Variables, Part 1

December 30, 1188.

Snowflakes fluttered down, like powder or dust, gradually covering the entire Official Road Great Roads leading to the Great Capital.

The Sea of Trees changes from dark green to mottled white, and then to pure white.

Along the winding Official Road in the middle, stretching for several miles, were constantly moving black-armored cavalry.

Between the cavalry, a six-meter-tall mobile oxcart, like a building, constantly moved with the army.

Military flags fluttered like a forest in the wind.

On the oxcart pavilion.

A Golden-Haired Man dressed in a black robe and wearing a black cross necklace gazed silently at the snowy landscape in the distance.

The man had a handsome and flawless face, emerald green eyes, and a high nose bridge, clearly indicating that he was Hu Xi People or a Westerner.

This person may look young, but his eyes reveal a strange sense of vicissitude.

"I remember the last time I came here was eighty years ago. Back then, the Heavenly Treasure Palace had not yet planted Sunny Flower, and the whole mountain was covered with traces of fire."

"As Senior Saint Heaven One gets older, he cherishes the past more and more."

On the platform behind the pavilion, a middle-aged man dressed in Python Robe approached with a smile.

"We're almost at Great Capital. Let's think about how to deal with the other four sides. The situation has changed too quickly this time. We were caught off guard and unprepared. I'm sure the other brothers are in the same boat."

Everyone is back on the same track, ready to see who can pull the most force.

The middle-aged man was none other than Yan Shun Wang, one of the Five Kings. He had hastily gathered his skilled subordinates and led his elite troops to Great Capital, all in order to seize the initiative as soon as possible.

The struggle for the throne cannot end in complete division; that's not the outcome anyone wants to see.

It is not the will of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion or the Three Divine Generals.

Therefore, everyone has agreed on a default range.

That is to lead the elite troops to compete in the Great Capital region.

"The current Great Dao Sect, which is at its zenith, has an unclear stance, while Snow Rainbow Pavilion remains neutral. The other brothers are probably in a similar position to me." Before Yan Shun Wang could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked up into the distance.

The one who noticed it even earlier than him was Saint Heaven One, who was standing to the side.

"It seems some people don't welcome us into the capital," Saint Heaven One sighed softly, raising his hand and shaking it.

Immediately, the entire team began waving command flags, passing them down layer by layer.

The thousands of heavy cavalrymen stopped abruptly, quietly reining in their horses.

"Encounter!"

The Messenger Officer shouted and beat the war drums.

All the cavalrymen pulled down their Helmet visors to cover their mouths and noses, leaving only a slit for their eyes.

With a clatter, the armor of the warhorse beneath him slid down, covering its head and torso.

One by one, sprinting lances were raised at the front of the column, with a few specks of white snow occasionally falling from their sharp, silver-black tips.

"Kill!!!"

Suddenly, from both sides of the Official Road, swarms of heavily armored infantrymen, armed with hook-and-sickle spears and heavy shields, emerged in dense formation.

They were covered in camouflage robes made of white snow. After taking off their robes, they charged toward the cavalry with a roar in unison.

Unlike the Black Cavalry, the heavy infantry, though also in black armor, had a white patch painted Upper Capital their arms.

The two sides clashed immediately, their white and black armor mingling, their weapons exploding with a rain of explosions.

Screams, roars, and military orders formed a heavy sonic boom that burst open like bubbles, spreading across the entire Official Road for miles.

"Yan Shun Wang, if you return today, I may spare your life!"

Just then, a figure in the distance rapidly approached.

It was a tall humanoid figure clad in full purple metallic armor and wielding two swords.

With their Helmet obscuring their face, it was impossible to discern their gender or identity.

All that could be seen was that when this person put his foot on the ground, a crack exploded.

Snowflakes flew everywhere, and wherever this person went, wide pits Blooming like lotus flowers.

