Chapitre 170: Chapter 23 The Iron Empire: Martial Might Under Heaven
"But even if a country has wealth, does it have the martial arts manuals to match? Is Tang Guo truly willing to share these techniques?"
Someone finally voiced the question lingering in their hearts.
"What's there to be unwilling about?"
The old man sneered with disdain, stroking his beard as if the matter were laughable. "Tang Kingdom is a colossus among empires. A few martial arts manuals? Mere scraps. Each academy holds countless volumes, freely accessible to all students—no fees, no restrictions."
His voice dropped, a hint of ferocity lurking beneath his casual tone. "Once, these techniques were hoarded by sects, locked away from ordinary people. But when the Tang army swept through, these sects fell like dried leaves in a storm."
The listeners trembled slightly as if they could feel the shadow of a blood-soaked past.
"The manuals? Seized. Their legacy? Burned to ash. Everything was gathered into the national treasury, and now? Issued to the academies. Students—no matter their background—are given the tools to unleash their martial potential. No talent will go to waste."
"This..."
Jiang Santong and his companions shivered involuntarily. The old man's words carried the weight of unimaginable ruthlessness.
To conquer sects so thoroughly, to erase centuries of martial legacies, and then freely distribute what once was sacred—it defied human instinct. After all, wouldn't one guard their strength, lest it be used against them?
Even in the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Beasts, sects guarded their arts with their lives. Secrets were treasures; betrayal meant blood. Yet Tang Guo had obliterated these norms, sharing power like a merchant scattering seeds in fertile soil.
A boldness beyond reckoning.
"Doesn't Tang Guo fear these manuals will leak into enemy hands?" someone dared to ask.
"What if they do?" The old man smirked. "The same manual in different hands leads to different outcomes. Let them learn—our Tang Kingdom would only welcome it."
His eyes gleamed coldly. "A leak? No, my friend. That's an excuse. An excuse to annihilate their entire nation."
A collective chill ran through Jiang Santong's group. Their hearts pounded as they exchanged uneasy glances. Monstrous.
Even among ordinary folk, there was an insatiable will to conquer. If the commoners were this ruthless, what of Tang Guo's leaders?
The specter of war loomed in their minds—a beast with fangs bared, its gaze fixed on the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Beasts.
Suddenly, Jiang Santong's attention was drawn to a group of children emerging from an academy. Clad in gilded robes, guarded by armored soldiers, their presence was sharp, their bearing exceptional.
"Who are those kids? Noble heirs?"
"No," the old man corrected, shaking his head. "They are greater than nobles—they are the Favored of the Gods."
"Favored of the Gods?"
"It means exactly that." The old man's tone grew reverent. "They are chosen. Touched by divine blessings. As long as they don't die young, they are guaranteed to become extraordinary martial artists—warriors who transcend the mortal realm."
Jiang Santong and the others froze, disbelief written on their faces.
Guaranteed? Such words were absurd. No warrior dared speak of certainty on the path of transcendence.
"Are you serious?" Jiang Santong whispered, his voice trembling. "How many... how many of these Favored exist?"
The old man smiled faintly. "In all of Tang Guo? Over a million."
"A... a million?!"
"Indeed. And among them, 300,000 have already stepped into transcendence. That number rises with each passing year. It is no secret—these Favored are destined to become the backbone of Tang Guo's might."
The words hit like thunderclaps.
Jiang Santong's group stood paralyzed, hearts thundering in their chests.
Three hundred thousand transcendent martial artists.
The Kingdom of Ten Thousand Beasts had barely 20,000, even when counting every hidden master. Tang Guo's numbers shattered understanding.
"This is impossible... How? How can they produce so many transcendent warriors?!"
"There's a secret," someone muttered. "A method to mass-produce powerhouses. That's the only explanation."
"Tang Guo..." Jiang Santong's voice was hoarse, filled with dread. "If this continues, they won't just conquer the continent. They'll unify the seas themselves."
The intelligence officers exchanged grim looks, their previous confidence crumbling to dust. Tang Guo wasn't just a rival—it was a tidal wave that threatened to drown them all.
One officer clenched his fists. "We must uncover their secret. If we fail, the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Beasts is doomed."
The shadow of Tang Guo loomed over them—a relentless, unstoppable force.
In that moment, Jiang Santong understood: The age of sects had ended. The age of empires had begun.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone