Strength was the only true bargaining chip in any negotiation.
Fan Li’s words hung in the air, his presence before Empress Yao Guang showcased his power.
The Empress smiled, seemingly unfazed by his audacity.
An Emperor’s anger could lay waste to a thousand miles.
But she restrained herself.
As Fan Li’s words faded, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan all took a step closer to him, a silent show of support.
This was their stance.
Within the Five Kingdoms Alliance, Yao Guang might be the strongest.
But Wei, Han, and Wu… they stood with Fan Li.
“Then… let the summit begin.”
The Empress maintained her smile, but her voice was firm, her control over the meeting undeniable.
“I convened this summit for a single purpose.
Regardless of what has transpired, the Five Kingdoms Alliance must endure. To conquer the Great Ming remains our shared goal.
Past, present, and future, we are allies, bound by blood and iron.
Therefore, when I decide to launch my campaign against the Great Ming, you will stand by my side.
Do you have any objections?”
Empress Yao Guang’s words, spoken with an air of righteous indignation, left the four men speechless.
The alliance must endure?
Bound by blood and iron?
Was she truly claiming to be the one upholding the alliance, when it was she who had betrayed them?
And were they, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and Fan Li, the ones threatening to destroy the alliance?
“Yao Guang, I have a few questions. I request your clarification.” Cao Cao’s voice was cold and heavy.
“Speak freely, Emperor Wei.”
Yao Guang stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her confidence unwavering even in the face of four powerful rulers who controlled half the land under Heaven.
“Are you aware, Your Majesty, that during the Yunzhou campaign, I lost my most trusted advisor, Guo Fengxiao?”
Yao Guang’s voice was casual, as if she were discussing a trivial matter.
“And are you aware, Your Majesty, that Crown Prince Wanli was aided by a Great Vehicle Realm expert?”
The sound of bones snapping.
Cao Cao’s fist clenched, his fingernails digging into his flesh, drawing blood.
“That Great Vehicle Realm expert… Do you know who it was?”
“Of course I do.” Yao Guang’s smile widened. “She is my dear sister, the Archery Sage of the Great Ci Dynasty, Ah Chang.”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Spiritual energy erupted.
Cao Cao’s rage shook the earth, dispersing the clouds in the sky.
His aura, powerful and unrestrained, whipped around Yao Guang, making her robes billow.
Sun Quan and Liu Bei were also enraged.
An Emperor’s fury was a terrifying thing. But even more terrifying… was the combined anger of three Emperors.
They glared at Empress Yao Guang, their eyes burning with a murderous intensity.
Their spiritual energy surged. They were ready to unleash their strongest attacks.
“Guo Fengxiao… I am an old man now. I had hoped to entrust my legacy to him. Yao Guang, give me one reason why I should not attack you this instant!” Cao Cao’s voice was filled with grief and rage.
He was a man of reason, but also a man of deep emotions.
To be rational and to be emotional, they were not mutually exclusive.
“My Gongjin, a man of unparalleled talent, his loss is irreplaceable!” Sun Quan roared, his eyes bloodshot. “You killed him, Yao Guang! You might as well have killed me! This grudge… will not be easily forgotten!”
Liu Bei was the last to speak.
Tears streamed down his face, his voice trembling.
“I cannot avenge my Chancellor. What good is a vast empire if I cannot protect those I cherish?”
Fan Li remained silent.
Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia, their deaths were a devastating loss for Wei, Han, and Wu. The three Emperors’ anger was understandable.
He was simply curious.
Yao Guang wasn't a fool. Surely she had anticipated their reaction.
Why had she convened this summit?
Was she not afraid of facing their wrath?
Yao Guang, in the face of their combined fury, laughed.
Her laughter echoed across the plains, growing louder, until it drowned out the three Emperors’ voices.
“Please, calm yourselves, my esteemed colleagues.”
As she laughed, she retrieved a small, palm-sized wooden box.
The box was beautifully crafted, its material exquisite.
But surely, even such a treasure couldn't compensate for the deaths of Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia?
As Yao Guang opened the box, a brilliant light emerged, accompanied by a fragrant aroma.
Even Fan Li, a man of immense wealth, was curious to see what lay within.
Intrigued, the three Emperors suppressed their anger, their gazes fixed upon the treasure within the box.
They stared in disbelief.
It was just a box of dirt!
But the light and the fragrance emanating from it…
They realized that this seemingly ordinary dirt was anything but ordinary.
“Please, calm yourselves, Your Majesties. I offer the means to obtain this treasure as compensation for your losses.”
Only the means to obtain it?
What was this dirt, that she possessed a portion of it, yet was unwilling to part with it?
To simply offer them the means to obtain it… Did she truly believe this was enough to compensate for the deaths of three brilliant strategists?
He looked at the three Emperors. Perhaps he was simply ignorant. Perhaps they recognized this mysterious dirt.
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan… they were also confused.
“This is no ordinary dirt…” Cao Cao said slowly. “But forgive my ignorance, I do not recognize it. Your Majesty, please enlighten us. What is this, and what are its properties?”
Hearing Cao Cao’s question, Fan Li sighed inwardly.
Therefore, he was willing to negotiate, to accept a trade.
For an Emperor, the well-being of his nation always came first.
Even the most benevolent ruler, with the deepest affection for his subjects…
Their emotions were ultimately limited.
Once the deal was struck, the three strategists who had died in Yunzhou…
They would be forgotten.
Yao Guang’s next words shocked everyone.
“This is a gift from Nüwa. It is called: Xirang.”
There was no need for elaborate descriptions, no need for exaggeration.
Fan Li held his breath.
He even heard the three Emperors’ hearts beating rapidly. But he couldn't smile.
The legendary Xirang!
The sacred dirt used to mend the heavens?!
“Xirang… What are its properties?” Cao Cao swallowed hard, his voice hoarse but his excitement palpable.
Although its authenticity hadn’t been verified, if this was truly a divine artifact, then all other spirit treasures, regardless of their grade, were insignificant in comparison.
Empress Yao Guang smiled, but chose to answer indirectly.
“I stumbled upon an ancient secret realm belonging to Nüwa. I attempted to enter, and I saw five portions of Xirang.
My strength is limited. After countless attempts, I only managed to obtain one portion.
If Your Majesties are willing to join me in exploring Nüwa’s secret realm, we can divide the remaining four portions equally.
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan exchanged glances, their expressions shifting rapidly.
“Its properties? Tell us! What can Xirang do?” Sun Quan pressed.
Yao Guang’s laughter was beautiful, like the tinkling of jade pendants.
But Fan Li sensed a hint of triumph in her voice.
She hadn’t even revealed Xirang’s properties, and Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan were already intrigued.
Their anger, their desire for revenge, had vanished. They were now consumed by greed.
Yao Guang’s laughter subsided. She finally revealed Xirang’s power, its most seductive allure.
“If one were to refine a portion of Xirang and use it in battle…
Regardless of one’s location, one would be able to utilize Pangu’s Giant Body. Its effect would last for twelve hours…”