Beneath the Star Network, all kinds of news spread continuously. The situations in the various realms were all displayed on the Star Network for the world to know. The speed of information flow was faster than anyone had ever imagined. In the Eternal World, every realm was suffering under the invasion of the Demonic Catastrophe. The most difficult stage was always at the very beginning. If one could not adapt, the end result would be nothing but annihilation in the Catastrophe.
And the reduced harvests, the hunger it brought—these were only the earliest signs, the prelude of the prelude. The truly terrifying disaster would come later, when demonic soldiers swept across heaven and earth.
All the races and powers could foresee and sense this.
Everyone was desperately searching for ways to survive the Demonic Catastrophe, and even more, to solve the food crisis brought about by famine. Countless methods emerged, many of them producing astonishing results.
For example, in some realms, people discovered plants that had mutated under the influence of the Catastrophe. These strange plants had their yields multiplied and were especially suited to survival within the Catastrophe. There was the Blackgold Wheat, which produced black rice. Originally it was just an ordinary, inconspicuous sprout, yet not only was it unaffected by the power of Eternal Night, it actually thrived within demonic qi, growing as if swimming in water. From planting to maturity took only a single month.
The yield was extraordinary, as much as a thousand catties per mu.
The only downside was that the black rice tasted extremely raw and harsh, truly unpleasant to eat. Other than the taste, there were no harmful effects. Under normal circumstances, few would willingly eat such grain. But now, in this time of famine, when even tree roots had been gnawed clean, no one cared how unpalatable it was. As long as it was food, it was like a delicacy.
Hard to eat? Compared to starvation, wasn't black rice fragrant?
Black bread made from black rice—compared to an empty stomach, wasn't that fragrant?
Just the thought made people realize it wasn't so bad after all.
And black rice was just one example.
There were also black bread trees that grew loaves of black bread, demon banana trees, black pearl rice, odd-tasting peanuts, giant potatoes, and more. All these plants were mutated products of the Demonic Catastrophe's qi. Not only were they unaffected, but they propagated quickly, with astonishing growth and yields.
Originally, these were all tightly hoarded secrets, never made public.
But as the Great Yi Immortal Court began accepting the requests of other realms—bringing large quantities of grain and supplies into afflicted territories—the situations within those realms visibly changed. First came improved grain reserves. While not enough to fully feed every citizen daily, through trade at least the number of people starving to death dropped sharply.
The hearts of the people stabilized. And although no one openly declared loyalty to Great Yi, at least voices calling to defect had disappeared.
Some foreign races and factions, in order to weaken Great Yi's influence, had no choice but to reveal their own hidden trump cards—various mutated plants suited for survival in the Catastrophe. This was the adaptation born naturally from heaven and earth.
Heaven and earth could embrace all; the adaptability of all beings was beyond imagination.
Where there is poison, within seven steps there is an antidote.
The principle was the same.
It was just that some adaptations appeared earlier, some later. Whether they were discovered or not was another matter. But now, many were forced to reveal what they had once kept secret, just to stabilize the restless hearts of their people.
The realms neighboring Great Yi, however, were different. The proximity of Great Yi itself created an influence that was impossible to ignore.
Just one wall's distance, yet it was like two entirely different worlds. This stark contrast, especially when witnessed firsthand through the Star Network, had an invisible impact that no amount of "not going hungry" could erase.
In Eternal Year 123, the Chitu Realm submitted its surrender letter to Great Yi, bringing the entire realm to submit to the Great Yi Immortal Court. Thereafter, it was encompassed by the Iron-Blood Great Wall, becoming part of Great Yi's territory, enjoying all the same benefits.
In Eternal Year 125, the Wuji Realm likewise surrendered with its entire domain to Great Yi Immortal Court…
…
In just twenty short years, the Hunter Realm, the Divine Spring Realm, and the Innocent Realm all submitted one after another, becoming part of Great Yi.
Ultimately, the number of realms within the Great Yi Immortal Court increased to thirty-nine. Each time a realm submitted, it underwent earth-shaking changes overnight. The civilizations of those realms were enfolded within the embrace of Great Yi's culture, personally experiencing its grandeur and might.
