“Allegiance…”
Inside the Iron Fortress, Wu Ming looked down at the fluttering banners and the rising training slogans day by day, yet his mouth curved into an ambiguous smile.
Under this Western-style lordship system, serfs and lords were bound by land, forming a de facto personal dependency. Knights and barons, small nobles and great nobles were similarly structured through layers of enfeoffment, with a strict hierarchy.
However, once the population began to move, free from the constraints of land and with the awakening of people’s minds, such dependency became quite ridiculous.
Wu Ming still placed great hopes on these workers.
Because they bore no shackles and dared to raise swords against their former slave masters and nobles!
In fact, this was very similar to Wu Zhi’s plan to capture Lingzhou, using the rebel army of refugees to reorganize the military and command the realm in the emperor’s name.
Perhaps other serfs still held reverence for the noble lords, but Wu Ming was certain his men would be among the least reverent, aside from the ogres.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t use ogres as his main army, for that would isolate him from humanity itself.
As for the future, perhaps his subordinates might gradually become corrupt and follow the path of the old nobles after receiving titles, but so what?
Wu Ming would have already obtained what he wanted—that was enough!
…
He returned to his bedroom and sat quietly on the large bed.
“The power of the people…”
Wu Ming silently recalled the information regarding the inheritance of the Conqueror King Taler.
This “power of the people” was a variant of the path of faith, somewhat akin to gathering the fortune of the masses.
It emphasized using a king’s body to gather the hopes of the people, aligning with the great trend to walk the path of transcendence.
After all, how could individual cultivation compare to the combined strength of the masses? This was especially true on the continent of Ser, where transcendental power was heavily restricted.
“To control the people with order, gaining their admiration or fear—not necessarily requiring devout faith…”
In Wu Ming’s view, this power of the people was a fusion of the masses’ beliefs and fortune, possessing an incredible force capable of affecting the material world purely through spirit.
To cultivate this power, naturally, it was best done in one’s own territory, where authority could be most effectively exerted.
“This is practically a cultivation method tailor-made for rulers. Commoners gaining it would find little use…”
Wu Ming began to meditate deeply within his consciousness.
The first step in cultivating this power was to form a “King’s Heart” within the body. Initially, various gestures and diagrams were needed to assist meditation, achieving precise control over one’s spirit and body.
For many, this step was extremely difficult, like an unbridgeable chasm. But for Wu Ming, it was similar to cultivating the Dao heart, so he passed through it effortlessly.
“First step: control the energy of spirit and body!”
“Second step: construct energy channels throughout the body…”
Wu Ming directed his spiritual power, slowly spreading channels throughout his body like meridians covering the entire form.
This was again a fundamental practice for martial artists, which he found extremely easy.
“The great ways of the world lead to the same destination. The more one knows, the easier it becomes to make connections…”
He sighed inwardly, and soon saw bright spots flickering within his body, connecting into a new energy network: “The final step is to build the ‘King’s Heart,’ which will serve as the foundation to gather the power of the people!”
For the location of the King’s Heart, Wu Ming chose his actual heart.
Crack!
As this thought arose, a mass of network-like tendrils densely penetrated his heart like a fishing net, enveloping it and forming another core network.
Around the heart, a golden cocoon of light emerged, resembling a second heart, beginning to beat faintly.
Thump! Thump!
Wu Ming’s body trembled as he felt his entire energy network pulsing twice.
Thump! Thump!
The sound of the heartbeat grew louder and louder, almost audible to the outside world.
The energy network was suddenly activated, like blood vessels, with tiny threads of energy beginning to surge through them, forming another unique cycle.
Boom!
In an instant, Wu Ming sensed various surging forces in the void through this network.
Golden specks of light, carrying all sorts of emotions, flew like fireflies or moths drawn to a flame, entering his body.
“Lord is such a kind person!”
“There’s going to be war—hope it doesn’t affect us!”
“We will fight for the Lord!”
“He is a butcher, an executioner! How many people has he hanged since becoming lord?”
…
Among the golden specks, there were also faint gray-black threads, which were also absorbed, transforming into a flood of emotions that surged into Wu Ming’s consciousness.
“Just emotions? How could they possibly affect me?”
Wu Ming calmly dispelled these extreme emotions using the divine path, retaining only the purest spiritual energy and fortune. Through the body’s cycle, these were absorbed by the golden cocoon surrounding his heart.
“To face the entire continent alone—that is the true responsibility of a king!”
He suddenly stood up, his pupils entirely turning golden.
“This is… the power of the people?”
