Such large-scale movements could only be aimed at halting the expansion of Great Yi. This fact alone could not be ignored.
"Of course they're making big moves. Earlier, I used my Dream Infiltration Technique to enter the dreams of these foreign races and discovered a shocking truth. These human civilians are being driven toward the only path leading to the advancing Golden Silver City. They intend to use these people's lives to threaten Great Yi and His Majesty, forcing us to retreat. If we refuse, they will slaughter these defenseless civilians."
Tong Emperor had not arrived just now—she had been investigating in secret for some time.
She had already discovered signs of unusual activity within the various tribal camps.
Acting immediately, she infiltrated their dreams using her own dream-creating power. Under the erosion of dream energy, she quickly extracted the intel—learning the horrifying purpose behind the abducted human civilians.
They were to be used as bargaining chips, even infants, their lives leveraged to halt the advance of Great Yi.
Upon discovering this, Tong Emperor felt a surge of fury.
This matter was massive, with far-reaching consequences. Countless human civilians still roamed the wilderness, and while many had perished, just as many remained alive—some even captured and imprisoned by foreign tribes, their lives hanging by a thread.
If this tactic were allowed to succeed, it would set a dangerous precedent, like unleashing a flood of catastrophe. The resulting consequences would be beyond imagining—a true disaster.
"They actually intend to use innocent civilians as human shields, like hostages. This is clearly a ploy to threaten Great Yi... and His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Dog King and the others' expressions changed drastically.
They immediately understood how devastating the consequences would be if this strategy succeeded. The ripple effect could shift the entire balance of the Eternal Continent's human race.
"We absolutely cannot allow the alien races' scheme to succeed. If it does, the outcome will be too terrible to bear," Fu Chang said grimly.
"What do we do now, Boss?" Fu Sui asked, glancing at the large crowd of human civilians gathered in the tribal camp. Some had already collapsed from fatigue or illness. Their constitutions were too weak—surviving this long had already been miraculous. Dropping dead at any time was not unusual.
Normally, once someone died, the alien tribes would drag the corpse away and eat it.
The fear of being eaten kept many from daring to even die.
Imagine the terror—knowing your body would be consumed after death.
There was a certain method that could solve everything—one that would erase all consequences: they could personally slaughter all these civilians.
A single massacre would erase the threat. Outsiders would simply blame the alien tribes for the atrocity, marking them with blood vengeance. This would also completely prevent the foreign races from using the hostages as leverage against Great Yi.
But the thought was immediately crushed.
Looking at the emaciated infants and pregnant women... hands that had never once trembled in the act of killing began to shake.
They were killers—assassins trained for death. Yet this was different. This was inhuman.
They were members of Great Yi's Heavenly Calamity Division—the Calamity Guards, assigned to handle the kingdom's darkest affairs. They were blades in Yi Tianxing's hand, meant to execute that which could not be done in public view. Their cruelty had always been reserved for enemies and monsters.
But not for fellow humans. Not for innocent civilians who had already suffered so much.
Could they really be expected to die... at the hands of their own people?
Silence engulfed the Calamity Guards.
Staring at the pregnant women and infants, they couldn't raise their weapons.
Even knowing that a single sweep could remove future disaster, they could not make that choice.
"Boss, your True Child Heart Scripture can generate nightmares. Why don't you trap all the alien tribes here in a dream and then evacuate the civilians? After that, we can wipe out the entire camp."
Shou Wu suddenly suggested.
"No good. There are far too many alien races in this camp. Some are quite strong. While I can forcefully enter a single dream, I can't put tens of thousands to sleep at once. If even one remains awake, the plan fails. I can easily target individuals... but not an entire army. Not at my current level."
The Child Emperor shook her head without hesitation.
She was already at the peak of the Life Aperture Realm, only a step away from forming her Life Diagram. Recently, she had been honing her apertures in preparation for that leap—a transformation that could not be rushed or flawed.
Even if she broke through, she doubted she could accomplish it.
"Then what now? Should we report this to His Majesty and let him decide?" Dog King asked, dejected.
"The very reason the Heavenly Calamity Division exists is to handle things His Majesty can't publicly deal with. We are meant to be soaked in blood. We cannot seek his guidance for every mission. His Majesty granted us the authority to act first and report later—for situations exactly like this. If we need to ask for orders every time, what's the point of having us?"
Her expression hardened.
"This is our first major operation—His Majesty is watching us. It's our chance to prove our worth, to establish our presence in Great Yi, to declare our name."
Determination burned in her eyes.
If the Heavenly Calamity Division was going to act, they would act with precision and perfection.
Failure was not an option.
"So what do we do next?" Dog King asked, brows furrowed. He didn't want to lose face. If this operation failed, their reputation would be crippled.
"Where's Paper Tanhua?" Tong Emperor asked.
"He's nearby, monitoring the other tribal camps," Fu Sui replied.
"Have him come here immediately. It's time we made use of him," Tong Emperor said crisply.
"What's he going to do?" Dog King blinked, but didn't object and sent someone to fetch him.
"There's still some time before nightfall. Keep monitoring the situation. Also, this intel must be reported to His Majesty." She nodded.
Even if she wanted to handle it personally, the incident still had to be reported. That was the rule.
…
This area had already drifted beyond the Great Yi Dynasty's official territory. Their communication wristbands operated via the StarNet, which was fueled by the kingdom's Qi Luck. Since this region was wild and unclaimed, the StarNet had no coverage here.
Not until Golden Silver City officially merged with the Map of Rivers and Mountains' Feng Shui Array would Qi Luck extend here.
So the wristbands couldn't transmit messages normally.
The only option was to burn their own true essence to force communication—like a temporary voice channel, similar to a Sound Transmission Talisman. But while talismans expended their own energy, the wristband consumed the user's essence and spiritual power—exhausting both body and mind.
Still, Tong Emperor forcefully sent out the report.
…
Within Golden Silver City, Yi Tianxing stood atop the city wall, watching Jiang Ni drive the immortal city forward with the Mountain-Herding Whip, a rare and mysterious treasure. The sight stirred curiosity within him.
He closed his eyes and felt the earth pulse beneath him.
Suddenly, his wristband flashed. A message had arrived.
His expression darkened instantly as the message surged into his mind. A chilling glint flashed in his eyes.
"Fan Wencheng—you deserve to be cut into pieces!"
Yi Tianxing growled under his breath.
The horrors of the ogre tribe's camp flashed in his mind—using civilians as shields, as pawns to block the advance of the immortal city. It was a despicable tactic, one that even the alien races might not conceive of. Only someone like Fan Wencheng could devise such cruelty.
Even without seeing it firsthand, he could imagine the implications.
If this door was opened, disaster would follow.
To the human race, this would be a nightmare that could shatter hope.
This was a direct attempt to put him in an impossible position.
Yi Tianxing, for once, was truly enraged.
"Well then. Let's see if the Heavenly Calamity Division can rise in this trial. Child Emperor, you'd better not disappoint me. I want to see how you plan to pull the rug out from under them."
In the message, Tong Emperor clearly stated that the Heavenly Calamity Division would take full responsibility for resolving the crisis.
Yi Tianxing did not object.
This would be their ultimate trial by fire.
Were they dragons or insects? Time would tell.
Once again, he chose not to intervene personally.
The Great Yi Dynasty was no longer his alone. It belonged to the people, to the officials, to the dynasty itself. Those who received its blessings must prove their worth.
A wise ruler's strength lies not only in personal power—but in knowing how to choose and trust the right people.
In using others well, one achieves lasting peace.
Intervening in every matter is not wisdom. Even the most capable person cannot support an entire dynasty alone.