"The human race truly is a race of endless potential. The more pressure they endure, the stronger their resistance becomes. In this age of chaos, once scattered like sand, they have now, in just a few short years, banded together to carve out such a vast domain. This Yi Tianxing... his capabilities truly cannot be underestimated. The Great Yi Dynasty, a fortune dynasty that gathers national fate. The Dao of Destiny... truly extraordinary. We've missed the chance—now, shaking their foundation won't be easy. This Xuanhuang City and the human race... have truly come into their own."
A voice muttered in the shadows once more.
There had always been some apprehension toward the human race. But now that they've established a Fortune Dynasty, their threat level had surged dramatically.
The hearts of the people and the military had fused into one.
Those who had survived the chaos valued the Great Yi Dynasty like a lifeline. To them, it was salvation—they would give anything to protect it. These people were mad with loyalty.
His gaze fell upon the Iron-Blood Great Wall.
Those people weren't afraid of death. In fact, dying and being buried beneath the Iron-Blood Great Wall had become an honor, a tradition in Great Yi. To be buried in the earth was just a pile of dust—but to fall defending the wall meant your blood and soul would endure, your remnant spirit never fading.
Many considered it a source of pride.
"The Great Yi... heh. This is an era of chaos. In such an era, slaughter and death will never cease. If you want real peace, let's see if you truly have the strength. Countless forces rot from within."
The mysterious figure cackled strangely, then vanished without a trace.
Above the Great Yi, the sea of fate clouds churned furiously, drawing in endless waves of destiny. Its strength increased by the moment. That voice dared not step into it—there were beings within that even he feared.
One of those things... was that mysterious tower in Yi Tianxing's possession.
Its power—just thinking about it—sent chills down his spine.
The Great Yi had grown too powerful. Not even the united orc tribes could do anything to shake it. Clearly, no one could easily threaten its existence anymore.
Time slipped by quietly. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
Since the founding of the Fortune Dynasty, tangible changes could be seen across Great Yi nearly every single day.
Over these three months, the entire realm of Great Yi underwent earth-shaking transformation.
Countless artisans and merchants traveled daily between regions via teleportation arrays. Resources and goods were transported rapidly to every immortal city. The Heavenfire Furnace inside the Heavenly Works Pavilion burned around the clock.
Vast amounts of red copper, iron ore, white stone, and other materials were smelted in the furnace. These materials, blended in specific proportions with a unique binding substance, fused together into a mysterious yellow-brown alloy.
This new material, developed by the Heavenly Works Pavilion, blended perfectly to form a highly durable substance once it solidified. More importantly, it had excellent elemental conductivity, allowing it to absorb and conduct true essence and mana.
Its most essential quality: unmatched hardness.
Even more critical—this material bonded extraordinarily well with the earth. Once set down, it practically rooted into the ground, like a magnet clinging to metal.
Upon this discovery, the Heavenly Works Pavilion began mass-producing the material into massive bricks.
These were dubbed Xuanhuang Bricks, made from the Xuanhuang Stone—a name reflecting their yellow-black hue. Once approved by Yi Tianxing, they became the standard building blocks for all city walls.
Between bricks, they used Xuanhuang Liquid, the stone's pre-solidified molten form. This liquid had to be maintained at high temperatures, but once smeared between bricks, it fused them seamlessly, with no cracks or separations—forming a single, inseparable whole.
Thanks to their strength and ease of use, these bricks were immediately welcomed across all immortal cities. Even the Heavenly Works Pavilion couldn't keep up with demand, even with the furnace running nonstop.
Each city set aside zones where walls were rebuilt using these bricks.
Every immortal city was constructed to accommodate at least one million residents.
Each was a colossal mega-city.
In these three months, changes occurred daily. Everyone watched with their own eyes as city after city rose brick by brick. The thick yellow-black walls radiated strength and toughness, instilling a deep sense of security in every citizen.
"These walls are countless times stronger than anything before. With the Xuanhuang Walls here, even the fiercest beasts can't break in. We can sleep soundly at night without fear."
"Amazing! These immortal cities are as grand as any imperial capital I've seen. Living here... we owe it all to King Yi."
Seeing the cities rise, people's loyalty to Great Yi deepened further.
Everyone knew this transformation was thanks to Great Yi. Just years ago, they couldn't even eat properly—now, they lived safely in fortified cities.
But the cities were just the beginning.
Government officials began assuming formal duties across the land.
Meanwhile, on the tenth day after the founding of the dynasty, Jiang Ni completed the refining of the Mountain-Herding Whip (赶山鞭). After comparing it with star network maps, he identified precise points to serve as the eyes of a massive geomantic formation.
He waited until the third month, once several immortal cities had been completed.
Then, Jiang Ni moved.
He arrived outside a city called White Ape City.
The city's name came from its lord's companion—a white ape spirit beast who had helped him carve out a haven during the chaotic years. Out of gratitude, the original village had been named White Ape Village, now grown into a city.
The city lord, Hou Tianming, stood on the wall and saluted Jiang Ni.
"Overseer Jiang, the city has issued notice. The people are prepared. Please begin."
Jiang Ni nodded and raised a mysterious yellow iron whip, which shimmered with runes and divine light. With a flick, the whip transformed into a soft, flexible lash.
PAH!!
He struck the ground with it. A cascade of glowing runes and divine symbols surged into the earth.
RUMBLE...!
The earth trembled. It was as though something ancient had been awakened.
The entire ground rippled like an ocean, undulating rhythmically—the earth itself pulsing.
Then came the shocking sight: White Ape City began to roll forward. It was moving. The entire city.
The scene resembled a ship drifting across the sea. Waves of earth propelled the city forward like a vessel on turbulent water.
The people were dumbfounded.
"It's... moving! The whole city is moving!"
"Good heavens, and yet inside, it barely feels like anything! It's like being on a boat!"
"Where are we going? This is unbelievable!"
Jiang Ni cracked the whip again. More runes flowed into the land. The waves strengthened. The city's speed increased.
This was the power of the Mountain-Herding Whip—it commanded the earth itself. It could move mountains and fill seas.
Jiang Ni himself wasn't strong enough to move a city. But the whip, channeling the power of the land, made it possible.
The image was terrifying: a black-robed cultivator whipping the ground, while entire cities drifted forward like ships, trees parting ahead and closing behind them, as if untouched.
Other immortal cities on the way were stunned by the sight.
After relocating White Ape City to its designated position, it settled naturally. There were no signs of destabilization. In fact, the geomantic energy of the land fused even better with the city. It was like the ground embraced it, forming a natural spirit-gathering array.
Then Jiang Ni moved on to the next city—driving it to its assigned location.
In doing so, he subtly restructured the ley lines of the land, adjusting the flow of terrestrial energy.
These changes were imperceptible without close observation.
Each city stood a thousand kilometers apart, gradually expanding Great Yi's presence, each suppressing and pacifying the surrounding wilderness.
Unnoticed by many, the entire region—with Xuanhuang City as its center—now saw immortal cities spreading like chess pieces across the board.
With every city properly placed, the dynasty's fate surged once again.