Xiongba appeared in a flowing long robe, emanating an invisible aura of dominance. His aura was unlike that of Xiang Yu—while Xiang Yu's dominance was grand and unshakable, Xiongba's was tyrannical and absolute. His will was clear: "Those who follow me thrive; those who oppose me perish." That was his nature, his belief. Though not quite on Xiang Yu's level, he was undeniably powerful. Yi Tianxing could sense it clearly—Xiongba had already broken through to the Life Map Realm, becoming a Life Map powerhouse. A true Heaven's Chosen.
His temperament was that of a scheming overlord, whereas Xiang Yu was a conqueror—two completely different archetypes. In a direct clash, Xiongba might not come out on top.
"I, Li Yuanba, have arrived!!"
A thunderous shout rang out, and from the distance strode a frail-looking man wielding two massive hammers. Though he looked sickly and emaciated, his eyes sparkled with fierce brilliance, and the blood energy surging through his body was palpable.
Who else could it be but Li Yuanba, one of the most legendary warriors in Chinese history?
"It's Li Yuanba."
Yi Tianxing recognized him instantly. He had witnessed his prowess firsthand during the First World Martial Arts Tournament, even watching him battle Lü Bu in a ferocious duel. Li Yuanba was no weaker than Xiang Yu, a peerless Heaven's Chosen.
"Hmph! Since this sickly freak is here, how could I, Lü Bu, not show up?"
With a snort, a crimson warhorse descended from the skies. The horse was a creature of legend, glowing like burning coal, without a single stray hair. It was a full zhang in length and eight chi tall, roaring as if it could leap across seas and soar through the skies.
Upon it rode Lü Bu, wearing a golden crown with three prongs, a robe of red cotton adorned with hundreds of flowers, and armor sculpted like beast faces devouring heads. At his waist hung a lion-themed belt. He carried bow and arrows, and wielded his famed Sky Piercer Halberd.
He was a vision of a peerless god of war.
His aura rivaled that of any Life Map cultivator.
"Lü Bu! Last time we didn't settle the score—let's finish it now!"
Li Yuanba's eyes lit up as he raised his dual hammers, itching for battle.
"Hmph. Sickly freak, I didn't come here to fight you. If you want a real duel, we'll do it next time. My Ghost God Halberd Technique has improved a hundredfold—don't blame me if you can't even take one blow."
Lü Bu sneered, arrogance radiating from his brow. Few could earn his respect, but Li Yuanba was one of them.
"Fine. Next time, we'll settle it properly."
Li Yuanba laughed and stepped back, clearly aware now wasn't the right moment to duel.
"Such excitement. Since this concerns the fate of the human race, how could I not come? I, Liang, shall offer what little help I can."
A soft, elegant voice rang out. A young man in flowing white robes, holding a feather fan, walked toward them. Every step he took rippled with mysterious Daoist rhythm, like the turning of constellations. In a blink, he arrived at the base of Mount Ling.
"Zhuge Liang, the man who divided the world into three parts... Zhuge Kongming."
Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed. From his title, clothing, and aura, he immediately recognized him. No mistake—this was Zhuge Liang, the famed strategist of Shu Han from the Three Kingdoms.
"Zhuge Liang greets the King of Great Yi."
Zhuge Liang looked up and gave a respectful bow, smiling.
"No need for such formalities, Sir Zhuge. We are all cultivators of the human race. We must stand together and raise our people's name to glory."
Yi Tianxing responded warmly, expressing goodwill and friendliness.
Zhuge Liang was no stranger to anyone. Courtesy name Kongming, known as the Crouching Dragon, he was an unparalleled polymath: strategist, politician, diplomat, writer, inventor, calligrapher. His talents were legendary.
He created the Eight Trigrams Formation, nearly unbeatable in warfare. Though not the top battlefield tactician, his strategies had the fewest flaws, thanks to his versatility. Had he not died young, the fate of the Three Kingdoms might have been different. His administrative skill was unmatched—Shu Han rose and thrived because of him.
Despite criticism for being overly hands-on and power-concentrated, his ability and loyalty were indisputable.
Yi Tianxing would be lying if he said he didn't want such a talent for the Great Yi Dynasty. Having someone like Zhuge Liang could transform their entire kingdom.
But now was not the time for recruitment. He only smiled and nodded.
Yao Yue and Lian Xing exchanged glances, seeing the same thought reflected in each other's eyes: Zhuge Liang was worth more than a million soldiers.
"Your Majesty, we've arrived."
At that moment, Ye Zhiqiu, Fu Hongxue, Lu Zhishen, and Sikong Zhaixing arrived together.
"So you came. I assume this is our strategist's doing."
Yi Tianxing guessed immediately that Jia Xu must've sent them to protect him. Their presence could turn the tide of battle.
"Well then, you've come at just the right time. With you here, our chances of victory have increased significantly."
With trusted subordinates, Yi Tianxing could command with ease—something most Heaven's Chosen lacked.
Soon, more and more cultivators arrived on Mount Ling.
Some carried heavy swords on their backs, others wore bright red robes. All of them were human cultivators—none hiding anymore. All had chosen to step forward.
"Fellow cultivators, focus a wisp of your consciousness and inject it into the King's Battle Chessboard. We don't yet fully understand the rules, but once inside, more will become clear."
Yi Tianxing spoke, and without hesitation, projected a sliver of his mind into the chessboard.
In an instant, his consciousness passed through an invisible passage and emerged in a completely unfamiliar place. The surroundings shifted—he now stood upon a massive platform.
Around him, numerous Eternal Heaven's Chosen were already present, eyes closed, silently waiting.
"A message... This is the rule of King's Battle Chess."
A stream of information poured into Yi Tianxing's mind.
[New Battle Mechanic: King's Canyon Rules]
Two sides: Red vs Blue. Each has a King Crystal, which represents the team's core. If destroyed, the team loses.
King Crystals store Luck. Killing enemy Heaven's Chosen steals their Luck.
Victory rewards Luck Crystals, based on personal performance—the more kills, the more crystals.
Three lanes, each protected by Crystal Towers. These towers can be destroyed, but are extremely dangerous, capable of killing Life Map Realm cultivators.
To destroy a tower: shatter its crystal core or collapse the structure.
No resurrection. Death is permanent and results in elimination.
The battlefield contains Four Ferocious Beasts:
Taotie,
Hundun,
Qiongqi,
Taowu.
Entering their territory triggers a deadly encounter. Killing one grants a powerful treasure—capable of changing the tide of war.
Yi Tianxing quickly absorbed the message. These were the key rules and intelligence of the battlefield.
"This is different from the King's Canyon I remember. What are these Four Ferocious Beasts doing here? What kind of treasures do they drop? How powerful are they?"
Questions swirled in his mind. The rules were far more ruthless and deadly than expected—no second chances. One mistake meant total elimination.
He looked up.
On the plaza stood a giant crystal, glowing brilliant blue, radiating warmth like a small sun. The light enveloped everyone, making them feel calm and refreshed, as if bathing in hot springs.