Before long, a group of cultivators with varied appearances entered the grand hall.
Some were dressed as scholars in long robes, others wore the attire of ordinary cultivators, and some bore the imposing presence of military generals. As soon as they stepped inside, they all felt a powerful, invisible pressure pressing down on them—a pressure that could only belong to a sovereign. Though Yi Tianxing wasn't actively suppressing them, his imperial aura naturally permeated the hall, filling it with overwhelming majesty.
All of them silently braced themselves.
"So this is the legendary Emperor Yi… That pressure is terrifying."
"No wonder he held back Eternal Night for twenty years on the frontlines. I can feel the blood-soaked aura of mountains of corpses. How many demons must he have slaughtered? It's terrifying."
The reality far surpassed the legends. No story could compare to facing him in person.
"We greet the Emperor! May the Emperor enjoy immortal fortune and long life equal to the heavens!"
All those present bowed deeply, shouting in unison.
"Rise. No need for excessive ceremony."
Yi Tianxing nodded calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
They didn't dare to be the least bit careless. This man was the pillar of the human race, and his legendary status alone was enough to command awe.
"I've learned a fair bit about you all. Each of you was brought here by my children, and you've expressed a desire to join the Great Yi, to help build and grow it together. I welcome talent—always have. As long as you're sincere and without ill intent, Great Yi accepts all. We embrace the doctrine of tolerance and unity. However, your specific roles will be determined only after we return to the Eternal World, following formal evaluation."
Yi Tianxing spoke plainly.
The Empire did need talent—but not at the cost of its standards. Great Yi had long since established a structured, efficient system. Following rules ensured integration, minimized conflict, and maintained order. Rulebreakers, after all, were often isolated from the group.
"Naturally, Your Majesty. Even without your words, I would've raised the point. No rules, no order. For Great Yi to reach this point, rules must be followed. As history teaches us, exceptions must not be made lightly."
A middle-aged man in scholar's robes stepped forward with a solemn look. This was Sima Guang, the preeminent historian mentioned in Jia Xu's earlier report.
Historians placed great emphasis on discipline and order—after all, a single misstatement could distort history. Preserving truth required boundaries.
"Well said. Rules must be respected."
Another figure stepped forward, a plain-looking young man in modest scholar's robes, whose demeanor radiated an understated dignity.
"I heard Great Yi has an Immortal Academy. Once we return, I hope to join and pass on the teachings of the Way of Painting."
Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ma Liang."
This man was no ordinary youth. He had inherited the Dao of Painting, wielding a divine treasure—the Brush of Creation (造化神笔).
This miraculous brush could turn illusions into reality. Whatever he painted—tiger, dragon, mountain, spirit—could emerge from the canvas with flesh, blood, and soul, indistinguishable from the real thing. This was the apex of the Painting Dao: To make the false real.
However, the Brush required special ink—Creation Ink, forged from the blood of countless beasts and the power of faith. The ink ranged in grade from three-color to seven-color. Without it, Ma Liang had to use his own blood, unless he cultivated his Painting Dao to the level of Dao Fruit, allowing his own Dao energy to replace ink.
For him, joining Great Yi wasn't just about loyalty to the human race—it was also about access to Eternal Coins, which contained immense faith power, the very thing he needed most.
And Great Yi had an Immortal Academy, the ideal place for his path.
"Chess, calligraphy, painting, music—each can become a supreme Dao. The Hundred Schools of Thought are living proof."
"That's enough for now. You may all go. The God-Demon Battlefield will soon be sealed. If you need to exchange spoils for treasure, do so now. You've chosen Great Yi—then begin preparing. If you have friends or family, bring them too. For all humans, Great Yi's gates are forever open."
Yi Tianxing dismissed them calmly.
There was no need to say more. Once they left the battlefield and officially entered Great Yi, he would naturally have more opportunities to assess them.
Ten Days Later
Time flew. Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, all major races began preparing for evacuation. They gathered battlefield resources, spiritual treasures, and other valuables. Friends from different war zones met to say their farewells.
After more than twenty years of war, even in constant battle, bonds had been formed.
Now that the battlefield was closing, this might be the last time they'd see each other. Naturally, there were heartfelt goodbyes.
Many cultivators also gathered to trade their treasures, bartering freely. Even the boundaries between races became blurry for a moment—profit outweighed prejudice.
Anyone who had survived this long had reaped great rewards. With wealth abundant, trades were generous.
Meanwhile, White Crow City reopened its grand trade fair—now open to the entire God-Demon Battlefield.
Great Yi's markets overflowed with goods and rare treasures—refined products from countless realms, such as:
Clothing woven from cloud silk and mist thread
Jewelry crafted by human artisans
Alchemical pills
Spiritual wines
Everything was of supreme quality.
And most importantly—Great Yi had Eternal Coins.
After decades of relentless effort, Eternal Coins had become the accepted currency across the battlefield. All races had grown used to it—even those wary of its implications couldn't resist. Great Yi had seized the initiative, claiming the name "Eternal Coin" and forging it with flawless craftsmanship.
Refusing to use them now was like refusing to use gold in a world where gold ruled—an outsider, instantly excluded.
The Gate Appears
As the battlefield's end approached, a mighty pressure descended from the heavens.
In the void, a massive ancient gate appeared.
"The Gate of Gods and Demons!"
Everyone instantly recognized it.
Soon after, a surge of divine light burst forth as three colossal entities emerged:
A vast Dragon Nest
A massive Phoenix Nest
And the towering Kirin Mountain
Each grew at incredible speed, expanding to sky-covering, continent-sized structures, looming over the battlefield.
From within, True Dragons, Phoenixes, and Kirins flew forth in abundance—majestic and awe-inspiring.
"We of the Dragon Race shall guard the East and hold the front. Unless under special circumstances, we shall not return to the Eternal World."
The Ancestral Dragon roared and flew forth, bringing the Dragon Nest to the eastern edge of the battlefield, where it slammed down and took root.
"We of the Phoenix Race shall guard the West and suppress the western extremes."
The Ancestral Phoenix followed, settling the Phoenix Nest near a volcano in the western extremes.
"We of the Kirin Race shall guard the center."
The Ancestral Kirin brought Kirin Mountain to the central battlefield, where it anchored deeply into the land, its aura fusing with the terrain.
With the arrival of the three sacred races, the very structure of the battlefield changed. The barriers between realms grew sturdier. It was as though three celestial pillars had descended to guard the borders.
"The three races have finally arrived. They truly plan to garrison the God-Demon Battlefield permanently, never returning to the Eternal World."
"Good. With them here, the Eternal Night won't be able to break through. At last, we can rest easy."
Despite their recent conflict, the three great races had retained most of their core strength. The creatures they lost were mostly feral beasts—but in the chaos, they'd also trained up a whole new generation.
Their presence ensured that the battlefield would not fall, and the Eternal Night would not easily breach the realms.