"Our organization, the Nine-Headed Serpent, was established with the support of Eternal Night.Even the great Demon Gods personally intervened, delivering the Heavenly Demon War Weapons to us."
The black-robed figure continued coldly:
"The war with the Eternal World is a long one.There will be no victory in the short term.We, the Nine-Headed Serpent, are a nail driven into the flesh of the Eternal World.Survival is our most severe test."
"The Nine-Headed Serpent must not merely have nine heads.Cut off one, and nine more must grow.We must multiply—endlessly."
The white-robed figure nodded:
"We've already found some ambitious natives of the Eternal World.If we stir up their desires, we can recruit them—turning the Eternal against itself.Offer them profit, and their fighting spirit will do the rest."
This was the key to weakening Great Yi—delay its growth, sabotage its dominance.Letting it grow unopposed would only increase the threat to Eternal Night.
"Let's see what damage Oda Nobunaga can do.This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Even if the Heavenly Demon War Weapons took damage,as long as it crippled Great Yi, it would be worth it.
Meanwhile, in Great Yi...
Unaware of the approaching threat,Great Yi's expansion was accelerating.
"Chongming Island has been completely occupied.All human factions on the island have surrendered.One hundred eighty towns and villages have been acquired and sent to the Cloud Realm for redevelopment.All resettlement of citizens in the immortal cities has been completed."
"Hua Province is fully under control.All resistance has been crushed. Immigration has begun."
"Griffin Island has been secured.It contains vast numbers of griffins—ideal as flying mounts.Recommend setting up a dedicated breeding center."
Inside Xuánhuáng Immortal City,military and administrative reports flowed in continuously—a testament to Great Yi's centralized command and control.
"Tiance Strategy" Begin to Show Results
Great Yi's military strategy of placing immortal cities as "anchor points" allowed for continual expansion and exertion of control over new lands.
Even without direct military action,bounty hunters emerging from the cities created overwhelming pressure—forcing neighboring forces to accept city deployment or risk total defeat.
The land was being slowly, inevitably devoured by Great Yi.
The Hunter Hall had issued bounties for "frontier conquest"—the most dangerous but rewarding missions.
They even provided coordinates for future immortal city landings,sending hunters to clear the area in advance.
These were known as Gold Missions,sought after by hunters for their high bounties and merit points.
Despite the high death rate,hunters flocked to them,making Great Yi's expansion stunningly efficient.
"In just one more month,the entire Hanhai Realm will fall under Great Yi's control,"announced Xun Yu, smiling.
Despite minor resistance,all targets were being systematically defeated.
Yi Tianxing nodded.
Through the Fate Diagram in his body—the Heaven-Earth Dragon Dominion Chart, fused with the Nation River Mountain Diagram—he could see the land of Great Yi growing inside him.
Each immortal city added to the land,infusing his body with natural essenceand subtly strengthening his cultivation.
The stronger Great Yi becomes,the faster Yi Tianxing grows.
The two were bound together—an empire and its emperor, rising as one.
Disaster Strikes
Suddenly, the heavens exploded with thunder.
BOOOOM!!!
The ground trembled violently—an earthquake shaking the entire Dragon Demon Continent.
Even inside Xuánhuáng City,the impact was felt.
"What happened?!"
In the throne hall, panic spread.
A projection screen appeared, showing the source—Hulu Valley.
There, the Immortal City of Hulu was suppressing a dangerous innate demonic treasure,its position tied into Great Yi's Feng Shui array.
But the city was still in its early integration phase—its structure unstable.
On screen, Hulu City was being forcibly torn from the earth by an overwhelming, demonic energy.
Crimson lightning crackled across the sky,ravaging the city.Walls cracked, buildings crumbled, and citizens—many with cultivation—were caught off-guard.
Tens of thousands died instantly.
"How can this be?"
"That demonic treasure was already sealed!"
The ministers were horrified.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Seize!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes went cold.
With a thought, a divine beam shot from Xuanhuang City and enveloped Hulu City—extracting all citizens,even the dead, to safety.
The city was now empty.
BOOM!!!
A blood-red pillar of light erupted from the ground,piercing Hulu City from below,blasting a massive hole through it.
The demonic artifact beneath went fully berserk.
"You dare seal me?!I'd rather die than live imprisoned!I am—!!"
The demonic spirit within roared in fury,its suppression had been a great humiliation,a scar on its very soul.
Now it wanted revenge—to bathe the world in blood.
But before it could even finish speaking—a massive Immortal City appeared above the valley,barreling toward the blood pillar like a savage beast.
Yi Tianxing's cold voice echoed:
"I once hoped to make you part of Great Yi's foundation.But if you choose death—then die.You're just an Innate Demonic Treasure.And I, the Emperor, lack for no such thing."
BOOOOM!!!
The new immortal city collided head-on with the blood pillar.The shockwave was so intense it shattered the sky,and the pillar itself broke apart.
Even though it was made of Heaven-Earth laws,it could not withstand the blow.