This question was even more difficult to answer.
It touched on matters far too vast, encompassing countless variables. At this point, anything said might well be mere idle speculation. If one's answer proved impractical, it would undoubtedly leave an impression on the future Lord as someone who merely spouted empty rhetoric. But if answered well, it would bring recognition and value to one's status and talent.
"The world has undergone a great transformation," the scholarly man with a pale face was the first to speak. "It's now completely different from the one everyone once knew. All the civilizations and dynasties of mankind have perished. With the fusion of the myriad realms, not only have we gained an endless, boundless world—but also countless vicious beasts and monsters, and innumerable foreign races. Humanity has become just one among the many races on the Eternal Continent."
"Although the Heavenly Dao restricts those mighty beings from interfering in the slaughter and struggle of lesser races, we humans, weak in body, were caught off guard by the upheaval. Compared to those savage alien races and monsters, we naturally became their prey—slaughtered and devoured. This calamity has placed humanity at odds with most foreign races. Our situation is dire, and the future will be incredibly difficult. This is a time of chaos. One that may last decades, centuries, or even longer—until the dust settles, territories are divided, and things begin to stabilize."
In his view, this was a chaotic era—like chickens, ducks, and dogs thrown into a cage, unable to coexist peacefully until they've fought and torn each other apart.
The Eternal Continent was now engulfed in chaos.
A time of mutual slaughter and endless war. Every day, billions of lives fell. This was a brutal reshuffling of power—inevitable and inescapable, especially for humanity.
It was cruel. It was bloody. It was a time where the strong survived and the weak were erased.
"The current state of the world is something no one can fully grasp," said the middle-aged man surnamed Jia, his expression calm. "Even glimpsing a corner of this vast world is like peering through fog. There are no rules to the grand trends of the world now. It is a time of free competition among all things under heaven. All races battle for dominance, crushing one another. The strong survive, the weak perish. Every race has a chance to rise to supremacy."
"As Brother Wu said, this is a chaotic era—a time where great trends cannot be seen. But I believe that the true trend... lies within oneself."
The middle-aged man surnamed Jia continued confidently, "As long as one is strong, the world's great tides will naturally converge upon them. The so-called trend of the world is nothing more than conflict: struggling with beasts and monsters for life, with other races for fortune. If you control fate and fortune, the tides of the world will surge toward you. In times of chaos, if you are strong and one step ahead—you will always stay ahead. Among the thousands of koi fighting to leap the Dragon Gate, the one who succeeds stands alone at the top. Foundation is vital. Population is fundamental."
The great trend of the world... is chaos.
In chaos, the strong reign and the weak become prey—the purest jungle law. Survival of the fittest. Nothing more.
This time, with the fusion of the myriad realms into the Eternal Continent, there is no protagonist. Everything depends on personal strength. If you're strong, you are the protagonist. This is an era of heroes rising and geniuses contending.
"To see through the truth of this new world... neither of these men is ordinary," Yi Tianxing nodded to himself, impressed. "Their insight and intellect are far beyond the average."
He had only brought up the question of the world's tides casually, to see whether they had true talent or just talked big. If they couldn't even recognize the current situation, then their talents would be limited. But these two had proven themselves.
The pale-faced scholar's view was spot-on, and the man surnamed Jia saw even deeper.
"To remain sober when others are drunk—that is the mark of top-tier talent," Yi Tianxing thought. "What is your esteemed name, gentlemen?" he asked with a smile.
"My surname is Wu. Single name, Yong (用)," the pale scholar said with a faint smile.
"My surname is Jia. Single name Xu (诩), courtesy name Wenhe," said the middle-aged man calmly.
Wu Yong and Jia Xu.
Yi Tianxing's heart tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. These names were legendary. Neither was a simple character.
Wu Yong, known as the Resourceful Star from Water Margin, was the top military strategist of Liangshan Marsh.
