Chapter 60 Then Let Us Trample the Bones of Nobles Across the Heavenly Avenue

"Just how weak has the Federation become? Defeated on the front lines, suppressed by the Bald Eagle Empire, and targeted by the Winter Empire."

Lin Xia muttered, speechless. "They're at the end of their rope, yet they're still hiding things and holding back!"

"Even if they don't care whether ordinary people live or die, shouldn't they at least care about the source of their own power?"

"If the Federation falls, how will these elites and noble families continue to act as tyrants and lord it over others?"

With that thought, Lin Xia paused, then pondered to himself, "Or perhaps, these people have already found a way out."

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Lin Xia's mind.

During his last simulation, he remembered it being mentioned that the Federation possessed a hidden foundation. The Bald Eagle Empire and the Winter Empire could invade, but they wouldn't go too far.

Could this foundation... be something similar to a mutually assured destruction nuclear weapon?

If so, it made sense why these elites and noble families acted with such utter disregard for common decency.

Regardless, any news or movements would reach them first.

Whether they needed to run, or where they should go, they were far more informed than anyone else.

Besides, when wars broke out, it wasn't them who died.

So why would they need to worry about so much?

In the eyes of these scions of noble families, as long as their own lineage could grow and prosper, everything else came second.

[Lin Xue looked into Du Yuhan's eyes and asked softly.]

[What are the conditions?]

[Since you've told me so much, you must want to pass that soul-refining technique on to me.]

[What are your terms?]

[Du Yuhan smiled faintly, remarking that she always loved talking to smart people.]

[Family rules dictate that the soul-refining technique is never taught to outsiders.]

[Therefore, she hoped Lin Xue could marry into the Du family. She had a cousin of the same age who was currently studying at a super-elite institution: the Imperial Capital Warrior Academy.]

[She could pull strings and arrange for Lin Xue to meet him.]

[Although her cousin already had an arranged political marriage partner, she could guarantee that such a union would be entirely devoid of affection.]

[Under her arrangement, the two of them would undoubtedly become a devoted couple.]

[As long as Lin Xue carried the bloodline of the Du family in her womb, she would officially become a member of the Du family, and the soul-refining technique could naturally be imparted to her.]

[After saying this, Du Yuhan felt extremely pleased with her own brilliant idea.]

[While further elaborating on this romantic plan, she even went so far as to disparage the Red Heart Society with her words.]

[By now, many things were already laid out in the open.]

[The founder of the Red Heart Society—the very person you once swore allegiance to—must undoubtedly be a scion of a noble family as well.]

[Serving under his command and managing the Red Heart Society in such impeccable order, what did you actually gain?]

[Did he perhaps keep even cultivation manuals a secret from you?]

[Otherwise, you wouldn't have been so curious about how quickly I refined my Bronze-tier Qi and magic.]

[If he kept even such matters hidden from you, it was all the more impossible that he would ever arrange for you to join a noble family, let alone give you the opportunity to marry a scion of nobility.]

[So Lin Xue, isn't it obvious at a glance who treats you well and who doesn't?]

[Only I truly regard you as a real sister and plan out your future.]

[Listening to Du Yuhan's words, Lin Xue nodded in apparent agreement, while feeling utterly disdainful of this whole concept of marrying into high society in her heart.]

[Her ideals had long since evolved from personal honor and disgrace to a rebellion against social injustice and the reform of a deformed social system.]

[Whenever she recalled the speeches you once gave, she still found them earth-shattering and profound.]

[Changing individuals or even a single family could only ever alter the destiny of a tiny fraction of people.]

[But if one could reform the national system and promote societal transformation, the lives affected would be those of tens of millions!]

[Though she came from a humble background, once her basic living struggles were resolved, these ideals and convictions naturally took root and sprouted in her heart.]

[Most importantly, under your guidance, she firmly believed that such a goal was entirely achievable.]

[Therefore, listening to Du Yuhan's rhetoric, she found it nothing short of ridiculous.]

[How could Du Yuhan's intellectual horizon ever compare to yours?]

