This was the Holy Knight Legion—the most powerful and most mysterious military force of the Holy Empire. Since the founding of the empire, they had been dispersed across various regions, ennobled as lords, dukes, or commanders, each tasked with guarding a territory. With knights of the Holy Knight Legion stationed throughout, the empire remained as steady as a mountain.
Now that they had gathered once again, they naturally reformed into an army. The knightly spirit and will had long been carved into their bones—becoming part of their very lives. Even after many years apart, they instantly found their old rhythm. Their coordination and combat strength had not diminished—in fact, thanks to their improved cultivation, they were stronger than ever.
At the front stood a middle-aged knight clad in platinum armor, radiating an aura of holiness. Yet beyond that sacred aura, his bearing also exuded an imperial majesty.
He was none other than the Holy Emperor of the Holy Empire—not just the sovereign of the empire, but also the commander of the entire Holy Knight Legion. Such power could only be wielded by a monarch. This battle would decide the fate of the entire Knight Domain, the future of the Holy Empire. He could not sit idly by and watch—he would personally lead the army.
Only under his leadership could the Holy Knight Legion fight at its strongest.
"Life and death are uncertain in this war. The outcome is impossible to predict. But with this battle, I'll at least be able to answer to the Knight Domain. As for the Great Yi Holy Court—I still don't understand what kind of man that Yi Saint King is, to raise a Destiny Dynasty into a Holy Court so quickly… even with hopes of reaching an Immortal Court. If we lose this battle, surrendering to Great Yi may not be such a bad thing after all."
The Holy Emperor took a deep breath and gazed into the distance, a complex glint flashing in his eyes.
Only a fellow Destiny Dynasty ruler could understand the difficulty of this path: building fortune, nurturing the people, increasing national destiny, and strengthening one's own cultivation—all of it required time and foundation. Just ensuring that the people of the Holy Empire were fed was already a huge burden.
Yes, the land was fertile, and the spiritual energy abundant. Crops grew far faster than in ordinary worlds—some could be harvested in just one or two months, even less—but it wasn't easy. Farming required manpower and resources. Reclaiming the wilderness meant facing all manner of fierce beasts and birds—especially spirit birds that loved to steal spiritual crops. Farmers were attacked often, dragged away, or even torn apart on the spot. Every year, people died just to grow food.
They even needed knights to patrol the farmlands.
No matter what they tried, food production simply couldn't increase.
Unlike Great Yi—as soon as an immortal city was established, Scarecrows arrived in droves. With Scarecrows guarding the fields, farming in Great Yi was a complete natural advantage. Food was so abundant they couldn't finish it all. Feeding trillions of people three meals a day posed no pressure.
But for other Destiny Dynasties, food was always a shortage.
In the Knight Domain, most regions could only afford two meals a day—some only one.
The Holy Emperor knew he had already done his best. Development needed time. Power couldn't be created from nothing. Food couldn't just appear out of thin air. He had heard rumors that in Great Yi, as long as one was willing to work, they could eat meat every meal.
When he heard that, the Holy Emperor had stayed silent for a long time.
These details might seem trivial—but they were the very foundation of a Destiny Dynasty.
Just from these basics, one could clearly see the difference in strength.
Moreover, the existence of the Great Yi's Nobility Ranking meant those who surrendered could still achieve a good fate. This alone erased much resistance. Past examples lived comfortably in the Xuanhuang Immortal City, completely unrestricted—some didn't even want to leave.
There was even a saying outside:
"Better to be a noble in Great Yi than an emperor of a Destiny Dynasty."
Dynasty emperors couldn't compare to Great Yi's dukes and marquises.
Still, handing over the Knight Domain wouldn't come easy.
This war had to be fought—and fought with everything they had. Even if they were doomed to fall, they would burn one last time before the end—prove that the Knight Domain was no weakling, but still proud and honorable.
This battle would show the true might of the Holy Empire.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Great Yi army was already in formation.
