171: Fourth Generation: Overlord (Sixty-seven)

Wang Qingshan paused, lowering his voice even further:

"To be able to simultaneously support multiple Dynasties like Black Tooth and Yelang, giving them the confidence to constantly provoke our Great Shang and even faintly connect them... such a move is definitely not something an ordinary Dynasty can do."

"I speculate that standing behind them is very likely a... Imperial Dynasty!"

As soon as the words 'Imperial Dynasty' were spoken, the air around the quiet room seemed to suddenly freeze, and even the whistling wind came to a standstill.

Xu Yuan's eyes shot out a terrifying cold light, and the majestic aura around him that harmonized with heaven and earth fluctuated uncontrollably. The dust on the floor of the quiet room silently floated up and was annihilated.

An Imperial Dynasty!

He knew better than Wang Qingshan what this meant!

For a nation to be called an Imperial Dynasty, its ruler must be a Golden Core True Person!

Only with a Golden Core True Person presiding, suppressing the National Fortune with supreme power and organizing the mountains and rivers, can it carry the Luck and status of the term 'Imperial Dynasty'!

The gaze of an Imperial Dynasty, even if it was just a spark of interest caused by the disputes of its subordinate Dynasties, brought pressure that was far beyond what the Heavenly Wolf Dynasty could compare to!

That was a terrifying existence with a completely different level of life!

Xu Yuan's heart sank instantly.

He was able to nearly sweep through the Foundation Establishment Realm while only at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, and even kill those at the Late Stage or Perfection. This was thanks to the profound foundation and combat experience accumulated in his previous three lives, but most fundamentally, it was the Perfect Dao Foundation he forged in this fourth life—the Purple Extremity Vast Heaven Foundation!

Why was the Purple Extremity Vast Heaven Foundation powerful?

Because it was a Perfect Dao Foundation, it possessed a trace of 'pseudo-Golden Core status' that transcended ordinary Foundation Establishment!

Thus, Xu Yuan could rely on this trace of status to easily mobilize the Great Shang's National Fortune, possessing Divine Might within Great Shang's borders that was almost akin to his words becoming law!

But, it was only a trace of Golden Essence!

Compared to a true Golden Core True Person who had survived the Heavenly Tribulation and condensed a complete Golden Core, his trace of Golden Essence was like a firefly to the bright moon, or a stream to the vast sea!

It was a fundamental difference!

A Golden Core True Person possessed boundless Dharmic power and innate Divine Abilities; with a single thought, they could change the colors of heaven and earth, and with a wave of a hand, they could overturn mountains and fill seas!

Their Golden Core is indestructible, and their Golden Essence is difficult to destroy even through Reincarnation. They are existences who have truly stepped onto the path of longevity!

Even though Xu Yuan had now broken through to Foundation Establishment Perfection and his strength was a hundred times greater than when he was at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, and the Purple Extremity Vast Heaven Foundation had become even more perfect, with that trace of Golden Essence also growing stronger and more refined, he knew in his heart that if he faced a true Golden Core True Person now, he still... had no chance of winning!

At most, by relying on the blessing of the National Fortune, the miraculous nature of his Dao Foundation, and the life-risking methods from his previous lives, he could barely hold his own for a move or two to fight for a slim chance of escape.

But to defeat them? To protect the foundations of Great Shang?

Absolutely impossible!

"Time... what I lack most is time!"

A strong sense of urgency burned in Xu Yuan's heart like a raging fire.

He had just broken through to Foundation Establishment Perfection. Although it seemed like only one step away from the Golden Core Path, it was actually separated by a natural chasm!

It required a massive amount of accumulation and a key Epiphany, which could not be achieved in a short period of time.

So, facing the potential threat from an Imperial Dynasty's Golden Core True Person, what was his current reliance?

Instantly, a name surfaced in his mind—

The Nine Nether Puppet Killing Array!

A forbidden Formation from Mo Qianji's Legacy! Using the massive National Fortune as its base and high-level War Puppets as its eyes, it gathered the Evil Qi of hundreds of millions of people. Once formed, its power was boundless, and it was said to be enough to contend with a Golden Core!

