Grand Cathay boasts an incredibly long history.
Even before the arrival of the Old Ones, the Dragon Emperor and his consort, the Moon Empress, already inhabited this world.
At that time, this world was a frozen wasteland.
Only the most powerful beings could survive here.
When the Old Ones arrived, they terraformed the planet, making it suitable for life.
Simultaneously, they created other races, bringing vibrant life to this world.
It was also during this period that the Dragon Emperor learned to assume a human form.
He rallied the barbarian tribes to join his banner.
Alas, good times never last. The Old Ones suffered defeat in their war against Chaos and were forced to flee this world. The Warp Gates collapsed, and Chaos poured into this world.
In the apocalypse, many tribes sought the Dragon Emperor's protection for survival. The Dragon Emperor, benevolent and magnanimous, found ways to save these people and united them to fight against Chaos.
After prolonged campaigns and arduous efforts, the Dragon Emperor, with the help of his wife and children, established Grand Cathay.
He spent vast amounts of time and resources, gathering the most brilliant artisans of the era, and had them combine magic and craftsmanship to construct the Great Bastion of Grand Cathay, and also created countless Terracotta warriors for defense, bringing peace to the people.
The Dragon Emperor and his children ruled this ancient nation. They taught the people of Grand Cathay to harness the power of Harmony. They taught them to coexist harmoniously with nature and the land around them, finding their place in the world.
Through such philosophy and power, the people of Grand Cathay have lived peacefully, diligently creating wealth. The Dragon Emperor and his wife had nine sons in total; four went missing, and the remaining five offspring ruled the east, west, north, south, and center of Grand Cathay respectively.
Miao Ying is responsible for guarding the northern border.
She is the Dragon Emperor's daughter, and one of Grand Cathay's rulers and provincial generals.
She possesses a human form and can transform into a colossal dragon in times of crisis, unleashing attacks capable of destroying everything.
A dragon is terrifying. The savage barbarians and Chaos cultists north of the Great Bastion have experienced the dragon's wrath countless times.
Miao Ying has been stationed in Grand Cathay's northern reaches for centuries, having fought innumerable battles. The enemies she has slain could fill a massive city. Throughout this long period, Miao Ying has encountered many who attempted to cross the Great Bastion and enter Grand Cathay.
Some were barbarians from the Chaos Wastes and the Northern Wastes, and occasionally there were travelers from the west. The former often met their end by her blade. The latter sometimes gained permission to enter Grand Cathay for trade, while those with ill intentions were expelled.
However, the contingent that arrived today made Miao Ying, a seasoned veteran who had slain countless Beastmen and chaos warriors, wary.
It was a massive fleet.
Composed entirely of magic-driven airships.
Each airship was colossal, like a mountain. They moved through the air like gigantic, moving mountains. The sides of their hulls were emblazoned with the double-headed eagle emblem and mounted with numerous cannons.
Grand Cathay also possesses its own airships. The Sky-Junks, designed by the renowned master weapon-smith, Shi Hong. These airships are suspended by several Sky-Lanterns, covered in thick armor, making their defenses difficult to breach by arrows and the evil magic of Chaos cultists.
However, compared to the airships of that special fleet from the Eastern Plains, the Sky-Junks seemed like crude children's toys, not even on the same level. Those mysterious individuals, through unknown means, had fused supernatural runes with steel, allowing magical power to act upon the hull.
With the power of magic, those colossal airships were able to soar through the sky.
Such craftsmanship was truly ingenious.
"My name is Valerius, and I am from a foreign land, commanded by the Holy Emperor to save and guide the humans of this world. We bear no ill will."
Valerius stood at the bow of the airship, extending his empty hands towards the Sky-Junks, signaling that he was unarmed and came in peace.
He showed no sign of anger.
Valerius was considered one of the more approachable members of the Custodes.
Even with mortals, he would be amiable.
Unlike other Custodes, who disliked interacting with weak and incompetent mortals.
When they encountered such situations, they often considered it an affront.
Several Sky-Junks approached the airship.
Cathayan soldiers threw grappling hooks, securing their ships to the airship, and then constructed simple gangways with planks of wood.
A group of soldiers, clad in bright armor, wielding halberds, crossbows, and long swords, walked across the makeshift planks. These soldiers were strong and powerful, exuding the killing intent of seasoned veterans.
Many were unaware of this aura. They simply instinctively feared these individuals. The soldiers carried a large dragon banner. Their eyes were filled with vigilance. Their muscles were tense, already prepared for battle.
