"The recent expansion of Great Yi has already provoked the surrounding alien tribes. According to reliable information, these tribes are preparing a counterattack against the Immortal Cities of Great Yi. Once enraged, the various clans are not to be trifled with. Should they unite, they could pose a serious threat to Great Yi. Their presence will certainly hinder Great Yi's further expansion in the short term."
The elder of the Foxkin tribe spoke up.
He would never believe that the alien tribes would remain passive after being caught off guard by the human race. Great Yi's sudden offensive had delivered a resounding slap to the faces of all alien races. If they didn't retaliate, it would be an utter disgrace. Among many tribes, pride and face were still of paramount importance.
The other tribal powerhouses nodded in agreement.
No one wished to involve themselves in the coming conflict at this time. The Ten Thousand Beasts Royal Court had just been established and was still in a state of reconstruction. Laws and regulations needed to be redefined. That was the main reason why so many powerful beastkin had gathered at the court — to discuss and establish systems and policies. With internal affairs still in flux, they had no energy to interfere in such a major external matter.
As the other tribes voiced their positions, King Behemoth didn't press further.
He harbored a deep wariness toward Yi Tianxing. He had personally witnessed Yi's power on the battlefield of Gods and Demons — a single arrow had slain a Heaven's Chosen King. To this day, he couldn't gauge the true extent of Yi Tianxing's strength. All he knew was that it was unfathomably deep. Making an enemy of him required utmost caution.
"That shepherd girl who was on the battlefield... she seemed to have returned to Great Yi with him."
What King Behemoth feared even more was that shepherd girl who had turned him into a sheep. His greatest nightmare wasn't Yi Tianxing, but her. To be transformed into a sheep, especially for someone of his power and status — that humiliation still haunted him vividly.
With her around, anyone scheming against Great Yi had to think twice.
"Enough. Let's set aside the matter of Great Yi for now. I plan to marry the Serpent Queen, ruler of the Snakefolk. Who among you will volunteer to act as my envoy?" King Behemoth changed the subject suddenly.
"What? You want to marry the Serpent Queen?"
The tribal leaders in the grand hall looked stunned. Though rumors had long circulated that King Behemoth coveted the Serpent Queen, no one expected him to actually move forward with a marriage proposal.
The Serpent Queen was the top powerhouse of the Snakefolk. Her bloodline was said to be extraordinarily unique — possibly descending from Medusa, or perhaps infused with the essence of some supreme divine being. Her lineage was unlike any other. On top of that, her beauty was legendary among all races, inspiring admiration from countless powerhouses. But no one dared make a move on her.
The Snakefolk's territory was saturated with deadly poison. Ordinary cultivators couldn't even approach, let alone reach the Serpent Queen herself. Rumors also claimed she had zero interest in men, sending most of her suitors away in shame.
Yet King Behemoth still refused to give up.
"My King, please reconsider. The Serpent Queen's bloodline branch doesn't even reside on the Ten Thousand Beasts Plains. When the Royal Court was founded, she didn't pledge allegiance. If we go now, she may not even accept the proposal," the Foxkin elder said cautiously.
He chose his words carefully. This was a delicate matter. One misstep could enrage King Behemoth.
"She will agree — whether she wants to or not. As the ruler of the Ten Thousand Beasts Royal Court, I have the right to take any woman as my queen. The court needs a queen, and she is the most qualified. I don't care if she consents — I only care about the result. The result that I want," King Behemoth declared coldly.
He had no interest in wooing or romance. He didn't care about her willingness. He only wanted obedience. In a world where the strong ruled, his words were law. Liking the Serpent Queen was her honor.
He didn't care about the process — only the outcome.The strong reigned supreme. Women were simply trophies for the mighty.
With the momentum of founding the Royal Court behind him, King Behemoth had no fear in executing his will.
"What if the Serpent Queen refuses?" a Werewolf tribe powerhouse asked.
"Then her entire Snakefolk tribe will be exterminated." King Behemoth didn't hesitate. "But she must be brought back alive. I want her alive — no exceptions."
The grand hall fell into silence.
This was no easy mission. No one wanted to do it.
If the Serpent Queen rejected the proposal and her tribe was massacred, yet she survived and became queen, what would become of the envoys who had carried out the slaughter? They'd likely be dealt with afterward. No one wanted to do such a thankless task. Only a fool would volunteer.
"If any of you are willing to go, I will open the Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pool, and grant you entry."
King Behemoth made another declaration.
"The Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pool?!"
All the tribal leaders shuddered. In their eyes blazed uncontrollable desire.
The Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pool was a sacred treasure of the beastkin. It had been in the Behemoth clan's possession even before the Royal Court was established.
This pool could devour vast quantities of fierce beast flesh and blood, refining them into a potent essence — Ten Thousand Beasts True Blood.
For beastkin, bathing in the pool allowed them to absorb this essence and evolve their bloodline and body.
🩸 Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Pool – A sacred artifact that transforms devoured beast flesh into True Blood, enabling beastkin to evolve their bloodline and gain physical enhancements.
To beastkin, bloodline was everything. The stronger the bloodline, the more dominant one became — even among those of the same cultivation level. Some high-tier bloodlines could naturally suppress lower ones.
No beastkin could remain indifferent to something that could cause their bloodline to evolve.
The Blood Pool was controlled solely by King Behemoth. He rarely opened it, only as a reward for significant merit. Each use came at great cost.
"My Werewolf tribe is willing to act as envoy for the king!"
"My Centaur tribe also volunteers!"
"My Kobold tribe is ready as well!"
…
In stark contrast to their earlier silence, tribal powerhouses now stood up one after another, loudly offering to go. No threat could outweigh the potential to evolve one's bloodline.
King Behemoth was quite satisfied.
A fully centralized rule was impossible for the Royal Court. But if he could manipulate through benefits and rewards, that was good enough for now.
He chose several volunteers from the applicants and formed a massive army, numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Clearly, this was not a mere marriage delegation, but a show of military might — enough to wipe out a major tribe.
They would force the Serpent Queen to comply, even if rivers of blood had to be spilled.
Time passed quickly. In the days that followed, the newly landed Immortal Cities of Great Yi began functioning in full.
Large numbers of civil officials — selected via the Imperial Examination — were dispatched. Those who had demonstrated outstanding governance in the simulated examination realms were directly appointed as city lords.
This was nothing short of a meteoric rise.
Becoming a City Lord meant holding a third-rank position.
Such rapid promotions were unheard of in normal times, but the frontier always offered opportunities. Talent was needed, and those who passed the exams were immediately put to use.
Of course, with great opportunity came great responsibility. These cities were all in a state of ruin and had to be rebuilt from scratch. It would test the officials' true abilities.
The name of Great Yi was spreading invisibly, impacting surrounding regions.
Refugees in the wilderness — and even human villages and towns — flocked toward the newly established Immortal Cities.
Guided by the ever-glowing beacons of Great Yi, they registered their household and became citizens.
Within days, the first wave of residents in each new Immortal City had surpassed 100,000, with some reaching several hundred thousand.
🗺️ Lighthouse Beacons – Special towers that light up day and night, guiding lost refugees to the safety of Immortal Cities.
In parallel, each city's Bounty Hunter Hall opened. Adventurers began teleporting in droves to these cities to take missions.
Early phases of a city brought the most tasks and opportunities — including frontier exploration, which always yielded the greatest rewards.