"Da Bai couldn't come out, so he asked me to go out and get some experience. I don't really care where I go—following you all seems like it'd be fun." Ah Qing blinked and spoke with a smile.
Clearly, where she went didn't matter much to her. She didn't have any real destination in mind.
"Sister Ah Qing, if you come with us, we'll have each other for company. My husband said there are many beautiful sights in the Great Yi Dynasty, and each immortal city has its own unique charm. I'm sure you won't be disappointed," Yao Yue said with a warm tone.
Her words and expression were filled with goodwill.
Since they had chosen to follow Yi Tianxing, they had started considering how to help him more. They wanted to help him recruit all kinds of talents. Every human cultivator present here was a peerless genius of their time. Now that they had gained destiny from the Eternal Night's prodigies, there was no doubt they would rise even faster. Those who weren't heavenly prodigies would become them.
This surge in destiny alone was enough to push them to prominence.
Thus, these people were destined to become the backbone of the human race. If even one of them could be recruited, it would be a huge gain.
Gold was easy to obtain; talent was rare.
That applied to others—let alone someone like Ah Qing.
To this day, no one knew her true strength. It remained utterly unfathomable. She had only made two moves, but both times had left others in awe. Yet no one could discern her true power.
She was a mysterious powerhouse.
If they could truly win her over, even if she didn't officially join the Great Yi Dynasty and only lived within its borders, **she would still represent a hidden foundation—**a trump card at a crucial moment. No one could afford to overlook her presence.
This was why Yao Yue had released goodwill so decisively.
"Alright then, thank you, Sister Yao Yue."Ah Qing blinked, smiling gently as she agreed.
Her acceptance was natural and straightforward, without the slightest coyness.
"I wonder if King Yi would welcome me as a guest in Sunset City?"At that moment, a man stood up—Zhang Shun. He looked at Yi Tianxing with a hint of anticipation in his expression.
There was no attempt to hide his intent to seek refuge.
"If Daoist Zhang is willing, it would be my honor. How could I not welcome you? Sunset City—and even the entire Great Yi—always keeps its gates open to all heroes of the human race. No matter who they are, they will always be welcomed," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
Zhang Shun was undoubtedly a top-tier talent in naval warfare. His talent in water combat was extraordinary—otherwise, he wouldn't have become the commander of the navy at Liangshan Marsh. The nickname White Streak in the Waves wasn't given lightly.
Without true skill, one couldn't hold such a position.
In the Great Yi Dynasty, land and air forces had been established, but naval forces still lacked a suitable leader. Not that they couldn't build a navy—it was just that a qualified general was needed to lead it. Such talent was rare. Zhang Shun was clearly one of them.
Next to Xuanhuang City lay a massive river—the Evergreen River. It was wide enough for numerous warships to sail, and could serve as the foundation for a proper navy. The river spanned vast territories and could allow the Great Yi to exert control over all the nearby regions.
The key issue was building ships capable of sailing through it.
This river was far from safe—the man-eating fish within it had never gone extinct.
Ordinary ships might have their hulls chewed through within moments.
Creating warships that could survive on the Evergreen River wouldn't be easy—much less the fact that the river likely hid far more terrifying aquatic beasts.
So, building a navy had never been a priority. But now, it could finally be brought into planning.
"Then I shall gladly impose," Zhang Shun replied with a grin, clearly accepting the invitation.
"I wonder—how does King Yi view the ideology of the Mohist School?"Just then, another young man stood up. He wore plain clothing, but carried an air of composure. His eyes held a trace of nervous anticipation as he asked.
"The Mohist School?"Yi Tianxing gave the young man a deep look, sensing a strong cultivation aura.
Though it couldn't threaten him, it held a subtle, dangerous feel.
And now he had mentioned the Mohist School.
Yi Tianxing was very aware of what the Mohist School represented—one of the top-tier factions among the Hundred Schools of Thought. Back in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, their influence was so vast that they could sway national policies and turn the tide of wars.
The Mohist School was founded during the Warring States era by Mo Di, later revered as Mozi.
It was a strictly disciplined academic group whose leader was titled "Juzi." Its members, when serving in other states, were expected to implement Mohist ideals—and any earnings were to be contributed to the organization. Mohist thought went through early and later phases: the early period focused on politics, ethics, and epistemology, especially amid wartime; the later Mohists made major contributions to logic and scientific inquiry.
Their core values included:
Universal love (兼爱)—equality and mutual care among all people
Non-aggression (非攻)—opposition to war and conquest
Frugality (节用)—anti-luxury and pro-conservation
Respect for spirits (明鬼)—valuing traditional culture and rituals
Heaven's Will (天志)—recognizing and following natural laws
They were also world-famous for their mechanical engineering and traps, known as Mohist Mechanisms, which could profoundly affect military affairs.
To the common people, these principles meant protection and benevolence—which is why the Mohist School had long been revered among the masses, even inspiring many to dedicate their lives to it.
However, Yi Tianxing had a different take.
He looked at the young man, then slowly said:"The Mohist ideals began from a good place—universal love, non-aggression, frugality, honoring the past, understanding natural law. Their goals were noble. But they are far too idealistic. Too beautiful. They ignore the realities of the human heart and the complexities of governance. They lack the art of trade-offs."
He did not overly praise the Mohist School. In fact, he voiced clear disagreement.
This young man might be a Mohist genius, but Yi Tianxing still said what he believed—he had no need to flatter anyone, and doing so would go against his nature.
For a cultivator, one's heart was paramount.
"Please enlighten me, King Yi!"The youth bowed, his expression solemn, not showing any sign of anger.
"The Mohists wish for equality among all. A noble thought. But too naïve. The human heart is fickle—there is wealth, poverty, mediocrity, genius. Social classes will never disappear. How can everyone be equal? Perhaps in dignity, yes. But if all are equal in status, where does desire come from? Where is motivation born? Without desire, how can civilization advance? Desire is the engine of progress."
"And as for non-aggression—that depends on the war. In the Warring States era, nations warred endlessly. The Mohists aided the weak against the strong. On the surface, that seems noble. In truth, they prolonged wars, made endless killing possible, and brought misery to both nations' people. Where is the 'great love' in that? That's false righteousness, not true virtue."
Yi Tianxing spoke calmly, expressing his view.
To him, the Mohist School in the Warring States period had been a chaotic meddler—worsening war rather than ending it.
With their strength, they could have backed a single powerful state and ended the chaos. Let one nation rise, unify the world, and bring peace to the common folk. But what did they do? They made things worse.
Even Yi Tianxing would find them a headache.
Still, their capabilities were undeniable. They were doers—realists. If properly used, their impact could be tremendous.
His disagreement lay in ideology, not ability.
"The Mohist ideology isn't suited to chaotic times—it belongs in an era of peace,"Zhuge Liang remarked, nodding thoughtfully.
Had the Mohists not stirred the pot in the Warring States period, the unification of China might have come far sooner.
Just like Qin Shi Huang—who had ruthlessly suppressed them. Without the Mohists, the Qin unification would've been swifter and far less bloody.
Of course he hated them.
"Sister, who is that man? Could he be a Mohist genius? If our husband speaks like that, won't it push him away? The Mohists are good at governance—it'd be a waste."Lian Xing whispered to Yao Yue.
"Whether he is or not, this is our husband's way. If the ideology isn't right, accepting them recklessly could lead to danger. It might be better not to," Yao Yue replied with deep meaning.
The Eternal World was still an age of chaos. The various races were at war, with no winner or clear territory lines yet. This era would likely remain unstable for a long time.
The Mohist School's ideology could not be applied to the foreign races.