Three Kingdoms Lords: Starting by walking into the mouth of a giant python

Chapter 92 The Unquenchable Wood and the Human-Snake

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Fire Rat

[Rank] Mystic

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Within the inexhaustible fire of the wood dwells a rat, weighing a thousand pounds, with fur over two feet long, fine as silk. It lives in the fire, its burrow glowing red, and occasionally emerges, its fur turning white. If one chases it with water and pours it over it, it dies instantly. — *The Classic of Strange Things*

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The fire rat, also known as the "fire-light beast," is afraid of water. Li Yu summoned the "thirteen ants" from the pot so that he could kill the rat with water.

However, Li Yu and the Thirteen Ants stood in front of the Undying Forest, watching the Fire Rats clamoring in the forest, but they were helpless.

[Fire Rat] never leaves the Fire Forest.

A human and an ant, one who can breathe fire and the other who can control water, but neither of them has the ability to ward off fire.

Undeterred, the Thirteen Ants tried to summon a stream of water that rushed towards the Undying Forest.

However, the [Inextinguishable Wood] had branches but no leaves, and it burned day and night. Water would evaporate into wisps of steam as soon as it reached the treetops, and then burst into flames.

The Thirteen Ants, who intended to extinguish the fire, instead seemed to be stirring up trouble and adding fuel to the fire, making it even more intense.

[Thirteen Ants] was not convinced and wanted to try again, but Li Yu stopped her.

They ordered the [long-haired people] to bring many withered branches and leaves of fruit trees from the [square pot] and build a wooden embankment outside the [Eternal Forest].

Finally, the wooden dike was connected to the fire forest.

Soon, the wooden embankment caught fire.

Li Yu and [Thirteen Ants] waited quietly not far away.

One or two fire rats peeked out from the burning forest. After checking several times and seeing no reaction from the people or ants, they walked into the burning wooden embankment, looking back every step of the way.

[Thirteen Ants] was overjoyed and was about to go and flood the giant rat, but Li Yu grabbed her and told her to calm down.

A moment later, the sound of the two fire rats playing in the "fire dike" attracted the attention of many of their companions in the forest.

Half an hour later, more than ten fire rats, unable to resist their playful nature, also rushed into the fire embankment.

Li Yu then pointed to the junction of the forest and the embankment and said to [Thirteen Ants], "The water flow is blocking the way!" Then he transformed into a [Blue Goose] and flew away.

[Thirteen Ants] summoned a stream of water that formed a curtain, instantly stretching between [Ember Forest] and the fire dike.

The fire rats were terrified, their shrieks echoing as they tried to flee back to the fire forest. But fearing the curtain of water, they hesitated to proceed.

Several clever fire rats tried to bypass the water curtain, but they were all blown back by the strong wind from the grey geese.

Under Li Yu's command, the [Thirteen Ants] water curtain transformed into a dome, covering the fire embankment.

The Fire Rat cried out incessantly, and one or two of them desperately tried to break through the Water Dome, but were swatted back by the Grey Goose with a single wing.

Next, the [water dome] gradually shrank, eventually extinguishing the fire dike completely, and the seventeen [fire rats] also perished within it.

The fire rats in the [Unburnt Forest] watched as the water curtain rose and the dome shrank, and heard the shrill cries of their kind rise and fall. Terrified, they burrowed into the depths of the fire forest and never reappeared.

It seems impossible to lure them out with fire now.

Sure enough, Li Yu breathed fire and ignited another section of the wooden embankment. After waiting for a long time, the [Thirteen Ants] were all asleep in Li Yu's palm, but the [Fire Rat] still did not appear.

Li Yu shook his head, realizing he had to think of another way.

For example, if they can't catch the monks, they move the temple.

Li Yu summoned [Snake Princess] Ya Ya, [Queen Hair], and a group of [Long Hair] from the [pot]. He dug through the previous pile of ash on the wooden embankment and pulled out the corpses of [Fire Rats] the size of calves.

[Fire Rats] die from sheer terror, without any external wounds. Their fur, which turns from red to white when exposed to cold, is also undamaged.

Li Yu dissected the rat carcass, and the enticing aroma of roasted meat wafted out.

[Snake Princess], [Queen Hair], and [Thirteen Ants] all looked disgusted. Li Yu then shared the food with [Long-haired Man].

The meat of the fire rat is similar to that of mutton, and is fragrant, tender, and delicious. After eating it, one feels as if a warm sun is shining in one's stomach, which is extremely comfortable.

The long-haired man devoured the rat meat in one go, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Next, the group took the skin of the fire rat, processed it, and quickly made rough fire rat skin coats.

[Snake Princess] Ya Ya's tail is too long to wear a leather coat, so she carries [Thirteen Ants] outside to keep watch.

Li Yu, along with Queen Mao and some of the Long-haired Men, donned Fire Rat Leather Coats, grabbed shovels, and charged into the Undying Forest.

Working in groups of four or five, one person dug, another pushed, and yet another pulled, digging out the [Emberless Wood] trees by their roots.

