In his hand, he held an ancient seal—the City Lord's official seal. It symbolized the status and authority of an immortal city, serving as its very core, embodying the holder's power and title. It was also a conduit for the official Qi of the Great Yi Dynasty. More than that, it functioned as the most critical control node for each immortal city.
It must be understood that when Great Yi's immortal cities were constructed, they were integrated with geomantic formations, and infused with countless runes that formed intricate barrier arrays. One such array was known as the Xuanhuang Earth Barrier. This barrier was specifically designed around the immortal cities themselves. Forged with Xuanhuang Bricks and rooted to the land, each city felt as though it had grown directly from the earth. Through this bond, the cities could draw upon the endless power of the land.
Most crucially, beneath each immortal city lay earth veins, naturally forming spiritual meridians that continuously fed energy to the cities, sustaining their operations.
Such was the strength of a Great Yi Immortal City.
And the Xuanhuang Earth Barrier could only be activated by the City Lord's seal, which served as its core.
Facing the overwhelming floodwaters, the Lord of Wanghai City didn't hesitate. He flew into the sky and cast the official seal into the air. It erupted in divine radiance, crisscrossing beams of light intertwining in midair.
Swish swish swish!
In response, countless xuanhuang-colored runes flared to life across Wanghai City's structure. Divine beams burst forth, converging into a massive Xuanhuang Barrier that enveloped the entire immortal city.
The barrier manifested as a shimmering dome of light, inscribed with ever-shifting runes, each emanating a weighty, mountainous aura.
From deep within the earth, boundless heaven and earth spiritual energy surged like a tidal wave into the barrier.
A second layer quickly formed outside the first.
Then a third.
A fourth…
Until six layers of the Xuanhuang Barrier stacked atop one another.
The entire city became like a colossal turtle shell.
RUMBLE!!
Without delay, just as the barriers formed, the ferocious sea surged forward, slamming into the Xuanhuang Barrier with thunderous force. The divine light from the barrier surged violently in response.
It was a sight that chilled the soul.
On the city walls, the citizens' hearts nearly stopped in fear.
Under the sea's assault, the first layer of the barrier lasted only a few breaths before shattering in a blaze of divine light. Then came the second. The third…
The tidal waves were a force of nature—a power wrought by heaven and earth itself, born from the boundless sea. No mere power could resist it. And it came in endless waves, each more devastating than the last, their destructive force eclipsing even the full-force strike of the mightiest cultivator.
Worse still, sea beasts surged forth amid the waves, crashing against the barrier in relentless waves.
Even with the Xuanhuang Barrier tethered to the land and bolstered by its power, it couldn't withstand the onslaught forever.
One layer.Two layers.Three layers…
Barrier after barrier shattered under the relentless pressure. Only after the fourth layer collapsed was the ferocious tide finally held back.
By now, the sea had risen higher than the city walls. Without the barrier, Wanghai City would have been completely submerged, turned into a watery grave.
"We held them off."
"The Great Yi's immortal cities are truly formidable. Legend says each city sits atop a spiritual vein—no ordinary force could shake them. The sea tide is always most terrifying in the first wave. If we survive that, the worst is over."
Indeed, the initial surge was the deadliest. Its raw force could annihilate everything. Once that was weathered, the tide would lose much of its fury. However, what followed would be the invasion of sea beasts, attacking every immortal city—a new, deadlier threat.
Meanwhile, Xuanhuang City floated high in the sky.
Upon the Rainbow Bridge of the Imperial Palace, Yi Tianxing, his consorts, and the high ministers of Great Yi stood solemnly. All around them, numerous light screens displayed real-time visuals from across the realm. Each region of the Great Yi could be seen clearly—flooded by the roaring tide.
One by one, every immortal city activated its Xuanhuang Barrier, using their deep foundations to repel the advancing seas.
Within Great Yi, there were zero casualties. All citizens had long been warned and had retreated into the immortal cities. No one had been caught outside.
