The Northern Territory.
In the Ninth Army Tent of the Demon Race, countless tents were connected, amassing troops in the frozen wilderness.
"Puff!"
Bai Ye, a sword cultivator at the eleventh realm, slammed his palm onto the bronze desk. His face turned ashen. On the desk lay a blood-stained head. It wasn't Xiang Ji's, nor that of the young sword cultivator. It was Long Xue's, a ninth-realm Snow Woman he had sent to the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool not long ago, who had died in battle. He couldn't fathom how Long Xue could have perished.
"Why is this so?"
Killing intent swirled between Bai Ye's brows as he said faintly, "What exactly happened? If it was just Xiang Ji, just a sword cultivator from the lower five realms, how could they have killed Long Xue and the thousands of troops she brought with her?"
" Lord Bai Ye!"
A sword cultivator from the Star River realm furrowed his brow. "According to the Snow Women who returned, Xiang Ji and that human sword cultivator set up a temporary camp on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. Within the camp, they erected a demon-suppressing crossbow crafted by a Mohist cultivator, along with two formidable mechanical bronze beasts. I believe these were the reasons for Long Xue's failure."
"There are things that happen once, and then there are things that happen twice, but there shouldn't be a third."
Bai Ye's sword-like brows shot up. "Transmit my military order: The three armies shall march. The Ninth Army Tent will immediately move south, crossing Jiu Zhang Plain. The three armies will launch a fierce attack on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. This time, no matter what is on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, I will uproot it completely!"
"Yes, my lord!"
A group of demon race generals rose in unison.
But at this moment, a cold voice echoed from outside the tent: "Without my command, who dares to mobilize the entire army of this tent?"
Instantly, the demon race generals turned, their faces showing reverence. They all knelt on one knee in unison and said solemnly, "Your humble subordinate greets Lord Yu Zhi!"
Outside the tent, a graceful figure stepped into the camp. She wore a fiery red dress that perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure, with a white cloak trailing behind her. Yu Zhi had now personally received the innate arts of the Demon Ancestor and had entered the thirteenth realm. A hundred years ago, as the commander of the demon race, the great demon Yu Zhi might have harbored some apprehension towards many "senior" thirteenth-realm great demons. But now, it was entirely different. In the entire demon race, only the Demon Ancestor was at the fourteenth realm, residing in the heartland of the demon race. Yu Zhi was now a genuine thirteenth-realm cultivator. Coupled with her title as the commander of the demon race, it could be said that besides the Demon Ancestor, the great demon Yu Zhi wielded the greatest authority within the demon race. Even some ancient monsters who had been dormant for millions of years would bow to her.
"Sister!"
Bai Ye, filled with emotion, descended from his command seat, cupped his fists, and said, "Your humble subordinate greets Lord Yu Zhi!"
"Hmph..."
Yu Zhi slowly walked to the command seat and sat down. She said faintly, "You're so impatient. A ninth-realm warrior and a lower fifth-realm sword cultivator were enough to make you order the entire army to attack the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool? If the entire army of this tent were to be lost on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool... Bai Ye, do you think your fifth-realm head is enough to compensate for it?"
"Sister, I..."
Bai Ye's face turned pale. He hurriedly knelt on one knee. "Please punish me, Lord Yu Zhi!"
"Punish?"
Yu Zhi said indifferently, "You are now the commander of an army, stationed in the strategically important Northern Territory of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. You should know the gravity of your responsibility. Do you not understand why I told you not to lightly mobilize the troops of this tent?"
"Please... please enlighten me, my lord."
"Hmph, you have such a handsome head, yet you understand nothing of deliberation and consideration," Yu Zhi said coldly. "A year ago, the Mohist Ancestral Court dispatched a twelfth-realm sword cultivator to roam the world in the guise of a Mohist wanderer. His whereabouts have always been in the Northern Territory, never south of the Fusang Great Wall. Two months ago, the footprints of a thirteenth-realm scholar from the Confucian Academy appeared at Gu Xiao Pass. A month ago, a twelfth-realm military cultivator appeared in the dense forest south of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. And not long ago, a Dao Saint, divinely appointed, descended to the mortal realm. It is said that he took a remnant item from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. The traces of the sages of the Mohist, Confucian, Military, and Daoist schools have all appeared in the Northern Territory. You don't actually think it's a coincidence, do you?"
Bai Ye's expression turned grim. "Could it be... they sensed something?"
"Hmph!"
Yu Zhi scoffed. "If our demon race is to march south, we must have absolute certainty of victory. Otherwise, we should not march, lest we deplete the resources of an entire realm pointlessly. I am here today to tell you that although the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool is just a barren mountain, many forces are investigating it. After all, the Dragon Slaying Sword that shattered once again within the borders of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool. No one knows if it will reappear and find a new master. It is better to be safe than sorry. Both the Demon Ancestor and I are worried about that 'one' appearing, and you are not? Are you seeking death?"
"Sister..."
Bai Ye frowned. "I dare not speak of moving troops lightly again, but... what about Xiang Ji on the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, and that lower fifth-realm sword cultivator? Are we truly going to ignore them? They descend the mountain to cause trouble every day."
"I told you not to commit all your troops to attack the mountain, not that you shouldn't attack the mountain at all. Can't you understand my words?"
Yu Zhi raised her eyebrows, her beautiful eyes looking at her somewhat superficial cousin with disappointment.
"Understood."
Bai Ye nodded. "I will never disappoint you, cousin."
"I'm leaving."
