The Green Phoenix Divine Bird spreads its wings and soars high, piercing through the clouds, gliding above the Nine Heavens.

It follows the broad Huai River, flowing downstream.

Yu Yuan and Long Ji sit on the expansive back of the Green Phoenix Divine Bird, overlooking the Huai River below from their elevated vantage point.

They see the river's azure depths glistening like a mirror, reflecting the clouds and green mountains in the sunlight.

In no time, the Green Phoenix Divine Bird gently folds its wings and silently descends into a paradise along the lower reaches of the river.

Here, the mountains and waters are beautiful, with spring blossoms and autumn moons, bird songs and floral fragrances, and an abundance of Spiritual Energy—it's as if it's a realm outside of the world, an Immortal Realm.

"Who would have thought that this place could change so much!"

Long Ji retracts the Green Phoenix Divine Bird and looks around in surprise at the surrounding environment.

When she was first banished to the Human World, she had been to this place, but back then Linhuan Pass was just a remote and simple wilderness, with even the city wall in ruins.

But now as she returns, she feels the Spiritual Energy here is incredibly dense, hardly different from the Cave Heaven Blessed Lands inhabited by the Immortal Gods.

At a glance, neatly arrayed farmlands stretch into view.

Along the riverbanks, large Water Wheels turn slowly driven by the flow of the river, continuously drawing clear water into the canals.

Water canals three feet wide spread like a network, irrigating each plot of farmland with water from the Huai River.

Long Ji curiously inspects for a while, then with a wide-open mouth exclaims in surprise: "This contraption isn't even driven by an Array!"

"Hmm."

Yu Yuan nods slightly and smiles: "You're surprised too soon. There's a lot here you haven't seen yet."

Long Ji follows him towards a tall city backed by the Huai River in the distance.

The city is grand and majestic.

The walls rise into the clouds, several zhang thick.

Entering the city, one can see bustling streets lined with shops, people teeming everywhere, merchants gathered—it's extremely prosperous. Every house in the city is exquisitely carved, as if even the bricks and tiles have been delicately crafted by skilled artisans.

The people all seem joyful, with ruddy complexions and full of vitality, showing no panic or fear about the impending war.

Yu Yuan's brows slightly furrow. After asking a few passersby, he learns that Wen Zhong has not publicly announced the news that Great Shang's army is about to besiege the city.

Given Yu Yuan's understanding of him, he probably doesn't want to cause panic and turmoil.

So Yu Yuan isn't in a hurry to see Wen Zhong and instead strolls around the city with Long Ji.

This city is a new expansion built by Wen Zhong atop the original fortifications of Linhuan Pass.

Because too many people have moved here from all over, and because there were some ill-intentioned forces coveting the prosperity of Linhuan Pass and wanting to seize it for themselves.

In this context, Wen Zhong came up with the idea of building a city.

Yu Yuan naturally supported this, not only providing several city design concepts, but also having Bai Ling send experts in earth and wood Daoist Skills from his tribe to help with the city's construction.

After more than a decade of construction, a city capable of accommodating nearly two hundred thousand people was finally built.

Although Yu Yuan has always kept an eye on Linhuan Pass and Wen Zhong often asked for his opinions on certain matters through the Bronze Treasure Mirror, Yu Yuan has become somewhat unfamiliar with Linhuan Pass as it is now.

Along the way, he sees many unusual objects that have never been seen or heard of before.

"Who would have thought the Human World could be so interesting? The people who invented these devices are really clever!" Long Ji says excitedly.

"Indeed smart."

Yu Yuan nods again.

He hasn't been to Linhuan Pass for a long time.

Apart from the many new tools and workshops, the biggest change here is that the Spiritual Energy has become exceedingly dense!

Yu Yuan was originally puzzled.

Why did Great Shang not go find trouble with the Zhou Clan to the southwest, but instead come to besiege Linhuan Pass?

Although Linhuan Pass has indeed developed rapidly these years, Wen Zhong has neither proclaimed himself king nor openly rebelled—why has it alarmed Chaoge?

And to send an army of three hundred thousand at once!

Linhuan Pass is but a small place.

They don't even have a formal army.

Why the need to deploy three hundred thousand troops?

However, as Yu Yuan arrives at Linhuan Pass and witnesses the towering city, as well as the affluent and peaceful citizens inside and the lush green farmland outside, he realizes that this battle is indeed unavoidable.

As the saying goes, how can one allow others to sleep soundly by the side of one's bed?

If anyone at the top of Great Shang is not a fool, they would definitely do everything possible to take down Linhuan Pass!

If they can't take it, then decisively destroy it!

Because if Linhuan Pass is allowed to continue developing, it will inevitably grow into a formidable and terrifying enemy.

Especially in the Huai River, where it seems as if some heavenly and earthy treasures are being nurtured, occasionally there are seven-colored mists emanating from the water, and from time to time, large shadows can be seen moving underwater.

Yu Yuan naturally knows what the treasure in the water is.

That is the Human Dao Destiny he captured back then, which he later kept in the downstream of the Huai River.

Now, with Linhuan Pass's rapid development, this Human Dao Destiny has also grown rapidly and has turned into a Water Dragon vein.

At this moment, if there were an expert skilled in Qi Observation Skill, they would see that the Human Dao Destiny of the whole Southern Continent has been divided into three parts.

The largest part occupies two-thirds of the whole Human Dao Destiny, shaped like a huge black bird suspended over the territory of Great Shang Country, with the head of the bird positioned right at the capital, Chaoge.

The remaining one-third is divided into two halves.

One half is located to the southwest of Great Shang, shaped like a fiercely burning Fire Phoenix. Although its size is not even one percent of the Great Shang black bird, it possesses an unstoppable sharpness and is looking up at the Great Shang bird with undaunted resolve, as if ready to take its place.

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