Given the current state of Great Yi, any further outward expansion could very well cross the bottom line of the Hanhai Dragon King. If that happens, no one can predict the consequences. Moreover, with the journey to the Divine-Demon Battlefield looming, everything else could be set aside temporarily. Not to mention, the Iron-Blood Great Wall could still continuously draw upon the endless corpses and flesh for sustenance. As long as there's no expansion, it will suffice.
When the time comes, all of it could be released in one go.That moment would see Great Yi enshroud a vast territory.
Building strength quietly before unleashing it is the true path of kings.
Especially now, with the impending unsealing of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races, and top-tier powerhouses appearing everywhere, one must tread even more carefully. Even with the protection of the Heavenly Dao, there's no guarantee of absolute safety—those determined enough can always find ways around the rules.
Thus, staying still to respond to movement is the true strategy of governance.
"Your Majesty is wise. Indeed, at this time, stillness is preferable to rash action."— Huang Chengyan nodded in agreement.
"Since we are set on heading to the Divine-Demon Battlefield, then all preparations must be made with utmost thoroughness. All military supplies must be stockpiled swiftly. With ten years of preparation time, I want to see our Great Yi army transformed into an invincible heavenly force."
Yi Tianxing nodded, continuing:
"Not only must we be victorious in the Eternal World, but we must also make a glorious name for ourselves on the Divine-Demon Battlefield, even among the Evernight (Eternal Night) forces."
With that, the grand court assembly came to a close.
The Next Day
An Imperial Edict was spread across the entire Great Yi territory.
The long-awaited Martial Imperial Exam (武举) was officially announced.
Thanks to the StarNet, the news spread faster than one could imagine. Within moments, the entire realm knew. Immediately, the world erupted in excitement.
Discussions filled the land.
"Excellent! The Martial Exam is finally happening. I, Yang Zhi, have always excelled in strategy and martial prowess. I had hoped to participate in the civil exam, but now that the martial path is open, it's even better! A man should serve in the army, fight for Great Yi, for the human race, and never regret dying with honor!"
A burly man laughed heartily.
"Good! Since my town was destroyed, joining Great Yi's military might be a new path for me. I won't miss this chance. This Martial Exam is the opportunity of a lifetime."
On Heavenwood Island, in a newly built Celestial City, Hua Rong revealed a look of joy.
He had entered Great Yi via a void train, and upon arrival, was registered by the well-prepared officials. He received his Heavenly Citizenship Card, becoming a citizen of Great Yi. Still, his past status gave him no privileges—everyone was treated equally. He had access to essential supplies and could freely visit the Scripture Pavilion for foundational cultivation techniques.
No special treatment.
But Hua Rong didn't plan to remain silent. Compared to before, the stage of the Great Yi Dynasty was far broader. This Martial Exam was the perfect shortcut. If he could stand out, he could officially step onto the Great Yi stage.
There were countless others like him throughout Great Yi.
All wore expressions of great excitement.
Many were from the rising younger generation. Others were new citizens who had recently joined the Empire. All began preparing for the Martial Exam.
According to the edict, the Martial Exam would be held in three months.
It would take place in Xuanhuang City, with registration conducted through StarNet.
The announcement stirred the hearts of the populace. Countless people saw it as the chance they had been waiting for. Even before the three months passed, many journeyed toward Xuanhuang City. And thanks to the city's vast capabilities, it could easily accommodate even larger crowds.
Those disillusioned with the civil exams, or who only knew combat, also felt hope. Many bounty hunters chose to participate—after all, the Great Yi military was the ultimate battlefield for them.
Three Months Flew By
Outside, the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin races were still locked in conflict. The oceanic tides had begun to recede, and every moment saw countless sea beasts and birds perish. Near the Great Yi region, any corpses mysteriously vanished—devoured by the Iron-Blood Great Wall. Still, the wall didn't expand further. Its march had come to a complete halt.
