The people in the valley had all descended from various worlds. They were unfamiliar with each other, no one possessed the prestige needed to unify everyone, and each acted independently with mutual distrust. After all, they were strangers—there was no way anyone could instantly open up with heartfelt sincerity. That had been the situation before.
But now things were different. They had come to genuinely trust Yi Tianxing.
His reputation had been forged in battle, earned through his unique charisma.
In this valley of nearly a thousand people, only Yi Tianxing had the courage to step forward and rouse everyone's fighting spirit. That kind of boldness wasn't something just anyone could muster. Naturally, people's gazes began to gravitate toward him.
As the battle ended, nearby civilians—elderly, women, and children—started approaching the battlefield. All eyes fell upon Yi Tianxing, filled with awe, fear, and even fanaticism.
Although they hadn't fought themselves, they had witnessed everything from nearby. Yi Tianxing's strength had left a deep impression, compelling their hearts to respect and rely on him. Subconsciously, they began seeing him as their backbone, their spiritual pillar.
After hearing the words of the soldiers and adult fighters, their eyes lit up.
One of the civilians stepped forward and shouted, "That's right, Mister Yi. We're just ordinary people from different places. We barely know one another. Gathering here is already a stroke of fate. But a snake cannot move without a head—we need a leader to guide us through this chaotic world. The outside world has changed completely. Only you, Mister Yi, can lead us to survive."
"We are willing to follow Mister Yi. We'll listen to whatever you say."
One voice after another echoed in agreement.
In this moment, everyone pinned their hopes on Yi Tianxing. After all, no one wanted to die. Some were clinging to the hope of reuniting with loved ones—family, children, friends. As long as they were alive, there was always a chance.
Even if reunion proved impossible, survival at least meant the family line could continue. No one wants to die if they can help it.
The descendants of Yan and Huang were easily satisfied. Even the tiniest spark of hope in the face of despair would be grasped with all their strength.
What they needed was just a reason to live, a possibility to survive.
At this moment, Yi Tianxing was that flicker of light in the darkness.
Naturally, they wanted to rally around him.
Yi Tianxing looked around at all the expectant eyes. A wave of emotion surged within him. The descendants of China needed so little to persevere. A sense of invisible responsibility began to take root within him.
He decisively nodded and said, "Since everyone trusts me, Yi Tianxing, then I shall not decline. I will take the lead and fight to carve out a path for survival in this chaotic world!"
"If we don't have a home, then let's build one with our own hands."
"If we have no food, then we hunt and plant. As long as we're alive, there's always hope."
"We may come from different lands, nations, dynasties, even worlds, but we all share black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin. In this world without order, surrounded by monsters, we are kin. We are brothers. We are family. As long as we unite, we will build our own homeland. We will create a future worth living."
Yi Tianxing's words rang out passionately.
Each word struck deep into every heart.
Yes, they came from different places. But now, in this savage new era, meeting here meant they were kin, comrades, brothers. People began looking at the strangers around them with friendlier eyes, some even smiling.
"You're right! We're brothers and sisters now. With monsters everywhere, we humans must unite."
"Let's follow Mister Yi. Only unity can get us through this!"
Everyone was thinking the same thing. What Yi Tianxing said made sense. They had seen the outside world—facing it alone was a death sentence.
"Lord Yi, what should we do? Please give us your orders."
The burly man who first spoke stepped forward, already acknowledging Yi Tianxing as their leader.
"What's your name?" Yi Tianxing asked, having taken note of him during the battle. He was fierce, fearless, and clearly stood out among the fighters.
"Reporting to the Lord—I'm Wang Dahu," the man replied with a booming voice. A solid soldier.
"Very good, Dahu. You'll temporarily command the soldiers. Organize a group to gather and properly arrange the bodies of the fallen. I have a treasured item that can preserve their remains so they won't be desecrated by beasts. Once they're prepared, I'll store their corpses. As long as they enter my treasure, their souls will not perish."
Yi Tianxing inhaled deeply and said this resolutely.
"Yes, my Lord!!"
Wang Dahu's eyes lit up with reverence. He didn't doubt Yi Tianxing's words at all. The power Yi had demonstrated earlier had left a lasting impression.
If he said it, then it must be true.
The civilians were also visibly moved. In this chaotic world, a buried corpse could be dug up and devoured overnight. They'd seen firsthand how vicious the rats were. Now, Yi Tianxing was offering a way to preserve the fallen, to protect their souls from dispersing.
This gave people a spiritual anchor—even in death, they wouldn't be left to rot in the wild.
Yi Tianxing turned to a well-dressed elderly man among the civilians who looked to be in his fifties. He had an air of refinement and stood out clearly. Unlike the others whose eyes held fanaticism, this elder looked at Yi Tianxing with admiration and intrigue—a sign of experience and stature.
With Yi Tianxing's discerning eye, he noticed immediately.
"May I ask your name, elder?" he inquired.
"I am surnamed Huang, courtesy name Chengyan. Greetings, Mister Yi," the old man replied with a gentle bow.
"Huang Chengyan? So it's Elder Huang," Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed with surprise. He nodded and said, "The battlefield is covered with corpses. The green-skinned monsters and giant rats may contain valuable materials. Wang Dahu and the soldiers will handle the dissection. The green monsters aren't edible, but the rat meat is."
"We have no food. The rats can be dried into jerky or boiled into soup to feed the people. Eating meat is essential for strength."
"That's why, Elder Huang, I'd like you to help organize the people to set up cooking stations and prepare a proper meal."
As he spoke, Yi Tianxing waved his hand, producing three large iron pots—previously stored in his spiritual orb space. He had never expected they would be used in a situation like this.
Even so, watching him conjure up the pots from thin air left everyone stunned. To the civilians, this was nothing short of divine.
"Mister Yi speaks wisely. I shall do my utmost," Huang Chengyan nodded, quite pleased with Yi Tianxing's plans. With so many gathered, very few still had provisions, and most were already starving.
"The people need food first. You can't expect loyalty from empty stomachs."
"He has ability, decisiveness. A man fit for great deeds," Huang Chengyan thought, nodding inwardly. He had watched Yi Tianxing closely from the start. From standing up in the crisis to charging into battle, he had proven his courage and strength, winning the people's respect. Now he fed them and offered security. People would remember this favor for life.
"Such a man will not remain obscure for long."
He immediately began organizing civilians to clean up the battlefield. The injured were carried to the valley for treatment.
Huang Chengyan's competence shone through, and with Yi Tianxing's backing, everyone obeyed his instructions without question.
Wang Dahu led the soldiers in dissecting the enemy. The green-skinned monsters held no special organs, but in their arm bones, they discovered a piece of glowing green bone—indestructible, even by blade. Knowing it was a treasure, they began harvesting it rapidly.
Now they didn't even need full dissections—just cutting off the arms sufficed.
As for the giant rats, their fangs were sharp and durable, also valuable spoils.
Rat pelts could be used for warmth. Rat meat could be eaten.
People began to smile from the heart. The previous panic, grief, and fear faded. For now, the most important thing was simple—
Staying alive.