In the past, whenever Xuanhuang City ascended, the final trial was often borne by the Fate True Spirit, which had to pass through heavenly tribulations—each time leaping over the Dragon Gate and drawing upon its mystical power to transform, step by step, from a humble golden koi of fate into a fish-dragon, then a serpent-dragon, and finally a flood dragon. This process marked a metamorphosis on the level of life essence. However, the Dragon Gate's power reached its limit at the flood dragon stage.
One could even say that a flood dragon was already a form of dragon—yet, in terms of bloodline, it still could not rival a True Dragon. Further transformation required undergoing the baptism of tribulation lightning, to shatter and rebuild, purify the bloodline amidst divine thunder, and ascend into a True Dragon.
Without a doubt, this was the trial that came with elevation.
At the same time, tribulation lightning would bring devastation to Xuanhuang City. If the city was destroyed by the tribulation, then it could not ascend to an Imperial Capital—not even retain its current status as a Royal City. Without powerful defenses, how could it qualify as an Imperial Capital? Such a city represented the face and majesty of a Dynasty. If it could be easily destroyed, how could it be worthy of the title?
ROAR!!
Upon sensing the arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation, the Fate Flood Dragon that had been coiled in the sea of fate clouds became excited, letting out a long, resounding dragon's cry. As the fate energies shifted, the previously hidden Fate Heavenly Pool emerged clearly between heaven and earth.
It was now fully visible.
A fate pool, 365 zhang in diameter, appeared before all. Within it, yellowish-brown waters rippled in waves. The fate within the pool had long since reached its brim, even overflowing and manifesting as the cloud sea overhead.
"What an enormous Fate Flood Dragon! It's already a hundred and seventy or eighty zhang long. Incredible!"
"This is the Fate True Spirit of our Great Yi Dynasty. It represents our national destiny. The stronger it is, the stronger and deeper our nation's foundation. How many foreign races dare underestimate us now?"
The people of Da Yi looked upon the spectacle above with pride glowing on their faces.
They had long since bound themselves to the Dynasty—sharing its fate, both in glory and in ruin.
And this scene wasn't limited to Xuanhuang City. All throughout the territory of the Great Yi Dynasty, every citizen could see it, drawn into the vision by a formless, divine power.
"What's going on? Why has a tribulation cloud appeared? And it's this terrifying? We've never seen such scale before."
"It's Da Yi. That's... that's the Fate Flood Dragon of the Great Yi Dynasty. It's enormous!"
"What is it trying to do? At nearly 200 zhang, it's far beyond what a Kingdom should possess. Could it be... Da Yi is attempting to ascend?"
The neighboring foreign tribes were also quick to notice the anomaly. Countless gazes turned toward the sky, eyes filled with solemnity and dread.
None of them wanted to see Da Yi grow stronger.
It was like a sword hanging above their heads—always threatening to fall and sever them. Such pressure was unbearable.
"The Great Yi Dynasty is really trying to ascend—transforming from a Kingdom into an Empire amidst a catastrophe. This is completely unprecedented!"
Within the Upright Qi Villa, Lord Emptiness sat in his courtyard at a wine table, sharing drinks with fellow cultivators. When he saw the phenomenon, his eyes flickered with shock.
"The Great Yi Dynasty is indeed an anomaly in this world—ascending in the midst of a heavenly calamity. What a defiant act. It's likely no kingdom for years to come will be able to match them. But this is a blessing for our human race."
A cultivator sighed emotionally. It was none other than Yan Chixia. Among the guests were also Yan Hongye and several others.
No one wanted to miss this moment—the ascension of a Fate Dynasty.
This was the first time in the Eternal World. Also, the first time among all races of the heavens. Should it succeed, Great Yi would become the first Imperial of the Eternal World.
No matter how many eyes were watching them, nothing could change the fact that the Great Yi had begun its ascension. Nor could it stop the coming tribulation.
Boom!!
From within the tribulation clouds, countless bolts of lightning suddenly burst forth.
