Outside the Celestial City, vast spiritual farmlands had been cultivated, filled with spiritual grains, plants, herbs, and vegetables. Countless scarecrows roamed the fields, watering, fertilizing, driving away pests and vicious birds with effortless ease. Everywhere, the fields shimmered with the promise of a bountiful harvest.
And with it came the joy of prosperity—a joy that could touch every heart.
Within the cities, the newly integrated citizens of Great Yi had already fully adapted to their new lives. Each morning, they could choose to cultivate, farm, or study a craft—slowly honing a skill of their own. Many joined the Hunter Hall, venturing into the wilds to undertake missions.
Life was now fulfilling and vibrant.
In this environment, dreams—even those once long abandoned—could now be pursued. With passions aligned to their talents, many began to dive deeply into their chosen disciplines, studying diligently.
As a result, brilliance blossomed throughout Great Yi. Like a hundred schools of thought competing in the Warring States era, wisdom flourished.
Once adapted, these people burst forth with vitality—a zeal for life and for the future. Many felt their strength growing, their bodies transforming, their spirits elevating. To become a cultivator… was to undergo a metamorphosis.
During the day, they could be tempered by the Sun True Fire from the Eye of the Sun, strengthening their bodies.At night, the Moonlight Essence from the Eye of the Moon refined their souls.
For many, this was nothing short of a paradise.
They had tasted weakness. Now, they treasured strength—and they cherished every opportunity to grow.
Two proverbs spread widely in Great Yi:
"As Heaven moves with force, so too must the human race strive relentlessly."
"If one does not act for oneself, even the heavens and earth will annihilate you."
These weren't just slogans. They were sacred truths, etched into the hearts of every citizen from the moment they could reason.
One must strive to become stronger.Those who didn't—even heaven would abandon them.There was no one else to blame.
So they trained.They studied the language and customs of Great Yi.They explored the wilderness, mapping and investigating surrounding lands.
Every day brought new discoveries.
Each Celestial City saw the rise of markets, inns, and shops.Anyone with a craft either opened a street stall, set up a store, or enrolled in academies to further their trade.
Even farming required learning—
How to fertilize, plant, drive off pests, and cultivate spirit plants.These teachings came from the Peasant Houses, who held the knowledge.
In just a few months, the newcomers had fully embraced Great Yi.They saw themselves not as outsiders, but as Yi people—and took pride in it.
Many had gotten married, started families, or even conceived children.Great Yi actively encouraged childbirth, recognizing the need for roots, for belonging.
And what is root, if not home? If not descendants?
The longer they stayed, the more their loyalty to Great Yi grew.
Now, if you asked them to leave?They would rather die.
This was especially true for natives of the Four Newly Conquered Realms, who knew just how vast the difference was between chaos and Great Yi's order.
The Celestial Cities were transforming, becoming more prosperous than ever.
Each now boasted a rich tapestry of shops, talents, and specialties in alchemy and artifact forging.
Their unique goods attracted merchants and cultivators from other cities.
Trade flourished.
As commerce surged, so did Great Yi's national fortune.
Within months, the damage to the True Dragon of Fate—from the earlier Fengshen ritual—was fully repaired. It now measured 2,800 zhang in length.
This explosive growth came directly from the rapid development of the four new realms.
Later, once things stabilized, this growth would slow and steady.
But Great Yi's fortune came from more than territory.
The Eternal Coins played a critical role.
They enabled constant currency circulation, and as long as they flowed, so did the tides of fate.
Without them, the Fate Dragon could never have reached such a size.
These months had been a time of recuperation and acceleration for Great Yi.
The Iron-Blooded Great Wall ensured no external threats could break through.
The Five Realms remained peaceful.
Even the native beast races had tucked their heads between their wings, not daring to show themselves.
Only a fool would step out now—and lose their head.
In such a stable environment, development was inevitable.
