"That's right. It's almost time to say goodbye again. I'm really going to miss you all. But I'm sure we'll meet again. We have insider information, after all."
Hei said reluctantly, with a hint of expectation in his expression.
"Yes, everyone, this farewell marks the beginning of our next reunion. Let's look forward to that day together!"Xiaosa Ge shouted loudly, his voice still full of vigor and excitement.
"Alright then, farewell everyone! Don't forget us!"Hei's eyes glistened with tears as he cried out.
"Remember us! We are the most suave in all of heaven and earth, the coolest in the entire universe—Xiaosa Ge and Hei!"With that final roar, the two struck a flamboyant pose.
As their voices faded, the platform that had appeared in the sky vanished without a trace. They disappeared from the sight of everyone on the Divine-Demonic Battlefield.
"The battlefield is about to close. Only nine days remain. Gather as many resources as possible. Trade them for all sorts of rare treasures. Convert them into nourishment for your cultivation and undergo a dramatic transformation."
"Merit points—yes, within these nine days, we must hunt down as many Evernight fiends as possible. With enough merit, we can exchange for a large stockpile of resources. That's the key."
This thought instinctively emerged in the minds of many cultivators.
In the Divine-Demonic Treasury's exchange list, there were far too many valuable items. One couldn't take them all, but they could still try to obtain as much as possible. That was the goal for most cultivators now.
The Fruit Banquet came to a quiet end.
As the banquet concluded, Ling Mountain naturally disappeared, vanishing as though it had never existed.
Compared to the journey there, the return trip was much smoother.
That was largely thanks to Yi Tianxing continuously opening spatial portals. By jumping through space directly, the process became vastly more efficient. Moreover, the Evernight demon army encountered along the way didn't pose much of a threat, allowing them to advance rapidly.
In just a single day—at any cost—they had crossed a vast area of the battlefield. By the time night was about to fall, Falling Sunset City was already in sight.
"So this is Falling Sunset City."
Ah Qing looked around curiously. It was clear this war city was enormous. In the Divine-Demonic Battlefield, it was among the top-tier fortresses. That Yi Tianxing had managed to take control of such a massive city spoke volumes about the strength of the Great Yi Dynasty—a true testament to their title as the number one human fortune dynasty.
On the city walls, soldiers stood ready, waiting for nightfall. The menacing ballistae were already loaded, glinting with terrifying cold light. Before such siege weapons, all enemies would be crushed.
These were true weapons of mass destruction on the battlefield.
Swords were unsheathed, bows strung—every soldier stood ready for imminent war.
All five major legions were at full strength. Even those who had fallen in battle had been swiftly replaced by new troops—converted humans once enslaved by the Evernight forces. After being purified and given new cultivation techniques, they immediately displayed formidable strength. With proper equipment and resources, they were in no way inferior to the original troops.
In recent days, to keep the secret of the Wuxie Tianyin Sacred Tree—which could purify these enslaved humans—Yi Tianxing had kept the troop numbers steady, only replacing losses. Occasionally, he added a few more, letting Cheng Yaojin build a new legion and Nine Lives establish the first true Sky Cavalry.
Thanks to this secrecy, the outside world remained unaware of Yi Tianxing's ability to purify Evernight's puppet soldiers.
As a result, Falling Sunset City's strength hadn't diminished but had only grown over time.
This was evident from the powerful aura and battle intent exuded by the city's soldiers.
"Yes, this is Falling Sunset City. When night falls, the Evernight demons will launch their full assault. That's why the troops on the wall are already preparing for the upcoming war,"
Lianxing said with a smile.
The aura of the Great Yi's legions often left first-timers speechless.
Guan Yu and Zhang Shun were visibly stunned.
"Uniform gear, high-quality armor—every piece is a magical artifact. The weapons, bows, and bolts—everything is top-tier. Such fine gear will bring overwhelming destruction on the battlefield,"
Guan Yu thought to himself.
Even he had never seen such a luxurious and deadly army.
Each soldier was armed to the teeth. Their defensive power was immense, and their offensive power no less terrifying. One look, and you knew this wasn't an army that could be broken easily.
"The king has returned! His Majesty is back!"
On the city wall, soldiers spotted the opening spatial gate and the Nine-Dragon War Chariot emerging. Joy filled their faces. The recent events on Ling Mountain were still fresh in their minds, unforgettable. The king's heroic deeds had filled them with awe and admiration.
"Second Brother!!"
A thunderous shout rang out from the wall, filled with deep emotion.
It was Zhang Fei.
At that moment, Zhang Fei's dark face flushed red, his broad body trembling with excitement. His eyes were locked on one figure—Guan Yu.
For Zhang Fei, there was no one else in sight.
The three brothers had been separated for far too long. He had almost given up hope of ever seeing Guan Yu again. To meet here, now—it was overwhelming.
"Third Brother!!"
Guan Yu was equally moved, his body also trembling. His face was flushed with emotion, like a fire burning within him.
Zhang Fei couldn't hold back. He leaped from the wall and flew through the air to Guan Yu. His eyes sparkled with emotion.
"It's really you, Second Brother. I thought I'd never see you again in this life. I never imagined we'd meet again. This is wonderful. Heaven has been kind to us!"
Zhang Fei laughed heartily.
The memory of their oath in Peach Garden flashed before his eyes. To reunite now was truly a blessing.
"Yes, to see you again, Third Brother—I'm overjoyed."
Guan Yu nodded, but then his face dimmed slightly.
"It's a pity we couldn't find Big Brother. If we had, the three of us would be together again. I wonder where he is now… whether he lives or not."
The absence of Liu Bei, their sworn eldest brother, left a painful gap.
"Big Brother…"
Zhang Fei's expression darkened. Liu Bei hadn't appeared at the Fruit Banquet, meaning he was either in another part of the battlefield, never entered, or had perished somewhere on the Eternal Continent.
This was the Eternal World. There were no guaranteed protagonists. Even once-glorious figures could die.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had faced death countless times. They knew the risks.
But this possibility… was hard to accept.
"Enough. Night is falling. Soon, the Evernight demons will launch their assault. Let's first fend them off—there'll be time for reunions later,"
Yi Tianxing said calmly.
"Right. Second Brother, come into the city with me. Once we've repelled the Evernight forces, we'll share wine and talk long into the night,"
Zhang Fei said, nodding.
Now was not the time for nostalgia. He was a Great Yi corps commander, and war was imminent.
"Go ahead, Third Brother. In this battle, your second brother will guard the city for you,"
Guan Yu said.
A seasoned warrior, he understood the rules of war. And without Liu Bei, he wouldn't hold back Zhang Fei from his duties. If they found Liu Bei, he'd convince Zhang Fei to leave with him and rebuild their legacy. But not now.
Zhang Fei nodded and returned to the wall.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty for gaining eternal fame and returning victorious."
Jia Xu stepped forward with a bow and a smile.
"Congratulations to His Majesty—famous throughout the Eternal World, victorious and mighty!"
From atop the walls and throughout the city, the soldiers roared in unison.
The shout echoed through the heavens, their faces filled with fervor—a kind of reverence, a faith.
"You've all worked hard. Just hold out for nine more days… and we'll go home."
Yi Tianxing looked around at every face and spoke slowly.
Home.
A word that carried a heavy weight in every soldier's heart.
BOOM!!!
Just then—night had fallen—and without warning, a massive Star Gate appeared above the battlefield outside Falling Sunset City.
Not just one—four Star Gates rose simultaneously from the east, west, south, and north—places where none had ever appeared before.
Then, high above Falling Sunset City itself, a fifth Star Gate emerged, releasing a vast and overwhelming aura of pressure.