The judge took a deep breath and nodded. “Indeed, what you say is true. If Kalidu did the right thing, he would attain wealth and leadership, and in return, we would gain control over the towns and whatever else we desired. As time passes, the inhabitants of these towns will gradually forget their previous rulers, who abandoned them in times of chaos. Even if these rulers were to return, the townspeople might not accept them back. Additionally, your plan of appointing new leaders to govern the towns will give these individuals a taste of power and responsibility. Perhaps the people you select are not of noble birth or are even impoverished, but once they are appointed as leaders, they will owe their newfound status to us.
Because of this, the leaders we choose must recognize that their authority comes directly from us. They must understand that without our support, someone else could easily take their place. This realization will ensure their loyalty and obedience to us. Consequently, the leaders we select will be fully compliant and dedicated to our cause.
However, there is a significant concern. Since you propose that Kalidu will be the one to select the individuals who will rule the towns, don’t you think we are granting him too much power? If Kalidu is responsible for their selection, these leaders might pledge their full allegiance to him rather than to us, thereby weakening our control. Furthermore, there is a risk that Kalidu could exploit his position to secretly collect wealth from these leaders or to propose candidates who are loyal to him rather than to us.”
Armad smiled and replied, “Yes, you are right; there is a potential risk. However, that is precisely why I asked Kalidu to propose at least 30 names of potential leaders for each town, along with their complete details. We will not blindly accept anyone he proposes. Instead, Kalidu will provide a list of candidates, and we will meticulously evaluate each one. You, Judge, and you, Nusi, will have the responsibility to thoroughly investigate these individuals. We can deploy our agents or utilize the deva we stationed in the towns to gather information about these candidates. It will be essential to verify their backgrounds, their connections to former rulers, and their overall loyalty.
Our primary objective is to ensure that the individuals we appoint are unquestionably loyal to us. Ideally, we should select relatively unknown individuals but demonstrate the capability and willingness to perform the duties we assign them. Furthermore, another strategy we will employ is that after selecting the candidates to govern the towns, we will not allow Kalidu to conduct their coronation. Instead, we will send one of you to perform the coronation ceremony.
Additionally, the deva we left in each town will play a crucial role in safeguarding the newly appointed leaders until they are capable of defending themselves. We must also ensure that all the people surrounding the new leaders are our trusted allies. This way, even if a leader were to disobey us, the people around him would report his actions to us, and the deva would take swift action. By implementing these measures, we will maintain control over the towns and stay informed about their incomes and expenditures.
In summary, while there are risks associated with giving Kalidu the power to propose candidates, we have put in place multiple layers of oversight and control to mitigate these risks. By carefully selecting and monitoring the new leaders, and ensuring that our trusted agents are embedded within their administrations, we can maintain our dominance and ensure that the towns remain loyal to us.”
Nusi hadn’t previously considered the full implications of the situation. However, as she listened to the discussion between Armad and the judge, she began to understand the reason for allowing Kalidu to take care of the towns.
“My Lord, does this mean you are going to assign Kalidu to rule the town of King Konfot? Don’t you think that since King Konfot is still alive, he should continue ruling his town? Perhaps now that he has surrendered, he regrets what he did against us.”
“No, King Konfot will remain detained. Once the situation in the town stabilizes, we will remove him and his family and bring them here. We will provide him with a small house and some farmland to manage. While we will allow him to continue living, he has lost his leadership. Allowing him to stay in his town would undermine Kalidu’s ability to rule peacefully. Moreover, letting him remain there would cause ongoing issues for us. He still has supporters in the town, and because of that, we cannot let him continue living there, let alone rule it. Do you think he would obey us peacefully? Even Kalidu, whom I assigned to rule, has his reasons. I appreciate Kalidu’s leadership qualities, which is why I chose him. We need someone with foresight, even if his allegiance is not complete. If his loyalty surpasses 50%, we can accept it and then look for those with full allegiance to rule the other towns.”
The small council quickly reached a consensus on how they would distribute leadership in the newly conquered towns.
Since Nusi left the towns under Armad’s orders, Kalidu had already begun his work. Within two weeks, Kalidu reported the names of potential leaders for Armad to choose from to govern the towns. He was instructed to provide at least 30 names from each town, but in no case did he provide fewer than 50 names. Each entry included the person’s full name, address, family details, and current location. Reviewing the list, Armad felt confident that he had made the right decision in choosing Kalidu. It seemed as though Kalidu knew everything about the towns as if he lived in all of them simultaneously. If someone else had been tasked with this job, it would have taken at least a year to complete. However, Kalidu accomplished it in just two weeks, almost as if he had been anticipating the request and was ready to provide the information immediately.
What drew Armad’s attention in the list that Kalidu provided was the conspicuous absence of his name among the list of candidates that Kalidu had proposed for governing the town of King Konfot. This was particularly puzzling because Armad had explicitly instructed Kalidu that he would select one person from the list to rule the town. The omission of his name raised questions in Armad’s mind. Does Kalidu not want to ascend to kingship? Armad merely smiled, feeling a sense of calm confidence. He believed he had already deciphered whatever subtle maneuvering or trickery Kalidu was attempting. However, his focus was not on this immediate issue. He decided to forward the list to Nusi and the judge, delegating the matter for the time being.
