Minghu Prefecture, governed by the Xiaoyao Sect, is renowned for its central attraction—Ming Lake. The aquatic soul beasts residing within the lake possess exceptionally tender and delicious meat, and when prepared using special culinary techniques, consuming them can greatly benefit soul cultivators, improving both their energy and eyesight.
However, the prefecture shares a border with the Qin Dynasty's ally, the Wei Kingdom. At this very moment, the Wei Kingdom's army is quietly advancing, attempting to infiltrate Minghu Prefecture unnoticed.
Similarly, Hongfeng Prefecture, under the jurisdiction of the Blood Spirit Valley, is famous for its Red Maple Forests. The newly sprouted maple leaves are a vibrant red, giving the landscape the appearance of a sea of blood. But within two to three months, the leaves transform into a soothing shade of orange, making the view particularly delightful.
However, like Minghu Prefecture, Hongfeng Prefecture borders the Autumn Kingdom. In line with the previous agreement between the Qin Dynasty and its allies, the Autumn Kingdom is also covertly assembling forces to launch an attack on the Blood Spirit Valley.
Initially, both kingdoms were brimming with confidence, believing that their stealthy maneuvers would lead to a swift and decisive victory. Their plan was to capture Minghu Prefecture and Hongfeng Prefecture in one fell swoop, disrupting the Xiaoyao Sect and the Blood Spirit Valley's defenses on the front lines.
Both prefectures were adjacent to each other, and the Autumn and Wei Kingdoms aimed to coordinate their attacks, capturing the territories swiftly and using them as a base for further incursions. They believed that once the Xiaoyao Sect and the Blood Spirit Valley were forced to retreat and defend, the Qin Dynasty could intensify its offensive.
Everything seemed perfect—at least, that was the plan conceived by the Wei and Autumn Kingdoms in collaboration with the Qin Dynasty. However, deep within the Red Maple Ridge in Hongfeng Prefecture, an Autumn Kingdom soldier, out of breath and terrified, leaned against a maple tree for a brief rest. His mind echoed with the words of his general before they set out on this mission.
"This operation will guarantee your rise to power. The king has already decreed that once Hongfeng Prefecture is captured, the spoils will be distributed to everyone. No one will be left out."
"Hah... distributed to everyone?" The bloodstained soldier leaned back against the tree trunk, his expression vacant as he murmured to himself, "Evil deeds always catch up to you in the end. Is this the retribution for our past actions?"
In reality, both the Autumn and Wei Kingdoms, heavily influenced by their ally, the Qin Dynasty, had a long history of cruelty toward ordinary civilians. They never feared rebellion because they believed the common people lacked the strength to resist.
Whether it was the Qin Dynasty's marquises, generals, or even the regular army and city guards, all positions were inherited by their offspring, who used their absolute power to oppress the populace. The common folk, unable to surpass the Forming Origin Realm, had no means of resistance.
Even when a rare genius emerged among the people, they would be quickly seized, brainwashed, and molded into the next generation of city guards or soldiers. The Qin Dynasty's two famous marquises were both originally from the common people, but they had long forgotten their roots, now reveling in their elevated status.
For those rare geniuses who refused to submit or showed any sign of defiance, they would be mercilessly eliminated. Even if the oppressed citizens longed for rebellion, they lacked the strength to act.
Lin Qian once wondered why the common people did not resist their oppression. It took him a while to realize that he was no longer on the blue planet of his past life—he was in an entirely different world.
The vastness of the Soul Martial Continent far exceeded Lin Qian's imagination. Even the size of a single province like Linhai Prefecture surpassed the total landmass of his previous world's blue planet.
Crack!
Back in Hongfeng Prefecture, the soldier resting under the maple tree suddenly slammed his hand against the tree trunk, using it for support as he struggled to stand.
Snap!
At that moment, the tree trunk behind the soldier shattered. A sharp, metal-tipped whip pierced through the tree and drove straight through his chest.
The soldier stared in disbelief at the triangular blade protruding from his chest, his eyes widening. "So... they found me after all?"
Splurt!
Blood splattered as the segmented metal whip retracted, coiling back to the armored giant wolf that had emerged from behind the tree. The whip was attached to the wolf's tail, which was equipped with the deadly weapon.
The giant wolf was clad in armor, and even its sharp eyes were covered with a thin crystalline layer. As it approached the soldier, it opened its mouth and spoke in a deep, human voice: "Those who offend the Huaxia Empire, no matter how far, will be exterminated!"
With those words, the wolf flicked its tail, sending blood splattering to the ground before it darted off into the depths of the Red Maple Forest.
The soldier, now mortally wounded, feebly clutched his chest as he staggered back and collapsed onto the ground. His life force was fading, but he could still feel the tremors in the earth as a pack of armored giant wolves thundered past, disappearing into the dense forest.
"How could such... monsters exist?" The soldier muttered as blood continued to pour from his mouth. Leaning his head against the tree trunk, he gazed up at the red maple leaves overhead.
When the Autumn Kingdom's forces invaded Hongfeng Prefecture, they encountered no resistance initially—no signs of the Blood Spirit Valley's presence. But when they reached the heart of the prefecture, their nightmare began.
Twenty powerful Awakening Realm experts from the Blood Spirit Valley suddenly appeared, engaging the enemy generals in battle, and the fight quickly ascended into the sky.
Then, the terrifying Silvermoon Wolves appeared.
Clad in soul-forged armor far superior to anything the enemy had, these fearsome wolves not only stared them down but also spoke with human voices, leaving the soldiers paralyzed with fear.
The battle quickly became one-sided. In the dense Red Maple Forest, the agile Silvermoon Wolves easily outmaneuvered the invaders. And for those who tried to flee by flying into the sky, they were swiftly struck down by enormous soul energy arrows from an unseen archer, each shot deadly accurate.
No one had seen who fired those arrows.
Anyone who dared to escape into the air was instantly pierced by the deadly arrows, falling lifelessly to the ground. Meanwhile, those trapped in the forest found themselves hunted relentlessly by the wolves, who circled them like predators stalking their prey.
As the soldier sat at the base of the maple tree, his consciousness began to fade. Flashbacks of his past misdeeds played before his eyes—women he had violated, children he had killed, and the elderly woman he had trampled to death. It was as if they had all returned to mock him, laughing at the irony of his fate.
"Is this retribution?" The soldier chuckled bitterly, his hands slowly slipping from his chest as his eyes closed for the last time. His final words echoed faintly in the quiet forest:
"I was wrong..."