988 - 997
Chapter 988: A Chance Encounter
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Zhang Tie had too many words to say...
At this moment, he had an impulsion to tell Lan Yunxi loudly that he had Castle of Black Iron and the small tree and had killed thousands of demons as a divine dominator...
Those words were as heavy as huge rocks in his heart.
When he promoted to a black iron knight, Zhang Tie thought that he had grasped his own destiny for quite a long while.
Nevertheless, the heart-wrenching feeling at this moment reminded him that he might grasp his own fate; however, he could never grasp the others' fates. In many cases, if one could only watch his most beloved ones moving towards dead ends, it would be meaningless for him to grasp his own destiny!
Both the top three chancellors in Taixia Country in the future and the culprit who framed him were irresistible for him and Huaiyuan Palace. Therefore, the knights of Huaiyuan Palace could only take the positions of the fallen and rise to fight one after another for the sake of Huaiyuan Palace and Zhang Clan. This was the inevitable fate of clan knights.
"We can leave Taixia Country. The entire Huaiyuan Palace could also return to Waii Subcontinent once again or the Ice and Snow Wilderness. Over there, nobody could harm us!" Zhang Tie roared.
At this moment, Zhang Tie was really impulsive to take Lan Yunxi, his family members and the rest members of Huaiyuan Palace away from all the disputes.
"Don't be daft!" Lan Yunxi replied with a smile as she wiped off Zhang Tie's tears by hands, "You know, if we leave, we could only spare an excuse for the enemies of Huaiyuan Palace to deal with Huaiyuan Palace. As a result, Huaiyuan Palace would be exterminated at a faster speed. I know that you've already laid a foundation in Ice and Snow Wilderness. However, for the supreme ones in Taixia Country, your foundation is just a patch of duckweeds in waters. As long as they find an excuse, they could dispatch a team of knights like what Taiyi Fantasy Sect did this time to Ice and Snow Wilderness and sweep it over like executing a small task. We should not escape!"
Watching Lan Yunxi's smile, Zhang Tie became silent. He suddenly remembered the lonely shadow of his master Zhao Yuan and understood his state of mood.
'The extreme strength is close to the truth!'
'Only when one's strength could reach its extreme would one open a path for himself!'
This was the powerful ones' comprehension about this world.
'If I were already a heavenly knight or even higher, there would never be so many troubles!'
Zhang Tie clenched his punches.
Lan Yunxi blinked her eyes towards Zhang Tie in a mischievous way, "You need to take care of yourself and survive on. In this world, many people depend on you. If you could rob me who was going to be the martyr of Yaogong Palace away from Taiyi Fantasy Sect one day in the public, I would be glad to be your wife!"
In order to not make Zhang Tie too sad, Lan Yunxi made a joke or fabricated a hopeful lie to Zhang Tie.
However, Lan Yunxi didn't know that it was not the first time for Zhang Tie to hear such a joke and lie.
It was Miss Daina who told such a joke and lie to him——If anyone of you could reach LV 9, Miss Daina would marry him.
Such a promise in classroom made numerous horny students in the No. 7 National Male Middle School highly spirited. They found the meaning and direction of their lives.
Zhang Tie loosened his fist and took in a deep breath before bursting out into laughter, "Senior fellow apprentice, just wait for me in Taiyi Fantasy Sect. There will be such a day. When I override the Gobbling Party and Taiyi Fantasy Sect one day, I will pick you up!"
Lan Yunxi replied with a smile as she kissed Zhang Tie's face, "I have to go. If I stayed too long with you, you might not able to leave!"
"Hold on!" Zhang Tie stopped Lan Yunxi as he undid the guardian angel necklace from his neck and said, "I've prepared a gift for you when in Waii Subcontinent. I've not imagined that it has been so many years! I kept wearing it these years and wanted to gift it to you."
The core of this necklace was the space-teleportation equipment of the late demon general; however, it had been renovated into a holy and artistic masterpiece——A mithril guardian angel with open wings was cupping a top-quality son-like bluish golden stone which had been activated by an alchemist master. It was vivid. What counted most was that the face of the guardian angel looked similar to Lan Yunxi. It was extremely skillful.
Any woman would be attracted by this necklace. Lan Yunxi's eyes also shined.
"May you help me put it on?" Lan Yunxi turned around, exposing her beautiful back and neck to Zhang Tie.
Zhang Tie then helped Lan Yunxi put it on tenderly from her back.
As a knight, the moment Lan Yunxi touched the necklace, she had realized that it was not a common necklace. The top-quality bluish golden stone could purify her blood; besides, there was something special inside the necklace...
Zhang Tie prevented Lan Yunxi from further exploring this necklace, "You can take a look at it when you come back. Senior fellow apprentice, don't ask me where did I get it. Because I don't want to lie to you. I could only tell you that it's legit!"
Lan Yunxi turned around and watched Zhang Tie seriously. She saw the pure sincerity in Zhang Tie's eyes.
She then turned around and left...
...
In the space-teleportation equipment, Zhang Tie prepared over 10,000 vials of the best all-purpose medicament that he had fermented in Castle of Black Iron, over 2,000 earth-element crystals that he had plundered from Old Monster Qi and the demon baron and two silver secret items——one shield and one short crossbow that Zhang Tie gained from the Weapons Mountain. The two silver secret items fit Lan Yunxi well. Besides, Zhang Tie prepared some vats of water and preserved fruits and meat. Although they were common, they could help Lan Yunxi survive herself longer in the worst scenario.
Even so many items that Zhang Tie prepared in the space-teleportation equipment would arouse a big shock in the Earth-elements Realm, not to mention that space-teleportation equipment itself.
Zhang Tie stayed in the room alone with a vacant look. After standing still for 2 minutes, he directly walked out of the chartered room and left the bar. Closely after that, he passed the square and left the Black Armor Battlefortress...
Strangely, many wanted murders might be caught wherever they hid and no matter how they disguised; however, Zhang Tie just left the Black Armor Battlefortress safe and sound.
On the way, someone threw some glances at him out of his young look; however, they could not imagine that Zhang Tie was the very wanted criminal in Taixia Country two years ago.
When a female knight from Taixia Country passed by Zhang Tie, she uttered out of curiosity, "Yi?"; however, the female knight just hesitated and threw a glance at Zhang Tie's back before being called away by her partner.
"What's up?" Her partner asked the female knight.
"Nothing." The female knight shook her head as she replied, "I might have noticed a familiar person just now..."
"Who? A friend?"
"No..." The female knight didn't explain it anymore. She just mumbled inside, 'How could a knight who writes such a romantic poem do that evil thing? I saw the arrest order two years ago on the earth's surface; hmm, I might have mistaken it...'
...
After leaving Black Armor Battlefortress, Zhang Tie's mind was full of Lan Yunxi's image and what Lan Yunxi told him just now. He just flew aimlessly. Almost 2 hours later, he landed on a mountain peak. After standing there for a while, Zhang Tie suddenly patted his head...
Since he met Lan Yunxi today, his heart had been racing. Until he left there did he realize that he had forgotten about a very important thing.
He should have left a remote-sensing finger ring to Lan Yunxi for the convenience of further communication.
As he had not imagined that he could meet Lan Yunxi in the Black Armor Battlefortress, he hadn't prepared the new pair of remote-sensing finger rings yet.
Remote-sensing finger rings could be purchased in Black Armor Battlefortress.
Zhang Tie wanted to return to the Black Armor Battlefortress. The moment he turned around, he stopped as he questioned himself, 'Could a tiny remote-sensing finger ring change anything? If I could not override the Gobbling Party and Taiyi Fantasy Sect, it would be useless for me to communicate with Lan Yunxi!'
Zhang Tie's face gradually turned firm and persistent. He looked around and found that he had been close to the 5th loop of Tiewei Mountain.
The moment he wanted to find a place to incarnate into Cui Li, a knight flew towards him groggily...
It was a female knight being covered with wounds. It seemed that she had been severely injured in a battle.
"Help me!" At the sight of Zhang Tie, the female knight had flown towards him while wailing.
At the sight of that female knight, Zhang Tie widely opened his eyes abruptly.
He hurriedly accelerated towards her as he asked from a few meters away, "Ahh, what happened to you?"
"I've just encountered 3 demon knights..." The female knight panted as if she would almost fall down, "Can you give me a favor and take me back...to the Black Armor Battlefortress...I cannot bear it anymore!"
"Sure, I will take you back to Black Armor Battlefortress right away..."
Zhang Tie moved closer to her and grasped the female knight's hand at once. The weak female knight almost threw herself into Zhang Tie's arms. The moment she wanted to appreciate Zhang Tie, she lowered her head and found that Zhang Tie had stabbed an extremely grim dagger into her body...
