"Don't worry. Since I said I can do it, I naturally have a way to make it happen."Yi Tianxing spoke confidently.
He had no intention of teleporting these students randomly into the wilderness. What he wanted to do was bring all of them into the Heavenly Emperor's Hongmeng Pagoda. The space inside the pagoda had already transformed into a complete minor world, spanning thousands of miles. It was vast, and within it, he had already begun planting seeds—flowers, grass, and trees had all taken root and flourished.
Compared to the outer wilderness, there was hardly any difference.
Now, the tower's internal space could accommodate living beings—it was, in essence, a perfect life-supporting environment.
His objective was to bring these students to Xuanhuang City. Whether or not they chose to stay there afterward didn't matter; as long as they arrived, they would inevitably become useful. If something happened within the city, could they really stand by and do nothing?
"As long as that's the case, then I agree to your plan," Cai Yong said. "However, you must remember your promise—not to use force or coercion to make the academy's students join your ranks."
The students of the academy were some of the most precious assets of the human race. He did not want any unpleasant incidents to arise.
"By the way, Elder Cai," Yi Tianxing said as the tone of their conversation settled, "there's something I haven't told you yet."
"What is it?"Cai Yong looked at him, confused.
He was certain this was the first time they had ever met. They had no dealings before. Yet Yi Tianxing now spoke as though there was some personal connection.
"You have a daughter, don't you?" Yi Tianxing asked.
"My daughter… Zhaoji—Yan'er. You've met my daughter? How is she? Is she here? Is she doing well?"Cai Yong's expression changed drastically. His whole body trembled uncontrollably.
Cai Yan. Yan'er. Zhaoji.
Ever since being thrust into the Eternal Continent, surrounded by fierce beasts, monsters, and countless foreign races, Cai Yong hardly dared imagine what horrors his delicate daughter might have faced. Time and time again, he'd awakened from nightmares.
This chaotic world was like a living hell for a frail woman. Dangers lurked at every moment. And no matter how much he worried or fretted, it was useless. Trapped in this valley, unable to leave, and the Eternal Continent itself was unimaginably vast. She could be on the opposite side of the world, and he would never know.
All he could do was bury that pain deep within, praying silently that she had survived, even grown strong.
Yet now—Yi Tianxing had mentioned her.
And judging by his tone, they had met—possibly even had a close relationship.
Even Cai Yong, despite his scholarly reserve, could not remain calm. He was no saint. He was still human.
No matter how many lives he could live or how many worlds he traversed, the bond of blood—of family—could never be severed.
"Zhaoji is currently in Xuanhuang City. She's doing very well."
Yi Tianxing saw the change in Cai Yong's expression and quietly nodded. Clearly, he still cared deeply for his daughter.
"Zhaoji? You and Yan'er—what's your relationship?"Cai Yong's brows furrowed as he looked Yi Tianxing in the eye, searching for answers.
"She is my wife. The Lady of Xuanhuang City. She is the matriarch to tens of millions of citizens across thousands of miles."
Yi Tianxing answered without hesitation.
"What? Yan'er… got married?"Cai Yong's face changed again. His expression grew complicated.
He didn't believe it was a lie. At Yi Tianxing's level, such a lie would be pointless.
But it was something he hadn't expected.
Not only was his daughter married—she had become the wife of a ruler, a noblewoman revered by millions. The shock was overwhelming, almost surreal.
The gentle, obedient girl who once sat by his side had now become second only to a sovereign. A transformation beyond imagination.
"Did you force her?"Cai Yong's gaze sharpened as he asked in a deep voice.
"Our feelings are mutual—deep and sincere. I have never coerced her. If you don't believe me, once we return to Xuanhuang City, you can ask her directly. Or you can speak with others in the city."
Yi Tianxing's gaze was unwavering as he spoke.
Then he recounted the story of how he had first met Cai Yan.
Cai Yong's expression shifted throughout the retelling. When he learned his daughter had fallen into the hands of the Xiongnu, his face went pale. Upon hearing she had escaped, he finally relaxed.
Time passed.
After this heartfelt conversation, Cai Yong looked at Yi Tianxing very differently. Had Yi Tianxing claimed this connection at the beginning, he might've dismissed it as deception. But after their discussion, his words carried a very different weight.
The sincerity in his voice, the consistent narrative—it left little room for doubt.
Cai Yong couldn't help but marvel at fate. In the blink of an eye, he had a son-in-law. More importantly, his daughter was not only alive but doing well—and they might soon be reunited.
The hope of seeing his daughter again strengthened Cai Yong's resolve to leave the valley.
He gave the order: the academy students were to prepare for departure.
To be honest, there wasn't much to pack.
Night fell silently over the land.
On the academy's central plaza, a crowd had gathered—black and dense, but orderly.
At the front stood Cai Yong and Yi Tianxing.
All eyes burned with anticipation.
The students had already heard the news: Yi Tianxing was here to take them away, to free them from this valley, to restore their freedom—to end this invisible imprisonment.
It was a second chance at life.
What they all wondered was: how exactly would he do it? There were tens of thousands of them.
Swoosh!!
Yi Tianxing glanced up at the sky. With a wave of his hand, a massive ancient gate flickering with silvery light materialized in the square. Light flowed across its surface, and beyond the threshold seemed to lie a deep, bottomless tunnel—its mysterious aura inspiring both awe and unease.
"This is a spatial gate," Yi Tianxing explained calmly. "Step through it, and you'll leave the valley. You'll be teleported to a safe zone. You won't need to do anything—soon enough, you'll arrive in Xuanhuang City. The teleportation site has ample supplies, enough to support tens of thousands."
His voice reached every ear with natural clarity.
"Follow orders. Enter the gate."Qi Jiguang stood in front of the gate and spoke to the students.
Swoosh!!
Without hesitation, an old farmer hoisted his hoe and stepped into the gate. His body disappeared instantly. The others, seeing this, followed.
Though they were nervous, they had no real choice. Other than trusting Yi Tianxing and entering the gate, what else could they do? Stay behind, locked away?
Before this opportunity, they might've resigned themselves. But now that freedom was in sight—even with risk—they were willing to gamble.
No one held back. One by one, they entered the gate.
What none of them knew was that this spatial gate didn't lead to a place outside the valley—but directly into the Heavenly Emperor's Pagoda. There, inside the tower's internal world, everything had been prepared—food, shelter, and supplies for tens of thousands.
They would believe it was a remote wilderness safe zone—never suspecting they were inside a magical treasure.
And the energy required to teleport them? Insignificant. The whole process ran smoothly and effortlessly.
Seeing the students disappear one after another into the gate, Cai Yong nodded in approval.
Then he looked to Yi Tianxing. "City Lord, there's one thing I must tell you."
"Please speak, Father-in-law."Yi Tianxing smiled lightly.
"Let's not call each other that yet—wait until I've seen Yan'er," Cai Yong said, shaking his head. "You may not know this, but the ones who attacked the Jixia Academy weren't the Snakefolk."
"It wasn't the Snakefolk? Then who?"Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"They were a race called the Trolls. The Troll Clan is extremely savage—they eat humans. Vicious beyond compare. If the academy hadn't had strong defenses, we would've been overrun."
"Later, the Snake Queen arrived with her people. There was a brutal battle. The Trolls were forced to retreat. The Snakefolk's deadly poison and wilderness assassination skills were unmatched. And the Snake Queen… her power was terrifying. Her Medusa's Eye turned dozens of Trolls to stone on the spot, sealing our victory."
Cai Yong's face grew solemn as he spoke.