"A way out?" From the pavilion, Yan Shun Wang's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "In this world, apart from my father, no one has ever dared to speak to me like this before."

"Your Prince, please calm down. I will handle this." Saint Heaven One raised his hand again, clenched his fist, and spread three fingers.

Whoosh! Three Shadow shot out from both sides of the building, meeting the opponent head-on at a speed no slower than their own.

"Saint Heaven One, the headquarters of the Black Ten Sect has been destroyed, yet you remain away for so long. Are you placing all your hopes on Yan Shun Wang and attempting to rebuild the diocese?"

Just then, a commotion broke out behind the Black Cavalry.

First Squad heavy cavalry, their bodies painted with white markings, charged forward from behind, just as fiercely.

This First Squad was small, but each one was fierce and imposing, with the knights being twice the height and size of the Black Cavalry.

Sitting on horseback, they look like moving mountains of flesh from a distance.

Boom!!

The leader of the White Cavalry, wielding a massive four-meter-long Wolf Tooth Club, swept across the front.

They smashed the three heavily armored Black Cavalry in front of them on the spot.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! A dense barrage of crossbow bolts flew towards the man.

However, the arrows pierced the armor but were blocked by the torso inside, unable to penetrate further.

The man laughed wildly and knocked down two riders with his staff, but his own warhorse could not withstand the force and knelt down with a long neigh.

He simply picked up his Wolf Tooth Club and went down to the ground on foot.

This man, four meters tall, wielded a four-meter-long black Wolf Tooth Club, smashing and sweeping away all the Black Cavalry blocking his path head-on. No one could stop him! Whoosh!

Suddenly, three sharp, short spears, accompanied by a piercing whistle, pierced through the gaps in the army formation and shot towards him.

"Foolish!!" The man swept forward, his arms rapidly expanding to a full size.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Three loud bangs followed.

The three short spears, hurled with all their might by a master of Super Grade, were smashed open.

"Mo Gu Du Ya." The Saint Heaven One on the pavilion's face hardened as he recognized the other party's identity.

"Does the Heaven Lock Sect also intend to get involved?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Saint Heaven One, I advise you to stay out of this mess. Knowing you as I do, you shouldn't be so lacking in self-awareness."

Suddenly, a chilling voice came from behind Yan Shun Wang.

Saint Heaven One and Yan Shun Wang were startled and quickly retreated, creating distance between themselves.

Looking over there, one could see that a graceful woman in a Moon White Long Coat had appeared by the railing on one side of the pavilion.

The woman had long, flowing hair and wore Silver Woven Flower Crown. Her figure was graceful and poised, like a noblewoman taking a leisurely stroll.

His face was covered by Pure Gold Mask. Even more strangely, the mask had no gaps whatsoever.

There are no gaps in the eyes, no openings in the mouth or nose for breathing; it is simply a Golden Mask that fits the face perfectly and is worn on the face.

Upon seeing this person, Yan Shun Wang's expression merely changed, showing surprise and uncertainty.

But Saint Heaven One recognized the mask.

"You're the Moon Empress!? Didn't you die!?"

"The Moon King is not dead, so how can I be?" the woman replied calmly. "Having lived in seclusion for many years, I cannot stand idly by and watch him ascend to the highest position."

"Then you shouldn't be stopping me!" Saint Heaven One suppressed his emotions and said solemnly.

"I didn't stop you." The woman shook her head slightly. "I came to save you."

"Save me? Yue Dewen is just a slightly stronger Spirit General. Even if he can defeat me, it's only because he has more people. As long as we join forces..." Saint Heaven One retorted with narrowed eyes.

At this moment, the group completely forgot about the cavalry and infantry still fighting around them.

Instead, all their attention was focused on the mysterious woman.

"He's stronger than me. Now he's far stronger," the woman said. "And me..."

She paused for a moment.

"It will only take ten moves to kill you."

"Arrogant!" Saint Heaven One's expression turned extremely ugly as he stepped forward and walked towards the other party.

