The assessment time for the higher academy is getting closer and closer.
The next day, when Su Yu arrived at the academy, he felt the tense atmosphere.
The pre-exam class students were walking faster than the others, hurriedly coming and going. The single challenges had ended quickly, and at this moment, the students had no mind to fight anymore.
Su Yu originally wanted to find Liu Wenyan, but halfway there, he encountered someone unexpected.
Xia Bing!
The squad leader of the Dragon Martial Guards, the head of the Dragon Martial Guards stationed in Nanyuan.
Except for the time when the Ten Thousand Races Sect attacked, the Dragon Martial Guards were stationed at the Nanyuan Academy. At other times, the Dragon Martial Guards were not at the Nanyuan Academy, and few people in Nanyuan knew their exact location.
A strong expert at the second level of the Soaring Realm, on the same level as the city lord Wu Wenhai.
Su Yu naturally knew the strength of the Dragon Martial Guards. He had always wanted to join the Dragon Martial Guards, and in fact, even now, he still had that thought.
However, it was hard to join the Dragon Martial Guards. His father had longed for it for many years but never succeeded.
Su Yu saw Xia Bing, and Xia Bing naturally saw him too.
Originally in a hurry, Xia Bing suddenly stopped when passing by Su Yu.
Turning his head to look at Su Yu, Su Yu felt the gaze and quickly stopped, bowing, "Lord Xia."
Xia Bing nodded slightly, looked at him for a while, and revealed a hint of surprise, "Already at the eighth level of Kaiyuan?"
Su Yu was slightly surprised and quickly said, "I just broke through yesterday."
"Very fast."
Xia Bing said and continued, "I originally thought you would quickly reach the seventh level. Reaching the eighth level of Kaiyuan was a bit beyond my expectations."
Su Yu didn't know how to respond. Was Xia Bing paying attention to him?
He had no interaction with Xia Bing.
Xia Bing, not one to speak much, continued, "Bai Feng's 'Kaiyuan Art' is only half-baked. You can quickly step into the eighth level, which shows you have good talent in the way of warriors."
"I know your father. He has come to our station quite often over the years, but he is not qualified to join the Dragon Martial Guards."
Su Yu felt a bit awkward and didn't know how to respond.
Xia Bing didn't care about his reaction and continued, "I am also from the Demon Suppression Army, but I joined later than your father. When your father retired, I had just joined. Six years ago, I was transferred back to the Dragon Martial Guards, serving as the squad leader of the Dragon Martial Guards stationed in Nanyuan."
Su Yu still didn't respond. He didn't know why Xia Bing was telling him this.
"The Civilization Academy is not as good as you think. There is intrigue and scheming. If you don't manifest your will, you won't stand out."
"I don't like people from the Civilization Academy. I prefer the War Academy and the Dragon Martial Guards... Of course, this has nothing to do with you."
When Xia Bing said this, his face was serious, "Your father said he couldn't join the Dragon Martial Guards, but he hopes his son can join one day and continue to follow the General in battle!"
"The Dragon Martial War Academy, you can consider it. It's... cleaner than the Civilization Academy!"
"Lord..."
Su Yu was a bit surprised. Was Xia Bing recruiting?
Xia Bing said calmly, "The Dragon Martial Guards are stationed in various cities and are also responsible for selecting reserves! You didn't qualify before, but now you do. Of course, I'm just suggesting, not forcing you."
"Originally, I shouldn't say so much, but your father is an old soldier of the Demon Suppression Army, so I say a few more words. Now... the Civilization Academy is much more complicated than before. Internally, it's not peaceful, with factions everywhere. A group of people who originally only did research now have many thoughts and ideas, making it a mess."
"Your teacher Liu Wenyan, the one who wants to take you as a student, Bai Feng, and Bai Feng's teacher, Researcher Hong... They belong to the same faction. The internal situation is more complicated than I said. In short, getting involved now is not good for you."
Su Yu was confused and didn't know what to do, saying softly, "Lord, I don't quite understand. I am just a student of the middle academy who hasn't been assessed yet."
"You will understand sooner or later!"
Xia Bing said firmly, "Remember one thing, the Great Xia Mansion is still the Great Xia Mansion!"
After saying this, Xia Bing turned and left.
Su Yu fell into deep thought, then smiled bitterly and walked away.
He really didn't understand Xia Bing's meaning.
Of course, Xia Bing's words also had a warning. Going to the Civilization Academy might not be a good thing; the Dragon Martial War Academy might be purer.
If it were in the past, Su Yu would be very happy.
But now, he had made up his mind to go to the Great Xia Civilization Academy. Just talking about the cultivation of willpower, the War Academy was definitely not as good as the Civilization Academy.
Moreover, Liu Wenyan had been teaching him for so long, and he originally wanted to go to the Civilization Academy, only worried that the Civilization Academy wouldn't help much with his combat power.
...
In the office.
This time, Liu Wenyan wasn't reading but writing. Liu Wenyan's handwriting was very good, at least Su Yu thought so, much better than his own.
"Do you have something on your mind?"
Liu Wenyan continued writing without looking up, but he felt Su Yu's hesitation.
"No, I just met Squad Leader Xia..."
"He wants you to go to the Dragon Martial Academy?"
"Yes."
"Ignore him."
Liu Wenyan didn't seem angry, just a bit sentimental, "Did he say the Civilization Academy is not suitable for you, or that it has deteriorated?"
