The opening of the God-Demon Battlefield concerned the entire Eternal World and the interests of all races. During the first two times the battlefield opened, those who participated and survived without exception advanced by leaps and bounds, their strength soaring. Each major race gained a vast amount of racial fortune, leading to the emergence of more geniuses and prodigies who became the future pillars of their clans. Slaying Eternal Night demons granted fortune, increasing racial destiny. All of this was witnessed with their own eyes.
It was an undeniable fact.
This time, the Chaos Heavenly Ladder only allowed supreme prodigies to participate. Far too many cultivators and strong beings among the myriad races had not been able to join, merely watching from afar. Each of them long harbored the urge and impulse to personally fight Eternal Night in battle.
Now, upon hearing that the God-Demon Battlefield would open, not a single person showed fear. Instead, a wave of excitement and eagerness surged within them.
"This time, Dao Proving experts will be allowed to enter the God-Demon Battlefield. With the merging of the two realms' laws becoming tighter, the situation on the battlefield will surely be even more perilous. The intensity of this war will surpass all previous ones—it will be unimaginably tragic."
"This battle… I don't know if we'll be able to hold the line. Eternal Night's offensive will certainly be even more ferocious. We can only hope to stop them again, buying more time for the younger generation of the Eternal World."
The powerful beings of the myriad races spoke with solemnity. They fully understood what the third opening of the battlefield meant, and the horror it carried—far beyond ordinary imagination. The situation was anything but optimistic, teetering constantly on the brink of collapse. In terms of high-level combat strength, Eternal Night still held an overwhelming advantage.
"Five years. The God-Demon Battlefield opens. As expected."
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed with deep thought. What was happening matched perfectly with the intelligence he had obtained. What mattered now was how to respond. Plans had to be set with absolute precision—perhaps even seizing the chance to launch a devastating counterattack against Eternal Night. That was what he most desired.
"Pass down my order. Summon the ministers at once to the Heaven-Observing Hall. A grand court assembly is to be held."
Yi Tianxing commanded immediately.
"Yes!"
The order was quickly carried out.
"Send word! Summon the clan's strongest for a council."
"Command the elite warriors of the clan to be ready for deployment at any time."
At the same time, throughout the Eternal World, across the various realms and among all races, similar commands were spreading. There was no doubt—every ounce of foundation had to be mobilized. Each race had to bring forth its full strength. Otherwise, unpredictable changes might erupt on the battlefield.
…
While countless races and powers of the Eternal World hurried to gather their troops in preparation for the coming battlefield, the same urgency echoed within Great Yi.
As Yi Tianxing's orders spread, ministers rushed toward the Heaven-Observing Hall. Before long, the grand hall was filled to capacity.
"His Majesty arrives!"
"The Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace, the Consorts of the Western and Northern Palaces arrive!"
…
"Greetings to His Majesty, greetings to the Consorts!"
After the formalities, Yi Tianxing sat upon the Dragon Throne. To his left and right sat Cai Yan, the Queen Mother of the West, and Chang xi.
Sweeping his gaze across the hall, he spoke:
"The message from Heaven just now, I believe all of you are well aware of. Five years from now, the God-Demon Battlefield will open once more. This will be the third opening, and it will no longer be a mere probe. Dao Proving experts will step into the battlefield. Eternal Night will surely dispatch its elite armies and top-tier demon gods to invade. Thus, this war is destined to be brutal."
"Previously, Great Yi made a name for itself among the myriad races, even storming into the Eternal Night battlefield. Our accomplishments seemed immense, and our fame resounded across the realms. Yet those were only gains at the lower levels. This time will be the true clash of the two realms' deepest foundations. Speak freely—what should be done?"
His gaze swept over the court officials.
"Your Majesty, the timing of this battlefield's opening is far too coincidental. First came the Chaos Heavenly Ladder, into which Eternal Night forced its way. Now, suddenly, the two realms' battlefield is to open. The battlefield is indeed born of the fusion of the two realms, but Eternal Night must have some control over the timing. We have every reason to believe this opening was triggered by their will. There may well be deceit involved. This minister believes we must treat this with the utmost caution."
Jia Xu was the first to speak. As a master schemer, he instinctively sensed something amiss. Coincidence? To him, coincidence never existed. If it appeared, it was by design.
"There must be something hidden."
