Leng Yan rose and stood beside Lin Zhao, saying, "Why don't we get straight to the point? What are your thoughts, you few guilds? Speak your minds first. Sheng Tian and the Scarlet Moon Knights will understand the situation before making a decision."
"Indeed."
Beside Su Xinghe was Yun Mi Wu Suo, the beautiful strategist of the Xinghe Guild. She wore a form-fitting spiritual robe that accentuated her curves. Her eyes were exceptionally lively. While she was quite attractive in terms of looks and figure, she was still a notch below Shen Xing Chen and Leng Yan. She frowned and said, "Ding Chun Qiu currently has over 50,000 people. They have all completed the sect system and become ghost cultivators. However, most of these people haven't had the chance to increase their levels and strength through PK. So, this period is our golden opportunity."
Yun Mi Wu Suo looked at Lin Zhao, then at Leng Yan, and continued, "Therefore, Xinghe, Cang Long, Wu Wang, Xun Xian, and Han Cheng, the five major guilds, have all agreed to march south and attack. We will uproot them before these people of Ding Chun Qiu become too powerful, and thoroughly suppress their arrogance."
Su Xinghe added, "Now, we just need the approval of Sheng Tian and the Scarlet Moon Knights. If you also agree, it will be seven major guilds marching south together. Our chances of victory will be much greater."
"Brother Lin Zhao."
Yi Shi Cang Liang chuckled, "Shall we take a trip to Jizi Lin together?"
Xian Bai appeared calm, but seeing Lin Zhao and Leng Yan standing side by side made him uneasy. As for Shu Mei Jian Qing Feng, he merely smiled and nodded at Lin Zhao, embodying the saying that a gentleman's friendship is as pure as water. Han Cheng's Yan Yu Han had no particular stance; he was here simply because he disliked Ding Chun Qiu and wanted to lead his guild to eliminate him.
"Lin Zhao."
Shen Xing Chen pursed her red lips, "What do you think?"
"We can join," Lin Zhao took a deep breath. "But we should have a detailed plan. Simply marching south to exterminate all the villains once or even multiple times is not very meaningful. The experience-devouring ability of ghost cultivators will still allow them to grow rapidly. What Yun Mi Wu Suo said earlier is all correct, but the plan has flaws. This plan is unlikely to uproot Ding Chun Qiu's followers completely."
Yi Shi Cang Liang agreed wholeheartedly and nodded with a smile, "What are your thoughts? Feel free to share them."
Su Xinghe frowned and said, "Hmm, let's hear it."
Lin Zhao nodded and continued, "Actually, the reason Ding Chun Qiu can stir up trouble in the south right now is, to put it plainly, because his master is Tan Xin, an eleventh-realm coffin bearer. Moreover, Tan Xin possesses a twelfth-realm wandering corpse, which makes her combat power quite formidable. With Tan Xin around, coffin bearer cultivators will only grow stronger and more numerous. The Jizi Lin area was originally human territory, but it has now been occupied by coffin bearers. Therefore, while eliminating Ding Chun Qiu, we must also have a plan for Tan Xin."
"Kill... Tan Xin?" Yi Shi Cang Liang exclaimed in surprise.
"I don't know," Lin Zhao frowned. "It's uncertain whether players have the ability to kill Tan Xin at the moment. However, since everyone wants to do this, I won't stand by. If possible, let's make a good plan and select a group of players with strong combat power and high realms from each guild. We can try to overwhelm Tan Xin with numbers. I will also ask for help from the Fusuo Great Wall. If it works out, we can completely eliminate the coffin bearer lineage, saving us from being disgusted in the south."
Shu Mei Jian Qing Feng smiled, "That sounds quite feasible."
Leng Yan asked, "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow morning, at nine o'clock."
Xian Bai stated solemnly, "Everyone eat and drink their fill, then all the main forces of the seven guilds will gather and march south to exterminate all the villains."
Leng Yan glanced at him, seeming to want to say he hadn't asked him, but out of politeness, Leng Yan remained silent.
Not long after, the group finished their discussions. The next morning at nine o'clock, the main forces of the seven guilds assembled at Xue Yu Tian Chi and marched south together.
...
Deep in the night, at Fusuo Great Wall.
A beam of sword light streaked across the sky. It was Lin Zhao, riding his flying sword Hong Ye. After crossing the city walls, he flew directly towards a tall tower within the city. The Sword Pavilion, a residence personally crafted by Mo family's Xu Shuo with the help of many Mo family cultivators for Lin Wan Hua. From afar, the Sword Pavilion looked like an ancient sword piercing the earth, hundreds of feet tall. The hilt of the sword was a pavilion, which was Lin Wan Hua's dwelling.
To leave a thirteenth-realm Sword Immortal for the human world, the Mo and Ru families had gone to great lengths. And Lin Wan Hua's willingness to confine herself to this small territory could be considered giving ample face. If she wasn't a native sword cultivator born and raised at Fusuo Great Wall, a thirteenth-realm Sword Immortal would likely pursue a vaster world, how could she be willing to confine herself here?
"Swish~~~"
When Lin Zhao arrived, the Sword Pavilion's enchantment had already opened. He descended gracefully, carrying a small jar of wine, which he had decanted from a large jar of Dongting Purple Bamboo Wine. In addition, he carried a bag of spiced beef, peanuts, and other items. He called out from outside the door, "Miss Lin, are you free? May I invite you for a drink..."
"..."
The door of the Sword Pavilion creaked open. Lin Wan Hua, dressed in snow-white, smiled and said, "Come in?"
