Chapter 521
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Chapter 521
One million.
Ten one-hundred thousands, or a hundred ten-thousands, Goujian understood the definition well enough, but he never truly appreciated just how vast and unfathomable this innocuous number really was. Having been a citizen of the Empire all his life, hed seen and heard it used in a wide variety of situations, from the earnings reports of extensive merchant houses to census records and population distribution throughout the provinces. Several cities housed tens of millions of citizens within their walls, so massively spread out it might take days to travel from one end to the next, while even a noble family of middling status might earn a million gold coins in a year. Tens of millions of gold worth of goods passed through the gates of Sanshu every month, while a prominent Eastern Noble such as the Legate was liable to spend a similar amount each year maintaining their various holdings throughout the Provinces.
No one could argue that a colossal disparity didnt exist between commoner and Martial Warrior, but an even greater gulf stood between Martial Warriors and the true nobility of the Empire, those lucky few born into the ruling elites. Despite knowing sizable inequality existed, Goujian never truly understood how staggering the imbalance was, not until he watched a million strong army of Chosen and Defiled gather outside the gates of the Western city of ShiBei, the first step on their journey to overthrow the dog Emperor and bring about a new era of change and prosperity. So excited to take part in such a momentous occasion, hed woken well before the break of dawn and perched atop the city gates to watch the soldiers gather in their camps, but hours passed and the lines of soldiers still stretched well past the horizon in every direction except east. It took three days to assemble this massive army on the fields of ShiBei, and another two to ensure everyone was equipped, supplied, and understood their marching orders, for a force of this magnitude was a clumsy, bumbling beast prone to turn upon itself if not kept on a tight leash.
And when they finally set out, Goujian stood on those city gates once more and discovered that the entire army didnt even fit in his field of view, stretching well beyond his peripheral vision as these heroes marched east to raze and conquer.
This, more than anything showed Goujian just how vast a number one million represented, and this was merely one million warriors, a pittance when translated into gold coins or citizens of the Empire. What might two million be like? Or ten? There were a hundred and fifty thousand Chosen of Heaven in the Western Province, thrice what they fielded almost five months ago in Sinuji and each one armed with a Heaven-blessed Spiritual Weapon and clad in heavy armour of mundane or Runic variety. The full industrial force of the Western province had gone into equipping these conquering heroes, and every available one flocked to ShiBei to form the core of this unstoppable army. The Defiled tribesmen under the Uniters thumb were numerous enough to make up the remaining numbers, and while not as formidable as the Chosen, they were plentiful and expendable, especially while mounted on their ferocious garos and gajashias, a dire threat in their own right.
Goujian disliked allying himself with the Defiled, but they were a temporary stopgap measure to buy time for more Chosen to be swayed, trained, and armed. More joined their ranks with each passing day, but the numbers were woefully lacking compared to what they might have been if young Gen utilized his Talent of Oration more often to bring lost souls into the light.
Mounted on a gajashia of his own, Goujian stifled a sigh as he studied the disgraceful disappointment out of the corner of his eye. Unwilling to waste the effort necessary to sit upright and ride, Gen lazed within his sizable litter with the silken curtains parted while he indulged with his playthings. As if this wasnt enough, hed enlisted twelve identical, armoured Transcendents as litter bearers, and they marched in perfect lockstep while keeping the vehicle perfectly level at all times. Goujians past self must have been blind to hold such high hopes for the boy, but the Heavens were just and had opened his eyes to the Truth: the boy was merely a stepping stone, a tool to be used to help overthrow the dog Emperor, and after serving his purpose, Gen will have outlived his usefulness. The same held true for the shadowy Uniter, but in recent times, Goujian noticed theyd formed some sort of unbreakable alliance and unconditionally supported one another no matter the issue, hence Gens sizable Transcendent retinue which included the twelve litter bearers and twice that in unique Transcendent escorts, any one of which was more than a match for Goujian himself. A dangerous turn of events, since hed planned on turning Gen and the Uniter against one another after the dog Emperor was dealt with, but now it seemed like his plans would have to change lest his death coincide with his hated enemys.
Thankfully, Heaven provided for its Chosen and brought Goujian newer, more reliable allies in the form of forsaken monks from the Penitent Brotherhood. Dissatisfied with their Abbots recent directives, this band of separatists had been lured over by the Uniter, but it seemed the world outside their monasteries was not what theyd expected. Instead of a land soon to be ravaged by Anathema, they found the Uniter preparing his armies to ride out and cover the Empire in blood and ashes, which Goujian presumed was different from what hed promised. A gloomy and opinionated lot, they followed young Gen out of lack of better options, but if they were all like his dearly departed Teacher, whose name he only recently learned was Mahakala, then these monks were a force to be reckoned with, one he could not leave in the young wastrels hands.
