Mythical Three Kingdoms

At the moment Tian Feng touched the Xuanyuan Heaven Cauldron, the golden radiance flowing across its surface suddenly contracted into the Cauldron itself. Stripped of its blinding brilliance, the Heaven Cauldron revealed its true form—a bronze antiquity, its mysterious engravings fully displayed before Tian Feng.

When the Heaven Cauldron dropped before Tian Feng, he remained in a dazed state. Shortly after, Guan Yu touched the Xuanyuan Human Cauldron ahead of Yann Liang and also entered a trance-like state. A long while later, the two simultaneously opened their eyes. Tian Feng stroked the patterns on the Heaven Cauldron and prepared to lift it with his hands and take it away.

On the other side, Guan Yu did the same, but the difference was stark—Guan Yu easily hefted the Xuanyuan Human Cauldron, which weighed several tons, while Tian Feng’s face flushed red with effort, the Heaven Cauldron barely budging from the ground.

”Yann Liang, help me!” Tian Feng, his face reddened from exertion, called out to the barely-arrived Yann Liang. Yann Liang touched the Heaven Cauldron and similarly fell into a brief trance before decisively lifting the Cauldron and retreating with it.

As for the Cauldron being carried away by Guan Yu, Tian Feng had no way to intervene. His soldiers were all weakened, their limbs trembling, completely incapable of helping. Even if they recovered their strength, they remained trapped within the encirclement.

Guo Jia bit his finger in hesitation. His troops couldn’t recover quickly, blocking Yann Liang and Tian Feng was clearly impossible. Yet letting the Xuanyuan Heaven Cauldron be taken away was equally intolerable to Guo Jia.

”Tian Yuanhao!” Guo Jia suddenly roared at Tian Feng on the opposing side.

”Guo Fengxiao, next time, I won’t be so careless.” Tian Feng stared gravely in Guo Jia’s direction and said, ”If I ever manage to capture you, I will surely present you to my lord. It was indeed an error for Lord Guo Gongze to have let you leave back then!”

”Hmph, less boastful words! If not for the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons’ emergence today, this would have been the day of your demise!” Guo Jia responded coldly. ”I, Guo Jia, swear this—though I lost the Cauldron today due to my folly, one day I will see the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons delivered to Liu Bei!”

At that moment, a sharp glint flashed in Guo Jia’s eyes. Bitter though he felt, he understood there was no suitable solution—at the very least, both Cauldrons could not fall into Yuan Shao’s hands.

”Let’s go!” Tian Feng sneered and instructed Yann Liang to carry away the Xuanyuan Heaven Cauldron. Representing three centuries of national fate, this divine artifact could not be so easily relinquished!

”General Guan, let us depart as well. Zhou Cang, Sima Ju, Jiang Gong, prepare yourselves—once the soldiers recover strength, lead the troops south to Jiyin.” Guo Jia gave brief instructions before directing Guan Yu to carry the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons away. Despite the dissipating oppressive aura, ordinary people remained unable to approach the Cauldrons without their knees trembling. Even to haul the artifacts by cart, the horses required would have to be divine steeds!

However, just as the oppressive aura emanating from the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons began to subside, and the kneeling masses of the world were about to stand, a Phoenix Cry swept through the Great Han Dynasty once more.

”The Jade Seal…” Li Ru’s face darkened as if scorched. On the other side, Chen Xi, who had always thought of the Jade Seal as a mere ornament, saw it abruptly activated.

”Legend has it that Bian He presented the Hee Clan Jade upon seeing a phoenix land on Chu Mountain—a manifestation of the Chu State’s national fate, wasn’t it?” Chen Xi asked Li Ru rhetorically as he viewed the scene.

”...” Li Ru’s face clouded, remaining silent. He had researched the Jade Seal thoroughly without discovering any hidden qualities, and thus treated it as a decorative item, going so far as to use it as bait. Who would have thought that the artifact truly bore the power of national destiny!

