Energy surged around the barefoot laborers, the muscles of ragged craftsmen swelled, white vapor rose from the heads of scrawny boys, and the eyes of sickly carters shone...
The reality unfolding before their eyes shook everyone present to the core.
No incitement was needed, no rallying cry, no shouting themselves hoarse.
"We want cultivation methods! We want to cultivate!"
The auxiliary soldiers and laborers, whom the regular troops had never valued in the first place, saw the only opportunity they would ever have in their lives and began shouting.
Chai Qingtang and Shi Yuanhao exchanged a glance, each seeing an indescribable helplessness in the other's eyes.
If either of them dared leave now, an overwhelming mutiny awaited him.
What would happen if they returned to the Northern Garrison Army with only a scattered few thousand men?
Would the people backing them really be willing to step in and protect them at all costs?
Several officers of the Might-Shaking Army came over and spoke in low voices.
"Commander, something's wrong. Please make your decision soon."
"That's right. We can barely keep the men in check."
"If you don't speak up, they'll go join the Mo Blade Army."
"Commander, what do you think..."
Chai Qingtang narrowed his eyes, staring at Shi Yuanhao, that fellow who always trimmed his sails to the wind.
Shi Yuanhao looked at the Might-Shaking Army he had painstakingly built up over so many years and sighed helplessly before declaring, "Brothers of the Might-Shaking Army, you all know what sort of man I, Shi Yuanhao, am after all these years. I can't call myself a good general, but whatever our fellow soldiers had, I've never let you go without. There are things I cannot do and words I cannot say, but now that wealth and glory vast enough to