Chapter 879: A New Great Array

Li Yi stretched his body; he had been sitting motionless here for two or three days.

He gazed toward the eastern horizon of the city.

Beyond the city, in the danger zone, a towering mountain rose, its peak crowned with countless palaces and pavilions, where cosmic energy converged in a swirling vortex, surrounded by auspicious clouds and five-element qi.

After this period of construction, the Dao Court had been completed.

In addition, the sky above Tianchang City now teemed with supply ships, and connections between survival bases and the city had been reestablished, thanks to the victory in the previous Earth defense war.

Though the future remained uncertain, Earth had at least entered a brief period of peace after enduring repeated Heaven-Collapse events.

Everything was moving in a better direction.

After observing for a moment, Li Yi decided to travel to the Four Seas and Eight Zones to bring back all those who had fled.

After all, the Four Seas and Eight Zones had sparse spiritual energy, unsuitable for cultivation; staying briefly was fine, but prolonged residence hindered progress, and now that the crisis had passed, it was time to let them return home.

Just as he prepared to depart,

he saw the newly built Dao Court, constructed by dozens of cultivation masters, suddenly emit a radiant multicolored light that wove into a celestial net, enveloping all directions and covering Tianchang City and the three hundred li surrounding it.

"This is a great array."

Li Yi's gaze shifted, sensing something profound.

But once the array activated, he realized it was neither a traditional defensive nor offensive formation—it was an array designed to block spiritual energy.

At the moment the array activated, the spiritual energy within the three hundred li was completely expelled.

"It resembles a Spirit-Extinguishing Array, yet differs slightly—likely improved, but why did Xuan Yuezi and the others activate a Spirit-Extinguishing Array here?"

Li Yi was puzzled.

After all, blocking celestial spiritual energy would affect everyone living here.

But soon,

he understood the reason.

The cosmic energy that had vanished from the air was now slowly returning; though the pace was slow, it was undeniable—countless energies leaked from wormholes and lingered within the array.

At that moment, Li Yi grasped Xuan Yuezi's intent.

The cosmic energy in this realm had been contaminated, so they had activated an improved Spirit-Extinguishing Array to isolate the three hundred li area, preventing contaminated spiritual energy from entering.

Meanwhile, the cosmic energy leaking from the wormholes remained uncontaminated, so clean cosmic energy gradually filled the region, sealed by the array; over time, this area would be free of spiritual pollution.

"Indeed a brilliant solution—these cultivation masters are truly exceptional; they've effortlessly resolved the contamination problem that plagued Earth's evolvers for so long."

Li Yi marveled inwardly.

Though Tianchang City's spiritual energy was currently thin, over time, more and more energy would leak from the wormholes, turning this place into a new cultivation paradise.

Yet these cultivation masters intended more—they planned to expand the array further, drawing spiritual energy from the Demon God Realm hundreds of li away.

But with the great war just ended, the masters were still restrained.

Otherwise, with their decades of survival experience in the Late Dao Era, they could have transformed this place into a true paradise; this was merely the beginning.

Li Yi did not interfere with their renovation of the Dao Court; on the contrary, he felt reassured—these elder cultivation masters were shrewd, knew what to do and what not to do, and once he entrusted them with tasks, they executed them flawlessly.

After leaving Tianchang City, Li Yi followed the cross-realm point near Ghost Street and soon arrived at the Four Seas and Eight Zones.

"Lower your guard—he is Lord Li Yi," an yin spirit said upon seeing Li Yi, immediately ordering the surrounding yin soldiers to stand down.

Though these yin soldiers were weak and of little practical use,

they could instantly detect any powerful intruders crossing realms, serving as excellent sentinels.

After returning to the Four Seas and Eight Zones, Li Yi did not go to Sanyang City; instead, he headed directly to the temporary city he had built for the refugees.

To his surprise,

after a period of recovery, the city had become unusually prosperous, with constant merchants traveling in and out, and new streets extending beyond its walls; many refugees from Tianchang City had fully integrated into the Four Seas and Eight Zones, showing no trace of displacement.

Indeed, time could heal all wounds.

"Perhaps letting them stay in the Four Seas and Eight Zones isn't such a bad idea," Li Yi thought.

Still, he would give them a choice.

Soon,

he sensed several familiar auras within the city.

Immediately, Li Yi followed the auras and soon found Zheng Gong, a former colleague from the Investigation Bureau, sitting at a roadside tea stall.

Li Yi descended from the sky.

The nearby crowd was startled.