Should any problem arise during boarding, they would not hesitate to act.
At the same time, the Sky-Junks, already on standby, would immediately open fire.
Valerius did not wish to engage Grand Cathay in war if he could help it. That would be meaningless and only amuse the gods.
He gave the order that the airship's crew must cooperate with the Cathayan soldiers. The crew raised their hands and leaned against the walls, indicating they posed no threat.
A beautiful female general, escorted by the boarding soldiers, appeared before Valerius.
She wore an exquisitely crafted dragon-scale armor, covered in countless tiny runes.
One hand was adorned with dark silver gauntlets. The other hand, however, wore an iron claw gauntlet with overlapping scale-like plates that also covered her palm. The female general had long white hair and wore a horned crown.
At the center of the crown was a priceless, flawless purple gem, which symmetrically complemented the slightly smaller purple gems at the base of the two horns, naturally conveying a sense of nobility and inviolability.
Her eyes were also pure white, like flawless jade.
Her face was beautiful, her skin as white as snow, delicate and smooth.
"Stranger, why do you enter Grand Cathay?" Miao Ying's voice was exceptionally melodious, yet devoid of emotion, incredibly cold, keeping others at a distance.
"To unite humanity," Valerius replied. "The threat of Chaos is imminent; all of humanity must unite."
"Grand Cathay can resist Chaos alone," Miao Ying stated. "We possess sufficient strength."
"That is far from enough. What you have faced before were merely the gods' unintentional jests. They only sought amusement from you, not your destruction
. This was just a game, which is why you could hold out behind this magnificent wall. But should they one day decide to destroy you, believe me, you would have no chance against such an apocalyptic disaster."
Valerius said with earnestness, "Let us unite; only then can we fight Chaos. And please, inform the supreme ruler of Grand Cathay that we come with utmost sincerity."
Miaoying scrutinized Valerius, who had removed his helmet.
A hint of anger flickered in his white eyes.
Clad in golden armor, Valerius appeared tall and imposing.
Ordinary soldiers standing before him seemed as thin and frail as children.
His face was broad and handsome, his gaze resolute and deep, possessing the refined wisdom of a scholar.
Valerius's words held no trace of pretense.
Only a sense of rather unpleasant arrogance.
He attributed Cathay's survival in the war against Chaos to the gods viewing this world as a playground, not truly engaging.
Such words were infuriating.
Very arrogant.
"Cathay possesses sufficient strength to defend its people," Miaoying reiterated. "You know nothing of Cathay's power, stranger. Countless enemies of Chaos have fallen before the majestic Great Bastion."
"I do not doubt that, but there is no disrespect in my words. You live in this small world, information is too isolated, and you know nothing of the true face of Chaos. If you could glimpse a fraction of the truth of Chaos, you would not refuse my proposal."
Valerius extended his hand.
A shimmering silver sphere appeared in the air.
It hovered before Miaoying's eyes.
Valerius was traveling by airship, not an Imperial gunship or transport. There was no holographic projector installed. The interface that could be summoned was formed by proton detectors.
As a Custodian and the head of the inter-universe exploration team.
Valerius still had the right to use ultra-miniature devices such as proton detectors. The appearance of the sphere caused Miaoying to immediately adopt a defensive posture.
"Don't be nervous," Valerius reassured. "This is just a non-offensive interface."
The Imperial golden double-headed eagle emblem flashed across the interface.
Valerius waved his hand, manipulating the smooth, bright spherical interface to display scenes from the Imperial military war records. The Chaos wars experienced by the Imperium were on a completely different scale than those experienced by Cathay. The struggles between the Emperor and the gods determined their survival.
It was a confrontation between players.
If the Old Ones were still in this world, Valerius would never dare to say this was merely a game of the gods.
But now, the Old Ones had already retreated, fleeing this world.
How could indigenous beings who couldn't even fully utilize the creations of the Old Ones possibly resist the legions of Chaos?
The gods merely viewed this place as a playground. They repeatedly pushed various factions to the brink, then watched their death throes.
Killing an ant brings no joy.
But toying with an ant can make one forget the passage of time with happiness. The images displayed on the interface made Miaoying recoil in shock.
Entire worlds were corrupted by Chaos, transforming into bizarre entities.
Countless beings were twisted, becoming pawns of Chaos. The scale of those wars far exceeded Miaoying's imagination.
Fighting daemons on every world in the stars.
At the ends and beginnings of time and space, preventing the gods from manipulating fate.
warriors were sent out to find every possible existing reality, unite every human who could be united, and launch attacks against those unspeakable things.
