We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 379: Is That Position Really So Important?

Black Beast Forest, Huaishan Pass.

It was more accurate to describe it as an endless sea of trees than a mere forest.

Spanning dozens of li, this vast sea of trees even featured diverse landscapes such as valleys.

According to legend, this immense sea of trees served as the ancient battlefield where human cultivators clashed with the "Poison God" in the great war of old.

Upon the Poison God's demise, lingering spiritual energy tainted the area, altering the local laws and creating a natural no-fly formation that prevented any physical entity from taking flight.

Legends recounted that initially, the Black Beast Forest's miasma was so venomous that even cultivators from the Upper Three Realms found it impassable.

Though time has gradually weakened the Black Beast Forest's miasma, those below the Dragon Gate realm still cannot cross it, and the no-fly restriction persists no matter the cultivation level.

Yan Liuyun commanded seven hundred thousand troops marching toward the Black Beast Forest.

Thanks to the pills they consumed, the miasma in the Black Beast Forest posed virtually no threat to Yan Liuyun's forces.

At this rate, they would cross the enormous Black Beast Forest, vast as an ocean, in under three hours.

"Could it be... that I'm overthinking it, and there's truly nothing amiss?" Yan Liuyun pondered inwardly.

"General, based on our current speed, we'll exit this Black Beast Forest sea in less than an hour."

A deputy general approached and reported to Yan Liuyun.

"Mm." Yan Liuyun gave a nod, "Instruct the troops to stay alert. Keep the scouts watching the area."

"Yes, General!" The deputy general acknowledged and relayed the command at once.

The army pressed on. Though assaulted by magical beasts native to the Black Beast Forest, every threat was swiftly eliminated.

Soon enough, Jin Kingdom's forces cleared the flattest stretch and headed into the valley.

This valley was spacious enough to allow the entire seven hundred thousand troops to pass through without issue.

Once beyond this valley, they could flank Huaishan City, making its capture seem imminent.

Many soldiers felt a surge of hidden excitement.

After all, breaching Huaishan City would mean half the victory over Qin Kingdom.

Storming into Qin Kingdom's capital would grant them legendary merits never seen before!

"General, this terrain... doesn't look good," Deputy General Yan Li returned to Yan Liuyun's side, "Military experts always warn that advancing through valleys is a major prohibition. Should an ambush occur... the casualties to our army would be catastrophic."

Unlike the rest, Yan Li, as Yan Liuyun's nephew, stayed far more cautious and level-headed.

"You have a point, but Yan Li, no risk means no reward. We've reached this stage already. Retreat is out of the question now. Playing it too safe would make this war pointless." Yan Liuyun swept his hand grandly, "All troops, speed up the advance!"

"Yes, General..."

Though unease lingered in Yan Li's heart, with the general's order given, he had no choice but to obey.

Before long, Jin Kingdom's army ventured into the valley.

Hoofbeats, armor clanks, and wagon wheels reverberated endlessly through the valley.

In truth, without the towering mountains flanking both sides, they might not even realize they were in a valley. Then, as Jin Kingdom's army hit the midpoint, one soldier noticed something odd and glanced upward, spotting a cold glint rapidly approaching.

Upon recognizing it, terror gripped his heart.

It was an arrow inscribed with an explosive formation!

"Enemy attack!!!"

The soldier bellowed at the top of his lungs.

"Boom!"

His shout hadn't fully faded when the arrow struck the ground, unleashing a massive blast.

Instantly, tens of thousands of arrows poured down like a violent storm onto Jin Kingdom's army.

Explosions boomed one after another, akin to endless firecrackers at Spring Festival.

Yet these blasts dwarfed firecrackers in volume, laced with the shredded flesh and blood of Jin Kingdom's soldiers.

Not long after, massive boulders tumbled from the peaks.

Each boulder had been enhanced by Mohist cultivators. Upon impact or deflection, they burst apart, releasing concealed flying swords that whizzed outward in every direction, all slathered in lethal poison.

"All troops, retreat to the rear!"

In that instant, how could Yan Liuyun fail to realize he had stumbled into Qin Kingdom's ambush?

