The next day, early morning.
Lin Zhao woke up early, had a simple breakfast with Wang Ju and Xiao Juzi, and then took a Cloud Shadow class vessel waiting outside. First, he sent Xiao Juzi to school, and then headed to the base himself.
At the Scarlet Moon Transport Base, before training preparations, Lin Zhao took out his phone to check the plot developments from the previous night. He sat there in a daze for a long time.
After one night, Qingliang Mountain had fallen.
North of the Human Race's Xijian River, the last flickering light had been extinguished.
Xiang Ji, the Mountain Lord of Qingliang Mountain, using his Rebirth Realm martial artist cultivation, killed an Eleventh Realm great demon, annihilated nearly fifty thousand demon soldiers, and finally, with his divine power depleted, had his body shattered by a punch from the Thirteenth Realm great demon Chang Hen, disappearing completely from heaven and earth.
Zhao Suiguang, the Sect Master of Qingliang Sect, along with a natal ancient cauldron, withstood Chang Hen's attack together with Xiang Ji. While Chang Hen was killing Xiang Ji, Zhao Suiguang struck Chang Hen's back of the head with the ancient cauldron, making Chang Hen spit blood. Afterwards, Zhao Suiguang refined his own ancient cauldron, merging the fiery red ancient cauldron with the entire Qingliang Mountain, and resisted the fierce attacks of the demon race for a full two days and nights.
In the end, the ancient cauldron cracked and shattered. Chang Hen led hundreds of demon cultivators up the mountain, and Zhao Suiguang died fighting before the Ancestral Hall of Qingliang Sect.
Fighting and dying alongside Zhao Suiguang were hundreds of disciples of Qingliang Sect. After the great battle, only a few dozen young disciples, following Zhao Suiguang's instructions, fled down the mountain via a southern path from Qingliang Mountain and eventually disappeared into the Great Wilderness.
In one night, Qingliang Sect had become history.
"Hoo..."
Lin Zhao sighed deeply. When he had gone to Qingliang Mountain before, and Xiang Ji and Zhao Suiguang had decided to fight to the death, Lin Zhao had already guessed the outcome. There could be no change. The gap in strength between the two sides was enormous. The demon race's combat power was almost crushing. After all, only the Heavenly Lake of the Snow Region and some mountain sects from the human race were currently in the fight. The Great Shang Dynasty's forces had not truly clashed with the demon and devil races yet.
"Boss."
Huodao came over with a cup of coffee and handed it to Lin Zhao. Glancing at the holographic image on Lin Zhao's phone, he frowned. "I saw it too. Qingliang Sect is gone, but don't be too sad. After you come out of Wuwang Mountain, we'll find a way to fight back fiercely. This time, we won't let the demon race off easily."
Lin Zhao nodded. In fact, it wasn't just about not letting the demon race off easily. When the time was right, Lin Zhao would plan to directly exterminate the demons of the lower realm, bringing true peace to the entire human world.
...
In the morning, it was still Cloud Shadow class flight control training. Lin Zhao focused intently on learning and progressed rapidly. By noon, Huodao felt that there was nothing left to teach Lin Zhao in terms of flight control, emergency evasion, and combat aircraft attack. Lin Zhao, seemingly a novice, had actually scored 97 in his flight control assessment, reaching the level of skilled operation.
At noon, they ate together at the Scarlet Moon Transport's cafeteria.
"Boss, do you want to fly the Chiyou class?"
Huodao held a large basin of food and, after putting it down, scratched his head and chuckled. "To be honest, your flight control for the Cloud Shadow class is already superb. You just need to maintain it to build muscle memory. The only aircraft at the base worth learning to pilot now is the Chiyou class light cruiser."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Then in the afternoon, I'll try to get familiar with the Chiyou class controls. Send me the electronic version of the Chiyou class operation manual later, and I'll read it during my lunch break."
"Alright."
Huodao smiled and nodded.
After the meal, Lin Zhao went to the chairman's office accompanied by Su Wan. Su Wan held her wristwatch in front of her chest, activated the holographic imaging system, and listed various data, mostly reports related to Scarlet Moon Transport's business for the month, as well as a list of important high-value deals. She explained the origins and outcomes of each transaction as they walked.
Lin Zhao listened attentively, even asking questions about business-related matters and posing critical questions, such as whether the cargo routes and fuel consumption choices could be reconsidered. Su Wan listened, secretly amazed, not expecting Lin Zhao, who was physically in the studio, to still be so concerned about the business affairs of Scarlet Moon Transport.
Thus, Su Wan explained each point without any perfuncton, after all, although Su Wan was hired by Chen Xue with a high salary, she was ultimately Chen Xue's person. To Lin Zhao, the true backend boss, she could only be considered half an insider at best.
At noon, half-past twelve.
Lin Zhao finished everything, sent Su Wan back to her office to rest, and then put on his gaming helmet. He loaded his character data and entered the game, starting to read through the midday version maintenance.
The tenth day of the version, the second day.
The second year after the Battle of Baicheng, following the successive breakthroughs of the northern mountain forces of the Human Race such as Qingliang Mountain and Ziyun Mountain, the demon race began to concentrate their forces to attack the Fusu Great Wall. However, the Fusu Great Wall, with its strong troops, managed to hold off millions of demons for a full half-year.
It wasn't until October, when frost and snow began to fall on the Fusu Great Wall, that the Ancestral Mountain of the demon race finally stirred. Qing Kui, the Demon Ancestor, who had been recuperating and in seclusion for over a year, emerged. He led great demons of the Twelfth Realm and above, including Yu Zhi, Ji An, Lian Ban, Chen Feng, Liu Bai, Long Zheng, and Huo Si, to gather at the Fusu Great Wall, initiating a northern decisive battle in the truest sense.
