Indeed, Armad is certain that if she were to go the work, the number of pills they produce would plummet to fewer than 300. He wouldn’t be surprised if they fail to produce even a hundred pills that are designed to increase muscle toughness. During this time, Armand has managed to enhance his muscle toughness by up to 20%. Conversely, Nusi, who joined the endeavor after him, has only been able to increase her muscle toughness by a mere 3%. Both of them, however, have achieved 100% in enhancing the toughness of their skin. Despite Armad’s perception that he has only reached 99%, the system confirms that he has indeed reached the full 100%.
Once Armad reaches 100% in increasing his muscle toughness, the system will grant him the capability to start producing pills that boost the toughness of his bones. Following this milestone, once he achieves 100% bone toughness, the system will permit him to begin enhancing the power of his blood.
Armad comprehends the critical importance of each pill that increases the toughness of specific parts of his body. The primary benefit of increasing muscle toughness lies in the protection it affords his internal organs, such as his heart and intestines. Previously, attacks that did not penetrate his skin could still cause damage to his internal organs. However, with tougher muscles, his organs are now better shielded, even if his skin is compromised.
He realizes that even if he is subjected to substantial impacts, his internal organs will remain unscathed. This is a stark contrast to the past when only his skin toughness was increased, leaving his internal organs and muscles vulnerable. This newfound resilience underscores the significance of enhancing muscle toughness, and every day he feels this power growing within him.
Nusi has also commenced increasing the toughness of her muscles. Nevertheless, the problem of the pill shortage persists. Armad ponders over this issue, recognizing that without a sufficient supply of these critical pills, their progress could be severely hindered.
“We will go together. Because of that, since you are looking for 50 devas, now you will only need to find 49. I am quite sure that I have also reached the level of deva and fulfilled the requirements you need,” Armad said with a confident smile, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Nusi frowned slightly, a shadow of doubt crossing her face. In her mind, she thought, If you haven’t reached the level of deva, who will? However, she chose to keep her thoughts to herself.
“Do you know Ai?” Armad asked, his tone casual yet probing.
Nusi nodded her head. How could anyone not know Ai? She was a prominent figure among the common people in Armad’s battalion. Ai’s claim to fame was her groundbreaking discovery of the importance of energy-boosting herbs in the process of Awakening cores. This revelation had significantly bolstered their forces. Ai, alongside Sahau, was in charge of the new battalion of Armad soldiers, which had now swelled to over 4,000 troops. This impressive number far exceeded the original contingent that had marched into the town of Tiriba.
The entire army, comprising 4,000 soldiers, had successfully awakened their cores. Among them, some had inherited remarkable cultivation years, while others had even awakened their demons. Yet, finding someone who possessed a cultivation of 100 years and an awakened demon among them was exceedingly rare. Ai was one of those exceptional individuals. Not only had she amassed more than 100 cultivation years, but she had also awakened a demon.
Her demon was unique, utilizing a mysterious black substance hotter than any fire known to Nusi. This substance could incinerate anything within moments, making Ai’s demon an incredibly formidable presence on the battlefield. Ai was still in the process of mastering this volatile substance, which was unlike any common element used by other demons. Her journey to control this powerful force was ongoing, but the mere existence of such a substance within her demon was awe-inspiring.
The circumstances of Ai’s awakening were equally extraordinary. She had awakened her core amidst the chaos of battle, harnessing sufficient cultivation to enslave her demon. This feat alone set her apart from many others. Ai’s background was humble; her parents were common folk, not belonging to any major tribe. They were among those whose tribes had been lost to history, rising from obscurity as common people.
In this era, it is widely known that only tribes with significant power and influence allow their members to append the tribe’s name to their own. This custom serves as a mark of prestige and honor. Individuals from less powerful tribes can only use their first name followed by their father’s name, and if they wish, they might add their grandfather’s name, but never the tribe’s name. It is common to hear names like Wilberforce, Nara, Kilzanki, or Shishiri, which signify belonging to powerful and respected tribes.
