"Moreover, I fear we might be inviting a wolf into the house. If Da Yi defeats Sauron, they might not leave as promised. Our Lord of the Rings realm could become part of Da Yi's territory," Aragorn said with a worried expression.
This kind of scenario was not uncommon — there were countless examples in history. In the face of absolute interests, so-called alliances often meant nothing.
"Your Highness needn't overthink it. The Dark Lord seeks to destroy all life in the Lord of the Rings realm, turning it into a demonic domain. His path is one of destruction, leaving nothing but ruin. Even if Da Yi occupies our realm, it would still be a thousand times better than Sauron doing it," Gandalf shook his head and said.
After Da Yi had fully taken over the Bohai realm, the Lord of the Rings realm had naturally heard of it. They were well aware that Da Yi's territory was now adjacent to theirs. Thus, it was impossible not to have some defenses in place or worry about Da Yi launching an invasion.
But with the sudden offensive from the Dark Lord, they had to weigh the situation.
And clearly — between the two — the right choice was obvious.
They would rather hand over their realm to Da Yi than let it fall into Sauron's hands.
If Da Yi took over, there was still hope for gain. The titles and noble rankings of Da Yi were widely known across the realms. Many had heard the tales — such as how the Celestial Dragon Emperor was treated after joining Da Yi — the stories had spread far and wide. He was still alive, living freely in Xuanhuang Immortal City, enjoying great wealth and honor.
Even under Da Yi's rule, they wouldn't necessarily be killed. Instead, there might be opportunities to integrate into Da Yi, even earn noble titles and become honored.
Between the two choices, the wisest was clear.
"It's said that the Dark Lord Sauron has already advanced to the Dao Platform realm, and he has condensed a Dark Altar. Using the power of the altar, he sacrifices all living beings to create a demonic domain. Once one reaches the Dao Platform level, it's no longer easy to kill them. I don't know if Da Yi has someone strong enough to fight him. If not, and they hear that Sauron has reached the Dao Platform level, Da Yi might hesitate to get involved," Aragorn said, concern in his voice.
What worried them most was Sauron's cultivation.
The stronger his realm, the harder he would be to kill. Once someone reached the Dao-seeking level, they were almost immortal. Not even the heavens or the earth could bury them.
"It's said the Sacred King of Da Yi once fought in the Divine-Demon Battlefield twice and even charged into the Eternal Night Battlefield. His cultivation is unfathomable. Based on what he has previously shown, he had already reached the True Spirit realm. With his monstrous talent, he may have already broken into the Dao Platform. Not to mention, he can fight across realms. Sauron's talent can't possibly surpass his. As long as we reach Da Yi and convince them, Sauron's threat will surely be eliminated," Gandalf said decisively.
"Indeed. According to our king's judgment, Da Yi has probably already set its sights on the Lord of the Rings realm. Based on Da Yi's past actions, they never stop expanding. Rather than letting our realm fall into Sauron's hands, it's better to hand it to Da Yi. At least there, we might still find a place to live," said a handsome elf prince walking over.
"Legolas, Da Yi is a human dynasty. What do your elf clans intend to do?" Aragorn asked curiously.
"That's not for me to worry about. Others will handle that. We're just here on a diplomatic mission — success isn't guaranteed. Still, I've heard that there are already elf tribes living within Da Yi. After entering, I plan to contact them. That'll help with planning future steps," Legolas replied calmly.
"Heh, sounds like the same idea we dwarves have. I've heard our dwarf brethren in Da Yi hold real positions and status — famous blacksmiths with endless materials to work with and unlimited fine ale to drink. That's the dream life right there," Gimli said, laughing, hugging his wineskin and taking a big swig. His eyes were full of longing.
According to rumors, Da Yi had endless wine and countless exquisite weapons. Just imagining that scene made one drool. He couldn't help but envy his dwarf kin who had already joined Da Yi.
Before they realized it, the warship had broken through the boundary river and entered the Bohai Realm.
ROAR!!
Just as the warship appeared, a massive suction force surged from the sea. Seawater spun wildly, forming a gigantic whirlpool. The warship was pulled straight into its depths.
"What is that?"
"Not good! A powerful sea beast!"
"It's a Dragon Whale! There's a giant Dragon Whale under the sea!"