"Well..."
"It's okay. He's not the first to say that. In fact, many in the Dragon Martial Guards say that."
Liu Wenyan said calmly, "He's telling the truth. The Civilization Academy is indeed different from the past. The fifth-generation head fell, and the sixth-generation head took over. After that, the Civilization Academy entered a period of rapid development, which also brought some bad influences."
"Fifty years ago, the Civilization Academy wasn't as strong as it is now, but it wasn't as chaotic either."
"This is inevitable. When people become powerful, they naturally have other thoughts."
"Intrigue, deception, competition for interests... This must be experienced and is also a kind of training. Whoever can rise in such an environment is the real strong one."
Su Yu frowned, "Teacher, is the Civilization Academy really chaotic?"
"Not very chaotic. It's still under control. Of course, there are some disputes in the dark."
Liu Wenyan looked at him, this student he was quite satisfied with, and said calmly, "The Dragon Martial Guards are somewhat dissatisfied with the Civilization Academy, stemming from the Lord of the Xia Mansion."
"Ah?"
Su Yu was surprised, "The Lord of the Xia Mansion... is dissatisfied with the Great Xia Civilization Academy?"
"Sort of."
Liu Wenyan sighed softly, "This is something that is still far from you and not something you need to worry about too much. But since Xia Bing brought it up, I'll say a few words. The Lord of the Xia Mansion... it's hard for me to evaluate him, but everyone has a perception of him: iron-blooded, powerful, and stubborn!"
"These three words sum up the Lord of the Xia Mansion."
"Stubborn?"
Su Yu caught the key point and quickly asked, "What do you mean by stubborn?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
Liu Wenyan put down his pen, "It's not necessarily a criticism, but the Lord of the Xia Mansion has some political views that differ from many others. Back in the days on the Battlefield of the Heavens, this led to considerable resistance."
"Why?"
"Too stubborn. On the Battlefield of the Heavens, the various races compete. Some races are mortal enemies and must be killed, but others can be recruited or at least kept neutral."
Liu Wenyan shook his head and sighed, "However, during the Lord of the Xia Mansion's command of the Demon Suppression Army, he ambushed and killed several armies of different races, causing several previously neutral races to become hostile towards the Human Race. So he was removed from his position, and the Demon Suppression Army was no longer under his command."
Su Yu hesitated but quickly made up his mind and said, "Teacher, those so-called neutral races are just waiting for the right moment. Once the Human Race weakens, they will swarm in to invade our territories! My father told me about several major battles of the Demon Suppression Army, and I think those races deserved to be killed!"
"You're not the only one who thinks so." Liu Wenyan smiled lightly, "Many people support Xia Longwu, including many on the front lines. I didn't say Xia Longwu was wrong, but... it's normal for there to be internal disagreements within the Human Race. What do you think?"
Liu Wenyan looked at his student, smiling. It's good to have one's own opinions. Blindly agreeing with others and not thinking for oneself is truly bad.
"People have different opinions, and you can't make everyone share the same will. No one says the Lord of the Xia Mansion is absolutely wrong, but it's undeniable that the wars sparked by his actions have increased compared to before. In some regions, the conflicts are more intense and frequent."
Su Yu disagreed, "At least it deterred some neutral races!"
"That's true."
Liu Wenyan nodded, "But let's not discuss this for now, as it's a front-line issue. The Lord of the Xia Mansion's dissatisfaction with the Civilization Academy stems from some ideas proposed by people at the academy... Know thyself and know thy enemy. The Civilization Academy wants to open its doors to all races!"
"What?"
Su Yu was shocked!
"Recruiting students from other races!"
Liu Wenyan said in a serious tone, "The current head of the Civilization Academy is a capable person! He suggested that instead of letting the Human Race struggle to decipher the civilizations of other races, why not let those civilizations enter the academy? Who can understand their own civilization better than themselves?"
"Know thyself and know thy enemy, and you will never be defeated. Let them analyze themselves, let them contribute their own civilization's knowledge..."
Su Yu exclaimed, "But wouldn't that mean opening up Human Race civilization to them as well?"
"Yes!"
Liu Wenyan said seriously, "The other races are not foolish. They wouldn't just give us methods to deal with them for free. The Human Race wants their knowledge, and they want to understand the Human Race more deeply."
"So this is a double-edged sword and has been unsuccessful for many years due to much opposition and support."
"The Lord of the Xia Mansion doesn't agree, which has led to some disagreements."
"The Lord of the Xia Mansion even... well, let's not talk about that."
Su Yu became anxious. Stopping halfway was too tantalizing.
"Teacher, what did the Lord of the Xia Mansion do?"
Liu Wenyan looked at his anxious student and laughed, "This... is hard to say. It's kind of a dark history. When you get to the Great Xia Civilization Academy, don't mention it."
"Of course, I won't."
Liu Wenyan smiled and shook his head, "Twelve years ago, the Great Xia Civilization Academy proposed this idea again. The Lord of the Xia Mansion didn't show up, and the Great Xia Mansion remained silent."
"The current head thought silence meant consent."
"So he contacted several small races to make an attempt and enrolled a few students from these small races into the Great Xia Civilization Academy..."
"But shortly after they arrived, a battle broke out on the Battlefield of the Heavens. The Lord of the Xia Mansion led the Dragon Martial Guards to raid these small races, directly wiping out their strongholds and seizing a large amount of their techniques, secrets, and other resources."