As he walked, countless silver threads began to seep from his skin.

All the Silver Thread were woven into a brand new set of body armor, which also covered the face and hair.

Even more bizarrely, two new silver arms condensed and grew from the Silver Thread on his back.

"Come, let me see how you plan to kill me in ten moves!?"

Hiss! An invisible stream of air, centered on Saint Heaven One, naturally spread outwards.

*** Dan Province.

Black Dragon City, at Treasure Harmony Building.

"Your situation is not good."

Zhang Rongfang looked at Ding Yu lying on the bed in front of him, his brows furrowed.

"My lord, I've found a clue to the Treasure Medicine. It's in the Five Cauldrons Sect. I don't want to die, save me!" Ding Yu stammered as he spoke, his body covered in countless red bumps.

These bumps were incredibly itchy, and they covered my entire face.

"I've captured some people from the Five Cauldrons Sect and had them lead the way to find the Treasure Medicine." Zhang Rongfang wasn't worried about that; Treasure Harmony Building Chen Zhaorong were quite efficient in their work.

Now they've already led people to dig up the Five Cauldrons Sect's plantation.

The real trouble lies with Ding Yu.

"As you said, you have been given the Five Cauldrons Sect's World Yang Liquid, which is a more potent and controlling poison than the Heavenly River Water. You must take medication regularly to alleviate the symptoms, otherwise you will suffer from itching and pain several times more intense than that caused by the Heavenly River Water."

Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice.

"I've also asked the people captured by the Five Cauldrons Sect. The World Yang Liquid is usually only given to important and special people. Even the Five Elders were given ordinary Heavenly River Water."

"Is there no way to completely solve this?" Ding Yu was somewhat desperate.

"..." Zhang Rongfang slightly.

Ding Yu's actions were ultimately caused by his doing favors, and now that she has ended up in such a state, he must find a way to save her no matter what.

However, the headquarters of the Five Cauldrons Sect has collapsed, and there is no way to find an antidote in a short period of time. That place is so dangerous that ordinary people don't even dare to dig, for fear of accidentally digging up a deadly poison that could kill them.

Zhang Rongfang sighed softly, thinking that he had saved two Attribute Points in the past few days. Perhaps he could try to improve his medical skills and alchemy, and see if he could find a way.

"You rest first, I'll think of a way. Don't worry, if all else fails, I'll personally go to the Five Cauldrons Sect to dig and find the antidote!" he comforted softly.

"My lord," Ding Yu gritted his teeth, enduring the pain and itching all over his body, "If you really can't find it, then... kill me!"

Zhang Rongfang didn't reply and turned to leave the room.

He returned to the Quiet Room where he usually practiced meditation.

He slowly sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and pondered.

The Attribute Panel slowly opened and appeared in his field of vision.

It belongs to the level of alchemy, and we are currently only in the mastery stage.

But his intuition told him that even if he improved his alchemy skills to a great extent, he wouldn't be able to solve Ding Yu's problem in a short time.

Because analyzing a poison from scratch takes a considerable amount of time. And Ding Yu can't wait that long. Without an antidote within three days, he might be completely crippled by the pain and itching.

Looking at his Attribute Panel, there were rows and rows of numerous martial arts skills.

Zhang Rongfang fell into deep thought.

Unfortunately, no matter how many ideas were searched, there was no way to solve Ding Yu's problem in a short time.

With only two attribute points remaining, even improving alchemy skills would be far from enough.

With a sigh, Zhang Rongfang temporarily put aside Ding Yu's matter and began to tidy himself up.

Now that he has absorbed the last bit of Blood Flesh Completion his blood, he no longer has any craving for blood.

Instead, there is a completely opposite kind of craving and desire.

He wanted to bleed.

The blood in the body flows like a restless living thing, constantly accelerating and circulating, trying to break free from the constraints of the blood vessels.

This feeling is abnormal.