The Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower.
Hongmeng represents the beginning of all things, the source of heaven and earth. It is the infinite, the boundless, the endless creation. Heavenly Emperor stands atop eternity, gazing down on all ancient times, defying immortals and gods, suppressing the heavens and the earth, and standing at the pinnacle of all existence, truly supreme.
Naming it the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower was an expression of his ambition and expectation for himself.
One day, when he became the Heavenly Emperor, the tower would be the true Heavenly Emperor Tower, suppressing the myriad realms. Even peerless prodigies would have to bow before it.
Ding!!
Inside his body, the tower stirred. Five ancient characters, "Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower," emerged and were inscribed onto the tower, concealed within its core. A formless pressure emanated outward before quickly receding. A crystalline, glass-like Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower forcefully suppressed his Divine Sea. His entire Divine Sea became as stable as a mountain. Auspicious mist swirled around the tower, and it seemed that chaotic energy flowed downward from the spirit pearl atop the tower.
The spirit pearl naturally absorbed the world's energy from the void, refining it inside into chaotic energy, which then infused into the tower's internal world, strengthening and expanding its foundation little by little. Though the rate was slow, it was steady and unceasing. Thanks to this, the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower no longer needed to draw true qi directly from his Divine Sea; instead, it absorbed the world's energy externally.
Moreover, the internal space within the tower grew even more stable.
All these transformations occurred after the spirit pearl fused into it—undeniably a positive change.
"This time, the World's First Martial Arts Tournament was an immense harvest. My strength and cultivation have greatly increased compared to just a few days ago. I could now easily crush my former self ten times over."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and slowly rose from his meditation cushion.
A hint of joy flashed across his brows.
Currently, his Immortal Dao cultivation had reached the sixth level of the Divine Sea Realm.His Body Refinement cultivation had reached Black Cauldron Seven Chimes, and he was only a step away from the eighth chime. His physical strength was terrifyingly close to eighty thousand jin.
Creak!!
He pushed open the door.
In the courtyard, a serene figure turned around at the sound. Upon seeing Yi Tianxing emerge from his seclusion, a look of joy bloomed on her face. She said, "Brother Yi, you're finally out of seclusion! That's wonderful! I'll have Chef Lai prepare you a meal."
The delight on Cai Yan's face was impossible to hide. She had expected his retreat to last much longer, but it had only been two days—a surprising and joyful outcome.
"No need. It's still early—morning has passed, but it's not yet noon. There's no need to trouble Lai He with a feast. Besides, I'm not really hungry at the moment," Yi Tianxing said with a smile as he gently took her jade-like hand. "After being secluded for two days, I don't know what's changed in town. Come, let's go take a look."
"Mm! In the past two days, many new people have arrived. Following the beacon, they've come pouring into our Xuanhuang Town. Every day, more citizens join. Jia Yucun has been smiling from ear to ear lately because of the registration work. Our town's population has exploded!"
Cai Yan smiled happily as she spoke.
Anyone would want to see their town grow more prosperous. Especially in these chaotic times, every new person strengthened their foundation.
Yi Tianxing felt pleased in his heart. He had anticipated this when building the lighthouse, but seeing the results firsthand still filled him with joy.
Outside the mansion, they strolled along the streets.
The streets were clean and orderly. Trash was gathered into specially made bins, which were then centrally processed. At the very least, the roads were tidy and free of foul smells, making walking around town a very comfortable experience.
"Mayor! Miss Cai!"
"The mayor's already out of seclusion? Judging by your aura, your cultivation must have risen again. That's wonderful! With Mayor Yi stronger, Xuanhuang Town will be even safer!"
"But Mayor Yi always says that he wants everyone to become a dragon among men. Only when everyone grows strong can we truly be safe and no longer oppressed by monsters or other threats."
As Yi Tianxing and Cai Yan walked along, the townspeople greeted them warmly, smiles lighting up their faces.
Their hearts were filled with a sense of security.
During the two days Yi Tianxing had been secluded, many had felt anxious. Now, seeing him walking among them again, it was as if a pillar had returned, instantly lifting everyone's spirits.
After he passed by, people murmured in the crowd:
"I'd heard that the mayor was young, but seeing him in person... to have established such a grand Xuanhuang Town at his age—truly remarkable."
"You're new here, huh? Back when Xuanhuang Town was just a tiny village, we were attacked by beasts constantly. Mayor Yi always fought at the front. Without him, we would've been nothing more than meat for monsters by now."
Those who had lived through the town's struggles understood how hard-won this peaceful life was—earned with blood and sacrifice. They would protect it with their lives.
Others chimed in emotionally:
"It was horrible in the wilderness. We lost people every day just trying to survive. If not for finding a cave to hole up in, we'd have died long ago. Even picking fruit was dangerous—so many poisonous plants, snakes, and insects. Death lurked everywhere."
Luckily, they had seen the beacon light of Xuanhuang Town in the night and rushed over. Upon learning about the town's conditions, most had joined without hesitation. Here, they could eat their fill, cultivate, and learn battle techniques—like living in a dream compared to their previous struggles.
Their gratitude to Yi Tianxing was immeasurable; many even spoke of setting up ancestral tablets at home to honor him.
As they walked through town, they saw many unfamiliar faces.
Yi Tianxing smiled and nodded at them all.
Without realizing it, they had reached the northern area of the town.
"Quick, Big Ox! Bring those logs over and make a signboard!"
"Er Gou, stop resting! Get the saw—we need to finish this house!"
"Make sure those stone slabs are packed tightly!"
Before them, the scene was bustling and lively.
A large group of craftsmen and townsfolk were laboring hard, erecting massive houses spaced widely apart, with broad stone-paved areas between them, polished smooth. Hu Bin was shouting orders.
"Master, you've finished your seclusion!"Huang Chengyan, standing to one side, saluted upon seeing Yi Tianxing.
"What's going on here?" Yi Tianxing asked curiously.
Huang Chengyan smiled and explained,"Master, with the lighthouse's guidance, many surviving humans have gathered here. In just two days, nearly ten thousand people have registered and settled in Xuanhuang Town. This is just the beginning—more villages will surely send people soon."
He continued,"Once they arrive, they'll want to trade, exchange information, and so on. Some villages may have unique products but lack other necessities. So we're building a market district here—large houses where multiple visitors can stay, plus open squares for trading. We'll establish currency and order, making Xuanhuang Town the true center for all nearby human settlements."
If successful, Xuanhuang Town would greatly benefit, becoming the undisputed hub of the entire region.
A safe market where villages could trade was invaluable.
"Excellent! Elder Huang, this is a brilliant move," Yi Tianxing said seriously."It's time to promote the Eternal Coins. But before launching them officially, we must carefully establish a value system. This is crucial."
The Eternal Coins weren't ordinary gold or silver. Their valuation couldn't follow worldly norms; it had to be redefined.
Especially since cultivators would use them too—basic goods couldn't cost multiple coins, or it would create chaos.
Proper planning now would ensure smooth, long-lasting circulation.
He thought: This is where Xue Jin's expertise would be critical. With his help, we'll establish a solid currency standard.