In the unseen depths of the void, it felt as though invisible eyes were gazing intently upon both the Beast King's Court and the Great Yi Dynasty.
A national war, a true Dynastic War, had begun. The moment it commenced, it drew the attention of Heaven and Earth. The Will of Heaven was now watching. Such a war could not be initiated lightly—for once it began, it would not end until one side was utterly annihilated. The victor would claim new lands, absorbing their fortune and fate; the loser might lose everything, even perishing in both body and soul.
In the brutal clashes that followed, National Fate would be consumed.
In the end, one side's Fate Spirit might even be devoured. And if that happened—if the spirit was destroyed—it would be the utter destruction of the dynasty, the end of its lineage, the fall of its people.
"Very well. I'll be waiting for your arrival in Golden City."
King Behemoth's voice echoed.
This war was unavoidable. So he had chosen to seize the initiative. That initiative, however, came at the cost of ten billion human lives. If he didn't, Great Yi would continue expanding, slowly migrating its celestial cities and swallowing territory step by step. As long as they advanced cautiously and steadily, they would eventually suppress everything in their path. Over time, Great Yi would only grow stronger, while the Beast King's Court and the tribal forces would be suppressed and diminished.
This imbalance of strength would eventually determine the outcome.
The slow boil of the "frog in warm water" was the more terrifying end.
King Behemoth had no desire to become that frog. This war would decide the fate of the continent.
The heavenly vision faded from the void.
Yet that moment had already been seen by every being on the continent. Their eyes were filled with solemnity.
This was no mere battle—it was a war between dynasties. Once triggered, it meant the destruction of one Fortune Dynasty.
"So it's really a national war... but thinking about it, it's understandable. The Great Yi Dynasty has gained absolute dominance across this land. If the Beast King's Court doesn't strike now, they'll lose all opportunity to resist."
In Virtuous Spirit Manor, hosted by Lord Emptiness (Kongxu), numerous sect cultivators had gathered.
Located close to Xuanhuang City, the manor was spacious and well-defended, and Lord Kongxu's strength was not to be underestimated. His Nine Void Swords were extremely formidable. The constant influx of cultivators had transformed the manor into a hub for sect communications, intelligence exchanges, and trade.
Most importantly, it offered easy access to Xuanhuang City, and insight into the movements of the Great Yi Dynasty.
Notable figures like Yan Chixia and Yan Hongye of the Mystic Heart Sect, Xiaoyaozi of the Everlasting Spring Valley, and Tianshuang Sword of the Cold Mountain Sword Sect had all gathered there.
"To think we've reached this point… with Great Yi's strength, it's only a matter of time before the entire continent falls under its rule," Tianshuang Sword said with awe.
They had watched Great Yi grow from humble beginnings to a towering empire. In comparison, the sects were like hibernating beasts. Once, they saw themselves as saviors of humanity after being released from their seals. But now, in hindsight, such arrogance was laughable.
"This so-called ninefold checkpoint laid by King Behemoth is certainly premeditated. It won't be easy to break through. I suspect powerful alien experts are hidden among them," Xiaoyaozi said after some thought.
Any race that had survived until now had deep foundations. These sect cultivators were well aware of that. Many powerful alien beings had been sealed alongside them. Now that the seals were broken, those foreign monsters were free. They were like nuclear weapons—dormant until used, and devastating once unleashed.
"Indeed. I sensed a terrifying aura near the winged tribes—likely a Nascent Soul realm expert," Yan Chixia said gravely.
"I too sensed a deadly killing intent in a dark area. Just approaching it made my back prickle. I didn't dare get close," Tianshuang Sword added.
These alien races had heritage. That was a given.
"Should we intervene? If those old monsters show themselves, we can't allow the human race to be underestimated. We have powerful cultivators too," Kongxu asked, eager for battle.
Even his sword was thirsting for blood.
"Let's observe the situation first. If we're needed, we'll act immediately. This might be a good chance to win Great Yi's favor, to show them our sincerity," Xiaoyaozi nodded.
The sects desperately wanted to align with the dynasty. If Great Yi unified the continent, independent sects might become targets—nations within a nation. Any Fortune Dynasty would find such independence intolerable.
"Everyone—how should we fight this war? Any advice?"
Yi Tianxing's mind returned to his body. He addressed his gathered ministers in the imperial hall.
"To think the Beast King's Court still had one billion human captives. That number is comparable to Great Yi's own population. If we break through each checkpoint, we'll rescue a billion at a time. This war must be fought—and won," Hua Mulan declared firmly.
Her sharp phoenix eyes were filled with determination.
"Indeed. With one billion people, Great Yi can immediately expand. Our celestial cities can spread across the land. A billion people can give us 100 to 200 cities," Huang Chengyan said excitedly.
A city needed 500,000 citizens to operate effectively and stabilize the surrounding wilderness.
"For now, we can only respond to what's in front of us. We won't know how to break their checkpoints until we see them," Zhuge Liang noted.
They were not omniscient. Until they saw the setup of the enemy, they could only react as the situation developed.
"Indeed. Victory is the only option," Yi Tianxing nodded decisively."Send orders—the Divine Crow Legion is to continue the attack. The Snow Rabbit Legion will pursue from the rear."
"Wenhe—take the Rainbow Bridge to the front. You'll command the battlefield."
He turned to Jia Xu.
"As you command," Jia Xu smiled calmly, without hesitation.
This was the war of unification. To be part of it was the highest honor. The merits were boundless.
Swoosh!
Riding the Rainbow Bridge, Jia Xu soon appeared in the sky above the battlefield, mounted on his Flame Crow steed, enhancing his mobility.
Below, the wolf cavalry was retreating in chaos. Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, now only tens of thousands remained. They had been utterly slaughtered. Meanwhile, the Snow Rabbit Legion had minimal casualties—completely within acceptable limits.
The Divine Crow Legion in the skies suffered even fewer losses. Most were only injured, and even those were healing swiftly under their fire aura and various pills.
The wolf cavalry and winged army were fleeing in panic.
Before long, they both plunged into a strange fog.
Fog.
A dense mist so thick it looked solid. It seemed normal—except that it was unnaturally vast and blinding. Once inside, even your hand before your face would vanish from view.
"Stop!!"Jia Xu immediately raised his hand, halting the pursuit.
"Such heavy fog… it's not natural. It covers too large an area. Visibility is totally lost," Mu Guiying said with concern.
"This must be one of King Behemoth's checkpoints—the Fog Gate," Xue Kunlun stated calmly.
"Yes, no doubt. The wolf cavalry and winged army ran into it without hesitation—they clearly expected the fog to appear," Jia Xu agreed.
This sudden fog at dusk was clearly abnormal.
"What now? If we don't pass through the fog, we can't pursue," Mu Guiying frowned.
Retreat was not an option. If this was one of the checkpoints, then they had to break through. A hundred million human lives were at stake.
"This checkpoint is the Fog Gate. Pass it, and we will release a billion human slaves. Refuse, and they will all be slaughtered."
A voice echoed from within the fog.
"Let me try it first,"a calm voice responded.