Craning his neck up at their leader, he subtly called attention to Gens vulgar indolence and Sent, You see now, yes? The boy speaks of walking the razors edge, yet he spends his time lost in a haze of lustful indulgence. His words ring true, but his actions betray him as one who has fallen too far to trust.
Seated atop a hulking, ferocious tiger which towered above horse and gajashia alike, Vyakhyas knees were level with Goujians eyes which meant the aged ascetic couldnt see Gens wanton behaviour for himself, but there were plenty of other grey-robed monks about whom he trusted to pass word along. Thirty-one had absconded with Vyakhya, and like him, most were old and grey, but there were a handful of younger faces amongst the crowd whom Goujian concentrated on most. Young meant impressionable, and so long as the Brotherhoods beliefs were not too ingrained in their bones, then he was confident he could sway them to his cause, or at the very least make use of them in some way. The most promising of the bunch was a tall, fresh-faced monk with the thickest eyebrows Goujian had ever seen, though the young man refused to share his name like Vyakhya had. Absurd is what it was, remaining nameless in hopes of avoiding the pitfalls of pride, but such were the Brotherhoods ways, and Goujian had taken to mentally calling the young monk Eyebrows.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
After a long pause to verify Goujians statement, Vyakhya smoothed his long, white eyebrows and stroked his beard in thought, his face impassive but actions a clear sign of inner turmoil. Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo, Vyakhya Sent, and Goujian found a measure of comfort from the tradition Dharmic greeting, as if his portly old Teacher were here before him instead of this wizened stranger. This was not what... the Uniter promised, not the peace and deliverance he spoke of. This monk and his brothers seceded from the Brotherhood over differing beliefs and desire for a life of non-interference, but now we find ourselves even further from our goal. Shaking his head, Vyakhya added, In fact, to this monks great regret, it appears the Uniter and the Abbot agree on many points and really only differ in their methods. The eternal soul above all else, the Abbot was fond of saying, even to the point of overlooking Mahakalas worldly proclivities.
Exiting from his litter for the first time in days, Gen leapt out the window and glided weightlessly to the tigers back. His presence elicited a bone-shaking growl from the ferocious beast, but a single glance from the boy was enough to quiet it. Looking resplendent in his Runic armour, the metal had fused so seamlessly to Gen's flesh that it was difficult to tell where one began and the other ended, and his strength had progressed by leaps and bounds in the short months since. A true Dragon among men, young Gen had finally grown into his power, and while Goujian would have once puffed his chest with pride, he knew he had nothing to do with the young heros progress and even feared his growing prowess. With Falling Rain crippled, no young Talent could match this peerless warrior, one whod embraced the Truth and had seemingly been blessed by the Heavens as its one, True Son.
Perhaps Goujian had erred in turning against young Gen, but it was too late now. Their bonds had been severed, but their goals remained aligned, at least until they toppled the Emperor from his Jade Throne.
And afterwards? Well... Goujian would survive, for that was what he did.
With head held high and hands clasped behind his back, Gen looked the very picture of a patient scholar lecturing a difficult student as he dismantled the Brotherhoods logic with casual ease. Though your predecessors uncovered the Imperial lies of Balance, their revised methods were still based upon a single erroneous assumption, one which has plagued the Brotherhood since its inception. Imperial Balance is a lie, so why use it as the foundation of a new Path? Tell me, what is the single greatest barrier between humanity and Divinity? True Divinity mind you, ascension to Nirvana or whatever else you might call it, not the false Divinity claimed by Ancestral Beasts and other pretenders who still walk amongst us.
The final step, Goujian answered, the words torn from his mouth in his thirst for knowledge. Shattering the Void. Not much is known, except few survive the process.
Incorrect. Grinning to take away the sting of the correction, Gen explained, A monumental hurdle, but considering how few ever come close enough to approach it, hardly the greatest barrier to Divinity. No, like the raindrops which cover the earth, so too must humanity approach this final hurdle if we are to have any hope of success. For this reason, the greatest barrier is not the final step, but the first: Core Formation. More Martial Warriors in existence means more rolls of the dice, and eventually, they will fall in humanitys favour, but the Brotherhoods system of beliefs, and the Imperials which it was based upon, are both fundamentally flawed from the first step, and therefore doomed to languish in eternal failure. Launching into his lesson with practised serenity, young Gen began revealing truths Goujian had never even considered before. Imperial success rates of Core Formation stands at a pitiful one percent, while most Defiled succeed before their eighth birthday, so long as they survive long enough to reach it. Why? Because Balance, True Balance, is not about restraining emotion, but embracing it, and the Defiled have mastered this beautifully. The tiger beneath my feet also understands this well, a born killer who draws strength from his prey and ekes out a solitary existence. It will fight, mate, and kill whenever necessary and think nothing of it, but it will not hunt when sated nor will it mate when circumstances are not right. It adheres to its instincts, and for this reason, it has access to more power than most humans will ever wield, as will every other tiger in existence. If humanity wishes to rise above the beasts, then we must learn to embrace our true nature, noble courage and base desire alike. Only then will they be set upon the True Path. Why, under the right conditions, a base commoner can even progress from Core Formation to Domain Development in a matter of heartbeats, so long as the subject wholeheartedly accepts the Truth.