Yu Zhi's figure flickered and she immediately left the tent, heading straight north.
...
Early in the morning, Lin Zhao logged into the game at the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
He cleared his inventory, selling a pile of useless equipment to the itinerant merchant Old Fan. A large amount of gold flowed into his possession. Combined with the rewards from quests, he had become quite wealthy again. After getting all his equipment repaired by Xiao Ou, he found Hua Zi and bought some Qi-restoring pills. Then, he headed to the north mountain to find Xiang Ji.
On a rather flat, large blue rock, Xiang Ji stood in a one-legged boxing stance, his entire body emanating boxing intent. The day's boxing practice made him feel invigorated. Following Lin Zhao's reminder, he no longer just unleashed his boxing intent indiscriminately but began to contain it slightly, achieving a state of effortless control. This unexpectedly brought about a feeling of sudden enlightenment in his boxing theory. The flow of boxing intent throughout his body had surpassed his previous speed, even giving him a glimpse of hope for breaking through his cultivation.
He had thought he would be stuck in the Wandering Realm for his entire life and eventually die of old age. He never expected to see a ray of hope now.
"Young hero!"
His respect for Lin Zhao was now extraordinary. "Are you going down the north mountain to kill demons?"
"Mhm."
Lin Zhao, carrying his Lightning Roar Sword, smiled. "Otherwise, I'd have nothing to do."
"That's true."
The next moment, a bell chimed, and the next stage of the demon-slaying quest arrived:
"Ding!"
System notification: You have accepted the quest [Slay Demons 3] (SSS-rank)!
Quest objective: Head north of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool and kill over 30,000 demon units of level 80 and above. Upon completion, return to Xiang Ji for extremely generous rewards.
Slay Demons 3, a direct SSS-rank main quest, meant the rewards would undoubtedly be maximized.
Lin Zhao took a deep breath. It was time to get to work. Thirty thousand demon units of level 80 and above. And this time, he couldn't just look for level 80 monsters. He was already level 78. According to the optimal leveling strategy of being 6-9 levels higher, he needed to find monsters between levels 84 and 87. He would have to venture deeper today, not too far from Jiu Zhang Plain. At this rate, he would eventually run into the great demon Bai Ye.
He descended the north mountain and galloped his horse, bypassing low-level monsters and venturing into the demon race's territory. Only when a large number of level 86-87 demon soldiers appeared before him did he stop and begin grinding monsters for the quest.
...
Early in the morning, Sky Machine City basked in the sunlight.
In the backyard of the Great Sage Hall, Ghost King Jiang Chong was holding an emergency meeting. However, he hadn't summoned the core players of Flourishing Peony like Blood of Mortal Kings, Sword's End, or Flying Dragon in the Sky. Instead, he had called only his true loyal lackeys like Huang Xiao Xie and I Can Shoot So Much. This group was most loyal to Ghost King, as following him meant good food, good drinks, and mingling in various entertainment venues.
"We've found out, Chen Hai has been captured."
Huang Xiao Xie, with his yellow hair, furrowed his brow. "Last night, we were just one step away from success. Then the Scarlet Moon Knights showed up. Bai Yi and Xue Qiancheng both appeared. That Xue Qiancheng is no ordinary person, wearing armor at least of the Yan Emperor grade and fighting skillfully. Chen Hai and the others were all taken down. Now, they are all locked up in the prison south of the city, waiting to be judged."
"Chen Hai will get out," Ghost King said faintly. "I'm quite familiar with the people on that side."
"That's good then."
Huang Xiao Xie continued, "This morning, someone saw Mo Chen Xue heading out of the city with Bu Jian Xing Kong and Xue Qiancheng to level up. If nothing unexpected happens, Mo Chen Xue should be staying at the Scarlet Moon Knights' base right now."
"Damn it!"
Ghost King grinned sinisterly. "Who is Bai Yi in reality? How dare he snatch my woman, he's seeking death!"
"We've already found out," Huang Xiao Xie said calmly. "Bai Yi's real name is Lin Zhao, the same name as Lin Bai Yi in the game's background of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, but they are definitely not the same person. His family seems to have some money, and the house they live in is worth at least fifty million. That villa is the Scarlet Moon Knights' base. Since Shen Xing Chen has also moved in, there are always Shen family bodyguards around, making it difficult to act."
"It doesn't matter."
Ghost King's expression turned cold. "The person I want to deal with is not Shen Xing Chen, but Lin Zhao. When the time comes to act, the Shen family bodyguards won't interfere. Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless. Immediately contact my friends in the border guard police force in Su City. I want to buy a batch of weapons and armor from the black market, preferably hiring some retired soldiers."
"Understood, Brother. Leave this to me!"
"Mm, don't be stingy with money."
Ghost King narrowed his eyes and said, "Get me five sets of Yan Emperor grade armor. Also, buy two 76mm electromagnetic railguns, preferably with precise targeting. It would be best if they could turn Bai Yi into a pile of ashes from tens of miles away."
"Big Brother..."
Huang Xiao Xie was also startled. "Using electromagnetic railguns within the city? This is too crazy! If the military discovers it, we'll be in court facing the firing squad..."
"What are you afraid of?"
Ghost King said with disdain. "Even if I wanted to kill Bai Yi, I wouldn't do it myself. I'm not that stupid. If I truly want to kill someone, I'll just pay for it. Why commit a crime?"
"Boss is indeed a master strategist and has meticulously planned everything. Your subordinate is truly impressed!"
Huang Xiao Xie chuckled obsequiously.