"March out!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
On the command platform, towering warriors stood bare-chested, swinging heavy drumsticks and beating the war drums. Each thundering beat was like divine thunder from the heavens, echoing with the metallic clash of weapons and the cries of battle. A blood-red hue flashed across the sky, foretelling the bloodshed and carnage that lay ahead.
"But before we depart, the Great Yi must remain stable. All Immortal Cities are to operate as usual. The Iron-Blood Great Wall, our Great Yi's divine guardian treasure, shall now fully display its role as a nation-stabilizing and realm-sealing artifact."
Standing atop the Nine-Dragon War Chariot, Yi Tianxing looked toward the distant Iron-Blood Great Wall. Pointing a finger, he issued a resolute command.
RUMBLE!!
At his command, the entire Iron-Blood Great Wall seemed to come alive, rising from the earth like a massive, blood-hued dragon. The wall had grown to over three thousand li, nearly four thousand li in length. It undulated like a supreme battle dragon stretching across the land.
"The Iron-Blood Great Wall... it's flying!"
"So long! Nearly four thousand li! It's hard to believe—this wall was forged from the flesh and blood of our human martyrs, nourished by the remains of countless alien races and fierce beasts."
"Indeed. The Iron-Blood Great Wall has defended Xuanhuang City against wave after wave of deadly foes. It's indestructible. It houses the undying souls of our fallen heroes, who continue to protect our people and the Great Yi Empire."
Citizens watched with reverent, fanatical expressions. The Iron-Blood Great Wall was no longer just a fortification—it had become a symbol of spiritual faith. Countless fierce beasts, alien races, and fallen human warriors were buried within.
In modern Great Yi, even commoners no longer sought traditional burials. Instead, they willingly offered their bodies to the Iron-Blood Wall. It was said the wall was connected to Great Yi's national destiny, and burial within it was akin to resting in the most auspicious of geomantic lands. It brought fortune and blessings to one's descendants. Over time, this became both tradition and custom.
As the wall soared through the sky, it rapidly expanded, visibly growing with every breath. Its ends connected, forming a vast circle. The material body of the wall became partly illusory, though still visible and partly tangible.
In moments, it had grown to cover a radius of over twenty thousand li, completely enveloping Great Yi's territory.
BOOM!
Descending from the sky, the Iron-Blood Great Wall landed just outside the borders of Great Yi, enclosing the entire realm within its perimeter. Although much of the structure was still illusory, it held considerable defensive power.
Now, the wall stood nine zhang tall—like a towering skyscraper—radiating an oppressive aura of iron and blood. It seemed insurmountable.
Moreover, the real sections of the wall could be freely moved. They could instantly appear at any location along Great Yi's border—north, south, east, or west.
Once the illusory parts were fully condensed into tangible matter, the wall could continue to grow, spreading across even more land.
"The Iron-Blood Great Wall marks the borders of Great Yi. Anyone who dares cross it is an enemy of the empire. No foreign being at the Fate Map Realm shall be allowed to breach it."
Yi Tianxing declared, establishing the divine law governing the wall.
The wall was now a realm-defining treasure, signifying where the Great Yi's sovereignty extended.
"Damn that Yi King! Damn that Iron-Blood Wall! How could it suddenly block us out like this?"
"Wait… the illusory part doesn't actually block entry. But Fate Map Realm beings can't cross it. If they try, the wall will react and alert Great Yi."
Outside the territory, numerous alien races stared in disbelief as the wall materialized before them. They tested its boundaries and scowled in frustration. The wall was like a silent provocation.
Still, when they remembered Great Yi's power, no one dared act rashly.
"Tch. Just wait. This time, countless races of the Eternal Continent will enter the Battlefield of Gods and Demons. Great Yi won't have its way in that far corner of the world. On the battlefield, your so-called elite troops will be buried. Only then will you humans realize your true place—beneath us!"
One alien cultivator sneered.
This was their perfect chance for revenge—a united front of alien races would enter the battlefield. With so many powerhouses, they were confident that humanity, and even Great Yi, would be utterly crushed.
"Zhaoji, Elder Huang, father-in-law—I leave the Great Yi Empire in your hands," Yi Tianxing said solemnly to Huang Chengyan and others.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. So long as we live, there will be no chaos in Great Yi." Huang Chengyan replied, exuding even stronger Confucian energy.
Yi Tianxing turned to Cai Yan.
"Zhaoji, take care of Anning. If anything happens that can't be handled, go to my quiet chamber. It will help you."
Anning was the princess's nickname, meant to symbolize peace for both Great Yi and all of humanity.
"I will," Cai Yan nodded gently. She didn't ask to accompany him to the battlefield. A wise woman knew when to step back—offering a solid rear line was often the greatest support.
"Let's move out!"
Yi Tianxing glanced at his surroundings. Fu Hongxue, Ye Zhiqiu, and Lu Zhishen stood by his side—all members of Tongtian Pavilion.
As bounty hunters and elite cultivators, they had long trained independently while receiving Great Yi's rich resources. Now, each possessed formidable power.
Fu Hongxue's Blade Intent was no longer fierce and wild but hidden and restrained, the sign of having returned to the essence. He had reached the level of Second Tribulation Blade Intent, rivaling Fate Map Realm powerhouses.
When news of the battlefield broke, all of them insisted on joining. This was a once-in-an-era event, and none would willingly miss it—even if it meant death.
RUMBLE!!
In the void, the Gate of Gods and Demons quivered. A beam of divine light streaked across the sky and revealed a massive ancient portal. Though just a projection, its aura was enough to make anyone feel like a mere ant.
It was large enough to let tens of thousands pass through simultaneously.
From within, a mysterious abyssal darkness emanated, evoking a sense of falling into a void.
ROAR!!
The three dragon sons pulled the war chariot into the gate. Yi Tianxing stood tall on the chariot, wind whipping through his hair, unflinching.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The five grand legions stepped in formation, following behind. Not a single soldier hesitated. Their eyes never left the figure in front of them.
Citizens watched silently, sending their deepest blessings.
One million troops passed through the Gate of Gods and Demons in moments—so massive was the gate that it easily accommodated them all.
Once the last soldier had entered, the gate vanished—its projection complete.
"Come. Let us return. Only by making Great Yi even stronger can we truly support our king."
Cai Yan took a deep breath, holding Anning tightly in her arms, and turned back toward the palace.
Inside the Gate of Gods and Demons
Once inside, an unimaginable scene unfolded.
There were no lush landscapes or divine cities—only a road.
A road stretching into the mysterious unknown.
It existed in the void—a celestial path, vast as the Milky Way, connecting heaven and earth.
Bones. Bones everywhere. The ground was littered with them. Each skeletal frame emitted a powerful aura, lingering despite the passage of untold millennia.
"Kill! Slay them all!"
"Evil must perish! If I die, I'll take some with me!"
"Fight! Until every drop of blood is shed! We humans are the strongest—we shall never yield!"
Stepping onto the Road of Gods and Demons, it was as though countless voices echoed in the air, each filled with hatred and resolve. An overwhelming battle will surged forth from every direction.
"March out!!"
Yi Tianxing looked ahead, his eyes gleaming with determination despite the heavy weight in his heart.
There was shock, doubt—who were all these fallen? Many skeletons bore features of other races. Clearly, not just humans had died here. Why had they all perished? How long ago?
With no answers, he led the march forward, step by step, into the unknown.