This gave the three races a measure of relief. If Great Yi had continued expanding, they wouldn't know how to respond. They fought over fate and fortune, not to benefit outsiders. If Great Yi kept pushing outward, it would have crossed their bottom line.
Now, its halt showed that Yi Tianxing still understood boundaries. Despite closing the nation's borders, he wasn't completely reckless.
As long as Great Yi didn't interfere with their affairs, they would no longer concern themselves with it.
Under these circumstances, the Martial Exam proceeded smoothly.
A one-on-one format was adopted, with a scoring system to determine rankings.
DONG DONG DONG!!
The jade bell rang.
At the Tribute Courtyard, countless examinees gathered. This was the usual venue for civil exams, and now, also for the martial exam.
Over one million participants had gathered—those who had survived layers of selection across numerous Celestial Cities. Without sufficient strength, there was no point attending. Most had been filtered out beforehand—over 90% were eliminated. Otherwise, the number would be several times higher.
Atop Azure Cloud Tower, Zhuge Liang and Jia Xu stood side by side. As the chief examiners, they oversaw the entire event.
As the bell stopped ringing and examinees took their seats:
"Time's up. Seal the Tribute Courtyard gates. From this moment onward, no entry or exit allowed. I hereby declare: The first Martial Imperial Exam of Great Yi has officially begun."
"All candidates, scan your admission slips using your communication wristbands. This will open the passage into the StarNet exam arena. May you all perform well and achieve the results you deserve."
"The examination begins now."
These rules had already been publicized well in advance.
Soon, all candidates scanned their slips. Their communication wristbands opened the path into the arena. With a mere thought, their consciousness entered StarNet.
"I wonder how many top-tier warriors are among this million,"Nie Xiaoqian said with interest in the Imperial Palace.
"They've all been selected from across the entire Great Yi Dynasty. Each one must possess some form of exceptional talent. The only question is how far they can go."— Yi Tianxing smiled calmly.
To select elite talents from among millions—this was true elite selection.
"Husband, what criteria will be used to assess them this time?"— Lian Xing asked.
"It will be based on two areas: individual strength and command ability,"— Yi Tianxing explained, sharing the scoring system.
Individual Strength – 10 Points Total:
Cultivation Realm – 3 points
3 pts: Dharma Phase Realm
2 pts: Life Map Realm
1 pt: Life Aperture Realm
Below that: no qualification
Combat Prowess – 4 points
Innate Talent – 3 points
Without at least Life Aperture Realm, you couldn't even become a common soldier in Great Yi—let alone lead troops.
But the real focus was on actual combat, worth the most: 4 points.
Command Ability – 10 Points Total:
Military Management – 2 points
Military Strategy – 3 points
Victory Rate – 5 points
Victory was paramount. No matter the method, winning was all that mattered. Process didn't count. Outcome did.
Thus, the Martial Exam totaled 20 points. Those who stood out would be precisely what Great Yi needed most.
Moreover, excellence in either field—combat or command—could earn one a place in the Great Yi military.
As the examinees entered StarNet, Yi Tianxing and his consorts also stepped in.
Inside StarNet's virtual world, it was as real as the Second World. All strength and power remained unchanged.
The first round was one-on-one battles.
This was arranged in a ranking format.
Within the King's Battle Chess Arena, every candidate would face 10 randomly matched opponents. Even if killed inside the simulation, there would be no real consequence—only a loss of a mental imprint. Each match would be at the participant's full strength, with no fatigue carryover. It ensured fairness and competitiveness.
Opponents were assigned at random. Some faced top-tier candidates, others easier matches. This randomness was itself a test of luck and destiny.
StarNet worked at incredible efficiency.
Matches were generated instantly.
In the Martial Exam space, every candidate stood atop dueling arenas—circular platforms devoid of buildings, where every combatant could showcase their full potential. All techniques and divine arts could be fully unleashed.
Over a million examinees began their battles simultaneously.