Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Located just under 1300km away from the Capital City of Owari-Shuto was the Ancestral Capital of the Nianese Archipelago, Kyoto.Founded approximately fourteen thousand years after the Age of Gods, Kyoto was among the most ancient and populous cities in all of Nian. It served as the seat of power for the Imperial Family, and, thanks to the protection of the Four Heavenly Guardians, it was considered the safest region in the Nianese Archipelago.While most major cities struggled to maintain a population in the hundreds of thousands, Kyoto's median population generally hovered around 4.5 million people. With the second-largest city being the nearby port of Osaka, population 2.5 million, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Kyoto and its surrounding cities represented the very heart of Nianese society.Unfortunately, despite having the largest population, the economy of Kyoto had been in shambles ever since the previous war between the people of Nian and the Onigashima in the North. The city had nearly been destroyed during the conflict, and, after exhausting the majority of their resources, the Imperial Family had little choice but to sell the surrounding land and divvy up the Archipelago to their most loyal vassal in order to avoid a civil war. This was the start of Kyoto's expansion, and, as a result of their mismanagement, the precursor to the Imperial Family's decline.By establishing a system where individuals could be awarded merits and titles based on monetary contributions, the Imperial Family had hoped to recoup some of their losses. This worked in their favor at the beginning, but, after selling countless court ranks to anyone who could afford them, the titles began to lose their meaning as anything more than trade permits.With the Imperial Court possessing more opportunistic merchants than statesmen and scholars, it wasn't long before Kyoto became a veritable cesspool of corruption. It was a place filled to the brim with individuals whose singular focus was increasing their wealth while the Imperial Family suffered due to limited resources, a distinct lack of competent personnel, and an ever-increasing population.Due to the current Emperor's inability to produce a male heir, tensions within Kyoto were at an all-time high as everyone was biding their time in anticipation of the power struggle that would follow his death. The Emperor, fully aware of this, had spent the last sixty years closing off the country and restricting trade between Provinces. This had earned him an enormous amount of criticism, but, as a result of his controversial decision, most of the weaker merchant groups had fallen into ruin while the various Daimyos focused on consolidating their power.Though many thought the Emperor had gone mad, those with greater foresight understood what he was trying to do. He didn't want Nian to fall into the hands of opportunistic individuals who had taken advantage of the Imperial Family's waning strength to accrue wealth at the country's expense. By pitting the Noble Clans against one another, he could reduce their strength while simultaneously weakening the various merchant groups and associations.Every time war broke out, trespassing the borders between Provinces became nigh-impossible. No Daimyo was foolish enough to let foreign merchants freely traverse their lands. Instead, they relied on their own caravans to move resources around their territory while forcing merchants to part with their goods at heavily discounted prices.Since most merchant caravans relied on transporting goods between Provinces to turn a profit, war was their worst nightmare. It didn't help that most Warriors viewed merchants as opportunists and despots without a conscience, so, the moment conflict broke out, any group unwilling to cooperate with the Provincial Army was quickly put to death or imprisoned.The only problem with Emperor Go-Nara's plan was that it didn't change the fact he still lacked an heir. He could weaken the nation and reduce the authority of the merchants all he wanted, but, the moment he died, someone was bound to take advantage of the situation to seize power. The only question was whether or not it would be one of the families that had backed the Imperial Family for generations or one of the merchant families that had risen to power in the wake of their decline.In preparation for this inevitable conflict, Emperor Go-Nara had done something even his closest advisors couldn't help criticizing. He invested a tremendous amount of resources into empowering his daughters, Princesses Shihori, Shimako, and Utahime.Though a number of powerful women had appeared throughout the history of Nian, Emperor Go-Nara's actions all but assured that the resulting power struggle would be bloody. Even the weakest among them, Utahime, was currently sitting at Rank 9 Platinum Hero. As for the eldest, Shihori, she had managed to reach Rank 6 Mithril Lord at the relatively young age of 57. This was comparable to Senken, who, at the age of 61, had managed to ascend to Rank 7 of the same Realm.The