A month is neither long nor short.
Time passed quietly amidst the constant travel and reorganization of the sect.
The one-month deadline is fast approaching.
Yanmen Pass is the closest pass to the western border. Lu Zhaozhao is standing on the city wall, looking at the western border not far away.
The cold wind howled, making her sleeves flutter.
Both tribes deployed their troops at the front, separated by a single pass, with millions of soldiers on each side.
Only Master Bu Lu and Fairy Xian Ji were sent to the front lines this time; the rest were stationed in the rear to guard against a surprise attack.
But most of the younger generation are gathered at the front.
Needless to say, those who became famous at the Golden Palace Banquet also eagerly signed up to come to the front lines, as long as their cultivation reached the Golden Core stage.
Representatives from all three major sects were present to oversee the front lines, and Lu Zhaozhao was now fully capable of representing the Qinghui Sect in internal meetings of the three major sects.
"Tomorrow will be a bloody battle." Sect Leader Xian Ji spoke first, his cold eyes filled with regret: "These children are still young and should have a better future, but we sent them to such a dangerous place."
Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes and remained silent, while Bu Lu Zhenren's eyes were also filled with sorrow: "Yes, it doesn't matter what happens to us two old guys anymore, it's just a pity that we don't know how long it will take to recover our strength after this battle."
Both of them were sighing. Lu Zhaozhao glanced outside. Under the city wall, Yaotong was treating the wounded, and Liaochou was helping her. He had heard that he had been following Yaotong ever since the Golden Banquet.
Lu Zhaozhao smiled gently, and the two people above looked at her.
She came to her senses and said seriously, "Even if I don't go tomorrow, Wei Zhanjie will probably come looking for me. Therefore, I will do my best to fight him. Even if I can't win, I will at least try my best to stall him for more time. The rest is up to the two seniors."
Her expression was indifferent, as if she were facing a major battle, but simply doing something ordinary.
Master Bu Lu looked at her, somewhat moved, and sighed, "In the end, you are only in your early twenties, in the prime of your youth, yet you have to shoulder such a heavy responsibility. In the end, it is also the fault of us elders to make you bear these burdens... Alas."
His expression was sincere and earnest, and even the usually aloof Sect Leader Xian Ji looked at Lu Zhaozhao with guilt and apology.
Lu Zhaozhao was grateful for their words, but in her opinion, they had nothing to do with her. They didn't need to apologize for it, and if her arrival hadn't changed the storyline, they might not have had to go through this.
Fate can be unpredictable; sometimes, even slight changes can alter the entire situation.
"The wind is picking up."
Lu Zhaozhao looked at the flowing hair and said softly.
This moment of tranquility may not last long.
Climbing the city wall, she gazed into the distance. If she wasn't mistaken, the story was nearing its end, and she could not avoid this final calamity.
Suddenly, a weight settled on her shoulder. Lu Zhaozhao turned her head and saw Bai Yuanshi draping a cloak over her shoulders.
"It's windy on the city wall," he said.
Lu Zhaozhao chuckled. They were cultivators, so even if they stayed in the snow, nothing would happen to them, let alone just a bit of cold wind from the border.
But she simply bowed her head and thanked her.
Bai Yuanshi stood side by side with her, looking into the distance.
Neither of them spoke.
After a long while, Bai Yuanshi's voice was carried by the wind, but it was not very clear.
He said, "You don't need to force yourself to fight tomorrow."
"What? Do you want me to desert my post?" Lu Zhaozhao replied with a smile.
Bai Yuanshi turned his head to look at her. Lu Zhaozhao could feel his burning gaze. He said softly, "The former Demon Lord's cultivation was extremely high. Even Master wouldn't dare to say that he could compete with him. Don't force yourself. Even if you really leave, no one will say anything."
Lu Zhaozhao also turned her head to meet his gaze and said, "I know you are worried about me, and I thank you for that. But this is my destiny and my mission, and I cannot leave."
Bai Yuanshi's furrowed brows ruined his serene and beautiful appearance.
Lu Zhaozhao smiled and said, "We haven't fought yet, the outcome is uncertain, anything is possible, so you don't need to worry too much."
Bai Yuanshi pursed his lips and didn't say anything more.
The two of them stood on the city wall all night.
Until the east turned white and the golden crow broke the dawn.
The Western Frontier had taken action early on, with a large number of demon troops heading towards Yanmen Pass. The leader was Nan Yuan, who was still the Demon Lord of the Western Frontier, but it was unknown how much real power he still held.
Standing beside him was Wen Sheng, who didn't seem very interested.