Raising a metallic hand, Gen flourished his bladed fingers with a smile. The flaws goes deeper. Take your Spiritual Weapons for example. Forged from Spiritual Hearts formed by beast or nature, the Imperials plunder these natural treasures for their own use, and in order to do so, must bind them as one binds a slave. One with the Weapon? How can you become one with something which you have stolen? Beasts understand this and forge their bodies into weapons, and thus they are one by nature without any binding required. What of One with the World? How many Imperial Martial Warriors ever reach this milestone along the Martial Path? Develop a Domain and you join the ranks of the true elite, one percent of one percent of humanity, that is one in ten-thousand. While there are a fair number of them in the Empire due to its prodigious population, these elites are a piddling portion of the whole, which is only to be expected. How can you expect to become One with the World while suppressing ones own nature? That is not True Oneness, and any power derived from such is built upon a lie. Sneering at Vyakhya, Gen looked the monk up and down and said, Youve touched upon the Truth, but still you chant your Sutras and flagellate your flesh to repress your true selves, even going so far as to mutilate your bodies to repress your natural desires. You live a lie, so how can any Oneness you find be True? Shaking his head, Gen concluded, As I said, difficulty has no correlation with value. Anything worth doing, must be done, and sometimes, a task is difficult simply because you are going about it the wrong way. Embrace the Truth laid out before you, and join me on my crusade to better humanity as a whole. Many will fail, but success... success is inevitable.
By now, Goujian wouldve been a fool not to realize Gen was utilizing his Talent of Oration, proclaiming his message to every Chosen within this conquering army who cheered for their young hero and leader. Vyakhya and the other monks were all poleaxed with shock, unable to contain their agitation as they argued silently amongst themselves. Many, including Eyebrows, were looking at Gen with near reverence and Goujian feared the gangly young monk was lost to him now, as were most of these exiles from the Brotherhood. It mattered not though, for Goujian was a man who devoted his life to uncovering the Truth, and it was clear to him now.
After his setback in Sinuji, Gen had stumbled across the Truth, but Goujians Imperial-tinted preconceptions had blinded him to the facts. This young hero had blossomed into the man Goujian had hoped he would become, the Divine Son of Heaven Shen Tian Zi, and therefore, deserving of his unwavering loyalty.
From now, until the day the Heavens demanded his death, even if by Shen Tian Zis own hand.
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Chapter 521
One million.
Ten one-hundred thousands, or a hundred ten-thousands, Goujian understood the definition well enough, but he never truly appreciated just how vast and unfathomable this innocuous number really was. Having been a citizen of the Empire all his life, hed seen and heard it used in a wide variety of situations, from the earnings reports of extensive merchant houses to census records and population distribution throughout the provinces. Several cities housed tens of millions of citizens within their walls, so massively spread out it might take days to travel from one end to the next, while even a noble family of middling status might earn a million gold coins in a year. Tens of millions of gold worth of goods passed through the gates of Sanshu every month, while a prominent Eastern Noble such as the Legate was liable to spend a similar amount each year maintaining their various holdings throughout the Provinces.
No one could argue that a colossal disparity didnt exist between commoner and Martial Warrior, but an even greater gulf stood between Martial Warriors and the true nobility of the Empire, those lucky few born into the ruling elites. Despite knowing sizable inequality existed, Goujian never truly understood how staggering the imbalance was, not until he watched a million strong army of Chosen and Defiled gather outside the gates of the Western city of ShiBei, the first step on their journey to overthrow the dog Emperor and bring about a new era of change and prosperity. So excited to take part in such a momentous occasion, hed woken well before the break of dawn and perched atop the city gates to watch the soldiers gather in their camps, but hours passed and the lines of soldiers still stretched well past the horizon in every direction except east. It took three days to assemble this massive army on the fields of ShiBei, and another two to ensure everyone was equipped, supplied, and understood their marching orders, for a force of this magnitude was a clumsy, bumbling beast prone to turn upon itself if not kept on a tight leash.
