The filter shattered again.
Qin Shi thought to himself that he'd always assumed a peerless prodigy like He Lanchán would roam the stars, brave secret realms, and carve out his own place in the universe with his fists. Who'd have thought he'd end up mining in the Netherworld and working for Entropy Sea Bank?
"Is the end of the universe really just a life of drudgery? Even Half-step Martial Gods aren't exempt."
Qin Shi couldn't help thinking so.
"To become a true power, free from the influence or constraints of any Super Power, you need more than immense personal strength. You also need to control resources! Resources determine the future. If you can't create resources or monopolize them, you'll never be able to stand against the megacorporations and financial groups. They'll have you in their grasp in no time!"
Super Little He said flatly.
"Just look at Eastern Xia's Great Expedition and Great Reclamation. Only by continuously acquiring and producing resources can you avoid having someone squeeze your throat."
Qin Shi understood. He'd read plenty of examples in history books.
Eastern Xia had reached the height of its glory during its imperial age, shining across the galaxy and earning the wariness of every Super Power.
But the Star God Wars that followed, along with the Iron People Rebellion, had badly weakened the Eastern Xia Empire. It was forced into a dark period of turmoil, fragmented and engulfed in endless warfare. Only after the Nine Marshals appeared did it begin to restore order and rebuild the nation.
During that process, though, it had indeed been bullied and suppressed by Super Powers.
There had been "resource sanctions" and "shipping lane blockades"—the kinds of things that made it into the history books.
Without the Nine Marshals leading their armies in person, reclaiming lost