"Still not showing yourself?"
Yushi Yue Ling lightly stamped the ground, and golden divine power flowed forward along the dirt. It was like a scorching stream that shook a woman in an apricot-yellow dress from the apricot tree. She let out a whimper and fell to the ground, still holding the box wrapped in white cloth. Her beautiful eyes held a resolute look. "The young master's possession, how could a beast like you be worthy of touching it?"
Yue Ling's gaze was cold. "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"
"Kill me if you want!"
The apricot woman bit her red lips until they bled. "After you kill me, you can take the treasure. But before I die, I will never let you lay a finger on the young master's possession. Don't even think about it!"
"Truly idiotic!"
Yushi Yue Ling narrowed his eyes and said, "I govern the wind, rain, thunder, and lightning across ten thousand miles in the Northern Territory. If you are willing to offer the divine brush, I can consider extracting your soul from the apricot tree and using the power of heaven and earth to enfepple you as a Wind Master, or a Thunder Master, or a Cloud Master, in charge of a hundred miles. You can choose."
The apricot woman gave a dishevelled laugh. "Do you think I would believe you?"
"Stubborn and ignorant!"
Yushi Yue Ling let out a stern shout, and with his eleventh-realm cultivation, he raised a small world, engulfing the apricot woman and the apricot grove within it. He walked forward step by step, his face contorted with ferocity. He laughed, "If soft tactics don't work, I'll have to resort to force. I don't believe anyone will come to save you! After I destroy your soul, even if the divine brush's core is damaged by half, it will still be the divine brush. I have no more patience with you!"
He raised his palm, and the storm elements raged forth!
"Swish!"
As the apricot woman retreated, a sword dao imprint between her eyebrows suddenly bloomed with radiant light, transforming into a protective sword aura that enveloped her body. Immediately, Yushi Yue Ling's storm elements were completely shut out. That ball of golden sword aura was perfectly sealed!
"Oh?"
Yushi Yue Ling frowned and sneered, "To think you have such an encounter, a twelfth-realm Sword Immortal protecting you? However... you're thinking too much. At most, it's a bestowed opportunity for protection. After I consume this sword dao imprint, your connection with the twelfth-realm Sword Immortal will end. Do you think he would spare you another glance?"
The apricot woman, protected by the sword aura around her, was also imprisoned by it, unable to move. Tears streamed down her face. Yue Ling was right. Lin Wanhua had only given her an opportunity, and she would not look back. Once this sword aura was broken by the eleventh-realm Yue Ling, her fortune with Lin Wanhua would be over.
All that remained was to wait for death.
Yue Ling continuously urged the storm elements, his eyes filled with ferocity. Once he broke through that layer of sword aura, he would achieve his desire. However... this sword aura was too tenacious. The sword intent was so strong and dense to an astonishing degree. Could there truly be such a powerful twelfth-realm Sword Cultivator in this world?
...
"Hmm?"
On the northern断崖 of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool, Lin Zhao seemed to sense movement from the southwest. He couldn't help but frown and look in that direction. "Wu Zhi, is something happening over there?"
"Yes."
Wu Zhi said, "An eleventh-realm Rain Master is punishing a spirit. Such actions by water and mountain deities are common in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool area. We don't need to intervene. After all... water and mountain deities are Yin Gods who achieve divinity, and their cultivation path is vastly different from ours. If we provoke a water and mountain deity and kill them with a sword, the karma involved would be quite troublesome."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile. "Alright, I'm going to grab a meal. You'll be in charge of matters at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool for now. Also, remember to protect Master Liu Xingshu!"
"Yes!"
In the real world, it was dinner time.
Wang Ju hadn't cooked because Shen Xingchen felt that eating at the studio every day was too healthy and not quite right. So, she wanted to treat everyone to hot pot at a nearby mall out of her own pocket. Everyone readily agreed. After Lin Zhao logged off, everyone was already gathering. Downstairs, Nangong Jilin decided to drive an RV to take everyone, bringing Chen Xue, Luo Man, Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, Mo Chenxue, and Little Ju Zi's mother and daughter.
Shen Xingchen started her supercar and said, "Lin Zhao, you ride with me. I need to discuss some in-game matters with you."
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile.
Chen Xue, Luo Man, and Mo Chenxue glanced at each other, not knowing what to say. They figured nothing would happen, as Lin Zhao had always maintained a very upright image in the studio and had never behaved inappropriately towards the female members. He was incredibly honest, while he couldn't even pick up on the flirtatious remarks directed at him by the female members, being incredibly straight. Even if Lin Zhao rode in Shen Xingchen's car, nothing problematic would arise.
The cars started, and Shen Xingchen and Lin Zhao left first.
Once on the road, Shen Xingchen engaged the autopilot, popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth, and turned to look at Lin Zhao. "Want one?"
"No thanks, I'm a bit afraid of sweet things."
He glanced at Shen Xingchen. "Xingchen, what happened in the game? Is it about the Scarlet Moon Knights?"
"No."
Shen Xingchen shook her head. "It should be said that something is about to happen at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
"Huh?" Lin Zhao was surprised. "What could happen at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool?"
