In a short span of time, eighteen tribal settlements were consecutively conquered. Fifteen celestial cities were established, bringing the coastal regions entirely under the dominion of the Great Yi Dynasty. At the same time, with an immense number of ice crystal egg sacs sacrificed, the Iron-Blood Great Wall had completely solidified—no longer was there a single illusory segment. The entire wall was now one continuous, tangible entity. Within its bounds, a profound sense of safety could be clearly felt.
Not only was the once-illusory portion of the Great Wall made whole, but the wall itself had begun to expand, enlarging its reach to encompass all newly acquired territories of Snow Continent—and even more beyond. The conquests of the eighteen tribes yielded tens of billions more ice crystal egg sacs, feeding yet another gluttonous feast to the Iron-Blood Great Wall.
It had never been so abundant before.
"As long as the Iron-Blood Great Wall extends, so does the territory of the Great Yi Dynasty."This was something Yi Tianxing once declared to his ministers.
Wherever the Iron-Blood Great Wall reached, it represented the breadth of Great Yi's sovereign domain.
"Your Majesty, judging from our current momentum, I fear the Ice Crystal Royal Court has already received our intelligence and is starting to react. According to scouts, the remaining nearby tribes have completely withdrawn, leaving behind ghost towns. They're clearly bracing themselves in case we continue our blitz. Next time, we'll likely face the true might of the Ice Crystal race's main army."Standing beside Yi Tianxing, Zhuge Liang spoke calmly.
The Ice Crystal Royal Court wasn't foolish. They would not allow Great Yi to continue picking them off individually. It was only natural for them to consolidate their forces. What was to come would be a surge of fury from the Ice Crystal race—bringing with it potentially devastating retaliation.
"Mm. To have seized such a vast territory means we've firmly established a foothold on Snow Continent. This initial stage could not have gone better. As I said before, this campaign hinges on your strategies. The planning and execution—whether it's an ambush or frontal assault—are all in your hands."Yi Tianxing's tone remained composed.
He was one to give true talent a proper stage. Whether they earned glory depended on their own skill. He would offer opportunity—but seizing it was up to them.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."Zhuge Liang smiled faintly, understanding full well what Yi Tianxing meant. Then he continued:
"The Ice Crystal race's greatest advantage lies in their vast pool of battle-ready warriors. Their society is fully militarized—men and women alike. Once mobilized, they can summon tens of billions of elite troops almost instantly. With such an innate edge, overwhelming numbers will surely be their primary tactic. So we must prepare for their counteroffensive, which will resemble a tide of beasts—ceaseless and relentless."
"If we fight them on open ground—even with the strength of our major legions—we risk being swallowed whole. Even the might of our celestial cities might not be enough to hold them back. Hence, I propose we adopt a strategy of defending with the Iron-Blood Great Wall—using defense to wear them down, relying on the fortress-like wall to negate their numerical advantage. This will allow us to exploit terrain and natural advantage."
Defensive warfare was a hallmark of Great Yi.
With the Great Wall as bastion, they could ensure safety and maintain a naturally unassailable position. It was a solid, dependable strategy. So long as they didn't charge rashly, they would be secure.
"Agreed. If we can reduce casualties by defending rather than attacking, that's all the better. The lives of our soldiers are far more precious than those of any foreign race."Yi Tianxing nodded approvingly.
Every soldier of Great Yi was priceless.
"Furthermore, we can continue advancing with the Iron-Blood Wall itself—slowly pushing outward, absorbing territory bit by bit. With each new offering of egg sacs, the wall can expand further. While the pace may seem slow, it will be steady and sure. In fact, our progress might be faster than anyone expects."
Zhuge Liang revealed a faint, knowing smile—he had already prepared a "gift" for the Ice Crystal race, one they would find… unforgettable.
As day turned to night, the Iron-Blood Great Wall stood solemn and tall.
Soldiers lined the ramparts—drawn not just from Great Yi's standing legions, but also from the War Soul Realm, arriving en masse via Rainbow Bridges. Their numbers exceeded tens of millions, covering every inch of the wall.
Ballistae were set up, arrows gleamed with a deadly chill, and massive iron chests filled with bolts and war supplies were piled along the wall. Every few steps, another cache of weapons and explosives could be seen.
This was a war of logistics as much as soldiers.
Crates of rune bombs and charm talismans were stacked high—an arsenal vast enough to make one's jaw drop. Every soldier was in full armor, weapons polished to a shine.
"Mr. Kongming, do you think the Ice Crystals will really come?"General Cheng Yaojin asked, peering over the wall.
"With their temperament? Absolutely. Their tribal evacuations were to concentrate power. They're planning a single, thunderous blow. Remember—a punch hits harder after you pull it back."
Zhuge Liang was certain.
Scout reports showed a massive mobilization of Ice Crystal troops nearby. Meanwhile, the army stationed outside the Green Mountain Immortal Sect had inexplicably withdrawn—highly suspicious. Clearly, this was no retreat—they were simply changing targets. Their first aim was now the Great Yi, not the Immortal Sect.
Just then, a thunderous rumble echoed in the distance.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!
The ground quaked violently, as if struck by an earthquake. A wave of savage, murderous aura surged forward like a tide. Alongside it came howling winds and snowfall. The air turned bitingly cold.
It was as if ten thousand horses were charging.
Beyond the Iron-Blood Wall was a wide open plain—a perfect battlefield. With no cover or terrain to hide behind, everything could be seen. This was a place for direct confrontation—pure offense versus defense.
"Look! What is that?"
"It's a floating fortress! Is that one of their war machines?"
Appearing from the horizon was a massive war fortress, floating in the sky. It was nearly the size of a celestial city. Ramparts lined its sides, and soldiers of the Ice Crystal race stood tall upon them. Even from a distance, it radiated a menacing pressure.
Atop the fortress stood General Xuanbing the Frosthawk, his crystalline wings outstretched, eyes sharp as blades. Just meeting his gaze caused one's eyes to sting.
"What a terrifying war machine,"Yi Tianxing muttered in admiration.
This was clearly a deadly weapon meant for siege.
"KILL—!!"
The Frosthawk General let out a single cold cry—no extra words. It was the signal to begin the war.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
A wave of white surged over the horizon. The earth trembled.
"They're here! Ice Crystal warriors! So many of them! It's a sea of troops!"
Countless Ice Crystal soldiers charged forward, wielding glittering cold weapons, their breath turning to mist. From afar, they looked like a white tidal wave, surging forward to swallow the Iron-Blood Wall.
"There—giants! Ice Giants! The Ice Crystals have tamed ice giants!!"
Towering figures—over a hundred zhang tall—appeared in the ranks. These Ice Giants were even taller than the wall itself. Each one wielded a massive ice spear, and their steps shook the earth. As they marched, their frosty breath turned the air around them into blizzards.
"Archers ready!!""Ballista crews—ready!!""Rune-gun formations—ready!!"
Shouts rang across the wall.
The defenders stood poised, not a single one unprepared.
"I'll form the head!"
"I'll form the torso!"
"I'll form the arms!"…
Cries erupted as countless Ice Crystal warriors merged mid-run—forming into towering Ice Crystal Battle Titans.
Each fusion yielded colossi over seventy zhang tall—humanoid titans equal to or greater than the Ice Giants themselves. The wall, though 49 zhang tall, seemed puny before them.
What once was a dense swarm of Ice Crystal soldiers had now transformed into a titanic army of giants.
Just witnessing this scene sent a chill through every soldier's bones.