"Swish!"
A beam of sword light, like a meteor falling from the sky, swooped towards the mountain-top villa. As Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes, he saw a young man standing on the tip of a sword. Although they hadn't seen each other for ten years, he recognized his personal disciple, Zhang Luobai, at a glance. Despite Zhang Luobai having the lowest cultivation among the group, his eagerness to return home propelled him to the forefront!
With a "thump," Zhang Luobai brought his flying sword to an abrupt halt in front of the Natural Dwelling. Staring at Lin Zhao, who looked almost exactly the same as he did ten years ago, Zhang Luobai's eyes welled up with tears. He immediately fell to his knees with a thud, hands flat on the ground, forehead touching the earth, and performed a grand kowtow to his master. His body trembled as he sobbed, "Master, Zhang Luobai pays his respects to Master..."
He wept intermittently, stammering, "For ten years, this disciple has missed Master every moment. For ten years, this disciple has never slacked. I've learned countless secret techniques from Old Huang and Sister Tongyu, coupled with the sword dao heart method Master taught me ten years ago. Now, with only the eleventh realm, Master will surely be disappointed, but this disciple has done his best..."
Lin Zhao, unsure whether to laugh or cry, stepped forward and ruffled the young man's hair. "Get up. How can a man cry like this? Hurry, or Master will get angry."
"Yes, Master!"
The young man sprang up, hands clasped behind his back, standing as straight as a ramrod, as if awaiting his master's inspection of his cultivation.
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle. He was only in the eleventh realm himself, so how could he lecture this eleventh realm disciple? In the future, he could at most teach him some superficial aspects of the Eternal Sword Scripture and help him temper his realm. For actual combat techniques, he would have to rely on Huang Tingyu, Xi Zhi, and others to teach him the specific sword moves.
Just then, several more streams of light descended upon the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
Huang Tingyu, clad in worn armor, knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "Huang Tingyu has not failed his mission and has brought the younger generation of the mountain-top villa back... Huang Tingyu pays his respects to the Mountain Master!"
"Old Huang, rise. No need for such formality."
"Yes, Mountain Master!"
Huang Tingyu stood up and looked directly at Xi Zhi and Yu Wanning, saying, "Tsk tsk, Xi Zhi is getting more beautiful. You're almost back to the thirteenth realm, truly impressive. Yu Wanning, you've changed the most. A Martial God in the Rebirth Realm is indeed extraordinary. It seems to have even affected your figure. I don't recall you being so… well-endowed before..."
"Bang!"
Yu Wan Ning's right fist, clenched into a fist, exploded with a surge of fist energy. Her beautiful eyes narrowed as she looked at Huang Tingyu, "Old Lord Huang really is itching for a beating if he hasn't been thrashed in a few days!"
"Ah ha ha ha..."
Huang Tingyu gave an awkward laugh, suddenly remembering that Yu Wan Ning was no longer the Yu Wan Ning of old, but a Yu Wan Ning in the Rebirth Realm. Moreover, after ten years of tempering, her killing intent had grown increasingly formidable. Yu Wan Ning's Rebirth Realm was already close to its peak. In other words, if Huang Tingyu were to fight Yu Wan Ning head-on, he would be at best evenly matched, and he might just end up taking a punch.
He turned his head and saw Liu Liying holding a folding fan. He immediately smiled and said, "Liying, you're getting younger and more beautiful!"
"Don't flatter me!"
Liu Liying flicked her long sleeves, too lazy to bother with him.
At this moment, Lin Zhao looked at Tong Yu and Zhuang Yirong, who were cupping their fists in greeting. He quickly strode over, helped them up, and smiled, "Tong Yu, you're in the twelfth realm, impressive! Your cultivation has already surpassed mine!"
"Brother Lin Zhao!"
Tong Yu smiled beautifully and stepped forward, gently taking Lin Zhao's arm. "It's wonderful that Brother Lin Zhao is still here!"
"Mountain Master,"
Huang Tingyu said, "We all thought you had died at the foot of Mount Wuwang and were quite saddened. Aside from that foolish boy Zhang Luobai who cried the most, Tong Yu shed the most tears. Of course, half of them were for you, and half for Mountain Lord Su."
Tong Yu's pretty face turned crimson.
Lin Zhao smiled, "Alright, it's good that you're all back."
Saying this, he raised his right fist, imbued with a comprehensive fist intent, and gently extended it towards Zhuang Yirong, smiling, "Heroine Zhuang, let me see the power of your fists now!"
"Yes, Mountain Master!"
Zhuang Yirong smiled, then in the next moment, she suddenly lowered her shoulder, and a swift punch whistled through the air. She was practicing Chu Yu's Battle-Ready Fist technique, and her fist wind was incomparably fierce. With a "bang," it collided with Lin Zhao's Tide-Overturning style. Lin Zhao staggered back three steps, feeling a little embarrassed. Without activating his realm transformation of level 1, he truly had no advantage in a direct fistfight. However, if he were in his realm transformation state, Zhuang Yirong would likely have suffered in this exchange, after all, Lin Zhao possessed the Courage of a War God, which transcended all other martial courage.
"Not bad."
He rubbed his fist, easing the awkwardness, and smiled, "It's good that you're all back. Our mountain-top villa is currently under construction, so you might have to squeeze into the Natural Dwelling for now. However, there will be no issues with food. Dongcang, Liying, prepare a lavish dinner tonight. Bring out some of the stored wine; this is a day worth celebrating."
"Yes, Young Master!"
The two women nodded with smiles.
At this moment, another stunning woman in a pink dress ascended the mountain. It was Shi Hanyin, the Peach Blossom Demon.
"Allow me to introduce."
