Yi Tianxing had never underestimated the dragon race.
From the moment the dragon clan revealed the Boundless Sea Map, he had already guessed their intentions. Clearly, they had no interest in seeing a peaceful and harmonious Boundless Sea where each force grew strong on its own. Instead, they longed to see the forces on the continents and islands descend into fierce conflict, tearing each other apart. Through war, the strength of the various races would be worn down. Even if one force eventually emerged victorious—
It would be after great bloodshed.
War—that was what they desired most.
Of course, the Boundless Sea Dragon Palace would never sit idly by and watch a single power rise to dominate all others. Such an outcome would be entirely contrary to their interests and goals.
Intervention was only a matter of time.
"Expansion must continue," Yi Tianxing mused, "but the pace must not be too fast. It must be steady, step by step. Only then can we minimize vulnerabilities and losses, preventing others from seizing an opportunity to strike. As long as we leave no openings, even if the dragons are watching, they won't be able to shake the stability of the Great Yi Dynasty."
Expansion could not be halted.
Now was the best time to expand. If they waited until the situation stabilized, expansion would become far more complicated. No matter the pressure, expansion had to continue, even if it meant slowing the pace slightly.
Swish!
A flash of light appeared in front of him—an immortal talisman materialized out of thin air. It was the Starry Sky Immortal Travel Talisman.
This talisman had grown increasingly mystical. Previously, it required a thousand years of rest between uses. But ever since it had become a foundational divine artifact of the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, that limitation had vanished.
Not completely, but the interval between uses could now be drastically reduced—or even eliminated—at the cost of world origin. This was the true essence of the tower's internal world. Once consumed, it was gone for good and could not be replenished. This origin represented the very size and scope of the Hongmeng Tower's inner space. Such a price was steep, but manageable.
Especially now that the Dream Butterfly World continuously absorbed Nightmare Power, the loss of some world origin could be easily offset.
Furthermore, after being upgraded to Profound-grade, the Starry Sky Immortal Travel Talisman now required only five hundred years between uses instead of a thousand. The reduction was enormous, and the cost in world origin had similarly dropped.
Yi Tianxing wasn't stingy about paying this price.
Now, the talisman had been fully restored and once again held the power to traverse realms.
Within it, stars glittered and swirled, forming a boundless cosmos. It seemed as if the vastness of the starry sky was contained within, mesmerizing and awe-inspiring.
"Starry Sky Immortal Travel Talisman... I hope this journey brings something new. Be it population, talent, opportunity, or rare treasures—none of them would be too much."
This time, his goal was simple: to acquire as much manpower and talent as possible. The Great Yi Dynasty's expansion created a constant need for more people. Many of the new lands had few humans and would require massive migration.
"Shadow, I'll be counting on you to watch over things while I'm gone. Unless absolutely necessary, don't reveal that I've left the dynasty. I worry the dragon race may stir if they find out."
Yi Tianxing spoke to the shadow beneath him.
"Don't worry," replied Yi Tianxie confidently. "With me here, you can rest easy. You know how strong I am. Very few can threaten me. You are me, and I am you. We are one. As long as I will it, no one can see through our illusion."
"Good. When I return, it shall mark another rise for the Great Yi. I only hope I land in a realm suited for harvesting opportunities."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath. Without hesitation, he infused true essence into the talisman.
Immediately, it flew above his head, bathing him in starlight. In the next instant, he felt his consciousness pulled into the talisman—his spiritual will extracted and drawn inside.
The world shifted. He found himself within a strange realm—the inner world of the talisman, a Star Realm.
In a blink, a new body formed, shaped from stellar power and heaven-and-earth essence, identical to his original form. Like a perfect clone.
"Let's see where I'll end up this time."
Though a sovereign emperor, his heart still yearned for freedom and adventure.
Before him, a Star Gate opened.
With two previous voyages under his belt, Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate. He stepped in—and entered a vast starry corridor, his form enveloped in invisible forces, accelerating at unimaginable speeds. The scenery blurred as he crossed realms in the blink of an eye.
Then—
He was standing on solid ground.
"Where is this?"
Instantly alert, Yi Tianxing began scanning his surroundings. He stood in the wilderness on the outskirts of some region, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.
"A battlefield," he muttered grimly.
Signs of combat were everywhere.
Not far ahead, a grisly scene unfolded. Corpses littered the earth—an ocean of the dead. Blood had soaked the ground. It had clearly been a brutal and chaotic clash, perhaps even a sudden ambush. The dead numbered in the millions.
Among them, human corpses were visible—soldiers in torn armor, most killed from the front. Even in death, they had fought valiantly.
But they were not alone. Mixed among them were beastman corpses—werewolves, gnolls, kobolds, and others with savage, monstrous features.
The battle had been desperate and intense. The corpses hadn't even been collected. Judging by the fresh blood, it hadn't happened long ago.
Above, vultures circled and dove, feasting on the corpses—human and beast alike. Their shrill cries filled the air, and their eyes gleamed red.
"The corpses of my human warriors... how can I let these animals gorge themselves on their flesh?" Yi Tianxing whispered coldly.
A wave of invisible power swept forth from him, scattering the vultures in panic.
He looked upon the fallen and said solemnly:
"Come. I'll bring you to the place you truly belong. Your souls will not go unremembered."
With a wave of his hand, divine light surged across the battlefield. Wherever it passed, the corpses—both human and beastman—vanished. Even the blood soaked into the ground was cleansed. In mere moments, the battlefield was pristine. Not a trace of blood remained.
"So, this was a war between humans and beastmen. That means there's a human faction nearby."
That was his first useful clue.
If there were humans, then there was hope. Humans were social beings, and encountering one's own kind brought comfort and reassurance.
Following the trail of blood, Yi Tianxing pressed forward across the wilderness.
All along the way, corpses were scattered—both human and beastman. The entire wilderness had become a battleground. Whenever he came across bodies, he paused to collect them.
Eventually, a city appeared on the horizon.
"Goldenwater City — a human Immortal City."
Its walls were scarred by claw marks and blade gouges—signs of fierce battle.
Soldiers patrolled the ramparts, eyes cold and vigilant, exuding an aura of iron-blooded discipline. They had clearly survived countless battles. While their strength didn't quite match that of Great Yi soldiers, it wasn't far off.
Their mere presence radiated pressure.
"He's human! What are you waiting for? Get inside! It's dangerous out there. War could break out at any moment!"
A tall general on the city wall spotted Yi Tianxing and shouted urgently.
Recognizing a fellow human, his first instinct was to usher him to safety.