"The Lord of the Xia Mansion didn't come to the Civilization Academy but had the Dragon Martial Guards deliver tens of thousands of books... The message was clear: what you are striving for, I am willing to take directly on the battlefield!"
Liu Wenyan sighed, "This completely shattered the plan to admit other races into the academy! After their homes were destroyed, who else would dare to come?"
"The current head's years of efforts were completely ruined in an instant."
As Su Yu listened, his blood suddenly boiled, and he said in a muffled voice, "Isn't this... great?"
I'll take what I want myself!
Better to take it directly than to beg indirectly!
"I didn't say it was bad, but it indeed caused some apprehension." Liu Wenyan said softly, "The Human Race cannot defend against all other races alone, Su Yu, you need to understand this."
"Small races, weak races, they can be won over."
"Contacting those small races meant they could be brought over. But they were wiped out, making other small races feel threatened!"
"Once they are pushed to the opposing side, one race can't defeat the Human Race, but what about ten or a hundred races joining forces?"
"You can't kill them all!"
Su Yu nodded slightly. He understood this, but Xia Longwu's actions were indeed inspiring.
"So, disagreements arose!"
Liu Wenyan sighed, "The Lord of the Xia Mansion is very stubborn. He believes decapitation is the best way to deter the other races! But many people think this makes the Human Race's situation more difficult. Fortunately, the Lord of the Xia Mansion was ordered not to appear on the Battlefield of the Heavens anymore, which calmed many small races."
Su Yu said reluctantly, "So the Lord of the Xia Mansion can't go to the Battlefield of the Heavens anymore? Isn't that tying our hands?"
"Not really."
Liu Wenyan laughed, "It's just some compromises and concessions made by the front-line powerhouses to appease the small races. Actually... if the Lord of the Xia Mansion really wants to go, as long as it isn't made too public, who would care?"
"Who would keep a top-level powerhouse in the rear for retirement?"
"And... it may not be a bad thing to give him some time to refine his own realm. He was advancing too quickly at that time. A period of relaxation and tension will help him take that crucial step forward."
Liu Wenyan explained, "This is not a bad thing. The Lord of the Xia Mansion himself knows this. Otherwise, with his temperament, do you think he would obediently stay in the Great Xia Mansion if told to do so?"
Liu Wenyan chuckled, "You underestimate our Lord. Just because he hasn't appeared on the Battlefield of the Heavens much these past years doesn't mean he hasn't been there at all. The Battlefield of the Heavens is vast. Who would constantly keep an eye on him? The Dragon Martial Guards frequently appear on the battlefield, and the mansion troops are often taken out for training. Thus, the combat power of the Great Xia Mansion is among the top in all the mansions!"
Su Yu nodded silently, beginning to understand what Xia Bing meant earlier.
Liu Wenyan exhaled softly and continued, "These matters are just for listening. It's not something you should be concerned with. Even Bai Feng, or even his teacher, doesn't have a say in this. This is another level of issue, one that doesn't really concern us."
"Xia Bing thinks you have some talent and might be influenced when you go to the Civilization Academy. In reality... I hope you will be influenced."
Liu Wenyan slowly said, "Life is full of experiences and everywhere is a lesson! A pure environment is suitable for soldiers. The military needs purity, but... a strong person needs to be knowledgeable and experienced! Without understanding the dangers of human nature, without experiencing schemes and plots, without going through intrigue and deceit, you might fall for a small trick on the battlefield."
"Xia Bing doesn't understand. If the Lord of the Xia Mansion truly disliked the Civilization Academy, why wouldn't he restrict it? Instead, he allows the academy to grow stronger."
"He is stubborn, but he is not foolish. The Great Xia Mansion also needs different voices and to cultivate strong individuals in different directions. Otherwise, the major military corps wouldn't have experts from the Civilization Academy, many of whom lead troops in battles."
Su Yu nodded again, beginning to understand.
Of course, he was still very weak and ordinary. These deep-level conflicts were something he could only listen to as a bystander for now. When he was truly in that situation, his feelings and thoughts might be different.
"Teacher, my father is in the Demon Suppression Army. He won't be in any danger, will he?"
"No, there are several invincible powerhouses on the front lines. Who would dare target the Demon Suppression Army on the front line?"
Liu Wenyan shook his head, "The competition is only in the rear. The front line is vital! No one dares to fight there; it has to be much more disciplined. War is war. Even if they fight like mad dogs in the rear, orders must be strictly followed on the front line!"
"Even the Lord of the Xia Mansion, unless acting privately, must report any large-scale military actions to the invincible powerhouses and get their approval."
Su Yu's eyes sparkled, "So the Dragon Martial Guards and the Demon Suppression Army ambushing various race armies were approved?"
"Of course."
Liu Wenyan smiled, "Do you think the Lord of the Xia Mansion would dare to start a conflict without permission? There are many invincible powerhouses who support him."
"I see!"
Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Xia Longwu might be targeted. Now he realized... he was really overthinking!
He was a mere beginner, worrying about a mansion lord-level powerhouse. That was ridiculous.
"Let's not talk about this anymore."
Liu Wenyan smiled, "What you need to know, you will learn in the future. What you shouldn't know won't do you any good, except to confuse you."
"You have reached the eighth level of the Kaiyuan stage. I can sense the fluctuations of Yuan Qi around you. It seems your progress is good."
