Chapter 422

Xiangrui's eyes widened, stiffening for a long while.

Mouth open, teeth exposed, utterly stunned.

The fruit in its left paw, the peeled bamboo shoot in its right—neither tasted good anymore.

It held them in its paws, frozen for a long time, a voice rising in its heart—a syllable no one in this age knew, a peculiar language, even an accent thick with the scent of bronze.

No doubt about it! This was the flavor of thousands of years ago.

Still the same taste.

It's Jiu Li!!!

The Xiangrui let out a roar and turned to run; Li Guanyi had expected to meet the Xiangrui with a gentle demeanor, but was shaken by the creature's internal bellow, his skull ringing.

From the force of that roar alone, Li Guanyi understood.

This thing must be incredibly strong!

If it wasn't strong, it wasn't due to physical weakness.

Li Guanyi glanced at the Nine-Colored Divine Deer, sensing the Xiangrui undergoing frantic transformation, and asked: "Where is it going?!" The Nine-Colored Divine Deer replied, puzzled: "I don't know, but it should also be in a reincarnation state."

"To understand such words, it must have recalled its past."

Li Guanyi asked: "Does this Xiangrui harbor hostility toward me?"

"Why such a reaction before we even met?"

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer pondered long, then answered softly: "In ancient times, the southwestern region where it dwelled once waged great war against the Central Plains. In that battle, the Ancient Taigu Chilong displayed divine might, and this one suffered a crushing defeat."

"The southwest is mountainous, rich in mineral deposits; it can aid living beings in finding mines and mountains."

"When forging weapons, it makes it easier to produce superior metal and iron."

"Military equipment there surpassed that of the Central Plains, yet the Ancient Taigu Chilong was even fiercer—could it have sensed the Ancient Taigu Chilong's divine aura upon you?"

Li Guanyi said: "So that's why. It once contended with the Ancient Taigu Chilong."

He marveled: "Truly, an extraordinary divine beast and omen."

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer recalled the images in its memory and said gently:

"It's a sturdy little thing."

"Strength, speed, blood qi, defense, and its Xiangrui abilities—among all creatures of the heavens and earth, it's not the absolute top, but among the pinnacle of the second tier; combined together..."

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer's gentle voice paused, then offered a tactful evaluation:

"Its body is the foremost among all divine beasts and omens in martial prowess."

Li Guanyi grew even more curious about this southwestern Xiangrui: "Nine-Colored Divine Deer elder, is there another way to communicate with it?"

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer pondered long, then said: "There is one way."

It taught Li Guanyi the ancient language; Li Guanyi spoke it inwardly.

The Xiangrui was sprinting up the mountain atop a golden wind, its yin-yang colored fur flickering slightly as it raced a hundred li before finally catching its breath—when a voice arose in its ear and heart.

The ancient language, still carrying the accent of bronze quenching:

"Old friend, we're not fighting the Taigu Chilong this time."

"Want some bamboo shoots?"

Eeeeee!!

The southwestern Xiangrui's heart stopped.

One paw missed its step.

It tumbled straight down the mountain.

Duang~

It hit the ground, bounced.

Spun three and a half times midair, then bounced again.

The southwest is full of strange mountains; this one was tall and steep, yet the Xiangrui rolled down entirely unharmed, finally slamming into the earth, bouncing several times before lodging itself in a crack between rocks.

It struggled, but couldn't free itself—only lifted its head, staring blankly and mournfully at the wind above.

Forget it. No need to struggle. This is fine.

It reached out, plucked a nearby bamboo shoot, and bit into it with its molars.

Put it in its mouth.

Still gazing at the sky with that same sorrowful, lost look.

Well then. Eat something to calm down first.

Chew. Chew.

After this upheaval, the connection on the other side ended again.

After all, it wasn't stable yet.

A surge of heat rose, blazing fire illuminating the surroundings; a golden-winged bird landed atop the Xiangrui's head and asked: "?? What happened? Why the rush? Why roll down like that?"

The Xiangrui kept chewing, mournfully murmuring:

"Jiu Li has returned."

The bird flapped its wings: "As long as it's not the Taigu Chilong coming back!"

"Hmph. Taigu Chilong."

