In fact, ever since the Medieval Era, some unified imperial dynasties at the height of their power had been capable of bringing the lands beyond the passes under their rule as well.
The so-called remnants of the Hundred Clans had long since become yesterday's flowers. They might possess some strength, but they could never be a match for the human race.
The reason they had not acted was simply because the gains did not outweigh the losses.
The logic was simple. To bring the Arctic Ice Plains under their rule, they would certainly need to relocate human populations there.
Yet the laws of heaven and earth here were different. Deathly Qi outweighed vital Qi; crops could not be grown, and even food and drinking water were problems. If millions, or even tens of millions, of humans were truly relocated here, not only would they be unable to develop and manage the land, but the Land within Divine Continent Passes would instead have to provide an endless blood transfusion of aid. For the orthodox human race of the Divine Land, it was wholly not worth the cost.
To be even more pessimistic, under such harsh conditions, the human race might need to lose millions, perhaps several million people, and spend several generations—even a dozen or more generations—before they could possibly adapt to the Arctic Ice Plains' living environment.
The price was too great, while the returns were utterly disproportionate. That was why no one had ever launched a campaign against the lands beyond the passes.
Zhao Rulíng laughed heartily, his manner rather bold and heroic.
"So, if one day you unify the Divine Continent and establish an entirely new dynasty, would you be willing to conquer the Arctic Ice Plains and incorporate it into the territory of our Central Plains?"
Meng