This Formation was the only trump card Xu Yuan could currently think of that would give him the power to protect himself or even counterattack in front of a Golden Core True Person!

But setting up this Formation had two core difficulties: one was the need for massive resources, and the other was the need for sufficiently powerful core War Puppets that were at least at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage or even Perfection!

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan looked sharply at Wang Qingshan and asked directly: "Father, with the current capabilities and resources of the Workshop, can we forge Foundation Establishment Perfection level War Puppets in a short time?"

Hearing this, a look of solemnity and helplessness appeared on Wang Qingshan's face as he slowly shook his head: "Difficult! Extremely difficult!"

"Yuan'er, you don't know. The core of a Foundation Establishment Perfection level War Puppet requires 'Spirit-Melding Profound Iron' of extremely high purity. During the refining process, it even requires a massive amount of 'Star Sand' and 'Thousand-Year Jade Marrow Liquid' to stabilize the spirit inscriptions and construct the puppet core."

"The difficulty far exceeds that of Early and Mid-Foundation Establishment level War Puppets, and the success rate is extremely low."

"More importantly," Wang Qingshan sighed, "although we annexed Tianlang and obtained many resources, most of them have already been invested into military expansion, the implementation of new policies, and maintaining daily consumption. Although several major mineral veins within Tianlang's borders have been taken over, mining and refining will take time. If we are to forcibly refine Foundation Establishment Perfection War Puppets regardless of the cost, and ensure a certain number... our current resource reserves are far from enough! Unless..."

"Unless what?" Xu Yuan pressed, his eyes sharp, already having a faint guess.

"Unless... we can immediately obtain an unimaginably huge injection of resources! Or..." A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Wang Qingshan's eyes, "...we can immediately take down some veteran Dynasties and plunder all their resources to support such crazy consumption!"

Xu Yuan fell silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the cold jade wall of the quiet room.

The situation was even more severe than he had anticipated.

Resources were always the greatest Bottleneck restricting development.

Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice; even if Wang Xuanmo's skills were heavenly, without enough top-tier Materials, he could not create War Puppets that could rival Foundation Establishment Perfection.

A moment later, a flash of decisiveness appeared in his eyes. He looked up at Wang Qingshan and said with absolute certainty: "I will solve the problem of resources."

"Father, immediately send word to the Fifth Elder to have him gather all the top craftsmen to first overcome the technical challenges of refining the core of Foundation Establishment Perfection War Puppets. Make all the preparations."

"Once the resources are in place, I want him to produce at least nine Foundation Establishment Perfection War Puppets in the shortest time possible!"

Wang Qingshan's heart shivered, and he immediately understood Xu Yuan's intention—he was going to pour everything in to prioritize the Formation of the 'Nine Nether Puppet Killing Array'!

Wang Qingshan nodded heavily: "Good! I'll see to it immediately!"

"Also," Xu Yuan added, "have the Shadow Guards increase their investigation efforts. Not only must they find out the defenses of Dynasties like Black Tooth and Yelang, but they must also map out the locations, reserves, and guarding forces of the major mineral veins within their borders! We don't have much time left; we must be fast!"

"Understood!" Wang Qingshan responded solemnly, turned, and walked away quickly, his figure soon disappearing at the end of the palace corridor.

Outside the quiet room, only Xu Yuan was left once again.

Not enough resources?

Then go and snatch them! Go and seize them!

Black Tooth, Yelang... haven't you been constantly provoking us?

Then use your National Fortune and your bones to forge the foundation for my Great Shang... to contend with the Golden Core!

Xu Yuan murmured to himself, and a chilling killing intent slowly spread around him.

He had originally wanted to rest for a while to stabilize his Realm. But now, the enemy would not give him that time.

Then... let there be war!

Sustain war with war, stop killing with killing!

Use the fastest speed to crush all obstacles and gather enough power to meet the potential... Golden Core Tribulation!