One could feel it—the blazing fighting spirit in the eyes of all the soldiers.All the armies were standing by, ready to march at any time.
Among the gathered were strategists like Jia Xu, Zhuge Liang, and Wu Yong, all of whom were indispensable in this campaign. Their role in advising the army and formulating war strategies was beyond question—accompanying the expedition was only natural.
"Where is Zhou Yu!!"
Yi Tianxing ascended the command platform and called out.
"Your subordinate is here!!"
Zhou Yu stepped forward in full military armor and bowed.
"How is the Blue Legion's preparation?"
Yi Tianxing inquired.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Blue Legion has been fully assembled. Five hundred thousand soldiers have rejoined the ranks. All of them are skilled swimmers and excel at naval warfare. They are ready to sail on behalf of Great Yi and repel any invaders from the sea."
Zhou Yu spoke without hesitation, exuding confidence. The Blue Legion, now at full strength, had benefitted from the vast number of elite soldiers within the War Soul Battle Realm. Beyond the original millions of troops, more and more civilians had joined the army over the years, causing a dramatic surge in military numbers.
The War Soul Battle Realm's troop count had stabilized at a staggering seventy million.Were it not for the might and wealth of the Great Yi Dynasty, simply feeding this army would bankrupt most empires—let alone supplying cultivation resources, which required astronomical quantities.
"Very good. What about the preparation of the Blue Heavenly Ships?"
Yi Tianxing asked again.
"Each Blue Heavenly Ship can carry ten thousand soldiers. The Blue Legion currently has fifty Blue Heavenly Ships, enough to outfit the legion. They are ready to depart at any time," Zhou Yu replied, visibly excited. Such Heavenly Ships were incredibly powerful, far surpassing anything he'd ever imagined Great Yi could possess.
Paired with top-tier warriors, they could unleash exponentially greater combat power.
Though each Heavenly Ship could hold up to twenty thousand troops, they were now loaded with only ten thousand for comfort and maximum effectiveness. Fifty ships for fifty divisions—not one more, not one less.
"Good. The Blue Legion will sail first. Once they reach land, they'll serve as a forward base for the other legions. However, the Seven-Colored Legions only include the Blue Legion for naval operations, which is insufficient. Today, I shall establish a new legion."
"Where is Gan Ning?"
Yi Tianxing did not rush the expedition, instead planning to formally commission a new legion.
"Your subordinate is here!"
Gan Ning stepped forth from among the generals.
"Gan Ning, your naval combat skills are exceptional. Today, I appoint you as the Commander of the Red Legion, charged with its formation. You are to lead five hundred thousand troops, equipped with Red Heavenly Ships. I expect you to form an effective force in the shortest time possible."
Yi Tianxing looked at Gan Ning with full confidence in his abilities. In history, Gan Ning was a famed admiral and a master of naval warfare.
"Your subordinate accepts and is willing to lay down his life for Your Majesty."
Gan Ning declared his loyalty firmly. He knew he was no less skilled than Zhou Yu in naval tactics. Now that he had command, he would turn the Red Legion into one of Great Yi's most elite and fearsome forces.
Though some of the other legions were disappointed not to join the first wave, none complained. Once a forward base was established, they could teleport there immediately. Land warfare still required coordination among multiple legions—they would have plenty of opportunities.
"Blue Legion, hear the order: Board the Heavenly Ships and prepare to set sail!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the sky, Blue Heavenly Ships shimmering with radiant light appeared one by one. At first only the size of a grown man, they quickly expanded into colossal vessels capable of carrying thousands. Their decks were vast and empty.
Fifty ships—no more, no less.
The army boarded the ships in an orderly manner—ten thousand per vessel. Upon stepping onto the decks, the soldiers quickly took their positions. Swords were drawn, bows strung. A natural air of menace radiated from them—one could feel their edge.
In mere moments, the entire Blue Legion was aboard.
"Your Majesty, please board the flagship."
Zhou Yu invited Yi Tianxing onto his own command ship. A group of advisors followed.
"This is truly a Heavenly Ship—a divine vessel beyond compare. Quite unlike the Giant Whale Battleships we've seen before," remarked Jia Xu as he stood on the deck.
The surface beneath his feet resembled a flowing layer of blue water—firm, yet ethereal like mist. Just standing there filled one's heart with tranquility.
Soon, the ships lifted into the sky.
A Rainbow Bridge appeared, instantly teleporting the Blue Legion to the coastal frontier.
"What a magnificent ocean—boundless and infinite," Zhuge Liang exclaimed.
The vast sea inspired awe and insignificance in equal measure. It was also perilous—easy to lose direction in. Without a compass or a nautical chart, one could wander forever.
Fortunately, they held the Hanhai Sea Chart—their most crucial navigational aid.
Unfurling the chart, it showed a miniaturized version of the Boundless Sea, with fog-covered areas obscuring much of the map. Islands and landmasses were visible. Yi Continent was clearly marked.
Among them, a particularly highlighted island was labeled Skyhawk Island—home of the Skyhawk Dynasty. Thanks to Gongsun Da Niang's gifted coordinates, the chart now showed a direct route.
The island wasn't far from Yi Continent, though they'd need to pass three intermediate islands and navigate past a marine forbidden zone—a treacherous area best avoided.
"According to the chart, to reach Skyhawk Island, we must pass three other islands. Though each is only about one-quarter the size of Yi Continent, their conditions are unknown. Whether they're habitable or occupied by strong factions—all of it is uncertain."
Zhuge Liang pointed at the map with his feather fan.
"We have two options: First, head straight for Skyhawk Island and ignore everything along the way, dealing with it later.Second, conquer the islands en route, secure their resources, and gradually annex the region into Great Yi's territory—step by step, territory by territory. That way, it won't become an isolated outpost."
The first approach was bold; the second, cautious and calculated.
Jia Xu smiled. "Your Majesty, since Great Yi has entered its formal expansion phase, we must proceed step by step. Let every ocean be patrolled by our ships; let every landmass bear our dragon flag. This ensures our teleportation formations operate within stable, manageable distances. Whether advancing or retreating, we'll always have the upper hand."
He advocated stability—an infallible path.
"Very well. We proceed step by step. Any land in the sea, even a small islet unfit for mass habitation, must host a teleportation array and become part of our network of control."
Yi Tianxing nodded in agreement.
Though eager to reach Skyhawk Island, he knew that haste makes waste, especially in warfare. Without a solid foothold, any forward post would be like a rootless weed—easily uprooted. This expedition was as much about claiming Skyhawk Island as it was about expanding Great Yi's dominion.
"Your Majesty is wise," said Zhuge Liang and the others with a smile.
The momentum was clearly on Great Yi's side. A careful, steady expansion—absorbing all foreign territory into their fold—was the truest path to empire-building.
The Heavenly Ships soared over the sea, guided by the nautical chart. Local sea beasts, already suppressed, kept their distance. Those that remained sensed the aura of the Heavenly Ships and dared not approach.
They sensed danger instinctively—more clearly than humans.
After sailing nearly a thousand miles from Yi Continent, a lookout reported:
"Land ahead—small island spotted! Approx. 300 li in circumference. No forests, only jagged stones. Likely a formation of massive reef rock."
Though called land, it was more accurately a small islet.
Back on Earth, such a landmass would be considered sizable—but in the Eternal World, it was barely a blip on the chart. With no vegetation and only rough terrain, it seemed inhospitable. Only some sea beasts lounged about, sunbathing or resting. Traces of battle—droppings, remains, and carcasses—hinted at past conflicts.