"Is the Great Fu Kingdom truly that powerful?"
Ji Xia sat solemnly on the throne of the royal court. Below him were the two high ministers, Qing and Ze, along with other important officials: Lu Yu, Zhao Qu, Meng Gui, Chang Feng, and Ji Qianqing.
"My king, compared to Taicang, Great Fu is like a vast lake to a small pond. Their territory is dozens of times larger than ours. Their military might is beyond our comprehension, and they possess countless powerful cultivators. They are a nation overflowing with talent." Lu Yu explained the might of Great Fu.
Zhao Qu seemed lost in thought, his eyes clouded with memories. After a long pause, he spoke: "In my youth, I traveled to Great Fu to study ceremonial rites. Like Taicang, their totem is the Great Wind."
"The people of Great Fu resemble us in appearance, but they are born with innate sigils, and their blood is ink-black—proof that they are not of the same lineage as humans. To them, humans are no different from livestock—to be slaughtered at will."
Ji Xia frowned. "Zhou Qing will likely mine the remaining ten thousand jin of Flame Stones within three months. Once Great Fu sends their experts, will we have any hope of survival?"
Zhao Qu laughed bitterly and shook his head. "If Great Fu personally dispatches their experts, Taicang will have no chance."
Ji Qianqing's voice was somber. "In the Endless Wilds, the strong annihilate the weak. For the weak, there is no hope—not even a reason to exist."
Ji Xia suddenly slapped his forehead and stood up from the throne. "I am the Great Wind's envoy in the Endless Wilds! Since they also worship the Great Wind, shouldn't they spare me some face?"
Lu Yu and Meng Gui's eyes brightened at this, but Zhao Qu and Ji Qianqing stared at him with expressions that seemed to say: "Great Fu is the origin of the Great Wind faith. Do you really think you can deceive them?"
Seeing their looks, Ji Xia coughed awkwardly and sat back down.
As the group debated, a guard entered the hall and reported: "My king, the officials and citizens have been summoned to the palace square."
Ji Xia took a deep breath and descended the steps of the throne, walking toward the palace tower.
Atop the tower, Qing Furen was bound tightly with thick metal chains. Yin Ding stood behind him, holding a long blade. Below, a dense crowd had gathered—officials, soldiers, and ordinary citizens of Taicang.
Ji Xia spread his arms, and two maidservants stepped forward to adjust his robes and crown.
He walked to the edge of the tower and looked down at the sea of people.
The citizens of Taicang stared back at their new king—a ruler once infamous for his recklessness. Their gazes were filled with doubt, confusion, and despair.
"People of Taicang! I am Xia, son of Shang! From the moment of my father's passing, I became your rightful king under the laws of Taicang, the will of our ancestors, and the decree of the Great Wind!"
Ji Xia's voice, amplified by Meng Gui's magic, boomed across the land.
The crowd remained silent. Their memories of Ji Xia were still colored by the stories of his past misdeeds.
"Days ago, the Goujian Kingdom invaded Taicang in our time of suffering—when our land was stricken by disaster and our king had fallen. Yet the Cangshou Army fought valiantly, and by the Great Wind's divine miracle, we survived!"
Whispers spread through the crowd. Some had heard rumors of the Great Wind's envoy descending to save Taicang, but few knew the full truth.
"But today, another evil has come to our city. Eighty-six of our children—innocent and defenseless—were slaughtered!"
The crowd erupted. Screams of rage, curses, and wails of grief tore through the air like thunder.
Ji Xia remained silent, letting them vent their fury.
After a long while, he raised his hand, and the tens of thousands gradually quieted.
"The murderer is none other than Zhou Qing's State Preceptor, Qing Furen! After butchering our children, he sought to assassinate me—but our brave soldiers captured him! The cost was three hundred elite warriors and two great generals!"
"KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"
The crowd's fury was a physical force, their voices shaking the earth. Ji Xia waited again, letting their anger subside.
When silence returned, he declared:
"Our children are Taicang's future! For slaughtering them, Qing Furen's crime is greater than regicide. Today, as your king, I sentence him to death!"
The people roared in approval.
Behind Ji Xia, Zhao Qu spoke worriedly: "Killing Zhou Qing's State Preceptor may provoke them. If they seek revenge while we're already at war with Goujian, the danger will be too great."
"Exactly! Ji Xia, if you kill me, Zhou Qing will never let this go! Every last human in Taicang will perish!" Qing Furen's face was slick with sweat, but his voice was defiant, trying to intimidate the young king.
Ji Xia glanced at him and explained to Zhao Qu:
"The current king of Zhou Qing is no fool. Since Great Fu has promised to destroy Taicang for them, killing Qing Furen will only make them mine faster. It won't change anything."
"The irony is, this so-called State Preceptor came alone, hiding his tracks to steal my father's Sky Parasol Seed. Zhou Qing won't even know he's dead unless they investigate."
Zhao Qu nodded, then added: "What if we keep him as a hostage? It could deter Zhou Qing's aggression."
Before Ji Xia could respond, Lu Yu shook his head. "If Great Fu sends their experts, a hostage will mean nothing."
Qing Furen finally realized the futility of his threats. His earlier confidence had been arrogance—this young king was not as naive as he thought.
"Some advise me to spare this criminal, to use him as leverage for grain or resources. But I refuse!"
"He slaughtered Taicang's children—our future! No amount of grain or treasure can replace what we've lost. Only his blood can appease their souls!"
The crowd chanted: "THE KING OF TAICANG! THE KING OF TAICANG!"
Ji Xia raised his hand, and the Sword of Vengeance appeared in his grip.
He stepped toward Qing Furen, who stared up at him in terror.
"You can't kill me! I've just entered the Divine Ability Realm! My future is limitless! YOU CAN'T—"
The blade fell.
Ji Xia lifted the severed head high, blood dripping onto the stones below.
The crowd's frenzy reached its peak.
"The new king is the Great Wind's envoy!"
"The spectral army was a divine gift!"
The voices spread like wildfire. Thousands knelt, chanting his name and praising the Great Wind.
Ji Xia felt moved, exhilarated—but a thought lingered in his mind:
"The Rotten Divine Tree gains spirit seeds from the emotions of living beings. Surely admiration counts… With so many people acknowledging me…"