And when they finally set out, Goujian stood on those city gates once more and discovered that the entire army didnt even fit in his field of view, stretching well beyond his peripheral vision as these heroes marched east to raze and conquer.
This, more than anything showed Goujian just how vast a number one million represented, and this was merely one million warriors, a pittance when translated into gold coins or citizens of the Empire. What might two million be like? Or ten? There were a hundred and fifty thousand Chosen of Heaven in the Western Province, thrice what they fielded almost five months ago in Sinuji and each one armed with a Heaven-blessed Spiritual Weapon and clad in heavy armour of mundane or Runic variety. The full industrial force of the Western province had gone into equipping these conquering heroes, and every available one flocked to ShiBei to form the core of this unstoppable army. The Defiled tribesmen under the Uniters thumb were numerous enough to make up the remaining numbers, and while not as formidable as the Chosen, they were plentiful and expendable, especially while mounted on their ferocious garos and gajashias, a dire threat in their own right.
Goujian disliked allying himself with the Defiled, but they were a temporary stopgap measure to buy time for more Chosen to be swayed, trained, and armed. More joined their ranks with each passing day, but the numbers were woefully lacking compared to what they might have been if young Gen utilized his Talent of Oration more often to bring lost souls into the light.
Mounted on a gajashia of his own, Goujian stifled a sigh as he studied the disgraceful disappointment out of the corner of his eye. Unwilling to waste the effort necessary to sit upright and ride, Gen lazed within his sizable litter with the silken curtains parted while he indulged with his playthings. As if this wasnt enough, hed enlisted twelve identical, armoured Transcendents as litter bearers, and they marched in perfect lockstep while keeping the vehicle perfectly level at all times. Goujians past self must have been blind to hold such high hopes for the boy, but the Heavens were just and had opened his eyes to the Truth: the boy was merely a stepping stone, a tool to be used to help overthrow the dog Emperor, and after serving his purpose, Gen will have outlived his usefulness. The same held true for the shadowy Uniter, but in recent times, Goujian noticed theyd formed some sort of unbreakable alliance and unconditionally supported one another no matter the issue, hence Gens sizable Transcendent retinue which included the twelve litter bearers and twice that in unique Transcendent escorts, any one of which was more than a match for Goujian himself. A dangerous turn of events, since hed planned on turning Gen and the Uniter against one another after the dog Emperor was dealt with, but now it seemed like his plans would have to change lest his death coincide with his hated enemys.
Thankfully, Heaven provided for its Chosen and brought Goujian newer, more reliable allies in the form of forsaken monks from the Penitent Brotherhood. Dissatisfied with their Abbots recent directives, this band of separatists had been lured over by the Uniter, but it seemed the world outside their monasteries was not what theyd expected. Instead of a land soon to be ravaged by Anathema, they found the Uniter preparing his armies to ride out and cover the Empire in blood and ashes, which Goujian presumed was different from what hed promised. A gloomy and opinionated lot, they followed young Gen out of lack of better options, but if they were all like his dearly departed Teacher, whose name he only recently learned was Mahakala, then these monks were a force to be reckoned with, one he could not leave in the young wastrels hands.
Craning his neck up at their leader, he subtly called attention to Gens vulgar indolence and Sent, You see now, yes? The boy speaks of walking the razors edge, yet he spends his time lost in a haze of lustful indulgence. His words ring true, but his actions betray him as one who has fallen too far to trust.
Seated atop a hulking, ferocious tiger which towered above horse and gajashia alike, Vyakhyas knees were level with Goujians eyes which meant the aged ascetic couldnt see Gens wanton behaviour for himself, but there were plenty of other grey-robed monks about whom he trusted to pass word along. Thirty-one had absconded with Vyakhya, and like him, most were old and grey, but there were a handful of younger faces amongst the crowd whom Goujian concentrated on most. Young meant impressionable, and so long as the Brotherhoods beliefs were not too ingrained in their bones, then he was confident he could sway them to his cause, or at the very least make use of them in some way. The most promising of the bunch was a tall, fresh-faced monk with the thickest eyebrows Goujian had ever seen, though the young man refused to share his name like Vyakhya had. Absurd is what it was, remaining nameless in hopes of avoiding the pitfalls of pride, but such were the Brotherhoods ways, and Goujian had taken to mentally calling the young monk Eyebrows.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only
After a long pause to verify Goujians statement, Vyakhya smoothed his long, white eyebrows and stroked his beard in thought, his face impassive but actions a clear sign of inner turmoil. Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo, Vyakhya Sent, and Goujian found a measure of comfort from the tradition Dharmic greeting, as if his portly old Teacher were here before him instead of this wizened stranger. This was not what... the Uniter promised, not the peace and deliverance he spoke of. This monk and his brothers seceded from the Brotherhood over differing beliefs and desire for a life of non-interference, but now we find ourselves even further from our goal. Shaking his head, Vyakhya added, In fact, to this monks great regret, it appears the Uniter and the Abbot agree on many points and really only differ in their methods. The eternal soul above all else, the Abbot was fond of saying, even to the point of overlooking Mahakalas worldly proclivities.