Lin Zhao pulled Shi Hanyin's sleeve and brought her before everyone, causing Shi Hanyin's pretty face to blush with shyness and joy. Lin Zhao introduced, "This is Shi Hanyin, the most beautiful woman from Yunzhou City's merchant families. She once gifted us a batch of grain for our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. After the battle in Yunzhou City, Miss Shi sacrificed herself. Later, her soul was transformed by Ling Yu into a peach tree, and she became a Peach Blossom Demon. Miss Shi is now our mountain-top villa's Dust-Sweeping Envoy. Please all get acquainted."
Tong Yu and Zhuang Yirong smiled and cupped their fists together, "Greetings, Envoy!"
"Thump!"
Zhang Luobai knelt down again, his face solemn, "Greetings, Madam!"
Lin Zhao flicked the rascal's forehead, then looked at Shi Hanyin, whose cheeks were flushed, "This rascal speaks without thinking, please don't take it to heart, Miss Shi."
Shi Hanyin nodded and smiled, "It's alright, it's alright. Shall I go help Dongcang and Liying with the chores?"
"Go ahead."
...
In the reception hall of the Natural Dwelling.
Huang Tingyu, Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, Zhuang Yirong, and the others each took out their storage bags and displayed the treasures of Zhaoshan to Lin Zhao. The reception hall was almost overflowing. There were over 70,000 Jin Zi coins alone, which truly shocked Lin Zhao. He inwardly lamented that his mountain-top villa had such upright principles; they were indeed thrifty and virtuous individuals.
"Xi Zhi, go tell the Mo family artisans to slightly revise the blueprints. Make the treasury larger and the formation for the treasury more robust," he said.
Xi Zhi nodded with a smile.
Subsequently, the group recounted their past experiences in the Neon Kingdom to Lin Zhao, while Yu Wan Ning and Xi Zhi detailed the changes and conflicts in the Human Realm, causing everyone to sigh deeply. Ten years apart, and the entire world seemed to have turned upside down.
Then, before the meal, Lin Zhao led Huang Tingyu, Tong Yu, Zhang Luobai, and Zhuang Yirong to the back mountain to pay respects to Su Qingjiu, Tang Guangjun, Chu Yu, Mu Geng, and others. Standing before Chu Yu's tomb, Zhuang Yirong wept uncontrollably. Her master had been a formidable Rebirth Realm expert at the time of her death, and that alone was enough for Zhuang Yirong to be proud of for a lifetime.
Afterward, they returned to the Natural Dwelling. Gu Lingyu also ascended the mountain. The entire family gathered around one table, finally able to enjoy a joyful reunion dinner.
...
At the end of the Sword Washing River, streams of water converged, transforming into a pair of light golden eyes that gazed directly towards the downstream Ku Song River.
And by the Ku Song River, a colossal figure slowly approached. It stood dozens of feet tall, wielding a pair of Azure Wave Cudgels, clad in deep blue battle armor. It was the Demon King Liu Bai. At present, Liu Bai's old wounds had not yet healed, especially a sword wound on his chest that was still exuding sword energy. It was from Lin Wanhua's sword. There was also a terrifying sword wound on his back that had not healed, inflicted by Su Qingjiu. With her cultivation and the Sword of Seeking Deer, she had managed to inflict a wound that even ten years had not been able to heal.
"Alas..."
Liu Bai sighed. The Demon Ancestor Mountain was embroiled in various trivial disputes. Currently, Nan Qingfeng held sway over the Ancestor Mountain, and he, as a direct disciple of the Demon Ancestor, had little say. Therefore, it was better to come to the Ku Song River to absorb water energy for healing.
He slowly sat down in the river water, and immediately the water energy surged around him. He then lay down completely in the river, only his eyes peeking out, gazing at the starry sky. Such days, Liu Bai felt, were somewhat peaceful, able to soothe the ferocity and killing intent within his heart, and to alleviate his pain.
Upstream.
At the Sword Washing River, those golden eyes saw everything and then dispersed with the current.
...
That night, at the mountain-top villa, Lin Zhao practiced his fist techniques by the lotus pond, with Zhuang Yirong following suit, practicing alongside the Mountain Master. Zhang Luobai, meanwhile, was pestering Xi Zhi to teach him another ultimate technique. Possessing extraordinary talent, the more skills he had, the better.
Huang Tingyu sat on the rockery, holding a jar of Red Bamboo wine. With a smile, he drank it down sip by sip. Life was truly enjoyable like this. It was a shame Tang Guangjun had sacrificed himself, otherwise, drinking and talking about women with his old brother Tang would have been a joyous occasion.
In the kitchen, Dongcang, Liu Liying, and Shi Hanyin were washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen and the food storage area thoroughly. The entire mountain-top villa seemed to have returned to its former glory, except that some people were no longer present, and would never return.
"Swish!"
A beam of golden light descended in front of the Natural Dwelling, and a figure condensed from golden water energy appeared. It was Jiang Shen Niangniang, Lin Xingchu.
"Xiao Zhao, I have something to tell you."
"Oh, Auntie is here!"
Lin Zhao smiled and stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "What is it? Is it important?"
"Yes."
Lin Xingchu smiled with dimples, speaking telepathically, and explained how Liu Bai was using the water energy of the Ku Song River to heal. Lin Zhao's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he listened.
After the great battle, the upper echelons of the demon race were in a state of disarray, which was exactly the outcome Lin Zhao desired. Now that Liu Bai was healing alone in the Ku Song River, this was simply a golden opportunity for the mountain-top villa to pick them off one by one!
How many truly threatening figures were there at the Demon Ancestor Mountain now?
Fourteenth realm great demons, led by Jian Chen, followed by three thirteenth realm experts: Chen Feng, Liu Bai, and Nan Qingfeng. That was all. One less, one fewer!
He felt a surge of ambition. The time was truly ripe for a counterattack!