Liu Wenyan was very satisfied and said, "Prepare yourself. In the afternoon, I will write an essay of will for you: the 'Thunder Origin Blade' in the Thousand Pound stage. Study the translation this morning to understand its content."
Su Yu was overjoyed, "Teacher, is it a martial technique?"
"It is."
Seeing his joy, Liu Wenyan said indifferently, "But you might not gain much from it. Even if you do, it might not be significant. After all, you've only opened eight acupoints, which is too few. Even if you learn it, you might not be able to use it. The Thunder Origin Blade requires many acupoints."
"Yes, I understand."
Su Yu nodded eagerly, still unable to contain his excitement. He knew the benefits of an essay of will, which provided immersive teaching that felt entirely different.
Of course, this also required the writer to have a deep understanding of the martial technique. Otherwise, the written essay would only convey the writer's shallow comprehension. Even if you understood it, it would be of no use.
Great Xia Mansion.
While Liu Wenyan and Su Yu were discussing, there was also a debate happening in the mansion's lord residence.
In the spacious hall, there were only a few people.
Xia Longwu sat upright, looking directly ahead.
Below him, on the left, an elderly man who seemed like a military advisor of the Great Xia Mansion was listening silently with a smile on his face, saying nothing.
On the right, another elderly man with a scholarly and amiable appearance, with silver-white hair, also wore a smile and remained silent.
Apart from these two, a middle-aged burly man with developed muscles stood alone, his voice loud and angry as he rebuked, "Wan Tiansheng, stop promoting your ideas! This is the Great Xia Mansion, not the Seeking Boundary!"
The person being rebuked by the burly man was the elderly man with silver-white hair on the right.
Wan Tiansheng, the sixth generation head of the Great Xia Civilization Academy!
Wan Tiansheng smiled amicably, and even though the burly man was scolding him, he remained calm, his voice soft yet clear, "Zheng Ping, speak properly. There's no need to shout; I'm not deaf, I can hear you."
Wan Tiansheng continued with a smile, as if he were having a casual neighborhood chat, "The Dragon Martial Guards should be withdrawn. They've fought enough. In the battle against the Tanyi Divine Race, three thousand guards lost nearly a thousand, a heavy loss."
"It's fine to show our strength when necessary. I have no objections to that."
"But now, are you really planning to annihilate the Tanyi Divine Race?"
Wan Tiansheng looked at Xia Longwu and said softly, "The lord should understand that it's not feasible. The Tanyi Divine Race only deployed a ten-thousand-man guard on the Battlefield of the Heavens, not their entire main force."
"Continuing to pursue them might create more significant results, but it will require more lives."
"Three thousand Dragon Martial Guards, is the lord planning to throw them all in?"
Wan Tiansheng finished and shook his head, "There's no need for that. It's too reckless! The fight has already happened. Now, it's time to negotiate with the Tanyi Divine Race, make them withdraw this remnant force at a certain cost..."
As he spoke, the burly man angrily said, "We've already surrounded them, and they've been driven to a desperate situation. This ten-thousand-man guard can be completely annihilated. Why are you, Wan Tiansheng, letting them go? What are your intentions?"
"Have you been bribed by the Tanyi Divine Race?"
Wan Tiansheng was not angry, smiling as he replied, "Zheng Ping, personal attacks are unnecessary. I didn't deny we could take them down, but the key is... is it worth it? The three thousand Dragon Martial Guards were built at a significant cost to the Great Xia Mansion, and now we're going to throw them all in for a ten-thousand-man guard?"
"There are people from your War Academy in there, as well as people from our Civilization Academy, all elite. Are we going to throw them in just to fight a ragtag army?"
Wan Tiansheng sighed, "Some people don't like to think, they only like fighting. Such people... should be thrown onto the battlefield as cannon fodder, not allowed to command."
The burly man said coldly, "I've been in the military for thirty years and fought my way up from a grunt!"
"..."
Wan Tiansheng chuckled softly, "So you should stick to being a fighter. Why get involved in strategy formulation?"
The burly man angrily retorted, "I know you look down on me, but I don't need your approval! We only need to deploy the remaining two thousand Dragon Martial Guards, and without much cost, we can completely annihilate them!"
The burly man continued reluctantly, "We've lost nearly a thousand people, driven them to a desperate situation. Wan Tiansheng, have you considered how the Dragon Martial Guards feel about retreating now?"
"Will the soldiers on the front line be willing?"
"I'm a soldier; I understand them! They won't be willing, they will feel wronged. They lost a third of their comrades and gained an absolute advantage, driving the enemy to a desperate situation, only to give up now... no one will accept that!"
The burly man's eyes reddened, "We paid so much to win this war..."
"So we need to make up for it!"
Wan Tiansheng said softly, "War isn't about reckless military expansion, Zheng Ping. After so many years, don't you understand? Sometimes, winning or losing isn't about how many you kill, but what you gain."
"I don't like the Great Xia Mansion's way of fighting, leaving no survivors, no grass uncut!"
"That's not good, very bad!"
"You're just provoking the enemy's resistance, making them fight to the death!"
"When it's time to stop, stop immediately. Let them exchange resources, techniques, blood, and treasures for their lives."
"Next time we fight, halfway through, after losing 30%, they'll think of surrendering, paying for their lives."
"Break their fighting spirit, not ignite it."