Exiting from his litter for the first time in days, Gen leapt out the window and glided weightlessly to the tigers back. His presence elicited a bone-shaking growl from the ferocious beast, but a single glance from the boy was enough to quiet it. Looking resplendent in his Runic armour, the metal had fused so seamlessly to Gen's flesh that it was difficult to tell where one began and the other ended, and his strength had progressed by leaps and bounds in the short months since. A true Dragon among men, young Gen had finally grown into his power, and while Goujian would have once puffed his chest with pride, he knew he had nothing to do with the young heros progress and even feared his growing prowess. With Falling Rain crippled, no young Talent could match this peerless warrior, one whod embraced the Truth and had seemingly been blessed by the Heavens as its one, True Son.
Perhaps Goujian had erred in turning against young Gen, but it was too late now. Their bonds had been severed, but their goals remained aligned, at least until they toppled the Emperor from his Jade Throne.
And afterwards? Well... Goujian would survive, for that was what he did.
With head held high and hands clasped behind his back, Gen looked the very picture of a patient scholar lecturing a difficult student as he dismantled the Brotherhoods logic with casual ease. Though your predecessors uncovered the Imperial lies of Balance, their revised methods were still based upon a single erroneous assumption, one which has plagued the Brotherhood since its inception. Imperial Balance is a lie, so why use it as the foundation of a new Path? Tell me, what is the single greatest barrier between humanity and Divinity? True Divinity mind you, ascension to Nirvana or whatever else you might call it, not the false Divinity claimed by Ancestral Beasts and other pretenders who still walk amongst us.
The final step, Goujian answered, the words torn from his mouth in his thirst for knowledge. Shattering the Void. Not much is known, except few survive the process.
Incorrect. Grinning to take away the sting of the correction, Gen explained, A monumental hurdle, but considering how few ever come close enough to approach it, hardly the greatest barrier to Divinity. No, like the raindrops which cover the earth, so too must humanity approach this final hurdle if we are to have any hope of success. For this reason, the greatest barrier is not the final step, but the first: Core Formation. More Martial Warriors in existence means more rolls of the dice, and eventually, they will fall in humanitys favour, but the Brotherhoods system of beliefs, and the Imperials which it was based upon, are both fundamentally flawed from the first step, and therefore doomed to languish in eternal failure. Launching into his lesson with practised serenity, young Gen began revealing truths Goujian had never even considered before. Imperial success rates of Core Formation stands at a pitiful one percent, while most Defiled succeed before their eighth birthday, so long as they survive long enough to reach it. Why? Because Balance, True Balance, is not about restraining emotion, but embracing it, and the Defiled have mastered this beautifully. The tiger beneath my feet also understands this well, a born killer who draws strength from his prey and ekes out a solitary existence. It will fight, mate, and kill whenever necessary and think nothing of it, but it will not hunt when sated nor will it mate when circumstances are not right. It adheres to its instincts, and for this reason, it has access to more power than most humans will ever wield, as will every other tiger in existence. If humanity wishes to rise above the beasts, then we must learn to embrace our true nature, noble courage and base desire alike. Only then will they be set upon the True Path. Why, under the right conditions, a base commoner can even progress from Core Formation to Domain Development in a matter of heartbeats, so long as the subject wholeheartedly accepts the Truth.
Raising a metallic hand, Gen flourished his bladed fingers with a smile. The flaws goes deeper. Take your Spiritual Weapons for example. Forged from Spiritual Hearts formed by beast or nature, the Imperials plunder these natural treasures for their own use, and in order to do so, must bind them as one binds a slave. One with the Weapon? How can you become one with something which you have stolen? Beasts understand this and forge their bodies into weapons, and thus they are one by nature without any binding required. What of One with the World? How many Imperial Martial Warriors ever reach this milestone along the Martial Path? Develop a Domain and you join the ranks of the true elite, one percent of one percent of humanity, that is one in ten-thousand. While there are a fair number of them in the Empire due to its prodigious population, these elites are a piddling portion of the whole, which is only to be expected. How can you expect to become One with the World while suppressing ones own nature? That is not True Oneness, and any power derived from such is built upon a lie. Sneering at Vyakhya, Gen looked the monk up and down and said, Youve touched upon the Truth, but still you chant your Sutras and flagellate your flesh to repress your true selves, even going so far as to mutilate your bodies to repress your natural desires. You live a lie, so how can any Oneness you find be True? Shaking his head, Gen concluded, As I said, difficulty has no correlation with value. Anything worth doing, must be done, and sometimes, a task is difficult simply because you are going about it the wrong way. Embrace the Truth laid out before you, and join me on my crusade to better humanity as a whole. Many will fail, but success... success is inevitable.
