https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-489-Mobilization-the-Ambitions-of-the-Elites/12851402/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-491-Secondary-Black-Hole-Precision-Strike/12851404/
Chapter 490: Imperial Rank Nine - Dragon Binding General
Chapter 490: Imperial Rank Nine - Dragon Binding General
"Looks like this demon really was a spirit calamity. Apart from the spirit summoners who escaped earlier, no one else in Baijing Province survived," General Zhou Ji couldn't help but sigh.
He didn't feel much for the ordinary people and spirit summoners who died; what pained him was the loss of such a vast fortune, which didn't end up in his hands.
As a ninth-rank spirit summoner, he knew there was still a path to advancement, which required even more resources. The stronger one became, the more resources were needed.
The court's losses? What did that have to do with Zhou Ji? He was from a noble family, one of the most powerful, and the court was merely his workplace. His true allegiance was to his family.
The strength of a noble family was rooted in time and heritage. The Zhou family had many ninth-rank spirit summoners, and their influence extended across various regions, including the military and political spheres of the court, as well as sects and the wilderness.
"Those mere earth dogs and clay chickens. It's just those eighth-rank spirit summoners exaggerating," said a burly man standing behind Zhou Ji. This was his hero spirit, with imperial rank potential, named Dragon Binding General Zhou Hai, one of his ancestors.
His strength was formidable, and the long spear he wielded was said to be transformed from a divine dragon. Although this world did not have divine dragons as a species, similar legends existed, and after processing, they became part of the hero spirit's characteristics upon formation.
The prefix "Dragon Binding" was given to the spear Zhou Hai crafted after ensnaring a divine dragon. In addition to this weapon, he donned the Tiger Head Demon Devouring Armor, the Purple Patterned Cloud-Stepping Boots, and other formidable gear, all of which were signature items of hero spirits with imperial-level potential.
The higher the potential of the hero spirit, the more powerful the equipment they possessed.
Unfortunately, the upper limit for imperial rank potential was the ninth-rank spirit summoner. To continue growing, Zhou Ji would find it much more difficult, as he was already stuck at a bottleneck.
"Don't underestimate the enemy, Ancestor. The fact that they could sweep through an entire province indicates considerable strength," Zhou Ji advised, though he also felt a bit disdainful toward the so-called demon.
A ninth-rank spirit summoner could do the same to Baijing Province.
Even an eighth-rank spirit summoner and a hero spirit working together could achieve this.
In his eyes, the demon was probably just an eighth-rank. The court's massive mobilization was a waste of time.
As for the many eighth-rank spirit summoners who came to support and were slain by the demon, Zhou Ji believed it was because those summoners were useless. How much combat power could a group of spirit summoners from minor noble families have?
If it were his family's younger members, they might even be able to slay those eighth-ranks with just seventh-rank power.
Given the Zhou family's influence, they had the right to look down on most noble families as minor ones, and even call those from remote provinces "mudlegs," who wouldn't dare to retort.
Because these major noble families truly had no shortage of high-potential hero spirits. While the number of imperial rank hero spirits might be fewer, there were plenty of royal and princely rank hero spirits.
"Sweeping through a province is nothing; Baijing Province isn't the Imperial Province," Zhou Hai still didn't take it seriously. The only ones who could catch his eye were imperial rank ninth hero spirits; even royal rank ninth hero spirits were not in his sights.
Not all ninth-rank spirit summoners' hero spirits were of imperial rank; some were of royal rank, having broken through from eighth-rank to ninth-rank.
However, in terms of combat power, imperial rank potential was naturally superior to royal rank potential.
After all, both their equipment and innate secret techniques were extremely luxurious.
"Indeed, if you have confidence, that's fine. When the time comes, let these mudlegs witness the difference between heaven and earth," Zhou Ji didn't continue to persuade, as he could see that Zhou Hai was only speaking to him out of respect for his status as a spirit summoner. If it were someone else, they would probably be crushed into dust on the spot.
Moreover, he didn't think Zhou Hai would lose. An imperial rank ninth hero spirit, who in the world could match him except for the prodigies from other major noble families?
