The newly added third ring would eventually be re-inhabited by citizens resettling in Xuanhuang City, once again developing into residential zones, commercial areas, streets, and so on. It could be said that this third ring would become the most coveted residential area within the territory of the Great Yi Emperor Dynasty. Settling down in Xuanhuang City was no longer an easy matter.
It wasn't that Xuanhuang City forbade commoners from residing or moving in and out.
Rather, the Emperor Capital—was not easy to reside in!
What's more, the residency approval process had grown far stricter. The most critical factor: too many wolves and too little meat. Without stricter limitations, Xuanhuang City would descend into chaos.
And this didn't even include the Cloud Realms sprouting from the Palace Divine Tree. Once those were considered, the city could house even more people.
At this moment, Xuanhuang City was undergoing a transformation.
As one of the city's core hubs, the Palace Divine Tree was the first to undergo change. Vast Genesis Power surged through its roots, spreading rapidly throughout Xuanhuang City. Countless tendrils extended through the city like meridians, reaching every direction. Wherever the tree roots stretched, the city naturally expanded and evolved.
A tremendous number of Willpower Orbs began to fuse madly into the city, becoming part of its foundation.
If not for the ten of billions of citizens and the spread of Eternal Coins in the Eternal World and the Underworld in recent years, providing such immense willpower, this shocking expansion likely wouldn't have been possible.
Yet in this moment, one could see divine radiance enveloping all of Xuanhuang City. Within the dazzling light, twelve divine Zodiac Beasts stood tall. Endless Genesis Power flowed into their bodies and into the twelve supreme Zodiac Phantom Armors.
Aoo!!
Roooar!!
Moo!!
Baa!!
In an instant, as if the Genesis Power were the final finishing touch, the Zodiac Armors, which had been gestating within the statues for ages, underwent a complete transformation. One innate divine seal after another began to manifest. Suddenly, resounding cries rang out.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The twelve suits of armor burst out simultaneously, soaring into the sky and hovering in the air, positioned at the twelve cardinal points of the Zodiac Grand Array. Within each armor appeared a divine phantom beast. For instance, the beast in the Dragon Armor transformed completely into a five-clawed golden dragon, coiling around the armor, exuding overwhelming majesty. The Divine Bull Armor revealed a Ground-Shaking Divine Bull, one of the most ancient bloodlines among bovines.
"A five-clawed golden dragon!"
"A Ground-Shaking Divine Bull!!"
"A Gold-Eating Rat!"
"A Rising Sun Firecloud Ram!"
"A Heavenly Steed!!"
"A Bright Moon Jade Rabbit!"
"A Six-Winged White Tiger!!"
"A Gluttonous Snake!"
"A Three-Eyed Golden Monkey!"
"A Howling Sky Dog!!"
"An Ivory Tusker!!"
"A Shouyang Golden Rooster!!"
Exclamations resounded. Many cultivators had already recognized these supreme phantoms that had emerged from the armors—true top-tier bloodlines, divine beasts among their kind. Under the Zodiac's nurturing, they were now genuine divine beasts. Each exuded extraordinary bloodline pressure and terrifying power. Their mere presence unleashed a tide-like wave of formless pressure.
They roared, declaring their existence to the world.
The aura of Innate Spirit Treasures surged from the armors, spreading out like a tidal wave.
As the first divine seal manifested, the armors continued to absorb Genesis Power. The second and third seals followed at astounding speed.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the ninth seal.
They had become Peak Low-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures.
The metamorphosis was complete.
"Hiss!!"
Countless onlookers gasped in amazement, their faces filled with shock and excitement.
"They've appeared—these twelve Zodiac Armors have finally emerged. These are peerless divine armors! Even though they're 'just' low-grade Innate Spirit Treasures, their combat strength rivals mid-grade offensive treasures!"
"Twelve Innate Spirit Treasures—our Great Yi Emperor Dynasty's foundation has grown even deeper. I can't wait to see who will wield them. I hope we'll witness their power soon."
Across the Great Yi Emperor Dynasty, countless citizens felt boundless joy.
The stronger the Emperor Dynasty, the better.
"The twelve Zodiac Guardian Gods can now take their place. I wonder who they'll be."
A thought flashed through Yi Tianxing's mind.
Now that the twelve Zodiac Armors had emerged, they had completed their gestation. Of course, this wasn't their final rank. Fused with the Zodiac Grand Array and with Xuanhuang City itself, the armors would usually remain housed within the Zodiac statues, continuously refined by the Zodiac's power. Over time, more innate divine seals would emerge.
