In the Shushan region, a portion of the civilians formerly under the sects were directly relocated into the newly established cities. After all, under sect rule, the blood and spirit of the common folk had been nearly worn away — their backbone eroded. Transitioning into a new environment helped reignite the human race's vitality, as if granting them a second life. Right now, the civilians from Shushan felt joy and excitement welling up in their hearts, naturally dispelling their former cowardice and submissiveness, replacing them with a newfound yearning and hope.
"So this is the Heavenly Star Wristwatch. They say owning one means we can connect to the Great Yi Star Network — it's like a second world. Inside, we can communicate, play games, enjoy entertainment. There's all kinds of features — too many to count. I even heard the government's going to distribute supplies and food to us soon. Food that lets you eat three full meals a day — and always enough!"
Someone said excitedly.
When becoming a citizen of Great Yi, two items were always issued. One was the Heavenly Register Card — signifying your identity. The other was the Heavenly Star Wristwatch. The first watch was provided free of charge, a benefit given to all citizens. Of course, if you damaged it yourself, you'd have to buy a replacement.
Additionally, survival supplies and rations were issued — enough to sustain a person for one full year.
The food provided was ordinary grain, not spirit rice. However, it was sufficient to guarantee three meals a day. One full year's worth — definitely not a meager amount.
And Great Yi only issued one year's supply.
That one year was meant to help new citizens get used to Great Yi's laws and lifestyle.
In that year, as long as one was willing to work, they could grow enough crops for the following year. They could cultivate, become a cultivator, or learn one of the myriad immortal crafts — picking up a trade to make a living by their own hands.
Barring special circumstances, after the first year, the state would no longer distribute food or supplies.
This was to avoid encouraging laziness or dependency.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be a good thing in the long run.
Now, the faces of the relocated people were filled with excitement.
Back then, when did they ever get three meals a day? Even among wealthier families, two meals a day was standard. For most people, two meager meals that barely filled the belly were normal — a bitter life. Compared to that, today was like a dream.
"The Sacred Court of Great Yi! This is really the Great Yi Sacred Court! Weren't we just in the Nightmare Holy Land? This is incredible!"
"Good, good, good! Great Yi is amazing! We're now in the Eternal World, not the Nightmare World. This is just fantastic. Finally, we're free from that terrifying place — no more fearing if we'll wake up tomorrow after falling asleep today. This is how a person should live!"
"This is wonderful. We have identity now. We are citizens of Great Yi — Yi People!"
Those who had escaped from the Nightmare World felt even more dazed and stunned. They never imagined that what they thought was still the Nightmare Holy Land had, in a blink, become the Sacred Court of Great Yi. It overturned everything they believed.
What followed was unbridled joy.
To survive in the Sacred Court of Great Yi was a thousand times better than the Nightmare World.
No one wanted to die for no reason.
Naturally, a deep sense of identification with Great Yi emerged from their hearts. After all, the name "Sacred Court of Great Yi" was not unfamiliar even in the Nightmare World.
It was the ultimate sanctuary that every member of the human race dreamed of.
"Heh heh! So this is a Celestial City of Great Yi? Incredible! I can't believe we get to join and become Great Yi citizens! This place is so much livelier than where we used to live!"
"I want delicious bread, cheese, and beef. Oh right, we should open a shop. Our bread is seriously good!"
You could see within the city a group of short-statured beings, most around 1.3 to 1.4 meters tall. Their clothing was primarily green and yellow — bright and vibrant. Their faces were full of delight.
These were clearly hobbits.
As humanoid beings, hobbits weren't too different from humans in appearance — except their soles were padded and covered with brown fur, protecting their feet and enabling faster movement. They could be regarded as a sub-race of humanity.
After the Rings Realm signed a treaty with Great Yi, its various kingdoms joined the Sacred Court. Non-human races gained qualifications to enter Celestial Cities as well. Those that were considered branches of humanity — like hobbits or other ethnic groups — also chose to become part of Great Yi.
Their inclusion brought new diversity to the Celestial Cities of Great Yi.