A low growl echoed as a golden-eyed tiger stepped forward, muscles bulging, its entire body ink-black—not an ordinary tiger, nor a top-tier divine beast, but Bai Hu, embodying the metal essence of slaughter.

The southwestern myth: Mountain Lord Xuan Hu.

Also known as one of the ancient Year Gods, a legend of ancient omens.

She looked at the Xiangrui lying peacefully as if dead, dissatisfied: "What are you doing? Just Jiu Li scared you into this state?!"

The Xiangrui sighed, muttering: "You don't know my predecessor—I was never good at fighting. But because I refused to tell Jiu Li where the food was, Jiu Li thought I was terrifyingly strong."

"Embroider Him on the battle flag, and when the troops lost, I reincarnated and hid here, never stepping out again."

"It's not that I never step out."

Xuan Hu Shan Jun said: "Aren't you Him?!"

The Auspicious One panicked: "You, you can't slander me like that! He claimed he could fight, because Jiuli fed him, and they gave him so much food he felt too embarrassed to refuse, so—so it ended up this way."

"It was Jiuli's own misunderstanding. Did I lie to him? I didn't lie. It was entirely his own misunderstanding. I—I just wanted to eat my fill..."

After a pause, the Auspicious One grew melancholy:

"Killing Jiuli was bad enough, but I died on the battlefield too."

"That was Him, not me! Back then, He wasn't me!"

"Now, I just want to huddle here and not move!"

The golden bird laughed at Him: "Nonsense! You wanted to go out eight hundred years ago! You stepped outside and saw the Ancient Taigu Chilong starting another fight."

"Then you saw the Western Bai Hu appear too, with human armies numbering tens of thousands, slaughtering each other across the land—the clash of swords and shouts like the roars of celestial war gods. Heroes capable of manifesting their divine forms, who rarely appeared in peaceful times, sprouted up by the handful."

"In that short war-torn era, more such heroes emerged than in a hundred or two hundred years of peace."

"The stars in the sky blazed like candles on earth: 【Lord of Western Slaughter, Bai Hu, Heavenly Marshal of War】, 【Lord of Crimson Flame That Swallows the Sun, Zhu Long, Heavenly Marshal of the Consuming Sun】, and human hero-kings formed an alliance to conquer the entire world."

"The battle grew so fierce that even the Fire Qilin perished."

"Then you stepped out five hundred paces, turned around, and came right back!"

The Auspicious One chewed bamboo shoots and declared solemnly: "I'm not good at fighting."

"And haven't you forgotten?!"

"Bai Hu is dead, and that human Red Emperor, along with a band of fierce warriors, wiped out the Fei beast too."

"That was Fei! How could these people be so fierce? The ancient divine Fei, who had roamed since primordial times, had its head chopped off, its heart pierced and torn out, then crushed into poison."

"Do you need me to remind you?"

"How did the Ancient Taigu Chilong get the title 【Zhu Long, Heavenly Marshal of the Consuming Sun】?"

The Auspicious One struck back.

The Auspicious One won the counterattack.

In that age, the supreme auspicious being met an omen that didn't seem like an omen at all—its final outcome could only be described as horrific.

In the end, the Ancient Taigu Chilong received the supreme auspicious title.

The golden divine bird's body stiffened, frantically pecking at the Auspicious One's skull—each strike seemed capable of splitting rock open—but when it landed on the Auspicious One, it had no effect whatsoever.

The sun-bearing bird, enraged, flew to the other side of the Auspicious One's head and said: "Then five hundred years later, you wanted to step out again. Before you'd even gotten far, you saw a human wielding a battle bow."

"Just one shot—it pierced a hole so vast in Shenshan, the home of the Nine-Colored Divine Deer, and blasted the hero with the Heavenly Wolf destiny and divine form into oblivion on the grasslands."

"And another fierce warrior, wielding a long spear, obliterated Qiong Qi, one of the Four Fiends. Killing Qiong Qi was bad enough—but he emerged unscathed from Qiong Qi's toxic blood, and you got scared and ran right back!"

"And then, three hundred years ago."

