The name "Poison Strategist" was earned through ruthless and venomous tactics. Once he made a move, it was utterly merciless and left lasting devastation. Back then, with a single stratagem, he divided the realm among the feudal lords, leading to the Han dynasty's collapse. That one act plunged the entire nation into chaos and sparked decades of relentless warfare across the Three Kingdoms, leaving a trail of death and desolation in its wake.
Once he chose to scheme, it would be cruel and thorough—outcomes mattered more than consequences. If he truly harbored any intentions toward the barbarian tribes, it was entirely possible they would suffer greatly. At the very least, Niu Ben's entire tribe could face catastrophic losses, if not complete annihilation.
Hearing this, Yi Tianxing was startled and immediately spoke up:
"The barbarians can be allies. In the future, there's no reason they can't be integrated with the human race. Niu Ben and his kind are naturally strong and capable. They're not inherently evil. They can be comrades and even friends. If we start scheming against such potential allies, the reputation of our Xuanhuang City—and of humanity itself—will be utterly ruined. That is something we cannot allow."
His tone held unwavering conviction.
Once such a thing was done, one's moral bottom line would erode completely, and eventually lead down a path of no return. A person without any principles cannot go far.
"Understood."
Hearing this, Jia Xu smiled faintly, and a glint of admiration flickered in his eyes as he looked at Yi Tianxing. His respect for him deepened.
If Yi Tianxing had agreed to the scheme, Jia Xu would've seriously questioned whether this was a man worth devoting his full loyalty to. For brilliant strategists, tests and evaluations were constant. Sometimes, a person's very nature would be revealed in the subtlest moments, creating division. But if trust was earned, so too would be undivided loyalty.
"Is Ice City's defensive layout complete?" Yi Tianxing asked again.
"All preparations are finished. Ye Zhiqiu oversaw them personally. The entire city is now part of a Qimen formation. No ordinary enemy can break through. Combined with the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, even a massive enemy force will be buried here. Those bugs will pay dearly—millions might die before they even reach the walls," Jia Xu said confidently.
"No need to rush. Ice City's location is offset from Panshi City. If the insect swarm comes from across the river, Panshi City will be hit first. Let them deal with the vanguard. That will ease our burden, and we won't need to reveal our trump cards prematurely. The longer we remain hidden, the better. As long as we stay quiet, no matter how suspicious the other races are, they won't be able to say anything."
Yi Tianxing smiled coolly.
He hadn't forgotten how Panshi City once turned humans away. The recent trade didn't erase that. If the foreign races wanted to act tough, they could take the front line. Humanity would stay back, lending aid when needed. He wasn't so naïve.
This swarm would reveal just how deep and powerful those other races really were.
"My lord's thoughts are perfectly in line with mine," Jia Xu said with a light smile. "Now that we have a common enemy, peace is possible. But once the Zerg are gone, conflict with other races is inevitable. I don't believe for a second they can coexist peacefully. This alliance is only held together by outside pressure. It will crack eventually. If we humans don't prepare now, we might not even know how we died when the time comes."
"Harbor no intent to harm, but always be vigilant."This ancient saying held timeless wisdom. Its depth could be pondered for a lifetime.
Three days passed quietly.
During this time, the trade market within Ice City remained booming. New foreign races arrived daily, bringing rare treasures that flowed endlessly into Xuanhuang City. Massive amounts of goods were sold. Some came solely to acquire Eternal Coins, exchanging heavenly materials and precious artifacts in large quantities. Clearly, they had experienced the miraculous effects of these coins firsthand.
Absorbing their energy increased cultivation and boosted training speed—beneficial at every stage. Compared to cultivation pills, Eternal Coins were just as effective, yet with no side effects. That was the true key.
The use of Eternal Coins as a standard currency soon spread to Panshi City as well, replacing barter trade and marking a leap forward in civilization.
Many foreign races grew envious, trying to uncover how Eternal Coins were made. But no matter how hard they studied them, the true structure remained elusive. The coins were imbued with divine restrictions—God-Seals—capable of corrupting a person's soul.
Money had always been filthy. In the eyes of cultivators, even copper coins reeked of vulgarity. They bore the desires, thoughts, and obsessions of countless beings, polluting spiritual artifacts and even souls.
Eternal Coins were no different—crafted in specialized minting furnaces, they absorbed worldly desires and became one with divine restrictions. Their structure was impossible to replicate, even by the wisest sages.
Some tried to imitate them using spirit crystals, infusing them with spiritual energy. Yet even the best imitation paled in comparison. Spirit Coin imitations had less energy, lacked refinement, and no amplification effects.
They didn't even know Eternal Coins could be recycled through Money Trees, which absorbed ambient spiritual energy to restore spent coins for circulation. That made the system infinite and sustainable.
Some did consider targeting Yi Tianxing for the secret—but once they saw Green Emperor loitering around the Eternal Coin vaults, that idea vanished. Just the thought of his singing brought chills.
It was a voice that could kill.
Everyone gave up the thought immediately.
ROAR!!
Suddenly, a piercing screech ripped across the skies from across the Changqing River. It carried a will of pure destruction. The sound brought a dark cloud over people's hearts—a suffocating pressure filled the air. A deep, primal irritation surged through everyone, as if a cataclysm was on the horizon.
Even souls were rattled by the scream.
"Such powerful spiritual force! It shook my entire sea of consciousness. If I didn't have mental defenses, that scream alone could've knocked me out!"
In Ice City, many soldiers grunted, clutching their heads in pain from the spiritual attack.
"What was that?! My head—it hurts!"
"That scream held a bizarre power. It drilled right into me. I feel like my soul's being torn apart."
Even though it wasn't fatal, the agony was intense. If not for their military discipline and mental training, many would have collapsed, screaming in agony.
Fortunately, the mental assault lasted only a moment before fading.
"Everyone stay alert! That was the Zerg. Likely a leader—or even a Zerg Queen. That spiritual pressure was terrifying. I'm dizzy and nauseous just from hearing it."
"The swarm! The swarm is coming!"
In Panshi City, many foreign cultivators turned pale and rushed to the walls, peering into the distance.
"It's here—the swarm is here! Hurry! Back to Panshi City! Ice City's too small. It'll be overrun instantly. In a swarm, individual power means nothing. Get caught, and you'll be devoured in seconds!"
Panic spread through Ice City as the foreign traders dropped their goods and fled.