snow Domain cavalry and said in a deep voice, "Brothers, abandon the heavy artillery and ballistae, mount your horses, and follow me to break out from the south city gate and retreat quickly!"
"Yes, sir!"
A group of Snow Domain cavalry dismounted from the city wall and followed Chen Qi, heading south.
Huang Tingyu unleashed dozens of incredibly brilliant sword strikes towards the north, intercepting Chen Feng, Ji An, Lian Ban, and others. Then, he shook his body, revealing his massive celestial dog true form, his fur shimmering golden. He slightly crouched, and Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong all fell onto Huang Tingyu's back.
"Kill him!"
Ancestor Qing Kui's gaze was sharp, "Don't let Huang Tingyu escape!"
Numerous great demons attacked in unison.
However, Huang Tingyu's body was covered in a dense demonic aura. Although he swayed under the fierce attacks of Chen Feng, Ji An, and the others, he held on for a long time. When the demonic aura shattered, wounds appeared all over Huang Tingyu's body, tearing through his fur and revealing blood and bone. In an instant, he was heavily injured.
"Old Huang..."
Zhang Luobai watched, his heart nearly stopping.
Tong Yu also clutched her heart. Back at the Summit Villa, Huang Tingyu was a notorious rascal, constantly telling crude jokes. But at this moment, Tong Yu realized that Old Huang was also the backbone of the Summit Villa, its pillar, a powerful cultivator for the human realm, and that was undeniable.
Ultimately, the celestial dog's speed triumphed over the many great demons. Huang Tingyu, with a few others, disappeared into the horizon like a blur, heading straight for the Rainbow Silk World.
He slowly looked back, gazing in the direction of the Summit Villa.
"Dongcang, Liying, are you really not leaving?" Huang Tingyu asked.
"No."
Dongcang had long since despaired. She guarded the Natural Residence and a patch of bamboo forest. The tender bamboo shoots in the forest were about to break through the soil, and she wanted to pick more to stir-fry for the young master next year. Liu Liying sat on the peak, controlling the spiritual energy of the mountains and waters of the entire Summit Villa, which was Lin Zhao's mission for her.
"Young Master."
Liu Liying raised her folding fan and gently flipped it. Myriad spiritual energies condensed into a shiny golden coin that fell onto the fan. She smiled softly, recalling how Lin Zhao's eyes had lit up when he saw the golden coin. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, truly wishing everything could go back to how it was, to be by his side again.
Alas, everything could not go back.
Since that was the case, why look forward?
Like Dongcang, Liu Liying did not want to leave the Summit Villa or live a listless life. Only by Lin Zhao's side was her heart clear. With Lin Zhao gone, their world had become clouded.
Let them die, it was better than living without hope.
...
"Boom—"
In the white city, the last Golden Dragon formation collapsed, and the ground was piled with corpses.
"Finally."
Great Demon Yu Zhi let out a sigh and said, "We've breached the white city. It was truly arduous."
"Hmph!"
Ancestor Qing Kui smiled indifferently, "After flattening the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, it will be easier from now on."
"Yes."
Yu Zhi smiled with dimples.
Just then, figures of demon cultivators rushed into the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, beginning to slaughter the survivors and the players in the city. When the human artillery and ballistae ceased their attacks, the battle had already become one-sided.
"Swish!"
A figure rushed onto the Summit Villa. It was a young demon sword cultivator in a green robe named Zhou Hai, who was also the most enthusiastic "treasure hunter" on the ancestral mountain. As soon as the white city was breached, the demon ancestors ordered that they could loot freely, and Zhou Hai immediately ascended the mountain, moving faster than those at the twelfth or thirteenth stage!
Zhou Hai ascended the mountain on his sword, and was soon obstructed by wisps of divine power, but that divine power was only at the tenth stage level, which could not stop the sword energy of an eleventh-stage demon sword cultivator. Zhou Hai unleashed several sword strikes, shattering the divine power, and his gaze fell upon the woman in the red dress on the peak.
Liu Liying, the Folding Fan Goddess.
Although she was a spiritual deity formed from heaven and earth, she was a veritable heaven-sent opportunity. Moreover, Liu Liying was beautiful and graceful, a true peerless beauty. Combined with her identity as the Folding Fan Goddess, countless great demons on the ancestral mountain had already coveted Liu Liying before the mountain was attacked.
Immediately, Zhou Hai's eyes lit up. He drew his sword and lunged at Liu Liying, laughing heartily, "Fairy Liying, would you be willing to share a bed with this humble one and stay together for life?"
Liu Liying gritted her silver teeth and slowly stood up. The auspicious light around her folding fan disappeared, replaced by killing intent. She frowned slightly and said, "There is only death. Liu Liying belongs to the Young Master, how could she desecrate the Young Master's name?"
"Refusing a toast means drinking a forfeit!"
Zhou Hai swung his sword down from the sky.
This was eleventh-stage sword energy. Liu Liying was defeated almost instantly, and wounds appeared on her body. However, she refused to yield, wielding her folding fan and continuing to attack.
"Seeking death?!"
Zhou Hai was inherently violent and could not tolerate such humiliation. He swung his sword fiercely, instantly shattering the folding fan. Zhou Hai then lunged forward, reaching out a hand towards Liu Liying's slender waist.
Liu Liying smiled. A cold glint flashed in her left hand, and a short dagger pierced Zhou Hai's abdomen, causing blood to splatter.