"The leader of the Western Buddhist realm was sealed in a cage and trampled into paste by human iron-clad heavy cavalry. Then you met a certain follower of the Yin-Yang School."

The divine bird clearly had a close relationship with the Auspicious One.

It delighted in dredging up the Auspicious One's dark history.

The Auspicious One sighed deeply and said earnestly: "It's not my fault."

It felt deeply melancholy, idly plucked a bamboo stalk, and gnashed its teeth as it bit into it.

It shoved the tender part into its mouth.

Chewed. Chewed.

"Bai Hu has perished. Fei was surrounded and killed."

"Even the Qilin is dead—the Fire Qilin! The one that, upon maturity, equals a human hero capable of manifesting a divine form! The auspicious being specifically tied to battle—He perished too."

"I can't even imagine how horrific that battlefield must have been!"

"How horrific! How glorious!"

"Then five hundred years ago—Qiong Qi! That was Qiong Qi!"

"Just one spear—called 'Mountain-Crusher'—shattered its skull. That fierce warrior was drenched head to toe in Qiong Qi's blood, yet suffered no harm—and even suppressed Qiong Qi's divine essence."

"What kind of monsters are these humans? I won't fight them."

"As for that Yin-Yang School..."

The Auspicious One fell silent, remembering—roughly three hundred years ago—a graceful man smiling as he played a game of Go with it. After long thought, the Yin-Yang follower extended one finger and said: with such ability, the Auspicious One shouldn't hide in the mountains.

He suggested it become the auspicious being of the southwestern tribes, and even guided it to Xuan Hu.

The Auspicious One asked him why he helped. The man smiled and said:

"The southwestern clans are scattered, constantly warring. If this continues, they'll drift further from the Central Plains. Unify the southwest, then rejoin the Central Plains—it's better than endless chaos."

"As for why? Consider it merely my idle move."

"One game of Go today can save future generations at least thirty years. Isn't that my fortune?"

The Auspicious One had intended to refuse him.

But the man somehow gathered a group of farmers—huge men—who improved bamboo varieties and enabled large-scale cultivation. The Auspicious One had wanted to sneer: Is this how you try to bribe a divine beast?

But the bamboo shoots produced by this systematic farming were simply too abundant.

It could just lie back and wait for generations of southwestern kings to deliver them.

It simply couldn't refuse.

But back then, beside that young Yin-Yang follower, there had been a girl—barefoot, dressed in black robes—carrying a heavy sword with no edge. She seemed to be a descendant of the fierce warrior who killed Qiong Qi five hundred years ago, or perhaps even the descendant of the divine general who finally defeated Fei.

As the Auspicious One ate bamboo, it suddenly grew melancholy.

That time had been so joyful.

The young man was carefree. The girl was stubborn.

The descendants of the one who killed Qiongqi lived freely and easily, while the ancestor who severed the Fei beast's heart with a single strike remained solemn and quiet.

Those who once were bold and spirited must all have turned to white bones by now.

After all, that was three hundred years ago.

Forget it—since things have come to this, let's eat something first.

Bang!

Xuan Hu Shan Jun disapproved of Xiangrui's lazy posture; she sharpened her claws and pounced at Xiangrui, who bit into a bamboo shoot and slapped her with one paw, pinning the Xuan Hu beneath his palm and petting her like a cat.

The golden bird's beak glowed with golden light as it pecked at His body.

Useless.

Xiangrui showed no change whatsoever, sighing: "At least I still have the two of you to keep me company—I'm weak, timid, and terrible at fighting. The outside world is too dangerous. When Jiuli's clan returns, they'll surely come looking for trouble."

"We must hide!"

Xiangrui shuddered, wrenching free from the rock that had trapped him, gobbled up the bamboo shoot in three or four bites, gave Xuan Hu a light pat that left her dazed, then opened his mouth and bit down on the back of the three-hundred-year-old Xuan Hu Shan Jun's neck.

This fierce battle deity was completely subdued.

Then he sprinted away at an extreme speed.

Gone, gone!

Xiangrui dashed hundreds of miles in a flash, reaching a mountain ravine before finally calming down—but when he came to his senses, he realized this was the very place where Jiuli had once dwelled. He sighed; all these years, he had still missed Jiuli.

