Chapter 157: Quality Trumps Quantity in Warfare

"Although the Daoist priest feels that way, We cannot be so petty. Please accept this welcome gift with a settled mind, so that We may also feel at ease."

Jiang Yuan certainly would not allow Yu Yuan to enter the battlefield at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

He was not a fool. With the chance to add another Primordial Golden Immortal powerhouse to his side, why would he want to save those few Tyrant Points?

"This..." Yu Yuan hesitated. He was not a person who liked accepting favors from others without cause.

His willingness to help the Great Shang dynasty was solely because his junior brother, Wen Zhong, served as the Grand Tutor of Shang, and for no other reason.

Certainly not for Jiang Yuan's so-called welcome gift.

Not knowing how to handle the situation, Yu Yuan looked toward his master. Although Our Lady of Jinling was unaware of what Jiang Yuan's welcome gift entailed, she knew it must be extremely valuable, and judging by Jiang Yuan's demeanor, he was not joking.

"Just accept it. This is the Human Sovereign's good intention," Our Lady of Jinling said with a faint smile.

She was not a rigid person. Since Yu Yuan had decided to pledge his service to the Great Shang, accepting a small token from the Human Sovereign was of no consequence.

Yu Yuan was momentarily stunned, not expecting his master to urge him to accept.

In truth, whether Yu Yuan accepted or not mattered little to Jiang Yuan.

He was determined to bestow it anyway. Besides, elevating someone's cultivation realm was a mandatory function of the damn system, meaning there was no need for the recipient's consent at all.

Probably only Jiang Yuan would be willing to do such thankless work that brought no appreciation.

Having suffered a setback with Guangchengzi, Jiang Yuan had learned a lesson and decided to test Yu Yuan's attitude first.

If this fellow shared Guangchengzi's temper, he would refrain from elevating his realm, lest he offer warm flattery only to receive a cold shoulder.

"Then I thank Your Majesty, the Human Sovereign," Yu Yuan said helplessly.

That was more like it. Not resisting was the right choice; there was no need to emulate his senior martial uncle.

"Damn system, come out," Jiang Yuan summoned.

"438 Tyrant Points."

Jiang Yuan was taken aback for a moment. The damn system was actually answering preemptively now.

He suspected the damned system was throwing out random prices, yet he had no evidence whatsoever—such was the advantage of a monopoly.

It charged whatever it pleased.

"Damn system, make the transaction." Jiang Yuan did not bother haggling or bickering with the system.

After all, his reserve of Tyrant Points was still sufficient.

"Ding! Transaction successful, 438 Tyrant Points deducted. The host may cause Yu Yuan to ascend to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm at any time. Current Tyrant Points: 2,946!"

Seeing that the transaction had succeeded, Jiang Yuan paid the system no further mind.

Instead, he looked at Yu Yuan with a wide smile.

"We notice that Daoist Yu Yuan is already at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Let Us assist you in ascending to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm," Jiang Yuan said with a faint smile.

Hearing these words, Yu Yuan was first stunned, then incredulous. Help him ascend to the Primordial Golden Immortal realm?

Was such a thing something one could simply help with? Cultivation had always been a matter for the individual.

Even a Saint...

Well, truth be told, he had no idea whether a Saint possessed such capability.

Moreover, this Human Sovereign seemed to be only at the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm himself, didn't he?

Before Yu Yuan could utter a response, Jiang Yuan was already standing before him, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.

Yu Yuan felt a vast and boundless primordial force coursing through his limbs and bones. Within this power, he perceived an air of supreme antiquity and profound mystery.

Jiang Yuan intentionally allowed him to sense it; otherwise, the breakthrough could have been achieved silently.

This mighty force lingered within Yu Yuan for only a brief moment before vanishing.

Immediately afterward, an incomparable wave of comfort washed over him, and by the time he recovered his senses, he found himself already standing in the Primordial Golden Immortal realm!

Our Lady of Jinling cast a strange look at Jiang Yuan. Did he truly possess such miraculous abilities?