Yet, it was far too late already.

"Kill!"

Leading the assault at the valley entrance, First Prince Qin Jingsu together with various Qin Kingdom generals directed their forces straight into Jin's troops.

From the valley's rear, Qin Kingdom forces blocked off all escape routes.

"Qin Jingyuan!!! I will kill you!!!"

Yan Liuyun seethed with rage, yearning to shred Qin Jingyuan to bits immediately, yet he was compelled to direct his soldiers in breaking free from the trap.

Luckily, since Qin Kingdom's troops had to stay concealed, only a small force was placed at the valley's back, leaving the blockade quite fragile.

Thirty minutes later, Yan Liuyun guided his army from the valley, retracing the prior path, but following that sudden ambush, fewer than five hundred thousand of the original seven hundred thousand Jin Kingdom soldiers survived. Their forces were badly crippled!

Nevertheless, Yan Liuyun sensed he hadn't been defeated!

Provided he could rush back and rally his men, even without capturing Huai Pass, he could defend Jin Province and Lu Province!

Yet the key condition was Yan Liuyun escaping with his life.

Beyond the Black Beast Forest, Qin Jingyuan stared at the heavens, his fingers unconsciously grazing the sword at his hip.

"Assuming no surprises, the general has crossed the Black Beast Forest by now. He must be striking Huaishan City at this moment." The Jin Kingdom general tasked with watching Qin Jingyuan sneered coldly, "With Huaishan City fallen, Qin Kingdom's capital stands wide open. I've heard much about Third Princess Qin Siyao's allure. I eagerly await it."

With those words, the Jin Kingdom general licked his lips, glaring at Qin Jingyuan with scornful, vile eyes, but Qin Jingyuan paid him no mind, muttering to himself, "The time has come."

"What time?" the Jin Kingdom general asked, baffled.

"The time for you to die."

The instant Qin Jingyuan spoke, a sharp sword gleam slashed across the Jin Kingdom general's face.

His eyes widened bit by bit. At last, as the world spun wildly, his head dropped to the dirt.

"Qin Jingyuan, what are you doing!" Deputy General Wang You bellowed, his thoughts freezing in shock. It had all occurred too quickly!

"Kill Jin's army!"

Qin Jingyuan's voice, boosted by spiritual energy, rang out across the ranks.

Qin Jingyuan's one hundred fifty thousand soldiers were first thrown into confusion, yet moments later, as allies nearby attacked Jin Kingdom troops, they snapped to action.

The scorn and humiliations Qin Kingdom soldiers had suffered lately burst forth all at once. Every warrior lunged at Jin Kingdom's forces like ravenous wolves and ferocious tigers.

In a heartbeat, the two armies plunged into savage combat!

"Your Highness! Yan Liuyun and his men are retreating via the original path. Their vanguard is merely ten li from our position!" Shortly after, a Dragon Gate realm scout rushed up to report.

Qin Jingyuan mulled it over briefly, then lifted his gaze, sending his spiritual energy booming through the troops, "Those fearless of death, follow me to slaughter our way into the Black Beast Forest!"

At the prince's order, soldiers in growing numbers pulled free from the surrounding Jin Kingdom forces, clashing as they withdrew straight into the Black Beast Forest!

Though Qin Jingyuan's one hundred fifty thousand lacked antidote pills and would succumb to poison inside the Black Beast Forest within half an hour, they ignored the peril entirely, for Qin Jingyuan intended to transform the Black Beast Forest into a deadly grave for Yan Liuyun's army, whatever the price!

"Charge in! Kill them! Charge in!"

Up front at the Black Beast Forest, a Jin Kingdom general roared nonstop, but none dared rush in like Qin Kingdom's soldiers, knowing death awaited without antidote pills!

"I told you to charge! Didn't you hear?"

Wang You drove his troops after Qin Jingyuan, yet the army halted right before the Black Beast Forest. Not one stepped forward.

Meanwhile, as Yan Liuyun led his army in retreat.

He spotted Qin Jingyuan at the head of tens of thousands of cavalry, trailed by tens of thousands more soldiers, barreling toward him!