But missing them was enough.

If Jiuli's clan showed up again, he would be frightened to death.

Xuan Hu and the divine bird were both dizzy from his speed. Xiangrui lay there eating bamboo, occasionally catching two fish to replenish his strength, thinking: "Far away, so remote—no one could possibly find me here!"

His ears twitched slightly; Xiangrui turned his head toward a nearby spot.

Someone was laughing there: "This place is so far, so remote."

"No one could possibly find me here!"

Xiangrui, the Great Sun Divine Bird, and Xuan Hu stared at each other—one large, two small.

Xuan Hu didn't want to get involved.

But he couldn't resist Xiangrui's bright eyes; Xiangrui carried a few bamboo shoots and crept forward, masking his aura and appearance, peering out to see a southwestern city lord—youthful, around thirty, face tense.

"Once you do something like this, there's no turning back."

"Hmph! Does refusing to do this let you turn back?!"

The city lord's expression tightened as he coldly said: "That man Duan plans to lead all the city lords of these lands—and my million people of the southwest—to join Qin Wu Hou. With such power, he could seize control of the southwest in this chaotic age."

"Even if we don't chase after the so-called Lord of the Central Plains, we could still build our own dominion—wealth, honor, luxury, all within reach. But if we now join Qin Wu Hou's alliance, we may gain no real benefit, only be bound by his constraints."

"We'd have to bow to him."

"Without our former status and power—why?!"

The young man punched the air; the nearby rock trembled violently, cracking into a wide fissure. He was Mu Taihong, who had previously opposed continuing the alliance with Qin Wu Hou. He said: "That man Duan holds his throne only because of his ancestors' merit—he has legitimacy."

"Li Guanyi is nothing more than a marquis—he ought to be the one surrendering to us! Besides, I've heard that in Li Guanyi's territories, laws are brutally strict, and even the lowest peasants are taught Wu Gong and literacy—what absurdity!"

"If they can wield Wu Gong and understand scholarship, what advantage do we still hold over them? There will surely be ungrateful beasts who rebel against our status and power."

The middle-aged man Xiong Tianrui said: "It's good for the people to practice martial arts and study literature—it can produce more talent and increase productivity."

Mu Taihong said: "Foolish!"

His expression was cold and haughty: "Do you really think the peasants bow to us because they believe our bloodline is inherently superior? That's just a lie to fool servants and commoners—how can you believe it too?"

"They obey us for only two reasons."

"One: we are strong. Two: they are ignorant."

"If everyone practices martial arts, how can we overpower them with sheer strength? How will the world know we tower above them? If everyone studies literature, the laws become known to all commoners—then our authority loses its unfathomable power."

"If everyone practices martial arts and studies literature, how can we transcend them?"

"This path is more dangerous than warfare. That man Duan only sees his ties to Tai Ping Gong but fails to notice he's lifting up the peasants. We cannot sit idly by!"

Mu Taihong clenched his teeth; he sensed a vast, overwhelming tide. Li Guanyi might treat them with courtesy, but his actions were digging up the very roots of these noble city lords—he was their fundamental enemy.

This danger was more terrifying than any blade.

But the other city lords, the older generation, saw only the surface warmth and failed to perceive this deeper contradiction and threat—how tragic, how lamentable.

Mu Taihong said coldly: "Our southwest spans thousands of li—we've endured this way for generations. We don't need outsiders meddling."

"Our ancestors' laws must not change. Their blood must not be disgraced. The hierarchy of rank must remain unchanged. Even if the King of the Southwest decides otherwise, I will not let them stray. Here, we live freely—how can we become subjects to others?!"

The middle-aged man pondered long, then said: "That makes sense."

Then he asked: "So, will you challenge Qin Wu Hou?"

Mu Taihong fell silent.

Challenge Qin Wu Hou?

Are you serious?

Qin Wu Hou is invincible—the fifth divine general of this age.

Those words shattered his ambitions completely; he could not utter a single word.

After a long silence.

Mu Taihong changed the subject: "... Qin Wu Hou is merely a brute with no strategy—only brute strength. We need not fear him. Don't worry—our goal isn't to fight Qin Wu Hou. We only need to sabotage the alliance."