Ai, however, hails from a tribe that lacks such power and influence. Despite this, she has a remarkable ability that sets her apart—an ability so extraordinary that even those from the most powerful tribes find it hard to match. This unique talent has made Ai’s name known and respected throughout the town. People speak of her with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.
Nusi has noticed Ai’s rising prominence. However, her interest in Ai goes beyond the girl’s extraordinary abilities. Recent reports have brought Ai’s actions to Nusi’s attention, particularly her frequent visits to Prince Armad. For the past two months, ever since the coronation of the new king, Ai has been seen visiting the prince every single day. These visits occur at varying times—sometimes early in the morning, and sometimes late at night.
It is these nighttime visits that particularly unsettle Nusi. She finds herself worried and confused, unable to pinpoint the exact reason for her concern. The secrecy and odd timing of these visits lead her to suspect that something significant is taking place. Despite her worries, Nusi has found no evidence of a special relationship between Prince Armad and Ai. Her mind is consumed with questions: Why does Ai visit the prince so often? What business could she possibly have with him that requires such frequent and varied timing?
As Nusi’s thoughts spiral, she begins to question her motivations. Why does she care so much about Ai’s interactions with Prince Armad? Even if there is a special relationship between them, why should it concern her? These questions plague her mind, and she struggles to find a satisfactory answer. Realizing that her obsession with Ai’s actions is becoming unhealthy, Nusi decides to take a step back. She instructs her people to stop monitoring Ai’s visits and to stop reporting any unusual activities. However, she resolves to focus on her duties and responsibilities, trying to push thoughts of Ai and the prince to the back of her mind.
“She advanced to the level of Deva,” Armad stated, cutting through Nusi’s thoughts. She had nodded absently, her mind elsewhere, contemplating matters he deemed irrelevant to their current discussion. He noticed her distraction but chose not to concern himself with whatever preoccupied her.
Nusi frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion and perhaps a hint of frustration. After a moment, her expression cleared as understanding dawned on her. This situation was all too familiar. When she first encountered Armad, her cultivation was only at 30 years. However, under his exceptional guidance, her cultivation had been elevated to the pre-Deva level. For Armad, this was a trivial task. If he concentrated his efforts and temporarily sacrificed his power growth, he could elevate the cultivation level of an ordinary person to that level with relative ease, thanks to the extraordinary nature of his skills.
Armad continued, “Because of this, you will only need 48 Devas. Since she has also reached the level of deva we effectively fill the space of two Devas. Additionally, the toughness of her skin has already surpassed 50%. Soon, she will reach a stage where her muscles’ toughness will begin to increase. From that point onward, the demand for pills that enhance muscle toughness will significantly rise. Therefore, we cannot afford any time for leisure or rest.”
Upon hearing this, she frowned again. Did that mean all the pills that increase the toughness of skin they were produced were given to her by Prince Armad? The realization was startling. After some time, she nodded slowly, absorbing the implications. Indeed, Prince Armad needed warriors and Ai was one of the few who had fulfilled all the requirements.
First and foremost, it was Prince Armad who had elevated her from the very beginning. She had known no one but him in the cultivation world. Her life had been remarkably smooth, devoid of the hardships most cultivators faced. She had never known suffering because everything had been provided to her by him. From the time she was a baby to the point where she grew up and reached the level of deva, everything was handed to her on a silver platter.
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This unbroken chain of support meant that her loyalty to Prince Armad should be unwavering. She owed him everything. Unless she was a betrayer at heart, she could never betray the town of Tiriba. Her loyalty was meant to be steadfast from now until the end of her life.
Nusi, who had been closely observing Ai, believed she would never betray the prince. Even when Ai had no cultivation power and the town had turned its back on Prince Armad, she stood by him. Despite being a woman in a predominantly male battleground, she went to war for the prince. At a time when Prince Armad had no victories to his name and no apparent power to protect her, Ai still led a battalion of 500 people. They fought valiantly against the wild tribes, demonstrating her unyielding loyalty.
