In just a few breaths, the Destiny True Dragon of Great Yi expanded to over ten thousand zhang, surpassing the normal limits of an Empire dynasty's fate manifestation. Then, it continued growing, surging beyond its boundaries toward an even higher transformation.
This time, with the Eternal Coin officially recognized by Heaven and Earth as the main currency of the Eternal World, the destiny gathered by Great Yi was unimaginably massive—imbued with the righteous will of Heaven.
Ten thousand one hundred zhang...
Ten thousand two hundred...…
All the way to fifteen thousand zhang!
It only slowed once it reached fifteen thousand zhang. Even so, destiny continued flowing steadily into the dragon's body. While the rate had decreased, the stream was ceaseless and uninterrupted. Every Eternal Coin in circulation generated more fate. The more widespread its use became, the more fortune Great Yi accumulated. This—was the true key.
"Fifteen thousand zhang! This is incredible. Great Yi's fate has finally reached the required threshold for promotion to Sacred Court—no, it has far exceeded it! With such a deep foundation, our path to ascension is fully open. As expected of the Emperor—while we thought we'd need more time, he has paved the road already. Now it's our turn. We must strengthen domestic governance."
"Quickly assimilate the entire Hanhai Domain. We need full control. Let no loose ends remain, or they'll become our weakness when we try to ascend!"
In this moment, countless officials within Great Yi silently made their resolve.
Everyone could now see the possibility of ascending to Sacred Court.
Once that happened, every official in the state structure would benefit enormously. Even just in terms of official rank and authority, they'd receive a massive leap. And this wasn't a one-time reward—it would be ongoing and cumulative.
No one wanted to be left behind.
Great Yi operated on a strict meritocracy: the capable rose, the incompetent fell. Its talent reserves were deep. From academies and institutes to the Imperial Examination, the entire system was geared toward producing elite talents, all waiting for their moment.
And now? A new Imperial Examination was coming, drawing from a population of nearly thirty trillion. The base was massive; the number of geniuses would explode.
No one wanted to be the "front wave crashing on the shore."
They wanted to ride the tide all the way to the heavens.
"Surely the Emperor doesn't plan to immediately ascend to Sacred Court?"
"That would be reckless. We're not fully prepared. Anything could go wrong at that point."
Zhuge Liang and others looked up at the altar, concern flashing through their eyes. If Yi Tianxing rushed the ascension, the entire court might be caught off guard.
Fortunately, their fears were unfounded.
Yi Tianxing soon descended from the Heavenly Sacrifice Platform, and the celestial projection faded.
But the aftermath of the Eternal Coin becoming the world's dominant currency was only beginning to ferment.
Especially with the new fivefold cultivation boost—the Eternal Coin's value skyrocketed. Everyone in Great Yi benefited. But for other races and dynasties?
This was a monetary devaluation. A slap in the face. And it hurt.
Outside of Great Yi, in a hidden spatial rift, the Hydra emblem stood tall.
Three figures met there.
A black-robed man.
A white-robed man.
A red-robed man.
Each of them radiated terrifyingly deep auras.
"His power is getting out of hand," said the white-robed figure grimly. "Great Yi is now nearly untouchable. The Eternal Coin has officially become the dominant currency, and it's been boosted to five times effectiveness. If we can't suppress this, Great Yi will soar unchecked."
In the past, Eternal Coin had only been one of Yi Tianxing's wings.
Now?That wing had taken flight.
So long as Great Yi stood, the Eternal Coin would stand with it. And Heaven itself now backed it.
"But Great Yi has already made enemies," the black-robed man said. "They've provoked the Nine Heavens Dao Sovereign. The four Innate Gods of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning have already begun bringing disasters down on Great Yi. If they can't resolve this, they won't be able to ascend. That's our chance. We just need to give them one more 'gift.'"
He smiled coldly.
"Wasn't there a selection of palace women recently? We managed to plant someone. According to our sources, she's already slept with the Emperor and been granted the title of Imperial Consort. That pawn must be kept in line. She must not betray us."
The red-robed man's voice was hoarse and chilling.
"Her family is still in our grasp," said the white-robed man. "Given her temperament, she won't dare defy us. If not for the fear that Great Yi might detect soul tampering, we would've rewritten her memories from the start. But she's in the palace now—her value has multiplied. We won't use her unless absolutely necessary. Once revealed, her cover is blown."
That woman was a trump card.
A dangerous one.
"I plan to open a Demon Abyss inside Great Yi," said the black-robed man, his expression savage. "We won't let them rise in peace. We'll hit them hard."
"That's bold. Opening a Demon Abyss will get noticed. Not just by Great Yi—everyone nearby will pay attention," the white-robed figure said, brows furrowing.
"No need to worry," the black-robed man replied. "During the Eternal World's fusion with the Myriad Realms, countless vulnerabilities formed. We—of Eternal Night—planted many of our elites across dimensions. This world is riddled with holes. Tearing one open is easy. We'll create chaos. Let's see how Yi Tianxing handles our little surprise."
"Very well. Let's proceed. Once the abyss opens, even Great Yi will be overwhelmed. It'll break their momentum."
They couldn't stand Great Yi's rise. Not without sending a message. Not without starting something.
In the Imperial Palace, Yi Tianxing suddenly frowned, sensing a faint surge of unease.
"A disturbance in my heart... Seems like this Eternal Coin matter has stirred up dangerous attention."
He muttered quietly.
It was inevitable. Too many now viewed Great Yi as a threat. As a nail to be pulled. He'd expected that.
But the fact that it triggered Heart Resonance meant this was no ordinary threat.
"I'll have the Calamity Hall monitor for disturbances. I'll inform Tong Huang shortly."
His thoughts shifted again. Speaking of the Child Emperor—his petite figure had her own particular allure. Their recent union had been… unforgettable.
"The destiny's in place. Now I just need the Twelve Zodiac Guardians to return."
He looked toward the sky, where the stars had already begun to shift.
Signs of new inheritors.
It was close.
Within his inner world, Yi Tianxing appeared beside the Heavenly Altar in his Purple Palace.
The altar was eighty-one zhang wide—perfectly round.
Heaven's number.
"The foundation is complete. Now I can truly step into the Dao Platform Realm. With this altar as the base, I'll begin forging the first layer of my Dao Platform."
He had long been prepared.
Most cultivators had to seek out rare heaven-and-earth treasures to forge their platform. These items needed to be highly compatible or their power would be wasted.
But not him.
His Heavenly Emperor Divine Body could assimilate anything.
No need to pick and choose—his body was the standard.