"If I could really leave the desert and go to Xuanhuang City, I'd be willing to pay any price. This desert is too dangerous. Supplies are scarce. It's no place to live. We humans are constantly under threat from powerful alien races. The Chixue Clan returns time and again to this oasis to plunder us, treating us as blood food, devouring people alive. No one knows how many of our people have already died at their hands.""Yes, the alien races have already infiltrated the oasis. It's not just the Chixue Clan, but also the Sand Demons and the Undead. If it weren't for the power of General's Valley intimidating them, we would've been slaughtered long ago. But even with General's Valley, it's not enough to deter them entirely—they still come to hunt humans. If only we could reach Xuanhuang City. That would be paradise.""I don't even know how we'd get a pass to enter Xuanhuang City. Or what kind of path would allow us to leave this place. Rumor has it that deep in the desert, there's a terrifying race—the mummies. There's an ancient and mysterious golden pyramid in the desert, and inside it sleeps a Pharaoh King. The Undead serve this Pharaoh. Once he awakens, he will seize control of the Golden Desert. People will either submit—or die. He wants to rebuild the Kingdom of the Undead."
This is a mysterious legend whispered among those who dwell in the Golden Desert.
Beneath the sands lies a pyramid where the Pharaoh King slumbers—alongside countless undead beings like mummies. Once the Pharaoh awakens, he will lead the undying army to conquer the entire desert. Whether it becomes reality or not, this tale hangs over the desert dwellers like a curse. No one dares ignore it in a world where myths often become truth.
Then, news spread that Yi Tianxing had arrived in the Golden Desert—and that he came from Xuanhuang City.
Immediately, the people of the oasis began to feel a strange glimmer of hope.
If they could leave the desert, maybe they could start life anew.
No one knew where the rumor that Yi Tianxing could take people out of the Golden Desert had started, nor did anyone care. What mattered was whether it was true—whether there really was a way to leave, to reach the legendary Xuanhuang City.
Rumors spread like wildfire—uncontainable and terrifying in their speed.
Within a short span of time, the entire populace of General City was buzzing. The rumor was now common knowledge, and everyone was talking about it.
Meanwhile, as Yi Tianxing wandered the desert in his soul projection state, trouble was brewing around Xuanhuang City.
Even after numerous bloody deterrents, malicious forces still lurked in the shadows—waiting for a chance to strike.
A stable and powerful human force was the last thing the alien races wanted to see.
After several failed attempts to sabotage Xuanhuang City, some among the alien races could no longer stay idle.
The rapid development of Xuanhuang City and the surrounding human settlements filled them with fear. Left unchecked, it would eventually lead to disaster—for them.
At that moment, on a vast grassland, a massive ancient city stood proudly.
The walls, built of immense stone blocks, towered dozens of zhang high, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
This was no ordinary fortress.
Troops patrolled the surroundings—though they were a motley mix: werewolves, gnolls, minotaurs... various species of beastkin.
But most striking were the enormous figures standing atop the city walls.
They looked like bipedal hippos with tusks, human-like ears, and lion tails, their bodies covered in thick, powerful fur. Their massive arms ended in razor-sharp claws, and they radiated a savage aura.
These were warriors of one of the beastkin royal clans—the Behemoths.
An ancient text once described them thus:
"Behold the hippo. It eats grass like the ox. Its strength lies in its loins, its power in its belly. It sways its tail like a cedar. Its sinews interlock in its thighs. Its bones are like bronze tubes. Its limbs like iron rods. Among God's creations, it is the foremost. Its creator armed it with blades. The hills yield it food, where wild beasts play. It lies hidden beneath the lotus, sheltered by reeds and water. Not even a flood will shake it. If the river swells to its mouth, it remains calm. Who can capture it when it stands guard? Who can pierce its nose or bind it?"
This ancient description barely scratched the surface of the true terror of the Behemoths.
Among them were the Golden Behemoths, the elite evolved royalty of the species—humanoid in form, but monstrous in strength. Unlike ordinary Behemoth beasts—massive, terrifying engines of destruction—the Golden Behemoths had human-like faces, five fingers, and an even more terrifying inner power.
Their monstrous traits—fangs, claws—were simply hidden, ready to be unleashed at will.
In this city—Golden City, built by the Behemoth Clan—stood many such warriors. Their eyes were cold, sweeping across the land. Even the most ferocious werewolves and gnolls could not hide their instinctive fear.
In the grand hall of the city, many powerful leaders were gathered.
Seated upon a golden throne, towering at four or five meters in height, was a massive figure covered in golden fur—his human-like face stern, his golden eyes flashing with intelligence and fury.
He was none other than the king of the Behemoth Clan—Golden Behemoth, Meng Wudi.
Among the Behemoths, Golden Behemoths were the apex—mutated and evolved from the base bloodline. Their resemblance to humans was not regression but ascension.
This king was no fool. From the look in his eyes, it was clear—he was dangerous.
At that moment, the hall was filled with leaders from other beastkin races:
Werewolves, foxkin, winged folk, minotaurs, gnolls, leopards, gnolls, bearfolk, centaurs—all had gathered.
The term beastkin referred to this vast coalition of different races, usually independent, but capable of uniting when needed into a world-shaking force.
The atmosphere was tense. No one spoke.
Finally, Meng Wudi swept his gaze across the hall and growled:
"The reason I called this assembly is because word has reached us from our kin. That Xuanhuang City, arrogant and ignorant of reverence, believes itself strong enough to rival our races. They've been slaughtering and driving out our tribes. They've turned the area within ten thousand li around their city into human territory—as if we are easy prey.They dared infiltrate Golden City and steal away my own son. This is an affront to the Behemoth Clan.I intend to annihilate Xuanhuang City—and slaughter every last human."
His words were filled with burning fury. His golden eyes swept across the leaders below.
"Who agrees? Who dares object?"
The pressure in the hall spiked.
"That damn Xuanhuang City has always been overbearing," the werewolf leader growled. "They show no mercy to our people, killing wantonly. If we allow them to rise any further, they will become a deadly threat. I support war. Slaughter the humans."
"I agree," said the gnoll chief coldly. "But Xuanhuang City is strong. We must form a united army. Sweep across their territory. No matter how strong the humans are, they can't stand against the full might of the beastkin coalition."
"Don't underestimate them," said a winged folk general. "The humans' war machines are their deadliest threat. Last time, their city lord led an army through our siege, carving a bloody path to safety. We must find a way to counter those weapons before we attack."
⚔️ War was in the air. The beastkin were about to move. And a storm was coming for Xuanhuang City.