Imperial Dynasty!!
Yes, the Great Yi had long since reached the pinnacle of being a royal dynasty. However, it had always held back, preferring to consolidate its foundation. Besides, the ongoing expansion had kept things in flux. No one had made the decision lightly. After all, an imperial dynasty was on an entirely different level than a royal one. Once established, it would possess a foundation so firm that it could endure for ten thousand generations. As long as there were no catastrophic natural disasters or self-inflicted calamities, its legacy could last for millennia with ease.
Yet, founding an imperial dynasty required more than mere ambition. It demanded trials and a profound accumulation of national heritage. Everything needed to be meticulously prepared.
At this moment, a vast tide of providence merged into the Sea of Destiny, causing the national luck of Great Yi to swell to an astonishing degree. If desired, it could ascend to Imperial Capital status at any time.
However, this was only the beginning of their expansion. Newly founded immortal cities still needed to stabilize. The Iron-Blooded Great Wall had to extend again to encompass the new territories, anchoring the national fortune. More human citizens needed to be absorbed, and in the new regions, human villages and towns required thorough restructuring, gradually being woven into the fabric of Great Yi's system.
There was still much to do.
This recent victory—annihilating over ten million elite non-human forces—had crippled most of the surrounding alien power. The newborn immortal cities were now much safer and more stable. At the very least, no other race would dare recklessly assault them—not unless they had a death wish.
This war had eliminated nearly all the hidden threats, playing a massive role in stabilizing Great Yi.
"Soldiers, we're going home."
Yi Tianxing surveyed the battlefield. All legions had sustained damage. Many looked pale, and most bore wounds—some severe—after directly withstanding the impact of the meteors. Surviving such a bombardment wasn't easy. But anyone who had stood their ground beneath those falling stars would find their spirit and willpower tempered. Their cultivation and combat strength would soon undergo transformation. Their path to becoming powerhouses had grown clearer.
The space gates reopened.
One by one, the soldiers stepped into the portals. There was no longer any reason to remain on the Thornplain. Even the dark altar had disappeared silently after the ritual concluded. It wouldn't reappear here but could emerge anywhere—decided entirely by the will of the Demon God of Ten Thousand Gu.
Soon, the plain fell into silence. What remained was scorched earth, enormous craters gouged out by meteors and divine fire—scenes of pure devastation. The land was a wreck, the aftermath of a terrible catastrophe.
"At the next expansion, this area will be included. We'll rebuild it properly."
Yi Tianxing gave one last glance at the Thornplain. In the future, an immortal city would be constructed here to subdue the region. These ruins would be cleared, the damage repaired. Nature itself would slowly restore it with time. The Luminous Thorns, even scorched by divine fire, weren't truly extinguished. The Thornmother Tree still clung to life. So long as it remained, a forest of luminous thorns would grow anew.
It wouldn't be easy though—the fire of heaven still lingered in the earth.
While the Thornplain lay in ruin, another drama was unfolding at the Valley of Serpents.
As always, the valley was shrouded in a strange mist—a toxic miasma that served as a natural shield. Not only did it carry a potent poison, but it also had a powerful aphrodisiac effect. The valley had long since become the domain of the serpentfolk, who had built a sprawling underground and surface network of tunnels and chambers. They could appear anywhere at will.
With the ruins of the Academy of Jixia gone, the serpentfolk had fully occupied the valley, turning it into a fortress. Entering or exiting undetected was nearly impossible. The miasma could affect even Life Diagram Realm cultivators.
Now, a massive army had quietly arrived at the valley's edge.
Looking closely, their presence was imposing. There were elite wolf cavalry, top-tier minotaur warriors, and various elite troops of beastman tribes—even warriors from the Behemoth Clan. The Behemoths, known for their overwhelming might, were ranked by bloodline: Black Iron Behemoths, Bronze Behemoths, Silver Behemoths, and at the pinnacle—the Golden Behemoth, the bloodline of kings.
This time, a Behemoth squad of ten had come. Their leader, Meng Da, a Silver Behemoth, had radiant silver fur, eye-catching and stunning. He was a formidable warrior, rarely matched among his peers. He was here to escort the Behemoth King's betrothal, along with a lavish dowry—an unmistakable sign of sincerity. For the royal lineage of the Behemoths, offering such a dowry was no hardship.
The official envoy was the High Elder of a serpentfolk tribe from the Beast Plains, known as Black Slimwaist, or Elder Slimwaist. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with a supple figure, narrow waist, and ample hips. Her every movement radiated allure, arousing lust in all who saw her.
Beside her stood a pig-headed beastman with a grotesque yet strangely commanding presence. He wielded a staff and wore a robe, his aura commanding respect and awe from all nearby warriors.
He was a Shaman of the beastmen.
Judging from the looks of reverence, this pig-headed Shaman held considerable status and power.
His name: Zhu Dachang, a rare and powerful Totem Shaman. On the battlefield, a totem shaman could decide the outcome of a war. His presence here proved how seriously the Behemoth King took this marriage. If diplomacy failed, they were prepared to use force.
"Elder Slimwaist, this is the Valley of Serpents. What should we do next? Persuading the Serpent Queen will be up to you. After all, you're kin. Your words may carry weight. We don't want a fight if we can avoid it. If she really becomes the future Queen of the Beastman Court, none of us would want to make her an enemy."
A wolfman general exhaled and spoke cautiously.
No one wanted war if it could be avoided.
From every angle, it was clear—the Behemoth King placed immense importance on the Serpent Queen. Once she entered the royal court, her influence would be unmatched. To oppose her then would be folly.
"This is the Valley of Serpents. The ordinary serpentfolk here are nothing special—but the Serpent Queen is different. It's said she carries an extraordinary bloodline, possibly that of Medusa."
Elder Slimwaist's expression turned serious.
Others may not know, but she certainly did. Medusa was said to be the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents, the ancestor of most serpentkin. Every serpent carried a trace of her blood. Once awakened, such a bloodline granted a natural command over all snakekind.
Awakening the Medusa bloodline could make one the new Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents.
"What now?" asked a minotaur warrior, already regretting this mission.
"I'll go first and see what can be done."
Elder Slimwaist turned and entered the valley.
The miasma slithered into her body but seemed to have no effect. She walked unbothered. Around her, she saw serpentfolk children playing in the woods—human from the waist up, snake from the waist down. There were many of them. The aphrodisiac mist and the serpent race's naturally lustful nature led to frequent, casual mating, resulting in a vast population.
"Halt!"
A squad of serpentfolk warriors appeared and blocked her path, their eyes wary.
"We are kin," she said calmly.
With a flash, her lower body transformed into a serpent tail, revealing her true form.
"Kin or not, no one may enter or leave without the Serpent Queen's command," said the guard sternly.
Here, the Queen's word was law.
"I believe the Serpent Queen will want to see me. Go announce my presence. I'll wait here."
Elder Slimwaist smiled lightly, making no move to force her way in.
Brute force wouldn't solve this problem.