Chapter 989: A Barbarous Combat
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Zhang Tie pulled the female knight's one hand by his hand while the golden eaten tri-edged dagger appeared in Zhang Tie's other hand out of the void as fast as a lightning bolt when he pretended to support her. Closely after that, Zhang Tie stabbed into her heart forcefully in the swiftest and fiercest way.
Zhang Tie saw clearly that his gold-eaten tri-edged dagger had penetrated through that female knight's heart which looked obviously different than that of commoners.
It seemed that the female knight didn't believe that she could suffer such a "treatment". However, before she uttered a miserable shriek, Zhang Tie had fiercely thrust his knee onto her lower abdomen which was almost a fatal battle skill.
With such a terrifying great strength, Zhang Tie could even penetrate through a steel plate, not to mention bloody flesh.
As was predicted, the female knight's guts were cracked at once.
Almost at the same time, the female knight spurted out blood with fragmented guts like a high-pressure water jet...
"Ahhhh..." The female knight roared miserably like a wild beast. At the same time, her face turned pale and her clothes were broken into pieces. Her body expanded in a split moment, exposing her unique horn, wings and tail at the rear end immediately...
This was a shadow demon, a powerful shadow demon who was much more powerful than Abyan and Master Jiang.
Zhang Tie kept grasping the shadow demon's arm while fiercely colliding against a mountain peak of Tiewei Mountain like a meteor with this shadow demon in front of him.
Zhang Tie's strength was so terrifying that it instantly collapsed half of the sharp-sword-like top of the mountain peak.
At the same time, the female knight released an earth knight's battle qi.
The shadow demon's tail then pricked at Zhang Tie's eye like a sharp arrow while a dagger also appeared in the other claw of the shadow demon which was stabbed at Zhang Tie's heart fiercely.
At this critical moment, even the shadow demon was an earth demon knight, it had to exert its utmost efforts.
Zhang Tie's face was as firm as steel with a cold sense. He didn't dodge or even blink his eyes facing the shadow demon's strikes.
The shadow demon's strikes by its tail and dagger were blocked by Zhang Tie's protective battle qi which was released in a split second. It seemed that the shadow demon's dagger was not common either. However, when it penetrated through Zhang Tie's protective battle qi partially and was about 1 cm away from Zhang Tie's body, the shadow demon felt hitting a steel wall and couldn't inch forward anymore.
As it couldn't break through Zhang Tie's protective battle qi, the shadow demon curled up its tail and twined round Zhang Tie's neck like a boa. It wanted to strangle Zhang Tie.
The shadow demon's tail was greater than that of its claw.
Meanwhile, the shadow demon released its protective battle qi too.
Zhang Tie's hand forcefully held the gold-eaten tri-edged dagger. The moment the shadow demon released its protective battle qi, Zhang Tie had sensed the gold-eaten three-edged dagger inside the shadow demon's body being pushed out from its body.
Of course, Zhang Tie would never allow it to happen. How could the gold-eaten tri-edged dagger which had been stabbed into the body of the shadow demon be pushed out before killing the shadow demon? Therefore, Zhang Tie increased his strength and directly expanded the harms two times, three times even ten times by breaking the shadow demon's ribs and guts.
The shadow demon's grim face looked anguished when it uttered terrifying, miserable roars. It flapped its wings and wanted to escape; however, Zhang Tie tightly grasped its one arm, making it impossible for it to escape.
Zhang Tie then wrestled with the shadow demon in the air and hit mountain peaks one after another, spraying blood everywhere...
Of course, the blood was from the shadow demon.
The two earth knights just fought in the most brutal and primitive way regardless of any battle skill.
At this moment, Zhang Tie just concentrated on one thing, namely, grasping the shadow demon's arm by one hand in case it escaped away while tightly holding the gold-eaten tri-edged dagger by the other hand in case it was pushed out of the shadow demon's body. Additionally, he pressed down the dagger so that it could cause further injuries to the shadow demon's ribs and guts...
Zhang Tie just gritted his teeth while ignoring the shadow demon's ceaseless strikes.
Zhang Tie didn't believe that this shadow demon could live longer than him under this circumstance.
It was Zhang Tie's second time to use such tactics like how rogues dueled. Last time, he used this tactic to kill a black iron demon knight when Mountain Lifting Hermit was on the spot. This time, he used it to deal with a shadow demon.
In such a close combat, Zhang Tie was firmly convinced that he would finally win it based on his super strong anti-strike capability and recovery ability and his gold-eaten tri-edged dagger's strong penetrating power to protective battle qi as long as the opponent didn't have an overwhelming advantage over him.
The shadow demon could only blame for its bad luck!
What an unexpected achievement!
'In the earlier two months, I circled around the periphery of Tiewei Mountain with Bai Suxian so many times only to hunt this shadow demon in vain; I've not imagined that this shadow demon could come here for me on its own initiative only after standing here a short while. I really feel sorry for you.'
After a few minutes, Zhang Tie's gold-eaten tri-edged dagger had cut open a huge wound about 5 cm in length below the shadow demon's left armpit and broken 8-9 ribs and many guts of the shadow demon. Commoners might have long died in such a case. However, this shadow demon was still alive.
When Zhang Tie expanded the wound, his mouth corners also revealed blood traces due to the shocks of his protective battle qi.
Zhang Tie's eyes turned more merciless...
All of a sudden, with a roar, the shadow demon didn't chop its dagger towards Zhang Tie anymore; instead, it chopped off its own wrist which was grasped by Zhang Tie's hand.
After giving up one arm, the shadow demon escaped away at once by descending and sliding into the mine beneath Tiewei Mountain in terms of a bloody light...
Chapter 990: The Tragedy of the Shadow Demon
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Zhang Tie had not anticipated that this shadow demon could give up its arm like a hero at this critical moment.
However, it was still too late for the shadow demon to make such a decision because it had been severely wounded and almost died.
What a brilliant victory it was for Zhang Tie to completely paralyze and kill an earth knight in only a few minutes' close combat. Now that this shadow demon had been severely wounded, of course, Zhang Tie would not let it go.
The escaping speed of the shadow demon was out of Zhang Tie's imagination as it had surpassed the maximal speed of Zhang Tie. However, Zhang Tie knew that the shadow demon's explosive strength was not lasting. It couldn't escape too far away; additionally, it must have consumed a lot of essence of qi and blood; otherwise, the shadow demon would not have chosen the mine as its destination.
Even a dog would leap over a wall in desperation. The shadow demon intended to escape from Zhang Tie's chase based on its familiarity to the environment inside the mine.
After wiping the bloodstains off his mouth corners, Zhang Tie threw the broken arm of the shadow demon into Castle of Black Iron before sneering and descending downward as fast as a lightning bolt.
It would be a laughingstock for the shadow demon to escape under this circumstance.
Even the shadow demon itself didn't know that Zhang Tie had attached some tracing feathers over its body stealthily when in close combat. Therefore, it would never escape away.
This shadow demon was worth over 70,000 square miles of land and 10 cities. It was as valuable as a super gold mine. When Zhang Tie caught sight of this shadow demon, he had determined to kill it. Of course, Zhang Tie had made some preparations for further chase when in close combat.
In the blink of an eye, the shadow demon had disappeared in front of Zhang Tie. Zhang Tie also followed it into the mine.
It was pretty gloomy inside the mine. The dark red hematites on both sides of the mining walls were like coagulated blood, causing this mine to become colder and more terrifying.
After entering thousands of meters inside the mine, Zhang Tie had seen the first divergence. He immediately flew into the left bypass.
Although the shadow demon had disappeared in front of him, Zhang Tie could still clearly sense the traces and directions of the tracing feathers. Unless the shadow demon had changed a whole set of clothes, he was destined to be found by Zhang Tie.
At this moment, the shadow demon thought the same as Bai Suxian when she was chased by a would-be earth demon knight two months ago, namely, it also wanted to seek for a slim chance of survival based on the familiar terrain. Its dream might come true if its opponent was not Zhang Tie; however, now that it had met Zhang Tie, it was destined to die.
Only in less than 10 minutes, Zhang Tie had flown over 70 miles inside the mine and deepened into the underground space of Tiewei Mountain. Although numerous forks appeared in front of him, Zhang Tie didn't waste any time on making choices.
As he gradually deepened, the scenery in the mine changed too.
Golden sands sparsely appeared on the mining walls while the gloomy mine started to become brilliant.
Those golden things were earth-element crystal sands in the rocks of the mine, which proved that this mine had existed for numerous years. Those crystal sands had not formed complete earth-element crystals; they only contained very low contents of earth elements. Additionally, they were as fine and loose as sands and were distributed around the earth-element crystal mine in terms of grains. They were components of the earth-element crystal mine in its periphery and were not valuable to be exploited. Therefore, they were preserved.
