Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Let me sneak a peek at Zichuan’s Vitality Number.” Fan Liang once again used the Method of Observing Qi to secretly glance in Chen Xi’s direction, then stroked his beard with a satisfied expression.

”Hmm, steady progress as always.” Fan Liang nodded approvingly. ”But why is it tied to the nation’s fate now?”

When Fan Liang inadvertently noticed the faint, intermittent link between Chen Xi and the nation’s fortune, he froze. It seemed like something he hadn’t encountered in the family teachings before.

What was going on here? Fan Liang was somewhat dumbfounded. After probing twice to ensure there was no hidden threat, he felt fully at ease. He enjoyed this type of ’fragile patient, quiet as a gourd’ character: one day, they awaken with a brilliant outburst, transforming dramatically and soaring like a dragon across the heavens. That was his idea of true potential.

”Zichuan, what are you looking around for?” Zhao Yun quietly asked.

”I feel like someone’s watching me.” Chen Xi squirmed uncomfortably. ”It feels like someone’s spying on me, but I can’t pinpoint them.”

”There’s no one...” Zhao Yun swept a glance around filled with Killing Intent, making all lurking figures invisible to his gaze tremble. After finishing his scan, he turned back to Chen Xi and spoke.

”Then maybe I’m just being overly sensitive.” Chen Xi said awkwardly, admitting that he sometimes tended to overthink things.

After Liu Bei and the group finished paying respects at the Stele and the Xuanyuan Cauldron, they gradually departed. Chen Xi, however, stayed behind due to some matters that needed his attention.

As Liu Bei and the others left, Zuo Ci, clad in a Taoist Robe and holding a horsetail whisk, suddenly appeared naturally in front of the Xuanyuan Cauldron.

”Taoist Master Zuo, once again, we must trouble you to chant scriptures.” Chen Xi said with a smile.

”Are you not worried that I, like others, might set my sights on the Xuanyuan Cauldron? This is a Divine Artifact of the nation. Refining the Fate within it won’t just bring Ascension through clouds but could easily add thousands of years to one’s lifespan.” A peculiar gleam crossed Zuo Ci’s eyes.

”Taoist Master Zuo would likely refrain from such deeds,” Chen Xi calmly replied.

”’Likely’? And yet you so easily leave the Xuanyuan Cauldron here?” Zuo Ci laughed. Such words, he wouldn’t believe so easily.

”This is Mount Tai. Here, no one can take away the Xuanyuan Cauldron.” Looking to the heavens, Chen Xi then confidently gazed at Zuo Ci and spoke.

”Truly impressive elite troops.” Zuo Ci muttered after a long moment. ”Envelop Fenggao City in Cloud Qi, and no one can steal it. For any group, individual power is simply too insignificant.”

”The main reason is that you don’t covet the Xuanyuan Cauldron. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare let you guard it—’stealing what one guards’ would be disastrous.” Chen Xi chuckled. ”It seems you and Zixu truly hold to your principles.”

”It’s less a matter of principles and more a matter of differing pursuits. At our core, we’re all searching for Immortality. But the difference lies here,” Zuo Ci shook his head and even grouped himself with those Taoists he despised, then pointed to his own chest.

”Is Immortality truly possible?” Chen Xi asked with curiosity.

”Yes, for someone like yourself, capable of manifesting Spiritual Talent, or someone like the military generals who achieve Inner Qi Manifestation. Pursuing Immortality is straightforward,” Zuo Ci stated, leaving Chen Xi in disbelief.

”How could that be?” Chen Xi exclaimed in shock.

”It’s simple: maintain a clear mind, abstain from indulgence in wine, women, wealth, and anger, and feel neither joy nor rage.” Zuo Ci’s words made Chen Xi completely lose interest in the idea of Immortality.

”What’s the point of Immortality under such conditions?” Chen Xi rolled his eyes.

”Immortality is not the same as Eternal Life...” Zuo Ci said, deliberately leaving his words heavy with implication, at which Chen Xi froze. He then silently repeated, ”Immortality is not the same as Eternal Life... Is that how it is?”

”In that case, I’d rather live a brilliant life.” Chen Xi shrugged. ”Taoist Master Zuo, the Jingling Palace is in your hands for now. Soon, the Xuanyuan Heaven Cauldron will also be moved here,” Chen Xi added after glancing at Zuo Ci.

”Then it shall be kept here,” Zuo Ci nodded.

In comparison to the perils Guan Yu faced on his return journey, Yann Liang’s situation was significantly smoother. He only had to deal with slaying five or six Immortals, the strongest of whom was roughly on his level. Even during his most dangerous moments, it was far less daunting than what Guan Yu encountered when pursued by ten Immortals at once.

Unlike Guan Yu, who was surrounded, Yann Liang’s opponents were already fleeing—chased relentlessly by Lyu Bu all the way from Beyond the Great Wall.

Though those ten-plus Immortals could fly, were strong in combat, and had decent skill levels, they were systematically hunted down by Lyu Bu with his bow and arrows. Over the course of the pursuit, Lyu Bu attacked any flying humanoid figures he encountered, killing thirty-plus Immortals while leaving only a dozen alive.

Witnessing Lyu Bu savagely slice through several Immortals and capture one called Big Dipper alive, Yann Liang grew increasingly wary of him. Yet Lyu Bu, carrying Big Dipper, ignored Yann Liang completely and charged after the remaining Immortals.

Yann Liang later saw a scene that chilled him to the bone. Lyu Bu, enduring the opposing attacks head-on, slaughtered all the Immortals. He then wept as he ripped Big Dipper to shreds before wandering off, dazed and broken.

The one who drove Lyu Bu to madness, attacking without care for his own life, was this Big Dipper. His own reckless actions led to the massacre of every Immortal and Barbarian in the Northland at Lyu Bu’s hands.

A slight step back in time: when Big Dipper was about to enter the Central Plains, all ten of his manifestations, including his main body, were rapidly killed by Lyu Bu. Big Dipper retaliated with the Death Mark, targeting Lyu Bu.

While Lyu Bu failed to dodge Big Dipper’s ultimate move—a curse-like ability designed to instantly kill a practitioner of Inner Qi Separation—it only caused him to spit blood.

Although the attack did little to harm Lyu Bu himself, it had drastic consequences for others. This ability was inherently a curse!

The Death Mark failed to kill Lyu Bu but instead struck his loved ones and family. While Zhang Liao and Gao Shun emerged unscathed due to their martial prowess, Lyu Bu’s Legal Wife died on the spot, Lyu Qiling was gravely injured, and Diao Chan suffered severe wounds...

In that moment, Lyu Bu, a man of unparalleled Heart Spirit, instinctively felt what had happened to his family. Enraged and filled with despair, he entered a berserk state, using a single strike from the Sky Piercer to obliterate all of Big Dipper’s clones and cut his main body in half.

By that point, if Big Dipper didn’t realize he was outmatched, his 200 years of existence would have been meaningless. He immediately fled, using others as pawns to delay his grim fate. In the process, all 30-plus Immortals in the North were slain by Lyu Bu, including three Xianbei Warriors tasked with combat who didn’t even manage to report their names before falling in Bingzhou.

In his Berserk state, Lyu Bu was unrivaled under the Sky Piercer. Every attack against him was brushed aside by sheer force and momentum. Though he was drenched in blood, his ferocity was undeniable.

Consumed with regret, Lyu Bu eventually returned to Bingzhou silently. Knowing that the dead could not come back to life, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Diao Chan as well. After slaying Big Dipper, he returned straight to Jiuyuan, leaving his grievances with the northern factions for a future reckoning.