Chapter 0464 – The Army Sets Out

The offspring of the Golden Roc possessed an extremely noble bloodline, and their future potential was beyond imagination—absolutely extraordinary. Once matured, Tier 2 wouldn't be their limit; even Tier 3 or 4 might not be out of reach. If they were to choose companions without enough potential, those companions would only become shackles, holding them back. From the perspective of a Golden Roc, this was simply unacceptable.

As a parent, the Golden Roc clearly felt a strong sense of responsibility.

There was no way it would allow someone without potential to become the lifelong partner of its children.

A lifelong companion?

That was out of the question.

"Very well, Golden Roc, rest assured. If none of the soldiers from this batch are chosen, I will send in the next batch. Your offspring may choose freely. Right now, Xuanhuang City has no fewer than 300,000 troops. To pick from among them—there's no way suitable partners can't be found."

Yi Tianxing nodded in understanding. He fully grasped the Golden Roc's concern and didn't take it to heart. He directly made a promise.

Judging by the number of offspring, there weren't too many, but not too few either—dozens. This time, it had laid a considerable number of eggs. After hatching, a batch of these little ones had emerged. Where there's one, there'll be more. As long as the Golden Roc kept working hard, it wouldn't be impossible to establish an entire race. It was only a matter of time.

"Golden Roc, come back with me in a bit. Let's take some Five-Colored Beast Soul Liquid from the Beast Soul Pool and give it to these little ones to drink. Not only will it cleanse their bloodlines, but it'll also enhance their innate potential. Their future will be even brighter, with greater chances of advancement."

Yi Tianxing looked affectionately at the golden-feathered little creatures. He nodded as he spoke.

"Thank you, Master."

The Golden Roc was overjoyed. It had tasted the Beast Soul Liquid before and knew how miraculous it was. For any ferocious beast or bird, it was a priceless treasure—an artifact capable of changing fate. If these little ones could obtain it, the benefits would be massive. It would grant them a foundation unlike any other from the very beginning—an immeasurable boon for the future.

…

That day, Xuanhuang City was abuzz with conversation.

People were all discussing the insect disaster, voicing their opinions. But by now, few questioned the truth of it. Instead, they were debating when it would erupt, whether it would spread to Xuanhuang's territory, how destructive it would be, and if it could be contained or even eliminated. These were the topics of the day.

The city was filled with liveliness.

"What are we afraid of? We're not some helpless civilians anymore. Bugs or beasts—it doesn't matter. I'd still charge up and cut them down! If insects come, I'll carve them up and have them with wine."

"I've eaten beasts and birds, but never insects. I hear they're delicious—comparable to crab or lobster. Great nourishment, too."

"We even eat piranhas, why would we fear insects? If they want to eat us, we'll eat them first."

The public discourse slowly veered off course. Now everyone was wondering what insects would taste like. Humans really were terrifying.

And brave. If it's edible, humans will eat it—no hesitation.

But in truth, this also showed that the people weren't afraid or panicking. After enduring countless catastrophes, their hearts had long since been tempered. In these chaotic times, where life was uncertain, not even an insect apocalypse could shake them. Even if the heavens fell next, they'd endure.

"As Heaven moves with power, a noble man strengthens himself without rest!"

The day passed quietly.

The next morning, in the West District, outside the military barracks…

Yi Tianxing was already standing there.

The military barracks, thanks to the soldiers' efforts, had transformed and leveled up. It now held capacity for tens of thousands of troops, with completely overhauled space and facilities.

Yet from the outside, it looked just as before—shrouded in mist, mysterious and unfathomable.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!!

Mist churned within the camp. The crisp, rhythmic sound of marching echoed outward—uniform and powerful, as if a single entity moved as one.

A figure stepped out—it was Wang Dahu.

Behind him marched rows upon rows of soldiers.

Each bore a medal on their chest, engraved with two white stars—signifying that every one of them had reached the level of a Second-Grade Heavenly Soldier (二品天兵).

