Xie Lufengsan's cold eyes, devoid of emotion, swept over everyone in the hall, his gaze fixed solely on the waist of King Wu Ji Fa.
At Ji Fa's waist, a palm-sized, lustrous jade-like seal. This was precisely what he was looking for, the Xuanyuan Token, as instructed by King Jin!
Xie Lufengsan had been greatly surprised when he heard in court that the King intended to attack the Wu Kingdom. Why would King Jin dispatch troops to attack such a chaotic, spirit-energy-scarce nation? It wasn't until the Grand Tutor mentioned the Xuanyuan Token that he suddenly understood.
The Xuanyuan Token was the key to entering the Xuanyuan Secret Treasury. Once the treasury was opened, if the Jin Kingdom could obtain some of the Xuanyuan Dynasty's treasures, their kingdom might advance further.
Unify the nine warring kingdoms, become a Dynasty, and dominate the world!
Above kingdoms were higher-level states, Dynasties!
How incredibly difficult it was for a kingdom to take that one step forward and become a Dynasty. The Jin Kingdom, established for over three thousand years, had been striving relentlessly but still saw no hope of advancement.
Until more than two thousand years ago, the then King of Jin ventured into a secret treasury, risking his life, and brought back the Xuanyuan Token. This unlocked a secret sealed for ten thousand years, a secret tied to the ten-thousand-year legacy of a Dynasty.
Suddenly, the King of Jin saw hope of advancing to a Dynasty. For this, he was willing to pay any price to find the remaining eight Xuanyuan Tokens.
It was not until the Wu Kingdom fell into internal strife that King Jin saw his opportunity. Although the Jin Kingdom could quell the Wu Kingdom with its full might, it would damage the Jin Kingdom's foundation and leave no clues to the other seven Xuanyuan Tokens. There was no need to rush.
This delay dragged on until now. It would be easy to send a detachment of cavalry deep into the Wu Kingdom's heartland to seize the Xuanyuan Token.
"Go!"
Seeing the weakened King Wu Ji Fa, Xie Lufengsan did not act himself. He ordered Han Yue Feng Dao forward to capture King Wu Ji Fa.
*Swish!*
A flash of saber light appeared. A blood-red, black iron saber instantly sliced past Han Yue Feng Dao's head. At the blade's edge, a saber energy suddenly flickered. A three-foot-long saber crescent condensed and, with lightning speed, detached from the blade, carrying immense bloody aura, and fiercely struck towards King Wu Ji Fa.
Watching the mountains and rivers shattered, and all available subordinates fallen, King Wu Ji Fa's warm heart turned completely cold.
Not a single court official dared to draw their saber and defend him. The great lords of the provinces held heavy armies, each ruling their own domain!
Once the ruler of a nation, he found himself personally clad in battle armor, his country shattered and his city breached. He saw, within his field of vision, the dim hall suddenly illuminated by a red light that lit up the entire palace. A red crescent moon instantly bore down upon King Wu Ji Fa.
He hated!
He hated himself for having issued the decree for regional forces to recruit soldiers and quell the Heavenly Gate's disaster. He hated sending Ji Hu alone into the depths of Yan Province, surrounded by enemies. He even more hated enlisting his own uncle and bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Anguo! Marquis of Anguo! What a Marquis of Anguo!
These chaotic lands were now occupied by heroes, hahaha, how ridiculous, how tragic, how lamentable!
*Clang!!*
A saber plunged directly into Ji Fa's chest, blasting open the golden dragon robe and revealing saber wounds covering his upper body.
"Puff!!"
King Wu Ji Fa instantly spat out a mouthful of blood. His already weakened body barely managed to fall to the ground.
"Hahahaha!!"
Ji Fa, supporting himself on the ground, his eyes bloodshot and his face purplish-blue, coughed out a stream of dark blood from his seven orifices.
Han Yue Feng Dao, wielding his saber, walked towards Ji Fa step by step.
