Unknowingly, the once several-hundred-zhang-long Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon had now grown to over one thousand zhang.
But compared to the ultimate level required of a Sacred Court, this was a mere drop in the bucket.
At its peak, a Sacred Court's fate dragon must reach one million zhang in length.
And it must be composed entirely of golden fate energy.
This level represents a transcendental tier of national power and authority.
Even with great fortune and opportunities, reaching this stage is almost impossible during the Sacred Court phase. Still, the immense growth potential is exactly why other Fate Dynasties believe they can eventually catch up to Great Yi.
Eternal Year 50, First Month, 18th Day – Morning
The rising sun cast golden rays across the lands.Within Great Yi, peace was gradually returning.
Aside from ongoing battles along the Iron-Blood Great Wall, most interior regions were pacified.Monsters and Blood Asuras had been driven into the wilderness, forced to lay low.
Though sporadic unrest remained, none of it could shake the foundations.
Fate energy once again surged from all directions, converging toward the central destiny of the realm.
The Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon hovering in the void devoured the golden fate endlessly.Its body continued to grow, though the increase was now subtle—centimeters at a time.
The current thousand-zhang form hovered in the sky, commanding awe.None could meet its gaze directly.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Clear bell chimes rang out across the sky.
A celestial staircase descended from the heavens.
Ministers and generals ascended it toward the Hall of Heavenly Ascension.
All the formal military divisions had returned.On the frontlines, however, the war continued.Under the command of skilled generals, Great Yi's standard forces had not halted.
Following Yi Tianxing's order, the Iron-Blood Great Wall began expanding outward—100 li per day.
Despite the massive scope, this posed no pressure at all.
The dead—enemy and friendly alike—had been absorbed into the wall, strengthening its foundation.
And after Great Yi's ascension, the wall—originally 81 zhang tall—had transformed to a towering 360 zhang.
Each stone was now like an immovable heavenly boulder, incomparably resilient.
The expansion was swift, suppressing pirates and demons with sheer momentum.
Their previous hope—to retreat safely after a failed siege—was shattered.Retreat now seemed a luxury they could no longer afford.
Within the Sacred King's Palace
Post-ascension, the palace had expanded tenfold, if not a hundredfold.New gardens and grand halls had manifested.By comparison, the original Yuanming Garden was insignificant—this was another realm entirely.
The Hall of Heavenly Ascension itself had grown vast and majestic.Even glancing upward evoked a pressure so intense it stole one's breath.
Officials entered in sequence, arrayed in two ranks along both sides.
On the Dragon and Phoenix Thrones sat Yi Tianxing and Cai Yan.
"We greet the Sacred King. May the Sacred King live forever and bask in immortal blessings!"
"We greet the Sacred Queen. May Her Majesty enjoy eternal youth and endless fortune!"
Their voices held nothing but sincere devotion.There was no artifice in their celebration.
After all, they were now truly officials of a Sacred Court.
A dream realized.
"Rise, my loyal ministers," Yi Tianxing said with a nod.
"Thank you, Sacred King."
"My dear ministers, Great Yi's ascension to Sacred Court is thanks to all of you.Without your tireless governance, support for the people, strengthening of national power, and accumulation of fate—this day would not have come so soon."
"As this is our first Grand Court after becoming a Sacred Court, I shall now bestow upon you a method to receive the national fate's feedback."
"This technique is called—Sealed Spirit Mark of Hidden Storage (归藏封灵印)."
"By visualizing this seal, you will form an imprint capable of sealing the feedback power into your personal official seal, allowing for gradual absorption that won't destabilize your foundation. It is a powerful tool to break through bottlenecks. This technique is exclusive to Great Yi—not to be passed outside."
[归藏封灵印 – Sealed Spirit Mark of Hidden Storage]
A sealing technique created by Yi Tianxing himself.
Allows Great Yi officials to store the feedback energy of national fate in their personal official seal.
Prevents forced breakthroughs, ensuring stability and future advancement.
A unique technique only usable by those listed on the Fengshen List.
The technique had been developed by Yi Tianxing using insights from the Scripture Pavilion and empowered by the Bodhi of Enlightenment.
He ensured it was suitable for each official's rank and seal.
A divine will swept through the air, entering the minds of every court official.
Even those not physically present—but listed on the Fengshen List—received the transmission.
Understanding it was as effortless as breathing, and usage would be as easy as a thought.
"Begin fate feedback."
With a thought, Yi Tianxing released the seal.
Golden fate energy descended from the heavens, flooding into each official's body.
"Seal it!"
All officials had previously refined their official seals and fused them into their divine sea.
With a thought, the energy flowed directly into the seals and was sealed with the new imprint technique.
Now, each official had their own stored reservoir of fate energy—like a supreme spiritual elixir, ready for future use.
Few chose to absorb it immediately.Most opted to preserve the energy for future breakthroughs.
Smiles broke across the faces of ministers as they felt the vast power sealed within.
Fate Feedback Multipliers (Post-Sacred Court Upgrade):
RankNew Multiplier
Sacred King×288
Sacred Queen×216
Dukes & Princes×168
First Rank×144
Second Rank×128
Third Rank×112
Fourth Rank×96
Fifth Rank×80
Sixth Rank×64
Seventh Rank×48
Eighth Rank×32
Ninth Rank×16
All ranks doubled their fate gain from previous levels.
This surge deepened the loyalty of officials and sealed Great Yi's unity.
"With the fate feedback concluded, we now turn to the matter of the Four Great Regions—Bohai, Caribbean, Dead Sea, and Demon Sea," Yi Tianxing declared.
"They attacked us. It matters not why—they dared violate Great Yi's heavenly prestige.And the decree of this Sacred King is: Those who offend us, no matter how distant—must be punished!"
"Expanding our territory is now inevitable," he added."They gave us the perfect justification to march."
"Your Majesty," Xun Yu spoke up, "while expansion is necessary, attacking all four regions at once may stretch us too thin.It may force them into an alliance. I suggest focusing our might on one region, eliminating it, then moving to the next."
"Not necessarily," countered Jia Xu, smiling."Though the Caribbean Sea claims to be ruled by a pirate alliance, they're disorganized.Pirates are selfish and cruel. They'll never act as one. With clever diplomacy and divide-and-conquer strategy, the alliance will collapse on its own. The coastal lands hate them—we raise our banners, and the people will stand with us."