"Yes, we must be prudent. So many major events happening in succession—the intentions of Eternal Night are utterly unfathomable. I suggest that even if troops are to be dispatched, His Majesty must personally remain in the Immortal Court. Leave the war to the generals and the Military Cabinet. Only then will we have the foundation to respond to any unforeseen change."
Liu Bowen supported the notion.
In the past, Yi Tianxing personally led the armies to the battlefield. But this time, the ministers of Great Yi clearly did not agree. At all costs, they had to prevent such a dangerous move.
"Very well. In that case, this time I shall not personally go to the battlefield. The Great Yi army will march first."
Yi Tianxing smiled calmly and nodded, accepting the advice without resistance.
Thereafter, the court discussed the myriad preparations for the God-Demon Battlefield. This grand assembly was in essence a mobilization meeting for war.
No matter what, the God-Demon Battlefield was inevitable.
The Great Yi Immortal Court was no longer an obscure power—it had become a pillar of the Eternal World. Every action drew the eyes of all. At this very moment, Eternal Night's spies surely watched their every move. Nothing of this magnitude could be hidden. Indeed, soon after the assembly, news spread rapidly.
It became clear: Great Yi was preparing to mobilize its armies for the God-Demon Battlefield.
At the same time, another piece of news spread swiftly: the God-Demon Wells within Great Yi's territory would be sealed, its offensive against Eternal Night's lands paused, troops recalled to prepare for the full-scale war of the two realms.
In fact, this was the truth. Many powerful beings who had once entered the God-Demon Wells battlefield now withdrew, returning to their clans to prepare. Everyone was focused on the war to come.
The air across the Eternal World grew heavy with killing intent.
…
Nightmare World.
The Holy Land of Dawn.
Within the City Lord's mansion, several figures gathered.
Yi Tianxing, Rahu, Fuxi, Xuanyuan, Chiyou, and Patriarch Ming he.
All turned their eyes toward Yi Tianxing.
"I have obtained precise intelligence. Eternal Night intends to begin, after the Chaos Heavenly Ladder—ten years from now—receiving back the mighty experts of the previous era. This intelligence is accurate and reliable. Should any change occur, it will be relayed immediately."
Yi Tianxing's words were steady, but heavy.
The others exchanged solemn glances. They fully understood how extraordinary such intelligence was. To know Eternal Night's deepest secrets, to foresee their movements—this meant Yi Tianxing had buried a nail within Eternal Night's high command. Not just any spy, but one with real influence, able to reach the highest matters.
If true, Yi Tianxing's methods were nothing short of terrifying.
An Emperor's methods were always hidden deep. One more unfathomable than the next, each with countless concealed trump cards. Until the very end, no one could say how many cards they still held.
"Amazing. If that's the case, then the God-Demon Battlefield's opening was orchestrated by Eternal Night, precisely to pin down the bulk of our strength, preventing interference with their reception of the ancients. Without surprise, the God-Demon Wells you once entered, Yi Daoist, has surely been sealed tight by Eternal Night, with armies and mighty beings stationed there. To emerge from it would be to court death."
Ming he spoke decisively.
"However, Eternal Night will never imagine that we won't use the God-Demon Wells at all. Instead, we'll use the Nightmare World as our bridgehead to enter their battlefield. At that time, we can strike them unprepared—perhaps even achieve decisive victory in one blow."
Rahu laughed softly.
Knowing the exact timing gave them the absolute initiative.
"The key now is how to trap and slay them. The only thing we must ensure is to draw them into the Nightmare World. Here, this will be our home ground."
Chiyou's face was grim. The importance of this battle was enormous. If they succeeded, the balance of the entire war could shift. The question was whether they could lure Eternal Night's mighty ones into the Nightmare.
"Rest assured. For this, I have made full preparations. With the treasures Yi Daoist has provided, they will not escape."
Rahu spoke with certainty.
Afterward, they reviewed the plan once more, then dispersed to make their own arrangements, preparing the stage for the final act of this great drama.
This battle would be fought on their terms.
Time slipped by quietly. Before they knew it, five years had passed since Heaven's proclamation.
In those years, the atmosphere of the Eternal World grew heavier and heavier. Killing intent saturated the skies. Only in Buzhou Mountain did the Chaos Heavenly Ladder continue, unaffected.