By now, Goujian wouldve been a fool not to realize Gen was utilizing his Talent of Oration, proclaiming his message to every Chosen within this conquering army who cheered for their young hero and leader. Vyakhya and the other monks were all poleaxed with shock, unable to contain their agitation as they argued silently amongst themselves. Many, including Eyebrows, were looking at Gen with near reverence and Goujian feared the gangly young monk was lost to him now, as were most of these exiles from the Brotherhood. It mattered not though, for Goujian was a man who devoted his life to uncovering the Truth, and it was clear to him now.
After his setback in Sinuji, Gen had stumbled across the Truth, but Goujians Imperial-tinted preconceptions had blinded him to the facts. This young hero had blossomed into the man Goujian had hoped he would become, the Divine Son of Heaven Shen Tian Zi, and therefore, deserving of his unwavering loyalty.
From now, until the day the Heavens demanded his death, even if by Shen Tian Zis own hand.
Chapter Meme 1
Chapter Meme 2
Chapter 521One million.Ten one-hundred thousands, or a hundred ten-thousands, Goujian understood the definition well enough, but he never truly appreciated just how vast and unfathomable this innocuous number really was. Having been a citizen of the Empire all his life, hed seen and heard it used in a wide variety of situations, from the earnings reports of extensive merchant houses to census records and population distribution throughout the provinces. Several cities housed tens of millions of citizens within their walls, so massively spread out it might take days to travel from one end to the next, while even a noble family of middling status might earn a million gold coins in a year. Tens of millions of gold worth of goods passed through the gates of Sanshu every month, while a prominent Eastern Noble such as the Legate was liable to spend a similar amount each year maintaining their various holdings throughout the Provinces.No one could argue that a colossal disparity didnt exist between commoner and Martial Warrior, but an even greater gulf stood between Martial Warriors and the true nobility of the Empire, those lucky few born into the ruling elites. Despite knowing sizable inequality existed, Goujian never truly understood how staggering the imbalance was, not until he watched a million strong army of Chosen and Defiled gather outside the gates of the Western city of ShiBei, the first step on their journey to overthrow the dog Emperor and bring about a new era of change and prosperity. So excited to take part in such a momentous occasion, hed woken well before the break of dawn and perched atop the city gates to watch the soldiers gather in their camps, but hours passed and the lines of soldiers still stretched well past the horizon in every direction except east. It took three days to assemble this massive army on the fields of ShiBei, and another two to ensure everyone was equipped, supplied, and understood their marching orders, for a force of this magnitude was a clumsy, bumbling beast prone to turn upon itself if not kept on a tight leash.And when they finally set out, Goujian stood on those city gates once more and discovered that the entire army didnt even fit in his field of view, stretching well beyond his peripheral vision as these heroes marched east to raze and conquer.This, more than anything showed Goujian just how vast a number one million represented, and this was merely one million warriors, a pittance when translated into gold coins or citizens of the Empire. What might two million be like? Or ten? There were a hundred and fifty thousand Chosen of Heaven in the Western Province, thrice what they fielded almost five months ago in Sinuji and each one armed with a Heaven-blessed Spiritual Weapon and clad in heavy armour of mundane or Runic variety. The full industrial force of the Western province had gone into equipping these conquering heroes, and every available one flocked to ShiBei to form the core of this unstoppable army. The Defiled tribesmen under the Uniters thumb were numerous enough to make up the remaining numbers, and while not as formidable as the Chosen, they were plentiful and expendable, especially while mounted on their ferocious garos and gajashias, a dire threat in their own right.Goujian disliked allying himself with the Defiled, but they were a temporary stopgap measure to buy time for more Chosen to be swayed, trained, and armed. More joined their ranks with each passing day, but the numbers were woefully lacking compared to what they might have been if young Gen utilized his Talent of Oration more often to bring lost souls into the light.Mounted on a gajashia of his own, Goujian stifled a sigh as he studied the disgraceful disappointment out of the corner of his eye. Unwilling to waste the effort necessary to sit upright and ride, Gen lazed within his sizable litter with the silken curtains parted while he indulged with his playthings. As if this wasnt enough, hed enlisted twelve identical, armoured Transcendents as litter bearers, and they marched in perfect lockstep while keeping the vehicle perfectly level at all times. Goujians past self must have been blind to hold such high hopes for the boy, but the Heavens were just and had opened his eyes to the Truth: the boy was merely a stepping