The fame of Xuanhuang Town spread far and wide after the great battle against the alien races. Survivors from many nearby villages carried word of its heroism, and soon the name resounded in every direction. At night, its towering beacon lit up the darkness, guiding a flood of refugees who still wandered the wilderness toward its welcoming walls.
Some had merely passed through nearby villages and, after hearing of Xuanhuang Town, bypassed those settlements entirely to head straight there.
Particularly, the emergence of the Iron-Blood Great Wall sent an invisible wave of deterrence across the region. Ferocious beasts and monstrous creatures began instinctively avoiding this area, as if sensing a hidden threat. This increased the common people's trust in the wall's protection. Every time they looked upon it, a deep, heartfelt respect surged within them.
This was a wall forged from the blood and bones of fallen heroes. Even in death, they had become its stones and bricks, forever protecting their people. That knowledge made many pause at night to gaze upon the wall silently, firming their desire for strength and their resolve to make humanity thrive.
"Let's go, hurry inside! I heard there's endless food in Xuanhuang Town. Everyone gets the chance to become a cultivator and a strong warrior!"
"Quick, get through the Yumen Pass! Beyond the Iron-Blood Great Wall lies our sanctuary, where we can finally settle down without the fear of being torn apart by beasts in our sleep."
With reverence, hope, and dreams of a better future, the refugees streamed through the Yumen Pass, catching sight of the towering city in the distance.
The soldiers atop the Iron-Blood Great Wall looked down upon the incoming wave with pride, standing taller and more vigilant, each one training harder, using every spare moment to strengthen their cultivation.
"Xuanhuang Town, the Iron-Blood Great Wall, the Yumen Pass... this wall is even grander than the one Qin Shi Huang built. No wonder they call this the strongest fortress within ten thousand miles. I can finally settle down here. No more thievery, no more grave robbing… I swear I didn't know it was Old Liu's ancestor I was digging up."
A middle-aged man in black, looking bitter, held a spotted mutt on a chain and cradled a multicolored brocade pheasant in his arms.
The sight was odd, to say the least.
He stood before Yumen Pass, gazing up at the majestic Iron-Blood Great Wall, eyes filled with anticipation. On the wall, General Yang Yanding was inspecting the area and noticed the strange man with his dog and pheasant.
He shook his head and sighed, "It's not easy. Even when fleeing for their lives, these folk don't abandon the animals they raised. That's love, plain and simple. People like this… they're worth laying down our lives to protect."
The soldiers beside him nodded silently.
The man, still clutching his chicken and dog, stepped through the pass and looked toward Xuanhuang Town with growing excitement.
"This pheasant I brought back from the Immortal Tomb is the legendary Five-Colored Brocade Chicken! Its eggs must be a priceless delicacy. If I hatch a few chicks and raise them big, I'll be rich for sure. My future happiness is riding on you two!"
As he stared at the bird in his arms, his eyes glittered with hope.
Since defeating the alien coalition, Xuanhuang Town had become a true sanctuary for humanity in the region—a shining symbol of hope.
At that moment, Yi Tianxing, who had been in seclusion, suddenly opened his eyes. A flash of light revealed the Primordial Heaven Emperor Pagoda in his hand.
The pagoda constantly absorbed heaven and earth energy. Now that it had reached fourteen levels, the energy required for further growth was astronomical. At this rate, it could take millennia to grow significantly without external resources.
During this half month of retreat, Yi Tianxing had not only been cultivating the Great Strength Bull Demon Body, but also tirelessly condensing Chaotic Dragon Talismans. The number of runes he had accumulated was staggering. His inner Chaotic Dragon Transformation Pool was on the verge of a breakthrough. His true qi reserves had also grown to incredible levels.
"Finally, the moment has come."
With a faint smile, Yi Tianxing swiftly exited his residence and headed to a large, open square at the town's center. With a wave of his hand, a silver spatial gate emerged.
Whoosh—
A torrent of crystals spilled out and formed a glowing circle around the gate, emanating dense spiritual energy.
"Open!"
With a single thought, divine light pulsed from the gate as a mystic passage opened, piercing through reality and connecting to a distant, unknown location.
Even the Primordial Heaven Emperor Pagoda's source power poured into the gate to help stabilize it. Some of the surrounding crystals instantly crumbled into dust, releasing massive waves of spiritual energy into the gate.
"The spatial gate! Lord Yi's divine treasure is activating. Could this be to retrieve someone?"
"That aura—it's as if the gate links to a mysterious dimension. General Feng left half a month ago with his troops. Could this be their return?"
A crowd quickly formed, murmuring excitedly as they watched.
"So… Wenhe's returning? If he's managed to convince the Mu Clan Village, and brings them back here, his status in the town will be unshakable."
Wu Yong stepped out of his house, having recently spent his merit points in the Scripture Pavilion to acquire a powerful new cultivation method from the School of Diplomacy.
🟨 Myriad Phenomena Yin Talisman Scripture (万象阴符经)
This newly acquired cultivation technique was once retrieved from an Immortal Tomb. Said to be created by Master Guiguzi, it was one of the most profound and top-tier techniques, rivaling even the Blood and Soul Sutra ("碧血丹心录").
Its benefits were immense: not only did it rapidly improve one's cultivation, it also sharpened the mind, granting constant clarity and bursts of creativity.
More importantly, this scripture generated a unique true qi—Myriad Phenomena Yin Talisman Qi (万象阴符真气)—which allowed the user to perceive the natural phenomena of all things. These impressions appeared directly in the practitioner's divine sea, enabling them to sense the surrounding world in vivid, detailed imagery.
With higher cultivation, one could sense changes in the terrain across thousands of miles. Eventually, one could even form talismans capable of summoning storms or influencing celestial phenomena, gaining battlefield control and strategic foresight.
For any would-be strategist like Wu Yong, this was a dream come true. He abandoned his old technique, Cloud Mirage Sea Art, donating it back to the pavilion in exchange for 10,000 merit points, and fully committed to his new path.
Wu Yong had just finished converting his foundation and now walked toward the square to observe the spatial gate.
Whoosh!
A figure in war armor emerged from the glowing light, brandishing a sword. It was none other than Feng Yumo.
"Greetings, my lord!"
He knelt before Yi Tianxing.
"Rise. What's the situation?"
"Advisor Jia has successfully persuaded the Mu Clan Village. Their people are packed and ready. I've come ahead to report. There are at least fifty to sixty thousand refugees coming. The village couldn't sustain them—many starved to death daily. Advisor Jia requests that the town prepare food immediately."
"Lai He!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed as he barked an order.
"Assemble the chefs from the Gourmet Hall. Prepare enough meat congee for sixty thousand people!"
"Understood! Meat porridge, right away!"
Lai He moved efficiently. Since many excellent chefs had joined from the last wave of refugees, preparing congee for tens of thousands was entirely manageable.
Smoke soon rose from every corner of the town.
"Win hearts with food. That's the key."
To those starved and hopeless, even a hot meal could sow loyalty and a sense of belonging.