Mid-grade, high-grade—even top-grade Innate Spirit Treasures were not out of reach. They were already only a step away from mid-grade. With some accumulation, advancing further was simply a matter of time.
A trivial hurdle.
The twelve Zodiac Armors returned to the statues, continuing their refinement.
At the same time, the Palace Divine Tree began to soar in height. Boundless Genesis Power poured into it, triggering its evolution.
Its canopy split once more, layer after layer of new crowns appearing in the sky, interwoven with profound laws, forming entirely new Cloud Realms.
There were already nine layers of Cloud Realms. Upon the Emperor City's ascension, nine more began to sprout.
One!Two!Three!…In a flash, nine new layers appeared.
In an instant, the number of Cloud Realms doubled—reaching a staggering eighteen layers.
Of course, the new realms sprouted from the base upward.
The top remained the top.
The Imperial Palace still sat at the summit.
Palaces materialized out of thin air, growing directly on the Palace Divine Tree. Each Cloud Realm seemed vast, with no visible boundaries—easily capable of housing billions. Moreover, each was rich in heavenly energy, not ordinary spirit energy, but Innate Vital Energy—true sanctuaries for cultivation. Peerless sacred grounds.
"Eighteen layers—excellent. With this, we can accommodate more human citizens and raise more geniuses and powerful cultivators."
Yi Tianxing rejoiced inwardly. This was truly a good thing.
The Innate Vital Energy in these Cloud Realms far exceeded that of any other location. In critical moments, they could serve as potent tools for recruiting experts. Promising a sect territory within the Cloud Realms in exchange for allegiance to Great Yi would make many sects rush to accept. A valuable base had tremendous weight for any sect.
The importance of Xuanhuang City would only continue to grow. This was a peerless Immortal City, a Supreme Divine Artifact.
The Qingshan Immortal Sect currently had a stronghold in one of the Cloud Realms. Though their main base was in Snow Continent, they still valued Xuanhuang City deeply. Many sect disciples now resided there permanently—not just to buy daily necessities and cultivation materials, but also to sell Qingshan's products: magical treasures, divine weapons, talismans, formations, and more.
At that moment, the Well of Eternity, silently absorbing Genesis Power, evolved spontaneously. A flood of runic seals emerged. Without notice, it transformed into a Terrestrial-Grade Treasure—an Innate Spirit Treasure. All its restrictions became innate divine seals.
Suddenly, Eternal Power surged through the entire Xuanhuang City. It coursed through the city's foundation, infusing the Immortal City with an aura of eternity. Upon becoming an Innate Spirit Treasure, the Well of Eternity's absorption of vital energy surged by hundreds of times. Endless spirit energy turned into Eternal Power, refining the city, pushing it toward complete metamorphosis, even shattering its shackles.
Boom!!!
Almost without warning, a crisp shockwave echoed from Xuanhuang City.
The Immortal City erupted with infinite divine radiance.
Xuanhuang City—has ascended to Emperor City.
Xuanhuang City—the Supreme Divine Artifact—has reached the Supreme Rank.
Yes. Xuanhuang City had fully broken through, and not just once, but twice—first becoming an Emperor City, then immediately advancing to Supreme Rank. This level surpassed even the top-tier divine cities. Its power was such that ordinary Innate Spirit Treasures would be instantly shattered upon impact. Once it moved, it was a monstrous, earth-shaking force.
Willpower was among the most mysterious powers of heaven and earth. Powerful willpower could make illusions real, create fortune from nothing, and bring dreams to life. The willpower gathered in Xuanhuang City was now immeasurable—like a boundless ocean. Countless Willpower Orbs merged into the city, becoming its foundation for ascension.
Had the city not been constructed primarily from Willpower Orbs, such effortless advancement would have been impossible. Other divine cities required the rarest divine materials and trials of heavenly tribulation to evolve.
Of course, this wasn't easy. Few forces could amass such an ocean of Willpower Orbs.
What is foundation?
This is foundation!!
A tidal wave of pressure spread out in all directions, but in the next instant, all that power was instantly retracted, returning to utter calm.
Xuanhuang City has ascended to Supreme Rank.
All heavenly structures within the city began to evolve: the Rainbow Bridge, military barracks, Eternal Academy, Phantom Beast Hall, and more—all received feedback from the Supreme Immortal City. Their essence was infused, and transformation became inevitable.
Yet all these changes were completely hidden from the outside world.
"Xuanhuang City has ascended to Emperor City... but why do I feel a hidden unease? This city... it's definitely no ordinary Emperor City."
The Hanhai Dragon King's gaze turned deep and thoughtful as a strange thought flickered through his mind.