However, the ninja ultimately remained motionless. Now was not the best time—the positioning was wrong, and there was no guarantee of a flawless strike. Moreover, with a powerful figure like Ye Zhiqiu present, any hint of killing intent or unusual movement would be instantly detected. At that point, not only would the assassination fail, but even escape would be difficult.
The first creed of a ninja—endure!!
"I mustn't move. I must endure. I am a chrysanthemum. I am a ninja. I am a chrysanthemum. I am a chrysanthemum."
The ninja repeatedly strengthened his resolve.
Absolutely no room for exposure. All efforts would be wasted otherwise.
Before long, a bucket of premium farm fertilizer was brought in.
"Someone, fertilize the chrysanthemum," He Shen cheerfully ordered.
Immediately, a guard came forward with a shovel and began digging beneath the illusory chrysanthemum. As the earth was moved, the ninja's entire head became exposed. Of course, the ninja remained confident, standing absolutely still and betraying no flaws. Even with the dirt removed, he believed others would perceive him as nothing more than root matter.
Still reciting the ninja creed internally.
Eventually, the entire ninja's head was uncovered. The soil around him was cleared.
He Shen and Ye Zhiqiu looked at the figure—eyes shut and face masked in black cloth—and immediately understood. This was a ninja, an assassin hidden incredibly deep.
They exchanged glances and nodded.
"Come now, fertilize it. These roots are far too fine. It must be fertilized thoroughly," Ye Zhiqiu said with a smile.
The guard had clearly seen the ninja's head but, receiving the command, showed no sign of alarm. He stepped forward with a large bucket filled with the richest farm fertilizer—an odor so vile it could barely be endured.
Even the guards held their breath in grim determination.
Splash!!
A whole bucket of fertilizer was poured down. The ninja's head was completely submerged in the foul slurry. That "unique fragrance" of the farm fertilizer seeped into his pores. The sensation was indescribably awful. At that moment, the ninja's mental state collapsed.
Ninjas endure harsh training, but none had prepared him for this—his entire head dunked in manure.
He could only desperately recite the ninja creed in his mind.
I endure!Endure! Endure! ENDURE!!
"Good! Good! Excellent!!"
He Shen nodded in satisfaction and continued,
"Farm fertilizer is good, but I feel the effect is too slow. Such a beautiful chrysanthemum is bound to wither. I think it should be preserved permanently. Let me add something extra—to let it bloom forever, never fading."
As he spoke, he took out a jade bottle and poured its contents into the fertilizer.
Immediately, a chilling white powder fell in, and a wave of cold surged out, instantly freezing the fertilizer along with the "chrysanthemum." That terrifying cold invaded the ninja's body without warning, penetrating his mind before he could react, plunging him into blankness.
"What is this?! Are Da Yi officials really this brutal? Just to preserve a flower, they freeze me alive?"
The ninja felt a literal chill in his heart.
He hadn't even made a move, yet now he was completely frozen.
"Freezing Powder—a fitting end for him. Capturing such an assassin is a significant contribution," Ye Zhiqiu remarked with a smile.
"Hehe, all thanks to Brother Ye's cooperation. Otherwise, if the assassin sensed something was wrong, he might have lashed out."
"But truly, these ninjas have terrifying endurance. A whole bucket of manure, and he didn't even flinch. If it were me, I'd have jumped out screaming. But he stood there as if nothing happened. One must respect that."
This wasn't mockery—it was genuine admiration.
"Let's seal him with a binding seal now. I worry he might break free from the ice," Ye Zhiqiu said.
"Naturally," He Shen replied.
Without delay, Ye Zhiqiu cast a sealing technique, suppressing the ninja—including the bucket of frozen manure, which was… less than pleasant to handle.
Still, the guards dug him out of the ground.
Elsewhere in the immortal cities, with enforcers from the Six Doors Division and experts from the Calamity Hall, many ninja assassins were hunted down. Most were killed on the spot. Capturing them alive was rare. These ninjas were notoriously ruthless—once something seemed off, they'd commit instant suicide using poison capsules hidden in their teeth.