Although Bai Ze had witnessed Jiang Yuan help others break through their realms on numerous occasions, each time still evoked a peculiar feeling within him.

He could sense the presence of this power, yet every time, he failed to comprehend whence it originated.

It seemed to materialize out of thin air, and normally, Jiang Yuan's body bore no trace of such energy whatsoever.

If the Human Sovereign possessed this power inherently, why did he not use it upon himself? This remained an impenetrable mystery to Bai Ze.

Could it be that this power could not be applied to the user?

Our Lady of Jinling snapped out of her thoughts and prompted Yu Yuan, "Why haven't you thanked the Human Sovereign yet?"

Awakening as if from a profound dream, Yu Yuan bowed deeply to Jiang Yuan and said, "My deepest thanks to Your Majesty, the Human Sovereign."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand with a smile. "Since the Daoist priest is willing to take up arms for the Great Shang, We naturally will not treat you unfairly."

Yu Yuan felt helpless. Even if he wanted to hold back his strength now, it was no longer an option.

"To think the Human Sovereign possesses such miraculous abilities," Our Lady of Jinling remarked with emotion.

Jiang Yuan was slightly startled, then looked at Our Lady of Jinling and asked, "Did Daoist Guangchengzi not mention this to Senior?"

"Senior Brother Guangchengzi? Why would he speak to me of such things?" Our Lady of Jinling asked in confusion.

Jiang Yuan was dumbfounded. Had he turned out to be nothing more than a tool?

He had worked hard to earn those Tyrant Points to help Guangchengzi advance his realm, only to find that Guangchengzi hadn't even bothered to advertise for him?

"Did Senior not notice any difference in Senior Brother Guangchengzi compared to before?" Jiang Yuan prompted.

A thoughtful look crossed Our Lady of Jinling's face before she replied, "My senior brother's cultivation realm did break through to the late stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm."

"I presumed it was the result of his diligent cultivation in recent days."

At this point, Our Lady of Jinling paused, a sudden realization dawning on her as she looked at Jiang Yuan and asked, "Could it be that Senior Brother's advancement to the late stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm was also due to the Human Sovereign?"

"Senior is perceptive." Jiang Yuan mentally applauded Our Lady of Jinling's quick wit.

Hearing this confirmation, Our Lady of Jinling seemed to recall something.

She murmured to herself, "No wonder back then, when I congratulated Senior Brother Guangchengzi on his advancement to the late stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, his expression was somewhat unnatural. So that was the reason."

"What reason?" Jiang Yuan asked, puzzled.

"My senior brother has a stubborn temperament; he has never liked accepting help from others. Therefore, the Human Sovereign's action likely displeased him," Our Lady of Jinling explained.

Jiang Yuan knew Guangchengzi was a prideful fellow, but he hadn't expected him to be prideful to this extent—unwilling to accept even a completely unearned stroke of good fortune.

He truly was an honest man who out-honested Duo Bao, the honest man.

"We understand. We shall be more mindful of such matters in the future," Jiang Yuan smiled and said.

"With His Majesty possessing such divine powers, the chances of winning this war have likely increased once more," Our Lady of Jinling said with a smile.

"The final outcome remains uncertain to anyone. We can only do our human utmost, but We will not leave things entirely to the mandate of heaven," Jiang Yuan stated.

Having traveled through time to this world, he certainly had no desire to resign himself to some predetermined destiny.

Regardless of what the ultimate conclusion of the Investiture of the Gods might be, as far as he was concerned, until the final curtain was drawn, there was no fixed ending.

Jiang Yuan chatted with Our Lady of Jinling for a while longer. After about the span of an incense stick, Wen Zhong returned to the camp accompanied by Shiji and a group of disciples from the截教 (Jiejie Sect).

Jiang Yuan glanced over them. Their numbers were few, but their cultivation realms were far from low, with many having reached perfection.

His reservoir of Tyrant Points would soon come in handy once again.

In the war against Xiqi, victory depended on the quality of the forces rather than their sheer quantity; whichever side possessed more supreme powerhouses would see the scales of victory tip in their favor.