All of us are one

Chapter 68 The Past of the Divine Martial Kingdom

Upon hearing this, Leng Tong explained, "The so-called exotic beasts refer to powerful wild animals that are either born with them or evolved later in life. They have strong bodies and abundant blood and energy, and their strength is not much weaker than that of martial artists."

"Are strange beasts no weaker than martial artists? And they're even divided into innate and acquired types?" Jiang Yanming asked curiously.

"Young Alliance Leader, alien beasts were once the greatest enemy of us martial artists. Most of the Divine Martial Kingdom was a paradise for alien beasts," Leng Tong continued. "This is because innate alien beasts are born with a strong physique. After reaching adulthood, their physique can reach the average level of their race, and their growth cycle is much faster than that of us humans."

"The beasts grow quickly. Although they are less intelligent and their strength is not comparable to that of martial artists of the same level, they have an absolute advantage in numbers. At one point, they forced us to defend the area around the city."

Jiang Yanming listened quietly without saying a word. The five domains of the Divine Martial Kingdom today were won by countless ancestors through fierce battles.

"Acquired exotic beasts refer to exotic beasts that have accidentally ingested rare and precious herbs or have been artificially cultivated," Wang Chen then interjected. "For example, the Xuan Shui Horses ridden by the Xuan Shui Cavalry of our Great River Alliance are acquired exotic beasts that have been cultivated. Even after traveling a thousand miles a day, they can still charge into battle and kill enemies."

"Leng Tong, you said that the alien beasts were once the mortal enemies of our Divine Martial Kingdom, why?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"Before the connection with the upper realm was severed, most of the land of the Divine Martial Kingdom was occupied by alien beasts. Our human race could only survive by relying on the protection of cities. Every time the alien beasts migrated and rioted, a large number of our people died." Leng Tong's voice was somewhat low.

"Now that the Five Domains occupy most of the Divine Martial Kingdom, what does it have to do with severing ties with the Upper Realm?" Jiang Yanming asked, puzzled.

"Since severing ties with the upper realm, the number of martial arts masters in my Divine Martial Kingdom has been steadily increasing, and even some top-tier masters have emerged," Leng Tong said solemnly. "Under the guidance of these martial arts masters, we successfully drove the alien beasts into the depths of the mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes, thus laying the foundation for the Five Domains we have today."

"If the connection with the Upper Realm hadn't been severed, would all the martial arts masters from the Divine Martial Kingdom have been invited to the Upper Realm?" Jiang Yanming asked curiously.

"The Upper Realm doesn't invite martial arts masters; it forcibly conscripts them, leaving no room for negotiation or refusal!" Wang Chen retorted indignantly. "According to records, martial arts masters conscripted by the Upper Realm often never return; very few manage to return to the Divine Martial Kingdom!"

"Young Alliance Leader, you may not know this," Leng Tong explained. "Before the connection was severed, the Upper Realm would hold a conscription every three years, and any martial artist who had reached the fourth level of the Condensation Realm would be conscripted."

"Without martial arts masters at the fourth level of the Condensation Realm to guard the border, the Divine Martial Kingdom would find it difficult to defeat the alien beasts with their short growth cycles. It was only after our connection with the Upper Realm was severed that we gradually gained the upper hand amidst the emergence of numerous masters, until we established the current structure of the five domains of the Divine Martial Kingdom."

"This upper realm is just sucking blood, completely disregarding the life and death of the Divine Martial Kingdom..." Jiang Yanming shook his head inwardly.

If one breaks through to the realm above the Dao Qi Blood Condensation Realm and then ascends to the Upper Realm, that is the Void Shattering that every martial artist pursues.

The large-scale conscription that takes place every three years is no different from regular bloodsucking!

Jiang Yanming now understood why so many forces in the Divine Martial Kingdom rejected the return of those from the Upper Realm; after all, no one wanted to be drained of their lifeblood by parasites.

"When did the severing of ties with the upper realm begin?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"It happened about 350 years ago," Leng Tong replied.