"Qin Jingyuan! You beast! Give me your life!" Yan Liuyun raged wildly, brandishing his massive halberd while galloping forth on horseback!

"Come and take it if you can!"

Qin Jingyuan betrayed no fear, jabbing his spear ahead.

The two armies crashed together in combat.

Tens of thousands of Qin Kingdom soldiers overran Jin Kingdom's rear. Clashes of blades echoed even at the formation's tail.

Precisely due to assaults from both flanks, fleeing the Black Beast Forest turned into the sole survival path, igniting a ferocious will to survive in Jin Kingdom's forces. The entire onslaught's weight crashed onto Qin Jingyuan, yet the troops under his command stood like an iron wall, embracing death as a return home, firmly repelling Jin Kingdom's army.

"Qin Jingyuan, retreat right now and you might still preserve your life. Persist here, and prepare to perish alongside me!" After dozens of clashes with Qin Jingyuan, Yan Liuyun declared icily.

A smirk tugged at the edges of Qin Jingyuan's lips as he replied, "Dying here would be just fine."

"Do you really cherish your life so little?" A sharp glint flashed in Yan Liuyun's gaze.

Qin Jingyuan offered no words, but his spear answered on his behalf.

A chilling gleam thrust straight at Yan Liuyun's forehead. The duo collided once more, battling desperately.

Qin Jingyuan possessed early Golden Core realm cultivation, while Yan Liuyun held middle Golden Core realm.

Though Qin Jingyuan's cultivation foundation was solid and his magical treasures abundant, Yan Liuyun was far from mediocre.

Separated by a single minor realm gap, Qin Jingyuan gradually fell behind.

Furthermore, amid the savage onslaught from tens of thousands of enemy soldiers, the 150,000 troops led by Qin Jingyuan could scarcely endure any longer. Total breakdown appeared imminent.

"Perish!"

Seizing a chance, Yan Liuyun produced a scroll and dripped his essence blood onto it.

Yan Liuyun unleashed his life-bound magical treasure, the Four Symbols Illusion Diagram.

As the scroll unfurled, the Four Symbols Illusion Diagram detached from the parchment and swallowed Qin Jingyuan whole.

Yan Liuyun executed hand seals. A massive pulling force dragged Qin Jingyuan into the scroll.

"Damn! To squander fifty years of my lifespan like this! Rot into bloody sludge within the formation diagram!"

Yan Liuyun coughed up blood before stowing the formation diagram and pressing the assault onward.

Within the formation diagram, Qin Jingyuan drifted in endless void.

His eyes shut as he sank into deep sleep, the encircling emptiness slowly consuming his flesh inch by inch.

Soon after, Qin Jingyuan's brows knitted tightly before easing again, as though lost in some dream...

"It's here, it's here! Your Majesty, the Empress has delivered. It's a precious little princess."

A palace maid burst from the chamber, crying out in delight.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!" The ruler of Qin Kingdom repeated "excellent" thrice and rushed into the bedchamber.

"Brother, come on, let's visit little sister." Qin Jingyuan's wrist was seized by his three-years-older brother, who tugged him excitedly toward their mother's room.

Qin Jingyuan gazed at the swaddled infant wailing "waa waa" and instinctively extended a finger to softly prod the baby's cheek.

The tiny infant clutched her brother's index finger and wailed even harder.

"Meet your little sister." Empress Shi beamed at her two sons and newborn daughter. "From this day forward, you brothers must safeguard your sister properly. Understood?"

"Yes, we understand, Mother." Qin Jingsu and Qin Jingyuan chorused. "We'll protect little sister no matter what!"

"Second brother, go go!"

"Big brother, up you get!"

"Don't fear, second brother, come on~"

The three-year-old girl in her tiny dress perched on a rock, watching her elder brothers spar with spears.

Qin Jingyuan strained to best his big brother, but after seventy exchanges, Qin Jingsu's spear whipped out, knocking Qin Jingyuan's weapon flying to embed in the dirt.

"I lost." Qin Jingyuan sighed, eyes burning with reluctance. "But next time, I'll surely defeat big brother!"

