Chapter 67: Persuasion
After careful consideration, Qin Mu decided to summon the formidable military figure, Councilor Jia Yi, to have a face-to-face discussion in City 023. The choice of location was deliberate; Qin Mu wanted Jia to witness the tamed Flame Giant Lizard with his own eyes. Seeing it in person would have a far greater impact than words ever could.
Qin Mu dialed Jia Yi's communication device. "Hello, Councilor Jia. This is Qin Mu."
The connection was established quickly, and a middle-aged man's voice came through, tinged with fatigue.
"Qin Mu, is there an emergency?" His tone suggested he hadn't rested well in a while.
"Councilor, there is indeed a pressing matter. I'm currently in City 023 and would like to meet with you here. Additionally, I request that the military reconnaissance teams in City 023 cease their operations for the time being." Despite sensing Jia Yi's exhaustion, Qin Mu spoke directly about the purpose of his call.
"Is the monster activity in City 023 related to you? The beasts in the ocean have been unusually active lately, and a monster tide may be imminent. I need to stay alert." Jia Yi's voice reflected his surprise.
"It is related to me. I've broken through to the planetary-level Spirit Master. I have plans concerning the monsters that I wish to discuss with you in person." Qin Mu's tone was serious.
"You've broken through? I understand. I'll head over immediately." Jia Yi's demeanor shifted dramatically; his voice was now brimming with excitement. After hanging up, it didn't take long for two military reconnaissance teams to withdraw from City 023, ceasing their operations.
Half an hour later, a blood-red disc-shaped fighter jet descended from the sky. A lean, middle-aged man in combat gear leapt from the aircraft, landing atop the dilapidated building where Qin Mu awaited.
"Qin Mu, you've achieved your breakthrough?" Jia Yi's face flushed with excitement. There were only four individuals in China who had surpassed the Wargod rank, and if what Qin Mu said was true, it would mean China was gaining a fifth, and the first Spirit Master of that caliber. The military lacked any Spirit Masters of that level.
Qin Mu focused his mind, summoning the micro planet within his consciousness, his body levitating slightly. Short spears shot forth from behind him, transforming into streaks of light as they pierced toward a nearby building. In an instant, the structure collapsed under the onslaught, reduced to a pile of rubble.
Jia Yi glanced at the auxiliary computer on his wrist, which displayed the assessment of Qin Mu's power. "Attack Power: Planetary Level 1, 77% (Spirit Master)."
A broad smile spread across Jia Yi's face as he let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! Planetary Level 1, 77%. Incredible."
Indeed, it was 77%. With the Zerg's feedback, Qin Mu's power was continually rising.
After calming down, Jia Yi's mood brightened further, and he asked, "You mentioned that have some plans. What exactly are those plans?"
After a brief pause, Qin Mu waved his hand, and a massive Flame Giant Lizard, over a hundred meters long, erupted from the ground.
"Roar—" The Flame Giant Lizard let out a thunderous roar, lowering its head in submission upon seeing Qin Mu. As it roared, a multitude of monsters appeared around them, kneeling as if in reverence toward Qin Mu.
Jia Yi was visibly shaken by the sight. He had encountered many King Level monsters in his lifetime, even slaying several himself. But witnessing one submit to a human was a first.
"I have experienced some unique opportunities that have granted me special methods in beast taming. Not only this King Level monster, but I currently control millions of beasts, and that number is steadily increasing. I plan to wage war against the monsters in specific areas, even on a national scale, until we reclaim all our land. During this process, I hope to gain the military's support." Qin Mu spoke deliberately, weighing his words.
Upon hearing this, Jia Yi's breath quickened, and his eyes widened as he replied gravely, "Unique opportunities? Are you referring to certain inheritances found within ruins? You want to reclaim all our land? Do you have any idea how many monsters are out there, especially King Level monsters?"
"With your current strength at only Planetary Level 1, that may not be possible. That's hundreds of billions of monsters, with dozens of King Level monsters among them."
Reclaiming the entire nation. It was a dream he had longed for, the land he had watched slip away as he witnessed city after city fall to the beasts. Yet, he felt powerless, merely constructing base cities to shelter the surviving populace. This was the eternal pain in his heart.
"I understand; this certainly won't happen overnight. I will proceed step by step." Qin Mu nodded; his expression serious.
Seeing Qin Mu's earnestness, Jia Yi also adopted a grave demeanor. However, instead of pressing for details about Qin Mu's plans, he posed a different question.
"Are you aware of the current global situation?"
Qin Mu furrowed his brow, suspecting what Jia Yi was about to say. Noticing Qin Mu's silence, Jia Yi fixed his gaze on him, his expression solemn.
"Globally, there are trillions of monsters on land alone and hundreds of King Level monsters. In the oceans, the number becomes unimaginable, with thousands of King Level monsters, plus the two Emperors that exist."
"And humans? You've joined the Palace of Wargods, comprising a total of 3,513 Warlords across the planet. There are only a few hundred high-ranking Wargods. Among them, there are 52 members above that level. This is the entirety of humanity's strength. If a full-scale war with the monsters breaks out, our collective strength is far from enough."