On the earth's surface, these ores containing the earth-elements crystal sands might be highly decorative. As for sculptors, these ores might be rare raw materials for sculptures. However, in the Earth-elements Realm, no knight would care about them at all. No matter how artistic the sculptures were, they could not be used to kill demons, they were nothing but sh*t!
All of a sudden, Zhang Tie sniffed an odor of putrefaction in flight.
Zhang Tie caught sight of two human corpses under the sparkling light of the earth-elements crystal sands right in front of him.
The two human corpses were incomplete. The male corpse had been separated into pieces and scattered on the ground. While that female corpse was naked. Her lower body was badly mutilated. Besides, her body was covered with weird wounds. Given her look, she might be anguished before death and had born too many abnormal torments. She still looked painful after being killed.
Shadow demons would always have abnormal desires about female human knights, including Abyan and Master Jiang.
Given their remained clothes and fragmented weapons, Zhang Tie knew that the two human corpses were not logistics and battle auxiliary personnel in Black Armor Battlefortress; they were more like knights.
Although the female corpse's face had been rotten, Zhang Tie could still identify that it was the very look that the shadow demon had incarnated just now.
Zhang Tie didn't know what happened here; however, he was sure that two Hua knights who came here to join the large-scale battle between demons and humans in Tiewei Mountain would lie here forever after being killed by the shadow demon in an anguished way.
On the earth's surface, the two Hua knights might be a couple or lovers with remarkable statues and positions; however, they were nothing but stinky corpses here.
This was normally seen in the holy war.
Zhang Tie sighed inside as he boomed a huge pit on the ground by one punch and moved the two corpses into the pit tenderly. Closely after that, he punched the mining walls, causing a bulk of ores and sandy soil to fall down, covering the hug pit.
This was the mere thing that Zhang Tie could do under the circumstance.
After burying the corpses, Zhang Tie's eyes turned colder as he tightly pursed his lips, forming a clear arc. Closely after that, he continued to fly towards the depth of the mine.
After a few minutes, a bigger space appeared in front of Zhang Tie's eyes.
This space covered almost 0.7 square miles while the earth-elements crystal sands on the mining walls were as dazzling as stars in the sky. Those dazzling earth-elements crystal sands implied the brilliance here in the past while many ore wastes were piled sparsely on the ground.
7 bypasses were connected to this space.
Any earth human knight who followed a shadow demon here would stop and carefully observe the clues of the shadow demon so as to ascertain their further chase direction. Because they would lose their target completely after making a bit mistake.
However, Zhang Tie didn't.
After entering this space in less than 0.01 second, Zhang Tie had landed as fast as a lightning bolt near a pile of deserted ores. The moment he landed, he had stomped onto the plain ground while releasing his fierce battle qi at the same time...
When he was just a black iron knight, he had been able to collapse the pavilion of the Morality Association by one foot, not to mention this moment.
As a result, the ground cracked like being split open by a huge ax that was used to separate the sky from the earth.
With a terrifying roar, the lower part of the shadow demon directly sprung out of the ground as it spurted out blood as high as 20 cm.
However, the shadow demon didn't escape this time. Because Zhang Tie directly stomped onto its neck and almost broke it.
Previously, the shadow demon had been severely injured and almost run out of its aura when he escaped. Being almost died, it was concealing its qi and lying underground like a dead one. However, it had not imagined that it was almost transparent in Zhang Tie's eyes and was just waiting for Zhang Tie's stomp.
How could Zhang Tie give up such a good opportunity?
With Zhang Tie's stomp, the shadow demon's defensive system and physical functions were completely collapsed.
Being stomped onto the ground, the shadow demon's tail twisted and beat in a frenzied manner like a snake being put into a hot pot with cooking oil. Additionally, its wings had been out of shape due to extreme pains.
"Why...why..." The shadow demon struggled and shrieked towards Zhang Tie who was in a commanding position with bloody eyes in vain.
Until now, the shadow demon had not thought through why it suddenly became so miserable and even had no chance to escape.
It didn't understand why human knight who smelt like a black iron knight suddenly became an extremely powerful earth knight in combat.
It couldn't think it through why it was stabbed ferociously by this guy when it disguised to be a female human knight and sought for the human knight's favor.
It couldn't figure it out why its trump cards of escaping speed and concealing its qi could be identified by this human earth knight in a split second.
Since it caught sight of this human knight, it had been facing tragedies one after another.
"Why? Go ask your mom!"
When the shadow demon was still struggling, Zhang Tie stretched out his hands and grasped the shadow demon's head while he stomped the shadow demon's tail with one foot. Closely after that, he triggered his purgatory samsara, breaking apart the part of the water chakra which had been formed by the shadow demon in a split second...
...
After a few minutes...
With a sound "kacha", the shadow demon stopped its earthshaking miserable shrieks immediately. Because Zhang Tie had broken its neck by his hands and ended its struggle forever...
Chapter 991: Being Ambitious and Embarrassed
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The shadow demon's head was circled on its neck before shrugging down weakly...
A dead demon was most reassured and valuable. After losing its power, the shadow demon was like a huge mutated lizard with wings and a unique horn; plus its tail, this shadow demon was almost 3 m in overall length.
As an earth knight-level shadow demon, its unique horn, wings and the color of its skin were obviously different than that of common shadow demons.
Zhang Tie let out a deep sigh, easing a lot of depression and indignation caused by Lan Yunxi's departure.
It only took Zhang Tie less than 1 hour to kill this earth knight-level shadow demon, the demon ghost who made all the human knights across Tiewei Mountain restless since he saw it. This could prove Zhang Tie's battle strength for sure.
Zhang Tie felt a surging strength inside; therefore, he became ambitious and confident once again immediately.
'The unrivaled earth demon knight which was previously as overwhelming as a mountain before me has already lain at my foot like a dead dog. One day, a shadow demon knight even a heavenly demon knight would lie like this at my foot. The result of the shadow demon today is that facing the Gobbling Party tomorrow. Heavenly demon knight? Top three chancellors in Taixia Country? Whatever! They only represent the past; however, I represent the future.'
After throwing another glance at the empty, deserted underground mine, Zhang Tie grasped the shadow demon's neck like lifting a dead dog before disappearing out of the void in a split second.
...
Zhang Tie returned to Castle of Black Iron.
He had not been here for over 2 months since he met Bai Suxian to the present.
"Congratulations, Castle Lord, for killing a shadow demon!" Heller had long been waiting for him in the lobby of the palace tree. At the sight of Zhang Tie coming back, Heller had bowed towards Zhang Tie, "After killing this earth knight-level shadow demon, Castle Lord could definitely enjoy a higher honor and reputation in the human world, even in Taixia Country!"
This shadow demon was the eyesore of human knights in the Earth-elements Realm. It was very harmful to human knights, especially black iron human knights. On the battlefield, this shadow demon had made too many people restless; therefore, Taixia determined to reward the one who could kill this shadow demon with a big reward so as to motivate morale.
It was definitely a symbolic event that Zhang Tie could kill this shadow demon, which was of a special significance for human knights who joined the large-scale battle in Tiewei Mountain. It was an inspiring victory. Additionally, after Zhang Tie killed the earth-knight level shadow demon the weirdest species of demons as an earth human knight, it indicated that he had become a member of powerful earth knights in Taixia Country.
This shadow demon was a stepping-stone of special significance, with which Zhang Tie's reputation would reach an unprecedented new hight in both Earth-elements Realm and Taixia Country.
"Help me check whether this b*stard has some personal belongings. This b*stard has tortured human knights in Tiewei Mountain for so long and made humans abhor him so much after killing so many human knights, he should have something valuable!" Zhang Tie told Heller.
Due to the experience in searching over Old Monster Qi's corpse, Zhang Tie realized that he might miss some good items on the knight's body through simple superficial search. If he wanted to find all the valuables from the shadow demon, he might severely destroy the shadow demon's corpse in the end; therefore, Zhang Tie directly took the shadow demon's corpse into Castle of Black Iron. The moment it entered Castle of Black Iron, all the valuables on it would be under Heller's control on a molecular level.
Heller replied with a smile silently. Closely after that, he pointed at the shadow demon's corpse while two items flew off the corpse towards Zhang Tie.
This skill could even match Zhang Tie's capability as a divine dominator. What was more, Zhang Tie didn't feel any spiritual energy or battle qi waves on Heller at all.
One item was a necklace from the neck of the shadow demon. This necklace was faintly similar to that the demon general once wore. At the sight of it, Zhang Tie had known that it was a space-teleportation equipment. The other item flew out of the place beneath a scale in the middle of the forehead below the unique horn.
After catching the necklace, Zhang Tie confirmed that it was a space-teleportation equipment, which was much more senior than that of the demon general. He didn't want to waste time injecting his spiritual energy into the necklace to check what was inside. He directly poured all the objects from the space of the necklace into the lobby of the palace tree.
