Chapter 39

Before one's eyes, a strange, dark red earth was densely covered with an almost eerie, verdant flower. The flowers were oddly shaped, with petals edged as sharp as blades, and a cold, eerie luster emanating from their centers. They swayed gently without wind, like the cold, vertical pupils of countless venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, greedily watching the intruder.

Xi Yu felt a chill run down his spine. Without hesitation, he rushed forward like lightning, reached into his robes with his right hand, pulled out an oil paper packet, picked up the white powder that heated slightly upon contact with air, and with a flick of his wrist, quickly sprinkled it onto the flamboyant flower plants.

The chaotic and frantic footsteps surged closer like a tidal wave. His movements were so fast that they were just afterimages. Fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead. He had only one thought in his mind: he had to cover every inch of land that might be home to this scourge of the world!

"Stop him! Quickly!" A sharp voice pierced the chaos.

A soldier with a keen sense of smell twitched his nose and cried out in terror, "It smells like white phosphorus! He's going to burn the Ice Jade Powder! We can't let him succeed!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Xi Yu caught sight of several cold lights slashing towards him, carrying a murderous aura. He gritted his teeth, his feet shifting rapidly as he narrowly avoided fatal blows, but his phosphorus-sprinkling action did not stop at all. Like a nimble bird dancing on the tip of a knife, he weaved between deadly blades and demonic flowers, his sharp gaze sweeping across the ground to ensure that no one was missed.

"Pfft—!"

With a muffled thud as a sharp blade sliced ​​through flesh, a longsword, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, pierced his ribcage, drawing out a spray of warm blood.

Xi Yu groaned, the intense pain causing his vision to blur and his body to stagger. But using the momentum, he lunged forward, and at the same time, his other hand swiftly pulled out the tinderbox hidden in his chest.

"Snap!" The flint rubbed together, and tiny sparks flew.

He aimed at the area covered with white phosphorus and tried with all his might to throw the lit tinder over there.

However, just as the tinderbox slipped from his hand, a whip flashed from the side, striking the tinderbox with a sharp crack. The tiny flame traced a desperate arc in the air before falling helplessly to the ground a few feet away from its target area, flickering twice before almost going out.

Xi Yu's pupils contracted sharply, and for the first time, a look of near-despair and helplessness flashed in her eyes.

Without a second thought, he endured the excruciating pain in his ribs and lunged towards the fallen tinderbox. Behind him, a fierce wind swept in, and a heavy halberd, whistling through the air, aimed straight at his back.

Xi Yu's fingers finally touched the cold copper tube. He rolled awkwardly on the spot, and the blade of the halberd grazed his back, tearing his clothes with a "ripping" sound, and finally stabbed hard below his shoulder blade.

An uncontrollable groan escaped his throat, and blood gushed out like a spring, instantly staining half of his arm and back red. The intense pain almost made him faint.

He bit his tongue hard, the excruciating pain keeping him conscious. Using the momentum of the roll, he swung his still-intact arm again, and the nearly extinguished tinder, carrying his last hope, landed precisely in the patch of ice jade scattered with white phosphorus!

"boom--!!!"

As if the gates of hell had been opened, the white phosphorus instantly ignited upon contact with the open flame. A blinding white light mixed with scorching flames shot into the sky, like an angry fire dragon opening its massive maw. In an instant, it devoured the eerie emerald green ice jade powder. A wave of scorching air rolled out, baking the air and making crackling sounds.

The soldiers who had been charging forward were stunned by the sudden explosion and raging fire, and then let out desperate and frantic howls. Ignoring the terrifying heat, they tried to rush into the sea of ​​fire like moths that had lost their minds to try to salvage the Ice Jade Powder that had not yet been completely burned.

Screams erupted as several people were instantly engulfed in flames, turning into twisted, burning figures of fire, filling the air with the terrifying smell of charred flesh.

Xi Yu clutched her bleeding shoulder and staggered back towards the swamp. She had barely taken a step when a hysterical roar erupted behind her: "Kill him! He's the one who destroyed the Ice Jade Powder! Take his head to the general, or we'll return empty-handed and face certain death!"

He glanced back and saw that the "treasure land" was now a charred mess, with flames still raging. Occasionally, greedy soldiers would pick up the remaining stalks that had not been completely burned, but they would turn to ashes and vanish without a trace the moment they were touched.

With all hope shattered, everyone's anger and fear found an outlet, and countless bloodshot eyes were fixed on Xi Yu, the "culprit"!

Amidst this desperate siege, a strange light flashed across Xi Yu's pale face. With his hand, stained with his own blood, he trembled as he took out a perfectly intact Ice Jade Powder from the pocket of his body!

He raised the plant, which seemed to embody all greed, his voice weak from blood loss: "Ice Jade Powder... a supreme treasure of heaven and earth... only one left! Want it? Then... come and snatch it!"

After saying that, he suddenly threw the only Ice Jade Scattered Plant onto an open space some distance away.

It's like throwing a piece of fresh meat into a pack of hungry wolves!

In an instant, everyone's breathing became heavy. The remaining forces of Wu and Wei, their last shred of reason completely consumed by greed, rushed madly toward the Ice Jade Powder.

A tall, muscular soldier rushed forward first, his face still beaming with ecstatic joy, his fingers just touching the cool stems and leaves.

"Whoosh—!"

A cold, sharp blade flashed by!

