Moreover, these two women were far from ordinary cultivators. Not only were they stunningly beautiful, enough to topple kingdoms, but their cultivation, combat prowess, temperament, and charisma were all of the highest tier. They were in no way inferior to Cai Yan—each had her own unique brilliance. Women like this becoming imperial consorts of the Great Yi Dynasty was, in itself, an enhancement of national power.
To have beauties by one's side was also a blessing.
When Jia Xu paid his respects, both Yao Yue and Lian Xing couldn't help but blush slightly, though they quickly composed themselves.
Yi Tianxing paused for a moment before waving his hand. The Nine-Dragon War Chariot appeared before him. He stepped onto the chariot and extended his hand to Yao Yue and Lian Xing, inviting them with a smile, "Get on. Let's go."
Delight lit up the faces of Yao Yue and Lian Xing as they swiftly stepped onto the war chariot and stood beside Yi Tianxing, forming a picture-perfect scene that dazzled the eyes.
"While I'm gone, I'll leave Sunset City in your hands, Strategist. No matter what happens, the city cannot fall. Also, take good care of the special crops in the City Lord's Mansion—they're nearly ready for harvest. No carelessness is allowed."
Yi Tianxing gave his orders.
"Rest assured, My King. As long as I'm here, Sunset City will not fall."
Jia Xu nodded solemnly.
ROAR!!
A thunderous roar erupted from the front of the chariot. Immediately, three dragon sons pulled the war chariot forward, piercing through the air and leaving Sunset City behind.
ROAR!
Screech! Screech! Screech!
The departure of the Nine-Dragon War Chariot created a grand spectacle that immediately drew the attention of many Evernight forces and Zerg armies beyond the city walls. Upon seeing the war chariot, they felt provoked.
A flying dragon surged into the sky, lashing its tail and unleashing destructive divine light toward the war chariot, seemingly intent on obliterating it.
MOO!!
In response, one of the dragon sons—Qiu Niu—let out a strange bellow, neither quite like a dragon nor a bull. The cry carried supreme majesty, unleashing soundwaves that swept out like a tidal wave.
Wherever the sound spread, the incoming divine light was drowned, and even the flying dragon and ferocious birds charging toward them were shattered into pieces, bursting into clouds of blood mist—killed by the roar.
The war chariot pressed forward relentlessly, leaving a trail of blazing light in the sky.
Qiu Niu (囚牛) — Eldest of the Nine Dragon Sons, known for loving music. His roar contains sonic killing power that can shatter souls. Though not a real dragon, Qiu Niu is a spirit formed from the war chariot and embodies the soul of a true dragon son. If the chariot fully evolves, all Nine Sons may appear.
"How powerful. So this is the Qiu Niu of the Nine Dragon Sons," Lian Xing exclaimed in awe. She had long been curious about this war chariot. Being pulled by dragon sons was no less than being pulled by true dragons—perhaps even more noble. After all, the Nine Sons were descendants of the Ancestral Dragon and nobler than most dragons.
"This isn't the real Qiu Niu, but it is also the real Qiu Niu. The chariot is a rare treasure of heaven and earth. The Qiu Niu was born from the chariot as a pulling spirit—a Dragon Soul. When the chariot fully evolves, these sons will become no different from real lifeforms. The complete Nine Sons may even manifest together."
Yi Tianxing smiled and gently wrapped his arms around Yao Yue and Lian Xing's slender waists.
The moment his hands touched them, both women trembled slightly and stiffened, faces flushed red—but neither resisted nor pulled away. They had already expressed their intentions and made their decision. As cultivators, they were not overly shy.
"With this chariot, we'll likely face fewer obstacles on our journey to Spirit Mountain. Regular beasts and Zerg won't be a threat—we can pass through directly. We might even arrive ahead of schedule."
Yao Yue leaned against Yi Tianxing, her eyes scanning the landscape. "I wonder how many human prodigies will join this time. If there are too few, we may end up humiliated."
