Chapter 18: Deserved Respect

Zhou Yi stored the benefits of the Heavenly Dao he had obtained, not rushing to use them.

Sui Huang looked at him and was a bit puzzled: "Brother Zhou, why don't you just use it to boost your cultivation? When you taught me how to ignite, I would have directly ascended to the Great Luo realm. If you use it now, perhaps you could reach a higher level."

"Merit, that thing, is full of filler, you know that," Zhou Yi explained.

"Your combat power can't match a normal Great Luo Golden Immortal; on one hand because your offensive methods are insufficient, on the other because merit is propping up your strength, but it's actually unstable."

As he spoke, Zhou Yi waved his hand, and the surrounding rocks seemed pulled by some force, rolling to the narrow sky of the valley, stacking layer upon layer into walls several zhang high.

Zhou Yi flung merit onto the wall; a flash of golden light instantly altered the wall, the once rough stone becoming smooth and perfect, each stone seeming alive and tightly pressed together.

Thus, Zhou Yi turned the ordinary thing into a treasure.

At that moment, the Heavenly Mandate Golden Dragon in the sky roared again, slammed into the wall, and vivid dragon patterns instantly appeared on the wall, with an exquisite Human Race emblem beneath them.

Seeing everyone's shocked and admiring faces, Zhou Yi nodded with satisfaction and said softly, "That's right, this is how it should be."

Now the wall is linked with the Human Race's fate, becoming indestructible. In critical moments, it can protect the valley and keep enemies out.

Beyond the deep valley, the Shaman Yi of the Thick Earth Tribe, a master whose cultivation had reached the Taiyi realm, silently spied on the Human Race's world.

At first, his mind was full of doubt, thinking these seemingly fragile Humans were not worth such attention. But when he witnessed the valley's marvel with his own eyes, his view completely flipped.

In the sky, a golden‑shining Heavenly Mandate Dragon majestically flew, and immediately a towering wall rose from the ground, stirring turbulent waves in Yi's heart.

"Human Race, they actually have such capability?" he suddenly realized that the demon god had tasked him to watch this place not for protection but to uncover the Humans' secrets.

Just as Yi was about to return to the tribe to report what he had seen, an inexplicable spiritual aura suddenly approached, tightening his heart.

Although the Wu Clan lacks a primordial spirit, its perception of the supernatural is unusually keen.

Yi guessed that the spirit was drawn by the Human Race's Heavenly Mandate Dragon's powerful fluctuations, thus revealing its trace.

"Which deity is this?" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the valley.

The spirit clearly startled by the shout, turned into a flash of white light and vanished instantly.

Yi privately felt relieved; fighting such an opponent, the outcome was uncertain, and merely scaring it away was a great fortune.

"This matter must be reported to the tribe immediately," Yi said, daring not to delay, and set off at once, racing toward the Wu Clan tribe.

The fleeing spirit was actually a member of the demon general Fei Lian's clan, previously defeated by Zhou Yi, whose strong soul allowed it to linger, and it followed resentfully to this spot.

When he saw the legendary Heavenly Mandate Golden Dragon with his own eyes, his heart was deeply shaken, fear surging like a tide, nearly drowning him.

"Huang Guo…," demon general Fei Lian whispered softly, his visage covered like frost, exceedingly cold.

He never expected the Human Race could establish its own nation, nor that a Heavenly Mandate Golden Dragon would appear in the world.

This signaled that the Human Race was no longer the ants of old, posing a tangible threat to the Demon Race.

Meanwhile, under Taiyi Shen's lead, the Demon Race's great army sliced through the sky like lightning, swiftly reaching Human Race territory.

Taiyi Shen hovered above the valley, looking down.

The Humans in the valley suddenly felt the sky darken; looking up, they saw the Demon Race staring coldly at them.

Shadows of past massacres surged in an instant, many turning pale with fear, dropping what they held and fleeing in all directions.

The once orderly Human territory instantly fell into chaos.

"This is the Human Race? So easy to crush," Taiyi Shen sneered, shaking his head.

Then, behind him, a faint ancient Donghuang Bell illusion materialized, exuding a power that shook heaven and earth.

Taiyi Shen, harnessing the artifact's power, launched a sudden assault, his force raging like a storm; wherever it passed, space seemed mercilessly torn, and the ground shuddered.

Just as this destructive power was about to engulf everyone, a brilliant golden light barrier suddenly rose atop the wall, like a golden ribbon streaking the sky, shielding each person.

Within the barrier, a faint golden dragon twisted and danced, splendidly beautiful.

Taiyi Shen's attack struck the golden light, gradually losing momentum and fading into nothingness.

"Huh? Such a defense?" Taiyi Shen showed slight surprise, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, his brows slightly raised.

Soon, his gaze fixed on the treasure on the wall that radiated serenity, a rare marvel in the Vast Wilderness World.

"This journey has been full of surprises, a fruitful harvest," Taiyi Shen murmured, then exerted power again, two sharp rays like meteors streaking toward the Human camp.

The golden shield quivered violently under the heavy blows, as if it could collapse at any moment.

The heartbeat sounds among the crowd rose and fell, tension slowing even their breathing, all eyes focused on the wavering barrier.

Yet, at the critical moment, accompanied by a stirring dragon's roar, the shield miraculously steadied, regaining its brilliance.

Taiyi Shen's complexion shifted slightly, silently astonished within.

"Yao Yan, quickly lead the tribe into the Endless Fire Realm; we'll handle this," Sui Huang urged, pulling Yao Yan.

The other two tried to advance to assist, but Fang Yun and Zhou Yi blocked them.

"Don't worry, with us here, it's foolproof," Zhou Yi said, his tone firm and demeanor calm.

"What do you know? That's Taiyi Shen, the supreme ruler of the Heavenly Court," Sui Huang reminded urgently.

Look at those celestial warriors; once the line is breached, disaster will rise again.

"We've barely managed to give everyone a stable life; we mustn't stand by and watch it all disappear. Yao Yan, now is the crucial moment!" Sui Huang shouted anxiously.

Zhou Yi, without hesitation, tossed out "I'll hold back that great god," and charged headlong toward the enemy.

Fang Yun followed closely, without hesitation.

"If the situation turns bad, I'll immediately lead everyone back to the boundless Fire Realm; don't worry too much, just take care of the tribe."

Yao Yan watched the backs of the three companions, feeling reassured, then threw himself into the fierce battle.

Zhou Yi knew that they must win this war, to show the world that the Human Race's clash with the Demon Race was no inferior.

It was not only for victory, but also to dispel the fear within and earn the respect they deserved.

Seeing the three rush like meteors, Taiyi Shen couldn't help but pause his work.