Fusu Great Wall.
Morning sunlight scattered through the ancient and dilapidated Great Wall. Inside the city, spiritual cultivators and warriors came and went. Some practiced martial arts in the alleys, some sat on tavern benches cultivating sword intent, some ate large steamed buns filled with wild boar meat, and others opened martial arts schools in Fusu Great Wall, taking in a group of Xia clan children to teach them boxing, making a living.
Today's Fusu Great Wall was different from the past. People got along harmoniously because the current ruler was Lin Wanhua, a Grand Sword Immortal of the Twelve Realms. Although Lin Wanhua was a sword immortal and decisive in her sword strikes, she was ultimately a woman with a gentle nature. Therefore, during the decades she governed Fusu Great Wall, she established many new rules, such as allowing sparring within the city but forbidding private duels or causing serious injury or death. As a result, Fusu Great Wall's reputation had greatly changed, though its aura of slaughter remained undiminished.
Compared to the old Sword Immortal Lu Xinghe of the past, Lin Wanhua's talent was higher, and she had received the favor of the God of War Ding Muchen, gaining the recognition of the Fusu Sword. Her cultivation realm and strength within the territory of Fusu Great Wall had significantly increased, nearing that of a thirteenth-realm sword cultivator. Furthermore, Qin Yu, Liu Xilong, Ye Lin, and others had all grown into the Upper Five Realms, and a new generation of prodigies led by Qin Ran had emerged like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. It could be said that today's Fusu Great Wall was stronger, not weaker, than a hundred years ago.
In the morning light, not far from the city gate, a military merit platform was erected. In front of the platform, a table was set up, and a young man sat behind it, looking like an adult. He ordered his subordinates to meticulously count the spoils of the Fusu Great Wall powerhouses returning from outside the city. Looking at the heads of demons, ghosts, and spirits, and the demon cores, he would often shake his head, sometimes chuckle, and distribute merit tokens to these people one by one.
Fusu Great Wall was a harsh and cold land. Both cultivation resources and food came from the vast lands of the Great Shang Dynasty. Therefore, Fusu Great Wall actually exchanged proof of kills against demons and ghosts with the Great Shang Dynasty for resources and materials. This was the foundation of Fusu Great Wall and could not be shaken. At this moment, the young man responsible for counting military merits was none other than Qin Ran.
His father had forbidden him to leave Fusu Great Wall, ordering him to reflect on his actions. But how could this Ninth Realm Grand Sword Cultivator stay idle? Half a month ago, he had actively volunteered to his aunt, Lin Wanhua, to do the work of counting spoils and distributing merit tokens. It was better to look at the heads of demon cultivators than to grit his teeth with hatred at home.
On the main street of Fusu Great Wall, a person on horseback slowly approached. It was Lin Zhao, dressed in pure white armor, carrying the Dragon Slaying Sword and the Thunderclap Sword on his back. A white robe flowed behind him, and he rode a Snow Rock warhorse. He kept his head down, hunched over, trying to sneak through Fusu Great Wall to avoid being recognized by anyone.
"Brother Bai Yi!"
Suddenly, Qin Ran, who was in front of the military merit platform, stood up abruptly. He recognized Lin Zhao and, with a warm smile, rushed in front of him, saying, "Brother Bai Yi, don't you recognize me? I'm Qin Ran..."
"Ah ha?"
Lin Zhao felt a little awkward. He cupped his fist and smiled on horseback at Qin Ran, "It's Qin Ran, long time no see."
"Yes!"
Qin Ran pulled the reins of Lin Zhao's warhorse and said with a smile, "Since Brother is here, you must come to my house as a guest today! A few days ago, our Qin family's household guards just hunted a Lingbei spiritual deer. The venison is delicious, and there's plenty left. Tonight, let's drink and sing together, how about until we're drunk and not return? By the way, I'll also introduce you to my aunt, the Lord of Fusu Great Wall, Sword Immortal Lin Wanhua."
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao's eyelids twitched. "No, thank you... I have important matters this time. I'm just passing through Fusu Great Wall. Next time, I'll let you play the host. I apologize."
He didn't dare to dismount.
Qin Ran gritted his teeth. "Brother, do you look down on me, Qin Ran?"
"Absolutely not!"
Lin Zhao said, "You are younger than me, and your cultivation realm is higher than mine. How could I look down on you? I really have urgent matters to attend to on my way to the Northern Territory. I'll specially come to Fusu Great Wall to freeload from you later."
Qin Ran, with his childlike nature, immediately beamed. "Okay, okay, okay, then I'll wait for Brother Bai Yi in Fusu Great Wall... By the way, Brother Bai Yi, going to the Northern Region might be dangerous. How about... I send a Tenth Realm Sword Cultivator household guard to accompany you, so you have someone to look after you?"
"No need."
Lin Zhao smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry, I can handle it!"
"That's true..."
Qin Ran grinned. "Although Brother's realm is lower, his strength is actually unfathomable. Then... I won't delay your journey?"
"En!"
Lin Zhao nodded, clasped his fists with Qin Ran on horseback, then turned the reins and sped away from Fusu Great Wall like a bolt of lightning, galloping across the distant wilderness.
On the east side of the city, on a section of the desolate Fusu Great Wall overgrown with weeds, beautiful woman in white sat among the battlements, her beautiful eyes looking north. She was a little lost. She had guarded Fusu Great Wall for a hundred years. Would the rest of her life really be so lonely? If so, life was truly boring...
On a desolate plain, a person on horseback galloped away, leaving Fusu Great Wall.
At this moment, Lin Wanhua felt a hint of envy. It was just... that person's back... was somewhat familiar, and the ancient swords on his back... seemed familiar too?
