On the Dragon Demon Continent, after Great Yi had established its three celestial cities, they didn't expand recklessly.
Instead, they waited.
Inside one of the cities—Demonbreaker City—strategists such as Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, and a host of generals gathered. It was time for pre-war planning and mobilization.
"Everyone, based on reports, the Alliance of Foreign Races has arrived.
Their forces number in the billions, possibly more.
This battle will not be easy.
They have their own hidden cards—trump cards.
What we must do now is formulate a strategy and decide exactly how we will fight this war."
Zhuge Liang presided over the war council.
No doubt—war was imminent.Where and how to fight, how to draw the enemy into the ideal battlefield—every detail had to be deliberately calculated.
Before them was a giant map, painstakingly drawn by Calamity Hall's spies.It marked not only terrain but also danger zones best avoided.
"Look here," said Zhuge Liang, pointing at the map."This large valley, named the Gourd Valley, is extremely unique.
It's a naturally formed feng shui formation.
Once inside, flight and spellcasting are sealed off.
Combat is limited to physical body alone.
The space is vast—perfect for a battlefield.The foreign races may very well choose it as their primary battleground."
Then he pointed at another area:
"This is the Bloodsucking Prairie.On the surface it looks normal, but the grass here—called Blood Spirit Grass—
reacts to wounds and blood.
Once someone steps in with an injury, the grass goes wild,pulling them into the soil and devouring their flesh and blood.
This field isn't suited for battle either."
"Based on our analysis," added Jia Xu,"the most likely scenario is that the Alliance seeks a direct, large-scale confrontation."
"However, there's also the risk of underhanded tactics.
Still, we believe that Gourd Valley is their top choice.
It provides the most terrain advantage to the foreign races."
According to Tiance Palace's simulations,70% probability: the Alliance would choose Gourd Valley to maximize terrain and physical advantage.
To the foreign races, the human body is inherently inferior.They wouldn't waste the opportunity to exploit it.
"Yes," said Zhuge Liang with a smile,"but if they think we'll just be lambs waiting for slaughter in that valley…
they're in for a surprise."
In fact, they might just use this to trap the Alliance instead.
Gourd Valley's unique terrain could turn the tide of the war if utilized correctly.
"This valley has a single entrance," said Jia Xu, pointing to the map."Sheer cliffs surround it.
If we divert massive floods into the valley—
the enemy will have nowhere to run."
Water and fire, after all, were nature's greatest destructive forces.
A water-based tactic in a sealed valley would drown even the strongest warriors—especially if spellcasting was disabled.
The deaths would be in the billions.
Of course, such devastation came at a cost:
colossal karmic backlash from slaughtering countless lives.
Fortunately, the fate power of an Emperor dynasty could purify karmic sins.
As long as Great Yi's dynasty endured, the karma would be absorbed and neutralized.
Jia Xu, known for his ruthless mind, had no hesitation proposing such a brutal tactic.
Zhuge Liang turned to a figure shrouded in black:
"Mister Jiang—what is your opinion?"
This was Jiang Ni, an expert in feng shui formations.
Zhuge Liang himself was well-versed in the arts of Qimen Dunjia, but even he admitted Jiang Ni was the greater specialist here.
"This valley," Jiang Ni began,"is a natural feng shui array, likely the legendary Heaven Gourd Earth Fiend Burial Demon Formation (天葫地煞葬魔阵)."
"Its gourd-shaped geography draws in the essence of Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend energies,and nurtures a being—or treasure—of immense evil."
"Once birthed, it could be a supreme demonic entity,or a peerless demonic artifact.
But the array naturally rejects foreign water.
Normal floods can't even get near the gourd's mouth.They'll be blocked by invisible forces of nature."
"So unless the array is modified,flooding is impossible."
"Can the array be modified?" Jia Xu asked.
"It's a pre-heaven formation, born of heaven and earth.
Changing it is extremely difficult—and dangerous.
But we can integrate additional sub-formations without altering the core."
"For instance, I could embed a Gourd Water-Absorbing Formation into it.
That would allow water to enter the valley without interfering with the original structure."
That way, nature's wrath could be weaponized without directly tampering with the heavenly array and incurring divine retribution.
Zhuge Liang nodded:
"Then I'll leave that in your hands."
Jiang Ni said nothing more, only nodded before turning and leaving.
They had to finish this arrangement before the enemy caught on.
Speed was key.
"Have all military corps begin logistical preparations.
Stockpile war supplies.
This will be a grueling battle.
Let's see just what these foreign races plan to do to draw us into Gourd Valley,"Jia Xu said, smiling coldly.
Time passed silently.
Three days went by in a flash.
The air on the Dragon Demon Continent was tense to the extreme.
Just one spark—and war would explode.
BOOM!!!
On the morning of the third day,a thunderous sound tore across the sky—followed by a deluge of blood rain, pouring across the land.
The rain carried howls of demons and ghosts, chilling to the bone.
"What's going on!?"
"Blood rain… This is a terrible omen.
And those ghostly voices in the rain—this isn't normal!"
In every celestial city, the Great Yi armies stirred, watching warily.
Anyone the blood touched felt a burning sensation,as if their very souls were being corroded.
Then—
BOOM!!
The earth shook.
A pillar of blood-red light shot skyward.
Within it churned endless Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiend energy—a terrifying demonic aura rising to the heavens.
In the column, a giant, ancient millstone rotated,runes blazing across its surface.
Each turn brought a birth and destruction of entire worlds.
"HAHAHAHA!! A pre-heaven demonic artifact—about to be born!
It's mine!
With this, no matter who dares stand before me—they are but ants!!"
The arrogant voice was unmistakably Long Aotian.
"This is bad," said Jiang Ni, his expression grave.
"This is the artifact nurtured within Gourd Valley—
a peerless demonic treasure.
Its birth will require the blood of countless living beings.
If allowed to emerge, the entire Dragon Demon Continent may be destroyed."
"This is a blatant trap," added Jia Xu calmly.
"They're openly telling us:
If we want to stop the demonic treasure from being born…
We have no choice but to enter the valley."
The foreign races' plot had begun.
And the battlefield was set.