This court assembly lasted until midday before it finally concluded.
Afterward, the court dispersed, with everyone going their separate ways, preparing for the upcoming annual Celestial Delicacy Banquet—a grand feast. This year's banquet would feature an even wider array of delicacies due to newly acquired territories, including vast marine areas. Rare sea beasts and unique marine products would all be showcased at the banquet. The Celestial Delicacy Banquet was intended to present the most exquisite cuisine and specialties from all across the Great Yi Domain.
The day after the court assembly—
Cao Zhengchun approached Yi Tianxing and respectfully said, "Master, Niu Ben has arrived."
"Escort him to Waterwood Garden. Make sure fine wine and gourmet dishes are ready. I will receive my guest personally!" Yi Tianxing said with a cheerful smile, issuing swift instructions.
The imperial palace now incorporated elements of Yuanmingyuan, boasting thousands of gardens and a variety of unique landscapes. It was a world unto itself, vast and magnificent. Waterwood Garden was one of many, constructed from a unique type of wood. Lakes spread across the grounds, pavilions floated on water, and long corridors stretched over the surface. The entire layout was masterfully designed, creating a vivid and elegant aesthetic. The scenery was one of a kind, where water and sky merged as one.
Arriving at Waterwood Garden, the largest pavilion was already set with exquisite wine and dishes. All were personally prepared by Lai He, using the finest ingredients sourced from powerful sea beasts.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Yi Tianxing hadn't waited long in the pavilion when he heard loud, rhythmic thuds approaching. In the distance, at the garden's entrance, a tall and burly figure appeared—radiating a wild, untamed aura. Who else could it be but Niu Ben?
"Brother Tianxing! I, Niu Ben, have come! Let me show you the gift I brought!"He walked confidently along the water-bound corridor, laughing heartily with an axe slung over his shoulder.
On his back, he carried what looked like a bundle of dried vines, almost like dead branches, making him resemble a humble woodcutter from the wilds.
"Brother Niu, now that you're here, you are a treasured guest of Great Yi. No gift is necessary. Come, sit, let us drink!"Yi Tianxing welcomed him warmly, showing no hint of disdain. His attitude was sincere.
He and Niu Ben were truly kindred spirits. Though from different races and rarely in contact, their bond was genuine—true friendship transcends frequency. A friend in the heart is a brother for life.
"Heh, how could I come empty-handed? I heard that Brother Yi recently had a few daughters, so I specially collected this bundle of Star-Moon Vine. Among our Barbarian Tribe, this is used to temper the bodies of newborns. It enhances physical strength, greatly boosts life essence, and can even raise innate potential. But it's only effective for children under six. Beyond that age, the effects diminish greatly. In our tribe, we call this the Star-Moon Baptism, a sacred blessing for newborns."
Niu Ben grinned as he explained.
This was a true treasure, unique to the Barbarian Tribe. They had exclusive cultivation methods, and such items rarely circulated outside. Even a single inch of the Star-Moon Vine was enough for a child to complete the ritual. Yet what he brought was an entire bundle—an unimaginably generous gift that could bless countless children.
Saying that, he sat down without ceremony and placed the vines on the table. Looking at the feast before him, he smiled widely, almost drooling.
"Your human cuisine is simply irresistible," Niu Ben said jovially.
"Please! Let's drink and enjoy the food. Everything else can wait," Yi Tianxing responded with a smile.
Gourmet cuisine—his greatest joy.
Here, each dish was a masterpiece, exuding radiant culinary auras, and releasing tantalizing aromas that awakened the deepest cravings. Just looking at them made one's mouth water.
Giant lobsters, sea crabs, octopus meatballs, crystal shrimp dumplings, crab roe buns—each was bursting with flavor.
As for the wine, it was none other than the legendary Dukang Immortal Brew, crafted by Dukang himself.
Food and wine—together, they offered a heavenly indulgence.
Both Yi Tianxing and Niu Ben quickly lost themselves in the joy of eating, utterly immersed in the sensory bliss of the moment.