Thanks to Great Yi's "all rivers run to the sea" philosophy, the people welcomed these differences rather than rejecting them. Instead, they found the exotic elements refreshing and intriguing. Their arrival infused the realm with new flavors and cultures.
Within the Celestial Cities, capable individuals quickly began opening shops and restaurants.
The people of Great Yi had long since become savvy. In many of the well-developed Celestial Cities that had thrived for decades, ambitious citizens would eagerly apply for migration once they heard a new city was established. While they may have gone unnoticed in their old cities, in a brand-new one, they became veterans — experienced pioneers who seized the best opportunities without hesitation.
Shops, restaurants, even street stalls popped up rapidly.
Every kind of business imaginable appeared.
Though they may have failed to rise in their former cities, here they were the ones riding the wave. Even a pig could fly in this situation. With shops and a wide-open market, failing to make money would mean you were an idiot.
So with each new city's construction, many who had struggled in their previous lives seized the chance to gamble for a better future.
Of course, they weren't without competition.
In cities within the Rings Realm, many elves could be seen — and they too opened stores.
Their shops sold unique elven goods: elven water, nature dew, exotic herbs, spirit fruits and vegetables, and rare spirit honey — a truly distinct lineup of goods.
Not just elves — dwarves opened blacksmith shops to forge divine weapons.
Wizards set up apothecaries and alchemy stores.
These were benefits given after pledging allegiance to Great Yi. Their tribes were allowed to open businesses and reside within the Celestial Cities. However, outside these exceptions, regular tribe members could only stay up to ten days in the city — unless they married a Great Yi citizen, in which case they could gain permanent residency and full citizenship.
All in all, the Celestial Cities in the Rings Realm were bustling.
Great Yi did not lack population. People flowed continuously from the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Pagoda.
Very quickly, you could see cities rise from nothing — becoming lively and prosperous.
Likewise, in the Shushan region, more cities emerged across the land. All the humans who once lived scattered across villages and towns were now integrated into Celestial Cities. Many new cities appeared right beside former sects — even at the foot of their mountains.
"What a magnificent Celestial City. What a magnificent Sacred Court. No wonder Great Yi became the number one sacred realm under Heaven. Unbelievable. Not only do they have a vast population, but they can relocate people with such astonishing speed. The amount of supplies is simply immeasurable."
On Mount Wutai...
Several grandmasters, all bearing the "Zun" honorific, stood at the summit, gazing at a Great Yi Celestial City at the mountain's base. The immense city was impossible to miss.
They had personally entered and explored the city. The more they observed, the more unfathomable Great Yi seemed. A brand-new city — yet within mere days, it had already restored its bustling vitality. That prosperity wasn't just about headcount — it was a matter of spirit. Every citizen was now a cultivator, possessing cultivation within their body. All had stepped onto the path of cultivation.
Even if just at the beginning, it still marked the divide between mortal and cultivator.
Once a person began cultivating, their entire demeanor and aura transformed. The grandmasters could clearly see that those who used to be timid and submissive under the sects were now spirited and bright-eyed in the Celestial Cities. None of them would want to return to their former lives.
Moreover, the city now had a Hunter Hall. Many bounty hunters began heading out to explore the surroundings. Even the weakest of them were at the Life Aperture Realm. Stronger ones had reached the Nascent Soul level.
Resources in the city were beyond imagining — food, goods, drinks, clothing — all abundant and diverse. It dazzled the senses.
There were theaters for performances, where storytellers recited legendary tales and histories.
Some had opened hot spring resorts — where soaking could relieve fatigue and even enhance one's cultivation and mana. Of course, not just anyone could build such a resort; they required a natural hot spring source, which was hard to come by.
There were also restaurants hiring master chefs — not only was the food delicious, some of it even glowed with spiritual light.
Shops sold cloud-silk and mist-silk garments, tailored by fashion designers.
The current popular clothing trend in Great Yi resembled ancient uniforms from TV dramas set in the Tang Dynasty — garments with collars and long flowing coats like windbreakers, but with far greater style and elegance. They enhanced the figure and exuded grace and poise — pleasing to the eye.
Wearing such clothing, one's whole spirit and demeanor would immediately change.