Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1256 - 1249: The Harbinger of War

Chapter 1256: Chapter 1249: The Harbinger of War

"That is to say, the cultivation system selects a large number of ordinary people who cannot engage in cultivation," Luo’er nodded and said.

"Exactly," Zisu replied, "Although the probability of becoming a cultivator is very low, once someone becomes a cultivator, it means they are superior to others. Almost everyone in Kyushu engages in cultivation. Those who are not keen on cultivation are considered oddities."

"Then, what about those ordinary people who can’t engage in cultivation?" Luo’er asked curiously.

"What can be done about them? That’s just how it is," Zisu shrugged, smiling as she said, "It’s just their bad luck that they have no chance to cultivate in this lifetime. Of course, there are also some who are unwilling to accept this and try to become cultivators or associate themselves with cultivation by other means. In any case, in Kyushu, anyone associated with cultivation is basically considered superior. It is truly a battlefield for cultivators while simultaneously being hell for ordinary people."

"If the whole country revolves around cultivation, wouldn’t that be very bad?" Luo’er asked.

"It is indeed very bad," Zisu shrugged again, and then sighed and said, "Kyushu had always been ruled by cultivators, and those guys messed up the country so much that almost every hundred years, a new dynasty would have to be established. However, the appearance of the Dongsheng Empire has changed all of that."

After saying this, she looked at Luo’er, who remained silent but continued to gaze at her intently, hoping she would continue.

"As I told you before," Zisu sighed heavily once more, then continued speaking, "the Dongsheng Empire achieved civil and military governance, valuing military power yet governing through civil officials. Initially, in Kyushu, only about thirty percent of the population qualified to be cultivators and participate in government, but the Cabinet System of the Dongsheng Empire changed all that. Those who couldn’t cultivate could become civil officials, helping the cultivators manage the country. Thus, a powerful empire stood tall in the east of the Continent. For them, it was a significant change, but for us, it marked the beginning of a nightmare."

She paused and then continued, "Before the Dongsheng Empire, the people of Kyushu had little interest in West Outer Heaven, mainly because Kyushu was always in a state of chaos and fragmentation. Even when so-called empires were established, they were still very divided internally. Therefore, they were not interested in West Outer Heaven, with generally only one dynasty every so often launching a small-scale invasion of West Outer Heaven."

"But with the establishment of the civil official system of the Dongsheng Empire, the entire country was re-unified and coordinated, which gave the Dongsheng Empire enough military force to invade West Outer Heaven. Every ten or twenty years, the Dongsheng Empire would launch a large-scale invasion against West Outer Heaven, and although we drove them out each time, this can’t go on forever. When will this end?"

"As you can see, the population of West Outer Heaven is now dwindling, a direct result of these continuous wars. Although both sides suffer heavy losses, when it comes down to it, our losses are greater because we simply cannot afford such wasteful battles."

Zisu analyzed the military pressure brought about by the Cabinet System of the Dongsheng Empire to West Outer Heaven only from a military perspective, but Luo’er felt that the Cabinet System was not just about strengthening the military might of the Dongsheng Empire.

From what is known, the greatest benefit brought by the Cabinet System is political stability. With political stability, the country will be stable, and thus the population will grow rapidly. It is precisely because of this that the Dongsheng Empire is able to deploy large forces to invade West Outer Heaven.

You should know that for an army of a hundred thousand, the logistical support would require hundreds of thousands or even millions of people. Taking into account the Kunzhou, the transportation ships, carriages, and so on, the cost for the Dongsheng Empire to invade West Outer Heaven is incredibly staggering.

Therefore, Luo’er couldn’t understand why the Dongsheng Empire would still launch an invasion every decade or so when it was clear that they couldn’t gain an advantage from such wars.

"Why is the Dongsheng Empire so obsessed with invading West Outer Heaven, even to the point of wanting to completely eradicate your Demon Clan?" After pondering for a long time, Luo’er asked with a frown.

"The primary reason the Dongsheng Empire is obsessed with invading West Outer Heaven is of course for Source Stones. For any cultivator who wants to take a shortcut, Source Stones are undoubtedly the best choice. Kyushu is not without Source Stones, but given that the entire population of Kyushu engages in cultivation, they need even more Source Stones to satisfy their cultivation requirements."

"Especially the major noble families, they’re the strongest supporters of the invasions of West Outer Heaven. Whenever the Dongsheng Empire conquers new mines, they immediately become battlegrounds for these nobility families to fight over. Unfortunately for them, we’ve driven them back every single time." Zisu said, unable to suppress a mocking smile.

"Since there’s a demand, wouldn’t it be better to trade? After all, it’s cheaper than waging war, isn’t it?" Luo’er asked, puzzled.

"That brings us to the issue of prejudice," Zisu sighed.

"Prejudice?" Luo’er was taken aback.

"It’s not exactly prejudice, it’s more like fear," Zisu explained with a shrug, "As you’ve seen, we of the Demon Clan cannot achieve Jiédān, and neither can our descendants. So if our Demon Clan interbred with the Human Race, the offspring would definitely be of the Demon Clan, and they definitely couldn’t achieve Jiédān, which means..."

"It means that the child is born doomed to be inferior, forever unable to turn their fate around." Luo’er added.

"Exactly," said Zisu frankly, "Although only about thirty percent of humans can achieve Jiédān, at least they have some hope. But those half-bloods of the Demon Clan and Human Race are basically born without any hope."

"I see," Luo’er nodded in understanding.

"Here, not being able to achieve Jiédān and become a cultivator doesn’t affect one’s life too much. But in a place like Kyushu, not only does it make you inferior, but you also suffer mockery. In such an environment, no one wants to be born unable to achieve Jiédān; it’s simply too hopeless," Zisu sighed again.

"Looking at it this way, the invasion of the Dongsheng Empire also seems to have its reasons, I finally understand," Luo’er said thoughtfully, nodding.

"So what do you think now? Can the people of Kyushu still become your friends?" Zisu asked, tilting her head.

"All people are born equal, but the rules of society are different and so is the treatment they receive," Luo’er mused.

"You still believe that people are born equal? People are never born equal," Zisu said, shaking her head hopelessly.

"It is true that injustices objectively exist in the world, but that doesn’t mean those who cannot achieve Jiédān should be seen as lesser. Keep in mind, strength and wisdom are parallel; neither is superior to the other," Luo’er stated earnestly.

"I don’t quite understand," Zisu said blankly, blinking at him.

"Then let me ask you, who do you think played the most significant role in the Dongsheng Empire’s invasion of West Outer Heaven? Was it the cultivators, or the civil official cohort?" Luo’er asked.

"Of course, it was the cultivators. Without these people, we could have easily defeated the armies of the Dongsheng Empire," Zisu asserted without hesitation.

"Not so," Luo’er waved his hand, "If you think about it, it should be the civil officials’ role that is crucial. Imagine, without them governing the state and stabilizing the political situation, where would the Dongsheng Empire have gotten the strength to conquer West Outer Heaven? I can’t be certain whether invading West Outer Heaven was the intention of the nobility or the civil officials. However, the role played by the civil officials is certainly indisputable."

"From this perspective, the power of the civil officials is indeed not much less than that of the cultivators. They are merely ordinary people, yet they manage and operate a state with their wisdom, and they don’t even need to be troubled with expeditions. They are just ordinary people, but they can compel the cultivators to come to West Outer Heaven to fight for them. So tell me, in the end, who is stronger: the cultivators or the civil officials?" Luo’er continued to ask.