His surname was Liu. Sharp-minded and dressed in the robes of a Daoist, among the five of them, his status seemed extraordinary. Even Yue Fei treated him with a distinct reverence—clear proof that this was no ordinary man.
"Liu Ji... Liu Bowen!!"
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath, and a name crystallized in his mind.
Liu Bowen—among all possible candidates, this name alone matched the man before him.
"Your Majesty truly has unparalleled insight. This man is indeed Master Liu Bowen. Over the years, the development of the Gathering of the Heroes Pavilion owes much to his guidance. Our success today would not be possible without Master Liu's wisdom,"Li Zhilin said with a smile, his words tinged with pride.
To gather such an assembly of top-tier talents was an achievement in itself. Naturally, his edge came from an innate advantage—he stood high, so he saw far. With foreknowledge, one could make the right move at the right time.
Foresight is the key.
Yi Tianxing silently marveled.
This was indeed an exceptional first gift from Li Zhilin—what a surprise! Should he manage to bring them into Da Yi, it would mean an influx of elite talents, vastly boosting Da Yi's strength.
Yet the greatest surprise remained Liu Bowen himself.
Who was Liu Bowen? Among the human race, his name had echoed for generations.
Back in the era of the Ming Dynasty, had it not been for Liu Bowen, unifying the realm would have been far more difficult—perhaps even impossible. The dynasty's foundations would have been far weaker, and Zhu Yuanzhang might never have risen above his rivals.
Without Liu Bowen, there would be no Ming. His importance couldn't be overstated.
"Three parts for Zhuge Liang, one whole for Liu Bowen."
This saying has echoed through the ages.
Both men stood on the same level of brilliance—some even claimed Liu Bowen surpassed Zhuge Liang. Whether or not that's true is up for debate, but one thing is certain: his talent was undeniable. Among the common people, Liu Bowen was also revered as a practitioner of internal cultivation and Daoist arts. Legendary tales speak of how he severed all the dragon veins in the realm, leaving only the one tied to the Ming dynasty.
Whether those stories are true is uncertain.
Yet the legend of Liu Bowen the Dragon Slayer, wielder of the mythical Dragon-Slaying Art, continues to be passed down, detailed and vivid.
True or false, his genius is beyond doubt.
"Here, there are no titles or ranks," Yi Tianxing said with a calm smile."Let's sit, eat, and talk. In my view, only beauty and fine cuisine are not to be wasted in this world. To let a feast like this go untouched would be a great crime."
The gathered were no ordinary people. At Yi Tianxing's words, they naturally took their seats, chatting while they ate, gradually learning about each other.
After three rounds of wine, and with most of the food consumed, Yi Tianxing finally put down his chopsticks and looked around.
"I'm sure you've all guessed why I've come here today. But let me formally extend an invitation—I hope you'll join my Da Yi and help make it even stronger. With your talents, Da Yi will surely be like a tiger with wings."
Having broken the ice, Yi Tianxing did not hesitate to show Da Yi's advantages plainly.
"In Da Yi, all citizens can obtain the right to cultivate. Everyone, with enough opportunity, can become a strong cultivator. We govern with a nine-rank civil and military system, separating civil governance from the military. The army is solely responsible for conquest and never interferes with administrative affairs…"
He laid out Da Yi's policies and governance structure without preamble.
Liu Bowen and the others did not interrupt. They listened quietly. These were Da Yi's national strategies—true governing foundations—and no one could have explained them better than Yi Tianxing himself.
The more they listened, the more intrigued they became.
This nine-rank dual system, along with the civil-military separation, was deeply appealing to anyone with ambitions. Every capable person had a path forward. With such a structure, order prevailed, and talent could rise without obstruction.
Da Yi offered a true stage for them to showcase their talents—without fear or limit.
Compared to other realms, Da Yi was unmatched.
Yue Fei, in particular, had a fiery gleam in his eyes—filled with expectation and passion.
Yue Fei, in this Eternal World, was the fusion of multiple versions of himself across realms. Though reborn, his memories remained intact—he vividly recalled his historical fate: executed under a false charge, his life ending in sorrow.
He held no small amount of anger and grief. Had he been given a proper stage, things might have been different. That was why he had joined the Gathering of the Heroes—to form his new Yue Army, to defend the people in his own way.
Freedom was one of his reasons for staying.
But now, hearing about Da Yi's structure, a fire ignited in his chest.
Compared to his limited reach, Da Yi was working on a truly grand scale—sheltering billions of human beings. His own efforts suddenly seemed like a drop in the ocean. Only by joining Da Yi could he protect more, build a true human paradise.
His eyes lit up with conviction. He stood and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty has founded Da Yi to protect countless lives. I, Yue Fei, could never achieve that alone. I wish only to serve as your vanguard—to expand Da Yi's borders and protect our people."
There was no hesitation—his choice was made.
"With General Yue joining us, Da Yi is truly blessed."Yi Tianxing smiled and said,"I hereby appoint you as Commander of the Black Tortoise Legion—one of the Four Divine Beast Legions. You shall lead 500,000 troops. Rank: First Grade."
This post was given without reservation. Yue Fei's ability had earned it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I, Yue Fei, vow to give my all for Da Yi—until death."
He would bleed dry for Da Yi, as long as Da Yi stayed true to its ideals.
"Your Majesty,"Bai Tiangang grinned,"This life of mine belongs to you now. As long as I get to slaughter those Eternal Night bastards, I'm satisfied. That duel on the Void Arena—you really gave them hell!"
He too bowed and made his choice.
"Very well. Da Yi's Hunter Palace still lacks a Lord. Once we return, you'll be appointed as its head, overseeing all bounty hunters."
Yi Tianxing gladly promised the role. Though they were on the battlefield, the position would be granted when they returned.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Bai Tiangang replied with a wide grin.
"Wan Sanqian is willing to act as Your Majesty's vanguard."
A merchant to his core, Wan Sanqian knew that the ability to see clearly and act decisively was the essence of business. He had both. It was clear what aligning with Yi Tianxing would bring.
"Having such a talent in commerce is truly a blessing."
Indeed, there could never be too many like Wan Sanqian.
"Nie Zheng pledges to become Your Majesty's blade."
As an assassin, Nie Zheng never saw himself as just a killer. He wanted to use his skills to help the human race. The thought of building an unprecedented human dynasty stirred his blood.
Yi Tianxing accepted him without hesitation.
Only one person had yet to respond—Liu Bowen.
He finally raised his eyes and met Yi Tianxing's gaze with a calm smile.
"Your Majesty, there is one doubt that has long troubled me. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to offer an answer."
As he spoke, he stared straight into Yi Tianxing's eyes—serene and unreadable, as deep as the sea.