"According to our investigations, the territory of Great Yi lies at the center of this region. The area we're located in appears to be a massive island—perhaps more aptly described as a continent. Still, surrounded by ocean on all sides, calling it an island isn't wrong either.
To the north lies the Ten Thousand Beasts Plains, now under the control of the Beast King Court. Any northern expansion will inevitably bring us into conflict with them.
To the south are the primary settlements of alien races like the Winged People and the Three-Eyed Divine Clan. Excessive expansion in that direction is sure to trigger a sensitive reaction. Expansion here must be approached gradually, with caution."
"To the far north are the great grasslands, where nomadic tribes such as the Xianbei, Xiongnu, and Mongols have established themselves. We do not know how they managed to take root there, but though they are fragmented and lack a unified regime, their strength is far from weak—they've survived through constant conflict with the alien races."
"To the east lies a region occupied by various monster tribes, such as goblins, slimes, and other beings. Some alien races are also active there, but none appear particularly powerful."
This analysis came from Jia Xu, who stood beside Huang Chengyan and Zhuge Liang. The two strategists, known for their unmatched wisdom, had naturally joined the discussion.
"The Eternal World is vast and boundless. The area we occupy now is no smaller than an entire previous realm. But being surrounded by sea, the closest ocean access lies to the east. Instead of expanding in all directions, it would be wiser to focus on one front first before turning our sights elsewhere," Zhuge Liang advised.
Even if it is called an island, the landmass was vast—possibly as large as Earth itself. But amidst the endless sea, even a continent like this could be considered merely one of many "islands."
"Hmm. Expanding in just one direction makes strategic sense. That way, we won't antagonize all sides at once. Consolidating our forces will strengthen our position." Yi Tianxing nodded.
It would prevent premature conflict with the alien races to the north, south, and west, allowing the Great Yi Dynasty to grow stronger through focused expansion.
"Then it's decided—the east. We shall secure all eastern territory until we reach the ocean," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
Only by reaching the sea can Great Yi touch the greater world beyond. With the strategy set, the officials began their preparations.
Later, Cai Yan approached Yi Tianxing as snow continued to fall outside.
"My husband, how long do you think this natural disaster will last?" she asked softly.
Though there was a haunting beauty to the snowstorm, its relentless persistence made it a true calamity, threatening all living things.
"Tian calamities will only end once the fusion of worlds is complete," Yi Tianxing replied, shaking his head. "No one can say how long that will take. Though the damage is severe, it's also a form of natural selection. The strong will survive. The weak... will fall."
The Great Yi Dynasty was no god. It could not save the entire Eternal World. All it could do was preserve as much of humanity as possible. The fate of other races was of no concern.
Suddenly, Tong Huang, the childlike sovereign of intelligence, arrived with a solemn look.
"Tong Huang, what brings you here?" Yi Tianxing asked calmly.
"There's something strange. I thought you needed to know immediately."
"Oh? Speak."
"We've received reports from the Temple of Calamity—a large number of sect disciples have been moving about recently, frequently active in the wild."
"Sect disciples? Are they low on supplies and trying to purchase them from our Great Yi markets?" Yi Tianxing asked, his tone tinged with amusement.
"That might be part of it," Tong Huang said, "but their movements are unusually secretive. If they merely needed supplies, they could buy them at any of our celestial cities. We offer everything—grain, spirit herbs, materials. But instead, they're repeatedly venturing into the wild. It seems like they're searching for something.
Even stranger, they've established bases in the wilderness. The Calamity Guards are doing their best to investigate further."
"Venturing into the wild during a snow disaster and building bases?" Yi Tianxing's eyes lit up with intrigue. "They must have an ulterior motive. Find out their true purpose and which sects are involved."
"We've already identified one—Xuānxīn Sect (玄心正宗)," Tong Huang replied.
"Xuānxīn Sect? Interesting... continue monitoring them. Do not alert them. I want to see what they're really after," Yi Tianxing ordered.
Great Yi – Moonlight City
Named after the nearby Moonlight Lake, this city was once a famed spot for its enchanting views. At night, the lake shimmered under the moon, a breathtaking spectacle. A lakeside restaurant named Bright Moon Pavilion (明月楼) had been built on its waters, once teeming with customers.
But now the lake was frozen solid from the snowstorm, forming a thick ice crust strong enough to walk on. An eerie beauty, but also a sign of how severe the calamity was.
Tonight, Bright Moon Pavilion hosted many cultivators, distinguishable by their unique sectarian aura. Groups of three to five sat together, eating and whispering cautiously.
On the top floor, five cultivators occupied seats by the window. The leader, a middle-aged man with a gentle aura and flowing beard, radiated peace. His presence was calming, his expression serene.
Beside him sat three men and one veiled young woman who leaned on a pair of crutches. Though they kept their distance, a clear camaraderie was evident. The veiled woman gave off a cold, aloof aura as she stared out the window, yet seemed to be listening intently to every voice in the restaurant.
Not far from them, another group of sect disciples conversed in low voices. At their center was a young man in a cyan robe, his red eyebrows like flames. He carried a natural air of dominance.
"Senior brother," a white-clad girl asked worriedly, "what do we do next? It's not just us from Chìyún Sect (赤云宗)—there are at least seven or eight other sects here. If they find it first, all our efforts will be wasted. And I think the Great Yi Dynasty already suspects us."
"The Great Yi Dynasty isn't like any mundane kingdom. There are no mortals here—every citizen is a cultivator. To treat them like any ordinary nation is to insult one's intelligence. Great Yi is a true immortal empire, something even our sect must avoid provoking," said another youth with a wry smile.
Everyone knew of Great Yi's power. Their sect leaders had repeatedly warned against direct conflict.
"But having a powerful human dynasty like Great Yi isn't a bad thing," said a girl in blue. "In this chaotic fusion of realms, humanity has suffered terribly. Without Great Yi, we would've lost even more. This stable, prosperous human realm is rare and precious."
"Indeed. I heard the sect elders are considering an alliance with Great Yi. Their Eternal Coins are widely accepted now—even within the sects—as a standard currency. They support cultivation, trading, everything. Their resources are abundant.
We at Chìyún Sect, being masters of weapon forging, could earn great wealth and materials if we worked with them," said another young man with excitement in his voice.
Sects had their own advantages and foundations, but Great Yi represented an entirely new order. What these disciples were pursuing out in the snowstorm… was it power, opportunity, or something far more dangerous?