Wan Tiansheng sighed, "The Great Xia Mansion has fought so many wars over the years. Yes, we kill the most enemies each time, but we also suffer the most losses and gain the least!"
"Our enemies' fighting spirit has been ignited by you. The ten thousand races on the Battlefield of the Heavens know that when they encounter people from the Great Zhou Mansion, they can buy their lives if they can't win. But when they encounter people from the Great Xia Mansion... they fight to the death!"
"Zhou Potian does this well, even the Great Ming Mansion does better than us."
"Our Great Xia Mansion has elite troops, invincible on the battlefield, but... what about the losses? The compensation?"
Wan Tiansheng shook his head and sighed, "Zheng Ping, I think the lord should take you to the treasury and see if it's empty!"
Zheng Ping's body trembled slightly, looking at Xia Longwu.
Xia Longwu, who had remained silent, said calmly when he saw Zheng Ping looking at him, "The treasury isn't sufficient, but it's fine. The Great Xia Mansion can afford it!"
Wan Tiansheng chuckled, "The lord means... continue fighting?"
Xia Longwu looked at him coldly, "Wan Tiansheng, you said some correct things. The Great Xia Mansion suffers the most losses and gains the least. I know this better than you, but over the years, I've only listened to your words, never taking them seriously. Do you know why?"
Wan Tiansheng was not surprised, slowly saying, "I understand. The lord needs to train the strongest human army, to have a vanguard army that can fight tough battles for the human race!"
"As long as you understand!"
Xia Longwu stood up, his voice cold, "In the past, the Great Zhou Mansion was the strongest! The Great Zhou Army swept across the Battlefield of the Heavens, invincible! At that time, they were like this: after winning, the enemy could buy their lives."
"One year, two years... ten years, a hundred years!"
"Then one day, they were on the Battlefield of the Heavens. They drove the enemy to a desperate situation, thinking they could collect their gains, but... they were wrong! That elite divine race corps fought to the death!"
"With ten thousand troops, they defeated the complacent Great Zhou's hundred thousand troops! The Great Zhou Army had forgotten how to fight to the death, forgotten how to fight to the end! The hundred thousand troops... collapsed!"
Xia Longwu sneered, "This is the famous Luozhou Sea Battle! A crushing defeat!"
"The hundred thousand elite troops were defeated by a remnant force! Unbelievable, the ten thousand races of the heavens were shocked to find... the most elite human army was a paper tiger!"
"The myth of the invincible Great Zhou Army was shattered! Because they had gotten used to it, they thought, 'Why should so many die in war?'"
Xia Longwu looked at Wan Tiansheng, his voice deep, "This lesson is right in front of us, Wan Tiansheng. Do you still think there's no need to fight tough battles?"
"Not exactly."
Wan Tiansheng shook his head, then said, "But the Great Xia Mansion really can't hold on anymore! Lord, there must be a balance. Don't completely deny the Great Zhou Army just because of one defeat. The Great Zhou Army could quickly rise again because they had gained so much in the past, so they could quickly rebuild an elite corps!"
"And our Great Xia Mansion... if we lose the Dragon Martial Guards, it's too difficult to rebuild them!"
Xia Longwu looked at him, looking down on him.
Wan Tiansheng did not avoid his gaze, staring back at Xia Longwu, and said again, "Retreat, negotiate, use resources to buy lives!"
"I, Xia Longwu, am the soul of the Great Xia Mansion, I cannot retreat!"
"But you must retreat!"
The previously gentle Wan Tiansheng was now aggressive, his eyes sharp, "If you don't retreat, the Great Xia Civilization Academy will no longer provide a single soldier to the Dragon Martial Guards, no more civilized masters will join the Dragon Martial Guards in battle!"
"Are you threatening me?"
Xia Longwu's voice was low. Wan Tiansheng stood up, his face serious, "If you don't retreat, I would rather let the teachers and students of the academy join the Great Zhou Mansion than let them die on the Battlefield of the Heavens for the sake of your name, Xia Longwu!"
"Nonsense!"
The Great Xia Prefecture.
While Liu Wenyen and Su Yu were discussing, there was also a debate happening at the City Lord's Mansion.
In the vast hall, only a few people were present.
Xia Longwu sat upright, staring directly below.
To his left was an elder, a strategist-like figure of the Great Xia Prefecture, smiling silently and listening without speaking.
To his right was another elder, scholarly and gentle, also smiling with his silver-white hair, not speaking either.
Aside from these two, a middle-aged burly man with developed muscles stood alone, his voice loud and angry: "Wan Tiansheng, stop spreading your rhetoric! This is the Great Xia Prefecture, not the Seeking Realm!"
The one the burly man was berating was none other than the silver-haired elder on the right.
Wan Tiansheng, the sixth generation Head of the Great Xia Civilization Academy!
Wan Tiansheng, with a serene smile, remained calm even under the burly man's anger. His voice was not loud, yet clear: "Zheng Ping, speak properly, no need to shout. My ears are not deaf; I can hear you."
Wan Tiansheng continued, still smiling as if merely chatting with neighbors, speaking softly: "The Dragon Martial Guards should withdraw. They've fought enough. In the battle against the Tianyi God Clan, three thousand guards lost nearly a thousand. The loss is heavy."
"It's necessary to show strength when needed, I have no objections to that."
"But now, are we really planning to annihilate the Tianyi God Clan?"