An individual was incredibly small in those wars, like an ant.
Even a life form like her, who possessed extraordinary power, was not an outstanding existence in those wars.
Miaoying could see from those interfaces that psykers embedded with transmission cables and amplifiers could unleash attacks far exceeding dragon breath.
After playing for more than ten minutes, making Miaoying realize that Chaos was far from simple.
Valerius waved his hand and closed the interface.
"I come with peaceful intentions, with absolutely no malice."
Miaoying maintained a poker face.
However, her heart was filled with awe at the other party's miraculous methods.
She did not sense any fluctuations of extraordinary power.
She could not fathom how the other party made that silver sphere appear.
As for the images displayed by the silver sphere, Miaoying had no way to verify them. Those images were simply too grand. The entire territory of Cathay in those wars would be equivalent to a single city.
After careful consideration, Miaoying ultimately chose to allow this mysterious team to enter the Great Bastion.
She would report this matter to her father, the Dragon Emperor, and let him make the decision. The Great Bastion is blessed with the Dragon Emperor's mysterious magic.
It can prevent any daemons and Chaos spawns from bypassing the Great Bastion and appearing within Cathay. The only way for Chaos to enter Cathay is to breach the Great Bastion. The northern barbarians and nomadic tribes of the grasslands, controlled and enslaved by Chaos, launch attacks on the Great Bastion every year.
But every time they return defeated.
Aside from leaving behind a large number of corpses, they gain nothing.
Receiving the Cathay commander's permission to enter, Valerius smiled.
Blessed by the Emperor.
He hoped the subsequent work would also proceed as smoothly.
Allowing him to successfully recover the Emperor's soul fragments and complete his mission.
Several Astromancers, who mastered the Way of Yin and Yang and held Five Element Compasses, boarded Valerius's ship. Their task was to assist this fleet, which had traveled a long distance, in passing through the Great Bastion and entering Cathay.
Astromancers are Cathay's sorcerers, mastering the Way of Yin and Yang and specializing in astrology and prediction.
Cathay pays great attention to the use of extraordinary power.
Although direct dragon bloodlines like Miaoying's are rare.
However, within Cathay, there are many Dragon-Blooded who contain their bloodline and possess powerful abilities.
A portion of the Dragon-Blooded have the bloodline of dragon children, while others have bloodlines blessed by the Dragon Emperor. They are born understanding the Way of Yin and Yang, and if they encounter opportunities, they might even successfully transform into dragons.
Dragon-Blooded with great talent often join Cathay's military forces, undertaking the most dangerous frontline combat missions.
Apart from the Dragon-Blooded, Alchemists are also the most common users of extraordinary power in Cathay. They can refine various rare potions and elixirs, and bless and enchant soldiers' weapons. They can also use powerful metal-based magic.
Alchemists often become important logistical support for Cathay's troops.
One is responsible for charging into battle, and the other is responsible for logistical support.
As sorcerers, Astromancers are responsible for harmonizing Yin and Yang and setting up Five Element formations on the battlefield. To enter the Great Bastion, which is blessed by the Dragon Emperor's power, one must be led by an Astromancer.
And within Cathay, the figures of Astromancers appear frequently.
Harmonizing wind and rain, ensuring that Cathay does not experience major disasters, is also one of their jobs.
It is said that in Cathay's capital, Wei-Jin, there is a giant Five Element Compass comparable to a vortex of magic.
It can control the winds of magic, ensuring favorable weather in Cathay.
If necessary, the compass can also be used to launch devastating attacks on a certain area.
Valerius watched the Astromancers holding the compasses.
Leading the fleet to cross the Great Bastion's protective shield.
Valerius possessed profound knowledge.
He could tell at a glance that those Astromancers possessed a complete system of extraordinary power.
If there were no interference from the Imperium and Cathay were allowed to develop like this, this nation was very likely to evolve into a psyker nation. The people of Cathay could freely wield psyker energy like the eldar, fulfilling their daily needs.
Inside and outside the Great Bastion were two completely different worlds.
Although the Eastern Steppes were not as severely corrupted as the Chaos Wastes.
But terrifying dark creatures could be seen everywhere.
While sailing, Valerius had also witnessed swarms of mutated and twisted monsters howling across the grasslands.
He had also slaughtered many enemies who attempted to surround and attack the airships that landed for water resupply.