After the Phoenix Cry, those sensitive to fate across the world turned their gaze toward Shouchun. Sun Ce had blithely left the Jade Seal unattended at his home without any vigilance, treating the item as inconsequential.

”Phoenix Cry?” Yuan Shu murmured to himself as he looked toward Jii Ling.

”Congratulations, Lord!” Jii Ling immediately knelt before Yuan Shu in reverence.

”Use it for naught,” Yuan Shu said dismissively, though a flicker of greed shone in his eyes as he beheld the Golden Phoenix now visible within Shouchun City. He promptly composed himself. ”I’ve said I don’t want it, so I won’t want it. No matter its authenticity, ensure Bofu’s kin are protected. Anyone who dares covet the divine artifact shall be executed without mercy!”

The thirteen-year-old Sun Quan stood beside the bookshelf where the Jade Seal rested. While others knelt, he tilted his head, watching the Seal with a mixture of curiosity and desire.

”Yu Ji…” Zixu’s eyes were icy as he fixed his gaze upon Yu Ji. ”Was this your doing? The Jade Seal bore only three hundred years of national fate, which was already spent three hundred years ago. How could it surge with fate once more?”

”If I had that kind of power, would I still bother collecting Fate?” Yu Ji sneered, gripping his horsetail whisk. If he’d known that the Jade Seal retained national destiny, he would have stolen it without hesitation earlier, but alas, timing was against him.

Zixu stared at Yu Ji, realizing his question had been foolish. He promptly turned his gaze coldly back to Yu Ji. ”But you’ll still not escape today.”

”Not escape?” Yu Ji laughed disdainfully. ”Do you have the ability to make that happen?”

On the edges of Jiujiang, Fa Zheng’s eyes gleamed fiercely following the Phoenix Cry’s appearance, while Gan Ning’s expression revealed keen interest. Although the direct oppressive aura was overwhelming, they had already realized that the Jade Seal in Shouchun City possessed a national destiny no less potent than the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons.

”Shall we attack Shouchun?” Gan Ning’s inquiry was sharp and unmistakably clear in its intent.

”No. Given that our objective is clear, any sudden shift will only lead to chaos and wasteful effort,” Fa Zheng moderated his desire as he responded calmly.

”The Jade Seal, is it?” Zhou Yu’s lips curled into a smile. Moments earlier, he’d fretted over whether Yuan Shao or Liu Bei would claim the six hundred years of national fate stored within the Cauldrons—only to discover that the true destiny had always been in their possession.

”Father…” Sun Ce silently looked back toward Shouchun and grew resolutely steadfast once more.

”The Jade Seal, is it?” Pang Tong murmured as he stroked his diminutive beard.

In Yongliang, Cao Cao felt a deep bitterness—first the Heaven-Man Dual Cauldrons, then the Jade Seal—none of these artifacts were tied to him.

Liu Xie knelt in humiliation, his hands clenched and his fingernails imbedded into his palms with rage. Why hadn’t the Jade Seal exhibited its current strength when it was once in his possession? Was he not the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty?

Yuan Shao looked back toward Shouchun, a faint smile playing across his lips. In his eyes, Yuan Shu’s belongings were destined to become his—it was surely fortune’s favor upon him.

Zichuan, ah, you were mistaken despite your wisdom. But back then, your counsel primarily aimed to keep me from grasping a flaming coal, didn’t it? Could the great treasure of the Han Dynasty truly fall into the hands of others?” Liu Bei turned toward Shouchun with unwavering resolve.

”Endless turmoil,” Jia Xu scoffed as he looked toward Shouchun. Though plans had unraveled, what mattered that? They would face Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu simultaneously—their accumulated strength was utterly formidable!

”Does the divine artifact conceal itself?” Wang Yue murmured to himself, glancing at Liu Xie within the grand hall. ”Perhaps it’s because one is unfit to possess it. Cao Mengde, I await you—let me see what you’re truly made of!” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read further.)