There were thousands of golden earth-element crystals, hundreds of blue water-element crystals, some food and water, two mirrors, dozens of clothes of various styles and some scattered objects.
It was shadow demon's special hobby to look into the mirror. Those clothes might be used for figures in disguise. The earth-element crystals and water-element crystals were a big surprise; it was not easy for an earth knight to have a stockpile of so many crystals, especially those water-element crystals. It would take Zhang Tie many years to gain such a number of crystals if he just garrisoned in the Lion Fortress.
After glancing around them, Zhang Tie fixed his eyes onto those scattered objects, from where, he caught sight of a shield which was a silver secret item as same as that Zhang Tie gained from the demon general; plus the one that he gifted to Lan Yunxi, Zhang Tie had got 3 shields.
'Does it mean that such shields account most of the silver secret items?'
Zhang Tie became speechless. However, besides this shield, there were 10 more crystals being wrapped with metal among those scattered objects——senior secret methods.
Zhang Tie ran his spiritual energy and those secret methods flew towards him.
With a glimpse, Zhang Tie saw 4 strange classic secret cultivation methods whose levels were unknown. The remaining 11 secret items were all powerful battle skills.
Blood stains could be seen on most of the crystals of these secret cultivation methods. Given these blood stains, Zhang Tie knew how did this shadow demon gain them.
"What's this?" Zhang Tie caught that bead which flew out of the forehead of the shadow demon with a bizarre luster.
"This is a rare silver secret item, Castle Lord, you will know its function after pasting it onto your forehead!"
After hearing Heller's suggestion, Zhang Tie pasted it onto his forehead by hand.
The moment it touched his forehead, Zhang Tie had felt his spiritual energy rocking in his mind sea while a refreshing and cool feeling slowly spread over Zhang Tie's mind sea.
'Unbelievable, this bead could nourish spiritual energy!'
Zhang Tie went ecstatic. He just watched the bizarre bead over and over and was unwilling to part with it.
'But how do I use it? I'm not a shadow demon; therefore, I cannot hide it in my skin. Neither can I mount it onto my forehead. If it was made into a headwear, it would be pretty awkward for a man.'
Zhang Tie touched his head helplessly. When he imagined how it would look when it was mounted onto his forehead, he revealed a bitter smile. 'All right, just keep it. When I wear a battle armor, I could inlay this bead into the helmet. If not, this bead could actually serve as woman's headwear.'
Zhang Tie really wondered about such a marvelous silver secret item.
"Heller, what's this bead's name? I feel it should be mounted onto something!"
"It's called Spirit Nourishing Bead. As you said, it should be mounted onto some special equipment. Precisely, it should be used together with some special silver secret item."
"Together with the other silver secret item?" Zhang Tie became faintly shocked. It was his first time to hear that different silver secret items could be combined.
Heller replied with a smile, "There're various silver secret items, more than weapons and space-teleportation equipment. In a far-ancient age, the so-called silver secret items were actually common tools produced by people. Of course, different tools could be combined. Castle Lord, when you see more silver secret items in the future, you will know it!"
After hearing Heller's explanation, Zhang Tie became silent.
...
After over 2 months, the small tree had been covered with fruits once again. However, there was no iron-body fruit anymore and was only one leakless fruit.
After Zhang Tie promoted to an earth knight, the small tree had stopped producing leakless fruit. The last one was left by Zhang Tie as a souvenir.
If the shadow demon was not an earth knight, there should be at least one fruit of plunder; however, the small tree could not produce any fruit of demon knights. What a regret!
Those on the small tree were all fruits of redemption from the gratitude of hairy shellfish, gulf shrimps and golden uangs.
Hairy shellfish increased Zhang Tie's physical defense and anti-strike ability; gulf shrimps improved his ability in healing and recovering wounds; golden uangs granted him greater physical strength.
After taking the fruits of redemption from three animals, Zhang Tie's physical defense and anti-striking ability had increased 0.45%, his ability in healing and recovering wounds had improved 0.87%; his overall physical strength had increased over 280 kg.
Being affected by these fruits, Zhang Tie's overall strength had reached a small new high.
After taking those fruits, Zhang Tie directly sat with crossed legs under the small tree and started to digest the water elements that he refined from the shadow demon...
...
2 days later, Zhang Tie opened his eyes while the 7th dragon scale on his earth knight's crystal plate had been lit. This shadow demon lit 5 dragon scales for Zhang Tie.
After 2 days' cultivation and rest in Castle of Black Iron, Zhang Tie recovered his look as Cui Li. With the help of Heller, Zhang Tie made himself look embarrassed purposefully like having experienced a hard battle. After that, Zhang Tie left Castle of Black Iron for Black Armor Battlefortress as he directly hefted the shadow demon's corpse onto his shoulder like hefting a prey in a domineering way...
Chapter 992: Arousing a Shock
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Before Zhang Tie reached Black Armor Battlefortress, he had encountered a squad of black armored knights who were patrolling outside the Black Armor Battlefortress.
Due to the popular reputation "unrivaled male and female" of Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian, the black armored knights who garrisoned the Black Armor Battlefortress had heard the name Cui Li although they had not seen him; especially his bald head and tower-like sturdy figure, which was definitely a unique brand in Black Armor Battlefortress.
When the squad of black armored knights caught sight of Cui Li from afar, they flew towards him. When they caught sight of the shadow demon's corpse on Zhang Tie's shoulder, the three members of the squad were left startled at once.
One knight screamed, "That's the earth knight-level shadow demon!"
"Hehhehheh, it's so nice to meet brothers of Black Armor Army again. This brother Cui is too lucky today. After wandering outside for a few days, I was almost cheated by this b*stard. Through a close combat, I killed it luckily!" Zhang Tie burst into laughter.
The three black armored knights didn't believe in any good luck at all. The shadow demon was an earth knight. Who could kill an earth knight luckily? Additionally, this earth knight was not a common demon, it was a shadow demon, which was always regarded as a tricky demon species in the world.
Since the beginning of the large-scale battle in Tiewei Mountain, very few earth demon knights had been killed by humans in the periphery of Tiewei Mountain. Additionally, neither did humans suffer a great loss. It was a shocking news for a human knight to kill an earth demon knight. As earth human knights were able to be provincial governors or Cheji Generals in Taixia Country, earth demon knights should also be in the same positions among demons. It was a great military exploit for a human or a demon to kill an opponent earth knight.
At this moment, the three black armored knights watched Zhang Tie with full admiration and respect. As Zhang Tie looked a bit fatigued after a combat with the shadow demon's corpse on his shoulder, the three knights stopped patrolling and escorted him back to Black Armor Battlefortress for the sake of Zhang Tie's safety.
When Zhang Tie came to an entrance of Black Armor Battlefortress, those knights who were accessing to the Black Armor Battlefortress were greatly startled with very splendid looks at the sight of the shadow demon's corpse on Zhang Tie's shoulder.
"Shadow demon..."
"The shadow demon was killed!"
"That earth knight-level shadow demon was killed!"
At the sight of the shadow demon's corpse on Zhang Tie's shoulder, those knights who were leaving the Black Armor Battlefortress stopped while those knights who were entering the battle fortress swarmed up, causing an uproar at the entrance.
To some extent, knights were like commoners as they liked to be onlookers too. However, the thresholds between commoners and knights on becoming onlookers were sharply different. If two tough men were fighting in the street, commoners might swarm up; however, knights would ignore that. However, even knights would be attracted by a shadow demon's corpse.
Because the shadow demon was too rare. Most of the human knights might only see shadow demons in pictures in their whole lives. Less than 1 out of 100 human knights had seen a living shadow demon or the corpse of a shadow demon.
In the blink of an eye, the news had been spread over which shocked the entire Black Armor Battlefortress.
Only after Zhang Tie entered Black Armor Battlefortress with the shadow demon's corpse on the shoulder a few steps, he had been surrounded by knights. Some of them directly flew off the ground to watch the corpse of the shadow demon as they could not enter the crowd.
After that, exclamations and a sharp intake of breaths could be heard one after another in the Black Armor Battlefortress.
Each step Zhang Tie inched forward, the crowd would give a way to him like a falling tide.
Of course, nobody dared flew above Zhang Tie's head to watch the corpse at this moment. They just surrounded Zhang Tie at a distance.
"Golden horn and purple grains; four-edged tail like a steel whip; skin like that of boa; sharp black bony spurs on the top of wings. That's it! It meets all the features of shadow demon after promoting to an earth knight..." Someone exclaimed out of excitement.
"Who's that earth human knight?" A new guy who flew off the ground and threw a glance at Zhang Tie before asking a knight beside him.
"Cui Li, Cui Li from Youzhou Province!"
"Ahh, he's Cui LI from Yongzhou Province?"
"You've heard about him?"