Wan Tiansheng looked at Xia Longwu, speaking softly: "The Lord should understand, it's impossible. The Tianyi God Clan has only deployed a ten-thousand-strong guard on the battlefield, not their main force."
"Continuing to pursue might create more victories, but it will require more lives."
"Are you planning to throw all three thousand Dragon Martial Guards into it?"
Wan Tiansheng shook his head: "There's no need for that, it's too reckless! We've already fought. Now, we should negotiate! Go and negotiate with the Tianyi God Clan, make them retreat their remaining forces at a certain cost..."
At this, the burly man angrily retorted: "We've already surrounded them, they are near desperation. This ten-thousand-strong guard can be completely wiped out, and you, Wan Tiansheng, want to let them go. What are your intentions?"
"Have you been bribed by the Tianyi God Clan?"
Wan Tiansheng was not angry, smiling: "Zheng Ping, personal attacks are unnecessary. I haven't denied we can take them down, the key is... is it worth it? The three thousand Dragon Martial Guards, the cost to the Great Xia Prefecture to build them, now you want to throw them all away for a ten-thousand-strong guard?"
"Among them are people from your War Academy and our Civilization Academy, all elites, and you want to throw them in just to fight a ragtag army?"
Wan Tiansheng sighed: "Some people don't like to think, only to fight and kill. Such people should be thrown onto the battlefield as common soldiers, never to command."
The burly man coldly retorted: "I've been in the military for thirty years, rising from a common soldier!"
"..."
Wan Tiansheng chuckled, speaking softly: "So just be a good fighter. Why meddle in big strategy decisions?"
The burly man angrily replied: "I know you look down on me, and I don't need your approval! But as long as the remaining two thousand Dragon Martial Guards are deployed, with minimal cost, we can annihilate them!"
The burly man, unwilling to relent, continued: "We've lost nearly a thousand men, driving them to desperation. Wan Tiansheng, if we withdraw now, have you considered how the Dragon Martial Guards will feel?"
"The frontline soldiers, will they be willing?"
"As a soldier, I understand them! They won't be willing, they'll be frustrated, having lost a third of their comrades. Holding the upper hand, driving the enemy to desperation, and then retreating... no one will be willing!"
The burly man, with reddened eyes, said: "We've paid so much to win this war..."
"So we need to make up for it!"
Wan Tiansheng said softly: "War is not about reckless fighting, Zheng Ping, after all these years, don't you understand? Sometimes victory is not measured by how many you kill, but by how much you gain."
"I don't like the Great Xia Prefecture's way of fighting, killing everything, leaving no grass behind!"
"It's not good, not at all!"
"Your way only fuels the enemy's resistance, making them fight to the death, burning their boats!"
"Knowing when to stop, let them use resources, techniques, martial arts, divine blood, and treasures to exchange for their lives."
"Next time, when we fight again, after losing thirty percent, they'll think of surrendering, buying their lives."
"Break their will to fight, don't ignite it."
Wan Tiansheng sighed: "The Great Xia Prefecture has fought so many battles over the years. Yes, we've killed the most enemies each time, but we've also suffered the most losses and gained the least!"
"The enemy's fighting spirit has been aroused by you. The myriad races on the battlefield know that encountering the Great Zhou Prefecture's people, they can buy their lives if they can't win. Encountering the Great Xia Prefecture... they fight to the death!"
"Zhou Potian did well in this regard. Even the Great Ming Prefecture is better than us."
"The Great Xia Prefecture has elite soldiers, invincible on the battlefield, but... what about the losses? The pensions?"
Wan Tiansheng shook his head and sighed: "Zheng Ping, I think the Lord should take you to the treasury to see if it's empty!"
Zheng Ping's body trembled, looking at Xia Longwu.
Xia Longwu, who had been silent, calmly said when Zheng Ping looked over: "The treasury is indeed not very full, but it doesn't matter, the Great Xia Prefecture can bear the cost!"
Wan Tiansheng chuckled: "The Lord means... continue fighting?"
Xia Longwu looked at him coldly: "Wan Tiansheng, some things you said are right. The Great Xia Prefecture suffers the most, gains the least. I'm clearer on these matters than you, but all these years, I've listened to your words but never taken them seriously. Do you know why?"
Wan Tiansheng was not surprised, speaking slowly: "I understand. The Lord needs to train the strongest human legion! To have a vanguard army that can fight tough battles for the human race!"
"As long as you understand!"
Xia Longwu stood up, coldly saying: "In the past, the Great Zhou Prefecture was the strongest! The Great Zhou Army swept through the battlefield, invincible! Back then, they were like this, winning and letting the enemy buy their lives."
"One year, two years... ten years, a hundred years!"
"When they once fought the myriad races, having driven the enemy to desperation, thinking they could harvest, they were wrong! That elite divine race corps fought to the death!"
"With a force of ten thousand, they defeated the complacent Great Zhou Army of one hundred thousand! The Great Zhou Army had forgotten how to fight to the death, forgotten how to fight desperately! One hundred thousand troops... crumbled!"
Xia Longwu sneered: "This is the recorded Battle of Luo Zhou Sea! A crushing defeat!"
"The ten thousand elite troops, the myth of the Great Zhou Army's invincibility, was shattered! Because they were used to thinking, why let so many die in war?"
Xia Longwu looked at Wan Tiansheng, speaking solemnly: "The precedent is right in front of us, Wan Tiansheng, do you still think fighting hard battles is unnecessary?"
