Above The Sky

Chapter 1965 - 11: Blessing of the Heart of Terra

"We" and "they" no longer exist.

Moreover, the analytical paper from the Silverpeak Domain unambiguously analyzed the origins of all the core traditions of the Fiery Flame Land.

The reason they value martial prowess is because, in the initial stages of transforming from a shelter into a national power, many internal tribes fought over water sources and cultivated land, so they revered strength and needed a strong leader, someone decisive and action-oriented, to lead them in the quest for resources.

The reason they admire reciprocating kindness and enmity is that without repaying kindness, one could not receive assistance from others. In that chaotic Lost Epoch, people could not trust any contract, relying solely on the "morality" and "reputation" of individuals. Only those with a reputation for gratitude could thrive; without it, even bandits would extort money from you.

As for returning enmity, it became a means of intimidation for the weak, ensuring that anything unobtainable by them wouldn’t fall into others’ hands. No matter how powerful you were, if you dared cause them to bleed, they would retaliate fiercely, even if only one of them survived. They would infiltrate your tribe with plague, contaminating water sources and oases, causing you to regurgitate what you’d ingested and inflict severe damage.

Only in this way could smaller tribes effectively intimidate the larger ones, absorbing them not through sheer force but through gentle approaches, rather than outright slaughter of men and children, capturing women, and full assimilation.

Only in this way could the Fiery Flame Land maintain its identity and uphold its order and peace.

—This is not unique.

The paper noted, with the author detailing many similar regions and powers across the Terra Continent, all sharing similar traditions and civilizations, even similar dietary habits.

The publication of this paper stirred a fervent outcry in Fiery Flame Land’s major media outlets, passionately criticizing such thoughts.

—Silverpeak Domain is erasing their uniqueness! They aim to demean our culture and traditions to achieve their unspeakable aims!

But honestly, this reasoning might apply to the ancient civilizations of thousands of years ago, which formed the predecessor of the Terra Federation before the pre-Civilization Era. Their traditions, possibly dating back to the Stone Age, were ingrained in their bones.

But for the post-apocalyptic civilizations of the current Terra Era, the historical records are just about seven hundred years old, and they all started from scratch like blank sheets; where would their traditional culture and customs come from?

Essentially, it’s merely an expansion of those rules from the shelters and a specialization of geopolitical factors.

Is this kind of uniqueness truly meaningful?

Ian believes it indeed holds value, as it can unite people’s hearts and thoughts, helping them survive the Lost Epoch.

However, it holds little utility in the Terra Era.

Furthermore, for his objective of unifying Terra, it entirely presents drawbacks.

Not to mention, for the pursuit of the Arcane Pathway, this isn’t beneficial.

By placing numerous prefixes before their own powers, and then just being a person of the Fiery Flame Land, one could legitimately claim to be a vigorous and forthright, staunch person who repays kindness and enmity—simply as someone from Fiery Flame Land, they could naturally proclaim possessing many virtues...

Isn’t this a form of deception and self-delusion?

Many people from Fiery Flame Land cannot adhere to the so-called virtues of "Fiery Flame People," living as the revered "fierce warriors" of Fiery Flame. Like ordinary people from other regions on this continent, they also have their imperfections, equally mundane.

Of course, they are equally brave, equally capable of becoming heroes, and with effort, truly becoming a "person of Fiery Flame."

If someone like that emerges, Ian would acknowledge them as a hero, such a person would surely reach the Third Energy Level.

But such achievements must arise from personal effort, adhering to those morals and conduct, rather than just gaining them naturally by assuming the title of a "person of Fiery Flame."

Being overly immersed in this broad illusion of "we" and not improving oneself obstructs one’s growth and self-elevation, trapping them at the boundary of the first and second energy levels, let alone fully reshaping themselves, finding their own dreams and path to reach the Third Energy Level.

This is what Ian aims to achieve.

To conquer the world, he must eliminate all the "special" factors, eradicate everyone’s self-assumed "uniqueness," erase all "people of the Shelter," all "Fiery Flame People," "Imperial People," and "Royals of the Azure Sky Court," allowing humans to rediscover being humans.

Even in the end, he aspires to erase "people of Silverpeak Domain" and "ordinary," creating a pure human community.

He wants humanity to rediscover themselves, choosing for themselves who they want to be, a unique individual that cannot be described as "ordinary."

Then, through numerous "different selves," spontaneously form a new "Terra Federation."

But that is the ultimate goal.

The first step begins with targeted publicity testing for Fiery Flame Land!

Ian intends to test Terra People’s genuine interests—whether they lie in power and future potential or just the name "Fiery Flame Land" based on their reaction!

And the embodiment of a nation’s strength and future...naturally lies in newborns.

Terra Year 777, October 3, Empire’s Southern Ridge, Capital Duchy of Silverpeak, Dawnshine City, West Yanshan Road District.

First Affiliate Hospital of Dawnshine City College of Medicine.