A sound echoed through the void, resounding across all directions.
This horn was clearly not an ownerless relic. It had a master—and that master belonged to a powerful faction. The one controlling this treasure was no ordinary being, but a member of a mighty race: the Winged People. Among all the alien races, they ranked among the top, possessing formidable power and commanding great prestige. Even within the alien races, few dared to provoke them lightly.
The moment it was confirmed that the horn came from the Winged People, even those who had dismissed it earlier—and many other aliens—immediately became alert. Across various regions, countless eyes turned toward the sky, ears straining to listen closely.
Everyone understood one thing: the Winged People would never boast or threaten without reason. If they had sounded this horn, there had to be a purpose behind it—and that purpose had to be significant enough to warrant such a dramatic act.
"Interesting. The Winged People, huh? I wonder how many other races still exist in this Eternal World... and what major events are about to unfold. Truly, this is a chaotic era—anything is possible."Yi Tianxing took a deep breath, gazing at the horn in the sky, lost in contemplation.
"We now announce important news: In the southeastern direction, a Zerg Nest has been discovered. The nest contains a massive number of insectoids, which launch attacks once per day, hunting and killing every living creature within their range—regardless of race or strength. They kill everything, dragging corpses back to the nest. With each assault, the number and strength of the insectoids increases.
It has been three days since their last activity. Based on our observations, the next wave will trigger a full-scale outbreak—an Insect Catastrophe."
"When the Insect Catastrophe erupts, everything in their path will be annihilated, plundered, and destroyed. Many tribes have already fallen to their swarms. These creatures have no thoughts—only the urge to kill and destroy. If we can't hold them back, every race will suffer catastrophic losses."
The horn broadcasted the message clearly, implanting it directly into the minds of all who heard it. Even the deaf could understand—the voice bypassed the ears and went straight into their consciousness.
"What? Insect Catastrophe? Is this a joke? Why didn't we hear anything before? Are they like... locusts?"
"If the Insect Catastrophe is really that terrifying, and it sweeps through our area... wouldn't we be wiped out too?"
"I haven't seen it myself, but judging from what the Winged People described, the sight must be horrifying. I've seen a locust swarm before—darkening the skies like black clouds. It's terrifying and leaves you utterly helpless. If this catastrophe is even worse than that... then we're in real trouble. At least locusts don't eat people."
"So what does this transmission mean? Are they asking for help?"
In Xuanhuang City, countless citizens buzzed with discussion, their faces showing shock. Still, deep down, most had already started to believe it.
After all, the Winged People wouldn't make such claims lightly. A hoax of this scale—if exposed—would bring unimaginable consequences. Even they couldn't afford such a cost.
"An Insect Catastrophe, huh? I wonder what kinds of insectoids will appear, what their abilities are, how many of them there are, and how large the nest is. How destructive can they be?"Yi Tianxing's eyes sparkled as thoughts collided and churned within his mind.
He quickly concluded that this news had to be genuine. If the catastrophe really broke out, the resulting devastation would be unimaginable.
"We now issue a rallying call. If you do not wish to be consumed by the Insect Catastrophe, gather at the battlefield outside the insectoid nest. From this moment forward, all grudges must be set aside. We must join forces to suppress the insectoid threat.
Any who hear this call and refuse to aid in resisting the catastrophe will no longer be welcome among the Winged People. We will cut off all ties with their race."
That final message was a mobilization order.
It was an urgent appeal from the Winged People to all nearby forces—regardless of race—to unite against the insectoid swarm. Implicitly, it revealed their own lack of confidence in resisting the catastrophe alone. Only with the collective might of all races could they hope to suppress the outbreak.
The danger was clear.
As the final words faded, the horn vanished from the sky.
If not for the expressions on the faces of the citizens, one might have thought it had all been an illusion.
"My lord, Lord Huang, the strategist, and the others are outside requesting an audience,"Reported Cao Zhengchun moments later.
"Invite them to the Council Hall,"Yi Tianxing said calmly, nodding.
"Interesting. This is a great chance to make contact with other alien races—and find out just how many are around us, and how strong they really are."He murmured to himself, then turned toward the main hall.
"Greetings, my lord!!"
Upon entering, a chorus of voices welcomed him.
"No need for formality."Yi Tianxing took his seat, casting his gaze across the gathered council: Huang Chengyan, Lu Shi, Jia Xu, Wu Yong, and others—all of them present, all visibly unsettled.
They had clearly seen and heard everything.
"You all heard the announcement from the horn just now. What are your thoughts?"Yi Tianxing asked directly.
"If the catastrophe is real, then the Winged People's message must be true. The rally is real as well. It also means that the scale and destructive potential of the insect swarm is terrifying—enough that the Winged People themselves cannot hold them back. Without external aid, the results could be catastrophic."Huang Chengyan replied seriously.
"The swarm threat is very likely real. The Winged People wouldn't lie, and many alien forces will surely respond. They would never risk their reputation with a false alarm. The real question is—should we go or not?"Yi Tianxing said calmly.
"The catastrophe affects all races indiscriminately. If it sweeps through our region, even with Xuanhuang City's power—perhaps even all of humanity's—we may not be able to stop it. So yes, we must go. Moreover, this is a rare gathering of alien races.
Not only is it about fighting the swarm, but also an opportunity to establish the prestige of humanity. If we don't show up, they'll think the human race is weak and cowardly."Wu Yong was the first to respond, his sharp eyes gleaming with intelligence.
"So you're suggesting we treat this as a platform to showcase Xuanhuang City's strength—and humanity's as a whole. We'll show the others that we're not to be trifled with."Yi Tianxing mused.
This convergence of races was indeed a perfect opportunity to flex some muscle—to let everyone know that the human race, and Xuanhuang City in particular, were not easy targets.
"Exactly. We must go. The human race is one of the myriad races of the universe. Not all aliens are hostile—sometimes, strength alone determines how others treat you. This is our chance to take center stage."Jia Xu added with a calm smile."But remember—our main goal is still the insectoids."
"As they say, 'Before the troops move, intelligence must come first.' We still know nothing about the enemy—what kinds of insectoids they are, how many there are, or what powers they wield. We must determine the size of our forces, our leadership, and our objectives before setting out."He concluded.
Fighting blind was a recipe for disaster.
"This came very suddenly, but it is indeed a rare opportunity to make a name for ourselves. Used wisely, our reputation could spread far and wide.
I will personally lead this expedition."Yi Tianxing declared without hesitation."Da Hu, how is the training of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation coming along? Can it be used in real combat?"
His gaze turned to Wang Dahu.
"Rest assured, my lord! Our troops have trained the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation to near perfection. We can now harness a portion of its power. It should perform well in real combat. The soldiers are eager for battle—they've been waiting for a real fight!"Wang Dahu replied enthusiastically.
"Good. Assemble your ten thousand men, and combine them with General Yang Yanping's Divine Machine Battalion. That's a total of twenty thousand troops. Begin preparations for deployment immediately.
It's time to show these alien races what we're made of."Yi Tianxing nodded firmly.
"Isn't twenty thousand a bit too few?"Wu Yong hesitated.
"Quality over quantity. We don't need to charge the front lines—just show our strength at the critical moment. More troops would only complicate matters. This number is just right."Jia Xu agreed.
"Strategist, prepare for departure. You'll be joining the expedition as well."Yi Tianxing added.
"I'm ready to depart at any time."Jia Xu replied with a smile.