This scene would strike anyone as extraordinarily strange.
A guandao was one of the most dominant types of blades—one swing could split an opponent in two. It was unmistakably a tyrannical weapon. Yet now, in this moment, the massive blade gave off the illusion of embroidery work—strangely delicate and intricate. It was bizarre.
And yet, the killing intent contained within was the most terrifying part.
"Now that a human powerhouse has arrived, I shall take my leave. We'll fight another day."
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the shadows. Immediately after, the Shadow Demon cultivator vanished entirely, as though he had escaped far away, disappearing without a trace.
"You damn coward!"
The general roared furiously, his eyes wide with rage. He cursed, "Don't run! Fight till dawn!"
But alas, the Shadow Demon had arrived mysteriously and departed even more freely. He came and went with no hesitation, clearly unwilling to risk staying and putting himself in danger. Before he left, he instinctively glanced into the void—there, he sensed an overwhelming threat, a vague but fatal aura of death.
It was precisely this sense that made him flee without hesitation.
In a situation like this, even a moment's hesitation could be fatal.
The Shadow Demon Clan was known as one of the most terrifying assassin races in all existence. At the same time, they were also masters of self-preservation, possessing astonishing escape abilities.
"May I ask which fellow human Daoist is present? Please come out so that Guan Yu may express his thanks in person."
At that moment, the general retracted his guandao, scanning his surroundings with sharp eyes and speaking calmly.
"I didn't act. What thanks is there to give?"
From the void, a Nine-Dragon War Chariot emerged, tearing through the sky. Standing atop the chariot, Yi Tianxing responded calmly.
In his heart, he couldn't help but think: "Just as I thought—Guan Yu."
From the moment he saw the man's attire, his elegant beard, and the weapon in his hand, he had already made a strong guess about the man's identity. Now, hearing his words, there was no doubt left—this was indeed Guan Yu.
Who didn't know Guan Yu? He was a household name.
During the Three Kingdoms period, the story of the Oath of the Peach Garden remained legendary. In later generations, Guan Yu was even worshipped in temples, honored for his loyalty and righteousness. These traits were especially revered by those in power. In the Qing Dynasty, he was thoroughly deified. Eventually, Guan Yu became a symbol of faith even in the criminal underworld, which feared betrayal more than anything.
Why worship him? Because they feared their subordinates would betray and kill them. In such a world where morality was discarded, loyalty became the glue that held brothers together. Worshipping Second Brother Guan was a way to reinforce that principle—brotherhood, loyalty, and no betrayal.
Guan Yu, originally named Changsheng, later changed his style name to Yunchang. He was from Jie County in Hedong Commandery, a famed general of the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Early on, he followed Liu Bei, wandering through various regions. He was once captured alive by Cao Cao, but at Baima Slope, he famously killed Yan Liang, a top general under Yuan Shao. Alongside Zhang Fei, he was called a one-man army.
After his death, Guan Yu was increasingly deified, revered by the people as "Lord Guan", also known as the "Bearded Lord". Throughout dynasties, emperors conferred various noble titles on him. In the Qing dynasty, he was venerated as "The Great Saintly Emperor Guan, Loyal, Righteous, Mighty, Benevolent, Brave, and Glorious", equal in reverence to Confucius, the "Saint of Literature." Romance of the Three Kingdoms lists him as the leader of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. Critic Mao Zonggang named him one of the three paragons of the novel—the exemplar of righteousness.
Of course, much of Guan Yu's renown had been mythologized, and fame didn't equate to absolute power.
From what Yi Tianxing could tell now, Guan Yu's current cultivation was still at the Life Aperture Realm, but his blade intent was so sharp it could threaten even those in the Life Map Realm. However, he didn't yet possess the divine might of a fully deified "Saintly Emperor Guan."
"May I ask who you are, fellow Daoist?"
Guan Yu looked at the Nine-Dragon War Chariot that had suddenly appeared, surprise flickering in his eyes.
This war chariot was clearly no ordinary artifact, pulled by none other than sons of the Ancestral Dragon. The man and two women standing upon it radiated an extraordinary presence—clearly not mere mortals. Their demeanor alone spoke volumes.
"I am Yi Tianxing, of the Great Yi Dynasty," Yi Tianxing replied calmly.
He didn't hide his identity at all.
At certain times, identity itself was a powerful tool for attracting talent.
And this identity, in particular, carried immense weight.
"The Great Yi Dynasty? You're the legendary King Yi?"
Guan Yu was visibly shaken. He had heard Yi Tianxing's name more than once. When Great Yi was first established, the phenomenal vision of Heaven and Earth had spread far and wide—he still remembered it vividly. At the time, he had inwardly cheered, proud that the human race had made such a stand. It had brought a glimmer of hope to countless suffering human beings on the Eternal Continent.