traditions of Nian mandated that the suitors of Imperial Princesses be of a higher cultivation Rank. By helping his daughters reach the Realm of Mithril Lord, Emperor Go-Nara had effectively guaranteed that no one outside the Noble Clans would have the chance to pursue his daughters. To make matters exponentially worse, at least for those coveting the position of Emperor, he had given his daughters complete autonomy regarding the matter of their marriage. The only restriction was that the Second and Third Princesses would need to wait until Shihori had produced an heir before selecting suitors of their own.........Standing at 165cm, Princess Shihori was considered tall for a Nianese woman. This wasn't the trait that made her truly outstanding, however. Rather, it was her supple yet curvaceous figure, dazzling golden eyes, and reddish-brown hair that garnered her the attention of countless would-be suitors.Though tradition dictated she wear conservative clothing to conceal her face and figure from view, Princess Shihori elected to wear clothing more befitting of a warrior. Her favorite outfit consisted of a sleeveless white gown that was heavily adorned with accessories crafted from gold and obsidian-black jade. This included an enchanted golden pauldron, a matching bracer, and several talon-like accessories that made her right hand resemble a dragon's claw.Were it not for her ceremonial headwear and the cloak only members of the Imperial Family were allowed to wear, Princess Shihori could have been mistaken for a powerful female warrior visiting from across the seas. This was due to the fact that, long ago, the first peoples of Nian had migrated over from the relatively nearby Heavenly Kingdom. The Imperial Family had reestablished ties with a few of the more prodigious Clans several thousand years prior, so, while the appearances of most Nianese had changed drastically with the passage of time, the features of the Emperor, Shihori, and her sisters more closely resembled their Ancestors.Had Nobu been present, he would have described Shihori as half-Korean/half-European. She didn't really resemble the Chinese the Heavenly Kingdom was clearly inspired from. Her face wasn't nearly as flat, and, despite possessing distinctly Asian features, her skin was creamy and smooth. With the right clothes, she could have easily passed as a K-Pop Idol or an Actress in a Korean Drama. Instead, the talons on her right hand, combined with her largely expressionless face, gave off the impression of a ruthless, ice-cold beauty that wouldn't hesitate to gut you with her bare hands.Demonstrating how accurate this description was, Princess Shihori was currently in the process of beating down a bear-like Aura Beast using nothing but her Aura. The fact it was more than six times her size didn't intimidate her in the slightest. Rather, after receiving a number of painful blows from its comparably small opponent, the massive, four-armed bear was backpedaling as it attempted to intimidate her with a roar.Without so much as a single change within her expression, Princess Shihori's figure left behind a peculiar blue aura tinged with gold before manifesting near the four-armed bear's left flank. It did its best to try and sweep its paws at her, but, with a casual sidestep, Princess Shihori managed to evade the attack before tracing her right hand in a graceful, sweeping arc from her hip to her left shoulder.Emanating from the talons covering her index, middle, and ring fingers, three glistening blue blades of Aura cut into the Aura Beast's remarkably durable body. Unlike a traditional attack, however, the blades of energy did not immediately dissipate. Instead, the bluish Aura continued to bore into the wailing creature as if it had the properties of an extremely corrosive acid."Weak..."Speaking for the first time since the start of the battle, Princess Shihori's golden eyes glistened with an indiscernible glow as she deflected the inordinately large bear's frantic charge with a backhand to the snout. This sent its head smashing into the ground, but, due to its forward momentum, it was able to force Princess Shihori back in order to avoid a direct collision.Furrowing her brows ever so slightly, Princess Shihori stepped forward before the creature could recover. This time, however, she didn't attack using her Mithril Aura or claws. Instead, the visage of a majestic golden dragon manifested behind her as she swept her right hand forward in a thrusting motion. In response, the golden dragon opened its maw, a silent roar emanating from its throat as it charged forward to sink its teeth into the bear's neck. The unfortunate beast attempted to break free, but, due to the serpentine nature of the dragon's body, it was able to coil around the frantic creature like a snake that had captured its prey.Watching the final struggles of the massive creature, Princess Shihori's cold expression gradually softened until she telepathically commanded the dragon to finish it off. In response, a loud crunch could be heard echoing through the training space as the giant, four-armed bear broke down into a