"The relative peace we maintain with the monsters can be attributed not only to the ultra-high-frequency laser cannons but also to the deterrent presence of the two powerful beings, Hong and Lei Shen, against the King level monsters. Everyone is avoiding a full-scale war; even the world's strongest, Hong, would feel despair when faced with countless monsters. Are you prepared for a full-scale war?"
"Even if you control millions, or even tens of millions of monsters, it won't be enough in this situation. To initiate a full-scale war, you need to be better prepared, and your strength must be significantly greater—perhaps even surpassing Hong. Otherwise, it would be wise not to provoke conflict."
Jia Yi's words were heavy. He supported Qin Mu's ambitions more than anyone, longing to reclaim the lands lost under his watch. However, the disparity in strength between humanity and the monsters was too vast for him to overlook.
"Once the war begins, the other major factions of humanity, even Hong himself, may come to stop you. Humanity is simply not prepared for this." As Jia Yi spoke of Hong, his expression turned grave.
Hong wasn't just a symbol of absolute deterrence against monsters; he wielded immense influence over the various human factions as well. The power gap between him and the other strong individuals on Earth was like a chasm. From the Great Nirvana period to the present, Hong's strength and status had remained unwaveringly supreme. He alone was worth an entire nation, perhaps even more formidable than that. Even the mightiest of the Five Great Nations had to tread carefully around him.
Fortunately, Hong was deeply focused on his own cultivation, devoted to the path of the warrior. As a result he had been elevated to near-divine status, with all nations cooperating to promote his Limit Dojo.
He established the Palace of Wargods, becoming the First Councilor, and humanity even built him a base city—one that even King level monsters dared not invade. He had forged contracts with both land and sky monsters, bringing an end to the full-scale war between humanity and the beasts.
This was Hong's standing.
If Qin Mu were to initiate a full-scale war against the monsters, how would the planet's strongest man react? Would he support or oppose it? This was a dilemma Jia Yi had to consider.
In Jia Yi's eyes, there was no doubt about Qin Mu's talents; in just three short months, he had risen from a novice fighter to a being surpassing the Wargod level. Such a genius, with the right opportunities, was expected to have grand ambitions. But perhaps he was being a bit too hasty.
"Hong?" Qin Mu shook his head. While his power had surged, he still lacked the confidence to face Hong directly. Convincing him would not be easy; at the core of it all, it was a matter of strength.
Without a doubt, Hong also wished to end the chaotic era and eliminate all monsters. However, he had his own considerations. The development of the Zerg had reached a critical bottleneck, and attempting to grow in secrecy was becoming increasingly unrealistic. Once the Zerg's numbers reached tens of millions, hiding them would be impossible.
Currently, the Zerg comprised 16 million, with only a small number of worker bugs. All other combat units were at least high soldiers, with millions of Commander-level monsters, 892 Horde Leader monsters, and one King level monster. As for Qin Mu's own strength, there was no need to elaborate; aside from Hong and Lei Shen, he had no fear of anyone else.
Seeing Jia Yi's expression, Qin Mu understood that without presenting tangible evidence, Jia Yi wouldn't dare to openly support him. Merely being at Planetary Level 1 and having a Horde Leader monster, the Flame Giant Lizard, would not be enough to sway him.
"Councilor Jia, I know Hong is powerful, but my strength may surpass your expectations." Qin Mu wasn't interested in arguing; after all, strength was the most persuasive argument of all.
Whoosh— Qin Mu levitated, channeling his spirit energy as the magnetic field propelled him forward, accelerating rapidly toward the horizon.
"Speed: 2,523 meters per second." Jia Yi stared at the data displayed on his auxiliary computer device, his face a mask of shock. This speed far exceeded that of a Planetary Level 2 or 3.
After flying a circle, Qin Mu returned. From his backpack, a flurry of short spears erupted into the air. Fifty-six short spears converged mid-air, spinning rapidly to form a conical shape, shooting like a comet as they obliterated several skyscrapers in a series of explosive crashes.
Jia Yi's eyes widened in astonishment, glued to his device.
"This attack has reached Planetary Level 6, no, it's even higher than that."
Qin Mu floated before Jia Yi with a confident air.
"Unfortunately, my weapons are quite lacking. If I had spirit weapons, my power would be even greater. But that's fine—within a month, my strength will reach Planetary Level 2, and I will gain a significant boost. Even Hong and Lei Shen won't intimidate me. Moreover, the number of monsters under my command continues to grow. I'm fully prepared to engage in warfare with them, and I have every confidence."
Seeing Qin Mu's unwavering confidence, Jia Yi suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha— Finally! Finally! China has birthed a true genius! No, a true powerhouse! In recent years, the military has unearthed numerous ruins. In one of those sites, we even discovered a spirit weapon. However, it has remained sealed because we lacked a planetary-level Spirit Master. I will see to it that this weapon is sent to you."
Upon hearing this, Qin Mu's eyes lit up with excitement; he hadn't expected such a valuable find. Indeed, the military had its share of hidden treasures.
Jia Yi continued to laugh, overwhelmed by the release of pressure he had been carrying. Over the years, as the strongest figure in the military, his burden had been immense. Especially in light of the emergence of regeneration potions, which faction wouldn't covet such a discovery? Even the Limit Dojo had reached out. Yet, he had gritted his teeth and endured. Now, with all that pressure suddenly lifted, how could he not feel joy?
"Go ahead and act. The military will fully support your actions."
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