Now, with Prince Armad’s capabilities recognized by all and his substantial help to her, Nusi was confident that Ai’s loyalty would not waver. The town of Tiriba had made a wise decision in choosing Ai to be the second woman to follow this path of physical empowerment.
“Consider it done, Your Highness. I believe we should set out in the evening. I will make arrangements to gather the 48 devas we need. Where would you like us to meet?”
“Let us convene outside the town,” Armad replied decisively.
Without delay, Armad penned the meeting location on a piece of parchment and handed it to her. The paper, marked with precise instructions, was a small yet significant gesture of the planning involved. After transferring the information, they resumed their discussion about their respective cultivation powers. The conversation, rich in detail and strategy, continued until they went their separate ways.
Armad sighed heavily. While various developments occurred within the town’s walls, his focus remained unwavering. Unlike the judge, who directed his efforts towards expanding their companies, Armad was dedicated to advancing his strength. He refused to be idle, continually pushing the boundaries of his power. His cultivation points had seen an increase, though the progress was modest. His cultivation age was still relatively young, amounting to 13,000 years plus a few additional hundred years. This placed him somewhere between the second and third ranks within the first stage of deva.
Despite the relatively slow progression in his cultivation rank, Armad had made notable strides in accumulating his pol string. He was approaching a significant milestone, currently holding 99 pol strings. His physical development was also noteworthy; his muscle toughness had improved to 28 percent.
In recent times, Armad had been allocating all the cultivation pills intended for his personal use to Ai. He insisted that she consume them in his presence, a measure to ensure that she adhered to the regimen without deviation. Typically, when Ai visited him at night, she would stay until the following day, spending the entire duration consuming the pills under his watchful eye. If she arrived early in the morning, she would remain until late evening, diligently following the consumption routine.
What Armad had kept confidential from Nusi was that Ai’s cultivation had already reached an impressive 19,999 years. She was on the brink of a breakthrough, needing only to overcome the final barrier before advancing to the second stage of deva.
Nusi has already advanced to the second stage of deva and boasts an impressive 24,000 years of cultivation. Despite this, Ai exhibits a faster progression. In all likelihood, the way Ai’s body assimilates the pills is more efficient than Nusi’s. Armad has chosen not to reveal this to Nusi because each cultivator has their area of specialization. For instance, Nusi possesses the ability to materialize trees, a talent likely linked to her demon, which Ai lacks entirely. However, this does not diminish Ai’s strengths. Ai’s demon also grants her unique powers, but in situations where facing a large battalion is required, Nusi’s capabilities will prove more crucial than Ai’s. Nonetheless, the full extent of Ai’s potential remains undisclosed and unknown.
Additionally, Armad did not disclose to Nusi that he initially offered the opportunity to the judge before extending it to Ai. Armad had hoped that the judge, being one of his most trusted allies, would seize the chance to enhance both his cultivation and physical prowess. The judge’s close relationship with Armad made him an ideal candidate. However, the judge turned down the offer, stating that he was not the right person for this opportunity. Instead, the judge suggested that Ai should be given the chance. He reasoned that this opportunity was crucial, as it was through such advancements that Nusi’s power had been elevated to her current level. The judge believed that Ai deserved the opportunity because their rivalry would foster competition, driving both cultivators to excel. This competitive spirit would ensure that both are highly motivated and focused on their tasks, particularly in assisting the town of Tiriba. Their mutual desire to surpass one another would lead to increased efficiency, allowing them to complete their work in less than a week.
After careful consideration, Armad agreed to extend the opportunity to Ai, recognizing the potential benefits of this rivalry. Therefore, Ai was invited to participate. Armad remains convinced that whether Nusi is aware of these details or not will not alter the situation. His primary concern is for Nusi to continue developing her cultivation power, as her growth remains crucial to their overarching goals.
On this day, he has the pills designed to enhance muscle toughness up to 50. Settling comfortably, he crossed his legs and began to swallow the pills, one after another. As he did so, he focused intently on circulating his cultivation energy within his body. The process was usually accompanied by a certain level of discomfort, but today the pain seemed more pronounced than usual. This pain, which had been a constant companion since he began increasing his muscle toughness from one percent to the current 28 percent, was a reminder of the effort required to reach his goals.