"The hearts of the million people of the southwest are the key to defeating Li Guanyi!"

Xiong Tianrui said: "What?"

Mu Taihong said: "You know our southwest possesses three supreme treasures."

Xiong Tianrui said: "Yes—one is the divine beast Xiangrui, left by our ancestor Jiuli Bingzhu."

"The second is the forging metal left behind by Jiuli Bingzhu."

"It can be forged into a weapon of Jiuli Bingzhu rank. Legend says that when Jiuli Bingzhu returns, he will again forge divine weapons from this metal, sweeping away all enemies and finally slaying the Taigu Chilong to claim the realm."

"Though merely a legend passed down through generations, many still believe it."

"Thirdly, twenty-four pearl beads, gifts from the ancient Jiuli Bingzhu to the goddess."

Mu Taihong said: "Yes, when the former Southwest King gifted the pearls, many were already displeased. Now that the national treasure has returned, no one speaks out—but if Qin Wu Hou arrives and the national treasure is returned to him, the people will all rejoice."

"What if, just as Qin Wu Hou arrives, this national treasure vanishes again? What do you think?"

Xiong Tianrui gasped in shock: "Are you planning to frame Qin Wu Hou for this?"

Mu Taihong said: "He is an outsider to begin with. His father once took the pearls. Now that he comes, he will likely bring with him those hundreds of thousands of troops—everyone is tense. In such a situation, if the pearls vanish, with a little manipulation, we can steer public outrage."

"Even if it's not his doing, the Southwest King losing the national treasure twice is a grave dereliction of duty. The Southwest King lacks popular support; any so-called alliance is empty talk."

Xiong Tianrui was astonished.

He exhaled slowly and said:

"I thought you would confront Qin Wu Hou directly."

Mu Taihong sneered: "Qin Wu Hou's military might is unmatched in the realm—but victory in this world is not decided solely on the battlefield. As long as we achieve our goal, we can still call it victory!"

"Besides, after we win, His Majesty the Emperor has promised me the title of Southwest King. You are my confidant, my cousin—when that happens, my position as city lord will naturally become yours!"

Xiong Tianrui suddenly understood.

Mu Taihong gave further orders, then watched Xiong Tianrui depart. Suddenly, he pulled a box from his robe—inside were the twenty-four pearl beads. He sneered: "…Thus, Xiong Tianrui becomes my evidence."

He felt a deep pride: "How do I shed suspicion of theft?"

"Naturally—by pretending I always intended to steal the pearls, but my plan was never fully realized. Use a small crime to conceal a greater one…"

"Southwest King, Southwest King—what a glorious title! Under Qin Wu Hou, I won't enjoy the freedom I have now—I'll be bound by countless restrictions. Qin Wu Hou is merely temporarily powerful; he means nothing."

"Even if Qin Wu Hou truly possesses unmatched military might and claims the realm…"

"With our contribution of surrendering this city and our alliance status, we'd be no more than founding generals. How can that compare to ruling as a king in the Southwest Nation, doing as I please, living in utter freedom?"

"Foolish! Foolish!"

"The Southwest King—the heir of Jiuli—such a title should be mine. When that Duan man's name becomes infamous, I will reclaim these pearls and win the hearts of the people."

"Pity, pity—if only I could take up the forging stone."

"I would gain even greater renown."

"But forging a weapon for Jiuli Bingzhu, slaying the Taigu Chilong to claim the realm—this is all nonsense. What use is it if foolish commoners believe it? Falsehoods remain false, forever unable to become truth."

Mu Taihong laughed bitterly several times, then threw the twenty-four pearl beads into the hidden lake. Xiangrui, Xuanhu, and Shen Niao watched as the beads slipped from beneath their eyes into the water.

Xuanhu: "…………"

Shen Niao: "…………"

Xiangrui: "…………"

They were also used during Jiuli's marriage proposal.

Should I fish them up?

If I give them to Jiuli, will he stop bothering me?

Xiangrui pondered, pulled out a bamboo shoot, and carefully slipped it into his mouth.

At this point…

First, eat a shoot to calm down.

Crunch—

Mu Taihong whirled around sharply:

"Who!!!"

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