"What is it, husband?"
Seeing the sudden change, Lianxing asked curiously.
For Yi Tianxing, eating was a supreme pleasure. His wives knew this well. Though their husband had few earthly desires, when it came to food, he took it incredibly seriously—especially gourmet cuisine, which he enjoyed with full focus and reverence. Unless something was truly urgent, no one disturbed him during meals.
Anything that needed addressing could wait until after.
In Yi Tianxing's world, nothing surpassed fine food.
Both his wives and the ministers of the Da Yi Emperor Dynasty understood this unspoken rule—disturbing him during a meal was nearly taboo.
It was exceedingly rare for Yi Tianxing himself to interrupt his own meal.
Could something truly unusual have happened?
"Could it be, husband, that you've discovered something interesting?" asked Cao Jie, also intrigued.
Yi Tianxing smiled, the curve of his lips deepening.
"Yes, something very interesting. I just sensed the presence of an old acquaintance—someone I thought had long perished. I never expected to meet them again here, on the battlefield of the gods and demons. What a pleasant surprise."
His expression radiated warm amusement.
"An old acquaintance? But you've never spoken of them before," Yao Yue remarked curiously.
"It was someone I knew long before the fusion of the Myriad Worlds. An old friend from a different era. Anyway, you all go on and eat—I'll go greet this friend myself."
He smiled calmly, and his figure simply vanished into thin air.
A moment later, he reappeared outside White Crow City.
"How interesting," he murmured to himself. "I wonder what kind of experiences you've had over the past twenty-plus years."
Following a subtle spiritual resonance, Yi Tianxing sped away in pursuit.
Not far from White Crow City…
A flying vessel was cutting through the skies. Aboard it, a group of cultivators dressed in black huddled inside, piloting the craft with all their might. Their expressions were tense, as though something terrifying was chasing them.
At the forefront stood a strikingly handsome young man, whose sharp, resolute eyes betrayed a ruthless character—clearly someone with a long history of bloodshed.
"Tower Master, what do we do? Those demonic beings are gaining on us fast. If we don't find a war fortress soon, we'll never shake them off," said a young woman in black, turning to glance anxiously behind them.
"The Tower Master obtained a great opportunity this time—one of the legendary Martial Ancestor's legacies! If we can survive this ordeal, the Tower Master will surely rise to become a supreme genius and eventually a mighty powerhouse. Damn that Eternal Night genius for spotting us when he did. If not for him, we could have laid low and disappeared," a cold-faced man muttered bitterly.
Indeed, one of the Twelve Inherited Legacies had fallen right into the Tower Master's hands. Such divine fortune could not be ignored. But sadly, the moment it was acquired, a top Eternal Night genius spotted them. What followed was relentless pursuit and ambushes from demonic troops for almost an entire month. Of the original thousand members of their group, only a few hundred remained.
"Don't worry," said the Tower Master, taking a deep breath. "We're almost at our destination. Once there, that Eternal Night genius won't be a threat anymore. Just hold on a little longer."
"But Tower Master, you haven't told us—who exactly are we going to seek refuge with? You never mentioned it before," another black-robed woman asked.
The Tower Master's eyes shimmered with mixed emotion—memories, hesitation, and awe.
"…My master," he finally said.
"Master? You have a master?" gasped several others, stunned by the revelation. Not once had he ever mentioned having a master over the decades they'd followed him.
"Yes. And I believe you all know of him."
"That means… he must be a famous figure—perhaps a peerless genius or a top-tier powerhouse?"
Speculation erupted.
"No need to guess," the Tower Master said calmly. "Surely you've all heard of the Da Yi Emperor Dynasty. The person I once pledged allegiance to—the one I consider my lord—is none other than Yi Tianxing, the Emperor of Da Yi."
"What?! Yi Tianxing?! The Da Yi Emperor?!"
Everyone aboard the flying vessel was stunned beyond belief. Of all possible answers, that was the last one they expected.
After all, who in the Eternal World didn't know the name Yi Tianxing?
The Human Race's supreme genius, the ruler of the number one Emperor Dynasty in the Eternal World, whose power shook all races.
To think their leader had ties to such a legendary figure…
Gasps echoed through the vessel.
A golden connection—the thickest of golden thighs—this was a dream many dared not even whisper.
If they could truly attach themselves to Da Yi, the benefits would be unimaginable. The Da Yi Emperor Dynasty had already surpassed most nations. And now that Yi Tianxing stood unmatched, the desire to join Da Yi burned in countless hearts.
They had never imagined they might have that chance.
Suddenly—
Screech!!
From the distant sky came a series of sharp, piercing cries.
A black cloud swept forward like a tidal wave.
It wasn't literal clouds—it was a massive swarm of savage birds.
Each bird was no larger than a fist, resembling a common sparrow at first glance—but these were no ordinary sparrows.
They were the terrifying Black Sword Demon Sparrows (黑剑魔雀) — their long, blade-like beaks gleamed with obsidian light, and their bodies shimmered like flying swords. Their feathers were sharp as daggers, and they flew with the speed and sharpness of real flying blades. Even the air trembled with the sound of sword cries.
A single sparrow could pierce straight through flesh and bone. In groups, they were as deadly as a rain of a thousand flying swords.
Now, this vast horde of Black Sword Demon Sparrows descended toward the flying vessel.
"Defense formation, activate!" the Tower Master commanded.
A shimmering blue barrier instantly enveloped the ship—like a luminous aqua veil of protective wards.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sparrows smashed into the barrier, forming rippling shockwaves that made the light tremble and distort. But the barrier held firm—for now.
"Kill them!"
The cultivators aboard the vessel unleashed their divine arts and combat techniques. Explosions lit up the sky as wave after wave of demon sparrows fell.
But more kept coming.
The birds weren't just pecking—they began to release waves of sword light from their bodies, slashing at the defensive barrier. The blue glow flickered, faltered, and dimmed. Despair grew.
"Hand over the Martial Ancestor's legacy, or you will all die here. If you surrender it, I might spare your lives."
A masked figure suddenly appeared above the horde, standing atop the birds as if borne aloft by them.
His voice was cold and mocking.
"Faceless One," the Tower Master growled. "Don't even dream of it. This legacy belongs to the Eternal World—it won't be handed over to Eternal Night. The knowledge is already etched into my mind. You'll never get it, no matter what you do."
Suddenly, a vast wave of spiritual power rippled outward from the Tower Master's body. Laws and principles flowed like invisible threads.
He activated a Life Map Divine Ability:
★ Yin Wind and Fine Rain (命图神通——阴风细雨)
At once, a sinister wind blew across the heavens, accompanied by endless fine rain. The very atmosphere changed.