"We goblins have studied the arrow rain of the Da Yi Dynasty. Over the years, we've devised ways to neutralize it. I once read in an ancient text about the Abyssal Demon Pit, which contains a devouring force capable of swallowing everything. The Abyssal Yin Wind within it swirls inward, not outward. It devours everything that comes near."
The Great Elder of the Goblins spoke with an excited gleam in his eyes. "Moreover, our goblin race has discovered some relics from before the Great Merge of the Myriad Realms, along with some ancient texts. Based on our research, we've developed a brand new artifact. It can block arrow rain, enough to render the Divine Ballistas of Da Yi useless. However, due to limited materials and funding, very few of these artifacts have been produced."
His confidence was palpable—he was certain the artifact would nullify one of Da Yi's deadliest weapons.
"If it's truly effective, we of the Myriad Beast Royal Court will provide unlimited materials and funds," said the Beamon King with a gleam in his eye. "But we must produce enough of them as quickly as possible."
"Fighting Da Yi beneath the Iron-Blooded Great Wall puts us at a great disadvantage. That battlefield favors them. It is their home ground. If possible, we must move the battlefield elsewhere," Qing Tianyu said after a brief pause.
A favorable battlefield could significantly boost their chances.
"But how do we lure the Da Yi forces away from the Iron-Blooded Great Wall?"
The Beamon King looked to the assembled tribal leaders.
"If Da Yi truly wants to purge the land, they won't ignore our tribes. They'll have to leave the Great Wall eventually," said an ogre warrior with a sneer. "It's not difficult to make them fight outside the wall. The key is choosing a battlefield favorable to us."
"Da Yi treasures the lives of human civilians," said an elder from the Foxfolk, his eyes gleaming. "They've traded vast resources and food for human slaves even during the great calamity. We can use that. If we besiege a human town and force it to call for help, Da Yi will be compelled to respond."
Failing to rescue their own would damage Da Yi's reputation and morale, undermining the faith of their people.
Da Yi had always held protecting humanity as its mission.
Using human lives as leverage was highly effective.
"Everyone, if Da Yi attacks us one by one, none of us will survive. Only united can we defeat them," the Beamon King declared. "This war is inevitable. Do not harbor delusions. If we take the initiative, our combined strength can crush everything—even Da Yi!"
In the great hall, the eyes of all the tribal leaders gleamed.
The threat Da Yi posed had become too great. Only unity offered a chance to resist.
After the alliance conference concluded, the various races deepened their coordination. Resources pooled together, and the goblins' forges worked day and night.
Invisible currents of tension spread.
In the Da Yi Palace...
Yi Tianxing sat in a pavilion, fishing. A massive carp swam around his baited hook, tempted but wary.
Behind him stood Tong Huang.
"Your Majesty, according to the Celestial Calamity Hall's spies, the surrounding tribes are on the move, plotting something in secret," he reported.
"Also, the Myriad Beast Plain is stirring. Large numbers of beast warriors are assembling into massive camps, each with over 500,000 troops of mixed races. They claim it's internal training, but I suspect otherwise. I've deployed elite scouts to keep watch."
Yi Tianxing smiled faintly. "The Behemoth King can't hold back. He must be forging an alliance and preparing for war. After the Dragon Palace banquet, he would never stay idle—not with the sea charts in hand."
This was a desperate gambit by the Behemoth King.
"But would they really dare wage war? The calamities just ended. Their strength should be depleted. Even their food was bought from us," Tong Huang said, frowning.
War requires deep reserves—resources, wealth, and strength.
For a dynasty, war is not undertaken lightly. If an imperial dynasty falls, even its fate-bound spirit could be devoured. The consequences are catastrophic.
"If they dare attack Da Yi, the Iron-Blooded Great Wall will be stained with their blood," Tong Huang added with confidence.
"They may not strike the Wall directly," Yi Tianxing said calmly. "They might even have a way to counter it. The Behemoth King is not an easy opponent."
"Keep monitoring their movements. Report any changes immediately."
With a wave, Tong Huang was dismissed.
"Send word—all Da Yi legions are to prepare for war."
Soon after, strategists Jia Xu, Huang Chengyan, and Zhuge Liang were summoned. They deliberated for a full hour.
A month passed quietly.
In a human city—Xiaoyao City!
Xiaoyao City was considered relatively strong among human settlements. Its people lived decently—except for one issue: the requirement to offer beautiful women to the City Lord's mansion. This was widely resented.
Still, under the City Lord's rule, most could survive. The city boasted a formidable Rattan Armor Army trained by An Lushan—numbering 100,000 strong.
With a civilian population of only around 500,000–600,000, this meant a staggering 5:1 soldier-to-civilian ratio.
The townsfolk looked pale and malnourished. The calamities had taken a toll. Xiaoyao City wasn't under Da Yi's jurisdiction. Though Da Yi had provided some aid for humanitarian reasons, it wasn't responsible for the city's full recovery.
However, the city did have one rare specialty:
The Free-Floating Carpet (Xiaoyao Feitan)!
This was the unique invention of the City Lord, Wang Chen. It was crafted from Green Spirit Vine Silk—the same material used for the rattan armor. With embedded runic formations, it allowed flight through the air. Though not very fast, it was elegant and conserved magical energy.
When not in use, it transformed into a flowing cloak, giving it another name: The Free-Floating Cloak (Xiaoyao Pifeng).
This flying carpet had become a key trade good, earning valuable resources and food from Da Yi. Thanks to it, Xiaoyao's military hadn't suffered during the disasters.
Thus, the city was well-known in the surrounding region.
Wang Chen's name carried weight.
Now that the calamities had passed, the city was gradually recovering. People began tilling the land outside the walls, planting crops.
Suddenly—
BOOM!!
A deafening roar echoed outside Xiaoyao City.