What is Yinghuo? Since ancient times, Yinghuo has been known as the Star of Calamity. Its appearance often heralds turmoil across the realm—either the outbreak of chaos or the rise of demonic forces. The people suffer; tragedies unfold. The emergence of Yinghuo always marks the beginning of catastrophe for all living beings.
Now, Yinghuo has appeared, streaking across the Eternal Continent. Without a doubt, a terrifying disaster is approaching.
Of course, how soon this catastrophe will arrive, how long it will last, and how destructive it will be—none of these questions have clear answers. No one in this world can say for certain. But what is certain is that it will bring mountains of bones and rivers of blood.
As the ruler of a nation, Yi Tianxing cannot afford to ignore this.
"Could the appearance of Yinghuo be related to the recent surge of geniuses in the Divine-Demon Battlefield breaking through to the Law Manifestation Realm? Could it mean the heavenly seal is starting to weaken, or that demons and monsters are beginning to re-emerge? The world may soon plunge into chaos once more,"Yi Tianxing murmured to himself.
The chaos had not yet ended, and Yinghuo's appearance might only serve to make things even more savage and horrifying.
"That is quite possible. However," said Jiang Ni gravely, "according to my divinations, this disaster will not be limited to war and demonic uprisings. There will also be a natural calamity. One that is unavoidable. In my visions, I saw mountains of corpses, billions of souls in despair, and a continent bathed in blood."
Some things, once predicted, bring more helplessness than clarity.
"Did Mister Jiang discern what kind of natural disaster it might be?"Yi Tianxing asked.
There are many forms of natural calamity—earthquakes, droughts, storms, and more. If they could determine what type, preparations could be made in advance to minimize damage and loss.
"I could not see clearly. It defies calculation. All I know is that it will engulf the entire Eternal Continent, not just one region. Each area might face a different kind of disaster, but the destructive force will be equally devastating. No place will be spared. Even if one avoids one form of disaster, another is sure to follow,"Jiang Ni shook his head.
There is no escape from this disaster.
According to Jiang Ni, this calamity is the inevitable consequence of the great fusion of worlds that formed the Eternal Continent. The dark side of that fusion is an extinction-level disaster. Only by surviving it can one embrace the true rebirth of this world. No one is exempt.
"Can the timing be estimated?"Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and asked solemnly. Even if the type of disaster is unknown, knowing when would help.
"It cannot be predicted with precision. The only estimate I can offer is: within the next ten years. It will not be later than that,"Jiang Ni replied after a moment of thought.
The exact time is elusive. The disaster could strike the very next moment, or in a year, or at the end of the ten-year span. It all depends on heaven's will.
In other words, constant vigilance is required for the next decade. There can be no moment of complacency.
This revelation left Yi Tianxing with a bitter taste in his mouth. He had planned to expand the Great Yi Dynasty's territory through conquest, but now, with an imminent natural catastrophe, any military campaign could end in disaster. A rash expansion could prove fatal.
Natural disasters are, above all, a test of resources.
"Mister Jiang, can the Feng Shui Grand Array suppress the disaster energy and mitigate the power of the calamity?"Yi Tianxing asked again.
"Feng Shui does indeed have such potential. However, since the disaster comes from Heaven and Earth itself, trying to suppress it with Feng Shui is akin to two titans clashing. It can at most weaken the impact, not eliminate it. Worse, it could cause unexpected mutations, for better or worse,"Jiang Ni replied cautiously.
The Jiangshan Sheji Map, as the supreme Feng Shui array of the Great Yi, is powerful enough to suppress earthly energy and all living beings. But when facing Heaven's fury, it might prove no more effective than a mantis trying to stop a chariot. This time, the disaster will blanket the entire Eternal Continent—its scale and influence are unprecedented.
"Very well. Thank you, Mister Jiang. But I'll still need you to remain at the Celestial Observation Bureau and continue monitoring for any anomalies. If anything arises, report it immediately. Also—this time, I obtained a new treasure from the Divine-Demon Battlefield that will aid in monitoring the world. It's called the Seismoscope (地动仪). It can detect subterranean changes across the Great Yi territory,"Yi Tianxing said, shaking his head.
Unfortunately, while he found the Seismoscope, he failed to locate the Celestial Machine (天机仪). Had he found both, their synergy could have allowed him to fully grasp the Heavenly changes of the world. But it likely had already been claimed by another Heaven's Chosen or simply wasn't present on the battlefield.
As he spoke, a bronze, ancient-looking device appeared before them.
This was the legendary Seismoscope, a timeless invention by the Eastern Han scientist Zhang Heng. It had historically been used to monitor earthquakes across China. Zhang Heng, through painstaking research, created it in the year 132 CE to detect seismic activity and its direction.
This particular version was not man-made—it was a Heavenly Treasure, radiating a golden-bronze glow and covered with mystic engravings of mountains, turtles, birds, and beasts. It had eight dragons aligned to the cardinal and intercardinal directions, each holding a copper ball. Beneath them sat eight toads with open mouths.
When an earthquake occurred, the internal mechanism would cause the appropriate dragon to drop a ball into a toad's mouth, signaling the direction with a "clang."
But this version was vastly more powerful.
It could not only determine direction but also predict magnitude, and even visualize the region affected. A mystical tool of precise geodetection.
Volcanic eruptions, subterranean shifts—even spiritual vein disturbances—would be reflected through this device. If its grade increased, it could even influence the flow of earth energy.
Upon seeing it, Jiang Ni's eyes lit up with excitement. This treasure, when paired with the Celestial Observation Bureau, was perfect beyond words.
"Thank you, My King. With this Seismoscope, if the coming calamity is related to the earth, we'll be able to detect it immediately and gain precious time to react,"Jiang Ni said with a smile, carefully accepting the artifact.
Soon after, Jiang Ni left.
Yi Tianxing was left alone on the Dragon Throne, his thoughts heavy.
"Ten years. At any point within those ten years, the calamity could strike. If it does, it will be a disaster of the highest order. The safest option is to consolidate the current territories of the Great Yi and pause expansion plans."
"But time waits for no one. In this chaotic world, even a single month can change everything. In a year, new tyrants may rise, and foreign tribes might emerge as powerhouses. If we wait two or three years—or even five or six—with no sign of disaster, then the current window of opportunity will vanish, and all our advantages will be lost."
Yi Tianxing was torn. When he was still weak, he feared nothing—starting over wasn't an issue. But now, millions of citizens have entrusted their lives and future to the Great Yi. Any reckless decision could send them all into the abyss.
This was a risk filled with unknowns and immense stakes.
And luck.
With good fortune, they might expand smoothly without encountering disaster. But with poor luck, they could be plunged into crisis mid-war. It was a gamble.
After long contemplation, Yi Tianxing had yet to reach a final decision.
"Let's wait and observe. The military still needs reorganization. The Iron-Blood Great Wall can continue expanding. I'll postpone the decision until after the Imperial Examinations."
"Consolidation is not a bad thing."
But before that, one matter must begin now—stockpiling supplies.
"The later the disaster comes, the more prepared we'll be."
Regardless of the type of disaster, resources are paramount. Even cultivators must eat, drink, and shelter. Food, especially, must be stockpiled in vast quantities. Yi Tianxing could already foresee that once the calamity arrived, the Eternal Continent's chaotic era would evolve into its bloodiest and most savage stage. To survive, people would kill over supplies without hesitation.