stone, a tool to be used to help overthrow the dog Emperor, and after serving his purpose, Gen will have outlived his usefulness. The same held true for the shadowy Uniter, but in recent times, Goujian noticed theyd formed some sort of unbreakable alliance and unconditionally supported one another no matter the issue, hence Gens sizable Transcendent retinue which included the twelve litter bearers and twice that in unique Transcendent escorts, any one of which was more than a match for Goujian himself. A dangerous turn of events, since hed planned on turning Gen and the Uniter against one another after the dog Emperor was dealt with, but now it seemed like his plans would have to change lest his death coincide with his hated enemys.Thankfully, Heaven provided for its Chosen and brought Goujian newer, more reliable allies in the form of forsaken monks from the Penitent Brotherhood. Dissatisfied with their Abbots recent directives, this band of separatists had been lured over by the Uniter, but it seemed the world outside their monasteries was not what theyd expected. Instead of a land soon to be ravaged by Anathema, they found the Uniter preparing his armies to ride out and cover the Empire in blood and ashes, which Goujian presumed was different from what hed promised. A gloomy and opinionated lot, they followed young Gen out of lack of better options, but if they were all like his dearly departed Teacher, whose name he only recently learned was Mahakala, then these monks were a force to be reckoned with, one he could not leave in the young wastrels hands.Craning his neck up at their leader, he subtly called attention to Gens vulgar indolence and Sent, You see now, yes? The boy speaks of walking the razors edge, yet he spends his time lost in a haze of lustful indulgence. His words ring true, but his actions betray him as one who has fallen too far to trust.Seated atop a hulking, ferocious tiger which towered above horse and gajashia alike, Vyakhyas knees were level with Goujians eyes which meant the aged ascetic couldnt see Gens wanton behaviour for himself, but there were plenty of other grey-robed monks about whom he trusted to pass word along. Thirty-one had absconded with Vyakhya, and like him, most were old and grey, but there were a handful of younger faces amongst the crowd whom Goujian concentrated on most. Young meant impressionable, and so long as the Brotherhoods beliefs were not too ingrained in their bones, then he was confident he could sway them to his cause, or at the very least make use of them in some way. The most promising of the bunch was a tall, fresh-faced monk with the thickest eyebrows Goujian had ever seen, though the young man refused to share his name like Vyakhya had. Absurd is what it was, remaining nameless in hopes of avoiding the pitfalls of pride, but such were the Brotherhoods ways, and Goujian had taken to mentally calling the young monk Eyebrows.Read latest chapters at novelbin.com OnlyAfter a long pause to verify Goujians statement, Vyakhya smoothed his long, white eyebrows and stroked his beard in thought, his face impassive but actions a clear sign of inner turmoil. Eh-Mi-Tuo-Fuo, Vyakhya Sent, and Goujian found a measure of comfort from the tradition Dharmic greeting, as if his portly old Teacher were here before him instead of this wizened stranger. This was not what... the Uniter promised, not the peace and deliverance he spoke of. This monk and his brothers seceded from the Brotherhood over differing beliefs and desire for a life of non-interference, but now we find ourselves even further from our goal. Shaking his head, Vyakhya added, In fact, to this monks great regret, it appears the Uniter and the Abbot agree on many points and really only differ in their methods. The eternal soul above all else, the Abbot was fond of saying, even to the point of overlooking Mahakalas worldly proclivities.Exiting from his litter for the first time in days, Gen leapt out the window and glided weightlessly to the tigers back. His presence elicited a bone-shaking growl from the ferocious beast, but a single glance from the boy was enough to quiet it. Looking resplendent in his Runic armour, the metal had fused so seamlessly to Gen's flesh that it was difficult to tell where one began and the other ended, and his strength had progressed by leaps and bounds in the short months since. A true Dragon among men, young Gen had finally grown into his power, and while Goujian would have once puffed his chest with pride, he knew he had nothing to do with the young heros progress and even feared his growing prowess. With Falling Rain crippled, no young Talent could match this peerless warrior, one whod embraced the Truth and had seemingly been blessed by the Heavens as its one, True Son.Perhaps Goujian had erred in turning against young Gen, but it was too late now. Their bonds had been severed, but their goals remained aligned, at least until they toppled the Emperor from his Jade Throne.And afterwards? Well... Goujian would survive, for that was what he did.With head held high and hands clasped behind his back, Gen looked the very picture of a patient scholar lecturing a difficult student as he dismantled the Brotherhoods logic with casual ease. Though your predecessors uncovered the Imperial lies of Balance, their revised methods were still based upon a single