Ji Fa struggled to stand, tossing aside the dragon robe he was wearing.
Xie Lufengsan's eyes immediately fixed on the royal robe Ji Fa had discarded. The thumb-sized Xuanyuan Token lay quietly upon the garment.
The successive Kings of Wu, understanding its significance, had made it a token of their lineage, passed down through generations.
Xie Lufengsan walked to the robe and took the Xuanyuan Token into his hand, his gaze sweeping over the dying King Wu Ji Fa.
"Han Yue Feng Dao, order the entire army to retreat!"
Xie Lufengsan said with a steady voice.
"What? General, we have finally..."
Han Yue Feng Dao looked at Xie Lufengsan in disbelief. They had traveled thousands of miles without rest, penetrating deep into enemy territory. The King of Wu was right before them, and the Wu Kingdom could be easily extinguished. To leave now? To abandon such a golden opportunity!
"Insolent! Do not forget the King's orders. Since the item is in hand, why should we waste our time here?"
Xie Lufengsan roared. Did he not know that this was his chance to resound throughout Jin? He was unwilling as well.
But the King's command was absolute. King Jin had not ordered the destruction of the kingdom, only to bring back the Xuanyuan Token at all costs!
Just as Xie Lufengsan was reprimanding Han Yue Feng Dao, suddenly.
"Hahaha!"
Ji Fa burst into frantic laughter and slowly walked towards the throne. Step by step, he tidied his disheveled robes and slowly ascended the throne.
Ji Fa surveyed the hall, his aged eyes filled with a bewildering light.
*Clang!!*
The King of Wu's sword, hanging on a pillar, was instantly drawn by Ji Fa and placed at his throat. His eyes fixed on the palace, sealed by Jin soldiers outside.
"Since I ascended the throne, I have not failed the subjects of the Wu Kingdom. But the tide of events is such that it cannot be reversed by one man alone."
"A thousand years of our kingdom are to be buried by my hand, hahaha!"
"Today, I, shall spill my blood in the palace, to offer sacrifice to my Ji family's kingdom!"
*Screech!!*
*Swish!!*
A saber swept across, and blood flowed freely from his neck!
*Clink! Clang!!*
A King of Wu, in his generation, tragically passed away, taking with him the two-thousand-year legacy of the Wu Kingdom, buried in the chaotic flames of war!
"Your Majesty!! Your Majesty!!"
The Grand Tutor hastily crawled to Ji Fa's side, weeping profusely. "Farewell, King of Wu! Farewell, King of Wu!"
Immediately, some officials followed suit.
Xie Lufengsan and Han Yue Feng Dao frowned as they witnessed this scene.
"He was a good King of Wu!"
Xie Lufengsan turned and walked towards the hall's exit. Since the matter was concluded, he needed to hurry back to report to the King!
*Swish!!*
*Rumble Rumble Rumble!!*
As Han Yue Feng Dao stepped out of the hall, a star-like burst of light instantly engulfed the hall, burying the entire palace in flames.
"Help me!!"
"Ah!!"
"Help me!!"
The officials of the Wu Kingdom inside the hall rushed towards the exit.
*Swoosh Swoosh Swoosh!!*
Before they could even escape the inferno, they were shot down by the Jin soldiers' powerful crossbows, all perishing in the blaze.
"Peh! No backbone. Since you dared not follow your King to the afterlife, then it is my duty to send you on your way!"
Han Yue Feng Dao looked with contempt at the Wu officials killed by crossbows. This was what he detested the most. This King of Wu had some backbone, not disgracing the fame of the Ji family. But look at the kind of people this Wu Kingdom had nurtured.
Xie Lufengsan mounted his warhorse and waved his hand lightly. Tens of thousands of cavalry thundered out of the palace and headed towards the city gates.
The thousand-year-old palace was instantly consumed by fire, disappearing from this bustling world, leaving behind only ashes!