"I'm asking you, has something big been happening at the Snow Region Heavenly Pool recently?" Shen Xingchen looked ahead, her arms crossed. The curves of her chest almost made Lin Zhao stare blankly. She turned to look at him. "Ten minutes ago, a friend I left in Star River told me that players sent by Star River had detected movement in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. It's said another military tent has appeared, and the demon forces north of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool have now reached 400,000. Is that true?"
"That's right."
Lin Zhao frowned. "Star River's scouts have reached the Snow Region Heavenly Pool?"
"Mmm."
Shen Xingchen smiled. "Completing a 'coming out of seclusion' quest allows you to leave the Shanhaiguan pass for 24 hours. It's not difficult. Star River has great ambitions and will definitely be the first to get involved in the Northern Territory's faction quests. What do you think Su Xinghe will do after obtaining this news?"
"Actions..."
Lin Zhao said solemnly, "Could it be that Su Xinghe intends to march north and attack those demon military tents with player forces?"
"Highly likely!"
"No way..."
Lin Zhao's brow furrowed. "He knows nothing about the situation in the Northern Territory. What chance of victory would there be if he rashly sent troops? Has he seen the strength of tenth or eleventh-realm demon bosses, and he dares to be so ostentatious?"
"It's different."
Shen Xingchen's red lips parted slightly. "The profits involved in this game, 'Tian Xia,' are too great. It can be said that whoever becomes the number one guild in the China region will eventually become a newly rising conglomerate or powerful family in the China region. The temptation is too great. And Su Xinghe is a person with great ambitions. The background story of this game, in the end, is the battle between humans and the four northern tribes. Therefore, whoever can lead their guild out of the pass first and attack the demons, taking a big bite out of them, will gain a development advantage."
She paused, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed. "The Star River guild meets almost all the conditions: many elite players, many allies, and sufficient financial support. As long as Su Xinghe gives the order, tens of thousands of players from the Star River guild can charge forward without hesitation, even into mountains of swords and seas of fire. If the Star River guild is truly the first to leave the pass and annihilates the demon forces in one or two military tents, then the Star River guild's reputation in the national server will soar. You understand the significance of that, don't you?"
"I understand."
Lin Zhao nodded, looking out the window.
"What are you thinking about?"
Shen Xingchen pursed her lips.
Lin Zhao continued to look out the window and said, "I'm thinking about what level the eleventh-realm great demons are at in this version. It should not just be defined as a terrestrial boss. The previous Ninth Military Tent was led by Bai Ye, an eleventh-realm demon. We don't know about the current military tent that has arrived, but I think... it's not that simple. If Star River really launches a northern expedition, they might easily end up like Marquis Wu Yue Hao."
"How so?"
"Because it's very simple..." Lin Zhao turned to look at her and smiled. "Last time, two thirteenth-realm demons came to flatten the Snow Region Heavenly Pool and they lost. Now that the demons are confronting the Snow Region Heavenly Pool with two military tents, wouldn't they expect us to attack proactively? Therefore, the hidden strength within these two military tents must be absolutely stronger than two thirteenth-realm demons. Perhaps there are a lot of eleventh and twelfth-realm demons, waiting for humans to fall into their trap!"
"Is that so..."
"Xingchen."
Lin Zhao looked at Shen Xingchen. "The Star River guild is your former employer after all. Do you want to go inform Su Xinghe and tell him not to act rashly? Based on my estimation, if they dare to march north, they will likely suffer losses."
"I'm not going."
Shen Xingchen pouted her small mouth.
"Why?"
"What do you think?"
Shen Xingchen shot him a glare, with a hint of petulance. "I am now the Vice-Alliance Leader of the Scarlet Moon Knights, and I only focus on the grand strategy of the Scarlet Moon Knights. Star River is no longer my concern. And for the Scarlet Moon Knights, Star River's defeat is a good thing. Only by weakening this super battleship can our Scarlet Moon Knights have a heavenly opportunity to rise."
"Is that so..."
Lin Zhao scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward.
Shen Xingchen became more annoyed as she thought about it and glared at him again.
"How about, I'll treat tonight, and treat you to hot pot..." Lin Zhao appeared apologetic.
"No need."
Shen Xingchen said, "Save it for next time, and treat me and A Yan."
"Okay, it's a deal!"
...
The hot pot meal lasted a long time. Everyone was stuffed and almost exhausted, leaving only at half-past eight.
After Lin Zhao logged in, he felt incredibly lazy after eating his fill. Moreover, he had been busy attacking the Eastern Wu Kingdom and rebuilding the Snow Region Heavenly Pool these past few days, which was truly tiring. So, upon entering the commander's tent, he propped his chin with one hand and inexplicably fell asleep.
In his dream.
He saw auspicious light soaring from the apricot grove in the Snow Region Heavenly Pool. Majestic white horses galloped out of the apricot grove, numbering in the thousands. Around and beneath the hooves of these white horses, wisps of flying snow swirled, as if the steeds were stirring up the snow as they advanced, leaving countless white hoof prints on the earth.
A thousand cavalry rolling snow!
Besides that, he also heard a woman's mournful cries, intermittent.
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao suddenly woke up, gritting his teeth, his fists clenched. "Winter Storage..."