"It's a mistake to underestimate our human geniuses. We are vast in number, with countless talents. There are those with soft spines—but plenty with unyielding bones too. If the other races think they can trample us, they've made the wrong bet."
Yi Tianxing looked calmly into the sky.
If humanity truly were all weaklings, it would have perished long ago. The fact that it has survived this long proves otherwise.
The chariot surged forward—
Crossing mountains, crossing plains.
The Battlefield of Gods and Demons was vast beyond imagination. Even with the chariot's speed, reaching the destination was no simple task.
As the sky darkened—
Lian Xing suddenly said, "Husband, Sister… I feel I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. I'll head inside to cultivate. A great battle is coming—every ounce of strength counts." She cast a glance at Yao Yue, then turned and entered the inner palace of the chariot.
The inner palace had numerous chambers and cultivation rooms that could gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Watching her leave, Yi Tianxing glanced at Yao Yue—and noticed a trace of blush on her face. With his EQ, he instantly understood.
Lian Xing wasn't really going to cultivate—she was giving them privacy.
Yao Yue clearly understood this too.
"Yue'er, the night is deep. Shall we go rest as well? It would be rude to waste Xing'er's kind gesture," Yi Tianxing teased.
"…"
Yao Yue rolled her eyes at him—but didn't object.
"Wait—look ahead!" she suddenly exclaimed, her expression shifting.
Yi Tianxing also turned to look—and his face changed.
As night fell, the Evernight puppets and Zerg began to grow agitated, as if awaiting the final rays of sunlight to vanish—the full descent of night.
Then, a giant black orb suddenly appeared in the sky. In the blink of an eye, it expanded, enveloping a vast section of the battlefield.
"Something's coming! I don't know if it's an Evernight expert or something else." Yi Tianxing frowned, halting the war chariot. He sensed a powerful presence emanating from the darkness. It was not natural—it was man-made.
"There is something…" Yao Yue nodded, peering ahead.
Through the darkness, they saw a black figure slowly approaching. It was blurry—its appearance indistinct. A dense darkness radiated around it.
ROAR!!
The aura was strange—not quite like the Evernight Clan. The Zerg and Evernight armies on the battlefield grew restless. Flying dragons shot into the sky, divine arts and arrows rained down.
The black figure made a move.
The surrounding darkness suddenly expanded, engulfing all attacks. The moment the arrows, divine arts, and even flying dragons touched the darkness—they vanished silently.
As if swallowed by an abyss.
In just moments, huge swaths of Evernight forces and Zerg had disappeared without a trace.
"Just a bunch of Evernight rabble—daring to stir up trouble before me? The night is lovely tonight, and I've just laid eyes on a handsome young man. I won't let you ruin the mood. Be gone, all of you," a woman's voice echoed.
"What an eerie technique…"
Yi Tianxing's pupils contracted. The number of enemies that vanished just now wasn't small—and it happened completely silently.
"A female alien expert… I wonder what race she belongs to," Yao Yue said gravely.
Then, the darkness around the shadow suddenly retracted, converging above her head into the shape of a black umbrella, which she held in her hand.
The black umbrella merged with the night, its presence hard to detect—as if she wasn't even there.
But then, she raised her head and looked directly at Yi Tianxing—and suddenly, her presence became overwhelming.
In a flash of dark light, she appeared before Yi Tianxing.
"Who are you?" Yi Tianxing asked coldly.
A woman stood before him.
"I am called Night Maiden (夜娘)," she answered calmly.
The Night Maiden was breathtakingly beautiful—no less than Yao Yue or Lian Xing, and carried a unique allure.
She stood there with her black umbrella, wearing a green palace robe, exuding a strange and sinister aura. The umbrella in her hand emanated a powerful darkness—like a black hole, devouring everything around it.
Though terrifying, it also felt oddly harmonious in her grasp.
"Night Maiden, are you here for me?" Yi Tianxing asked flatly. Though she was beautiful, she had no power over his will. He had seen many beauties—and she was likely an enemy, a powerful alien being.