Chapter 394: The Patriarch’s Counsel

The Patriarch’s Counsel

"Old Shera, long time no see."

A smile appeared on his face before he looked toward the group behind him.

"And these are...?"

He genuinely hadn’t expected this scene.

Not only had Shera become considerably darker after months under the scorching African sun...

The twenty-four people accompanying him were all Africans.

Under the courtyard lights, their powerful physiques resembled statues carved from black steel.

If not for the bright lanterns illuminating the courtyard...

The most visible feature would truly have been their broad smiles and rows of gleaming white teeth.

Shera’s stern face immediately brightened with pride.

He stepped slightly aside and respectfully introduced them.

"This is the Thunder Mammoth Elite Squad, twenty-four warriors I carefully selected and trained in Kimora for you, Young Master Julian!"

As he spoke, the elite squad remained perfectly motionless.

Every member radiated explosive strength.

Although none possessed extraordinary talent, the months of merciless training had sharpened both their bodies and spirits.

Shera continued proudly.

"Each one is at the initial stage of the Silver Realm!"

Julian’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Twenty-four Silver Realm cultivators...

That number alone was astonishing.

Shera wasn’t finished.

"Besides, there are over eighty warriors of the Iron Realm over there, training hard."

His voice gradually became emotional.

"It’s all thanks to Young Master Julian’s trust in me, sending me this Thunder Mammoth War Technique."

Shera choked up as he reported.

The opportunity Julian had given him had completely changed countless lives.

Without that cultivation technique...

None of today’s achievements would have existed.

With both hands, he carefully removed a wooden box that he had guarded throughout the entire journey.

He respectfully presented it to Julian.

Julian accepted it and slowly opened the lid.

Inside rested an ancient martial arts manual.

Across its aged cover were the bold characters:

Thunder Mammoth War Technique

Julian casually flipped through several pages.

The familiar aura immediately confirmed its origin.

It was undoubtedly a product of the Tyrant System.

At that moment, an inner thought quietly surfaced.

[Back when a few months ago I completed one system task, I was wondering why I was short one reward.]

[Turns out it was sent to Shera.]

[If he hadn’t mentioned it, I might have almost forgotten about it.]

Standing nearby, Lina Ashford and Liza Voss quietly heard every one of Julian’s hidden thoughts.

Neither woman showed it outwardly.

Instead, their admiration deepened even further.

As expected of Dear Julian...

His wisdom truly reached an unimaginable level.

Months earlier...

He had already arranged everything in advance.

He had entrusted such a precious cultivation technique to Shera, allowing him to quietly build an elite force in distant Kimora while no one else noticed.

Even Julian himself could barely remember all the preparations he had made.

What kind of foresight was that?

Lina’s beautiful purple eyes shone with respect.

Liza’s usually calm expression softened into quiet admiration.

Only someone like Julian could calmly place pieces across the world without needing constant supervision.

The phrase...

A divine hand guiding the chessboard from the shadows.

...could not have described anyone more perfectly.

Julian closed the manual before looking back at Shera.

A satisfied smile finally appeared on his face.

"Mm, you’ve done well, you didn’t disappoint me."

With those simple words, Julian gently closed the ancient manual and handed the Thunder Mammoth War Technique back to Shera.

He didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

This ancient martial arts manual was of no use to him; it was a method of compensating for lack of talent with hard work.

His own path was entirely different.

Whether it was the Tyrant System, the divine tree rooted within him, or the opportunities that continually appeared before him, every step of his cultivation followed a route that ordinary cultivators could never imitate.

The Thunder Mammoth War Technique was undoubtedly precious...

But it wasn’t a technique meant for him.

Instead, it was a treasure capable of transforming countless ordinary people into dependable warriors.

For those ancient households and Old Martial Arts sects, such a manual capable of mass-producing warriors was priceless.

A single genius could influence a battle.

An army of disciplined cultivators...

Could change the fate of an entire region.

That was the true value hidden within this cultivation scripture.

Moreover, the combined attack techniques within were quite important, greatly enhancing the advantages of a numbers strategy.

When dozens—or even hundreds—of practitioners cultivated the same technique and fought in perfect coordination, the resulting strength was far greater than the sum of its parts.

It was precisely because Shera understood this principle that he had remained in Kimora for months, tirelessly training elite cultivators one after another.

His efforts had finally begun to bear fruit.

But since his strength was already at the middle Gold Realm, it was unnecessary for him to specifically practice this.

His cultivation had already reached a stage where pursuing techniques designed for large-scale military formations would offer little benefit.

His future lay elsewhere.

Shera respectfully accepted the manual with both hands.

His eyes reddened slightly.

He naturally understood what this gesture meant.

Julian wasn’t reclaiming the manual.

He was entrusting it to him once again.

It was a silent acknowledgment that the Thunder Mammoth Elite Squad—and every future disciple trained through this cultivation method—would remain under his command.

The trust contained within that simple action was worth far more than any treasure.

"Thank you for your trust, Young Master Julian."

Shera bowed deeply.

His voice carried unmistakable gratitude.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of false humility.

Everything he possessed today...

His strength.

His authority.

His elite warriors.

All of it had been given to him because Julian believed in him.

Shera felt only gratitude, thankful that Young Master Julian was willing to nurture him so.

Julian smiled faintly.

Between true companions, excessive words were unnecessary.

Shera had already proven his loyalty through action rather than promises.

That alone was enough.

He shifted his gaze toward the courtyard beyond.

A warm glow spilled from the windows of the small residence where the family’s elder usually spent his evenings.

"Let’s go see Grandpa first."