"The Heavenly Dao… could it be that the Qilin and Phoenix clans, by shooting down the moon, have gained the recognition of the heavens? Is this a divine reward? Will they now be showered with boundless Heavenly Merit?"Some cultivators who had witnessed the event muttered in awe, unable to conceal their envy.
This act of shooting the moon had saved the Eternal World and countless lives—it was a feat of great virtue. What kind of blessing might come from such merit? No one could predict, but the value was undoubtedly immeasurable.
"But the shooters… Tai Shan is still alive, while Huo Ling'er has perished. How will the merit be divided then?"A cultivator pondered aloud.It was a joyous thing that one had survived—but what of the one who had fallen?
Countless gazes turned toward the summit of Tai Shan, all landing on Tai Shan himself. It was as if he had ascended to the heavens in a single leap.
Whoosh!!
The Heavenly Dao ignored the chatter. It glanced once toward the starry sky, once toward Tai Shan—then suddenly, two beams of golden light descended from the void. One enveloped Tai Shan, the other shot into the sky.
That was the light of divine merit.
Vast Heavenly Merit surged into Tai Shan's body. At once, a Golden Wheel of Merit appeared behind his head, shining with brilliance and exuding a sacred aura—an aura that repelled all evil. The merit not only protected him but also caused his cultivation to rapidly climb, nearing the threshold of the True Spirit Realm. The massive influx of merit engulfed him completely.
Like a golden egg, his body was wrapped in radiance and slowly sank into Mount Tai, disappearing from the summit.
Meanwhile, in the starry sky, a True Spirit suddenly manifested. It was a ball of red light—neither Phoenix nor human, free from any racial distinction. The tremendous power of merit flooded into this spirit like a tidal wave.
A mystical force emanated from it, and before everyone's eyes, its shattered soul began to restore itself. The three souls and seven spirits gradually reformed, naturally coalescing.
The spirit soon reshaped into a Fire Phoenix, its eyes regaining clarity—but without a physical body. The merit merged with her soul, and in an instant, a reincarnation tunnel appeared.
Without hesitation, the Fire Phoenix carried her vast accumulated merit and plunged into reincarnation.
This was a heavenly gift—not only reincarnation with memory intact, but also while carrying massive merit. She would be reborn as an innate divine being, her future greatness already destined. Chosen by the heavens, blessed with fortune, she would surely ascend to the peak of all existence.
"What does this mean?"
"Tai Shan has entered seclusion within the mountain, and Huo Ling'er's soul has reincarnated. In a way, both had fortunate outcomes. Who knows what she'll become in her next life, but surely a supreme powerhouse."
Many cultivators who witnessed this scene were filled with envy.
As for Tai Shan, with the vast merit he received, it wouldn't be strange for him to form a Golden Body of Merit. Even if used merely to break through bottlenecks, the power of merit could shatter obstacles like paper. His future strength was beyond doubt.As for Huo Ling'er, reborn with memory and immense merit, her path would be dozens of times easier than ordinary cultivators. If given the choice, how many mighty beings wouldn't envy such a fate?
After rewarding the Qilin and Phoenix, however, the Heavenly Dao did not vanish.
It remained suspended in the void, its majesty undiminished.
Then, an invisible heavenly voice resounded simultaneously in the minds of all living beings across the Eternal World:
"The Great Tribulation approaches. The Eternal Night Passage has opened.Ten years from now, the God-Demon Battlefield will reawaken. Aside from the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races, all races under the heavens may participate. Participating factions will receive Heaven's protection—their lands shall be shielded, immune from the three great clans. In ten years, the Heavenly Seals on the three races shall be lifted.At that time, all cultivators may take part.The one who shall rule this world shall be decided then."
The message embedded itself in the minds and souls of every being, unmistakably clear.
Then the golden eye slowly vanished from the sky, along with its oppressive aura. Were it not for the lingering voice in their minds, many might have believed the whole thing to be an illusion.
But even as the heavens departed, countless faces were frozen in shock.