Few survived.
Some tried to escape using ninja stealth or escape arts, but under the surveillance of the Heavenly Eye, their techniques were useless. They were easily tracked and swiftly caught in intense skirmishes.
For a time, scenes of assassin chases played out across the Da Yi territory.
But before long, everything settled.
Any ninja detected by the Heavenly Eye was killed or captured. The threat was completely purged.
"The Heavenly Eye!!"
Ao You gazed at the golden eye hovering in the void and murmured,
"He actually refined the Golden Crow Eye, and… it seems to have transformed. It's even more divine. The aura it emits is terrifying—it must have advanced to the level of a Supreme Innate Spirit Treasure."
A Supreme Innate Spirit Treasure—in any faction, this was a core treasure capable of anchoring destiny. Even among the dragon clans, such treasures were rare.
Now Da Yi had one—and not just any one, but refined into a Heavenly Eye that surveilled all directions. This meant that Da Yi was now an impenetrable fortress. Any force thinking of challenging Da Yi would now think twice. The recent ninja purge was living proof.
"With this, Da Yi's foundation grows stronger still, filling a major weakness. Assassination tactics are no longer viable here," Ao Qing added, her expression complex.
At a time when other powers were trembling, Da Yi continued to grow. It was astonishing.
But the most shocking part: Yi Tianxing actually possessed Reincarnation Divine Liquid, allowing him to refine the cursed Golden Crow Eye—an incredible feat.
She was beginning to realize more and more—her husband, Yi Tianxing, still hid many terrifying secrets.
The ninja episode didn't cause much chaos, but it did alarm the imperial court.
"If this is Da Yi's eye, let it be called the Eternal Heavenly Eye—a Heavenly Eye that endures forever, unyielding across the ages," Yi Tianxing declared, pleased by its performance.
Having become a Supreme Innate Cursed Spirit Treasure, it now deserved the title Eternal, reflecting both its essence and Da Yi's ambition.
The empire was never meant to be the limit—not even an imperial dynasty would suffice. Da Yi aspired to more.
Time passed quietly after that.
The Dragon Gate, Qilin Blood Pool, and Sacred Phoenix Tree remained active for a full day.
In just that one day, the bloodlines of all three clans spread throughout the Eternal World.
According to reports, within Da Yi's domain alone, sightings of kirin (Qilin), dragonkin, and phoenixes flooded in. Among them, dragonkin were the most numerous, reproducing at increasing speed. Dragons were known for their lust—once the dragon bloodline awakened, they lost the powerful control of true dragons and became slaves to their instincts.
Combined with the beast tribes' natural fertility, this led to mass pregnancies.
Unnoticed, three to four months passed.
Time had entered December, the final stretch of Eternal Year Ten. Spring Festival was just around the corner, and soon, the calendar would turn to Eternal Year Eleven.
In the Da Yi Imperial Palace, inside the Heavenly Assembly Hall—
Court officials had gathered.
Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, Xun Yu, Zhou Yu, Yang Ye, Huang Chengyan… each of them present, exchanging smiles—though a closer look revealed a heavy undertone. Clearly, they were not as relaxed as they appeared.
This year had seen too much upheaval.
The sudden rise of the three bloodline clans had completely disrupted the world order. The pressure had been immense. And with the ninja assassination attempt, a cloud still hung over the court. Who knew how many more killers the Eternal Night World might yet deploy? Would they keep targeting Da Yi?
"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! May you live long and stay ever youthful!"
Yi Tianxing appeared, prompting respectful shouts throughout the hall. Beside him sat Cai Yan, also appearing for this final year-end grand court session—as Empress, she too had the right to attend and listen.
"All my loyal subjects, rise," Yi Tianxing nodded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"
The officials stood in two neat lines.
Looking out over the crowd, Da Yi had indeed grown into a truly solid foundation.
"This is our final court session of the year. I know you've all experienced this turbulent year firsthand. Some matters must be discussed—to determine how Da Yi shall conduct itself in the year ahead," Yi Tianxing said solemnly.