"Cui Li from Yongzhou Province is extremely righteous. He sacrificed himself to die together with the demon knight for the safety of his team members. I heard that when in the Lion Fortress. Wasn't Cui Li dead?"
"What you've heard was not the latest news. Cui Li didn't die; instead, he got good out of misfortune and promoted to an earth knight!" The one replied as he watched Zhang Tie's back with flickering eyes, "That's what human knights should learn from. Earth human knights should exert their utmost to kill powerful enemies on the battlefield and become well-known in the Earth-elements Realm!"
...
Hot discussions drifted into Zhang Tie's ears clearly.
Zhang Tie just walked towards an information desk in the center of the square calmly step by step under various eye lights.
At this moment, in the eyes of everybody else, Zhang Tie's composed footsteps was formidable and oppressive.
The scene that Zhang Tie hefted a dead earth knight-level shadow demon in an extremely domineering way was deeply imprinted in the minds of all the surrounding knights.
Finally, Zhang Tie came to the front of the information desk.
Watching Zhang Tie and the shadow demon's corpse on Zhang Tie's shoulder, the old man almost popped out his eyes. Although being familiar with Zhang Tie, he could never imagine that Zhang Tie could come back with a dead shadow demon in only 3 days.
With a loud sound "bang...", Zhang Tie threw the dead shadow demon which weighed hundreds of kgs onto the desk in front of the old man like throwing a dead pig.
Zhang Tie grinned, "Take it, the earth knight-level shadow demon. I'm here for the reward!"
When Zhang Tie spoke, all the others became silent.
Everybody knew the reward of this earth knight-level shadow demon——700 miles' land and 10 cities in Taixia Country.
The reward made people jealous. However, nobody envied Zhang Tie at this moment because Zhang Tie had killed the shadow demon with his own ability.
On the battlefield, all the fighters only admired those who had great military exploits, regardless of human races and countries. Someone would admire about the military exploits and honors brought by one's battle strength and efforts; however, nobody would envy it.
The old man swallowed his saliva forcefully before taking a deep breath. He then started to check the corpse seriously from its head to its toe before nodding towards Zhang Tie, "It's indeed an earth knight-level shadow demon. As for the reward, you cannot get it from me..."
"Where can I receive it?"
Before that old man replied, some black armored fighters had walked to the front of Zhang Tie and bowed towards him respectfully. Closely after that, the head of the team of black armored knights stretched out his arm and said, "Brother Cui Li, our Commander Guan wants to see you!"
'General Guan?' Zhang Tie knew that a commander of Black Armor Army was on the back of Black Armor Battlefortress. He was a shadow knight surnamed Guan who had lit 3 chakras. Wu Guanhai talked about him before. Guan Qianchong was well-known and formidable across Black Armor Army.
Among the top four armies in Taixia Country, those commanders were on an equal footing with the military commanders of military regions in Taixia Country. They were able to be responsible for the safety of a region at a supreme position. It was said that Cheng Honglie the military commander of the Northeast Military Region was a commander of Black Armor Army previously.
Previously, even though Zhang Tie had been a bit famous in Black Armor Battlefortress, he didn't attract the attention of this Commander Guan. This time, after killing the earth knight-level shadow demon, he finally aroused the attention of Commander Guan of Black Armor Army.
Zhang Tie estimated that Commander Guan was going to talk about the reward with him. Therefore, he followed the team of black armored knights away from the square.
Watching Zhang Tie leaving, those on-looking knights swarmed up the counter at once and prepared to take a good look at the shadow demon.
'It's said that shadow demons could disguise into anyone's look; but how did such a huge thing with a tail make it?'
A knight asked out of curiosity!
The pile of knights started to touch the shadow demon's corpse with flickering eyes. As a result, the old man couldn't even put it away. Therefore, he changed his face and hurriedly intended to cover the shadow demon with his hands; however, how could his hands cover the corpse which was longer than 3 m while being surrounded by so many knights?
"Don't crowd, don't crowd, keep your hands off..." The old man shouted painfully as he treasured this corpse so much, "B*stard, don't press your hand on the wounds, don't you know that its blood could be made into the most senior disguising medicament...ahh, and you...stop...its scales are the best raw materials for making concealing rune..."
After hearing the old man's anxious exclamations behind him, Zhang Tie burst out into laughter...
...
A few minutes later, Zhang Tie followed the team of black armored knights to the top floor of the highest tower in Black Armor Battlefortress. He saw Guan Qianchong in a room from where he could look across the entire Black Armor Battlefortress.
Being different than the fiery feeling that Cheng Honglie impressed him, at the sight of Guan Qianchong the commander of Black Armor Army, Zhang Tie almost thought that he had mistaken a person. With an unbearded white face and a pair of slim eyes, this man wore a cyan robe with loose sleeves with a white jade waist belt and a sophisticated crown. He was reading a book.
'He's absolutely an elegant old man! How could he be the commander of Black Armor Army in Taixia Country!'
Whereas, when Zhang Tie was doubting his status, the old man threw a glance at him before asking, "What's the relationship between you and Zhao Yuan the alchemist demon?". Hearing this question, Zhang Tie's heart almost stopped beating.
Chapter 993: A Profitable Bet
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
'First, the relationship between Zhao Yuan and I was established on the premise that I was Zhang Tie. The status Cui Li had nothing to do with Zhao Yuan since the beginning.'
'Second, Zhao Yuan's over strength is too powerful. As a heavenly human knight, of course, he would not be traced or cheated by a shadow demon; additionally, Zhao Yuan knew the current situations facing him and I; he would never reveal the secret that Zhang Tie was his apprentice to the anybody. Therefore, I'm not a shadow knight in the look of Cui Li.'
'Third, nobody knows that Cui Li is Zhang Tie.'
'Fourth, because Zhao Yuan was too arrogant, when he discovered the "Fire Dragon Sutra", he didn't even feel like putting it away; instead, he left it in the mountain cave. Now that Zhao Yuan left the "Fire Dragon Sutra" to me and was not afraid of any threats, it indicated that Zhao Yuan didn't tell the secret about "Fire Dragon Sutra" to anyone else. Therefore, nobody would doubt the relationship between me and Zhao Yuan through "Fire Dragon Sutra".'
'Fifth, only Zhao Yuan knew that I acquired the "Fire Dragon Sutra". At most, Zhao Yuan would doubt the relationship between Cui Li and Zhang Tie. It's not other's turn to doubt about the relationship between Cui Li and Zhao Yuan.'
'Sixth, Zhao Yuan's purgatory samsara method shocked both humans and demons. Besides, Zhao Yuan is an alchemist master. I only carry forward his purgatory samsara method, which is featured by absorbing other's chakra to rapidly form my own chakra. Guan Qianchong should wonder why I could vanish with the earth demon knights together and promote to an earth knight after staying in the hieron ruins 2 years ago.'
'Seventh, Guan Qianchong just doubts that. He would never get any evidence. If he could confirm that I was practicing the purgatory samsara and the relationship between Zhao Yuan and I, he would have arrested me the moment I came to the Black Armor Battlefortress.'
'Therefore, he was just testing me in order to damage my psychological defense line in a split second. Guan Qianchong wanted to check my response. If I gave myself away, it was equal for me to admit his presumption.'
'However, even though this commander of Black Armor Army was very wise, he could never guess my means and secrets.'
At the critical moment, Zhang Tie had figured out everything in a split second.
...
"Hahaha..." Only after being faintly shocked, Zhang Tie had burst out into laughter with a bit indignation. He looked at Guan Qianchong with a sneer, "I've not imagined that the famous Black Armor Army in Taixia Country could be so insidious. If Commander Guan wants to rob the 700 miles' land and 10 cities from me or just want to take the so-called reward as a f*rt, just let me know. I don't treasure this reward at all. After leaving Taixia Country, I could get such a bit reward wherever I am. You don't need to frame me in such a dirty means!" Zhang Tie said as he looked around the room, "Whether some executioners are ambushing here or not? If you plan to use such an old trick. Call your men out. This Cui Li is not that easily bullied. In the worst scenario, I will be killed, spraying my blood in the air. However, I have to tell others what a m*therfucking thing you are."
With a sharp eyelight, Guan Qianchong revealed a smile towards Zhang Tie, "You were just a black iron knight 2 years ago. After staying with an earth demon knight in the hieron ruins, you promoted to an earth knight in only 2 years. Besides the purgatory samsara method, I really could not imagine about other means. Perhaps you wanted to exchange yourself with Mountain Lifting Hermit and Lin Huanxi out of a good intention in the hieron ruins; however, I think that you have long cast greedy eyes on the earth demon knight's chakra and prepared for a risky fight. The others say that you're extremely righteous; however, I think that you're extremely cunning and audacious!"
