Not only had the Yi Continent been unified, but Da Yi had also stepped beyond it, venturing into the seas and annexing several islands and landmasses. The size of its territory had multiplied several times over. The population had increased by tens of billions, and an entire Destiny Dynasty had been annihilated—accomplishments previously unimaginable. Unwittingly, Da Yi had come this far.
"Long live the Emperor! May His Majesty live for eternity and share the lifespan of the heavens!!"
The civil and military officials streamed into the Hall of Heavenly Mandate one after another.
Yi Tianxing soon appeared, and a chorus of bows and reverent cries echoed through the great hall.
"Rise, my loyal ministers."
Yi Tianxing nodded slightly.
The hall was packed with talented individuals from all sectors. This was the final imperial assembly of the ninth year of the Eternal Calendar—and also one of the Grand Imperial Assemblies. A Grand Imperial Assembly typically occurred at the beginning and end of the year, and all ministers of rank were expected to be present. As a result, today's attendance was the most complete it would be all year.
"Do any ministers have petitions to present?"
Cao Zhengchun's sharp voice rang out in the hall.
This was a Grand Assembly, and naturally, the ministers were not here merely to offer congratulations. Numerous unresolved matters that lower-level city lords couldn't decide on were brought forth for imperial resolution.
However, many of these problems didn't require Yi Tianxing's personal input. As soon as they were raised, lively discussions erupted among the court, and in a short amount of time, proper solutions were proposed—both reasonable and executable.
The strength of collective deliberation far surpassed that of solitary rule.
Many complex issues found natural resolutions in the court.
With minds like Zhuge Liang and Xun Yu present, being an emperor was an almost effortless task. Many matters were taken care of with ease by capable subordinates. Yi Tianxing wouldn't mind if things always remained this smooth. Concerns about power centralization were nonexistent.
Jia Yucun stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, the registered population of our Da Yi Dynasty has reached over 6.3 billion. It is estimated that there are still tens of millions of unregistered human citizens scattered in the wild. This year alone, over 300 million newborns were recorded. Forecasts suggest that this number may double in the coming year."
This was part of the year-end summary.
Da Yi actively encouraged marriage and childbirth. The more children a family had, the greater the subsidies they received. Producing offspring was a fundamental human tradition, a continuation of life and lineage. With Da Yi's territory among the safest in the world, most survivors of the chaos were healthy young adults, with relatively few elderly among them.
Naturally, men and women formed couples and new families. With state support for childbearing, most couples desired children. Offspring also served as emotional bonds that strengthened marital relationships.
Thus, the birth rate this year soared, and Da Yi's population saw dramatic growth.
If all went well, next year's newborn count could approach one billion—an astonishing figure.
While newborns currently offered little contribution, in ten or twenty years, they would become the backbone of Da Yi. A steady rise in population ensured continuous development and talent replenishment—the true foundation for Da Yi's future legacy.
"Excellent. As long as they grow and thrive, the eternal foundation of Da Yi will be assured."
Yi Tianxing nodded approvingly.
With a population exceeding six billion, Da Yi had more than enough human resources to sustain further expansion—capturing new islands and territories. Population is potential for war.
"Your Majesty, a barbarian emissary named Niu Ben previously arrived at Xuanhuang City, requesting an audience with the Emperor. Upon learning that Your Majesty was away on a military expedition, he left. However, he mentioned he would return at the end of the year."
Mao Sui spoke up.
As the one responsible for foreign affairs, Mao Sui had handled the encounter with Niu Ben. However, when questioned about the reason for his visit, Niu Ben declined to answer, saying he would speak only to Yi Tianxing. Clearly, this was a matter for the Emperor alone. Mao Sui knew of Niu Ben's friendly ties with the Emperor and reported the issue accordingly.
"Niu Ben is looking for me? I understand."
Yi Tianxing nodded after a brief moment of thought.
He had long regarded Niu Ben as a true friend. Since he had come seeking an audience, there was no reason to refuse him.
