The Phoenix Blossom Lantern is a unique specialty of Yun Country. Its construction is intricate and its size substantial. The petals resemble the feathers of a phoenix, and when ignited and released into the air, a silhouette of the mythical bird dances upon the lantern’s surface, hence its name.

Each year, the lantern festival in Yun City on New Year’s Eve attracts throngs of people, not only from Yun Country itself but even from other nations.

The lantern festival offers not only picturesque scenery but also the trade of rare and precious goods. The scale of trade is smaller than that of the Yun River Merchant Gathering, yet it still offers many items seldom seen at other times. Whether cultivators or ordinary folk, the people of Yun Country are accustomed to acquiring cherished objects on this day to welcome the New Year.

When the Yun River Merchant Gathering commenced on the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, they were still amidst the peaks of Slow Cloud Mountain. Ye Qingyu declared that the lantern festival could not be missed.

Little Wang, the round-faced senior sister, is a master of crafting Phoenix Blossom Lanterns. Throughout the entire Hidden Sky Mystic Ground, her creations are considered the most beautiful. On this day, Jiang An’an had been pestering her incessantly.

Upon the central cloud platform of the Hidden Sky Mystic Ground, dozens of finished Phoenix Blossom Lanterns were already arrayed, awaiting only the touch of flame to ascend into the heavens.

Little Wang’s nimble fingers danced before a half-finished lantern, manipulating semi-transparent silk threads with deftness. Jiang An’an perched on a small wooden stool beside her, her wide, sparkling eyes fixed in rapt attention.

“Senior Sister Wang, the phoenix blossoms you weave are truly beautiful,” Jiang An’an said with envy.

Little Wang smiled with a touch of pride. “Of course! This senior sister has loved Phoenix Blossom Lanterns since I was a child.”

As she spoke, she withdrew her hand and gently pinched Jiang An’an’s cheek.

Her gaze shifted slightly, only to be met by Jiang Wang’s clear and tranquil eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Big Brother Jiang is looking at me! Big Brother Jiang is looking at me!” she cried inwardly.

“His gaze is so earnest…”

“He’s smiling at me!”

A tempest raged within her heart, yet she maintained a composed facade, merely tilting her rounded chin slightly, revealing a touch of casual gentleness before turning back to the phoenix blossom, striving to regain her composure. However, the tips of her ears had already flushed crimson.

At that moment, beneath the towering cloud platform, disciples of the Hidden Sky Pavilion bustled about, making preparations for the evening’s lantern festival. Jiang Wang stood among them, quietly observing the scene.

Meeting Little Wang’s gaze, Jiang Wang smiled politely, offering a gesture of greeting.

He was, of course, looking at An’an.

Little An’an watched the phoenix blossom for a while before turning her head to find her brother. Upon seeing Jiang Wang, she offered a sweet smile before returning her attention to the Phoenix Blossom Lantern with contentment.

She was curious as to why the lantern’s shadow could transform into a phoenix. Little Wang had said that nine hundred and ninety-nine Phoenix Blossom Lanterns would be released into the night sky, and they would be more beautiful than the stars.

She dearly loved to watch the stars, and she wondered what scenery could surpass their beauty. Thus, she was filled with anticipation.

Children often lose themselves in the things they love. She watched with such focus that she did not notice her brother’s figure had disappeared into the crowd.

The New Year’s Eve of the third thousand, nine hundred and eighteenth year of the Dao Calendar was not peaceful in the Western Lands.

This was especially true for the people of Yong Country, whose territory had been invaded by foreign enemies.

From the monarch and officials to the common folk, no one in Yong Country had ever imagined that they would one day be attacked by the weak Zhuang Country.

Many Yong citizens firmly believed that Zhuang Country was merely a small splinter faction that had broken away from their own nation and would inevitably be reclaimed. The only question was when the Yong court would decide to take action. Even though Zhuang Country had been effectively established for over three hundred years, many Yong citizens still refused to acknowledge it as an independent nation.

Therefore, when Zhuang Country brazenly launched a national war, many people did not believe it was true, dismissing it as mere rumor.

However, the truth was that in the early hours of the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, the vanguard of the Zhuang army had already broken through the defenses of the Yong border troops stationed in the Mount Qichang range and marched into Lingbei Prefecture.

On the same night, New Year’s Eve of the third thousand, nine hundred and eighteenth year of the Dao Calendar, they had shattered the entire defensive network of Lingbei Prefecture, and the main force advanced into Yiyang Prefecture. Their momentum was unstoppable!

The Duke of Ying of Yong Country, Beigong Yu, was appointed commander-in-chief, vowing to deliver a crushing blow to the Zhuang army and drive them back south of Mount Qichang. However, halfway there, he abruptly changed direction.

Because the army of Luo Country had arrived from the west, joining forces with the Clear River Water Prefecture of Zhuang Country, the Lan River Water Prefecture was suddenly in dire peril!

