Hearing Wuzhi's request, the cultivator, a man in his late twenties, turned his head and stared at Wuzhi with his monocled eye. He gazed at the audacious youth from top-to-bottom and slowly asked, "You know who I am?"

Cupping his hands and bowing his head, Wuzhi naturally replied, "This humble one learnt that Sir Practitioner is a Path Seeker of Rank 2."

"And still you dared to come up here and talk to me?"

"Wuzhi was curious about Sir Practitioner and wanted to exchange a few words with you."

The cultivator scoffed after hearing his words and shook his head. He then returned his gaze to the newspaper in his hand and fleetingly said, "Go back. You are not worthy."

Faced with such rejection, Wuzhi did not falter. The smile on his shadowy face remained the same as ever. Keeping his hands cupped, he began. "What does Sir Practitioner think about the hostile situation in the South Aislu Continent?"

Wuzhi's words seemed random and off-field. However, should an attentive spectator be watching this scene, they would notice that the article that the cultivator seemed to be reading in the newspaper was discussing this very same issue.

Wuzhi's question pointed to the core of the topic being discussed in that article and he seemed to be asking for the cultivator's wisdom on this matter.

At the falling of his words, the cultivator did not react. Whether he failed to hear Wuzhi's words or was outright ignoring this impetuous youth remained to be unseen.

Wuzhi, however, did not seem bothered by this. He simply continued talking.

"From my understanding of the situation, the South Aislu Continent is currently broken into seven different factions, each vying to occupy the seat of the Hegemon and to unite the continent into one whole entity."

"Of the seven factions, three factions are being openly supported by each of the three World Sovereigns; two factions are supported by the Central Commonwealth, the Hegemon of the Central Continent; one faction is being controlled by a group of Pro-Imperial Radicals who seek to restore the previous Imperial Family; and the final faction, which consists of a random hodgepodge of powers."

"The war for unification between these powers seems to be growing increasingly fierce in these recent months. If the latest war reports are anything to go by, hundreds of cultivators and thousands of mortals are dying daily. The overall situation, however, hasn't seen much change."

"Drawing from previous historical precedents and reading the analysis released by experts, we can see that this war for unification is bound to wage on for at least half a decade at the earliest. Its intensity is also bound to grow fiercer as time marches on."

Speaking up to here, a conniving glint appeared within Wuzhi's eyes. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I, however, have a bold prediction about this situation. I predict that this war for unification will end within a single year!"

"How preposterous!" the cultivator scoffed. He then shot a fierce look towards Wuzhi and said, "Do not speak about what you do not know, boy! Your loose tongue might bring forth a calamity on your head one day!"

"Sir Practitioner's words are much appreciated. This Wuzhi will reflect on them." Wuzhi immediately lowered his head in respect. He then proceeded to raise only his gaze, as he playfully continued. "Still, Wuzhi believes his words to not be incorrect. The war for unification will end in a single year and the faction that will unify the South Aislu Continent will be…"

"…the Pro-Imperial Faction!" Wuzhi declared with gusto. His words were filled with self-confidence and not a hint of doubt could be felt.

Hearing his words, the cultivator stared at Wuzhi as if he were staring at some strange, exotic creature. Putting down his newspaper, he rubbed his forehead, looked at Wuzhi with an annoyed look, and mockingly asked, "Oh? And on what basis do you utter such foolish words with even greater foolishness?"

"For the Pro-Imperial Faction to emerge victorious is the Will of the Heavens. My words are but the reflection of the Will of the Heavens," Wuzhi patiently explained.

"The will of my fart!" The cultivator roared. "What nonsense 'will of the heavens'? Aiyo! Where did this foolish boy come from?" He then looked at Wuzhi as if he was looking at a pitiful worm and explained. "Foolish Boy, let me tell you. Not only is the Pro-Imperial Faction one of the weakest factions in this war, but it is also the most chaotic. They are nothing but a ragtag bunch of terrorists, intent on destroying peace for the sake of some barbarian family! For Heaven's sake, they don't even have a proper leader for their faction!"