"To speak plainly, the barbarian tribes within Da Yi's territory are also a latent issue," Jia Xu said suddenly. "According to our records, there are at least 700–800 million barbarians within Yi Continent. Every one of them is fierce and battle-hardened. While most foreign tribes are restricted to the wilderness, the barbarians have been allowed to grow freely. If this continues unchecked, they may become a future threat."
That the barbarians lived in peace within Da Yi was largely due to their relatively good rapport with humans. They did not treat humanity with the contempt shown by other alien races. The presence of Niu Ben, a tribal chief with strong personal ties to Yi Tianxing, helped ensure harmony between the two peoples. Trade and interaction were common, and barbarians could even enter human immortal cities without obstruction.
Their similarity to humans also played a part. The barbarians differed mainly in their tall and burly physiques, with adult males generally around two meters tall. They were robust and possessed a natural affinity for combat—brutal, aggressive, and extremely strong in close-quarters battle.
"Strategist Jia, what is your suggestion?"
Yi Tianxing turned to Jia Xu thoughtfully.
"The barbarians are essentially human. In truth, they can be considered a branch of humanity. If we could integrate them into Da Yi as part of the human race, it would be the best solution. With intermarriage over time, the barbarian bloodline and the human bloodline could merge, becoming stronger. It would also greatly enhance Da Yi's overall strength."
Jia Xu made no attempt to hide his intention of fully integrating the barbarians. If successful, it would cement his name in history as a monumental figure in human unification.
"Hmm. Let us discuss this again at a later date."
Yi Tianxing replied after brief consideration.
For now, this matter would be set aside. The barbarian tribes were not to be taken lightly. Other alien races were cautious not to provoke them, which showed their strength. Furthermore, their connection to Niu Ben and the peaceful coexistence with humans meant they were more like allies. Plotting against them rashly would tarnish Da Yi's reputation throughout the Eternal World.
However, if the barbarians chose to integrate willingly, that would be another matter entirely.
"Within Da Yi, all immortal cities are functioning smoothly. All human citizens are now cultivators and have embarked on the path of cultivation. Newly conquered territories have also begun integrating into the system."
Huang Chengyan reported.
"Six Doors has detected signs of alien races secretly spying on our immortal cities. In addition, there are incidents of monsters and demons assaulting human citizens, draining their blood, and devouring their souls. Some even dared to infiltrate our cities."
Zhuge Zhengwo stepped forward and spoke solemnly.
"These monsters are audacious indeed! It's one thing to lurk in the wilderness, but to reach into our cities—they must be courting death!"
Guan Yu stepped forward and requested, "Your Majesty, I ask to lead troops into the wilderness and exterminate these monsters."
His phoenix eyes glinted with killing intent.
"This situation is egregious. If we do not suppress them swiftly, it will become a serious problem."
"I second this!"
"All monsters who dare feed on our people's blood must be executed!"
The ministers were furious. Such actions were a direct provocation against Da Yi and could not be tolerated. Swift and decisive retaliation was necessary to uphold Da Yi's authority.
"Indeed, these monsters must be suppressed. The Six Doors is responsible for maintaining internal security. It may recruit powerful cultivators into its ranks. Any monster found feeding on human blood is to be killed without mercy. If Six Doors cannot handle the threat, escalate the case to the Tongtian Pavilion, and request intervention from the divine envoys."
Yi Tianxing nodded in agreement.
As the Heavenly Dao's seal weakened, the boundaries between realms continued to loosen. Many previously sealed monsters had broken free and returned to the world. While not all demons were terrifying, some mindless monsters operated purely on instinct—seeking food, hunting humans, and devouring souls.
These instinct-driven beasts posed a unique threat. While all citizens of Da Yi were cultivators and highly resistant, some monsters with strange powers could still cause significant harm.
There also appeared to be a difference between mindless beasts and intelligent demons—some of whom might have once been humans or aliens transformed by unknown means.
Finally, the ministers summarized various matters of state for the Eternal Calendar's ninth year.
Overall, Da Yi maintained its unstoppable momentum, growing stronger by the day. Its territory expanded, and with it, the abundance and diversity of resources and goods, further enriching the realm's foundation.