"The movement of heaven is full of power; thus the superior man makes himself strong and untiring. If the human race wishes to grow and thrive in the Eternal World, the only way is through self-reliance and self-strengthening. No one will help us without reason. Only by being strong can we endure, can we truly survive. This spirit and will is what defines a great race. That is for internal matters."
"As for external affairs, as you, sir, said—regardless of goodwill or strength, both are essential qualities for our race. A race that exudes goodwill can seek alliances and cooperation. Only with strength can other races take the human race seriously. Alliances are always built on equal power. If not, then trouble is guaranteed."
"Expansion—seizing more resources—is something the human race must do. Our foundation is the people. Only through unity can we confront all threats. If we're a pile of loose sand, even if our numbers are great, we'll still be defeated one by one. Unification, bringing together all surrounding forces into one, is paramount."
Yi Tianxing spoke calmly and steadily.
Take Great Yi for example—without the Great Yi Dynasty coordinating everything, the various celestial cities would remain disunited, mere scattered sand. Let alone subduing the wilderness, mere survival would be a colossal challenge. This is the transformation that comes from unity and centralized governance.
During the Warring States period, feudal states were numerous. Then came the unification by Qin. Even if the Warring States armies had more strength individually, in a true war of annihilation, they would lose to a unified Qin. Even alliances between the states couldn't eliminate betrayal or reserve. How could they act as a true whole?
True unity means mobilizing every ounce of strength to crush all enemies. That's the benefit of unification. It brings peace and prosperity to the people and allows the nation to focus its power outward, rather than wasting it on internal conflicts.
Upon returning to Great Yi, he intended to push the war machine forward again, expanding Great Yi's territory. Notably, Great Yi does not deny other races the right to exist. In the wilderness, any race that doesn't bear deep hostility to humans can coexist peacefully—so long as they don't pose a fatal threat. Otherwise, they too will be purged.
Great Yi had always pursued a balanced policy of diplomacy and force.
Mao Sui was currently lobbying the major tribes, and with remarkable results. Upon Yi Tianxing's return, the mutual trade markets with other races would officially launch, ushering in a new era for Great Yi.
Yi Tianxing also elaborated on Great Yi's policies and institutions, providing Zhuge Liang with a clearer picture of its current state. Their conversation grew more animated, and mutual admiration deepened.
It was a meeting of minds.
After a long time, Zhuge Liang hesitated briefly before speaking. "King Yi, I wonder... would there be a place for someone like me in Great Yi?" he asked, as if casually.
Yi Tianxing was elated inside and quickly replied with a laugh, "If you would join Great Yi, it would be our fortune. How could we not welcome you? The gates of Great Yi are always open to you."
Zhuge Liang's talent was beyond question—whether in military strategy or administration, he was first-class. Such a great talent joining Great Yi would be an incredible boon.
After chatting for a while longer, they silently absorbed the power of the hot spring.
Time passed swiftly, and it was soon afternoon.
After leaving the spring and arranging matters for the other human prodigies, Yi Tianxing sought a quiet pavilion and sat down.
With a thought, his consciousness entered his body—directly merging with the Merit Ranking of the Gods and Demons.
Yi Tianxing's merit points had skyrocketed to more than 4 billion, a staggering figure that could scare other races to death. The number was unimaginably huge.
Without hesitation, he projected his mind into the illusive space of the merit system.
There, a massive screen hovered in the void, displaying a constantly rotating collection of treasures—different every moment. Despite countless cultivators exchanging items from the treasury, the supply seemed inexhaustible. Of course, this was an illusion—the real treasure count was massive, but not infinite.
"Filter the treasure vault. Show items worth between 1 million and 1 billion merit points. Prioritize powerful divine weapons, rare materials, heavenly treasures, spiritual roots, and miraculous herbs. Include other types too. But first—show me all the exotic building-type treasures."
After a brief contemplation, Yi Tianxing gave his directive.
This would be his final and most extravagant spree. He wasn't looking for anything specific—anything valuable and within budget was up for grabs.
Even if he had to cut off his own hands, this spree would be worth it.
Following his command, a cascade of treasure images and projections began to flash before him—accompanied by names, exchange rates, and detailed info.
"Let's see how many treasures I can redeem this time…"
The filtering system showed far more than before—an overwhelming selection. One by one, treasures zipped past, each leaving a vivid impression in his mind.
"Heavenly Treasures—Arrow Towers, Magic Towers, and Cannon Towers. I won't miss them this time. One million merit points each—buy, buy, buy!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes paused on these defensive exotic treasures. He had wanted them previously but hadn't redeemed them. Now? No hesitation. He'd buy them all. While he limited himself to one of each elemental attribute for the magic towers, that was plenty. These treasures grew stronger over time and could suppress powerful enemies.
It was a massive spend in merit points, but worth it.
He acquired a large batch of defensive towers.
"Rainbow Fountain, two million points—not expensive. It's a civic treasure, boosting morale and public happiness. Must have it."
He immediately exchanged for the Rainbow Fountain, a beloved treasure that would become a landmark in Xuanhuang City.
But these were merely appetizers—light fare before the main course.
"I want to build the strongest treasure vault in the world."
That was his goal now.
"Filter for treasure-vault-type exotic buildings."
A new batch of treasure projections appeared—this time even more stunning.
His gaze landed on one:
Heavenly Treasure – Yuanming Garden: A garden-style vault, capable of storing countless rare treasures, classified and integrated into beautiful landscapes. A masterpiece of design, showcasing the beauty of the collected treasures.
It was a miniature Yuanming Garden, brimming with natural charm and cultural grace—an embodiment of civilization and heritage.
Yet Yi Tianxing frowned slightly.
"Though breathtaking, it doesn't match the image of a vault in my mind. Feels a bit... mismatched. It could work as a scenic building, but not as my primary vault."
So, he moved to the next.
It was a towering pagoda—nine stories tall, carved with ancient arrays that channeled star power, radiating brilliant light.
Heavenly Treasure – Star-Plucking Tower: Each floor is a stellar domain, where treasures appear as stars. Offering a treasure means embedding it as a glowing star—large or small—depending on its worth. The nine floors form nine treasure heavens. Those who enter can feel fated connections to certain stars and retrieve them. The tower also nurtures the treasures, possibly evolving them further.
Yi Tianxing was instantly intrigued.
Turning treasures into stars, drawn by destiny—such mystique and elegance made it a perfect vault. The nurturing effect was an added bonus.
But just before deciding, he looked at one more.
He blinked. His face turned odd.
It was… a giant blue cartoon cat, standing upright.
Heavenly Treasure – Doraemon: Possesses infinite storage capabilities. Is it even a vault?
Yi Tianxing nearly dropped his jaw.
Doraemon? As a treasure vault?
The 4D Pocket acted as the storage dimension. But was this thing alive or not? That was the real question. More unsettling was the quirk—treasures could mutate after entering Doraemon. Retrieving them wasn't guaranteed either.