After addressing the list, Armad stood up and made his way to the training ground within his chamber. The vast space was bustling with activity; around 100 soldiers were rigorously engaged in various exercises. Some were jumping, others were striking metal targets, and yet others were immersed in different training routines. Each of these soldiers was an elite cultivator, having reached the peak core formation level. They were the very individuals Armad had specifically requested from the judge three days prior. These soldiers were not just subordinates; they were his trusted allies. They had stood by him through thick and thin, despite the ridicule Armad often faced and despite his siblings’ attempts to lure them away. Many of these soldiers had been inherited from his mother after her passing, further solidifying their bond. The depth of trust between Armad and his soldiers was immeasurable. Even recently, when the king’s legion rebelled against him, these soldiers remained steadfast and refused to join the rebellion. Their loyalty was unwavering, rooted deeply in their allegiance to the House of Armad Wilberforce, despite Armad being regarded as the least significant among the empire’s progeny. Armad sensed that perhaps now was the opportune moment to reward them for their undying loyalty and obedience.
As Armad entered the training ground, he immediately ordered the doors and windows to be closed. The room plunged into darkness momentarily, but several soldiers quickly materialized glowing stones and affixed them to the walls, bathing the room in a soft, ambient light. The soldiers formed 13 orderly lines, each consisting of 10 individuals, all standing at attention and looking at Armad with unwavering obedience. Armad began to scrutinize each of their faces. He knew every one of them intimately, not just by name but also by their personal stories and backgrounds, as well as he knew his hand. This battalion had protected him numerous times, often at great personal risk. Armad understood that in this world, there was little he could do to adequately repay them for their loyalty and sacrifices. The truth was, that the person who stands by you when you have nothing is the one who truly loves you. Armad felt a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility towards these soldiers, knowing that their unwavering support was one of his greatest assets.
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Armad made a simple gesture with his hand, and in an instant, a medium-sized bag filled with pills materialized before him. He conjured this bag directly from his core. The bag was brimming with approximately 550 pills.
During the days that had passed, Armad did not remain idle. He was relentless in his pursuit of strength and efficiency. Apart from consuming pills that enhanced his muscles, now augmented by an impressive 5%, he devoted a significant amount of time and energy to producing more pills. These pills were crucial not only for his development but also for the growth of his battalion. He had almost depleted the stock of medicinal plants brought to him from King Konfot’s town and was on the verge of using the plants gathered by Nusi from the towns they had conquered. This relentless production effort resulted in a substantial stockpile of pills, particularly those that boosted cultivation.
Armad estimated that with over 20,000 pills at his disposal, each of his 130 soldiers could receive at least 550. These soldiers were not ordinary; each had been at the peak of the core formation level for the last five years, boasting cultivation years of 9,999 years. They were on the cusp of a significant breakthrough, needing only one more year of cultivation to reach the pre-deva level. This made them the most powerful core formation cultivators in his battalion. The rest of his forces were at various stages of core formation, including the second, fifth, and seventh stages.
Within Armad’s battalion, there was a select group of elite soldiers who had attained the deva level, a feat achieved by only 20 individuals, including Commander Silaini. The current number of devas in the town was limited to six, as Commander Silaini had taken some devas with him to capture Commander Kisa, while five devas remained stationed in the towns they had conquered. Additionally, some devas were positioned strategically outside the town, on the hills, to oversee and manage the influx of approaching people.
Armad was acutely aware of the imminent threat posed by their neighboring forces. This threat underscored the urgent need to bolster the number of devas in his battalion. Achieving the deva level from the peak of core formation has been a monumental challenge since the world’s creation. It was a widely held belief that among 100 individuals who reached the peak of core formation, scarcely five would ascend to the deva level. The majority of those who reached the peak of core formation would spend the rest of their lives without ever achieving deva status.
The process of reaching the deva level was grueling and fraught with obstacles. It required not only exceptional talent and unwavering dedication but also access to rare resources and profound knowledge of cultivation techniques. Armad’s strategic foresight and relentless pursuit of resources played a crucial role in preparing his battalion for this difficult transition. He understood that increasing the number of devas within his ranks would significantly enhance their strength and strategic advantage, especially in the face of impending conflict.
On this momentous day, Armad gathered his soldiers and presented them with a collection of mysterious pills provided by the system. These pills were intended to help them reach the first stage of Deva. Reaching the first stage of Deva, while challenging, is not considered extraordinarily difficult as a transition from the peak of core formation to pre pre-Deva level. This is why the initial stages, pre, first, second, and third, are often collectively referred to as the “Deva.” Once someone reaches the pre-Deva stage, it is generally believed that with enough time and the right cultivation substances, they will eventually progress to the first stage of Deva. The most arduous part of this journey is the transition from core formation level to deva level, which is from 9,999 to 10,000 years. Armad was curious to see how many of his soldiers would reach the first stage of Deva and how many would achieve the pre-Deva stage with the assistance of the 550 pills he was distributing.