Despite having fire rat fur coats to ward off the fire, Li Yu and his companions were still badly burned. They would often run out halfway through digging because they couldn't withstand the high temperature.

The [Thirteen Ants] summoned water to flush and cool the area, allowing for a temporary rest before another group of people returned to continue digging.

Working in this way, Li Yu and the others dug up nearly a hundred [Emberless Wood] trees, put them all into the [pot], and transplanted them to [Azure Sea Island].

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"Eternal Wood"

[Rank] Yellow

[Attribute] Planted on the sacred mountain, it can nurture the [Firelight Beast].

[Description] Also known as the Inexhaustible Tree. Beyond the Southern Wilderness lies a volcano, within which grows the Inexhaustible Tree, burning day and night, yet not extinguished by violent storms or torrential rains. — *The Classic of Strange Things, Southern Wilderness*

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By late at night, everyone was exhausted.

Li Yu mustered his strength and activated the [Spirit Tower]. Then, with the [Thirteen Ants] as his assistants and himself as the main attacker, he unleashed a barrage of fire and steam, sweeping away the horde of enemies.

Then, without even taking a shower, he went straight to sleep.

In a daze, it seemed as if ropes bound him to the water's edge, and two small hands reached out to rub up the grime and mud.

The next morning, Li Yu discovered that he was no longer wearing the dirty clothes he had worn the day before. He had taken a bath, and even the pupa, sac, and burr were clean.

Li Yu picked up the snake-tail pillow, seemingly lost in thought.

At breakfast, the young lady ate with her head down, not daring to meet Li Yu's gaze. Little Sparrow, on the other hand, asked Li Yu with great interest if the [fire rat] meat from yesterday was delicious.

After the meal, everyone put on [Fire Rat Fur] and continued digging for [Emberless Wood].

The Undying Forest vanished in swathes. The Thirteen Ants resuming their water curtain, and the Fire Rats huddled together in the forest, shivering.

The group happily dug for wood, and when they encountered a [Fire Rat], they knocked it unconscious with a shovel and took it away.

By noon, the transplanting of the [Emberless Wood] was completed.

"[System]: Players have completed the second stage of [Palace of Golden Jade and Glazed Glass] and received the reward [Guzhu]."

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Guzhu

[Rank] Yellow

[Attributes] Auspiciousness +15, Literary Style +50.

[Description] On the shore of the East Sea grows a solitary bamboo, which, when cut down, regrows, containing a tube. During the reign of King Wu of Zhou, the kingdom of Guzhu presented a precious bamboo shoot as a gift. —From *Shuyi Ji*

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Another auspicious plant.

Li Yu planted it in the [Fanghu].

At this point, the [Auspicious Value] of [Immortal Abode] has reached 65 points. Another 35 points are needed to trigger the "Auspicious Descent".

At that time, the previously purchased [Children's Shrine] will also come in handy.

After a short rest, Li Yu entered the third level of the [Palace of Gold and Jade], finding himself in a dense forest and overgrown vegetation.

Before he could carefully observe his surroundings, a foul stench swept over him.

Li Yu's heart tightened, and he suddenly flipped over to the side into an open space.

A snake's tail, as thick as a bucket, swept across its head. Wherever it went, trees were either snapped in half or uprooted.

Li Yu stood up and looked up to see a huge python. It was even larger than the [Corpse-Swallowing Python].

The giant snake opened its wide mouth, like a whale's bell, and slammed down. Li Yu had no time to dodge, so he spat it out towards the sky.

The raging flames, like a dragon, roared towards the snake's mouth.

The giant snake was startled and turned its head to avoid the flames.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Yu leaped onto a tall tree and stared into the eyes of the giant snake, which was as big as a copper bell.

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"Measuring People and Snakes"

[Rank] Earth Grade

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Measuring snakes?

Just as Li Yu was recalling information about the "measuring snake" in his mind, the giant snake suddenly pulled up its body and stood upright.

It soared over towering trees and above vast forests, heading straight for the clouds.

Measuring people?

With a start, Li Yu leaped out of the treetop, transformed into a [gray goose], and soared into the sky.

The [human-snake] opened its enormous mouth high in the sky and actually uttered a human voice: "I..."

Li Yu flew upwards with all his might, finally flying over the snake's head before the snake could utter the second word.

[The Measuring Serpent] cried out, "I... am superior!"

After it finished crowing, it realized that a large goose had landed on its head, and it was immediately stunned.

The goose leisurely spread its wings and said, "You're not tall, I am."

As soon as he finished speaking, the giant snake let out a mournful cry.

Next, the twenty-zhang-long [measuring snake] crashed down, falling dead amidst the sky-covering dust.

In Qiongzhou, Guangdong, there is a snake that measures people; it is six or seven feet long. When it encounters a person, it raises its head and then bites them. The locals say that when this snake measures a person, it hisses and says, "I am tall," and the person responds, "I am tall," at which point the snake falls to its death. —From *Random Notes from Liangban Qiuyu Hermitage*

"[System]: Players have completed the third stage of the [Palace of Golden Jade and Glazed Glass] and received the reward [Five Bright Pouch]."

(End of this chapter)