Qin Jingsu approached and tousled his brother's hair. "Big brother believes you'll surpass me one day. Truth is, Jingyuan, you're more gifted than me. I'm merely three years your senior and have practiced martial arts three years ahead. At your age, I couldn't match you."

"Losing means losing. Men of Qin Kingdom offer no excuses." Qin Jingyuan swatted his brother's hand aside.

"Yes, yes! Second brother lost. Now Siyao wants horsey ride." The toddler waddled forward on chubby legs, yanking her second brother's trousers. "Loser gives Siyao a horsey ride~"

Though embarrassed, Qin Jingyuan ultimately lifted his three-year-old sister onto his shoulders.

"Giddyup giddyup, horsey ride, giddyup~"

With delight, Qin Siyao clutched her second brother's head tightly.

Qin Jingsu trailed close by, anxious that his sister might tumble off.

Qin Jingyuan himself, acting as their "horse," revealed a grin too, as though the three siblings might savor such joy eternally.

"This son greets Father Emperor!"

At sixteen for Qin Jingyuan and nineteen for Qin Jingsu, the Qin Kingdom's ruler summoned them both to the imperial study.

"Mm."

The Qin Kingdom's ruler gave a nod, eyeing his two sons.

"Since our Qin Kingdom's founding, no prince has turned into a spoiled idler. Jingyuan, you're no kid anymore. Starting today, form your own groups. I'll hand over some state matters for you to manage, testing your true talents."

The Qin Kingdom's ruler gestured toward his second son with a smile, "Jingyuan, don't you always love rivaling your elder brother most? Show me if you can best him."

"Big brother, do you want to become emperor?"

One day, after sword training with his big brother, Qin Jingyuan sprawled beside him on the grass, gazing at the sky.

Not far off, the eleven-year-old Qin Siyao dashed about in glee.

Qin Jingsu eyed his sister chasing butterflies afar, then turned to his brother nearby. After pondering, he nodded, "I do."

"I see..." Qin Jingyuan replied pensively.

"What about you, second brother?" Qin Jingsu questioned Qin Jingyuan.

"I... I want to too!" Qin Jingyuan sprang up, stating solemnly to his big brother, "I won't lose to big brother!"

"Hahaha, that's good." Qin Jingsu chuckled, ruffling his brother's hair, "Then Jingyuan must strive diligently."

"I will work hard." Qin Jingyuan moved aside, "But big brother, quit patting my head. I've grown up!"

"Grown up?" Qin Jingsu froze briefly, then glancing at his brother nearly matching his height, smiled and nodded, "Yes, Jingyuan has truly grown."

On that day, both brothers yearned to ascend as emperor.

The elder brother sought the throne because emperorship drained one utterly, the load on one's back overwhelmingly crushing. He refused to let his younger brother endure such weariness.

The younger brother pursued emperorship since his elder brother desired it. He merely aimed to eclipse him, to demonstrate his worth, but at some unclear juncture, crowds began trailing him, fawning over him increasingly.

Over time, these followers earned the name "Second Prince Faction."

Bit by bit, Qin Jingyuan realized halting this road was impossible. Dawn after dawn, ministers' hopeful stares awaited him. They yearned solely for him to claim that seat, securing their dragon-supporting honors when he did.

Step by step, Qin Jingyuan lost sight of his initial motive for that throne, yet he saw he remained unable to rival his big brother.

Big brother surpassed him in managing politics, shone brighter in human dealings.

Ever-growing throngs sided with big brother.

Though he balked at yielding, helplessness gripped him, breeding a budding obsession. He even plotted to exploit his sister's tie to Xiao Mo, drawing that promising Gun Immortal disciple into his service.

"In second brother's heart, is that position really so important?"

The day Qin Jingyuan hosted Xiao Mo at a feast, his uninvited big brother spoke these words on departing.

"Yes..." Qin Jingyuan swigged wine nonstop, "Is that position really so important?"

Days slipped by one after another.

Though court and commons alike assumed the First Prince and Second Prince vied fiercely still, Qin Jingyuan knew Father Emperor valued big brother more with each passing moment.