Chapter 750: Chapter 170: Top Secret! Affairs of the Western Continent (Part 2)
“Marquis Jing’an, please come with me.”
Li Fei then stood up and followed Lou Hongtao out of the Great Hall, entering the small pavilion where Lou Hongtao had his personal office.
After they ascended to the second floor, Lou Hongtao dismissed the others, leaving only himself and Li Fei in the pavilion.
Soon, a profound aura emanated from Lou Hongtao’s body, encapsulating the small pavilion.
Li Fei sensed this aura and realized that Lou Hongtao had used his divine skills to seal off the area!
“Pavilion Master Lou?”
He looked at Lou Hongtao, aware that what Lou was about to say could be extraordinary.
Lou Hongtao looked at him: “Marquis Jing’an, you were about to ask, why didn’t the Monitoring Pavilion apprehend those Western spies earlier even though their movements were known?”
Li Fei nodded: “Yes, I ask Pavilion Master Lou to enlighten me.”
“The reason is simple, because the court is also engaged in trading with Western countries.”
Lou Hongtao stated calmly.
His words startled Li Fei, his eyes narrowed, followed by a self-mocking smile.
This answer surprised him yet was within reason, leaving him speechless.
“Just like the Star Stone you presented tonight, the Western Continent has many rare materials that are absent in the Eastern Continent, which hold significant trade value. Even after a bloody war between the two continents, it does not hinder mutual trade.”
Lou Hongtao explained to Li Fei.
Li Fei regained composure: “Including trading for top-tier Martial Arts Secret Manuals?”
Lou Hongtao shook his head: “That is naturally impossible.”
“Not to mention top-tier Martial Arts Secret Manuals, if one trades Martial Arts Secret Manuals and resources for Martial Arts Cultivation with the Western Continent, upon verification, they will be treated as traitors!”
“But such matters cannot be entirely prohibited.”
Lou Hongtao revealed a mocking expression, shaking his head:
“For many forces, offering a low-value Martial Arts Secret Manual and a basic Martial Arts resource can bring tenfold or even more profit, how could they not be tempted?”
Li Fei remained silent.
The logic is straightforward, for tenfold or more profit, people are willing to take any risk!
As for the grand plan, the future, how can it compare to the allure of immediate gain?
“So, that’s why the Monitoring Pavilion hasn’t targeted those Western spies. Rather than letting other forces secretly trade with the Western Continent, it’s better for the court to control the trading channels, allowing the court to profit and manage the development of events at any time.”
On one hand, they outlaw trading Martial Arts Secret Manuals and resources with the Western Continent, punishing others as traitors.
On the other hand, they secretly engage in trade with the Western Continent.
This scenario sounds highly ironic and ridiculous, yet it is the reality.
Moreover, upon careful thought, Li Fei had to admit that the court was indeed maximizing its benefits by doing so.
“This matter is mainly managed by the Military Affairs Office, with the Monitoring Pavilion assisting. The overall situation is overseen by the Grand Secretary and Your Majesty.”
Lou Hongtao told Li Fei.
Li Fei nodded, no wonder they reported to the palace first thing.
“The Deni Country royal family member I fought tonight, relying solely on bloodline power, could at most rival a Seventh Tier Tao Foundation Stage combatant, but with Martial Arts cultivation, his combat power surpassed many on today’s Fengyun Leaderboard!”
Li Fei looked at Lou Hongtao:
“Doesn’t the court worry about fostering a future threat?”
Lou Hongtao: “Naturally it is a concern, yet Marquis Jing’an need not worry excessively. Even if the Western Continent truly gains our top-tier Martial Arts resources, they will struggle to cultivate many strong figures.”
He began to explain the situation of the Western Continent to Li Fei in detail:
The Western Continent revered Transcendents and Divine Gifted. These powerful individuals were nearly all nobles there, thus their power hierarchy corresponded with noble ranks.
Western Continent’s noble titles are the same as the Eastern Continent: King, Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount, and Baron.
Normally, a Baron’s combat power equates to a Martial Artist in the Body Breaking Stage.
A Viscount’s combat power equates to a martial master in the Qi Change Stage.
An Earl’s combat power equates to Tao Foundation Stage.
A Marquis’ combat power equates to a Martial Arts Master.
A Duke’s combat power equates to a Great Grandmaster.
The most crucial level is ‘King,’ regardless whether it’s a Prince or the highest King, their combat power surpasses a peak Grandmaster but falls short of a Martial Saint.
“Western Continent individuals relying on Bloodline Power are akin to human-shaped exotic beasts. However, human physical limits are finite; no matter how pure their bloodline reaches, or how extreme their power becomes, it cannot truly match Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts.”
“Marquis Jing’an, do you know that the legendary Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts actually haven’t mastered the complete Taoism?”
Li Fei was taken aback, shaking his head.
This he truly didn’t know. He only knew Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts could rival Martial Saints and True Monarchs.
And Martial Saints and True Monarchs are peak strong individuals who have mastered Taoism, so if Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts haven’t truly mastered it, what allows them to rival peak strong individuals?
Lou Hongtao recognized Li Fei’s confusion, smiled and said: “Though Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts haven’t mastered complete Taoism, they possess unimaginably powerful bodies, their physical strength and Life Force are incredibly immense!
As they say, quantity triggers qualitative change; with Life Force at a certain level, slowly wearing down the enemy, these Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts are enough to rival Martial Saints and True Monarchs. Even if Martial Saints and True Monarchs want to kill them, it’s extremely difficult.”
The more he listened, the more he felt his future might resemble the legendary Ninth Grade Exotic Beast?
“Western Continent’s Transcendents, even when their Bloodline Power reaches its limit, cannot escape the shackles of the human body. They can’t compare to Ninth Grade Exotic Beasts, whose bodies are like massive mountains. Therefore their power ceiling is inherently limited — Martial Saints and True Monarchs are realms they can never touch.”