"Not entirely."
Wan Tiansheng shook his head and continued: "But the Great Xia Prefecture can't hold on any longer! Lord, balance is key. One defeat doesn't entirely discredit the Great Zhou Army. They were able to quickly rise again because they had reaped huge rewards, allowing them to rebuild an elite corps quickly!"
"But our Great Xia Prefecture... if we lose the Dragon Martial Guards, it will be too difficult to build another!"
Xia Longwu looked at him, looking down on him.
Wan Tiansheng did not avoid his gaze, looking directly at Xia Longwu, and said again: "Withdraw, negotiate, use resources to buy lives!"
"I, Xia Longwu, am the soul of the Great Xia Prefecture. I cannot retreat!"
"You must retreat!"
The previously gentle Wan Tiansheng was now forceful, his gaze sharp: "If you don't retreat, the Great Xia Civilization Academy will no longer provide a single soldier to the Dragon Martial Guards, and no more civilized masters will join them!"
"Are you threatening me?"
Xia Longwu's voice was low, and Wan Tiansheng stood up, his face serious: "If you don't retreat, I'd rather let the academy's students join the Great Zhou Prefecture than let them die on the battlefield to make your name!"
"Scoundrel!"
Zheng Ping roared: "Wan Tiansheng, are you betraying the Great Xia Prefecture?"
"No, I am saving the Great Xia Prefecture. I am willing to fight for the human race, but not for a tyrant!"
Wan Tiansheng suddenly removed his crown, saying solemnly: "Wan Tiansheng resigns as the Head of the Great Xia Civilization Academy!"
Xia Longwu stared at him for a long time without speaking.
At this moment, the elder on the left laughed and spoke: "Head Wan, stop teasing Chief Zheng."
Zheng
Ping frowned at them, feeling displeased: "What do you mean?"
The elder chuckled: "Retreat, we must retreat. The Great Xia Prefecture has fought for decades, the battles have been too hard, and the losses too great. This time, the Lord has called you here to discuss this."
"You already guessed it, why embarrass the Lord..."
Wan Tiansheng pretended to be confused: "What do you mean?"
The elder laughed, shaking his head: "You, still the same as back then. Let me explain, can't you all discuss calmly without shouting?"
"The Lord wants to retreat... but he can't. He is a symbol for the human race, the soul of the Great Xia Prefecture. If he retreats, what will the frontline soldiers think?"
"He is not the shameless Zhu Tiandao..."
The previously tense hall suddenly filled with laughter.
Even the usually serious Xia Longwu sat down, coughing lightly: "Nonsense! Don't talk nonsense, Governor Zhu... cough cough, knows when to be shameless."
Everyone laughed, and the elder also laughed: "Yes, I was wrong. Let's not talk about him. Continuing the topic, we must retreat. The Dragon Martial Guards cannot be exchanged for the Tianyi God Clan's ten-thousand-strong guard with thousands of lives."
"But it can't be done in the name of the Lord."
"The Lord has killed several powerful members of the Tianyi God Clan and needs to retreat immediately."
"Today's meeting is to discuss the upcoming grand ceremony... The Lord will retreat, and Lord Xiahou will temporarily take over. At that time... Wan Tiansheng, you can stage today's scene again."
The elder laughed: "Let Lord Xiahou order the retreat! The Lord retreats to seclusion, handling nothing, unrelated to him."
"The frontline soldiers, even if dissatisfied, it won't matter. Lord Xiahou won't care about that."
"Lord Xiahou is originally a businessman. Let him negotiate compensation, losses, and terms with the Tianyi God Clan. That way, the Tianyi God Clan won't suspect, nor will the myriad races see the weakness of the Great Xia Prefecture."
At this moment, Zheng Ping understood, muttering: "Old scoundrel, is this appropriate? Lord Xiahou... you always push the blame onto him. Now, the outside world is already filled with his bad reputation..."
"So what if there's one more bad name."
The elder smiled: "Chief Zheng, Head Wan is not wrong. The treasury of the Great Xia Prefecture is almost empty. We can't continue fighting like this. We can't build another Dragon Martial Guard. Once this elite force is exhausted, the Great Xia Prefecture's elite force will be gone!"
"The Tianyi God Clan isn't about exterminating them. Why fixate on a ten-thousand-strong guard? The Lord retreats to seclusion, Lord Xiahou takes over. The world knows he's greedy for money, not fame."
"He retreats the troops, gets compensation from the Tianyi God Clan to replenish the Great Xia Prefecture's treasury. Who can complain?"
The elder smiled brilliantly: "The Tianyi God Clan will probably be grateful, thinking it's fortunate that Lord Xiahou took over, not the Lord continuing to command the Dragon Martial Guards, otherwise, this ten-thousand-strong guard would be finished."
"The Lord is known for never backing down. If he retreats now, it would be unbelievable, making others think the Great Xia Prefecture... is truly finished."
Zheng Ping hesitated, then asked quietly: "Is it really that serious?"
"Yes, the treasury is really almost empty."
The elder sighed: "Otherwise, after so many years of fighting, would we choose to compromise now? The Tianyi God Clan dared to invade the Great Xia Prefecture. According to our past attitude, we wouldn't stop until they suffered greatly!"
"But now, we must conserve our forces."
