This section of the Iron-Blood Great Wall had yet to be fully assimilated. Once complete, the entire wall would undergo a metamorphosis, turning entirely blood-red. That would mark its true transformation—awakening a power bordering on the miraculous. It was no ordinary wall, but a destiny-bound treasure, a national guardian artifact.
The process of the Iron-Blood Great Wall materializing from illusion to reality was astonishingly swift.
Every fallen corpse contributed to three or four, even five bricks materializing on the wall. On the borders of the Great Yi territory, the transformation was visible to the naked eye—the Great Wall rapidly forming, as though feasting on an unmatched banquet. And this time, the offerings were not mere millions or tens of millions. Night after night, countless Eternal Night Puppets fell in battle—too many to tally.
In the final days of battle, not only were the corpses of Eternal Night demons from Sunset City collected, but Yi Tianxing also used spatial gates to rapidly gather bodies from surrounding regions, storing them all in the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower.
A decision had already been made: the Iron-Blood Great Wall would envelop the entire Great Yi territory, becoming the kingdom's strongest and most unbreakable defense.
At the edge of Great Yi, in one of its outermost celestial cities—Gold-Silver City—the citizens could clearly see a phantom wall standing tall across a thousand-mile radius. Before their eyes, it swiftly solidified. Though still black in color, once solidified, it could no longer be traversed by invading enemies. The illusionary wall had become a real, impassable barrier.
Once it turned blood-red, it would be the moment the Iron-Blood Great Wall unleashed its full power.
"Look! The Iron-Blood Great Wall! It's transforming! The King is offering another grand sacrifice! So many top-tier offerings! This is wonderful! Once the wall covers all of Great Yi, we people will finally be safe—we won't have to fear surprise invasions from foreign races anymore!"
"Maybe this time it will finally complete its transformation and even begin expanding outward!"
The people of Gold-Silver City watched in excitement, hope lighting up their faces.
The Iron-Blood Great Wall was the strongest bulwark of Great Yi.
It was not a shackle, but a protector—guarding the people of Great Yi. It did not restrict; it grew, expanded, and evolved through combat. As long as blood and corpses continued to flow in, the wall would grow larger. And as it expanded, so too did the territory of Great Yi.
"Wherever the Iron-Blood Great Wall reaches—that is Great Yi's land."
Yi Tianxing watched the frenzied metamorphosis of the wall and felt an unwavering confidence grow in his heart. The current territory was far from the final shape of Great Yi. This was only the beginning. Battle and war would never end. With every war and slaughter, the Iron-Blood Great Wall would continue to expand and grow stronger.
With ample offerings, the process of turning illusion into reality proceeded smoothly. Before long, an endless Great Wall enveloped all of Great Yi in a perfect circle—visibly defining the kingdom's territory.
"Good! With the power of the Iron-Blood Great Wall, the security of the Great Yi Dynasty has reached a new height. The foreign races still within our borders are few, scattered in the wilds and suppressed by our celestial cities. They are no longer a threat—if anything, they've become a crucible for training our cultivators."
This shift was monumental.
Even Jia Xu couldn't hide his joy. The tables had turned—no longer were they on the defensive.
Now, any enemy plotting against Great Yi would have to think twice: Could they break through the Iron-Blood Great Wall? Could they penetrate it? No matter the answer, the very question itself became a deterrent.
When the wall finally took full shape, the people in Xuanhuang City erupted in unrestrained joy. A sense of unprecedented safety washed over them.
It was truly extraordinary.
Because they all knew—even in death, the martyrs continued to protect them, using their flesh and remnant souls to hold the line, to block enemies from crossing the border.
"Let's go—we're going home!"
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and softly spoke the words.
"Home!!"
Those warriors who hadn't flinched in the face of death and monsters now trembled—not from fear, but from emotion. From a warmth in their hearts.
"General Yang, General Xue—escort the soldiers back to camp. Once returned, everyone may take a three-day leave. The camp will remain open during that time, but on the fourth day, everyone must return. After preparations, all generals are to attend the Grand Court Assembly in the Chaotian Hall."
Yi Tianxing turned to Yang Ye, Xue Kunlun, and the other generals.
"Yes, my King!!"
They nodded in unison.
The campaign had lasted over five months. It was time to rest. No one objected to the granted leave. Even though Huang Chengyan had managed internal affairs during the war, it was necessary to convene a full court assembly to address all that had transpired in the interim.
Including the integration of new talents like Zhuge Liang and Zhang Shun, who now needed formal appointments within the kingdom's structure—binding them to Great Yi not only in allegiance but in spirit.
The army swiftly entered Xuanhuang City.
The soldiers filed toward their respective camps—regardless of leave, discipline dictated they first return to base. Order first. Rules unbreakable.
Along the way, citizens lined the streets with offerings of food and drink—hoping to honor the soldiers of Great Yi. The most elite. And though they smiled, the soldiers did not accept the food. But they accepted the sentiment.
In their hearts, every drop of blood shed was worth it.
For the sake of those smiles, they would gladly offer their lives.
To protect this hard-won peace, they would face any hardship without hesitation.
Yi Tianxing rode his Nine-Dragon War Chariot straight to the Royal Palace, soaring atop the Palace Tree.
Upon seeing the palace in the clouds, the human elites accompanying him were left dumbfounded.
"Heavens! The royal palace of Great Yi is actually built in the air—on a massive tree! It's like something out of a myth. This… this is what they mean when they say 'Heavenly Court.'"
Cheng Yaojin exclaimed, stunned.
"So beautiful… It's like a celestial palace. The people here aren't just surviving—they're living with hope and joy. This place is unlike any human kingdom I've ever seen."
A girl with a cane, standing beside Shenhou, murmured in awe.
"A city with no walls. A palace in the sky. This truly feels like a cultivation dynasty."
Zhuge Liang nodded.
The royal palace was sacred—a place beyond the mundane. It should stand aloof, yet visible. Letting the people see, but never easily touch—this was how to preserve both majesty and mystery. Awe, but not alienation.
The chariot landed before the Chaotian Hall.
"Your humble servant, Cao Zhengchun, welcomes the King home in triumph."
The eunuch appeared immediately, bowing respectfully. His voice carried sincerity.
"These are Yao Yue and Lian Xing. Escort the royal consorts to the Queen. I'll visit the Queen after the court assembly."
Yi Tianxing gave a subtle nod.
"As you command, my King."
Cao Zhengchun's eyes flashed with understanding, though his face revealed nothing. He bowed respectfully toward the two women.
"This servant greets the two consorts. The Queen is in the rear garden. Please allow me to escort you."
His tone was nothing short of reverent.
He understood well—these two were now new pillars of the harem. Whether one approved or not, the only proper stance was respect.
Yao Yue and Lian Xing exchanged glances and nodded. Truthfully, they were curious and apprehensive about Cai Yan, the Queen. Compared to her, they were still newcomers—no matter what, her position was unshakably above theirs.