mass of blue and purple light. In its wake, a small totem resembling said bear could be seen on the ground, as, rather than an authentic Aura Beast, the creature was what people colloquially referred to as a Beast Spirit Token.Though they were quite a bit weaker than the beasts they were inspired from, Beast Spirit Tokens were extremely useful for training. The number of Aura Beasts inhabiting Nian had decreased with the passage of time so it was difficult to find any outside the various Spirit Lands managed by the Great Noble Clans. The Imperial Family had one of its own but it was primarily used to cultivate a number of rare and valuable herbs. Any formidable Aura Beasts were quickly disposed of, so if she wanted to train against powerful opponents, Princess Shihori's only options were sparring with her sisters or battling against Beast Spirit Tokens."At this rate, my strength is bound to stagnate..."Understanding better than most how precarious her situation was, Princess Shihori was desperate to increase her power. Unfortunately, her cultivation speed had decreased sharply the moment she ascended to Rank 5 Mithril Lord. Reaching Rank 6 had taken her several years more than she would have liked, and, despite her best efforts, it was highly likely that Rank 7 would be her absolute limit.Since fewer than 1% of Nianese cultivators managed to reach the Realm of Platinum Hero, it could be argued that Rank 7 Mithril Lord was remarkable. Even the current Emperor had stagnated at the pinnacle of Rank 9. In that regard, Princess Shihori was among the top one-hundred cultivators in the nation. Unfortunately, even if she was able to exceed her father and somehow enter the Realm of Adamantine, she would still fall short of the undisputed top 10.While some would consider her desire for even greater power nonsensical, Princess Shihori carried the burden of twenty-six thousand years of history on her shoulders. With eight of the top 10 being male, several of which were actively antagonistic towards the Imperial Family, Shihori was genuinely afraid that one of them would make a move the moment her father perished. She knew how much of a draw her cultivation base was, so, the moment she let her guard down, someone was bound to try and take advantage of her.Princess Shihori's goal, ever since she had learned of her father's plans, was to surpass the most powerful female warrior in Nianese history, Miyamoto Musashi. The latter, using a method no one had been able to ascertain, managed to reach the Realm of Orichalcum Emperor at the remarkably young age of 44. Now, at the age of 79, she was the third most powerful cultivator in all of Nian at the heaven-defying level of Rank 7 Orichalcum Emperor. The only cultivators even stronger than her were the Ancestor of the Orochi Sect and the Demon Lord of Onigashima, both situated at Rank 9.When you considered that the Ancestor of the Orochi Sect and the Demon Lord of Onigashima were both several thousand years old, it was easy to regard Musashi as a monster. She had even been given the designation of a humanoid natural disaster due to the power she possessed, yet, in spite of this, she was the role model for every female cultivator in Nian. Everyone aspired to be like her, yet, even with all the resources of the Imperial Family, Princess Shihori lagged far behind the legendary woman known as the Red Dragon of the East..."I must try harder..."......(A/N: I was feeling a little constipated so I decided to release a big old lore dump. Also, sorry about the lack of a chapter yesterday. I was moving all my furniture and stuff to my new apartment.)

"Mmnngh....what the fuck...?"Waking with one of the worst hangovers he had ever experienced, the only preventing Nobu from staying in bed was the absence of Yui at his side.Taking a few deep breaths, Nobu attempted to recall what happened the previous night. He could remember talking with his old man and grandfather, but, after that, everything was a blur."I didn't expect that watery shit to kick like a donkey..."As this was far from the first time he had gotten blackout drunk, the first thing Nobu checked was his bedding. One of the first things to go when you clocked out from excessive alcohol was bladder control."At least I didn't piss myself..."Taking some small comfort in the fact his futon was dry, Nobu didn't even bother to question how he had changed into the relatively thin yukata he was currently wearing. He was far more concerned with the absence of Yui, so, after massaging his temples for a bit, he called out, "Anyone there...?"Though it was a bit slower than he was used to, Nobu was unsurprised when a soft and feminine voice answered, "Excuse me..." before sliding open the door to his room.Squinting at the petite figure through slightly blurry eyes, Nobu was able to make out that she had dark-purple hair loosely tied up in a bun, rose-pink eyes, and a dainty frame wrapped in a modest, highly constrictive purple kimono.Compared to the Kunoichi he had interacted with, the girl didn't really stand out. She gave off a kind of 'childhood friend' vibe. It was kind of like the feeling Nobu would get whenever he met a girl that grew up in a small and religious town deep in the countryside.Ignoring the other questions that had entered his mind, Nobu did his best to remain focused on the most important thing, asking, "Where's Yui...?"With a slightly fretful expression on her face, the servant-girl lowered her head to the point her bangs could sweep the floor before answering, "Forgive me, Young Master. I am not familiar with anyone named Yui..