Before long, the table was picked clean—nothing left behind.
"Delicious, absolutely delicious," Niu Ben sighed in satisfaction. "Brother Yi, you truly know how to live. Makes me want to stay here permanently. This is what life should be."
"If you're willing, you may live in Great Yi for as long as you like. Whenever you want to eat, just come find me," Yi Tianxing said with a laugh. This feast had once again enhanced his physical strength.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible for long," Niu Ben said, shaking his head with a sigh. "Brother Yi, we may soon have to part ways."
"Part ways? What do you mean? Are you setting off on a journey?" Yi Tianxing asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, we're leaving," Niu Ben said solemnly.
"Leaving? May I ask where you're heading?" Yi Tianxing followed up, already guessing this wasn't just a journey within Yi Continent, but a departure to another land entirely.
"Brother Yi, you know as well as I do that this continent—Yi Continent—is just a tiny corner of the Eternal World. Even the Boundless Sea Domain is merely a part of one vast realm. The stage here is too small. With your talents, you're destined to rise far higher. And among the many continents in this world, there is one land that is truly unique—The Primordial Continent (亘古大陆)."
Niu Ben's tone grew serious as he spoke.
"I've heard of the Primordial Continent—said to be the very center of the Eternal World, the central continent. Vast and boundless, it's home to the most powerful races. That's where the true strong gather."Yi Tianxing nodded, his expression equally serious.
How could he not have heard of it? The Primordial Continent was the true heart of the Eternal World. But despite many rumors, no one had concrete information about its location. It remained shrouded in mystery.
It was said to transcend the normal boundaries of realms—almost like a separate dimension altogether.
What lay within, no one truly knew.
"At any rate, I and the most elite warriors of my Barbarian Tribe will be departing for the Primordial Continent soon," Niu Ben said gravely.
"The Primordial Continent… Do you actually have coordinates or a way to get there?" Yi Tianxing asked, intrigued.
The journey to such a place couldn't be made by conventional means. Sailing there? One would die before even catching a glimpse of it.
"Our tribal elders will soon issue a summons. They'll provide coordinates and open a passage. That's how we'll make the journey. So the next time we meet, it will have to be on the Primordial Continent."Niu Ben sighed softly.
Clearly, once gone, there was no telling when—or if—they'd return.
"Don't worry. I'll make my way to the Primordial Continent sooner or later. That day won't be far off. When we meet again, we'll drink and feast once more. But I suspect this visit isn't just for farewells, is it?" Yi Tianxing asked with a smile.
He wasn't envious—in fact, he felt happy for Niu Ben. Reaching the Primordial Continent would vastly accelerate growth and present unprecedented opportunities.
"Brother Yi, do you know the true origins of my Barbarian Tribe?" Niu Ben asked suddenly.
"I'm all ears," Yi Tianxing responded.
"According to ancient tribal records, our Barbarian Tribe was born from unions between the Wu Tribe and the Human Race. Our blood carries the lineage of both. We inherited the fertility of the humans and the mighty physique of the Wu. Over time, this gave birth to a new bloodline—ours. While we've evolved into something new, we cannot deny that we carry human blood."
This was clearly a tribal secret, not something widely known.
Naturally, the Barbarian Tribe had become a strong race in its own right—thriving through its unique path.
This origin story didn't surprise Yi Tianxing—it even felt strangely fitting.
"Great Yi has never regarded the Barbarian Tribe as outsiders," Yi Tianxing said warmly.
"I hope your Great Yi Dynasty can accept the remaining members of our Barbarian Tribe. From this day forward, they shall be citizens of Great Yi."Niu Ben's expression turned serious.
"What? You want the Barbarian Tribe to integrate into Great Yi?"Even Yi Tianxing was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected such a request.
This wasn't just a request—it was a tremendous gift.
"This migration will only include our strongest warriors. Many of our people cannot make the journey. Leaving them behind worries me. The only one I trust to protect them… is you, Brother Yi," Niu Ben said firmly.