Back when the Luck Dragon Serpent first ascended through the Dragon Gate, it was only nine zhang long. But after becoming the true Luck Dragon of the Great Yi, with every new national policy, every moment of peace among the populace, and with the strengthening national destiny, it grew continually. In particular, the implementation of the Fairy Cities to Suppress the Wilderness policy caused a dramatic surge in its power. Since then, as Great Yi stabilized, the Luck Dragon continued to grow.
Before long, it had grown to over ten zhang.
Now, having absorbed the territorial fortune from the empire's expansion, the Luck Dragon's body surged to twenty zhang in length.
[Luck Dragon Serpent (气运蛟龙)] – A manifestation of the Great Yi's national fate.Highlight: [Fairy Cities to Suppress the Wilderness (仙城镇压荒野)] – A strategic policy anchoring human territory and absorbing local energies.
"Good. The larger the Luck Dragon, the stronger the national strength and destiny of Great Yi. In Xuanhuang City, it can suppress all cultivators, rendering them unable to use divine abilities or magic. Evil is repelled, and no wickedness can invade."
Yi Tianxing sensed the changes from within Xuanhuang City and nodded silently.
According to legend, when national fortune is strong, cultivators entering the capital city are restricted—ten percent of their strength becomes their full capacity. Such suppression comes from the will of the people and the dominance of destiny.
This time, the smooth landing of Gold and Silver City, its successful suppression of local geomantic energy—this was true territorial expansion.
He could feel it. Previously, due to insufficient national fortune, communication bracelets couldn't connect to the Star Web in the wilderness. But now, even out here, connectivity remained intact. This meant Great Yi's destiny was now linked to the wilderness. Whether weak or strong, this link allowed the Star Web to extend everywhere.
In a hidden cave outside the Ogre Tribe, Fan Wencheng stood at the entrance.
From a distance, he watched Gold and Silver City descend. Its lights glowed brightly, its Beacon Tower fully lit—like a lighthouse in the dark, visible from miles away.
[Fan Wencheng] – A former strategist who turned traitor, now transforming into a bloodline progenitor.
"What a terrifying Great Yi Dynasty. Ruthless. Even using human hostages couldn't deter their advance. Clearly, ordinary tactics no longer affect them. With this brutal action, they've declared to all foreign races: Great Yi cannot be threatened."
Fan Wencheng's pale face grew darker.
He understood what would follow once this message spread: surrounding tribes would fear to resist, and Great Yi's expansion would accelerate.
"These Fairy Cities are brilliant—anchoring the earth's energy, gathering all natural spiritual essence. In a few years, these cities will become holy lands for cultivation."
Fan Wencheng could feel it: the region was already under an invisible shackle—the destiny suppression of the Great Yi Dynasty. A natural pressure now weighed on all nearby creatures. This wilderness would become the hunting grounds of humanity. Battling the humans here would grow increasingly difficult.
The humans would only grow stronger, while the foreign tribes would weaken.
He knew well: humanity's ability to reproduce and expand was terrifying. Once mobilized, humans became one of the most dangerous species under heaven.
"I must leave. Staying here is too dangerous. My hostage strategy has failed—Great Yi won't let me go. But once the two-headed ogre dies, I'll be free to create a new Blood Clan. I, Fan Wencheng, will become a True Blood Ancestor, and none shall control my fate. I will rule all living beings."
With a cold sneer, Fan Wencheng glanced at the brilliant city lights. His body glowed, then suddenly transformed into giant black vampire bats, flying back into the cave.
When he re-emerged, he was carrying numerous young men and women—all of them human. Each was carefully selected: handsome men and beautiful women. There were at least a thousand.
These were his seed stock—targets for his first embrace, to create the next generation of blood descendants.
[First Embrace / 初拥] – A ritual turning humans into vampire bloodlings.
Though the city had landed, the work was far from over. Scouts had to explore the surrounding region. Livelihood had to be restored: choosing land to plant crops, vegetables, and so on. All required the high-level management of Gold and Silver City.
With the city now fully transplanted, its Teleportation Array connected to the outside.
The Hunter's Hall resumed operations.
A massive number of bounty hunters arrived via the array, flooding the Hunter's Hall. Missions refreshed constantly: terrain scouting, beast surveys, foreign race tracking, monster hunts, etc. New missions were issued every moment based on real-time intel.
With the Star Web as the core, all information and tasks remained efficient and timely.
In this moment, Gold and Silver City came to life—resurrected with vibrant energy.
Now with land, it had a foundation. Naturally, it burst forth with a unique brilliance. Even the surrounding landscapes were beautiful—sure to attract visitors and tourists. Scholars and poets adored such environments. Undoubtedly, Gold and Silver City would become a bustling hub in the future—a hotbed of prosperity.
Yi Tianxing, however, ignored all of it.
Fairy Cities had their own administrators. There was no need for his direct oversight.
He didn't return to Xuanhuang City either—his Shadow Clone was still there.
The wilderness was full of dangers—but also of opportunities.
During the Great Cataclysm, countless heavenly treasures had fallen from the sky. Some were taken by humans or foreign races, but many still lay hidden—beneath the earth, in monster dens, or secluded places.
With luck, exploration could yield rare divine treasures and fortuitous encounters.
This journey was also a trial.
"I see... a village?"
In the wilderness, danger was everywhere. Even insect bites in the dark could prove lethal. A single misstep could mean death. Nighttime wilderness was a forbidden zone. Few dared to wander alone.
Yet, amid the forest, a village suddenly appeared.
It was eerily silent, clearly abandoned. Not a sound echoed. In the night, it resembled a ghost village. But from within, a faint aura of treasure flickered—not too obvious, but not entirely hidden either.
It stirred both curiosity and unease.
Clang!
Yi Tianxing responded not with hesitation—but with a sword strike. A brilliant blade of light flashed—and the village vanished.
Thud!
A giant flower fell to the ground.
It had razor-like teeth, like a serrated mouth—ready to swallow any who approached.
"A flower using illusion arts to deceive living beings. The village, the treasure—it was all fake. But it can't fool my eyes. You think you can eat me? You're far from worthy."
Yi Tianxing calmly looked at the fallen monster flower.
This was one of many mutated flora resulting from the fusion of myriad realms. Many plants had evolved into terrifying killers.
This one, in particular, was a Fragrant Taro Man-Eating Flower—not only deadly, but capable of crafting realistic illusions. Based on the many bones scattered nearby, it had claimed numerous victims.
Still, this flower could be a valuable alchemical ingredient.
[Fragrant Taro Man-Eating Flower (香芋食人花)] – A monstrous plant that kills using illusions and devours the unwary.
Boom!
Suddenly, a crisp explosion echoed from the forest.
The sound was sharp—like a piercing shriek of a sharp object slicing through air. Very swift and deadly.
Comparable to a war arrow fired from a battle bow.
"Gunfire. Bullets."
Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed.
He couldn't mistake it. That was definitely the sound of a gun—a bullet tearing through the air.
[Gunfire] – An anomaly in the current era of cultivation where firearms are largely obsolete.
"Interesting. Guns… someone's using a gun here?"
After the Great Cataclysm, modern tech had been devastated. Electronics, computers—all became useless. Even high-tech weaponry like missiles or nukes turned into mere scrap.
Only simple firearms retained some use—but they quickly became inferior to magic and bows. Most bullets couldn't even pierce a beast's hide.
In this world, even ordinary bows surpassed guns.
Powerful archers could shoot targets thousands of meters away—rivaling sniper rifles.
But now, here, in this wilderness, Yi Tianxing heard gunfire again.
This… was truly unexpected.