The Great Eastern Wall

Since the dawn of the Age of Advancement, most relics of the Thousand-Year War have faded into oblivion. The Great Eastern Wall, once a symbol of terror for demons, had long since crumbled.

In truth, the Eastern Wall was not merely a structure but a powerful formation, maintained by several great clans. Yet, as those clans fell, only one remained—the Ling Clan—tasked with safeguarding the formation. For a thousand years, they upheld it, the last barrier separating the human world from the Demon Continent.

But now, a massive shadow loomed in the sky. Like a dark and ominous cloud, it advanced relentlessly toward the Feng Clan's palace.

Panic spread like wildfire. The great clans immediately summoned their cultivators. Dong Feng wasted no time activating the palace's protective array—an impenetrable barrier that allowed neither entry nor escape.

Amid the chaos, Ling Wei searched desperately for his daughter. The elders of the Ling Clan rushed about, their faces stricken with fear as they assessed the unfolding disaster. Everywhere, people were gripped by terror and confusion.

Everyone… except one.

Ling Yun stood motionless at the heart of the courtyard. He took a deep breath and raised his hands. His voice rang out over the frantic murmurs of the cultivators:

"Compose yourselves, esteemed cultivators!"

He lifted his sword, pointing its tip toward the ominous cloud.

"If demons are soaring over the Eastern Continent, it can only mean one thing… The Eastern Wall has fallen!"

Then, with fury blazing in his eyes, he turned sharply toward Feng Dong.

"Now tell me—who is responsible for this catastrophe?"

A heavy silence descended upon the crowd. Uneasy glances flickered between the cultivators. No one dared to speak against a clan whose patriarch had reached the Golden Core Realm. Whispers spread through the gathering, but no clear answer emerged.

Ling Yun pressed on.

"The last remnant of the Thousand-Year War—the Ling Clan—has been destroyed today! And the fall of the Ling Clan means the fall of the Eastern Continent!"

Feng Dong clenched his teeth in fury before finally snapping, his voice laced with venom.

"Shut your mouth, Ling bastard! You wretches dug your own graves the moment you defied the Feng Clan!"

He took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over the assembled cultivators. His voice thundered across the courtyard.

"Listen well, representatives of the Eastern clans! The Ling Clan has been wiped from existence—but tell me, who is to blame for their demise? Was it us… or was it them?"

"Do you truly believe the Feng Clan seeks dominion over the entire Eastern Continent? How absurd! For centuries, the Ling Clan used their so-called duty to protect the Eastern Wall as an excuse to place themselves above us. They never once saw us as equals!"

He drew his sword from its sheath and declared with fury:

"But today… I, Feng Dong, will bathe the last remnants of this worthless clan in blood!"

Ling Yun burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!!! Old Feng! You didn't even spare your own grandson—do you really think you'll have any allies left?!"

His sharp gaze swept over the elders of the Eastern clans.

"You all know the true nature of this man! He led my clan to ruin just to plunge this continent into chaos!"

At that moment, Ling Wei, who had remained silent until now, let out a furious, almost deranged roar.

"You bastard, Feng! You took my son captive, humiliated my clan, and now, with the destruction of the Eastern Wall, you've brought the demons back to our borders! But today, no matter the cost… I will destroy you!"

A murmur rippled through the gathered crowd. Eyes darted between the two opposing sides. On one hand, the Ling Clan, now reduced to nothing but a name; on the other, the Feng Clan, the rising power of the Eastern Continent.

Which side should they choose?

The various clans began assessing the situation, weighing their options. Amid the clash of words and defiant stares, they calculated the odds, measuring risk and reward. Yet, no matter how they looked at it, the Ling Clan was hardly an appealing choice.

At best, they had a single cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. But could someone like that truly stand against Feng Dong, a Golden Core cultivator?

Feng Dong cast a fiery gaze across the courtyard, sending a chill down the spines of those present. His aura was crushing, suffocating. That alone was enough to help many clans make up their minds.

Then, suddenly—nearly half of them drew their swords against the Ling Clan.

Feng Dong let out a triumphant laugh.

"Hahaha!!! Now this… this is foresight!"

His eyes then turned toward the remaining clans, the ones still hesitating. A cold smile curled on his lips as he spoke again.

"The Feng Clan is kind to its friends… but ruthless to its enemies."

Silence gripped the gathering.

What would be the outcome of this battle?

Most clans weren't willing to risk siding with the Ling Clan. Even if they somehow managed to kill Feng Dong, they would still have to face the demons invasion. Without the protective array of Feng Ming City, their losses would be catastrophic. And that was without even considering the casualties from fighting Feng Dong and his forces.

Was it really worth it?

The answer was clear.

One by one, more clans stepped forward, joining the ranks of Feng Dong's supporters.

He let out a booming laugh. Now, the complete annihilation of the Ling Clan was nothing more than a trivial task. Not only had he secured more allies, but he had also gained the perfect opportunity to identify and eliminate his remaining enemies.

A flawless victory.

Revenge, power, control over the rogue demons, and the foundation of a new Eastern Wall—all of it was now within his grasp. This moment marked the dawn of the Feng Clan's era.

However, the remaining clans were not so willing to bow to Feng Dong's rule. They understood all too well that the rise of a new power meant the weakening of the current order—and who would willingly accept a system that limited their own influence?

The existing structure, flawed as it was, had deep roots. But if Feng Dong truly rose to power, the balance across the Eastern Continent would be shattered. They were already burdened with the heavy annual tributes demanded by the Eastern Continent Council—would they now have to pay tribute to the Feng Clan as well?

And if the council, as the ruling authority, declared war on the Feng Clan, could they escape the wrath of the Nascent Soul cultivators?

Even if war was avoided and an agreement was reached, their status would still decline. No longer independent forces, they would be mere subordinates under Feng Dong's command.

So what was the answer? Should they take the risk and resist this rising power?

It was a pivotal decision—a perilous challenge.

But Feng Dong left no room for hesitation.

Without delay, he gave the order to attack—

And the battle began.