By evening, as he finally opened his eyes, he assessed his progress. His muscle toughness had reached approximately 30% of the maximum 100%. Although this was a significant improvement, he knew he needed to stop here. It was time for him to leave the town and meet Nusi to commence the work on expanding the town of Tiriba, a project he had been looking forward to.
When he arrived at the designated meeting place, he was surprised to find 51 people waiting for him. This was unusual; there should have been exactly 50 people present, making him the 51st. His initial reaction was one of confusion and concern. Who was the additional person? As he drew closer, he noticed that the extra individual was none other than the judge. It appeared that the judge had taken it upon himself to gather everyone for the meeting.
Armad observed the judge with a mix of admiration and curiosity. The judge was renowned for his relentless involvement in various activities, almost as if he was incapable of finding rest unless he was occupied with some form of work. Armad couldn’t help but reflect on the judge’s tireless dedication. It seemed that regardless of whether the judge was assigned any specific tasks, he always managed to insert himself into multiple endeavors, demonstrating his commitment and importance.
Despite his initial surprise, Armad was not troubled by the judge’s presence. He saw it as a positive sign of the judge’s dedication and influence. The judge’s active involvement was a clear indication of his significant role in the town. Armad had no intention of requesting the judge to step back from these additional tasks, as they did not seem to cause any harm or disruption to him.
Before he came closer, all 50 devas had already bowed deeply in respect, their reverence evident in their posture. Just a few days prior, none of these devas had achieved the deva level. They had put in great effort and dedicated themselves to their cultivation, but despite their best efforts, they had been unable to reach this pinnacle of power. Some of them were even nearing the end of their lives, their hopes dwindling. However, he had provided them with special pills that advanced them to the deva level. The gratitude and admiration they felt for him were immense. Whenever they saw him, they were filled with a profound sense of loyalty, trust, and respect. This feeling was not only due to the significant favor he had done for them but also because they had previously been under him. Even if he had not intervened with the pills, they would have remained loyal to him until the end of their lives, as they had sworn fealty to him long before. His act of providing the pills had only strengthened their devotion and deepened their expectations of him.
Armad, acknowledging their respect with a nod, shook his head slightly in agreement before turning his attention to the judge. The judge approached him with a purposeful stride, ready to convey an important message. He informed Armad that he had successfully gathered 80 people, as requested, and was anticipating more arrivals from other towns. According to the judge’s predictions, the total number of attendees would likely reach around 500. However, among these, there were some unfamiliar faces—people who had arrived only after Armad had conquered their towns. These newcomers claimed to be the original inhabitants of those towns, although they had not been present during the conflicts. When their towns were besieged, they had been away, but upon learning about the aftermath, they had returned to their homes. Some sought to reconnect with their families, while others were curious to see the state of their towns after the conquest. The invitation had sparked a strong desire in all of them to attend.
After a moment’s contemplation, Armad shook his head and said, “No problem. Have every one of them come; I’m confident that you have the means to discern who is telling the truth and who is lying. You’ll need to evaluate them and bring them to me. Even if we end up with only 50 loyal individuals, that should be sufficient for our purposes.”
The judge offered a respectful nod to Armad before turning and heading back toward the town.
Armad then turned his attention to the group of 50 people gathered before him. Nusi stood at the forefront, with Ai positioned just behind her. The remaining 48 devas were arrayed in a disciplined formation, ready for whatever task lay ahead.
“I trust that Nusi has explained the nature of the work we are about to undertake,” Armad said, his voice carrying a tone of authority.
“She has informed us thoroughly, Your Highness,” the assembled group replied in unison, their voices echoing with a mixture of eagerness and apprehension.
“Excellent,” Armad said, his eyes scanning the faces before him. “Let us proceed.”
With a graceful leap, Armad soared into the air, his form gliding effortlessly against the backdrop of the sky. As he began his journey toward the forest, the group followed closely behind, their determination evident in their strides.