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu did his best to remain composed as he asked, "Do you know who I am?" before asking, "Where is this place...?"Without raising her head, the purple-haired girl meekly replied, "Forgive me...I have not been made aware of the Young Master's esteemed designation or title. As for your second question...this is one of the rooms reserved for extraordinary guests and personal friends of the Great Lord and Lady. It is this little one's duty to preserve the state of this room and attend the people staying within..."Since it was virtually impossible for anyone to penetrate this deep into the primary estate of one of the Great Noble Clans, the servant girl didn't bother to question Nobu's license to be there. All she knew was that the room was occupied when she came by to complete her morning chores, so, with no other servants posted outside, she gently closed the door before sitting down and awaiting the occupant's summons.Feeling his headache worsen, Nobu pulled out the stone tablet to confirm that Yui wasn't injured or under the influence before running his hand through his hair, exhaling a sigh, and asking, "What's your name, kid...?""This lowly one's name is F-Fuwa Kaede..."Raising his brows, Nobu asked, "What kind of family name is Fufuwa...?" before shaking his head and adding, "Whatever. It doesn't really matter. You can raise your head."Though she wanted to correct the misunderstanding, Kaede's instincts were telling her that the person in front of her wasn't someone she should offend. He gave off a similar impression to the Great Lord, and, now that she was able to get a better look at him, there were a number of obvious similarities between the man seated before her and the more prestigious members of the Oda Clan.Seeing the fretful look on the girl's face as she kept her head slightly bowed, Nobu nearly shook his head a second time before his brain pulsed in protest. This was a tell-tale sign that he was severely dehydrated, so, before anything else, he said, "Right...Kaede...san? Mind getting me a glass of water and something to eat?"Without any hesitation whatsoever, Kaede bowed her head in a respectful manner, answering, "As you will." before backing out of the room on her hands and knees. This caused Nobu's left brow to twitch, but, having learned a bit about Noble society, he wasn't too surprised by Kaede's behavior.According to what Nobu had learned from Kumiko, a single mistake could cost a servant their life or their job. As a result, the more inexperienced maidservants went about their daily routine as if they were treading on shards of glass. Since Kaeda appeared to be around 14-15 years old, it was safe to assume she had only recently begun working as a domestic servant.If Nobu had used the stone tablet to scan her, he would have been surprised to learn that Kaede was actually twenty-three years old. She was a daughter of the Fuwa Clan, one of the Oda Clan's many retainers, so, while her cultivation base wasn't particularly impressive, it had helped to slow her aging and preserve her youthful appearance.Inexperienced attendants would never be allowed to work in the Inner Sanctum of the Inuyama Castle.Unaware that he had addressed a woman four years his senior as 'kid', Nobu decided to lay back down and focus on his breathing. Circulating Aura could drastically decrease aches and pains, so, while waiting for his water, he did his best to address his growing migraine."You're pretty shit at that, ain'tcha...?"Recognizing the voice as his grandfather's, Nobu just grunted before forcing himself to a seated position and glowering at the middle-aged man standing in the doorway. In response, Senichi just returned a cheeky grin that didn't suit his age before saying, "Once the servant gets back with your meal, have her escort you to the Dragon's Chamber. If she refuses, just show her this."Catching the thumb-sized stamp his grandfather had thrown him, Nobu's brows perked up as he asked, "Isn't this the Oda Clan's Family Seal? I don't recall agreeing to become the next Patriarch..."Snorting through his nose, Senichi quipped, "Considering you fell into an alcohol-induced coma, I don't imagine you remember much, brat."Furrowing his brows, Nobu was about to retort when Senichi just shook his head, adding, "Relax. That particular seal is known as the Lesser Mark of the Dragon. It was supposed to be entrusted to you on your eighth birthday. Unless you intend to officially disclaim your inheritance, you'll need to keep it safe. That thing is just about as important as your own life so don't lose it."Without waiting for Nobu's response, Senichi