Armad took a deep, steadying breath. Reflecting on the previous battles, he realized that these soldiers had never encountered these particular pills before; they had only been given energy-boosting pills. His attention had been predominantly focused on the Devas within the battalion, not the regular soldiers. The soldiers had never had the opportunity to engage in discussions with Armad, let alone receive such valuable pills. Even the energy-boosting pills they received were thanks to Nusi’s unique skill of materializing trees. However, now, Armad had the pills ready and available for them.
Armad raised his hand and gestured for one of the soldiers to step forward. The soldier approached Armad, knelt, and reverently received the bag of pills. As he opened the bag, a rich, heavy aroma permeated the room, which was tightly sealed, preventing any outside air from entering. Remarkably, the mere aroma of the pills caused the soldiers’ cultivation energy to start circulating within their bodies as if the scent alone was potent enough to enhance their cultivation.
Observing the soldiers’ cultivation energy circulating within their bodies filled Armad’s heart with joy and satisfaction. He was now confident that, just as the pills had been effective on him, they would be equally effective on others. To further test their efficacy, Armad opened another bag of pills. To his astonishment, two of the soldiers immediately sat down, closed their eyes, and began circulating their cultivation energy more intensely within their bodies.
Without taking much time, a sound of explosions akin to the breaking of bones began emanating from the soldiers’ bodies. This indicated that merely sensing the aroma of the pills was inciting them to break through the barrier that had hitherto prevented them from reaching the pre-deva level. Acting swiftly, Armad moved towards them, opened their mouths, and placed several pills inside. Instantly, the pills slid down their throats and melted in their stomachs.
As everyone watched in awe, the soldiers’ bodies started to shiver violently. Their cultivation emitted an ominous sound, and a heavy, palpable cultivation aura began to fill the room. In an instant, the soldiers shattered the barrier that had kept them from advancing to the deva level, leaping from the peak of the core formation stage to the pre-deva stage. Following this transformation, the two soldiers quickly stood up and knelt before Armad, indicating their deep respect and gratitude.
Armad smiled, realizing that the pills’ effects far exceeded his initial expectations. Every time he thought he had discovered the limits of these pills, they would surprise him with yet another extraordinary effect. Armad handed each soldier a bag of pills and instructed them to continue refining their cultivation. He emphasized that once they were certain their cultivation had stabilized at the pre-deva level, they should use the pills again to advance to the first stage of the deva level.
Armad was acutely aware that the more than 100 devas in the neighboring region were not merely pre-devas; they were true devas, having progressed beyond the initial stage of deva. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he was determined to ensure that his 130 soldiers would reach and surpass such heights.
Upon seeing the pills, all the soldiers in the room became intensely interested. Their greatest ambition was to reach the esteemed level of Deva. They knew that achieving this level would not only significantly extend their lifespan but also enhance the power and effectiveness of their attacks. The very essence of nature itself would begin to support them. Additionally, their ability to soar through the skies would be greatly amplified. Even a collective strength of core formation cultivators, numbering 130, knew that they were acutely aware that they could not defeat a person who had reached even the first stage of Deva. In the first stage Deva could effortlessly fly above the clouds and engage in combat, a feat beyond core formation cultivators' capabilities, as they could only fly but not ascend to such heights. The opportunity to attain the status of Deva through these pills was, therefore, immensely appealing.
However, some soldiers harbored doubts, suspecting that the pills might carry harmful side effects. Despite their trust in their leader, they were well aware that pills capable of accelerating cultivation so rapidly often came with severe risks. The Wilberforce Empire had banned certain types of pills that could elevate an individual from the initial stage of core formation to the level of Deva, but with a deadly catch: once the pill’s effects wore off, the individual would inevitably collapse and die. These pills essentially drained all the vitality and essence from a person’s body in one swift surge. This underlying fear was evident in the eyes of some soldiers. They had unwavering faith in their leader, but the intrinsic human fear of death and the inherent love for life were powerful forces that couldn’t be easily dismissed.
As they observed their comrades accepting the pills and beginning to swallow them, even the most hesitant soldiers decided to follow suit. They each collected their allotted pills and commenced their meditation.
Armad did not remain idle during this time. He too began his meditation. This was a shared journey of meditation, and none of them would emerge from it until they had achieved the transformation they sought. Even if these initial pills were insufficient to elevate them all to the status of Deva, Armad was prepared to provide additional pills from the stash he had given them earlier.
Armad also sat down and began consuming pills similar to those he had distributed to his soldiers. He was determined not to allow his soldiers to surpass him in reaching the level of Deva. As soon as he started ingesting the pills, his cultivation began to rise rapidly. His cultivation level, which had been stuck at 10,450 years, surged to 10,800 years, and then to 10,900 years in a remarkably short period. Despite this rapid progress, he encountered a temporary ceiling at 10,999 years. However, Armad did not remain stuck for long. With sheer determination and the aid of the potent pills, he broke through this barrier and successfully reached the first stage of Deva, achieving a cultivation level of 11,000 years.