Cries of alarm rang out across the ship.
It was said that Dragon Whales carried the bloodline of dragons. Covered in dragon scales, they possessed terrifying powers. In the ocean, they were incredibly strong. With a single gulp, they could devour countless beings. Their vitality and destructive power were monstrous. In the sea, they were apex predators.
BANG!!
Gandalf slammed his staff into the deck and began chanting ancient incantations. Invisible magical forces surged toward the sea. The gigantic whirlpool began to collapse under the invisible power.
Suddenly, the ocean surged violently. With a deafening roar, a massive Dragon Whale, at least a thousand meters long, burst from the water.
Fierce and terrifying, the whale roared and lunged, opening its mouth wide to swallow the entire warship — and everyone on board. The scene unfolded so fast that no one had time to react. The ship was swallowed whole.
"No! We're being eaten!"
"Attack! Stop the Dragon Whale!"
Aragorn and the others shouted, their auras flaring and combat energy igniting. But it was too late — the Dragon Whale had already devoured the ship in one gulp and dove back into the sea.
Moments later, the surface exploded as the Dragon Whale leapt up again — and from its belly, the warship burst out, wreathed in blood. The whale let out a mournful cry and collapsed, blood dyeing the sea red.
On the ship's bow stood Gandalf, holding a longsword dripping with blood. The blade gleamed silver as he casually flicked it, then slotted it back into his staff — returning to his previous calm and graceful demeanor.
"Go. Keep moving."
Gandalf gave the order.
The warship, undeterred, continued its voyage. The whale's corpse was retrieved and stored. This ship wasn't ordinary — it was forged entirely from enchanted mithril and enchanted metal, inscribed with runes and loaded with magical wards. It wasn't just seaworthy and airborne, it was also immensely durable and armed. The Dragon Whale thought to swallow it — it was lucky to not end up with indigestion.
The sea was never calm. Countless dangers lurked beneath.
As the envoy mission continued, all sorts of sea beasts and monstrous birds attacked — yet all were repelled and slain.
Eventually, as they neared a certain area, a strange spatial force filled the surroundings. Suddenly, a towering wall emerged from the void — so massive it looked like a mountain range blocking their way.
The wall was blood-red, exuding a fierce aura of war and death — a terrifying killing field. The mere sight of it evoked visions of corpses, blood, and endless battles.
"The Iron-Blood Great Wall!!"
"Da Yi's Iron-Blood Great Wall!"
Everyone on the ship gasped in awe. This defensive wonder was known across the realms — but witnessing it with their own eyes was something else entirely.
"Stop! This is the sacred territory of Da Yi. No outsiders may enter without permission!"
From atop the wall, a soldier stepped out from a fortress and declared proudly. His voice held a strict tone.
One could sense from his aura that he was at the Dharma Form realm — the top tier of that level. He also had extremely strong physical cultivation. He could likely challenge Nascent Soul realm opponents directly.
This general's name was Liu Dawei, a veteran who had risen from Da Yi's common ranks. Through countless battles, he had earned his post — commander of a fortress, bearer of a noble title. Though only a seventh-rank baron, he and his family enjoyed the protection and blessings of Da Yi. He was loyal to the bone.
Vigilance was his duty, and he never slacked.
Seeing a warship arrive, he immediately stepped in to halt it. Recently, more and more ships had been arriving — some seeking asylum, some with unknown intentions. But this one was clearly extraordinary — its aura stronger than most.
"We are an envoy delegation from the Lord of the Rings realm, representing various allied nations. We seek an audience with the Sacred King of Da Yi. Here is our diplomatic credential."
Aragorn stepped forward and handed over the document.
Liu Dawei took it, scanned it, and saw the seal.
"The document is valid. You may proceed. I will assign someone to guide you to the nearest Da Yi Immortal City — Lone Goose City. There, you will be escorted via teleportation array to the National Guesthouse in the Sacred Capital. Wait there, and the Sacred King will grant you an audience."
He returned the document and bellowed, "Open the gate!"
A section of the Iron-Blood Great Wall began to shimmer and become intangible, revealing a massive opening for passage.
"Thank you, General."
Gandalf nodded respectfully.
The warship passed through the wall, entering Da Yi's territory. At the same time, a soldier boarded the ship to guide them forward.