"They are more intent on causing wanton destruction and gripping the throats of their own associates than mount a proper show of effort and effectively participate in the war for unification. Even that faction made up of a hodgepodge of random sects and powers is doing a better job at this!"

"For you to say that this group will emerge victorious, and that too in an overwhelming fashion is equivalent to me saying that I am the Heavenly God Emperor who has descended to this mortal world from the Upper Realm. It is just straight-up nonsense!" By the end of his impassioned monologue, the cultivator was left huffing and heaving.

However, Wuzhi did not seem whatsoever affected by his speech. His posture and smile remained as stable and natural as ever.

Staring at the cultivator, Wuzhi's smile deepened a little. Opening his mouth, he then spoke with his signature calm and stable voice.

"Sir Practitioner's words are not wrong. The Pro-Imperial Faction is indeed the weakest and the most problem-filled faction. They have neither the leadership nor the overwhelming power required to accomplish unification in a hundred years, not to mention, in one."

"However, this Wuzhi must instruct. Sir Practitioner is viewing the situation from within a well and is failing to consider the other aspects."

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"Other aspects?" the cultivator frowned. "What other aspects?"

"May I ask Sir Practitioner who is the 'Most Righteous Faction' in the current world?" asked Wuzhi, cryptically.

"It is, of course, the Heavenly Spirit Empire," the cultivator replied without any hesitation.

Indeed, the Heavenly Spirit Empire was the most righteous faction in the world. If one were to ask anyone, even a middling child would reply the same. And this status was not just for show.

Much of the current world's peace and stability could be attributed to the efforts of the Heavenly Spirit Empire. Since their founding, they stood at the forefront as mankind's brightest beacon and its sturdiest shield.

Diffusing the tension between cultivators and mortals, laying down the foundation for regulated warfare, regulating the creation of weapons of mass destruction, overseeing and enforcing laws over high-ranked cultivators, aiding poorer, resource-deficit countries in their functioning… Heavenly Spirit Empire was the bulwark of human and humane justice. The most righteous pillar of mankind!

Nodding appreciatively at the cultivator's answer, Wuzhi then pointed his finger at the now resting newspaper. Pointing at the front page, he asked, "Then has Sir Practitioner read this article?"

Casting a glance at the front page article, the cultivator scoffed and replied, "Of course, I've read it. It speaks of the 'Son of the Heavens' Mu Yuelong's upcoming engagement banquet with the Sacred Daughter. The two are to be wed in fifteen months."

On the front page, the pictures of an extremely handsome youth with a heroic character and an extremely beautiful woman with a fairy-like countenance were printed. Wuzhi looked at the two of them with an odd smile.

"Right. Becoming husband and wife. An 'immortal couple' of this Era!" Wuzhi agreed. He then looked at the cultivator with a teasing glint and said, "I wonder what such a union would mean to the forces behind them."

The instant he heard that, something seemed to click within the mind of the cultivator. Staring at the newspaper with a look of disbelief, he then looked back at Wuzhi. He then proceeded to alternate his gaze between the two objects, the disbelief and understanding growing bright and brighter within his eyes.

Wuzhi simply continued to speak. "The upcoming engagement banquet marks the laying of foundation between the alliance of the two forces of the Mu Household and the Heavenly Spirit Tower, both backed by their respective World Sovereigns. It represents a unification of the internal and external interests, one of which is…"

"The ongoing war for unification in the South Aislu Continent…" the cultivator muttered.

"South Aislu Continent is a land, rich in various resources. It possesses abundant reserves of precious metals, ores, and stones, making it an extremely attractive prospect for any power or faction. Not to mention, two of the strongest factions in the entire world," explained Wuzhi.

"Right. And with the two of them joining hands, the delicate balance in the ongoing war will be immediately broken!"

"Sir Practitioner is extremely correct," praised Wuzhi. He then looked at the excited man and continued. "With two of the strongest factions joining hands, the war will accelerate. This will result in the other powers scrambling to come up with measures of their own to counter this sudden change."

"Here is where the third faction backed by the final World Sovereign will come into play. As Sir Practitioner might already know, Lord Demon Sovereign's character is a bit…" Wuzhi hesitated for a moment as he searched for the right word. "…playful."