Zhang Tie sighed inside, 'What a commander! Although he was not on the spot, he could almost hit my thoughts given the clues. How terrifying he is!'
'However, this Commander Guan doesn't know that one earth demon knight's earth chakra is not enough for me at all. If not the bloody sacrifice furnace in the hieron and the demon corps in Castle of Black Iron, I might not have used that means.'
After throwing a glance at the book in Guan Qianchong's hand and the other books in the bookcases, Zhang Tie continued to sneer, "Although this Cui Li didn't read too many books since childhood, I also understand that reading thousands of books is not equal to traveling thousands of miles. Do you think you've known all the secret methods in the world after reading so many books? Even if you know all the secret methods, how dare you confirm that nobody else could create or discover a new secret method? I don't know what is purgatory samsara, but this Cui Li has created a secret method by which I could absorb earth-element crystals ten times faster than the average speed. Through 2 years' cultivation in the hieron ruins, as long as there're sufficient earth-element crystals, I could reach the effect that would take common black iron knights 70-80 years. It's nothing strange for me to promote to an earth knight in 2 years at all! Coincidentally, the demon knight and Old Monster Qi had sufficient earth-element crystals for me to promote to an earth knight in only 2 years..."
"10 times faster?" Guan Qianchong revealed a faint smile as he patted his palm on the book, "If there's such a secret method in the world, there would be numerous knights!"
"It acquires sufficient earth-element crystals. It's my exclusive secret skill. I gained it due to karma. Nobody else could grasp it in the world!"
"Exclusive secret skill?"
"If Commander Guan doesn't believe me, dare you to make a bet with me in the public?" Zhang Tie raised his head and watched Guan Qianchong with a proud look.
"How?" Guan Qianchong mumbled as he realized that he might have mistaken the person at the sight of Cui Li's confident look.
"Right in the Lion Fortress. In front of all the garrison knights. If I could prove that I could absorb earth-element crystals 10 times faster than commoners, I would win. Commander Guan should break one arm and apologize to me in the public!" Zhang Tie said decisively.
"What if you cannot?" Guan Qianchong's eyes flickered.
"I will commit suicide in the public to apologize to all the human knights over there!"
"What sort of cultivation method could have such a remarkable effect?"
"What classics is Commander Guan cultivating? May you expose it to the public?" Zhang Tie gave tit for tat.
Two pairs of flickering eyes gazed at each other in the room like sabers and swords colliding with each other.
After quite a while, Guan Qianchong let out a distant sigh, "How tricky you are! So many knights from Lion Fortress are fighting demons in Tiewei Mountain; you just want to postpone the bet to the end of the battle a few months later so that Zhao Yuan the alchemist demon could save you out of here!"
"Hahahaha..." Zhang Tie burst out into laughter with an aggressive qi, "Cut the crap. If Commander Guan really thinks that this Cui Li is related to the f*cking alchemist demon, we could make a bet in this room. We will see the result in 1 hour. No need to waste time and play tricks here!"
When Zhang Tie said, he took out a top-quality pure water-element crystal from his space-teleportation equipment that he had acquired from the shadow demon.
"This is a complete high-quality water-element crystal. It might take a common earth knight over 1 day to fully absorb it; if I could absorb it in 2 hours, I will be the winner. If not, I will be the loser and you can do to me whatever you want to. I will admit that even if you call me the stepson of alchemist demon by then. If I win, I don't request Commander Guan to apologize to me and break one arm; otherwise, Black Armor Army would hate me too much and Brother Wu Guanhai would not feel good in front of me. If I win, Commander Guan should add a bit more reward to me, I mean you should pay me over 700 miles' land and 10 cities too. Additionally, this bet is only confidential to you and me."
"Over 700 miles' land and 10 cities. It's just billions of gold coins. I can afford it!" Guan Qianchong revealed a faint smile as if he thought it was just a small gift, "It's my pleasure to witness how you absorb a water-element crystal 10 times faster than commoners at such a bit secular payment!"
When he heard Guan Qianchong's reply, Zhang Tie felt pretty thrilled. In a split second, he had reversed the situation and increased his reward while sparing a chance to prove that he was innocent.
What a good opportunity!
"Nice, Commander Guan is really generous!" Zhang Tie patted his thigh before asking, "Commander Guan, do you want to check this piece of water-element crystal..."
After throwing a glance at the piece of water-element crystal in Zhang Tie's hand, Guan Qianchong shook his head. As he had spent a lot of water-element crystals to promote to a shadow knight, of course, he could confirm that it was a real one. He didn't believe that Zhang Tie could play any trick in front of his eyes.
...
Zhang Tie could visualize 21 abacuses in mind at the same time. At his full effort, he could absorb water-element crystals 20 times faster than common earth knights, namely, it would take him less than 1 hour to fully absorb one water-element crystal.
At this moment, Zhang Tie didn't make his full effort to absorb the water-element crystal, he just adjusted his speed to 11 times that of common earth knights. Even though in such a medium speed, he had also fully absorbed the water-element crystal in only a bit longer than 1 hour while the blue water-element crystal gradually turned transparent like a winebottle being emptied...
Watching the water-element crystal gradually losing its color in Zhang Tie's hand, Guan Qianchong looked pretty splendid.
Chapter 994: Clarifying His Innocence
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"What's that secret method?" Guan Qianchong asked Zhang Tie once again.
As to the result of this bet, it was just a matter of over 700 miles' land and 10 cities, it seemed that this commander of Black Armor Army didn't care about it at all.
"This is Spiritual Multi-tasking Sutra! Zhang Tie renamed the "mental arithmetic by abacus" at once, which sounded very sharp.
'My God, I've not imagined that I could cheat a commander of one the top four armies in Taixia Country, a terrifying and powerful shadow knight with the "mental arithmetic by abacus" that I bought from an old man at only 4 silver coins when I was young.'
"Spiritual Multi-tasking Sutra!" Guan Qianchong repeated it. Even if he had a rich experience, it was still his first time to hear this name. He had witnessed the effect of this sutra. If the secret that Zhang Tie could absorb water-element crystal 10 times faster than common earth knights was revealed, all the other knights would be driven mad.
However, Zhang Tie had predicted that Guan Qianchong would be shocked by how he absorbed the water-element crystal. Therefore, he made an agreement with him in advance that the result of this bet was only confidential to two of them. As the commander of Black Armor Army and a shadow knight, he would not go back on his words. Those who went back on their promise would be belittled by dark forces, not to mention the ruling class. Therefore, Zhang Tie believed in his credibility.
Given Guan Qianchong's dense eyebrows which suddenly turned dignified, Zhang Tie knew what this commander of Black Armor Army was thinking about. If such a secret method could be grasped by the military party or Black Armor Army, the overall strength and cultivation speed of all the knights in Black Armor Army would reach a new hight. Theoretically, with sufficient earth-element crystals, black iron knights in Taixia Country could promote to earth knights in the shortest time.
"Hehhehheh, Commander Guan, don't expect me to reveal the Spiritual Multi-tasking Sutra to you!" Zhang Tie put it straightforwardly, "Due to some reasons, I acquired this secret method and reached such a high realm. It only works on very few people. Fewer than 1 out of 100 knights would be suitable to cultivate it. As for the others, even if they could cultivate it reluctantly, it would be ineffective for them to increase their cultivation speed either. Therefore, stop thinking about popularizing this secret method to the Black Armor Army and Taixia Country as a whole. It's not as simple as you think. This secret method poses abnormal requirements to the qualification of cultivators in some aspects."
Zhang Tie didn't tell a lie. Besides reaching the corresponding multi-tasking realm, the cultivator's spiritual energy should be many times more than that of common cultivators. Therefore, even though someone cultivated the "Mental Arithmetic by Abacus", he could not reach Zhang Tie's effect at all. The reason that Zhang Tie could have such a high spiritual energy lay in so many fruits of brilliance that he had taken. Besides Zhang Tie, nobody else could take so many fruits of brilliance.
After hearing Zhang Tie's explanation, Guan Qianchong gazed at Zhang Tie quite a while as if he wanted to recognize this guy from the scratch and wanted to seek for some loopholes from Zhang Tie's face. However, Zhang Tie looked bright and innocent which could be barely disguised. Based on his rich experience, Guan Qianchong didn't find anything wrong with Zhang Tie's look and eyes. Finally, Guan Qianchong let out a long sigh while his eye lights turned tender at once. Additionally, he started to appreciate Zhang Tie's talent, "It seems that this old man has mistaken a person this time. It turns out that you've got a special karma and could rapidly absorb water-element crystals in a secret method. You got good out of misfortune and successfully promoted to an earth knight in 2 years in the hieron ruins!"
"Haha, when I killed Old Monster Qi and that earth demon knight, I've not imagined that they could carry so many earth-element crystals in their space-teleportation items. Therefore, I made a fortune!" Zhang Tie shrugged. Closely after tiding over the crisis, he became relaxed at once.
