Training a group of Martial Immortals in the Denglou Realm through conventional means...
...would easily take hundreds or even thousands of years.
The Great Tang could not afford to wait.
Jiang Yuechu, likewise, did not have the time to wait.
But this path of incense was different.
If... the Great Tang had hundreds of millions of citizens, how terrifyingly powerful would it be if this immense Power Of Will were gathered together?
As for the significant decrease in strength upon leaving the Dao field, it was indeed a fatal weakness for those who needed to expand their territory.
But for the current Great Tang, which only needed to defend its borders and recuperate...
...what did it matter?!
At this thought,
Jiang Yuechu felt a surge of heat in her heart.
The slight gloom that had arisen because the useless trash of Five Immortals Mountain hadn't been enough to satisfy her hunger mostly dissipated now.
Killing a few old dogs and finding a shortcut to strengthening the nation in return—
This deal was not a loss.
The young girl took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning thoughts in her mind.
"Then do you know exactly how this Incense Golden Body is cultivated?"
Wang Ziyu was stunned.
His mouth fell open as he looked at Jiang Yuechu with utter disbelief.
"You... what do you want to do? You wouldn't be thinking..."
Was she crazy?
This girl possessed the body of a True Dragon and such terrifying latent potential; her path to the Great Dao was promising.
Why would she ruin her own future to cultivate this path of incense?!
Jiang Yuechu did not explain.
The light in her eyes only grew more intense.
"I am only asking you... do you know, or do you not?"
Wang Ziyu felt a bit uneasy being stared at by those eyes.
He subconsciously took half a step back, avoiding her burning gaze.
After a moment of silence,
The boy sighed and nodded.
"I know... naturally, I know."
"This path of incense is not some closely guarded secret to the various Grotto-Heavens."
"Even some Grotto-Heaven Disciples from cultivation families will bring this path back to their families if their elders' Lifespan is near its end and they have no hope of a Breakthrough."
"They help them transition to the Incense Divine Path to extend the Family's Luck and protect future generations."
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly.
As long as there was a method, things would be easy to handle.
Seeing the girl's interested expression, the absurd thought in Wang Ziyu's mind became clearer.
He couldn't help but step forward and say urgently, "Once you accept incense, putting aside the many restrictions... you saw it just now. Those five beasts were all in the middle or late stages of the Denglou Realm, yet their strength wasn't that formidable... Although that's partly because you are too much of a Prodigy, in a fight between equals, those who cultivate incense will undoubtedly lose!"
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow. "Who said I was going to cultivate it?"
Hearing this,
Wang Ziyu was startled.
Then he immediately reacted.
"You mean to..."
Jiang Yuechu did not deny it.
She nodded, her expression frank.
"The Great Tang is too large, with vast territories and hundreds of millions of people."
"I am but one person, not a god."
"I can kill all the encroaching enemies in Chang'an and wipe away the filth of Five Immortals Mountain."
"But I cannot protect every inch of the Great Tang's land, nor can I instantly reach every county and prefecture when demons run rampant."
At this point,
A flash of exhaustion appeared in the girl's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
"No matter what drawbacks this path of incense has, for the current Great Tang, it is a life-saving medicine."
"I know that such methods are not lightly given. Consider today's matter as me owing you a favor. If you need anything in the future, I... will not refuse."
Looking at the girl's serious face, Wang Ziyu scratched his head, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Cough... fine, fine. Don't make it such a solemn affair, it's a bit creepy... Besides, the ordinary path of incense provides a Realm but lacks techniques; it's actually not very useful..."
Jiang Yuechu's brow furrowed slightly.
"Then what should be done?"
Wang Ziyu held up a finger and wagged it.
"If you want to truly utilize the wonders of incense power without being burdened by it, it's best to condense a Golden Body. Only then can you be considered to have entered the true path and established a Foundation..."
"Golden Body?"
"Indeed."
Wang Ziyu nodded and said, "The so-called Golden Body Technique involves forging a Dharma Body from Natural Wonders and then refining it day and night with the Power Of Will from incense. But that isn't the key... The key is that this method requires a powerful predecessor as a prototype to mold the Golden Body."
"Once the Golden Body reaches Major Achievement, other Cultivators of this path can briefly borrow the techniques of the prototype person through the Golden Body."
"To put it simply, if the Golden Body is molded with you as the prototype,"
"Then... anyone in the Great Tang who worships your Golden Body can borrow your might. This is one of the few advantages of the path of incense!"
"However... this method of condensing a Golden Body is rare. In the entire Eastern Region, there are few places that still hold such a Legacy."
Hearing this,
Jiang Yuechu's eyes dimmed slightly.
There were few places in the entire Eastern Region... According to his words, the mere path of incense wasn't considered very useful.
If facing a powerful enemy, it would still be insufficient.
But then the boy suddenly grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
"But..."
"I happen to know of one place. If you want it, I can take you there to try your Luck."
...Chang'an.
The twilight was heavy.
The Li Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, silent for a long time.
Behind him, the Old Eunuch tremulously stepped forward a few paces.
"Your Majesty, the night is deep and the dew is heavy..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a raspy voice.
"Has Lonely Moon not returned yet?"
The Old Eunuch's body stiffened. He lowered his head and said softly, "No news has been sent back yet... However, the Grand Princess, Your Highness, is blessed by heaven; she will surely be safe and sound."
"Blessed by heaven?"
The Emperor grinned, but the smile was full of bitterness.
"Lonely Moon has been wandering since childhood and has suffered greatly."
"It was not easy for her to return to the Imperial Family. I haven't even fulfilled half of my responsibility as an elder brother, yet she has to fight all the way for the sake of the Great Tang's territory..."
"Now, she has even entered the Denglou Realm and become the sole pillar of the Great Tang."
The Emperor slowly turned around and looked at his hands.
"Even if I have the heart to help share her burdens now... I am powerless."
Hearing this,
The Old Eunuch did not dare to say much.
But... why compare oneself to a Prodigy like Her Highness Lonely Moon?
In this entire world of the Great Tang, who could possibly stand as her equal?
After thinking for a long time, he softly consoled, "Your Majesty, if Her Highness knew you were blaming yourself like this, she would certainly feel uneasy... and she would never feel that you owe her anything."
Before his voice could fade,
At that moment,
Several streaks of light suddenly cut through the night sky, heading straight toward the Imperial City.
The leading one was brilliantly golden, appearing exceptionally eye-catching.
"It's... Lonely Moon is back!"
The Emperor's eyes brightened instantly, all traces of dejection gone.
Lifting a corner of his dragon robe and disregarding all imperial decorum, he sprinted toward the place where they were descending.
The Old Eunuch shook his head and sighed inwardly.
Compared to His Majesty's self-blame,
He felt that the Great Tang was incredibly fortunate.
To have such a Highness... who had turned the tide many times and saved the Great Tang from the brink of disaster!