Thunder roared as dense bolts of lightning poured down like a torrential storm. Each bolt carved terrifying arcs across the sky, striking directly at Xuanhuang City. Each one carried an overwhelming aura of annihilation and death.
There was no doubt—these bolts were so terrifying that even experts at the Life Map Realm would feel threatened, and those at the Dharma Phase Realm would feel deep fear.
Each bolt's destructive power was comparable to a full-powered strike from a Dharma Phase Realm cultivator.
And this was not just one or two bolts—it was a deluge, a storm of destruction. In an instant, Xuanhuang City was entirely enveloped.
Citizens looked up, eyes filled with terror.
This wasn't cowardice—the sheer scale and intensity of what they were witnessing was beyond comprehension. It looked as if the entire city would be annihilated. No normal immortal city could withstand it—it would have been reduced to rubble already.
"Everyone, do not panic. Stay where you are. These lightning bolts will not harm you."
Yi Tianxing's voice rang clearly in every ear, laced with a unique power that instinctively calmed and reassured.
The fear quickly dissipated, and calm was restored.
At the very moment the lightning bolts fell, twelve statues scattered throughout the city—each representing a Zodiac beast—flared with divine light. One could hear tiger roars, dragon howls, rooster crows, dog barks...
Twelve beams of light shot skyward.
A vast web of mystical runes appeared across the entire city. Guided by the twelve beams, they formed a golden barrier. On this radiant wall, the twelve zodiac beasts manifested in vivid, lifelike forms, as if they were real.
Lightning struck the barrier, sending ripples through it. But no matter how the ripples spread, the barrier held firm—unshaken and unbroken.
Instead, the bolts seemed to be drawn in, vanishing as if absorbed by some mysterious force.
Remember, these were attacks comparable to the Dharma Phase Realm, and not just one or two—but tens of thousands. Even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators would retreat before such onslaught.
"What is this?!"
"What kind of barrier did Xuanhuang City deploy? Some kind of forbidden formation? What is it!?"
Countless foreign cultivators watching from afar were stunned—utterly shocked.
The defense was simply too terrifying. It shattered all their prior assumptions.
Xuanhuang City had never had outer walls or checkpoints. Many assumed it had a vulnerability in its defense.
But now? The city's defense was beyond strong—downright monstrous.
With such protection, who needed walls?
The endless lightning couldn't even break through the outer layer of the barrier. It was pure madness.
"The Zodiac Grand Array—even revealing just the tip of the iceberg is enough to shake heaven and earth. Paired with the Well of Eternity, the final shortcoming of Xuanhuang City has been completely mended."
Yi Tianxing wasn't surprised at all.
The Zodiac Array Diagram had been exchanged from the God-Demon Battlefield and had merged into Xuanhuang City the moment it was acquired. In essence, the city itself had become the Zodiac Diagram. Its power could be freely directed to form various seals and defenses.
The runes and patterns that appeared across the city were all derived from the Zodiac Diagram.
With the Well of Eternity as the formation's core, the setup was flawless—endless and eternal. The Well could absorb all energies, its nature as vast as the ocean, making it the perfect receptacle.
And with six innate spirit veins as foundation, unless the formation was broken instantly, no one could take the city.
The deluge of lightning was absorbed into the Well of Eternity, converted into nourishment—further enriching the energy reserves within.
ROAR!!
With Xuanhuang City completely safe, the Fate Flood Dragon let out an excited roar and shot toward the sky.
At that moment, a bolt of golden lightning descended from the clouds. Compared to the previous bolts, this one was far more terrifying—more savage and tyrannical.
But the Fate Flood Dragon didn't hesitate. It charged straight toward the golden tribulation bolt.
It knew—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity... and a danger it would inevitably face again.
The golden lightning struck its body.
The flood dragon erupted with tremendous force, raising its claws to block the blow.
But a shocking scene unfolded.
The golden lightning carried infinite sharpness and terrifying destructive force. When it exploded, it sent golden arcs of electricity coursing across the dragon's entire form.
The flood dragon let out a piercing roar, and—without a sound—its body began to shrink...