[From the very suggestion the other woman made, she saw the sheer arrogance and condescension of the noble-born.]

[According to Du Yuhan's logic, by acting as a mistress or a concubine to a Du family scion, she would still somehow be marrying above her station.]

[Leaving everything else aside, purely considering the vast amounts of money she had helped Du Yuhan make, the least the woman could do was express some gratitude.]

[Thus, no matter how one looked at it, Du Yuhan fell far, far short of you!]

[Meanwhile, when you received the intelligence regarding the soul-refining technique, your gaze flashed.]

[So that was how it was!]

[All these cultivation manuals capable of accelerating the tempering of battle qi and magic had been hoarded away by the noble families!]

[Although the aristocratic families exercised extremely strict control over such matters, you already had a plan in mind, so this posed no real problem.]

[The most crucial step was to mobilize all available forces to develop the Red Heart Legion.]

[Once the Red Heart Legion grew powerful enough, you could seize the chaos when the Bald Eagle Empire and the Abyss began their upheaval.]

[An unwritten secret?]

[Strictly blockaded?]

[You might not be familiar with the noble families of other cities.]

[However, you were quite clear about the locations of the various noble houses in Cloud City and River City.]

[As the old saying goes, with a blade in hand, there is no fear in the heart.]

[Acquiring the cultivation manual would be simple enough; it would be nothing more than marching down the grand avenue over the bones of high officials and nobles.]

[In July of the 126th Year of the Transcendence Era, you announced the holding of the first Red Heart Assembly.]

[You poured a massive amount of capital into the launch of the Red Heart Assembly.]

[At the same time, you acquired various transcendent factories throughout Cloud City, integrating them into the Red Heart Chamber of Commerce under the banner of the Red Heart Legion.]

[Anyone who passed the preliminary selections of the Red Heart Assembly would earn the qualification to join the Red Heart Society and, eventually, enter the Red Heart Legion.]

[As for members of the Red Heart Society, they would enjoy priority access to various internal benefits within the Red Heart Chamber of Commerce, including but not limited to securing internal recommendations for their family members and friends to work in the transcendent factories owned by the Chamber.]

[Once this news regarding the welfare benefits spread, the entirety of Cloud City was set ablaze.]

[After all, no city was ever short of low-tier professional practitioners struggling to put food on the table.]

[Even the lowest-tier practitioners harbored a grand dream deep within their hearts.]

[Now, the Red Heart Society... had provided them with a path to grow stronger.]

[That same month, upon Lin Xue's suggestion, Du Yuhan followed closely behind, announcing the inauguration of the first Jade Capital Assembly.]

[All the conditions and benefits, all the policies, combat styles, and speech formats were identical to those of the Red Heart Assembly.]

[With only one exception: practitioners selected through the Jade Capital Assembly who accepted the resource grants of the assembly were required to sign an agreement pledging allegiance to the Jade Capital Society and to Du Yuhan herself for the next five years.]

[After all, from Du Yuhan's perspective, what was the point of spending so much transcendent resource wealth to host an assembly if there were no returns, and if she couldn't even screen out promising talents to expand her own legions?]

[Regarding the Red Heart Society's lavish spending, some could afford to follow suit, while others simply could not.]

[After all, scattering piles of glittering resources onto unrelated people seemed entirely absurd, didn't it?]

[Yet, precisely because of this newly added agreement, the number of applicants and the overall influence of the Jade Capital Assembly fell far short of the Red Heart Assembly.]

[Even the various resources Du Yuhan poured into publicity ended up looking as though they were merely paving the way for the Red Heart Assembly.]

[Especially on the opening day of the Red Heart Assembly, accompanied by your passionate opening remarks and your resolutely raised right hand—]

[The very next moment, the resounding cries of "Long live!" instantly drove everyone in the vicinity into a state of zealous fervor.]

[In an instant, the vast majority of Cloud City was enveloped by the sound of victory.]

[Even the Anshui District of Cloud City, where the Cloud City First Academy was located, seemed to echo with the fanatical slogans of triumph.]

[Red Heart!]

[Long Live!]