In this first wave of the tide…
Not a single Great Yi citizen perished.
Outside the cities, however, the land was drowned—now a vast swamp. Towering trees fell, farmland was destroyed. Beasts were torn apart in the surging waters, their bodies reduced to bloody fragments.
It was a scene of apocalypse.
Thankfully, the sea's strength diminished as it moved inland, its height dropping with each obstruction. While much of the flatlands were submerged, hills, peaks, and cliffs still rose above the waters.
On these elevated grounds, countless ferocious beasts gathered, creatures that were once mortal enemies, now crouched together in silent unity. Their cold eyes stared out over the floodwaters, watching as sea beasts emerged from the waves—only to be met with pure killing intent.
The sea beasts had invaded their territory. It was a blood feud.
Without hesitation, hordes of sea beasts charged the highlands, sparking instant, brutal warfare. The beasts fought back just as fiercely, howling as they clashed. Divine powers exploded in all directions.
In the sky, countless birds of prey dove from above, snatching sea beasts from the water and ripping them apart in midair.
Air, land, and sea—every domain was now a battlefield.
The sea quickly turned blood-red.
On many highlands, crevices cracked open, revealing underground tunnels from which waves of ferocious beasts poured forth, joining the fray. Not one feared death. Their eyes burned with murderous fury.
And it wasn't just beasts.
As the flood spread across the wilderness, numerous non-human tribes were engulfed. They too were drawn into the battle with the sea beasts.
The sea beasts didn't care who or what they encountered—so long as they weren't their own kind, they were enemies. They attacked relentlessly, to the death.
Meanwhile, outside the borders of Great Yi—
The Iron-Blood Barrier had long since been raised. Though sea water flowed through unhindered, the sea beasts were blocked.
Either shredded by the barrier's power or swept into chaotic spatial rifts, they disappeared without a trace.
Strangely, as if obeying some unseen command, the sea beasts near the barrier began to retreat, leaving only the waters to pass through.
Sea water was allowed. Sea beasts were not.
Trying to block both would overwhelm even the Iron-Blood Great Wall.
"Has the great war of the Three Tribes… already begun?"—Wu Yong, with deep emotion.
"The dragon tribe has claimed the advantage of time and tide. With fifteen moons pulling at the ocean, this tide is a world-level disaster. Sea beasts can now move inland without resistance, drawing strength from the water. This is terrifying—how many sea beasts lie hidden in the ocean?"—Su Shi, in awe.
This was no mere invasion—it was a calamity of nature, and the devastation it wrought was immeasurable.
"The beast tribe is no less prepared. Not only did they seize high ground in advance, but they've also hidden their main forces underground. The sea can't reach them there. Though the sea beasts have the upper hand now, they may not have the crushing advantage they hoped for. The land beasts and sky beasts have clearly allied—they're targeting the sea beasts together."—Huang Chengyan, analyzing calmly.
All over, battle raged.
Even within the relatively "safe" Great Yi territory, corpses floated on the sea, countless and lifeless—a chilling sight.
Keep in mind, Great Yi's coastal waters had long been repeatedly cleansed. Many sea beasts had already been slaughtered. If not for this, their numbers would have been overwhelming—especially with no reinforcements arriving now.
"The tragedy is... outside Great Yi. Who knows how many human settlements have been destroyed? How many innocents have drowned? Unlike us, most can't withstand this tide. Some towns may have been wiped out in an instant."—Cai Yan, face filled with sorrow.
Indeed, not all humans lived within Great Yi. The fate of those outside was grim. Their deaths weakened the human race as a whole.
It was a wound that could not be healed.
"We lack the strength to protect them all."
The ministers fell silent, the pain too heavy to express.
"Supervisor Jiang… begin."—Yi Tianxing, after a deep breath, eyes sweeping over all of Great Yi.
"By Imperial Decree—Let the Dragon Rise!!"
Jiang Ni stepped forward.