Cathay, however, was completely different. The Great Bastion separated the Chaos Steppes, and upon crossing that majestic wall, imbued with profound magic. The people of Valerius's fleet all showed expressions of awe.
Beautiful and picturesque mountain and river scenery greeted them.
Not a trace of Chaos could be felt.
Under the escort of Cathay's army, Valerius and his party quickly approached the nearest border city - Beifeng City.
Unlike the castle styles of Middenheim, Altdorf, and other cities, Oriental architecture stood tall in the prosperous and flourishing giant city.
Even though it was just a border city, its scale was no less than Altdorf.
Beifeng City covered a vast area, built against a mountain range.
It had a total of eight city gates.
Each city gate had a giant Terracotta warrior statue. Those Terracotta warrior statues were not just for show; when Chaos breached the Great Bastion, those statues could be awakened and used to join the battlefield. The city was well-planned.
Several roads starting from the city gates, running through Beifeng City, and reaching the palace on the mountaintop.
Different main roads were connected by different branch roads. They utilized different partitioned areas, which appeared distinct.
Houses with blue brick and tile roofs were built along the roads, extending all the way to the magnificent palace in the center of the mountaintop.
Valerius had heard before his departure that the people of Cathay emphasized the harmony of Yin and Yang and the order of the Five Elements.
Presumably, they had also considered this when planning the city. The arrival of the airship attracted the curiosity of the people of Beifeng City.
Looking down, the streets were packed with people, their faces filled with surprise. Each person strained their necks, trying to get a clearer view.
Among the crowd, some were excited and happy, while others showed worry and fear.
Northend City has a dedicated area for mooring Kongming airships.
However, Valerius and the others were outsiders after all. Allowing an airship fleet to enter Northend City without caution would be absolutely disastrous if anything unexpected happened. The fleet was requested to land outside the city. Then, carriages would escort them into the palace.
Although Northend City is a frontier city, it is very lively. The wide bluestone roads were lined with crowded and noisy people.
Buildings constructed with bluestone and wood were everywhere.
Merchants were desperately hawking various goods.
Street performers juggling and wielding large knives drew bursts of applause.
Acrobats entertained the audience with various skills such as knife-throwing, fire-breathing, face-changing, and pole-balancing.
"Sirs, would you like to come in and have some fun?"
"The girls at Spring Breeze Pavilion are all talented. It would be a lifelong regret to miss out."
"Several young ladies have recently arrived at the pleasure quarters. I guarantee the sirs will like them."
Women with light makeup and slender waists stood on the second floor, waving at Valerius and the others passing by, throwing seductive glances. Some of the bolder ones pulled down their thin veils, revealing slender, boneless, and fair shoulders as flawless as beautiful jade, drawing screams from countless libertines.
Following the road through the bustling commercial and residential areas, they finally entered the palace on the mountaintop.
A group of distinguished men and women were already waiting for them at the palace entrance. They were all wearing exquisite and beautiful silk robes, printed with their family crests and the Cathayan dragon symbol. The dragon is an important cultural symbol in Cathay.
Its image can be seen on their flags, statues, and various literary works.
Do not speak ill of dragons in front of a Cathayan; doing so will incur their displeasure and may even lead to war. Those men and women bowed to Miao Ying, offered polite greetings to Valerius and the others, and then welcomed them into the palace. The palace was ancient and luxurious, with exquisite frescoes and ink paintings on the roofs and walls. The entrance road was paved with black bricks that had a glazed sheen.
Each step Valerius took in his armor produced a sound like the clashing of metal.
Stone railings were also set up on both sides of the road, carved with cloud-dragon and phoenix patterns.
Small lions and dragons were hung on the cylindrical posts of the railings.
Between the pillars and below the statues, railing panels were installed. These panels were carved with images of lotus leaves, birds, and beasts.
Along the way, they also passed by lotus ponds, gardens, and rockeries. The palaces here were completely different from those in the West.
Middenheim also had a palace.
It was left behind by the former Elector Count.
Built of stone, it was carved with various exquisite and complex frescoes, recording the ancient history.
It was grand and imposing, yet cold.
Cathayan palaces emphasized beauty and tranquility.
Given the technology and productivity of this era, building such structures would undoubtedly come at a high price.
Only Cathay, protected by the Great Bastion and not having to worry about Chaos invasions, could build them. They were not frequently invaded by Chaos like the West.
Altdorf, Middenheim, these large cities had been invaded by enemies several times.
Large amounts of wealth were lost as a result.