He was listless, but his eyes lit up when he saw Lu Zhaozhao. Then, as if remembering something, they dimmed again.
With the Demon Lord and the Demon King leading the troops, the procession was undeniably grand.
After searching around, Lu Zhaozhao couldn't find Wei Zhanjie and Cheng Sangji, and she couldn't help but frown.
She whispered instructions that there might be a surprise attack from behind, and told Ying Che and the others to be prepared.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the demon army pressed in on the border.
In the air, there were also strange and ferocious beasts flying around, and on the land, there were also herds of strange-looking beasts.
She and Bai Yuanshi exchanged a glance, and then Bai Yuanshi left the city wall.
Today, their mission is to defend against other enemies, while Lu Zhaozhao must face the most mysterious and treacherous former Demon Lord, Wei Zhanjie.
He brought about a catastrophe a thousand years ago, was later besieged and killed, but has reappeared a thousand years later, bringing another catastrophe.
Lu Zhaozhao stood alone on the city wall, looking down at the situation below.
Both sides are ready, and a major battle is about to break out.
It's unclear which side struck first, but the two sides were locked in a fierce struggle.
Thick black clouds shrouded the sky, as if the end of the world had arrived. On the vast land, the armies of humans and demons formed a stark contrast. The air was thick with the stench of blood, foreshadowing the brutality of the battle to come.
On the battlefield, swords clashed and flashed as human warriors brandished their weapons, their clashes sending sparks flying against the sharp claws of demon soldiers. Each engagement was accompanied by a deafening roar, as if even the heavens and earth trembled.
As the two clashed, a chilling light flashed, arcing through the air before piercing into each other's bodies.
In an instant, the world lost its color, the sky was filled with the black aura of demons' deaths, and the ground was covered with the blood of fallen cultivators.
Lu Zhaozhao stood on high ground, but did not see Wei Zhanjie's figure for a long time.
Further down, she noticed that Yao Tong, who was fighting the swan maiden, seemed to be in a bad state.
Her clothes were soaked in blood, and she kept plucking the seven-stringed zither in her hands as the demons attacked her. Blood seeped from her fingertips, which looked particularly glaring against her snow-white skin.
Seeing this, Liao Chou, who was not far away, wanted to help her, but the demons surrounding him prevented him from moving an inch, and he could only watch helplessly as Yao Tong fell into danger.
He roared and fought back fiercely, slashing at the enemies in front of him, but they seemed endless and he could never finish them off.
For the first time, he felt a deep sense of despair.
Yao Tong had been cornered. The swan girl looked at her with a smile and said, "Oh dear, little sister, I really don't want to kill you. After all, what does their fighting have to do with me? But I have no choice but to hand over something, so I can only borrow your head for now."
She smiled brightly and walked towards Yaotong step by step.
With blood trickling from the corner of her mouth and resentment in her eyes, Yao Tong used the last of her strength to utter her final words.
The strings of the zither broke, but the final blow was blocked by a demonic soldier that the swan maiden casually pulled along.
Is there really no other way?
Yao Tong closed her eyes in despair, her body trembling slightly.
The expected stinging pain did not come. She slowly opened her eyes, and a white figure stood in front of her, blocking the attack of the swan maiden. The swan maiden was also knocked back by this figure with a sword.
The sword gleamed with a cold light; Yao Tong recognized it immediately—this was Ni Ye.
Through the blood mist, she barely opened her eyes and could see the people in front of her.
“Zhaozhao…”
Yao Tong was barely breathing. Lu Zhaozhao turned her head to look at her and said, "I'm here."
The Void Return cultivation level was far beyond what the Swan Maiden could reach. Seeing that the situation was not good, she left the other demon soldiers behind and flew away in her transformed form.
Lu Zhaozhao's arrival caused a slight change in the battle, but both sides continued to add weight, and the balance remained stable. It was difficult for one person to cause a major change.
Lu Zhaozhao sheathed her sword and looked up at Nan Yuan, who was entangled with Bu Lu Zhenren.
To catch the thief, first catch the king; let's break through from him!
With a powerful thrust of her foot, Lu Zhaozhao attacked Nan Yuan with lightning speed.
Engrossed in the fight, Nan Yuan was caught off guard and was actually stabbed.
He raised his bloodshot eyes and stared at Lu Zhaozhao with resentment.
Lu Zhaozhao looked at him without fear.
At the same moment, the three of them made their move together, but just then, a sharp sword light crashed down in front of Lu Zhaozhao, causing the heavens and earth to tremble.
Lu Zhaozhao took a quick step back and barely dodged the attack.
As the smoke cleared, Wei Zhanjie stood before her and said, "Your opponent is me!"
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