Bathed in the light of Great Yi's civilization, the new citizens fully accepted it. They harbored no disloyalty, but instead felt immense gratitude and pride that they could become citizens of Great Yi.
Moreover, beyond the original populations of these new realms, countless new people were integrated—measured in trillions. When this news spread, the realms beyond Great Yi were practically struck dumb with shock.
They could not fathom how Great Yi possessed such an immense reserve of population.
Yet under Great Yi's perfected systems, this vast expansion brought no turmoil. Those with ill intentions were swiftly sent to the Heavenly Prison, unable to stir up any waves.
This was the foundation of a great nation—its assimilation power was unimaginable.
The sea accepts all rivers, embracing everything.
And these annexations were not Great Yi's active expansion, but realms themselves begging to join. Great Yi did not treat them poorly either. The former rulers of those realms were still given noble titles, though of lower ranks—Marquises of the Seventh, Eighth, or Ninth Grade—with corresponding titles and honors.
Such treatment naturally satisfied the nobles.
Only after joining Great Yi did they realize that compared to Great Yi, their previous realms were on completely different levels, utterly incomparable. The gap was too vast. To merge into Great Yi was in fact the greatest opportunity of their lives.
With noble titles, they were born with innate advantages.
If even with this they could not succeed and rise to the peak of life, they were truly worthless.
Unknowingly, time flowed to Eternal Year 160, the fourth day of the third month.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
That morning at sunrise, suddenly the void trembled with thunderous booms.
The sound resounded in all directions, echoing through the Eternal World.
"What's going on?"
"This sudden thunder out of a clear sky isn't ordinary—something major must be happening. I wonder what it is. The Demonic Catastrophe grows worse by the day. I've heard in many places, Demon Abysses are about to be born."
"This calamity is already unbearable. Supplies are scarce, food is short. If not for these years of Great Yi merchants and wandering traders traveling between realms, we wouldn't have lasted. Please don't let another disaster appear."
Across countless realms, cultivators looked to the void with eyes full of worry.
This omen was extraordinary. No one wished for more calamities.
Under countless gazes, a vast scene appeared in the void—
A mountain!
A divine mountain, incomparably vast. At a glance, one could not perceive its height or breadth. One could only feel its towering might, evoking a natural reverence as if standing before the Heavenly Dao itself.
The mountain was shrouded in misty gray fog, rolling like chaos itself, awe-inspiring to behold.
"Buzhou!!"
"It's Buzhou Mountain!!"
Almost instantly, countless cultivators recognized it.
This was the first divine mountain of the Eternal World's Primordial Continent—Buzhou Mountain.
According to legend, after Pangu's fall, his body transformed into this mountain. It contained Pangu's pressure, infinite majesty, and boundless creation. With the fusion of all realms, Buzhou Mountain itself had undergone extraordinary transformation, transcending what it once was. Its might was such that no one could shake it.
If someone like Zhu Rong or Gonggong once again tried to crash into it, they would only shatter themselves. Even a Saint would die upon impact. Such was the terrifying nature of the Eternal World's first divine mountain.
Then a vast, ancient voice rang from within Buzhou:
"Ten years hence, the Chaotic Heavenly Ladder shall open. All cultivators of every race, under one thousand years of age, may come and compete. On the Ancient Road, the proud heirs of heaven shall battle. Who will rise, who will fall?"
That voice carried an indescribable ancient majesty.
Its owner was no ordinary being.
As the voice faded, the vast projection of Buzhou Mountain slowly receded and disappeared into the void.
"The Chaotic Heavenly Ladder… it's finally going to open."
Yi Tianxing stood within the Immortal Palace, gazing at the void, his eyes flickering with a strange light.
He had long known that on the Primordial Continent, a supreme gathering of prodigies would be held—the Chaotic Heavenly Ladder would open, revealing the Ancient Road to the Heavens. Whoever could walk to its end would obtain Hongmeng Purple Qi, thereby advancing to Hunyuan and proving the Dao of a Saint.
Within the Chaotic Heavenly Ladder lay the legacy of Pangu. With it, attaining Hunyuan was no longer difficult.
This was the greatest opportunity for the younger generation of heaven's proud sons.
For years, countless prodigies had secretly built up their foundations for the sake of this very moment.