Wu Ming observed within himself, seeing the golden radiance filling his body rapidly absorbed by the cocoon, transforming into a golden liquid. He felt a stirring in his heart.
“Transcendence!”
Slightly directing this golden radiance with his consciousness, he immediately felt his entire body greedily absorbing and devouring the force. His physical attributes, which had already reached the limit of humanity, began to increase once more.
The power that surpassed racial limits was known as transcendental force!
Wu Ming remained silent for a moment, then snapped his fingers.
Crack!
A flash of blue light appeared on his finger, transforming into a layer of pure white frost.
The frost power of the Blue Dragon Taler, exclusive to the blue-blooded nobility!
He had studied this force most thoroughly, so with a slight cultivation, he could mimic it using the power of the people.
“The few witchcraft books from Karitan, including the voodoo techniques, can also be experimented with. A few spells should now be usable…”
Wu Ming exhaled deeply, profoundly appreciating the extraordinary nature of the power of the people.
It could transform into physical strength, magical transcendental power, and even be imbued into objects, causing qualitative changes.
It could heal, defend, and attack!
It was the beginning and the end of all things, almost in harmony with the world itself.
“In essence, it’s already very close to the power of the world…”
Wu Ming raised his eyebrows.
Undeniably, the being who left behind the inheritance of the power of the people was truly remarkable. If it was indeed Taler, he must have reached the sixth level.
“Perhaps this inheritance was also something Taler obtained from elsewhere…”
Wu Ming recalled the legends of the Ser world—the vast and mysterious ancient era of dragons and great serpents.
If the myths were true, then the original hierarchy of this world might not be inferior to that of the Great Zhou world!
Clap! Clap!
In the square,
Wu Ming, dressed in training clothes, casually moved his legs, each motion accompanied by a faint burst of air.
“Twice!”
After a long while, he stopped, silently musing: “The accumulated power of the people from the entire Karos territory not only allowed my body to transcend its limits but also granted me twice that limit in strength, speed, and recovery!”
Previously, at his peak, he could defeat knights with skill alone. Now, with his overall attributes doubled, his power had increased far beyond a mere doubling.
“Unfortunately… this is as far as it goes. To progress further, I must expand my territory, govern more lands and people with laws and rules, or simply wait patiently for the gradual accumulation over time.”
Wu Ming looked at the cocoon, where a layer of golden liquid still remained.
This was his reserve, used for casting spells or healing injuries, so he naturally couldn’t invest it all into enhancement.
“But… with this current power, unifying the Fengying Plains should be just enough!”
Wu Ming clenched his fist.
The terror of the power of the people lay in the fact that the ruler didn’t need to cultivate deliberately; as long as the territory expanded, strength would naturally increase.
And now was precisely a time of war!
For a king preparing to expand his dominion, was there any force more suitable than this?
“My lord!”
At that moment, several figures approached from the training ground—Jack, Avah, Beatrice, and Malete were all among them.
“You all… come at me together!”
Wu Ming stood empty-handed: “Use your full strength! Even weapons!”
“Could it be…”
Jack’s eyes narrowed, and then he actually charged forward, swinging his bloodsteel greatsword.
Bang!
The greatsword passed effortlessly through a residual image, and then Jack felt a sharp pain in his waist, receiving a kick that sent him flying backward.
He looked around in shock and saw Malete lying on the ground, Avah staring at his fallen greatsword in a daze, Beatrice’s hands radiating cold, frozen mid-lunge, her delicate pale neck already caught in someone’s palm.
“My lord, have you undergone the Knight’s Oath?!”
Jack blurted out.
Previously, Sir William was also a powerful warrior, but the gap between them had never been this terrifying.
“I have transcended!”
Wu Ming was quite satisfied with his combat effectiveness and turned to the stunned Avah and Malete: “Come here!”
The two immediately stepped forward, kneeling on one knee.
“Are you willing to become my sworn retainers and serve as my knights in the future?”
Wu Ming drew the bloodsteel greatsword and lightly touched each of their shoulders, solemnly asking.
“We are willing!”
Avah and Malete replied without hesitation.
“Excellent… I accept you as my retainers. I hope you will uphold the path of loyalty, offering me your strength and swords, and I, in turn, will fulfill the duties of a lord, rewarding you accordingly!”
After the simple and solemn ceremony, Wu Ming tossed two vials to them: “Undergo the Oath as soon as possible. Earn merit in war and become my knights!”
“Could this be… Holy Oil?!”
Avah and Malete’s hands trembled.
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