"This old man wondered how did you kill that demon knight. It was told that Old Monster Qi had taken the advantageous position at that moment; however, he suddenly became still like being possessed by the devil. Therefore, you chopped off his head. As for the earth demon knight, it was not easy; how did you kill it in the hieron ruins?"
Touching his head, Zhang Tie smirked, "Everybody has secrets. Of course, this Cui has methods to protect himself."
Guan Qianchong revealed a generous smile and didn't ask Zhang Tie anymore, "It's rare for someone with such a great good fortune to reverse the situation in such a marvelous way like you!"
"Silly people always have a good fortune. I have to tell you that Old Monster Qi is a b*stard of Three-eye Association. I killed him because he was possessed by the devil when he triggered a secret method of Bloody Soul Temple. I just seized the opportunity and killed him. When I closed the gate of the hieron, I had also thought about perishing together with the demon knight by destroying the crystal ball. After all, it's worthwhile for me to die at the cost of two earth demon knights as a black iron human knight. I was very satisfied to do that. However, later on, I found an item which could protect my life in an emergency from the space-teleportation item of Old Monster Qi; therefore I reversed the situation!"
Zhang Tie knew that he should spare space for the listener to imagine when fabricating a lie. 1 false sentence in every 10 sentences was the wisest lie. After all, Old Monster Qi once framed Mountain Lifting Hermit using the Bloody Soul Driller on Damaging Guts. If Zhang Tie said that he found something sharp being related to the bloody soul temple from Old Monster Qi and gave a fatal blow to the earth demon knight on the premise of controlling the hub of the hieron, it was reasonable. He didn't explain it explicitly; instead, he just spared space for Guan Qianchong to imagine about it. It was better than nothing.
Besides the late Old Monster Qi and Zhang Tie himself, who else in the world knew what Old Monster Qi carried. Zhang Tie just guided Guan Qianchong's train of thoughts.
Certainly, soon after hearing Zhang Tie's explanation, Guan Qianchong had revealed a faintly clear look.
Guan Qianchong thought that although Zhang Tie had kept some secrets about this event, his choice was normal. Generally, this tower-like tough man was indeed extremely honest and sincere as was told by others. Such an innocent and sincere man was rarely seen in this world.
"Since I left the Hieron Ruins about 3 months ago, I've been wondering whether Mountain Lifting Hermit and the other team members have reported the background of Old Monster Qi to the superiors and whether Taixia Country has discovered something through the clue of Old Monster Qi?"
Zhang Tie asked another question "frankly"...
Chapter 995: Cashing the Reward
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"After Mountain Lifting Hermit and the other team members returned and revealed the real status of Old Monster Qi, the Lion Fortress had already passed the news to the Supreme Court in Taixia Country. The Supreme Court will be responsible for investigating the clues left by Old Monster Qi!"
After feeling that Zhang Tie was pleasing to the eye, Guan Qianchong patiently solved Zhang Tie's question. This might be similar to the opposite-sex attraction. A cunning guy would always be fully vigilant and careful about the other one who was of the same personality; however, when he saw a frank, black, silly, sturdy and righteous one whose personality was utterly different than him, he would always have a favorable impression on the latter. At this moment, in the eyes of this commander of the Black Armor Army, Zhang Tie was the second sort of person.
He had long heard about Zhang Tie's gossips. A man who could call a princess of Lord Guangnan's Mansion his paramour must be favorable in some aspect. Such a person was always straightforward and didn't play tricks; whereas, he was easily favored by the God and could always avert the crisis. He would always have a very good fortune. By contrast, those who always played tricks would barely have a good fortune. Because the God would take their fortune away. That was the universal law.
"What about the survey result of the Supreme Court?"
"Old Monster Qi exposed his real status all of a sudden. Previously, he used to move very weirdly and secretly. Additionally, he was an earth knight and could barely be traced. It's very difficult to investigate what he had done. After investigating this case for 2 years, besides arresting some small fishes being related to Old Monster Qi and confirming that Old Monster Qi was related to the missing children across Taixia Country, nothing else was found!"
"I see..." Zhang Tie touched his bald head in a disappointed way. He had anticipated this result. 'It seems that the Supreme Court in Taixia Country didn't make any surprise this time. Whatever, if the Three-eye Association and the Heavens-reaching Church could be easily dealt with, demons would not have been wrestling with humans for so many years.'
"Are you interested in joining Black Armor Army?" Guan Qianchong sudden asked him, "If you agree, I promise you to be a Cheji General in both Earth-elements Realm and on the earth's surface!"
"Hahaha, young brother Wu had already invited me to join the Black Armor Army; but this Cui refused him. I'm used to be free. Although it sounds great to join Black Armor Army, I have to follow orders and comply with regulations; with so many superiors, I might even be impeached by others if I made any mistake. That's too boring. I cannot adapt to that. Therefore, sorry about that, I prefer to be alone. At least I'm free and could do whatever I want and go wherever I want. I will fight demons whenever I want and escape whenever I want. I can sleep alone whenever I want and sleep with women whenever I want. As long as I don't do anything illegal, I will be free. This Cui prefers such a freestyle!" Zhang Tie directly refused Guan Qianchong's invitation.
Although it was impolite for Zhang Tie to refuse Guan Qianchong directly. Generally, when being invited by a commander of the Black Armor Army, the one being invited should politely express that he was overwhelmed by an unexpected favor. He should refuse the invitation in a euphemistic way at least. Few of them dared refuse Guan Qianchong's invitation in such a straightforward way.
However, the more Zhang Tie acted in this way, the more Guan Qianchong appreciated him. After hearing Zhang Tie's explanation, Guan Qianchong put down his book and burst out into laughter, "Alright, I will respect your choice. Everyone has their own ambition. Speaking of killing demons, how did you kill that shadow demon this time? This shadow demon was too tricky. I wanted to find it; however, I couldn't it!"
Zhang Tie smirked, "Actually, I stayed in Black Armor Battlefortress for 2 months so as to find that b*stard for some benefits. However, Bai Suxian and I circled around Tiewei Mountain so many times and couldn't encounter it. Unexpectedly, this b*stard disguised as an injured woman and sought for my favor when I wandered alone outside; of course, I directly launched an attack!"
"How did you identify that shadow demon when it disguised as a human?"
"Hehheh, I have a clear estimation of myself. My look is far worse than being handsome since I was young. I have a ferocious look; especially after I cultivated the "Fire Dragon Sutra", even men would dodge away from me, not to mention women. If I walk alone in the wild, no woman dare walk with me at all. When I wandered around Tiewei Mountain alone, this "injured woman" dared approach me on her own initiative without any fear; therefore, I doubted that this woman should have secrets. Normally, even on the earth's surface, a female knight dared not approach me, not to mention Tiewei Mountain. Wasn't she afraid that I would harm her? Wasn't she worried that I was disguised by the shadow demon? When I thought about this, I became dubious about that female knight and became vigilant. When I noticed that she was going to harm me, I ferociously stabbed into her body with my dagger ahead of her..." Zhang Tie made a hand gesture.
"I see..." Guan Qianchong became startled by the plot. Although the shadow demon disguised as a female human knight, it didn't know how did human woman think, neither did it understand the human woman's appreciation of the beauty. Although Cui Li was tall, he looked a bit ferocious. If being not familiar with him, very few women might dare approach him on their own initiatives. It was really out of Guan Qianchong's imagination that Cui Li could seize the only loophole and finally kill the shadow demon, 'Cui Li must be blessed by the God.'
Zhang Tie rubbed his hands as he asked, "Heh heh heh, Commander Guan, the reward, did you fob off me?"
"It's rewarded by the country. Of course, it's not a joke! This reward has long been registered in Taixia Country. It has been sealed by the three chancellors' mansions..." Guan Qianchong looked solemn, "We will cash your reward right away and spread the news to the public. As for my payment, when you go back to the earth's surface, I will have Guan people contact you and cash all of them for you!" As Guan Qianchong replied, he walked to the front of the desk in his room and pressed down a bell-like switch beside the desk.
After a few seconds, the door was pushed open. Closely after that, a major general with a solemn look entered and gave a military salute to Guan Qianchong.
"Cui Li has killed the earth knight-level shadow demon. You take him to select the rewarded land and accomplish the relevant formalities. After that, deliver the notice across the theater of operations. As for that shadow demon's corpse, don't waste it. As shadow demons are rare, many people have not seen them yet. Just make it a specimen and put it in the Black Armor Battlefortress so that everyone could watch it!"
Zhang Tie had not imagined that Guan Qianchong could be so overbearing. Whatever, it was good for Zhang Tie. Anyone who watched the earth knight-level shadow demon would inquire who killed it. Therefore, Cui Li's name would gradually spread over the theater of operations.