"There's no rush. The court has already dispatched two hundred thousand troops here, and more are on their way to Baijing Province. As the general, don't you have any thoughts?" Zhou Hai suddenly spoke.
To him, the so-called spirit calamity and spirit race were mere paper tigers. If he had been born during the spirit calamity era, he would have ended the spirit race long ago.
But now there was an even more critical matter at hand: military authority.
If Zhou Ji could take this opportunity to control all the gathered troops, he might bring about a dynastic change, elevating the Zhou family to even greater heights.
They had already reached the pinnacle of noble families. To take another step forward, they would have to rebel and become emperors.
"The current emperor is not someone to be trifled with. Do you think they don't understand our intentions? Besides the 200,000 troops stationed in Baijing Province, the other forces are controlled by other noble families. We can't interfere," Zhou Ji understood what his ancestor spirit, Zhou Hai, was thinking.
But if you have your schemes, do the other noble families not have theirs?
The forces that Zhou Ji referred to as noble families were on par with the Zhou family in strength, creating a new balance of power.
Everyone has their own schemes, and to gain military authority, you must first engage in a life-or-death struggle.
As for forming an alliance? That's unreliable. Everyone harbors their own intentions; who would trust whom?
And do you really think you can control the entire army? In reality, every level of the military has people loyal to the court. It won't be easy to take action.
Killing is one thing, but what do you do after that? Truly command the army?
He was capable in combat, but in military and political matters, he was not so adept. Gaining power would bring significant troubles.
"It's truly a pity. If we could succeed, the Zhou family would be a royal family," Zhou Hai lamented.
Ordinary people fear imperial power, but noble families do not. The Zhou family has existed for far longer than the current dynasty, and with such a long history, they are indifferent to such matters.
"But this time, gaining the advantages of Shanghuang Province is worthwhile. As long as we eliminate this so-called spirit race, we can establish our dominance in Shanghuang Province and wait for the dynasty to decline," Zhou Hai also knew that the current court was strong, and a rebellion might not succeed.
This time, the great noble families contributed money and effort, and they would certainly gain much. Noble families like theirs received the right to establish their own domains in their respective provinces for a hundred years, during which the court could not interfere in their affairs.
While it's said to be a hundred years, if these noble families truly take root in those provinces, the entire region would be transformed into an ironclad stronghold, making it difficult to reclaim.
So, in practice, it's no different from establishing a fiefdom.
Although it's unclear why the court made such a foolish move, the noble families benefited and thus remained silent, fulfilling their contracts.
As great noble families, they would never take benefits without fulfilling their obligations. Noble families value their reputation, which is the foundation of their power.
Only a strong reputation can ensure that their descendants are continually transformed into powerful hero spirits to benefit future generations. For them, this not only grants the right to establish a fiefdom but also provides a chance to shine.
"Ancestor, you are right. With the right to establish our domain, we can achieve great things in the future," Zhou Ji felt a surge of excitement. If the Zhou family became a royal family, perhaps he, too, could be awakened by future descendants as a hero spirit with imperial potential, just like Zhou Hai.
Then he could once again reach the peak, perhaps even stronger.
While late-stage spirit summoners do become more powerful, they still cannot match their hero spirits. After all, the hero spirit is the core of the entire system.
Otherwise, why would they be called spirit summoners? The name of the system already determines the primary and secondary roles.
After Zhou Ji finished speaking, he noticed that Zhou Hai was not responding but was instead looking intently at the center of Baijing Province.
"Prepare yourself. The demon is about to emerge. Their strength cannot be underestimated; they are likely no less than an imperial rank ninth hero spirit," Zhou Hai's expression grew increasingly serious as he watched the spreading black lightning, his previous disdain and contempt now gone.
The demon still had some sense and would not truly look down on everything. He only disdained those weaker than him. When faced with someone stronger, he would naturally give it his all.
Otherwise, how could he have survived to this point? In terms of true talent and hard work, Zhou Ji and his ancestor spirit, Zhou Hai, were not empty shells.
(End of Chapter)
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