The elder said seriously: "The Lord choosing to retreat now also considers this. We can't continue fighting, not just the Dragon Martial Guards. The Demon Suppression Army has also issued multiple conscription orders for veterans. The losses are too great. Even the Demon Suppression Army needs to be quiet for a while."
"The Great Xia Prefecture looks strong but is actually in a transition period. These years of fighting have built our reputation. Now, we must recuperate!"
"When the Great Xia Prefecture recovers, the Lord will come out of seclusion!"
"At that time, it will be when the Lord reaches invincibility!"
On the side, Xia Longwu said indifferently, "I originally planned to go to the Battlefield of the Heavens soon to slaughter a king and help me reach this realm! However... to ensure everything, we'll conserve our energy and postpone this battle. In a few years, I believe the Great Xia Prefecture can recover its strength!"
"Wise decision, Lord!"
Wan Tiansheng echoed, "The Lord's choice gives hope to the Great Xia Prefecture!"
Xia Longwu didn't buy it, saying coldly, "Weren't you going to resign? How about this, a few days from now, you resign at the grand ceremony! Since Zhou Potian wants you, you can go there."
"The Lord jests!"
Wan Tiansheng remained unfazed, "Just rehearsing a bit, to ensure that Lord Xiahou doesn't notice anything unusual at the grand ceremony, and that no one else sees through it. Zhou Potian, that old fox, is not fit to be a companion!"
"Ha!"
Xia Longwu sneered, "Pass this message on to Zhou Potian!"
He said this to the elder on the left.
The elder laughed, looked at Zheng Ping, and said, "Chief Zheng, pass this message on to Lord Zhou, every word from Head Wan, without missing a single word!"
Zheng Ping's face turned dark, but he remained silent.
Xia Longwu ignored them, stood up, and said, "It's decided! The Dragon Martial Guards will withdraw immediately. The Tianyi God Clan must pay a price, and I... will enter seclusion. When I emerge, I will attack the Tianyi God Clan!"
Those below responded, with no further objections.
Wan Tiansheng, smiling broadly, glanced at Zheng Ping before leaving, and sighed, "Brute, not fit to be schemed with!"
Zheng Ping's face turned even darker, "Old scoundrel, this year's inter-academy exchange, wait until your academy is filled with cries!"
Wan Tiansheng didn't mind, instead, he laughed happily, "I look forward to it. Fight, fight hard! In past years, your War Academy people hit too lightly, like they haven't eaten."
"This year, if you go again, I'll provide you with ten thousand pounds of blood food for free. Eat your fill, use more strength, and if you drive away half of the students, I'll give you a banner. The Civilization Academy has too many people, what's the use of so many?"
Wan Tiansheng shook his head, "A bunch of mediocrities, I've long wanted to streamline the organization. If it weren't for those old fellows stopping me, I'd only recruit a thousand people a year at most! Old Zheng, this time I'll trouble you, work hard, if you drive away a thousand people, I'll personally lead the academy's teachers and students to your place to present a banner!"
Zheng Ping's face grew even darker. He had never won an argument with this old scoundrel!
Wan Tiansheng laughed heartily, walked out of the hall slowly, and lamented, "The Great Xia War Academy... has declined! Ah! The Dragon Martial Academy still has some promise, but your Great Xia War Academy, really, if you don't drive away a thousand people this year, I'll look down on you!"
With these words, Wan Tiansheng disappeared from sight.
After he left, Zheng Ping suddenly felt exhausted, "This old scoundrel is getting more and more difficult to deal with! Lord, is the Great Xia Prefecture really going to switch from offense to defense?"
Beside him, Xia Longwu, who had just left, appeared again.
Watching Wan Tiansheng leave, Xia Longwu was silent for a moment, then said softly, "It's not defense, it's waiting! Waiting for the recovery of strength! Wan Tiansheng has waited for so many years, waiting for the Great Xia Prefecture to be powerless, so... he won."
Zheng Ping sighed again, "I'm a bit scared."
"What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid... of losing the will to fight, losing confidence, losing morale."
Zheng Ping turned his head to look at Xia Longwu, his eyes complex, "I'm afraid that after we retreat, the hearts of the Great Xia Prefecture's people will change with this retreat!"
"What must come will come sooner or later."
Xia Longwu said indifferently, "We can't fight forever, fighting until the old soldiers retire, and then they have to return to battle! Recuperation is necessary. Resting now is better than resting when we can't fight anymore."
"Old Zheng, the War Academy has suffered heavy losses over the years too, it's time to rest."
After saying this, Xia Longwu fell silent, feeling somewhat desolate.
Having fought hard all his life, at this point, he couldn't continue to fight hard.
He spoke of looking down on Zhu Tiandao, looking down on Zhou Potian, but in reality... he admired and envied them a bit.
"At least... fewer of their sons have died in battle than in my Great Xia Prefecture..."
Muttering to himself, Xia Longwu's eyes showed a trace of bitterness. He wanted to keep fighting, but reality didn't allow him to.
Relentless warfare!
The Great Xia Prefecture at this moment was like boiling oil, seemingly flourishing, but actually fraught with danger.
"Wan Tiansheng... after fighting for so many years, I want to see what you can change."
Xia Longwu murmured in his heart, he also wanted to see how far Wan Tiansheng could go.
"The Civilization Academy... the next frontier, I hope there won't be any trouble. Teacher... can you really control it?"
Xia Longwu chuckled lightly. Teacher, yes, that was his mentor.
But over the years, he had almost forgotten.
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