These were all Second-Grade Heavenly Soldiers.

If one advanced through the simplest means, the stars on their medal would be black. But those who rose via the true Heavenly Soldier path, completing trials and tests, not only reached Sea of God Realm, Tier 4, but also obtained the legacy of the Heavenly Soldier War Codex ("天兵战典")—making them true elite warriors. Many had cultivation levels beyond Tier 4.

Their auras were connected, and it was clear they practiced the same techniques and battle arts—such unity could only come from long exposure and shared training. They moved as one, like a mountain.

The pressure they radiated was terrifying.

Spectators around them turned pale, feeling an invisible weight crush down on them.

"Commander Wang Dahu, reporting to the Lord. My unit of 10,000 soldiers is present and accounted for—no absentees. Requesting inspection!"

Wang Dahu shouted clearly.

"Excellent—true elites."

Yi Tianxing nodded with satisfaction. As soon as the army appeared, it exuded the aura of tigers and wolves—veterans who had seen blood, forged through countless battles. These were no rookies.

Especially their gear—it was top-tier.

Their armor was crafted by specialized smiths and embedded with a Defensive Enchantment: Earth Guard. When activated, a shield would envelop the body, blocking various attacks. Unless the shield was broken, harming the wearer would be extremely difficult. Once one piece was finished, they used the Universal Printer to mass-produce it rapidly.

All soldiers were fully equipped.

Some carried blades, others bows, spears, or swords. There were shielded warriors and more—fully diverse. Each bore Runic Bombs. From head to toe, they were armed to the teeth.

These 10,000 men gave off the aura of a million-strong army.

Then, more marching could be heard from within the camp.

This time, soldiers wearing leather armor, carrying arrow quivers on their backs and mechanical crossbows (神机弩) at their waists emerged quickly.

Led by Yang Yanping, they assembled in tight ranks.

"Divine Machine Corps (神机营), 10,000 soldiers present on command, fully accounted for. Requesting inspection!"Yang Yanping reported.

This force radiated a sharper aura. Their eyes were like eagles—sharp and piercing. Just being glanced at made your skin prickle. Their vision was extraordinary.

"Good. Since everything is ready, there's no need to delay."

Yi Tianxing looked at the arrayed troops and felt a sense of pride. This was his creation—a formidable army forged from scratch, loyal only to him. This was his confidence—Xuanhuang City's foundation.

"Move out!!"

With a decisive order, a silver-white portal appeared before them, rapidly expanding into a giant gateway. Silvery light flickered across its surface, as though it led into a mysterious tunnel.

It evoked a primal fear of the unknown.

"Enter in order. Do not panic during transmission."

Yi Tianxing reminded.

The Space Gate could traverse vast distances. Now, Xuanhuang City was connected via Teleportation Arrays to other towns and villages. Their spatial coordinates were linked. Using this, the Space Gate could cross great expanses as easily as hopping through a teleportation node. The speed was astonishing.

He stepped in first.

Fu Hongxue, Jia Xu, and the others followed without hesitation. In a flash of light, they vanished.

"Move out!!"

With another command, soldiers filed into the gate. It devoured them like a silent monster. No matter how many entered, it remained eerily quiet.

Thanks to order and discipline, the process was swift. Within moments, all 20,000 troops had passed through. Once the last entered, the Space Gate vanished.

"They've set out. May the City Lord win glory for humanity and strike fear into the aliens!"

"That's right. We may be weak, but our spirit is strong. Even if we're born with inferior bodies, we can still become powerful. I believe our army is no less than any alien force!"

"Yes! Our human warriors—magnificent! May their spirits live on forever!"

"Kill! Even if they fall, we'll provide for their families and honor them every year. We only hope to see them return in victory!"

The citizens gazed at the place where the portal vanished, their eyes filled with hope and yearning.

This was humanity's first expedition.

And even if the army was small, it represented the entire race. They were not prey. Not food. But a great race in their own right—equal in standing.