Only one legion had been deployed—the White Dragon Legion, led by Zhao Yun.
A million troops stood in formation. The White Dragon Legion was a cavalry unit. Each soldier wore white-scaled dragon armor—a type of illusory armor formed from a special beast: the White Dragon Horse. It was said that this creature was born from the union of a Dragon Horse and a White Dragon. The Dragon Horse itself was an exotic beast, no weaker than a True Dragon, even considered auspicious.
With dragon blood running through them, White Dragon Horses were of extraordinarily high grade. Their bodies were snow-white, scale-covered, without fur—those were dragon scales, covering them in flowing arcs. Atop their heads were single white horns, and clouds swirled beneath their hooves—they could run through the air with great speed, explosive power, and powerful defenses. Their stature was huge, making them top-tier mounts.
These Dragon Horse beasts were incredibly rare in the Phantom Beast Hall, and the White Dragon Legion had exclusive rights to them. The White Dragon Horses had been discovered in a remote corner of the Dragon Beast Domain, and their numbers were small. Breeding them was difficult. Great Yi had already assigned personnel to specialize in raising various spiritual beasts—especially those suitable as mounts.
Across Great Yi, spiritual beast pet stores were now common. Cute, small, beautiful, or powerful beasts—classified and sold. Female cultivators loved white ermines, snow foxes, magpies, and so on, keeping them as companions to ease the solitude of cultivation.
In Xuanhuang Immortal City, the Death Beast Arena had exploded in popularity. Many cultivators entered their pets into brutal duels, using the fights to break through in cultivation—or earn rewards and wealth.
Spiritual beasts had become a mature industry in Great Yi.
But that was a matter for another time.
The White Dragon Legion was an elite force among elites.
And Zhao Yun—since joining Great Yi—had never sought power or fame. He threw himself entirely into the military, sharing hardships with his soldiers. His cultivation surged. Among all the legion commanders, he was truly one of the most outstanding.
Assigning this battle to him was a testament to the court's trust.
"This battle must not be lost."
Zhao Yun's gaze was calm, unwavering—filled with a determination that could not be shaken.
Time passed in silence.
Before long, the agreed time arrived.
On the battlefield, both legions began to move. They stopped 3,000 meters apart, facing each other. Killing intent filled the skies—gathering into clouds of bloodlust, a suffocating pressure spreading across the field.
A figure stepped into the air—it was Jia Xu, head of Great Yi's Heavenly Strategy Pavilion.
"I am Jia Xu, Director of Great Yi's Heavenly Strategy Pavilion. I shall oversee this duel. Each side fields one million troops. Victory will be decided on the battlefield. No external forces may interfere before the outcome is determined."
The field was for war—and for settling scores.
"Holy Knight Legion—Battle! Battle! Battle!!"
The Holy Emperor raised his knight spear high and shouted.
"Battle! Battle! Battle!!"
A million knights roared behind him.
"White Dragon Legion—for Great Yi! For honor! Kill! Kill! Kill!!"
Zhao Yun pointed his spear forward and roared.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!!"
A million White Dragon cavalrymen shouted in return, shaking the heavens.
In Great Yi, military merit was earned on the battlefield. If you survived, you gained massive achievements. If you died, your merit passed to your descendants—your family would be provided for. That alone lit a fire in every soldier's heart—they feared no battle. They welcomed war.
"Holy Knight Legion—Charge!!"
The Holy Emperor gave the command, charging at the front. His mount bolted forward.
As they began their charge, the Holy Emperor roared:
"Boiling Blood!!"
A divine light surged from his body—a blood-red halo appeared. This was the Boiling Blood Aura. As it spread, every knight's eyes lit with a blood glow. Their qi and blood boiled, and their strength soared.
"Gale!!"
Another shout—the Holy Emperor activated a green Gale Aura. When it spread, green light flowed beneath every knight, and their charge speed instantly skyrocketed.