He was deeply educated, versed in both civil and military arts, and often compared himself to Zhuge Liang. Known as "Mr. Lighting the Way," he served as a tutor in a wealthy household and had a handsome, scholarly appearance with a white beard. Proficient with twin bronze chains, he was childhood friends with Chao Gai. Together, they planned and executed the theft of a massive birthday tribute from Liang Zhongshu, meant for Cai Jing. Pursued by officials, they fled to Liangshan, where he became the chief strategist, overseeing nearly all military operations.
It was thanks to Wu Yong that Liangshan grew strong enough to threaten the Song Dynasty. Without him, a group of mere warriors would never have achieved that scale. His intelligence and foresight were top-tier—but his downfall lay in following a leader who wasn't fit to rule.
Still, his talents were undeniable, his strategies of the highest order.
But Jia Xu was even more formidable. One of the most elite strategists of the late Han and Three Kingdoms era, known for his brilliance and ruthless schemes.
When the eighteen warlords allied against Dong Zhuo, it was Jia Xu who proposed issuing forged imperial edicts to reshuffle all the warlords' fiefdoms—moving some from Bing Province to You Province, and others to Xu Province. These orders threw the realm into chaos, setting the warlords against each other. The move devastated the Han Dynasty's last bit of unity, plunging the world into even deeper disorder.
He knew full well what such a scheme would cause—yet proposed it anyway. This showed that when Jia Xu devised a plan, he cared not for consequences. And yet, of all the great strategists of his era, Jia Xu had one of the best endings, a testament to his incredible intelligence—both strategic and emotional.
Yi Tianxing had never imagined that these two legendary figures would show up now.
Joy surged within him like a tide.
He had long felt that Xuanhuang Town lacked top-tier strategists. Now, after this great battle, such astounding talents had come knocking—and of their own accord. It almost felt like a dream.
"So it was Mr. Wu and Mr. Jia. If I've offended you in any way, please forgive me," Yi Tianxing quickly said, his smile warm and sincere.
"Not at all," Jia Xu replied calmly. "Right now, I'm merely a man looking to earn a modest official post in Xuanhuang Town. I hope the rumors of me being a venomous schemer won't scare you away from accepting me."
His expression remained steady, unfazed by praise or criticism.
"History is history," Yi Tianxing replied without hesitation. "With the fusion of the myriad realms, all beings have been granted a new life. No matter what came before, this world offers a fresh start. The past is not a shackle—the future belongs to all of us, to every person and every race on the Eternal Continent. Even the name 'venomous strategist' is a form of praise. Here, you can choose your own path."
Yi Tianxing didn't care in the slightest.
He had even accepted someone like Cao Zhengchun—so why would he fear Jia Xu? Reputation meant little. Only the weak feared being outshone by their subordinates.
"If I may ask, Mr. Jia—why choose Xuanhuang Town and me?" Yi Tianxing looked directly into his calm eyes.
"Because within ten thousand miles, only Xuanhuang Town has the potential to rise as a sanctuary for humanity, to offer hope," Jia Xu said plainly. "Many human villages exist in this area, but only Xuanhuang has grown rapidly into a town. Its foundations, compared to others, are far superior. Its fortune is tremendous. Its strength exceptional. It's the most likely to withstand the invasion of foreign races and beasts—and to become a regional power."
His words were candid and unvarnished. He made no attempt to conceal his motivations. Without that potential, he would never have chosen to serve here.
Yi Tianxing didn't mind at all. If he didn't have the strength and fortune to attract such talents, how could he hope to gather them?
After all—no phoenix comes without a parasol tree. That's just how it is.
"If I may ask bluntly—with your talent and ability, surely you would have no trouble acquiring a Village Creation Token. Why not start your own village and become a leader in your own right—carving out a safe haven for humanity yourself?" Yi Tianxing asked, visibly puzzled.
Given his fortune, Jia Xu would definitely have obtained such a token. Starting his own settlement, building power, sheltering the people, forging his own path—it should have been highly tempting. Just look at how many had already done so. Any capable person had lofty ambitions—why not him?