...


    Doing a thing like cultivation was analogous to that of a person traveling upstream in a wooden kayak without a paddle. It was a trial against fatea trial that shouldn''t be taken lightly.


    If one were to get into the statistics of it all, then only around 1 in 1000 people could make it to the peak of the Body Refinement Realm. And only roughly 1 in 10,000 people could make it to the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.


    Now, this number may seem overinted to most; however, that was truly a fair probability considering that there were tens of trillions of humans residing within the world of Asterion.


    So, with all this in mind, it waspletely reasonable that even a ''weak'' cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm could rule over a small area consisting of a few thousand people.


    There were, of course, ws in such a number, as there were likely millions of cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm, but there were only a few thousand kingdoms in Asterion.


    However, that was only because ruling was not as simple as just being powerful enough. It also involved having the right mindset to allow one to rule over the masses, whether that be with an iron or soft fist.


    And ruling was not as easy as throwing your weight around with the power you possessed. You also needed to know how to manage and organize groups of people that were willing to staypliant under your rule.


    Which essentially exined why the number of kingdoms, whenpared to the number of cultivators eligible to rule such kingdoms, was so skewed.


    ....


    The City Lord had spent the next few minutes informing Azmond of everything that he needed to know to traverse the Divine Sun Province. And he was especially focused on articting the locations of certain ''pleasure houses'' scattered around the various kingdoms.


    Azmond had, of course, put all of such information to the back of his mind. And instead, he focused his attention on the parts pertaining to any secret areas and, of course, the Nightmare Council.


    He learned a few things about their usual scouting times, which included the intervals at which a few of the mid-ranking ''Demon Kings'' made their rounds within the heart of the Great Wilnds Forest.


    Azmond wasn''t too worried about such weak monsters; however, knowing what times they made their rounds would allow him to find the perfect ''Monster King'' to let him pass through the ''Gates''.


    After all, what he nned to do was take up a disguise as one of the ''Monster Kings'' and infiltrate the organization from the inside.


    From there, he nned to take out the ''Monster Kings'' and ''Monster Kings'' in rtively discrete ways.


    Azmond was hoping to chop down all the ''Monster Ruler''s'' within the next few months, if at all possible.


    If he extended the period any further than that, then it was extremely likely that the Nine Monster Emperor''s, who kept a vignt watch over theirnds, would notice his true existence. And at that point, he might as well consider himself dead.


    But, luckily for Azmond, he had the Old City Lord inform him of all the details he gleaned while making a ''deal'' with one of the most powerful ''Monster Queen''s''a Queen who truly deserved that title, as her strength was at the very minimum, in the Unity Form Synthesis Realm!


    ....


    "Listen, youngster, even though I hope you can help me out with that miracle drug. I do wish for you to truly think this matter over before you head out. For there is no turning back once you enter the Heart of the Great Wilnds Forest, not unless you w your way out by force!


    So, I strongly suggest you think this over one more time," Eldric warned with a stringent tone.


    He truly wished for nothing more than the youngster to help him acquire that miracle drug; however, that didn''t mean he was willing to sacrifice the life of such a strong, young cultivator of the human race.


    His strength would be needed at the Starry Seaboardthat much, the Old City Lord knew for sure.


    There was no doubt in his mind that once the higher-ups learned of the youngster''s existence, they would send out officials to recruit him right to the front lines of a battle that had been going on since before he was born.


    But, of course, Eldric would never disclose the existence of the youngster to another soul. After all, those old bastards governing over Asterion never even entertained the idea of lending him a hand, even when he got on his knees and begged!


    They could go and die to star beast''s for all he cared!


    "Thank you for the warning, old dude, but I have already decided," Azmond responded as he rolled up the map before putting it into his storage ring.


    "And don''t worry about that ''miracle drug'' you need. I''ll make sure to get it back to you before the end of next year. That much, I guarantee. After all, you have been a big help in my experience bag acquisition- Err, I mean the extermination of all evildoers!"


    A righteous expression emerged on his face as he put his hands behind his back and gazed off into the distance with his chin slightly tilted up.


    Azmond was a true hero of the people!


    "..."


    The City Lord, upon hearing the ''conviction'' in Azmond''s voice, couldn''t help but let out a grateful sigh, followed by him telling Azmond one more thing:


    "Do be cautious once you meet the Monster Queen dubbed ''wdia Moonweaver, Queen of the Catfolk Confederacy''. She was the one who made that ''agreement'' with me. And she is also the one with an indiscernible level of strength," he began with an informative tone before it turned slightly...


    "She''s also a pretty one, so it would do you well not to chase after her out of desperation! I know what it''s like to have a lover leave you hanging due to ''inadequacy'', but you must stay strong, youngster!


    Who knows, there might evene a day when your efficiency down there is increased a hundredfold! You are still young, and ''invigoration'' runs in your blood!"