"Everyone," Yi Tianxing said with a warm smile as he looked at the many newly arrived humans gathered before him."I am the master of this Nightmare Sanctuary (梦魇圣地). This sanctuary exists to protect all human beings. Once you pass through this gate, you'll enter the true sanctuary. There, you'll have a safe and stable environment to live, to flourish, to settle down. In time, every person may rise like a dragon."
In his eyes, these people were already citizens of Great Yi. Taking them out of this realm would make them the foundation of his empire. Moreover, anyone who had managed to survive the Nightmare World was sure to possess incredible luck—and surviving the Shattered Dream Tribulation meant they were truly blessed. Such people must hide great potential. And that was most important.
"Wonderful! This is amazing!"
"The rules here seem a bit different from the sanctuaries we've heard about… but it doesn't matter. As long as we're protected, then this is a real sanctuary!"
"I'll go in first! I'll scout it out and come back to report!"
A brawny young man, dressed like a wandering martial artist, stepped forward holding a broadsword. His voice was loud, and his courage far exceeded that of ordinary folk. The sanctuary's lure was too strong—there was no fear that could stop him.
This man was known by the nickname Executioner Blade (断头刀). A former headsman, his blade was sharp and deadly, and he had claimed the lives of over a thousand. His boldness was unmatched.Now, with the sanctuary before him, there was no reason to hesitate.
He strode forward and entered the spatial gate.
Yi Tianxing smiled lightly without stopping him.This was what he wanted to see.
Behind the gate was not the Nightmare Sanctuary—Yi Tianxing had never intended to develop this location further.
Instead, what lay beyond was the world inside the Heavenly Emperor's Primordial Pagoda (鸿蒙天帝塔)—a realm tailored specifically for survival.
As a Mid-tier World (中千世界), it could easily support tens of billions or more.It held fertile lands, rich resources, and everything necessary for survival.As long as the people worked hard, they could thrive.
Outside, the people watched anxiously, waiting for the man to return—waiting for hope.
Moments later, the gate shimmered, and the man returned.
Tears of joy glistened on his rugged face as he cried out, "Brothers! Sisters! It's real! It really is a sanctuary! There are no monsters—no danger. There are mountains, rivers, vast plains, fertile farmland, and enormous cities!"
"We've… we've found a sanctuary!"He laughed wildly, falling to his knees in tears.Life had been too cruel.No one wanted to live in fear. No one wanted to vanish overnight without explanation. Most of these people had only recently entered the Nightmare World after the collapse of their original dream realms.
They just wanted to live.
"Thank you, Master of the Sanctuary, for building this place for us. We will never forget your kindness—we'll offer incense to you daily."
One by one, the people bowed deeply to Yi Tianxing.
"There's no need for that. Go on in. Begin your new life.Your future is filled with light."
Yi Tianxing replied calmly, his smile unwavering.
The realm beyond the gate had been created using the Time Pocket Watch, connected to the tower. The environment was serene and natural, almost utopian. Most importantly, the flow of time was 100 times faster than the outside world.
One year outside = 100 years inside.
Enough to raise two, three, even four generations.
And Yi Tianxing had only one goal:
To gather population—to gain enough people to sustain and fuel Great Yi's expansion.
He provided peace and shelter.In return, he claimed the future of these people.
"Let's go!"
"To the sanctuary!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and surged toward the gate. The massive ancient portal never felt crowded, and one by one, they stepped into a brand-new world.
They saw blue skies, a sun and moon in alternation, fresh floral scents, and magnificent immortal cities.
It was beyond imagination—a dream come true.None could resist.
More and more humans continued to arrive.
They had no idea that what lay beyond was not a Nightmare Sanctuary—but a separate world entirely.Their fates were now cut off from the Nightmare World, and from this point on, they would walk into a future filled with possibility.
"Excellent. These people… they are the future of Great Yi."
Yi Tianxing nodded silently to himself.
Among the newcomers were all professions—merchants, soldiers, farmers, doctors, commoners.What surprised him most was the appearance of a massive group of scholars—nearly hundreds of thousands.
After asking around, he discovered they had come from a Confucian Dream Realm, where everyone studied literature from a young age.There, being a scholar was the highest honor, and cultivating through literary qi (才气) was the norm.
Even children could read and learn.
Such people were valuable assets to Great Yi. They could preserve culture, become pillars of society, and even govern cities.
"Talents—no amount is too much."
There were also many skilled artisans and craftsmen—not all were experts, but given time, their efforts would bear fruit.
And then…He spotted an entire brothel of flamboyantly dressed women walk into the gate.
Yi Tianxing's mouth twitched.Upon asking, he learned that an entire red-light house had fallen into the Nightmare World.
"Well… they're still women. They can marry and bear children."
And so, it became clear just how powerful the pull of the sanctuary was.
Every day, hundreds of thousands to over a million people would arrive.Entire armies followed suit.
One such army, wearing yellow scarves, entered alongside a group of civilians.Their general piqued Yi Tianxing's interest—but he didn't act.Now that they'd entered, they were his.
The sanctuary's policy was simple:
Accept everyone.
Even if spies were among them—once inside the pagoda world, there was no leaving.
Nearly half a month passed.
Suddenly, the Nightmare Token Yi Tianxing had received began to glow—forming a seven-colored heavenly gate.
A vast, invisible pressure spread from it.
"The Nightmare Holy City... finally time to visit."
Yi Tianxing smiled faintly and stepped through—but what entered was only his avatar.
His main body remained the Nightmare Tree, secretly absorbing power and expanding the tower's origin.
"So this… is the Nightmare Holy City," Yi Tianxing murmured in awe.
Shrouded in mist, the entire city was hidden—its full appearance unseeable.
He stood on a massive platform, large enough to hold tens of thousands without feeling cramped. Words couldn't describe its immensity.
"Heh heh, trying to see the whole city? Keep dreaming."
A sharp-eyed man stepped forward with a grin.
"Since the Nightmare Holy City appeared, no one has ever fully seen it.They say the city is infinite in size. Whether it's true, who knows?Many zones are hidden in dream mist (蜃雾)—even eye techniques can't pierce it.Only areas without mist can be entered.Step into the mist… and you'll never return."
The man looked shrewd and confident.
"Hello there. I'm a broker in the Nightmare Holy City.There's nothing in this city I don't know.If you need something—anything—come to me.As long as you've got Nightmare Coins, nothing's impossible."
"You can call me... Thousand Faces (千面)."
Yi Tianxing smiled in return.
"I'm Yi Tian.Fellow Daoist Thousand Faces, your knowledge is admirable.Why don't you tell me the basics of this city?With that foundation, perhaps we can do some business."
He knew the value of such a guide—having one would save a tremendous amount of time.