"The God-Demon Battlefield is opening again. It hasn't been that long since the last time… and yet, here it comes again, only ten years away. The Eternal Night Clan surely won't hold back this time—they'll send their elite armies. The war will be devastating. The image of those fiendish armies still haunts my mind…"
"Ten years… that's all we have."
"While we're not forced to go, with the seals on the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races lifted, they will erupt in full-blown war. Their top powerhouses will emerge. Even the residual shockwaves could obliterate us. Staying here would be suicide. Let them fight over the Eternal World—we should focus on the battlefield."
"The God-Demon Battlefield… there are rumors that the last one was filled with fortunes. Now, with Heaven's protection for those who join, perhaps this war is a chance for us to rise."
"This time, I won't miss out. I must make a name for myself among the myriad races!"
Excitement spread across the Eternal World. Though some were fearful, most were eager. Who could resist the allure of fortune and fame?
Was it not true that Yi Tianxing, after his rise on the battlefield, rapidly progressed from a Kingdom, to a Dynasty, to an Empire? His meteoric ascent was inextricably linked to the battlefield. The benefits he had gained then were unfathomable.
"Ten years… the God-Demon Battlefield…"
Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed with depth. This was a true turning point. Compared to the present three-race struggle, the God-Demon Battlefield was his real stage.
"Send the order. Summon the ministers. Convene an Imperial Assembly in the Celestial Hall."
"Yes, my lord!!"The command was immediately relayed.
Meanwhile, in the Hanhai Dragon Palace…
Everything outside had naturally been observed by the Hanhai Dragon King.
"Your Majesty, the Heavenly Dao has decreed that in ten years, the seals on our three races will be lifted. Should we not slow down our expansion?"
The Turtle Prime Minister cautiously asked.
"Slow down? Absolutely not."
The Dragon King rejected the notion without hesitation.
"The Oceanic Tide has granted our sea beasts the perfect opportunity to surge onto land. Every territory we seize now becomes a foothold for our Dragon Clan. Such a golden chance cannot be missed. On the contrary—we must accelerate, consolidate our gains, and prepare for the coming war. The moment the seals lift, we'll hold the high ground. Seizing fate was never a game for the passive."
Indeed, the Dragon Clan held the clear advantage.
The great tide had shattered the order of the land, breaking up all resistance and letting the sea beasts pour in. Without that tide, breaching the continent would've been unimaginably difficult.
"Right now, stability is key. One of the Lunar Jade Rabbits has perished, and the others have returned to the moon. The Oceanic Tide will begin to recede. We must use this time to secure as much land as possible.
All of this… for the Ancestral Dragon!"
The Dragon King's gaze pierced the heavens.
"All of this… for the Ancestral Phoenix!"
A voice echoed in the Wutong Forest.
"All of this… for the Ancestral Qilin!"
A deep voice resonated from within Qilin Mountain.
Ten years—that would be the final confrontation.
Across the Eternal World, countless races and powerhouses began preparations for the upcoming God-Demon Battlefield. All great powers began mobilizing their forces for the inevitable war.
In Great Yi…
The decree had already spread.
One by one, the ministers of Great Yi rushed to the Celestial Assembly Hall, which soon became packed with courtiers.
"The Emperor has arrived!!"
"All hail the Emperor! May the Emperor live ten thousand years!"
After the ceremonial greetings, Yi Tianxing sat on his throne, surveying the hall.
"You've all heard the Heavenly Dao's message. Ten years from now, the God-Demon Battlefield will open once again. This time, it will not be a mere skirmish. The Eternal Night World will unleash its elite legions. We face a war of terrible carnage."
"Last time, Great Yi made its name among the myriad races—but that was mere coincidence. This time, I intend to deploy the bulk of our forces to the battlefield. First, to repel the enemy. Second, to allow our legions to undergo true tempering and earn glory."
Yi Tianxing laid bare his intentions—there would be no hiding behind walls. Great Yi would face the battlefield head-on.