A head flew into the air, its face still frozen in an extremely excited smile, and the scalding blood gushing from the severed neck splattered like ink on the faces of those rushing towards it.

The situation spiraled out of control instantly!

There were no longer any distinctions between nations, no longer any bonds of camaraderie. Swords and blades slashed wildly at anyone who might be vying for the treasure. Screams, curses, and the clatter of blades piercing bone filled the air. A greedy, bloodlust burned in everyone's eyes; they were like wild beasts fighting for their prey, clashing madly, limbs and severed bodies flying everywhere, blood quickly staining the scorched earth crimson.

Xi Yu didn't look back at that bloody hell again. He covered his wound, but his eyes were as cold as ice. He retreated step by step towards the swamp that had swallowed countless lives.

*

Outside the swamp, a short, elderly man stood smiling, his face unusually kind, with a round face and narrow eyes, resembling the Maitreya Buddha enshrined in a temple. He casually offered a ebony pipe with a jade spout to his side.

The servant standing nearby almost held his breath as he took out a tinderbox, carefully lit the pipe, and then quickly bowed and retreated into the shadows.

On the other side, an elder dressed in Wu Kingdom attire withdrew his gaze from the depths of the swamp, glanced in this direction indifferently, and said in a calm and even tone: "Why did His Majesty the King of Wei personally come here? Such trivial matters can be left to the younger generation to gain experience."

This short, stout, and kind-looking old man was none other than Wei Xiao, the powerful warlord who ruled over a region. His name was fierce and domineering, but he himself was of ordinary appearance. However, the occasional glint of cold ruthlessness in his ever-smiling eyes made people suddenly realize that this was no kind old man, but a ruthless and cunning hero who had used iron-fisted methods to subdue the surrounding areas and create the prosperous state of Wei.

Wei Xiao casually flicked his pipe, the gray ash falling in a flurry. He took a puff, exhaled a few murky smoke rings, and his gaze seemingly casually swept over the group of seemingly obedient youths behind Wu Huan, a barely perceptible hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

The King of Wu was terminally ill, and his sons, even his younger brother Wu Huan who had been exiled, all flocked to him, claiming to be filial and loyal. But who didn't know that their true motives were the "immortality" he desired? If they could obtain it, not only would the throne be within their grasp, but they would also enjoy power forever. Who would willingly let it fall into the hands of others? This drama of brothers fighting and uncles and nephews vying for power was yet to come.

He sighed heavily, his face filled with genuine worry, his wrinkles crinkling together, making him look like an old father heartbroken over his unruly child: "Alas, it's all because of my Zhibai, who insisted on coming along... You know this child, he's impulsive and reckless when he acts on impulse. I treat him like my own flesh and blood, how can I not worry about him in such a dangerous place..."

The Wei Zhibai he spoke of was originally surnamed Jiang, and his father, Jiang Wenkang, was the former military commander of the State of Wei. Back then, local powers betrayed Yuan Chu, each carving out their own territory and declaring themselves kings. The State of Wei initially had the weakest foundation and the smallest territory. It was entirely due to Jiang Wenkang's brilliant military strategy, his campaigns in the south and north, that he managed to reclaim the territories of the neighboring vassal states one by one, thus establishing the current tripartite balance of power between Yuan Chu, Wu, and Wei, rendering the other smaller states insignificant.

However, this great general ultimately died on the battlefield, his body wrapped in a horse's hide. Legend has it that Wei Xiao was so grief-stricken that he did not hold court for seven days and ordered the entire kingdom of Wei to mourn for a month. Afterwards, he adopted Jiang Wenkang's only son, Jiang Zhibai, as his godson, bestowed upon him the royal surname "Wei," and proclaimed to the world that he had the right to inherit the throne. Such great favor and kindness became a celebrated story among the states, with everyone praising Wei Xiao for his loyalty, righteousness, and cherishing of the descendants of loyal and virtuous officials.

Upon hearing this, Wu Huan smiled faintly, his expression ambiguous. He continued, "I have long heard that the Prince of Wei treats his adopted son with the utmost kindness, as if he were his own. Seeing him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved. He truly has the heart of a loving father." With that, he naturally turned away from Wei Xiao and began to talk quietly with his nephews and nieces behind him. Their conversation was pleasant and the atmosphere instantly became warm and harmonious.

*

Xi Yu endured the excruciating pain in his ribs and shoulders, and staggered toward the swamp. With each step, the sensation under his feet grew colder and colder. The ground, which had been just damp, had become unusually soft and muddy, as if the support beneath was rapidly disappearing, and he could feel an ominous wriggling sensation.

A flicker of disbelief and disbelief crossed his eyes, but the increasingly close shouts of battle behind him forced him to stop thinking. He could only grit his teeth and force himself to quicken his pace. With each movement, his wound was violently pulled, and blood gushed out, dripping down his arm and winding a glaring line of blood behind him, seeping into the restless earth.

The clouds and the breeze, which had been anxiously watching the movements on the opposite bank, finally spotted Xi Yu's staggering figure approaching. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and without hesitation, they used all their strength to hurl the dry, heavy clods of earth and stones they had prepared towards the seemingly still manageable swampy area in front of Xi Yu!

"Bang! Bang!"

The soil and rocks crashed into the swamp, splashing up a cloud of murky mud.

The commotion seemed particularly abrupt at the relatively quiet edge of the swamp, immediately alerting the two privileged young men with differing intentions not far away.