Now, upon confirming Yi Tianxing's identity, Guan Yu's expression softened. Clearly, he held a favorable impression. This was the advantage of reputation—it opened doors and lowered defenses.
Otherwise, how could an ordinary person possibly make him relax just by speaking his name?
"There's no need for talk of legends. I'm just Yi Tianxing." Yi Tianxing smiled slightly. "General Guan, are you heading to Mount Ling for the banquet?"
From the direction of Guan Yu's path, it was clear—he was headed straight for Mount Ling.
"Indeed. Since the alien races took the trouble to invite our human warriors, even though their intentions are clearly sinister, how could we not answer the challenge? We must never let the alien races of the heavens look down upon us humans!"
Guan Yu stroked his elegant beard and declared loudly, without hesitation.
But in his heart, there was another reason he didn't voice:
"The Rare Fruit Banquet will undoubtedly draw the top geniuses of every race, including the human race. With my eldest brother's abilities, if he has entered the Battlefield of Gods and Demons, he certainly won't miss such an event. If that's the case, this might be the perfect chance to reunite with my elder brother, and perhaps even with our third brother. If we can gather again, we can fight side by side and support our brother in carving out greatness in this chaotic era."
This was the true desire hidden in Guan Yu's heart.
The Eternal Continent was simply too vast. Once separated, reuniting was nearly impossible. The Battlefield of Gods and Demons offered one of the rare opportunities. If they could find each other, they could find a way to return home together.
As he recalled the Peach Garden Oath, a fire surged in Guan Yu's chest.
Even in this foreign world, he hoped to revive the bond they once shared—to become an eternal legend, admired by all.
Yi Tianxing could hear the unspoken longing in Guan Yu's words. With a bit of thought, it wasn't hard to guess what he was truly after.
"Whether Liu Bei will show up remains to be seen…"
Yi Tianxing mused silently.
With Liu Bei's cautious personality, he wouldn't place himself in danger. The Rare Fruit Banquet was akin to a dragon's den—a banquet of betrayal and slaughter. Whether Liu Bei would risk attending was truly a toss-up.
"Since General Guan is also heading to the Rare Fruit Banquet, why not travel together?"
Yi Tianxing asked calmly, extending an invitation.
"No need. I've found this journey to Mount Ling to be an excellent trial by fire. Though the Eternal Legion and the Zerg swarm fill this battlefield, every step forward is a battle. But this battlefield is the perfect whetstone for my blade, and the refinement of my blade intent. If I don't sharpen my blade now, how will I slice through the arrogance of the alien races?"
A cold light flashed in Guan Yu's phoenix-like eyes as he decisively declined.
The path was perilous, yes, but it was also the perfect tempering ground. If he could survive the journey, he believed his blade would become even sharper and more unstoppable.
Besides, he harbored personal concerns.
"Very well. In that case, I won't press. May we meet again atop Mount Ling."
Yi Tianxing nodded, understanding.
A man like Guan Yu, a veteran of countless battlefields, had long forged an unshakable resolve. Once a decision was made, it was nearly impossible to change.
Guan Yu departed, riding his divine warhorse, galloping forward.
"Kill!!"
With his war cry, blood sprayed along his path. Battle after battle, he carved a path forward, bathed in blood.
"Husband, why didn't you press him harder to join us? Guan Yu is one of the top human generals. Once he matures, he could easily command a battlefield on his own."
Lianxing blinked, unable to help voicing her regret.
It felt like too great a talent to let slip away.
"His heart lies elsewhere. Forcing him would only breed resentment. We are all human powerhouses—there's no need to strain relations. I can guess what he's really thinking. He's probably still looking for Liu Bei. If his heart isn't here, forcing him to stay would be pointless. Besides…" Yi Tianxing chuckled, "We might want to keep an eye on Yide in the future. Best if those two don't meet."
It was clear—Zhang Fei was already under Great Yi's command. If the brothers were to reunite, things might get complicated.
"Good thing General Zhang isn't here. Otherwise, odds of that happening would be ninety percent."
Yaoyue nodded in agreement.
This was a potential hidden danger. Not only might they fail to recruit Guan Yu—they could lose Zhang Fei too.
"Let things happen as they will. When Yide joined me, he said: If he ever learned of Guan Yu or Liu Bei's whereabouts and wanted to leave, I must not stop him. If the time comes, I'll honor that promise. A forced melon is never sweet."
Yi Tianxing said softly.
What would come, would come. For now, the priority was reaching Mount Ling.
With a thought, the war chariot soared forward once more.
Along the way, they saw many alien powerhouses making haste, clearly all heading toward the same destination: the Rare Fruit Banquet.