ceased leaning against the frame of the door before promptly shutting it with a loud 'tok'.Though he was briefly tempted to throw the surprisingly heavy stamp through the bamboo door, Nobu ultimately just clicked his tongue before motioning to place it into the sleeve of his yukata. Before he could, however, the stone tablet that had fallen off the side of the futon began vibrating with an intensity that couldn't be ignored."Who the fuck would message me at four in the morning...?"To Nobu's surprise, the notification on the tablet wasn't a message. When he saw what it said, his heart began pumping with increasing vigor. This caused his headache to become worse, but, no longer paying attention to that, an excited grin spread across Nobu's face as he navigated back to the home page."Hell. Fucking. Yes...!"While the icon was a little strange, resembling a vault door with a complex seal carved into it, Nobu didn't have to be a genius to understand what the app was used for. What he didn't expect was for the screen to display an empty room that appeared to be constructed from brown clay. It also had a window and a door, but, like the rest of the room, they were also pretty shitty. The window lacked a pane, and, as far as he could tell, the door was literally made from some kind of thatch material that had been woven together to produce an entrance flap..."The fuck...?"Ignoring his misgivings about the room's appearance, Nobu thumbed the screen with the hope of opening some kind of menu. Instead, he felt a wave of heat spread through his body as his stomach proceeded to perform an acrobatic routine that would make an Olympic gymnast blush.Landing, hard, on a dirty brown floor, Nobu expelled the contents of his stomach in one fell swoop. Then, despite having a pretty good idea regarding what just happened, he looked around with a stupefied expression on his face as he found himself in the same room that had appeared on the stone tablet's display...Shifting his attention to the ceiling, Nobu's expression paled as he found a massive, greyed-out version of himself staring down at him through what he assumed to be the tablet's display. There was a literal rectangular hole floating in the middle of the air, almost like someone had cut a piece out of the fabric of space-time or some other fantastical shit."Is this what I look like from below...?"Though he didn't have a double-chin or anything, Nobu couldn't help grimacing as he saw his stubble-covered face from the perspective of an ant. He wasn't exactly unpleasant to look at, far from it, but it clearly wasn't his most flattering angle.Shaking such pointless thoughts from his mind, the first thing Nobu noticed was that his migraine had magically disappeared. When he looked down, even the vomit he had ejected was nowhere to be seen. In fact, now that he was looking more closely, his body was literally fucking transparent. If he looked even closer, he could literally see his fucking veins, bones, and all kinds of other shit he couldn't even begin to describe."Well, that's fucking creepy..."Ignoring the morbid curiosity that pretty much demanded he inspect his junk, Nobu did his best to make sense of the situation. He could deduce from the persistent and somewhat stupid-looking grin on his larger self's face that time had basically stopped while he was inside the strange room. The real question was, what was the point of coming inside? He couldn't even sense his Aura, and, despite trying to call it to him multiple times, the stone tablet had yet to manifest.With nothing better to do, Nobu decided to take a look through the window rather than trying to pass through the door. This ended up being the correct decision, as, even after leaning his head through to look around, the clay chamber seemed to be floating in a white void. There was clearly some kind of oxygen present, but, when he tried to extend his hand outside the foot of the door, he could reach around to the underside of the clay room without issue."Hmmm...if this is anything like those gimmicks that appear in cultivation novels, I should be able to expand this place using my Aura or some kind of Heavenly Treasure. At the very least, I doubt it will remain a clay room..."Since there was nothing else for him to do within the room, Nobu took a moment to inspect his junk. He immediately regretted it, but, after the initial disgust, he just shook his head, accepted that his body was ugly as fuck on the inside, and moved on. More specifically, he jumped up to smack the screen that had been hovering over him even as he moved around to inspect the window and door.Experiencing another lurching sensation, Nobu expelled the contents of his stomach a second time. Fortunately, he had anticipated something like this might happen. As a result, he willed himself to hold it down before pressing the seal his grandfather had given him to the screen. It immediately disappeared into motes of bluish-white light, which, upon fading away, revealed that the seal was now sitting in the exact center of the room..."Noice..."......(A/N: He said the thing! Roll credits...!)

