"Brother Zhou, aren't you going outside to celebrate with everyone? It's so lively out there right now. The City Lord just announced that tonight there'll be a Lantern Riddle Contest. Whoever solves the most riddles will become the champion and be awarded a Yin-Yang Pill! A lot of people are already getting ready to showcase their skills tonight."
A young girl in a water-blue dress stepped in from outside. She had the graceful charm typical of a Jiangnan woman—gentle and refined. Her looks were stunning, one in a thousand, and her demeanor carried the quaint elegance of a delicate beauty. Her eyes rippled like water, making anyone who met her gaze feel a soft, involuntary warmth.
"Xiao He, it's only natural for the people to celebrate after the human race claimed the top position. The Lantern Riddle Contest is indeed a joyful event. But compared to the Imperial Examination, that's far more important to me. This is the opportunity I've waited for—a chance to rise above all."
The young man looked at the girl, his eyes gentle as he spoke slowly.
"Brother Zhou, I've heard that even scholars like you stress the importance of balancing work and rest. With your talent, you're sure to rank at the top in the exam. I also heard that this year's Imperial Examination doesn't just test literary skill—it'll assess various abilities and understanding of people's livelihoods. That's a major focus of the test. Come on, let's go solve riddles together! If we win and become the champion, we'll get a Yin-Yang Pill! They say it's refined by the King himself and has miraculous properties. Normally, you couldn't get one even if you wanted to—it usually requires exchange at the Hall of Merit."
Xiao He urged him, her voice still gentle but somehow impossible to resist.
The young man showed a helpless smile. Eventually, he set down the scroll in his hands and stood up. "Alright, in that case, let's go see the lanterns."
…
In another immortal city, a young man dressed in pale moon-white robes was reading aloud. A faint aura of righteous energy flowed around him. However, his face was unmistakably dark, and a birthmark on his forehead—dull but distinct—stood out clearly against his complexion.
"Son, your opportunity has arrived. His Majesty of Great Yi has issued an imperial decree to open the Imperial Examination. If you seize this chance, you could stand out and enter the royal court of Great Yi, perhaps even earn a place in the Hall of Ten Thousand Immortals, or have your name inscribed on the Divine List of Enfeoffment. That would truly be glorious. Baozi, the reason we've survived this chaotic world is all thanks to Great Yi and the King's benevolence. We must repay that grace. Without their protection, we'd have starved long ago. We owe everything to them."
A middle-aged woman entered the courtyard, her eyes full of motherly affection and solemnity.
"Don't worry, Mother. I've waited months for this Imperial Exam. No matter what is tested, I'm confident I'll do my best. My talents are meant to serve Great Yi and repay the King. Without his benevolence and virtuous rule, we wouldn't have the good life we enjoy today—the chance to study and cultivate."
The young man's face was firm with resolve.
"Good, that's my son."
The woman nodded with satisfaction.
…
Scenes like this were unfolding all across the territory of Great Yi—in countless immortal cities. Among the billions of citizens, countless hidden talents had been waiting for this chance. With the arrival of the Imperial Examination, they finally saw their Dragon Gate—a path to rise from obscurity to greatness. They had waited and prepared too long for this day.
"No matter how the exams are conducted, I believe I'm a dragon among men. I'll stand out from the masses and earn the King's recognition!"
"Great Yi is a Destiny Dynasty. As long as I pass the Imperial Exam, I can enter the court and receive the blessings of national fate, accelerating my cultivation. This is the path to immortality. How can I not pursue it?"
Each young talent burned with ambition. Even though they knew this was a single-log bridge—a treacherous path that few could cross—they refused to give up. This was their Azure Cloud Road—their only visible route to immortality and greatness.
Across the immortal cities, celebrations filled the air due to the human race claiming the top spot. Singing, dancing, and various events filled the realm with joy and festivity.
Meanwhile, the surrounding non-human tribes remained eerily silent.
Especially near the Iron-Blood Great Wall, tribes beyond Great Yi's borders looked toward the wall, listening to the cheers and cries of celebration within.
No words were spoken, and no actions were taken.
The Iron-Blood Great Wall had effectively severed former connections. What was once a traversable region had become a true natural barrier—almost impossible to cross.
"Send word to prepare our people for migration. The human race of Great Yi is too ambitious. They won't stop at building that wall. They'll launch wars and start expanding."
One nearby tribe made a quiet decision.
"Send out more spies. Keep constant watch on the Iron-Blood Wall. Report any news immediately. Those human ants from Great Yi shouldn't think they can expand easily. We won't fear them."
Another tribe, unwilling to accept the rise of humanity, responded swiftly.
Reactions varied—but none underestimated Great Yi.
Even those that chose resistance began immediate preparations, laying traps and readying hidden cards. They were confident that if Great Yi dared to strike, it would suffer dearly. None of the remaining tribes were weak—the weak had long since been devoured or destroyed. Only the strong survived.
…
As for Yi Tianxing, he paid these matters little heed. After the Grand Court Assembly, he headed straight to the imperial Royal Garden.
As soon as he entered, he heard bursts of cheerful laughter and bird-like chatter.
Looking closely, he saw Cai Yan, Yao Yue, Lian Xing, and others walking together in harmony. Yao Yue held Little An Ning in her arms while Lian Xing occasionally reached out to play with her. Little An Ning kept waving her tiny hands in protest, her adorable antics drawing waves of laughter from the women. The initial awkwardness of first meetings had vanished amid the joy.
They had already grown close.
Even Hua Mulan and Mu Guiying were present, also playing with Little An Ning—as though she were a delightful little toy.
Having a child around always made it easier for strangers to bond.
"Little An Ning has become the palace mascot," Yi Tianxing thought with amusement at the scene before him.
Smiling, he stepped forward and reached out for the child. "An Ning, come let Daddy hold you. It's been months—I missed you so much."
He held her carefully, as though she were the rarest treasure. This cautious, gentle manner was unlike how he treated anything else.
A deep, genuine affection and tenderness could be felt in his every motion.
"Husband, you're back."
Cai Yan's face lit up with heartfelt joy. Her voice seemed to melt away any tension, offering warmth and safety that soothed the soul.
"You've worked hard, Zhao Ji."
Yi Tianxing smiled.
"It's nothing compared to you risking your life on the battlefield. My role is simply to guard our kingdom and wait for your safe return."
Cai Yan's gentle smile was radiant.
"These are Yao Yue and Lian Xing. You've probably met already. I should have introduced you myself, but the Grand Court Assembly kept me, so you had to meet on your own."
Yi Tianxing looked apologetically at the two women. Letting them face Cai Yan alone had been a lapse on his part. Meeting the first wife as a new consort was never easy, and he hadn't been there.
"Big Sister Zhao Ji is very kind. And Little An Ning is adorable."
Lian Xing smiled, her gaze toward An Ning full of affection.
There seemed to be a special charm about An Ning that made everyone love her.
"Did you think I'd be the jealous type who can't stand new arrivals?" Cai Yan rolled her eyes at him with a playful tone. "I've been hoping you'd bring more sisters into the palace. It's been too quiet for too long. With more people, the palace won't feel so empty, and they can help care for you too. I once suggested holding a selection, but you said it would disturb the people. Now that you've found Yao Yue and Lian Xing, I'm nothing but happy. At least I'll have others to talk to now."
She spoke calmly and sincerely—clearly from the heart.
Of course, it would be a lie to say there was no jealousy, but it didn't cloud her reason or affect her temperament.
Yao Yue had no objections either, and from her demeanor, it was clear she got along well with Cai Yan. They weren't the type to clash. Cai Yan was indeed someone easy to get along with.