Demon Sovereign Fang Gu's character was best described by his peer, the Heaven Gazing Fairy; 'If I have to say that this person has a principle, then his principle is to have no bottom line. And if I were to say that this person has a bottom line, then his bottom line is to have no principle. He is an outright demon, through and through!'

"…right," the cultivator also nodded his head with difficulty, knowing of the Sovereign's feats and reputation.

Wuzhi quickly returned to the topic. "Knowing that he will not be able to complete with the allied forces of the two Sovereigns, Sovereign Fang will proceed to dismantle his own faction and have it merge with one or multiple of the other existing factions, thereby giving the other factions the much-needed power boost to compete with the alliance!"

"And following his character, the faction to which he will funnel most of his power will be… the Pro-Imperial Faction!"

For a demon to support terrorists. Not only was this in character, but it was also the most effective use of his forces and resources.

"The leaderless Pro-Imperial Faction will suddenly find a leader in the new reinforcements. Their disjointed efforts will grow more unified, propelling them from being a useless, leaderless faction to becoming one of the strongest factions in the war." Wuzhi explained.

"The fact that the Pro-Imperial Faction is made up of a majority of native South Aislan citizens, and that most of them are radicals, means that they are not afraid of most things and will fight tooth-and-nail in order to unify their homeland. Each one of their men will equal two, maybe three, of the other factions' men."

"Seeing the situation take a turn for the worse, the Central Commonwealth will take the initiative to pull out their support. Their ongoing internal turmoil makes it impossible for them to mount a united stand." Gesturing the number two with his fingers, Wuzhi completed. "With their backers gone, the two factions relying on their support to wage this war will collapse and disintegrate."

"And that only leaves the final faction; a motley group of different powers. They have not the power or capital to turn the tides of the war on their own." Taking an instant to ponder, he finished. "They would most probably join one of the two major sides. The specifics would depend on the leaders of respective factions."

Exposing a grand smile, Wuzhi declared. "Thus, according to the Will of the Heavens, the war for unification in the South Aislu Continent will last for at least twelve months and at most fifteen!"

The cultivator released the breath that he had unknowingly kept holding. Staring at Wuzhi with a gaze that reflected shock, admiration, curiosity, and suspicion, he asked. "Who are you, young scholar?"

Hearing his new form of calling, Wuzhi did not grow arrogant. Instead, he bowed his head and respectfully introduced himself. "This humble scholar named Wuzhi is a lowly commoner native to the Isilda Continent."

"You are an Isildan?" asked the cultivator, staring at Wuzhi with suspicion.

Understanding the meaning of his question, Wuzhi politely replied. "Wuzhi was born on Isildan soil making me an Isildan. Wuzhi's parents are from outside this country."

"I see." The cultivator nodded his head, his suspicions having lifted. He then looked at Wuzhi with a gaze of appreciation and said, "To have such a deep understanding of the world at such a young age must be the mark of a genius."

"Sir Practitioner falsely praises Wuzhi's meagre talents. Wuzhi must ask Sir Practitioner for his forgiveness. Wuzhi's audacious words must have annoyed Sir Practitioner."

"Aiyo! Don't mind that now," the cultivator simply waved his hands. "Come. Sit! We still have a lot to talk about!"

Thanking the cultivator for his generosity, Wuzhi seated himself on the adjacent sofa. The two of them soon continued with their conversation. As time passed their voices grew more and more boisterous, inviting the interest of the other passengers.

With Wuzhi acting as the mediator, the barriers between the cultivator and the regular passengers broke down. Each of their preconceived notion about the other party was soon swept away, leaving only their knowledge and opinions to be shared.

With three weeks to go before their airship would reach its destination, the passengers soon settled and grew closer to each other. Wuzhi's polite, respectful, and scholarly nature won him the admiration of every passenger. And with his intentional efforts, no mishaps or animosity was created between the passengers.

Talking, arguing, debating, and sharing, Wuzhi, for the first time in his life, felt the joy of meeting new people. His exchanges also won him a lot of connections with these noble people while also informing him of various new information.

By the time the airship neared its destination, Wuzhi had firmly taken his first step into the outside world!