"How much do you know about my Heavenly Treasure...?"While he was fully aware of the communication between Hitomi and his father, Nobu had no idea how detailed her reports were. He knew they had discussed it during the previous reunion but a lot had changed since then. Thus, before he could lay out his plan, he needed the two warlords on the same page."According to the information provided by Hitomi, it leaves you unable to cultivate using traditional methods. Instead, you have to stockpile Aura over time and unlock it by tapping into your Heavenly Treasure. Other than that, your Heavenly Treasure possesses the ability to analyze anything, access information related to cultivation methods, communicate over vast distances, and empower others. I believe that's everything...?"Though Senken had never been known for his intelligence, all experienced Cultivators had excellent memories. Cultivation, first and foremost, revolved around developing a person's mental state and spirituality. Senken was currently at the midway point between Mithril 7 and 8, so, while he was far from the most learned individual in Nian, he possessed a mental acuity that matched his standing."Uh...yeah? I mean, you kind of glossed over the finer details but that's pretty on point."After downing another half-saucer of Men's Sake, Senichi was the one to ask, "What do you mean? Since we're finally together like this, you might as well explain things at length. I'm not saying you need to reveal all of your secrets, but, the more we know, the better we can help you."Raising a brow at the middle-aged man's serious remark, Nobu replied, "Relax. I might slip up here and there but I know better than to reveal all my cards..."Willfully ignoring the fact he had recently received a chastising from the Goddess of the Six Paths, Nobu revealed the existence of his Friends List and how he could use it to empower both himself and others.Prior to Nobu's explanation, Senken thought that Nobu's ability worked by boosting the existing strength of others. After all, it was hard for most cultivators to wrap their heads around a treasure that could, quite literally, turn a normal person into a powerhouse in just a few short months."My plan, at least for the time being, is to continue consolidating my strength within the Yoshitsune Clan. Once this year has come to an end, everyone in my entourage should be around the pinnacle of the Sixth Realm. They will act as my elite forces while I begin scouting talent from the masses. I'm against the notion that being born a Noble somehow makes you inherently better than others. Just look at that piece of shit, Peng. Without the resources of the Oda Clan, how far would he be able to get in life? He's a fucking bandit decked out in fancy clothing."Though he would also be screwed with adequate resources and the backing of the Oda Clan, Nobu didn't think he was being a hypocrite. He would never swagger around like a fucking cuck with such shitty game that he needed to use the threat of death just to get his dick wet. There was seriously something wrong with people like that, and, now that he knew there were multiple reincarnators in this world, Nobu couldn't help thinking Peng was being piloted by some forty-year-old virgin Otaku who didn't even have the balls to hire a fucking prostitute.Seeing the hatred and disgust in Nobu's eyes, Senken and Senichi briefly exchanged glances before nodding their heads in concert. Then, catching Nobu by surprise, the former stated, "You don't have to worry about that Peng brat. I'm not really fond of how things turned out, but I received a parcel containing seven of his severed fingertips. I won't stop you from pursuing the matter if you choose to become Daimyo, but, for the time being, you should focus on more important matters."Staring wide-eyed at his father, Nobu's expression became slightly incredulous as he asked, "What the fuck? Someone cut the tips of his fingers off?"Nodding his head, Senken adopted a grim expression as he explained, "Peng is the second son of my younger brother, Senzo. While Senzo and I rarely see eye to eye, his intelligence and political mindedness far exceed mine. In the past, he even severed the hand of his fourth daughter after she forced one of her servants to hand over a family heirloom..."While many commended Senzo for holding his children accountable, Senken saw the matter in a different light. Sure, some people might call him soft, but he refused to rationalize cutting off the hand of an eight-year-old child just to set an example. It was beyond extreme...Unable to mentally reconcile everything his father had just revealed, Nobu fell into a contemplative silence. He had no idea what to make of this situation. A part of him wanted to pump his fist and say that Peng got what he deserved. The only problem with this sentiment was that, unless he had been reincarnated, Peng wasn't born the person he is today. He became this way as a result of the environment he had grown up in. You didn't throw your weight around like that unless you had a good reason to believe you could get away with it. In other words, the only reason Peng received a punishment was to deny them an excuse to seek recompense..."Fucking politicians..."Though Senken had never heard the term before, it wasn't difficult to understand what Nobu was trying to convey. Thus, in response to his son's remark, he nodded his head in agreement before downing an entire saucer of sake.Seeing the similarities in the father-son duo, a grin spread across Senichi's face as various thoughts crossed his mind. The information Nobu had revealed was, simply put, earth-shattering. Thus, while the two younglings were fretting over internal affairs, he was already thinking about how they could use Nobu's power to strengthen existing alliances.While Nobu's Heavenly Treasure made others resemble simple trinkets, it didn't provide them the means to conquer the surrounding provinces. Individual power was useful if you wanted