Zhuang Country had secretly reached an agreement with Luo Country long ago, even persuading the Clear River Water Prefecture to join forces with the notoriously wicked Luo Country navy among the aquatic races.

Even more alarming was the fact that the Jing Country of the Northern Domain, whom Yong Country had always regarded with utmost caution, had also made its move. The Crimson Steed Guard, ranked seventh among the Ten Great Cavalry Regiments in the world, had come from the north!

The Zhuang army’s breakthrough of Lingbei Prefecture, a major town in southern Yong Country, seemed to signal a chain reaction, and a full-scale war erupted on all fronts. Jing and Luo both sent out their armies.

Just a day prior, Yong Country had been a long-standing major power in the Western Lands, once vying with Jing Country for dominance in the north. While it could no longer compare to countries like Qin and Jing, it was still accustomed to bullying smaller countries like Zhuang and Chen.

Yet, in the span of a single day, the situation had drastically changed, and the threat of national destruction loomed!

At this critical moment, the Supreme Emperor Han Yin of Yong Country emerged from seclusion, personally donning armor and venturing alone from the Heavenly Fate Palace, seeking a king-to-king confrontation with Zhuang Gaozian in Yiyang Prefecture.

Everyone knew that the current ruler of Yong Country, Han Yan, was a mere figurehead, a puppet. The true power in Yong Country had always remained in the hands of the Supreme Emperor Han Yin.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Yong Country, Qi Maoxian, personally oversaw the defenses of Jing’an Prefecture, bracing for a potential attack from Jing Country.

Jing’an Prefecture was a vital military stronghold in northern Yong Country, its defenses built with Jing Country as the primary adversary. Although the Crimson Steed Guard was world-renowned, Qi Maoxian, relying on the strong forces and fortified city of Jing’an Prefecture, certainly possessed the strength to fight.

Yong Country possessed a deep foundation. Prime Minister Qi Maoxian defended against the Crimson Steed Guard in the north, while the Duke of Ying, Beigong Yu, rushed to the aid of the Lan River Water Prefecture, preparing to contend with the joint naval forces of Luo Country and the Clear River Water Prefecture in the west.

Both Jing and Luo Country had only dispatched one army each. Only Zhuang Country was fighting with its entire nation.

For the moment, the key to victory or defeat in this national war rested in Yiyang Prefecture.

The Supreme Emperor Han Yin of Yong Country was a contemporary of Zhuang Chenqian, the founding emperor of Zhuang Country.

Over three hundred years ago, the mighty ruler of Yong Country, Han Zhou, died in battle. The crown prince died mysteriously in the Eastern Palace, followed by the “Three Princes’ Seizure of the Throne.” A great war erupted among the three princes, further weakening the already weakened Yong Country. However, the one who ultimately ascended the throne was none of the three princes.

It was said that the subjects of Yong Country, disgusted by the three princes’ infighting and disregard for the people’s livelihood, believed that none of them were enlightened rulers. Therefore, they turned to support Han Zhou’s younger brother, Han Yin, as their ruler.

Han Yin ascended the dragon throne in the Heavenly Fate Palace and personally led the army. In the short span of a year, he defeated the three princes one by one, completely seizing control of Yong Country’s military and political power, stabilizing the country’s precarious situation.

He even repelled an invasion by Jing Country!

Regarded as an enlightened monarch who turned the tide, his reputation rivaled that of the mighty Han Zhou.

Then, with the momentum of consolidating the world, he came south to pacify the “rebellion” in Zhuang.

In that battle, Zhuang Chenqian personally defended Mount Qichang, refusing to yield an inch, and held back Yong Country’s attack. The Clear River Water Prefecture, allied with Zhuang Chenqian, fought with all its might under the leadership of Song Hengjiang, staining the Lan River crimson and opening a glimmer of hope for Zhuang Country.

Later, Zhuang Country joined the Dao-aligned countries and gained a certain degree of protection, becoming a thorn planted by Jing Country in the Western Lands.

The failure to “pacify” Zhuang and allowing the Zhuang nation to continue was also a major reason why Han Yin never surpassed Han Zhou in many people’s eyes. After all, Zhuang Chenqian was just a general under Han Zhou, diligent and dutiful when Han Zhou was alive. Han Yin, however, failed to defeat Zhuang Chenqian.

It could be said that Zhuang Country was the thorn that was most deeply embedded in Han Yin’s heart.

And this time, would Han Yin remove the thorn in his side, or would Zhuang Gaozian inherit his founding ancestor’s ambitions and succeed in retaliating against the powerful Yong Country?

All would be decided in the Battle of Yiyang Prefecture.

ps: The Zhuang-Yong war has begun. To facilitate everyone’s understanding of the plot, I have specially published hand-drawn diagrams of the Western Lands and a map of Yong Country on the public WeChat account “Qing He Yi Shen”. Readers can move to take a look.