He had personally witnessed Law-Origin Divine Objects fall from the sky, scattering across the land and causing various natural disasters. In theory, if one could locate these origin artifacts—or even subdue them—it wouldn't be impossible to accept or even control the calamities. There was indeed a chance to end the catastrophes prematurely. Of course, he knew full well that finding such divine objects wouldn't be easy.
These past days, he had been too busy subjugating other human forces to spare time on locating the origin artifacts.
Since the sects were willing to search, then let them go ahead.
Although the natural disasters, to a certain extent, were not just non-threatening to the Great Yi Dynasty, but instead, hugely beneficial, ending them quickly wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing—it would be good news for the entire world.
Moreover, Yi Tianxing didn't believe the sects would find the origin artifacts' whereabouts any time soon.
After all, Origin Divine Objects, born from the evolution of laws themselves, had a natural closeness to the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Their methods of concealment were extremely powerful. Once hidden, finding them was anything but easy. If someone else wanted to take on that burden, why not? It was quite welcome.
As Yi Tianxing had expected, even though the sect disciples constantly ventured out to investigate, they were never able to locate the true source of the disasters. Some even dived deep into Moonlight Lake, hoping to find traces, but nothing surfaced. They simply launched a new round of searches.
They roamed the wilderness frequently, becoming elusive and ghost-like in their movements.
The Great Yi paid no attention to them, allowing them complete freedom. Only Zhuge Zhengwo and a few others were actively investigating.
Meanwhile, all of Great Yi's efforts were concentrated on expansion.
Under the unified will of Great Yi, towns were swiftly expanded. One after another, they were promoted into Immortal Cities. At the same time, the apprentices from the Celestial Observatory resurfaced, wielding imitation Mountain-Driving Whips, efficiently herding the newly formed cities. All of them were heading east.
The common folk—watching their towns elevate into immortal cities and begin to move—were naturally shocked and awed.
These movements of Great Yi deeply unsettled the nerves of many powerful alien races.
From the northern Myriad Beasts Royal Court, to the many strong tribes of the south, and the ethnic minorities in the west, all were rattled. None looked pleased.
"What is the Yi King trying to do? Accepting so many human forces, and now turning their towns into immortal cities? All moving eastward? They're clearly attempting to continue expanding their territory. How dare they."
"Does Great Yi think it can eat this much without choking? This is a year of natural calamities! To attempt expansion now—are they taking us for fools?"
"Their appetite is absurd. They're expanding during a snow disaster. Do they truly have the means to feed so many new people? What if they run out of supplies?"
"Can't we stop them?"
"Damn it, our warriors have already suffered in this calamity. If we act during the snow disaster, we'll suffer heavy casualties. Besides, we still need resources from Great Yi."
Despite their dread, none of the alien tribes could devise a method of intervention.
This was the era of calamity. Every force was already struggling to survive—no one could spare the strength to confront Great Yi.
Not to mention, Great Yi now controlled key supplies. It was as if they had seized everyone's throat—no one could even cry out.
Myriad Beasts Royal Court
The Behemoth King sat silently on his throne, pressure radiating from his body in waves.
All around the court, numerous beastmen powerhouses sat in silence as well.
"What do you all think of Great Yi's actions? They clearly intend to claim the entire eastern continent. Their ambition is laid bare. Can we do nothing to curb their pace?"
It was the Behemoth King who finally broke the silence.
If Great Yi successfully absorbed the east, their next expansion might target the Royal Court itself. No one wanted to see Great Yi grow stronger right before their eyes.
"There's nothing we can do. The Myriad Beasts Royal Court is far from Great Yi, and now the east is fully blocked off by them. Even if we wanted to interfere, we couldn't. Besides, during this calamity season, none of us can afford war. All we can do is watch."
A foxman sage shook his head.
This was the universal dilemma.
The Great Yi Dynasty was an anomaly. While every other power was desperately shrinking, Great Yi was expanding with reckless abandon. Truly monstrous. Madmen.
And yet, only Great Yi could pull it off. Any other power trying to imitate them would be courting death.
"According to the seer's prophecy, this calamity is due to the descent of a divine object. If we can find it, we can control the calamity. With such power, even if Great Yi claims the east, it can be crushed with ease. That divine object is a calamity-class ultimate weapon."
The foxman sage added.
"Find it! Mobilize all our strength. No matter the cost, we must acquire that divine object! With it, even the mighty Great Yi will be a clown, easily overthrown."
The Behemoth King's eyes gleamed with fervor. He was utterly resolute. That divine object was of strategic value and must be secured.
Not only the human sects, but the alien tribes were now racing to find the Calamity Divine Object. No one was ignorant of its significance. It was the power to change fate. To reshape the world with ease. Every force dreamed of it.
Whoever found it would stand atop the continent, ruling with absolute supremacy. They could build a top-tier great power.
No one would give up this chase.
It would be a deadlier, more perilous competition than ever before.
With the alien powers unable to interfere, Great Yi's expansion progressed smoothly. Even in the east, though some alien tribes were displeased, facing Great Yi's military might, they could only remain silent.
One after another, immortal cities were established in their assigned locations.
Within a thousand miles of each other, there would always be an immortal city suppressing the land.
As each city descended, the earth qi naturally converged beneath it under a mysterious force. The immortal city anchored the land's qi, while simultaneously being refined by it.
Unknowingly, vast swathes of territory were continuously drawn into Great Yi's map.
If a cultivator with Foresight Techniques observed from above, they would see Great Yi's fortune rapidly spreading eastward. Every breath brought a surge of destiny energy gathering above Xuanhuang City.
The Qi Luck Dragon soared through the sea of clouds, letting out joyful roars—it was utterly ecstatic.
The fusion of land qi, people's vitality, and Heaven's righteousness all empowered the Fortune Cloud Sea.
"Expansion is the best method of cultivation for Great Yi."
At that moment, Yi Tianxing, walking in the imperial garden with Cai Yan and the other three women, quietly mused to himself.
Because of the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map, every time Great Yi expanded, every newly integrated city and land mass strengthened the map. It would, in turn, feed back power through its Feng Shui formation. This Feng Shui was the embodiment of Heaven and Earth—essentially a baptism from the world's origin.
Each time an immortal city integrated into the Sheji Feng Shui Array, the primordial force of Heaven and Earth would naturally appear in his life map, refining it with visible divine Dao patterns.
The Heavenly Emperor Dragon Diagram had nearly condensed into substance—a tangible existence.
Within the life map, his Heavenly Emperor Dharma Body grew increasingly defined, larger, and more dignified. The more refined it became, the stronger Yi Tianxing's control over Heaven's laws. His domain technique would soon expand massively.
"Once this round of expansion ends, my cultivation will fully step into the final phase of the Dharma Phase Realm, reaching the Soul-Condensation Stage—the step where I fuse the Three Souls. It's the most critical breakthrough."
Yi Tianxing pondered quietly.
Sometimes, cultivation required long accumulation. But with the feedback from the Sheji Map's Feng Shui array, this accumulation process was drastically shortened—without any risk of shallow foundations.
He was preparing to fuse soul and spirit to reach the Dharma Phase Realm's full perfection.
A path that ordinary cultivators might take countless years to achieve—Yi Tianxing would complete in a fraction of the time, empowered by the very essence of Heaven and Earth.
Thanks to the Sheji Map, the expansion of Great Yi was not just about land—it was the foundation for transcendence.