As the clone merged with the original, even the Heavenly Emperor Altar underwent a subtle yet profound evolution.
Each Life Aperture across Yi Tianxing's body became increasingly enriched. The density of the Law Pillars within him grew thicker and sturdier—not dramatically so, since Law Pillars were rooted in comprehension of the laws themselves, and both clone and original shared the same insights.
Still, the fusion greatly solidified his foundation. His Law Pillars, now refined and tempered, were on a level few could match within the same realm.
This was what it meant to strengthen one's core.
Moreover, new Life Apertures began emerging in his body—those that had been opened by the clone were now seamlessly inherited, with no additional cost. Clone and original had always been one, and their true spirit was singular.
"Stronger foundation, firmer realm, deeper roots—unshakable," Yi Tianxing whispered."The improvement in Dao cultivation and magic power will allow another transformation."
His true spirit was now perfectly fused with the Heavenly Emperor Altar. From this point onward, as long as the altar stood, his spirit would never perish.
It was time… to obtain his True Name.
Realm: Dao Platform – Altar, Longevity, Dao Manifestation
Each step of this realm was a major turning point.
Yi Tianxing had already condensed his Heavenly Emperor Altar. Now, the final step was to integrate his true spirit with it and awaken his True Name.
Once awakened, the True Name would be etched into the very fabric of the universe.Even in death, one could be reborn.
Now that the altar had reached completion, the breakthrough came naturally.
Within his Innate Ancestral Aperture, the Nine-Tiered Heavenly Emperor Altar loomed tall, suppressing the void with supreme authority. From its peak, a boundless will radiated—peerless, sovereign, and imperial.
Yi Tianxing's life-bound destiny chart, the Heavenly Emperor Dragon-Taming Diagram, suddenly rose into the air, tore through the void, and appeared atop the altar.
There, it began to fuse—layer by layer—into the altar.
The image became one with the structure: majestic landscapes, dragons soaring through clouds, sun and moon shining high above—it was as if the altar itself became a painting of the world under heaven.
This was perfect harmony.
At that moment, Yi Tianxing felt a shift—the veil between him and the laws of heaven and earth had thinned.
He understood everything more clearly now. The resonance with the Dao had deepened, and his Life Apertures vibrated with joy. His comprehension of the laws surged. His Aperture Source began to grow at an accelerated rate.
BOOM—!!
From within the altar, the Heavenly Emperor True Spirit Aspect stepped forth.
Wearing his battle dragon robe, he stood at the summit, surrounded by ten thousand prostrating dragons. Above his head, the Auspicious Cloud of Calamity Transcendence shone with a thousand golden lanterns. The pressure he exuded was vast and immeasurable.
The entire altar trembled beneath him, as though his feet had taken root there.They were now one—spirit and altar, essence and symbol.
At that instant, Yi Tianxing felt himself brush against the grand rivers of fate and time:
The River of Destiny
The River of Time and Space
The Nether River
The Six Paths of Reincarnation
Even a faint echo from these eternal forces made him feel insignificant.
These were eternal. Vast. Transcendent.Under their shadow, one could only look up in reverence.
And yet…
In this moment, he felt the right to be acknowledged.
He had reached the threshold.He would be remembered by the cosmos.
"I am Yi Tianxing, Lord of the Great Yi Dynasty…"
He spoke these words softly, but within them was a profound resonance.
At once, a mystical character—Yi (易)—etched itself into every one of those cosmic rivers. Into time, reincarnation, fate, and the Dao itself.
This was not merely a name.
This was a True Name.
A name not only heard, but known by the very laws of existence.
True Names weren't superficial. Each contained deep truths. When one spoke their True Name, they also declared their Dao, their essence, their purpose.
The True Name is the Dao.
Without grasping its meaning, you could never control it.
In ancient legend, powerful demons and devils were born with their own True Names. If another being learned that name, they could exert absolute control—life and death would lie in their hands.
That's why these beings guarded their True Names fiercely.
Cultivators were the same. Knowing the surface of a True Name wasn't dangerous, but speaking it with its original cadence could have consequences.
And the deeper one's cultivation, the more complex the rhythm and structure of the name.
Yi Tianxing's full True Name could not be conveyed in just seven characters. It was wrapped in layers of Dao, intent, and essence.
The character Yi (易) was the core—the root of all meaning.
To unravel its mystery would take monumental effort, and even then, few could succeed.
Now, the character Yi appeared within the altar—changing constantly, full of shifting script and boundless permutations. It pulsed with power.
This was the center of the True Name.A direct link to his Dao, his soul, his immortality.
"So this is the power of the True Name… the first stage of Longevity. Truly profound.
""From now on, even if I were to perish, my altar could allow me to return. As long as the True Name endures—I live."
Yi Tianxing could feel it. His true spirit had ascended.
He now had a true foundation. No longer uncertain, no longer hollow.
This was immortality of another kind.
He could now sense anyone who spoke his name. Through subtle ripples in the universe, he could hear them, even from worlds away.
This was the power of a true Mighty One.
Even across realms, when someone cried his name, he could follow the thread, focus his awareness, and see them.
He could respond. He could bless. He could punish.
These were natural powers granted by the True Name.
But this was only the first step.
Next came the most crucial: Dao Manifestation.
To manifest one's Dao—to define it with clarity—was irreversible.Once chosen, it could not be changed.
Either your Dao succeeded, and you ascended to the peak…Or it collapsed, and you fell into oblivion.
It was a path of no return.
"I've already gained longevity. There's no need to rush."
"I'll take my time. Hone what I've gained."
Yi Tianxing chose restraint. His journey through the Nightmare World had prepared him well. There was no need to push recklessly into the next phase.
"Issue my decree. We hold court tomorrow."
Yi Tianxing exited seclusion at once.
Now, it was time to learn about Great Yi's current expansion across the Four Major Realms.
The Imperial Court, Xuanhuang City – Saint King's Palace
In the Hall of Heaven's Mandate, awe-inspiring pressure filled the air. The architecture radiated majesty and dignity, enough to leave any visitor breathless.
The court officials filed in, taking their positions on either side of the throne.
At the head, Yi Tianxing and Cai Yan sat side by side—Dragon and Phoenix Thrones unified.
"We greet the Saint King! May your divine reign be eternal! May your blessings never cease!"
"We greet the Saint Queen! May your youth be everlasting!"
Their voices echoed sincerely through the hall.
There was no false flattery here. The loyalty of Great Yi's ministers ran deep. They knew they were part of something greater than themselves.
To be part of the Sacred Court was a blessing—a dream made real. Their confidence, their pride, only continued to rise.
"Be seated, my loyal ministers," Yi Tianxing nodded gently.
"Thank you, Saint King."
"While I was in seclusion," Yi Tianxing began, "I could not follow our progress. Tell me—how fares our campaign across the Four Realms?"
"Speak freely."
He looked down from the throne, heart filled with pride.
These were his people—his backbone.
Without them, Great Yi would not be what it was.
Zhuge Liang stepped forward.
"Reporting to the Saint King—our campaign in the Bohai Realm is nearly complete."
"We've conquered two-thirds of the region already. With full mobilization, we can seize the rest in three months."
"And if we had a matching population supply, we could accelerate even faster."
His words brimmed with confidence.
The Bohai Realm was no match for Great Yi—not in strength, not in unity.
The Sacred Court was a cohesive empire.Bohai was scattered sand.
Victory was only a matter of time.