to defeat your enemies but that had never been the purpose of war. Wars were fought to obtain resources, centralize power, and expand your territory. Any ideological excuses were a simple pretext used to justify the acquisition of these three things, so, while Nobu's Heavenly Treasure was remarkable, it wouldn't win them the war.Fortunately, while Nobu's intentions were a bit off the mark, Senichi had to commend the young man for prioritizing the acquisition of capable and loyal retainers. The people on his Friends List would be instrumental in their goal of unifying the archipelago. The only problem was that Nobu wanted to recruit peasants.If he were being completely honest, Senichi agreed with his son's and grandson's assessments of the Nobility. The waning power of the Imperial Family had allowed the Noble Clans to run rampant, and, as a result, they had become cancerous to the society they were sworn to protect.The problem was, despite all their flaws, the Noble Clans had centralized power in their individual Provinces thousands of years ago. Removing the people in power would cause more problems than it solved, so, more often than not, defeated Clans would simply become the vassals and retainers of the Clan that conquered them. It was only when a full audit of the territory and its assets had been conducted that a transition could occur.This was where Nobu's sentiments were bound to hit a wall. His people might be loyal to him but history had proven, time and again, that familial ties were necessary to centralize and secure power across multiple generations.The most common method to ensure a smooth transition of power was for the conquering party to absorb the defeated Clan into their own through marriage. In other words, Nobu would either need to accept the daughters of the defeated Clans as his wives or pair them with his descendants.While it was possible for a peasant to be elevated to the status of Lesser Nobles via increasing their cultivation base and accruing merits, they still needed the recognition of the Imperial Family to own land and govern territory. If Nobu tried to place peasant-born retainers in charge of his conquered territories, every clan across Nian would protest. In the worst-case scenario, the legitimacy of their unification plan would be called into question. After that, their only options would be to cede the territories they had conquered or risk war against the entire nation.Senichi knew that if Nobu was to have any chance of success, he would need to curry favor with the Imperial Family. Without their support, expanding beyond their borders was virtually impossible, as, despite their waning power, the Imperial Family still had absolute authority. They possessed a bevy of Heavenly Treasures and were backed by four remarkably powerful Aura Beasts known as the Four Heavenly Guardians. This, combined with the fact they were protected by the Ancestral God of the Nianese people, ensured that the Imperial Family would never lose relevance.The current issues plaguing Nian were primarily the result of the Noble Clans' corruption and the Ashigake Shogunate's gross incompetence. This had led to a drastic decline in the capabilities of individuals recognized by the Imperial Court as most of the people presently in power had simply purchased their position.If Nobu wanted to actualize his dream, he would need to consolidate power within the Oda Clan before currying favor with the Imperial Family. Fortunately, despite being more than three hundred years old, the current Emperor had failed to produce a male heir. This was the main reason so many people had lost faith in him, as, after the birth of the Fourth Princess, the Emperor had managed to effectively cripple his reproductive capabilities.Simply put, each of the Noble Clans was essentially biding their time until the Emperor died so they could try to seize power for themselves. Modern Nianese society was strictly patriarchal, so, despite the founder of Nian being an Empress and their Ancestral God being female, a woman would never be allowed to reign...As that thought crossed his mind, a calculating smile appeared across Senichi's face as he observed his grandson. Nobu wasn't the most handsome man, but, if he could help consolidate power for the Imperial Family, there was a chance that he could be promoted to the position of Regent, or, at the very least, Senior First Rank of the Imperial Court.Fortunately, though Senichi didn't agree with the sentiment, Nobu didn't seem to care about ruling directly. This gave the youth a surprising amount of leverage, as, so long as he was willing to make an oath to the Imperial Family, he could effectively become Emperor in everything but name.Noticing the almost perverted look his grandfather was giving him, Nobu's brows furrowed as he asked, "What are you looking at?"Adopting an even fiercer grin, Senichi replied, "You've quite the mouth on you, brat. Anyone ever tell you that you're going to get yourself into trouble talking like that? I, personally, couldn't give a damn. Just know that you're bound to make a lot of enemies with such a crass way of speaking."Having already decided to try and pair Nobu with the future Empress, Senichi's first priority was fixing the brat's speech and mannerisms. Their cause was dead in the water without the support of the Imperial Family, so, even if Nobu ultimately refused the arrangement, he still needed to learn how to carry himself in the Imperial Court. The capital was filled to the brim with opportunists and corrupt fools who would spare no effort to drag the reputation of the entire Oda Clan through the mud. Thus, even if he didn't like it, Nobu would need to learn how to behave like a proper Noble...Feeling a chill spread through his body, Nobu resisted the urge to snort through his nose as he averted his eyes from Senichi, grumbling, "Whatever..." before taking a swig of his tasteless sake.........(A/N: Senichi the schemer o_o...)

Chapter 118: Rising Tensions