Zheng Gong, drawn by the commotion, looked up—first in surprise, then delight: "Li Yi? You're back."

Li Yi?

Many nearby people turned toward him.

Though dressed like locals of the Four Seas and Eight Zones, they were all from Tianchang City and knew Li Yi's name well—without him, they would have died on the day the Demon God Realm invaded; he had saved them all.

"Zheng Gong, you're clearly suited to life here—drink tea, take walks. I say, find a wife, settle down. Women in the Four Seas and Eight Zones don't demand bride price—you'll easily find one." Li Yi smiled.

Zheng Gong hurriedly replied: "No, no—I'm only here temporarily. When the chance arises, I'll return to Tianchang City. By the way, Li Yi, how's things on Earth now? Any remaining danger?"

Li Yi said: "Briefly put—the crisis on Earth is over. Tianchang City still stands, now under the leadership of former Evolution Association vice-chairman Li Shaoqing. If you wish to return, you may depart immediately. If not, you may stay in the Four Seas and Eight Zones; though unsuitable for cultivation, it's ideal for living."

"Return? Of course we'll return."

Zheng Gong leapt to his feet, face alight with joy: "Li Yi, you have no idea how miserable we've been here—unable to cultivate, afraid to return to Earth, forced to restrain ourselves from wandering freely, lest we harm this world."

"We've been like prisoners. Worse—I, as an evolver, am regressing. If this continues, I'll be ruined."

He was frantic; as a cultivator, he could not tolerate his own decline.

Even though life here was peaceful, it was not for him.

Li Yi said: "Then organize your people to return to Earth and rebuild the Investigation Bureau. I have no time for this myself."

"Understood. With your word, that's enough—I'll notify everyone to prepare for the return," Zheng Gong said at once.

Li Yi said: "I'll notify the Four Great Families to assist you."

After settling this matter, he left the city and went to Sanyang City.

Zhao Shiwu's Martial Hall was now thriving—every promising martial artist in the Eight Zones sought to join, for joining meant more than training—it offered a chance to escape the Four Seas and Eight Zones and seek immortality beyond.

Nothing could be more enticing.

And everyone knew Zhao Shiwu's senior disciple was Li Yi.

The divine being who had single-handedly shattered Liangzhou.

With such a legendary figure presiding over the hall, martial artists went wild.

Boom!

Suddenly,

a silver thunderbolt crashed from the heavens, striking precisely on the Zhao Shiwu Martial Hall's training ground.

The disciples training there were startled.

The next instant, a towering man appeared from the lightning—standing on auspicious clouds, wielding the aura of Dragon and Tiger, draped in radiant light, like a god; his calm gaze carried heavenly authority, and merely his presence made every martial artist tremble.

"Bow to Senior Disciple!"

The cultivation-grade instructor on the training ground, upon seeing him, burst into excitement and immediately knelt in a deep bow.

Hearing this, the other disciples were stunned.

Is this the legendary Senior Disciple Li Yi?

The legends were true—he was a divine being, unmatched in the Four Seas and Eight Zones.

Li Yi glanced at him, recognizing him vaguely—he had seen him briefly during Zhao Shiwu's Hall's reconstruction: "Brother, rise. I came in haste and won't stay long—I have instructions."

"Please, Senior Disciple, give your orders," the instructor said urgently.

"Have the Four Great Families arrange transport to send back those who crossed over. Then notify Liangzhou—Earth is safe now; those who wish to return may do so."

Li Yi paused, then added: "Also, assign a group of virtuous disciples to join the Dao Court in Tianchang City—opportunities await them there. That's all for now."

"Senior Disciple, rest assured—we'll complete the task," the cultivation-grade instructor bowed.

Li Yi nodded slightly.

He trusted Zhao Shiwu's disciples, especially the earliest ones—they had been tested through trials, and people in this world revered their teachers above all.

Moreover, serving Senior Disciple Li Yi was only natural for the disciples.

And Li Yi had never failed them—he had always granted the hall opportunities, and now he had secured them a bright future.

Disciples with potential who joined the Dao Court would shift from martial arts to cultivation, securing immortality without doubt.

In time,

the Martial Hall and the Dao Court would become a vast power centered around Li Yi—capable of protecting both realms and someday accompanying Li Yi in his conquests.

"That's all for now—go attend to your duties. But since I've been away fighting, I have no fine gifts to bring you—let's have some meat." With that, Li Yi waved his hand, leaving behind a slab of demon king meat the size of a millstone, then departed.

For martial artists, demon king meat was a mountain of gold.