"Three hundred and fifty years ago... and now it's year 348 in the Gregorian calendar!" Jiang Yanming couldn't help but wonder, "Could the Gregorian calendar refer to the arrival of the Divine Martial Kingdom?"

Three hundred and fifty years ago, the Divine Martial Kingdom severed ties with the Upper Realm, as if it had escaped the control of the Upper Realm.

Two years later, the Holy Union was established in the Western Continent, and the calendar began with the new calendar established by the Holy Union.

It's just too much of a coincidence. The establishment of a country from scratch requires preparation and planning. The emergence of the Divine Martial Kingdom and the establishment of the Holy Union were too close together, making Jiang Yanming disbelieve that it was a coincidence.

"I heard that the Great River Alliance hasn't been established for long? How do you know so much about the Upper Realm?" Jiang Yanming asked, somewhat puzzled.

"More than twenty years ago, the conspiracy of the Thousand Machines Sect was exposed, which allowed many forces to read through ancient books and learn about the actions of the Upper Realm. They also learned some information from the records of the Thousand Machines Sect."

Wang Chen replied, "For example, after severing ties with the Upper Realm, the Thousand Machines Sect has been trying to bring the Upper Realm back down. To this end, they have planted spies in various forces to incite them to fight each other, so that each force is focused on internal strife and has no time to spare for anything else."

"I see..." Jiang Yanming nodded in realization.

The fact that the Thousand Machines Sect is hostile to most of the forces in the Divine Martial Kingdom is entirely its own doing. Not only did they plan the descent of the Upper Realm, but they also secretly instigated conflicts between various forces, as if they didn't want to be exposed sooner.

"If it weren't for Madam Liu's warning, the Thousand Machines Sect might still be hiding in the shadows, instigating conflict between various forces." Leng Tong cupped his hands towards the void.

"Madam Liu?" Jiang Yanming didn't react for a moment.

"That's your mother, Young Alliance Leader," Wang Chen reminded him. "The Alliance Leader and his wife are not married, so people in the martial arts world respectfully call her Madam Liu."

Jiang Yanming nodded upon hearing this, his face showing no unusual expression. Only now did he learn that his mother's surname was Liu, because his father had never mentioned it.

"Judging from Wang Chen's words, Mother should be respected by people in the martial arts world, and her identity as a member of the Thousand Machines Sect shouldn't implicate Father," Jiang Yanming pondered. "Then why did Father leave for the Four Kingdoms Alliance? Mr. Chen said Father couldn't get over his conscience; what happened in between?"

"Why did my father leave for the Four Nations Alliance?" Jiang Yanming asked.

"This..." Leng Tong and Wang Chen looked at each other, both showing some difficulty on their faces. Clearly, this question had stumped them.

After a moment, Wang Chen bowed and apologized, "Young Alliance Leader, please forgive us, we are unable to answer."

Leng Tong bowed and said, "The reason for this, Young Alliance Leader, may be able to learn from the Grand Hall Master."

"Hmm." Jiang Yanming could only nod when he saw this. The two of them clearly knew but were unwilling to answer, which meant there was something they dared not or were unwilling to say.

"When my father was in the Divine Martial Kingdom, the Great River Alliance was united and determined to unify the Great River Basin," Jiang Yanming mused. "And this Grand Hall Master..."

He thought of Ling Heng, this Senior Brother Ling was the disciple of the Grand Hall Master, and both the Grand Hall Master and Senior Brother Ling were people his father trusted.

"It seems the only way to learn about my father's past is from that Grand Master." Jiang Yanming's eyes narrowed slightly, eagerly anticipating meeting the Grand Master of the Great River Alliance.

……

a few days later.

At the mouth of the great river, one can see the flowing river water meeting the azure sea.

This place is quite prosperous, with many ships coming and going. Warriors carrying swords patrol the ships to prevent strange beasts from attacking them.

Just then, a huge fleet sailed downstream, its black flag bearing the white characters of the "Great River Alliance" fluttering in the river wind.

Passing ships gave way, and the warriors on board watched the massive fleet sail into the sea, heading west along the coast.