However, the greatest difference between the barbarians and the people of Divine Province lay only at the transcendent level. If the transcendent was not involved, then in all other respects, there were merely racial differences in appearance caused by differing climates.
Beyond that, the barbarian armies were often even more valiant and battle-hardened than the armies of Divine Province.
And if barbarians propagated for several generations upon the land of Divine Province, their qi would become identical to that of Divine Province people, with no difference whatsoever.
Conversely, if people of Divine Province propagated for several generations beyond Divine Province, their qi would likewise become the same as that of the barbarians.
As for why such differences existed, there was no end of differing opinions.
But one fact was that the actual territory occupied by the dynasties of Divine Province was larger than the true extent of "Divine Province."
There was even a legend that the lands beyond Divine Province were not real, but merely illuminated by Divine Province's lingering radiance. Thus, though vast, they possessed form but no substance.
Of course, while no Daoist had taken the path of becoming king among the barbarians, there were those who became barbarian state preceptors. Unlike the stingy rulers of Divine Province, barbarians were exceedingly generous when it came to bestowing investiture.
And after receiving investiture, the Daoists were not after the barbarians' paltry bit of destiny. They meant to use the barbarians' powerful soldiers and sturdy horses to swallow Divine Province whole, like a whale.
Granted, for all sorts of reasons, among the countless dynasties throughout history, no barbarian had ever truly entered Divine Province and become its master. Yet there had been times when several provinces of land were occupied and ruled by barbarians.
At such times, Daoists who had