Meanwhile, the agents of the Calamity Hall had already infiltrated the surrounding Eight Realms, gathering intelligence.
They fed this data into the Heaven Strategy Palace, where skilled strategists analyzed and compiled it.
Though Great Yi had not yet attacked the Eight Realms,it did not mean it was idle.
"In war, intelligence comes first."
The royal court remained fully alert and in motion.
The recent wave of titles and noble ranks had stirred every official to action.
Now, when ministers walked the streets, their noble seals at their belts,the common folk looked at them differently—with awe and admiration.
That feeling… was intoxicating.
They weren't arrogant—but none wished to lose such honor.
Desire pushes people forward.
In the Sacred King's Palace...
Yi Tianxing looked toward the cosmic cube Cloud Realm.
Within this vast space, domain gates shimmered.
At the plaza before the gates, merchant caravans were preparing to depart, their wagons laden with goods.
At their head stood the imperial merchants: Shen Wansan, Deng Tong, Wu Bingjian, Hu Xueyan...
Each had organized their assets and begun inter-realm trade.
Deng Tong stepped into the Desert Realm.
Shen Wansan entered the Dark Realm.
Wu Bingjian moved toward the Savage Realm.
Hu Xueyan went to the Zhenwu Realm, home of Yao Yue and her sisters.
According to them, the Zhenwu Realm was composed of merged low-martial worlds during the Myriad Worlds' fusion.
It now hosted countless sects and clans—
Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Emei, martial families, river and lake societies… too many to count.
In the Zhenwu Realm, the path of martial arts had advanced significantly.
Martial arts had undergone transformation under the world's new laws.
Even techniques like the Sunflower Manual, practiced by the Sunflower Ancestor, could now produce terrifying strength.
The modified techniques had become high-grade cultivation methods.
These sects were bursting with potential—their ancient legacies ready to bloom.
They didn't lack heritage—only opportunity.
Now, with no barriers, these sects could give rise to top-tier powerhouses.
The true intent of martial arts—when cultivated to the extreme—was no less terrifying than divine powers.
A sword to break ten thousand spells.A blade to sever mountains and rivers.
This was no fantasy—it was reality.
Though the martial sects were strong,they still groped their way forward like blind men crossing a stream.
Each power supported its own civilians, often alongside secular kingdoms.
Many sects had strength rivaling immortal sects.
Given time, they could produce mighty cultivators.
According to Yao Yue, there were even rumors of Dugu Qiubai in the realm.
Not as a lone wanderer—but as a man who had taken a wife, had children, and founded a clan.
Whether it was true or not, no one could say.
After joining Great Yi, Yao Yue and the others had never returned, and had no idea what had become of Moving Flower Palace.
Zhenwu Realm...
In the wilderness, on a flat clearing, a mysterious ancient gate suddenly appeared—its shape rapidly stabilizing into solid form.
In a flash of light, a caravan stepped through.
These were no ordinary wagons.
Nor were the horses true horses.
They were puppet horses—forged through mechanical arts.
Powered by Eternal Coins, they could run endlessly.
So long as the coins lasted, they obeyed every command, fast and flexible.
These horses were called Undying Iron Horses in Great Yi.
Above them were Undying Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Jade Horses.
Each tier used different materials.
The Iron Horses were forged from a rare composite treasure metal: Phoenix-Cry Blackiron (凤鸣玄铁).
It was a top-grade Yellow-tier material.
Though only Yellow-tier, it had two powerful traits:
Extreme hardness,
and self-repair—a phoenix-like rebirth.
Though the healing wasn't fast, and required materials to restore major damage, it made these steeds ideal for durable, long-lasting constructs.
Even Yellow-grade divine weapons couldn't harm them.
Even Profound-grade artifacts struggled to break them.
As such, Phoenix-Cry Blackiron was highly prized, and often used for war machines and mechanical beasts.
The Undying Iron Horses forged from it—
Could run across realms without fear.