"Alright."
Lin Zhao felt a little reserved, as it was his first time visiting the Sword Pavilion. Upon entering, he realized that the internal space was actually quite spacious, even appearing quite empty. Lin Wan Hua turned and sat by the window. The window was large, offering a clear view to the north. Lin Zhao walked over with a smile, spread out the beef, peanuts, and other items, then took out two wine cups, poured wine for Lin Wan Hua, and said with a smile, "Try it, this is good wine I brought back from Dongting Lake. This is truly good wine."
"Oh?"
Lin Wan Hua took a sip and her expression immediately changed, "Dongting Purple Bamboo Wine?"
"Indeed!"
Lin Zhao nodded emphatically, "It is indeed Dongting Purple Bamboo Wine."
"That Lake Lord isn't very generous..." Lin Wan Hua chuckled. "Our Elder Sword Immortal Han of Fusuo Great Wall travels south to experience the world time and again, all for a taste of Dongting Purple Bamboo Wine. Yet, that Dongting Lake Lord is so stingy, our Elder Sword Immortal Han hasn't had a single drop. It's truly pitiful."
"That's just Elder Sword Immortal Han Fang's fortune hasn't arrived yet."
"Speak," Lin Wan Hua's dimples deepened as she smiled. "You must have come to see me for more than just a drink."
"Yes."
Lin Zhao felt a little awkward. "There is indeed another matter. The coffin bearer lineage has been causing a great deal of trouble in Jizi Lin recently, with many young cultivators joining as ghost cultivators and acting as henchmen everywhere. Therefore, many of my friends plan to march south to eliminate them, but they are not entirely confident, especially since behind those people is Tan Xin, an eleventh-realm coffin bearer."
"Do you need me to make a move?" Lin Wan Hua asked. "Tan Xin is merely a True Origin Realm cultivator, not difficult to kill. It's just that her twelfth-realm wandering corpse might be quite troublesome. I've never fought a wandering corpse before, so I don't know its true strength, but with full effort, it shouldn't be difficult. At most twenty breaths, or perhaps ten breaths, to kill Tan Xin."
"I know killing Tan Xin isn't difficult for you." Lin Zhao frowned. "Actually, I have another layer of concern. Although Tan Xin is strong, and the methods of the coffin bearer tribe are indeed tricky, why would an eleventh-realm cultivator like her dare to be so arrogant and establish herself as a king in the Jizi Lin and Luoyan Mountain areas? I'm worried there might be someone behind this. Once you make a move, Tan Xin won't be the most important. The person behind her will be the most important, and it might even be a setup by the Four Northern Tribes. It's a shame my aunt isn't here, otherwise... I would have acted already."
"Indeed."
Under the moonlight, Lin Wan Hua's smile was gentle. "I am only skilled in practicing swordsmanship and killing. As for planning and scheming, those are indeed not my strengths. How about this, you tell me directly how I can help you, and I won't concern myself with anything else."
"Alright." Lin Zhao said gravely, "If a war truly breaks out, don't draw your sword if you don't have to. But I need you to appear on the edge of the battlefield to act as a deterrent, so that Tan Xin doesn't dare to act rashly. We'll take it one step at a time after that. In any case, you also need to be extra careful. You are not the only thirteenth-realm cultivator in the world."
"Understood." Lin Wan Hua narrowed her eyes with a smile, "This wine... is truly excellent."
"Cough cough..." Lin Zhao said, "There are only three jars of Purple Bamboo Wine in total, I need to save some. When the master's master comes someday, I'll have a good drink with him. However, if Miss Lin likes it, I can give you other types of wine."
As he spoke, he took out treasures from his inventory. A whole jar of Dongting Red Bamboo Wine, plus three jars of Dongting Green Bamboo Wine, were placed before Lin Wan Hua. He said with a smile, "These few jars of wine are all for you. Drink them slowly."
"Okay!" Lin Wan Hua smiled and nodded. She wasn't very good at appreciating wine. Those wines were too spicy to drink and went straight to the head. However, the aftertaste of the wines that Lin Zhao and the others spoke of might be better. Lin Wan Hua didn't particularly like wine, but she enjoyed the feeling of slight intoxication. Only when slightly drunk could she openly show her affection, looking at the person before her with eyes full of liking.
"Miss Lin, drink slowly!" Lin Zhao clasped his fists. "I need to go back. There are many things to prepare!"
"Mmm." Lin Wan Hua smiled and nodded. He came and left in a hurry, but it was alright, after all, he was busy for the sake of the entire world.
...
In the Ghost Realm, on the Ku Song River.
A person stood in the surging river. He wore a dark blue battle armor, with a long water-borne cape trailing behind him. In his hands, he held two twin halberds. It was none other than the thirteenth-realm Liu Bai. Unfortunately, in his battle with Yan Bei Chen, Liu Bai had lost many of his water fortune veins, so he was no longer a demon king, but merely slightly stronger than an ordinary thirteenth-realm demon.
However, he was still a disciple of the Demon Ancestor, so his status on the Demon Ancestral Mountain remained extremely high. Currently, Liu Bai leaned forward, his expression defiant. His eyes stared intently in the direction of the human world. His great Dao was close to water, allowing him to see the water fortune of the entire world. From here, he could see Xi Jian River, a thousand miles upstream. As long as Lin Wan Hua dared to travel upstream, he could launch an attack from the Ku Song River, directly reaching Lin Wan Hua in the human world. Coupled with the attacks from the other great demons, Lin Wan Hua might not be able to return.