It was within Zhang Tie's anticipation that he could cash the reward in Black Armor Battlefortress. On the battlefield, in-time medal conference to those who have made remarkable military exploits and wartime appointment were usual stimulatives. As the battle situation always changed transiently, many fighters didn't know whether they could survive back; therefore, in order to stimulate the morale, the rewards would always be cashed at the fastest speed on the battlefield. When one person rendered a meritorious service, if his reward could not be cashed until the battle came to an end after 3 years, that person would have long died. Who the f*ck would you pay the cash then? If so, such a reward could never be stimulative and effective at all; instead, it would make people disappointed.
'As I'm the good example of human knights in the large-scale battle between humans and demons in Tiewei Mountain, of course, they should cash my reward right away.'
Zhang Tie cupped his hands towards Guan Qianchong before leaving the room after that major general.
With a solemn look, the major general directly led Zhang Tie to a two-storey office in the high tower silently. After entering the office, the major general asked two military officers to fetch a map of the full territory of Taixia Country and spread it in front of him and Zhang Tie.
"The rewarded land and cities were all clearly marked on this map. 700 miles of land and 10 cities were close to each other. You can choose any one of the 117 green regions across Taixia Country!" The major general told Zhang Tie officially.
Zhang Tie threw a glance at the map and saw those green blocks on the map, whose color was sharply different than that of the other places.
"I can choose any part of the green regions?"
"Yes, through the strict assessment of the Land Planning Department, these green regions are close to each other in the area and urban development level. Those in low urban development level would be larger in the area as a compensation; conversely, those in higher urban development level would be strictly restricted to 700 square miles in area."
At this moment, although Zhang Tie looked calm, he was thrilled inside.
After throwing a glance at Yongzhou Province at first, Zhang Tie found no green marks; therefore, he let out a sigh pitifully, "Ahh, previously, I wanted to choose a patch of land in my hometown Yongzhou Province, but there's no spare land and city over there. I could only find somewhere else..."
As he spoke, Zhang Tie moved his eyes all the way to the north from Yongzhou Province and started to view the territory of the Northeast Military Region of Taixia Country.
In the Northeast Military Region, there were three green blocks. Zhang Tie almost immediately targeted at a green block that partially deepened into Youzhou Province neighboring Youzhou Province. He then slowly revealed a faint smile and pointed at there, "Here!"
Chapter 996: Fire Dragon Bounty Territory
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The patch of land that Zhang Tie chose was in the southwest of Youzhou Province. The core region of the land was a part of Yangui Mountain Range. It was Miyun Prefecture of Youzhou province in the northeast of the land. Three cities in the north of Yangui Mountain Range were included into this land.
Zhang Tie remembered that he had met the head and elders of Li Clan from Miyun Prefecture in White Tiger Platform when he fought for the provincial governor of Youzhou Province for Zhang Taixuan 3 years ago. The overall strength of Li Clan only ranked lower-middle among the so many major clans in Youzhou Province. Zhang Tie remembered that the entire Li Clan only had 4 black iron knights, plus the head and elders. It could not even match Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace who had caught up from behind after winning the competition for the provincial governor of Youzhou Province, not to mention deep-rooted Lu Clan and Gu Clan in Youzhou Province.
It was the south border of Yangui Mountain Range in the southernmost part of this private land which neighbored Tongzhou Province. Zhang Tie found that 4 cities being close to Yangui Mountain were included into his private land.
It was the north border of Yangui Mountain Range in the northernmost part of this private land which neighbored Yangzhou Province, the hub of the Northeast Military Region of Taixia Country. Four cities of Yangzhou Province were included into Zhang Tie's private land.
Those cities in Zhang Tie's private land were not advanced in development level given the map; additionally, most of the private land was mountain areas and mountain forests. Therefore, this green block was almost the largest one among all the green clocks on the map. Only after a glimpse at it, Zhang Tie had known that this private land was about 0.8 million square miles because it was 1/3 larger than the area of Yanghe Prefecture of Zhang Clan.
Coincidentally, this triangular region was only thousands of miles away from the Zanggu Plateau that he had bought at a high price in Youzhou Province in the north.
There were over 100 green blocks on the map of Taixia Country. If Zhang Tie adored prosperity, he could have chosen some provinces and prefectures which were much better than the Youzhou territory in the Northeast Military Region of Taixia Country. If Zhang Tie was ambitious, he could choose his private land near the south border of Taixia Country, where he could revitalize the Great Wilderness Sect over billions of square miles' land and become the king in the south of Taixia Country as long as the conditions became mature.
When he caught sight of the block on the south border of Taixia Country, Zhang Tie's heart indeed raced; however, the domineering thought was instantly ignored. As the Great Wilderness Sect had been exterminated, Zhang Tie was not interested in raising this banner once again. He didn't even know the enemy of the Great Wilderness Sect yet. It was very risky for him to inherit the legacy of the Great Wilderness Sect on the south border of Taixia Country at this moment. Now that those people could annihilate the Great Wilderness Sect in its heyday, it was not difficult for them to crack down an earth knight. The Cloud Crane had made it clear in the will that it was very risky yet profitable to raise the banner of the Great Wilderness Sect. It was meaningless for Zhang Tie to establish his undertaking at this moment.
By contrast, if he selected the private land near Youzhou Province, he could protect his family members and occasionally meet them in another status. He could receive the message from his family members at any time. As for Zhang Tie, it was very hard for him to refuse this choice. With this choice, the arrest order for him almost became ineffective in Taixia Country; additionally, he could develop his own force in the status of Cui Li and continue to investigate the one who framed him secretly. One stone for two birds.
'I'm afraid that nobody could imagine that I would return to Youzhou Province in this way after being wanted for 2 years.'
When he thought that he might meet his family members soon, Zhang Tie became thrilled inside.
However, Zhang Tie also knew that it was not the right moment for him to return to Youzhou Province. It was not late at least after the battle in Tiewei Mountain. This battle was a rare opportunity for him to make military exploits.
"The land that you've chosen is in the southwest of Yangui Mountain Range. Neighboring three provinces of Northeast Military Region in Taixia Country, the private land contains 18.76 million people. Although its population is not large, the 10 cities have reached a scale in industrial and commercial industries. Additionally, the private land had over 70 resources such as iron ores, copper ores, coal mines, silver ores, lead-zinc ores, etc.. There were also a lot of rare resources in Yangui Mountain Range, most of which had not been explored yet. After you took over this land officially, Taixia party would only keep the taxation and judicial agencies in all the cities of your private land in order to maintain the orders inside your private land. You would have the right to manage all the other aspects in the 10 cities. You could appoint the administers of your private cities, issue private regulations in your private land on the premise of not being contradictory to Taixia Laws!"
The major general started to explain it to Zhang Tie with a solemn look after seeing the private land that Zhang Tie had selected, "Of course, you could also entrust your administrative right over your private cities to relevant authorities in the Northeast Military Region. The administrative fees will be deducted from the taxes in cities. There's one point that you should know that the ownership of private properties and resources will remain unchanged after you took them over as they are under the protection of "Taixia Laws". You have the ownership of the governmental real estates and assets and the corresponding jurisdiction and disposal right on them!"
"There are private properties in my private land?"
"Of course, as long as there were people, there would be private properties. The ownership of these private properties and resources are mainly fixed assets in the 10 cities, such as private real estates and shops of residents. The private properties and resources outside the 10 cities are mainly villages and arable lands as well as private mines. Generally, as the 10 cities were built by the country, the government still owns over 60% of land and real estates in each of the 10 cities. As for the land outside the cities, 99% of them belong to you; at least half of the ores belong to you. The relevant materials about ownership were carefully recorded in these cities and the Northeast Military Region, which will be transferred to you!"
"How?"
"After you deal with the formalities here, you can take your authorized documents and certificates to the authorities in the Northeast Military Region whenever you want.. After you tell them about your status, the Land Planning Department in Northeast Military Region would dispatch exclusive staff to deal with the corresponding formalities and documents for you! Later on, we will notice the relevant officials in the Northeast Military Region. From today on, until you came to deal with the formalities for your private land, the ownership of all the official lands and resources in your private land would be frozen."
'I've not imagined that Taixia could be so considerate.' Zhang Tie grinned after knowing the details, "Haha, let's do it then. This Cui Li will select this green block as my private land!"
"According to the rules about private land. Because your private land combines different administrative regions from three provinces, you should name your private land. From then on, it would be the official name of this private land in official documents!"
Zhang Tie burst out into laughter as he felt it was funny, "Is there any learning about naming a private land?"
"Private land being rewarded due to military exploits would be named as XX bounty territory regardless of its area. In Taixia, bounty territory represents honor, which indicates that it is not bought, but is rewarded due to military exploits!"
Touching his bald head for a short while, