The decision to hold the Enlightened Examinations came even though the usual three-year cycle had not passed. When urgent needs arise in court, an interim round—the "Grace Examination"—could be held. It was a long-standing tradition: if the imperial court needed talent, they would open the path. As such, the decision was unanimously supported by the ministers.
Great Yi already had a foundation of talent selection to build from. However, this pool did not include those converted from Evernight slave soldiers. Though they now shared human bloodlines, their thoughts and beliefs had not yet matured.
They would need time and experience to grow and fully integrate.
What held true promise was their next generation—children raised entirely under the umbrella of human civilization. They would be educated, cultivated, and truly aligned with Great Yi's values and knowledge systems. That generation would be the ones to shine.
This wasn't to say the current generation was useless—but rather, they were in a phase of starting over, and reaching true potential would still take time—time that Great Yi no longer had the luxury to wait for.
Nevertheless, they were still citizens of Great Yi—equal in status to any born under its flag.
That fact would never change.
In truth, many Immortal City Lords of Great Yi favored these newly integrated citizens. While they weren't entirely blank slates, they were eager to be taught, and their loyalty to Yi Tianxing was not just skin deep—it was soul-deep. Even death would not cause them to hesitate. To the divine beings, such faith bordered on religious fervor—an ideal that could not be easily replicated.
With the Iron-Blooded Great Wall surrounding the entire Vast Sea Realm, Great Yi now controlled a fortress-like domain. Every passing day made external invasion more difficult. With time, this control would only grow stronger and more entrenched.
However, the Vast Sea Realm was not yet completely stable.
The wilderness still held many foreign and hostile forces. The Immortal Cities essentially split the world in two:
Human vs. Non-human.
Civilization vs. Barbarism.
"Now that the Vast Sea Realm has been unified, it doesn't mean there are no threats," Yi Tianxing declared."There are still hostile forces hiding in the wilds. All Immortal Cities must remain on constant alert. If anything occurs, it must be reported immediately. Within the Battle Realm of the War Souls, various legions will be permanently stationed—ready to launch expeditions against these foreign threats."
"Moreover," he continued, "we've secured the land, but the sea is even more vast—its dangers far greater than they appear on the surface. We must find a way to bring the sea realms under our control as well."
This was the next critical problem. Of course, it couldn't be solved overnight. Careful planning and patience were required.
After all, these seas were not normal waters. The oceans were teeming with aquatic races—many of which could grow to truly terrifying strength if left unchecked.
On land, Immortal Cities served as anchors of power, but how would Great Yi establish control in the ocean depths?
Worse still, remnants of the Dragon Clan still lingered in the deep. Though the dragons had "withdrawn," they hadn't disappeared entirely. What remained was but a fraction of their former strength—yet still formidable. Their status alone ensured that even in diminished numbers, they could command fear.
Their backers weren't dead—they had simply stepped away.
Other aquatic races also posed serious threats. If they united, their power could sweep across the entire sea realm. In the past, the dragons served as the balancing force, but now, that stabilizing presence was gone.
Though the dragons still occupied the Dragon Palace and would not act lightly, they no longer interfered with sea affairs. Their withdrawal from the Eternal World stage was not by choice—but a necessity. Otherwise, the three great clans would've been wiped out without even knowing how.
There were hidden powerhouses in the world who would not tolerate chaos. Stirring the pot meant courting death.
And the Dragon Clan was not the only power beneath the waves. They had simply once held the greatest sway. But among the Sea Clans, there were also the Siren Tribe, the Sea Kings, and many others.
The Sea Kings in particular were terrifying. They had built entire undersea kingdoms and wielded tremendous power. Their combat capabilities were immense.
It was said that the Sea Kings were nearly indistinguishable from humans in appearance. However, they were born for aquatic life—able to breathe freely underwater, swim at will, and control marine life. They were natural-born rulers of the oceans, combining raw strength with high civilization. Some even believed that the legendary Atlantis was one of the Sea King's realms—though this remained unverified.
Regardless, these were threats that could not be ignored.
They had to be addressed.
The land was secure—but the sea remained an unknown.
"Your Majesty," Jia Xu stepped forward, "I believe we should invest heavily in the Golden Scale Clan, a human offshoot race also known as the Fishmen. Their bloodline is close to water, allowing them to breathe and survive in aquatic environments. Those with exceptional talent can be trained as scouts and vanguards to explore the ocean depths."
Over the years, the Golden Scale Clan had flourished within Great Yi. Without external threats, their population had naturally increased. Many had intermarried with the main human lineage, producing hybrids with aquatic affinities. Golden Scales were known to be excellent sailors—often sought after by bounty hunters who ventured into the seas.
In many life-threatening situations, it had been Golden Scale teammates who had saved the day.
This had been proven time and again.
As a result, the Golden Scale people were highly respected in Great Yi. Rather than facing discrimination, they were deeply valued.
"Hmm, that's one viable method," Yi Tianxing nodded. "But it only addresses the symptoms—not the root problem."
It wouldn't be enough.
"Your Majesty," said Gongshu Lin, stepping forward, "I believe that controlling the sea realm is entirely within our reach. The key lies in maritime power. Humans cannot live underwater indefinitely—even with the ability to breathe freely, we are still at a disadvantage. Our combat capabilities are suppressed. But what we lack in biology, we can make up for in technology. We can design tools—warships—specifically built for sea warfare."
"Oh?" Yi Tianxing's eyes brightened. "You mean constructing warships to patrol the seas and deter hostile marine races?"
"Exactly," Gongshu Lin replied. "Great Yi already possesses the blueprint for a highly effective vessel: the Whale-Class Warship. These warships resemble massive whales. They can sail the surface, dive deep, and even navigate the ocean floor. Their camouflage is highly effective. At critical moments, they can strike unexpectedly. With some modification from the Heavenly Engineering Pavilion, we can make them even stronger—perfect for undersea combat. This would allow us to extend Great Yi's influence into the ocean."
To control the sea, Great Yi needed a presence strong enough to make any sea race think twice. Warships were the answer.
The Whale-Class ships were capable of stealth and survival—ideal for this task.
"Good," Yi Tianxing said, eyes flashing. "This is an excellent plan. But one type of warship won't be enough. We need an entire naval force—with varied ship types for surface and underwater combat."
He was already envisioning the creation of a naval command hierarchy.
"Your Majesty," interjected Xue Jin, the head of the Treasure Hall, "I recall several naval vessel blueprints collected from the public. These were acquired through the Nightmare World—treasures retrieved by adventurers and sold to us. I believe we currently possess designs for vessels such as the Octopus Battle Fortress, the Giant Crab Warship, the Anglerfish Boat, the Peacock Fish Skiff, and the Devil Ray Skiff—each with unique capabilities that could greatly aid in maritime operations."
These blueprints were dreamworld spoils—collected by civilians who ventured into the Nightmare World seeking fortunes. Though dangerous, the risks were often outweighed by the rewards—many rare treasures were brought back.
Some were useless to the adventurers themselves and were thus traded for money or resources. The Treasure Hall was a natural buyer—known for its generosity and deep pockets.
Adventurers loved dealing with them.
"Excellent. Send the blueprints to the Heavenly Engineering Pavilion. Once designs are finalized, authorize the use of all necessary materials to begin construction. Rapid naval deployment is now a top priority."Yi Tianxing nodded decisively.
This was Great Yi's true strength—an abundance of resources and talent. As long as there was the will, solutions would always be found.