However, Cathay, under the protection of the Great Bastion, had been accumulating wealth. The two were completely incomparable. They finally entered a grand hall. The hall was very magnificent, with several enormous pillars plated with gold.
Under Miao Ying's instruction, the ruler of Northend City held a grand banquet for Valerius and the others.
Even having seen the miracle of an industrial city like Middenheim. The native crew members accompanying Valerius were still shocked by Cathay's wealth. The chairs at the banquet were uniformly carved with intricate patterns, plated with luxurious gold leaf, and inlaid with precious red and blue gemstones. The dishes served were even more varied and exquisitely prepared.
If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, the crew members would never have imagined that there could be so many delicious dishes in this world.
Every dish tasted as if it had been prepared by a top Halfling chef.
Western food culture is extremely simple, just boiled simply, which may be related to their previous extreme scarcity of resources.
In Cathay, the Celestial Grand Astrologer controls the Five Elements Compass, ensuring favorable weather, and there are no frequent wars. People's living standards are high, so they naturally have the inclination to study cuisine.
Western commoners not only have to farm but also bear heavy taxes. When war breaks out, they are also conscripted by nobles and have to pay for their own military expenses.
Without a stable life and sufficient resources, fine dining is naturally out of the question.
When a society's living resources are abundant, various delicacies naturally emerge continuously.
Valerius had no interest in food.
His heart was solely focused on his mission. The Emperor's resurrection was the most crucial thing.
But he also knew that this matter could not be rushed. The Emperor's soul was shattered into countless pieces; how difficult it would be to retrieve them one by one. The time required could very likely take thousands or even tens of thousands of years.
"The messenger has already departed and is expected to receive news in half a month. If my father permits, I will personally escort you to Wei Jing." Miao Ying, the daughter of the Dragon Emperor, dressed in casual attire, walked to Valerius's side and said.
"Thank you very much," Valerius said.
"Have the creations of the Western nations become so powerful?" Miao Ying asked pointedly.
According to the reports from the trading caravans that had sailed out, the West was in constant turmoil, and the various nations often fell into infighting. There had not been much progress in civilization and technology. They had been stagnant, or even regressed.
Several steam tanks were still being used after repairs and patches.
Valerius's arrival, however, caused Miao Ying to feel a sense of crisis.
She couldn't even comprehend the creations the other party possessed. The images displayed by that strange sphere were even more alarming.
She wanted to glean some information from the other party to find out what had happened in the West.
"I do not belong to the Western nations," Valerius said. "I serve the Holy Emperor and come from another universe."
"From another universe?" Miao Ying repeated Valerius's words in confusion, "Do you mean another world?"
Valerius shook his head and pointed to the sky.
"Have you thought about what is above the sky?"
"Father said that it is a cold, lifeless void, and only powerful beings with top-tier treasures can safely traverse the void. My father said that when he crossed the void, he almost died. I saw the images you displayed earlier; you seem to be able to freely enter and exit the void and even wage war against Chaos in that realm."
Valerius knew that the other party was likely referring to the void as the so-called void realm.
"Then do you know what is even further above the void realm?"
"I don't know." Miao Ying shook her head slightly. She was the daughter of the Dragon Emperor, but she was not omniscient.
She had always lived in Cathay.
Even if she transformed into a dragon, she would only fly above the sea of clouds and would not enter the cold, airless void realm.
"Then do you know where your power comes from?" Valerius asked.
"The warp, or it can be called the source realm. The former is a term left by the Old Ones, and the latter is a term from the world my father originally lived in."
"Then let's call it the warp," Valerius chose a term he was familiar with.
Miao Ying watched as the silver-bright sphere that had appeared before reappeared in the air.
Valerius brought up an image of the stars.
"We live on the surfaces of these planets. These planets are surrounded by what you call the void realm, and these countless planets and the void realm form the universe. The universe is surrounded by the warp, forming the multiverse. I come from another universe, not another world."
"The true essence of Chaos is hidden within the warp. They are not in the real universe, not in the Chaos Wastes or the Chaos Realms, but outside of time and space. Under the leadership of the Holy Emperor, we are fighting against them, hoping to unite all of humanity in all universes to fight against Chaos together. Only then do we have a chance of victory."
Valerius was about to continue explaining the nature of the gods to the other party when a soldier who rushed into the banquet hall interrupted the conversation.
"Lord Miao Ying, the scouts sent out have seen an army composed of northern barbarians and Chaos minions. They are heading towards the Great Bastion," the soldier said. "The scale is very large. The scouts said that as far as the eye could see, they were vast and everywhere."