She leaped up, stepping on a sword light and heading straight for Lin Zhao!
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao also sensed the aura of a Grand Sword Immortal pursuing him. He hastily lowered his head and urged his horse to gallop faster. It wasn't until Lin Wanhua was almost at his shoulder that Lin Zhao slowly stopped his Snow Rock warhorse.
"Why were you running?"
Lin Wanhua's voice was extremely sweet. If one didn't see her, it would be hard to associate this voice with the Twelfth Realm Grand Sword Immortal of Fusu Great Wall. She looked at the back of Lin Zhao's head and said, "Guilty conscience?"
Lin Zhao frowned. He could only take a gamble!
He grabbed the reins, turned his horse, his sword brows tightly furrowed, clasped his fists at Lin Wanhua, and said in a deep voice, "A Fifth Realm Sword Cultivator from Tianji City in Yunzhou, Bai Yi, greets the Sword Immortal!"
"En?"
When Lin Wanhua saw his face, she was momentarily dazed. She had a vague sense of familiarity. Although his appearance was completely different, he gave Lin Wanhua the feeling of being very much like that person, except... his surname was Bai, not Lin.
"You..."
Lin Wanhua pursed her red lips, staring at Lin Zhao. She still had a hallucination. She was relatively straightforward and didn't like to beat around the bush, so she asked directly, "Do you... do you know someone named Lin Zhao?"
"I do."
Lin Zhao smiled faintly. "Lin Bai Yi of Xueyu Tianchi, who in the world doesn't know you? Of course, I know him."
Lin Wanhua was a little disappointed and chuckled, "Alright, you can go. I'm sorry, I might have scared you..."
"It's fine."
Lin Zhao clasped his fists and smiled. "Then I'll be going, Sword Immortal Lin!"
With that, Lin Zhao spurred his horse and galloped away. This time, he was truly moving at full speed, completely disregarding the excessive consumption of stamina.
Thus, Lin Wanhua was left floating in the air, her slender feet treading on the void, surrounded by a dense sword intent, like an immortal descending to the mortal realm. She frowned, feeling somewhat puzzled. She lived in seclusion and basically appeared on the battlements of Fusu Great Wall in deserted areas. Not to mention outsiders, many locals in Fusu Great Wall hadn't seen her. How did this young sword cultivator from Tianji City know she was Lin Wanhua?
Could it be that he...
Lin Wanhua looked up at the distance. The person had already disappeared.
Should she chase?
She bit her red lips. How could she chase? As the dignified Lord of Fusu Great Wall, the peak Twelfth Realm Grand Sword Immortal, didn't she have any pride?
Lin Zhao continued his journey.
Around ten o'clock in the morning, at Grey Mist Mountain, as Lin Zhao passed by, a light drizzle began to fall. He took out a bamboo hat from his pack and put it on his head, feeling much better. As he rode forward, he heard the rumbling of horse hooves. A legion of Yin soldiers was rolling past ahead.
He encountered Yin soldiers borrowing the road again!
In the hundred years after the Battle of Xueyu Tianchi, experts from the four northern tribes had infiltrated many times, but most of them never reached Fusu Great Wall. These heroic spirits, who had died hundreds of years ago, had made great contributions.
Lin Zhao, as always, gently cupped his fists at these heroic spirits from his horse.
Although he was now a pure sword cultivator, his martial warrior state of mind remained.
For a moment, the group of heroic spirit cavalrymen cupped their fists in return to Lin Zhao on their horses. Their faces were blurred, and it was impossible to distinguish who was who, but their eyes showed loyalty and longing for their homeland.
After passing Grey Mist Mountain and Xiujian River, Lin Zhao took the official road directly, bypassing Mirror Lake. He didn't know how Han Yurou of Mirror Lake was doing now, but he was powerless to inquire. After all, he was only a Fifth Realm Sword Cultivator at the moment. Mr. Qin and Old Huang from Xueyu Tianchi were no longer here, and his senior brothers and sisters had vanished without a trace. He didn't know if they would appear again. When he became stronger in the future, he would visit Han Yurou and Zhang Xicheng, and he didn't know if they were still here.
After passing Mirror Lake, it was very close to Xueyu Tianchi. After stepping onto this world again as a player, the world map had been scaled down. Previously, it took Lin Zhao at least ten days to travel from Xueyu Tianchi to Fusu Great Wall, but now it was different. Riding the Snow Rock warhorse, he could complete it in a few hours.
After lunch, he logged in and continued his journey.
Around one o'clock, the outline of Xueyu Tianchi appeared in his sight. Lin Zhao immediately spurred his horse and quickly arrived at the foot of the Snow Ridge. The mountain path leading to Tianchi Town was still there. The trees along the path, which were about to cover the road, had been cut down. Only stumps could be seen covered with branches. Even trees as thick as two people embracing were cut down with a single sword strike, with a smooth cut surface.
Was it Little Jiu'er?
Lin Zhao smiled slightly. Someone still cared about Xueyu Tianchi!
He rode to the mountainside and looked at the dilapidated Mountain Lord Shrine. The shrine was on the verge of collapse, neglected by wind and rain for a hundred years. Su Shanjun was a local deity who relied on incense to solidify his golden body, so he couldn't repair his shrine himself. Therefore, Lin Zhao cupped his fists from afar. "Su Shanjun, long time no see!"
A figure emerged from the shrine. It was the elegant white-robed Mountain God, holding a folding fan. He smiled and said, "Lin Zhao, why have you returned?"
"To find my roots."
"Ha~~~"
Su Shanjun chuckled. "Remember to help me repair my shrine when you have money and people..."
"That's for sure, please rest assured, Mountain Lord!"
"En."
Su Shanjun bowed again and turned back into the rickety Mountain Lord Shrine.