erroneous assumption, one which has plagued the Brotherhood since its inception. Imperial Balance is a lie, so why use it as the foundation of a new Path? Tell me, what is the single greatest barrier between humanity and Divinity? True Divinity mind you, ascension to Nirvana or whatever else you might call it, not the false Divinity claimed by Ancestral Beasts and other pretenders who still walk amongst us.The final step, Goujian answered, the words torn from his mouth in his thirst for knowledge. Shattering the Void. Not much is known, except few survive the process.Incorrect. Grinning to take away the sting of the correction, Gen explained, A monumental hurdle, but considering how few ever come close enough to approach it, hardly the greatest barrier to Divinity. No, like the raindrops which cover the earth, so too must humanity approach this final hurdle if we are to have any hope of success. For this reason, the greatest barrier is not the final step, but the first: Core Formation. More Martial Warriors in existence means more rolls of the dice, and eventually, they will fall in humanitys favour, but the Brotherhoods system of beliefs, and the Imperials which it was based upon, are both fundamentally flawed from the first step, and therefore doomed to languish in eternal failure. Launching into his lesson with practised serenity, young Gen began revealing truths Goujian had never even considered before. Imperial success rates of Core Formation stands at a pitiful one percent, while most Defiled succeed before their eighth birthday, so long as they survive long enough to reach it. Why? Because Balance, True Balance, is not about restraining emotion, but embracing it, and the Defiled have mastered this beautifully. The tiger beneath my feet also understands this well, a born killer who draws strength from his prey and ekes out a solitary existence. It will fight, mate, and kill whenever necessary and think nothing of it, but it will not hunt when sated nor will it mate when circumstances are not right. It adheres to its instincts, and for this reason, it has access to more power than most humans will ever wield, as will every other tiger in existence. If humanity wishes to rise above the beasts, then we must learn to embrace our true nature, noble courage and base desire alike. Only then will they be set upon the True Path. Why, under the right conditions, a base commoner can even progress from Core Formation to Domain Development in a matter of heartbeats, so long as the subject wholeheartedly accepts the Truth.Raising a metallic hand, Gen flourished his bladed fingers with a smile. The flaws goes deeper. Take your Spiritual Weapons for example. Forged from Spiritual Hearts formed by beast or nature, the Imperials plunder these natural treasures for their own use, and in order to do so, must bind them as one binds a slave. One with the Weapon? How can you become one with something which you have stolen? Beasts understand this and forge their bodies into weapons, and thus they are one by nature without any binding required. What of One with the World? How many Imperial Martial Warriors ever reach this milestone along the Martial Path? Develop a Domain and you join the ranks of the true elite, one percent of one percent of humanity, that is one in ten-thousand. While there are a fair number of them in the Empire due to its prodigious population, these elites are a piddling portion of the whole, which is only to be expected. How can you expect to become One with the World while suppressing ones own nature? That is not True Oneness, and any power derived from such is built upon a lie. Sneering at Vyakhya, Gen looked the monk up and down and said, Youve touched upon the Truth, but still you chant your Sutras and flagellate your flesh to repress your true selves, even going so far as to mutilate your bodies to repress your natural desires. You live a lie, so how can any Oneness you find be True? Shaking his head, Gen concluded, As I said, difficulty has no correlation with value. Anything worth doing, must be done, and sometimes, a task is difficult simply because you are going about it the wrong way. Embrace the Truth laid out before you, and join me on my crusade to better humanity as a whole. Many will fail, but success... success is inevitable.By now, Goujian wouldve been a fool not to realize Gen was utilizing his Talent of Oration, proclaiming his message to every Chosen within this conquering army who cheered for their young hero and leader. Vyakhya and the other monks were all poleaxed with shock, unable to contain their agitation as they argued silently amongst themselves. Many, including Eyebrows, were looking at Gen with near reverence and Goujian feared the gangly young monk was lost to him now, as were most of these exiles from the Brotherhood. It mattered not though, for Goujian was a man who devoted his life to uncovering the Truth, and it was clear to him now.After his setback in Sinuji, Gen had stumbled across the Truth, but Goujians Imperial-tinted preconceptions had blinded him to the facts. This young hero had blossomed into the man Goujian had hoped he would become, the Divine Son of Heaven Shen Tian Zi, and therefore, deserving of his unwavering loyalty.From now, until the day the Heavens demanded his death, even if by Shen Tian Zis own hand.Chapter Meme 1Chapter Meme 2