As Lin Zhao watched the lines of battle reports appearing in the system, his heart nearly stopped. Soon after, his gaze landed on the line "Wei Yan Dies," and he gently clicked on it.
Instantly, a wisp of Lin Zhao's consciousness transformed into a phantom and descended upon the Fusu Great Wall. He was still clad in white clothes and silver armor, with the Dragon Slaying Sword and Zhan Lu Sword on his back. However, as Lin Zhao landed on the battlements, the group of Fusu Great Wall sword cultivators fighting demons with flying swords nearby could not see him.
He had entered this world directly from the system, so he was nonexistent, merely an observer. Naturally, those people could not see Lin Zhao's figure.
Directly ahead, the heavens and earth were filled with wisps of majestic sword intent. As countless sword energies slashed wildly outside the city, Lin Zhao squinted to make out the figure clearly. It was Wei Yan, who had been wearing sealed chains. Although Wei Yan's current attire was tattered, he exuded the aura of a sword immortal, completely unrestrained, holding a sword and blocking the attacks of a large group of great demon cultivators.
To the Fusu Great Wall, Wei Yan was a sinner. But to Wei Yan, the Fusu Great Wall was his hometown. Therefore, although Wei Yan did not submit to Lu Xinghe and was called a traitor, he actually had the support of destiny at the Fusu Great Wall, making this Thirteenth Realm sword cultivator significantly stronger than an ordinary Thirteenth Realm sword cultivator.
Even as the great demons Chen Feng, Ji An, and Lian Ban attacked with all their might, their assaults were still entirely blocked by Wei Yan alone with his sword.
However, there were too many great demons, and Wei Yan was destined to be unable to hold on alone.
"Someone!"
On the city wall, the old sword cultivator Han Fang, while wielding his flying sword, said in a deep voice, "Go reinforce Elder Wei Yan!"
Immediately, a group of mid-level Five Realm Fusu Great Wall sword cultivators, led by an Eleventh Realm sword cultivator, simultaneously mounted their flying swords and ascended into the air. A sheet of sword light poured towards the demon race.
"Heh!"
In the midst of the demon horde, Fu Sheng, clad in a greyish-white long robe, held his natal carving knife and sneered. "Wei Yan can fight, and so can you? Where in the world are people so eager to die!"
As he spoke, he swept his carving knife across, stirring up surging, potent demonic energy. Instantly, the dozens of Fusu Great Wall sword cultivators who bore the brunt were annihilated in a flash. Their bodies rained down, their flesh completely corroded and devoured by the demonic energy, leaving behind only skeletal remains, a truly tragic sight.
"Die!"
The great demon Chen Feng suddenly lowered his body, a wisp of ethereal and profound Three Realms Wind appearing on his sword blade. With an extremely vicious angle, he slashed towards Wei Yan's armpit. Wei Yan had two choices: either block this sword with all his might, but then he would have to watch the Fusu Great Wall cultivators be slaughtered by Fu Sheng, or he could go to their rescue, sacrificing an arm.
"Bastard!"
Wei Yan's face was filled with defiance and arrogance. At this moment, he exuded an aura of "I am the only one under heaven and earth." He completely disregarded Chen Feng's sneak attack. With a "crack," Wei Yan's entire left arm was directly severed, blood and gore pouring out. As his arm bled profusely, one of his flying swords pierced Fu Sheng's back from the side. In an instant, vines grew from the hilt of the flying sword, imprisoning Fu Sheng's body and soul.
This flying sword was named Qingman, Wei Yan's first natal flying sword. Its destructive power was not great, but its restraining power was formidable. Moreover, its name was derived from a girl Wei Yan had admired in his youth.
Now, having lost an arm, Wei Yan knew his death was imminent. Since that was the case, he might as well take one more with him, buying more time and advantage for the Fusu Great Wall. As the great demon Fu Sheng's body was restrained and he frantically took out countless natal scrolls to save himself, Wei Yan drew his sword and roared, "Old dog Fu Sheng, you should have died back in the Heavenly Lake of the Snow Region!"
"You!"
Fu Sheng's face turned ashen with shock. In the void, two sharp cries exploded. Wei Yan had self-destructed two natal flying swords, and then the flying sword Qingman, which had already pierced Fu Sheng's back, also exploded. With the sacrifice of three natal flying swords, Fu Sheng's soul was shocked, and in an instant, Fu Sheng was laid bare like a white paper, with nowhere to escape.
As the dazzling sword light swept across, the Thirteenth Realm great demon from the Ancestral Mountain of the demon race, Fu Sheng, his body directly turned into a mist of blood. Furthermore, Fu Sheng's everlasting lamp, which he had set up at the Ancestral Mountain, had already been extinguished by Bing Lan, the master of the Eternal Secret Realm, with a single sword strike. Therefore, Fu Sheng in front of them had directly perished, with no possibility of revival.
"Damn it!"
Chen Feng's eyes turned blood red with rage. It was over. Even if he killed Wei Yan, this debt could not be settled. After all, Fu Sheng had died alive before his very eyes. Fu Sheng's death was inevitably related to his own ineffective attack. If he had known earlier, he should have aimed for the head with his sword just now, and not given Wei Yan the chance to fight desperately.
Who would have thought that a dignified Thirteenth Realm Great Sword Immortal would fight like a common ruffian, so utterly fearless?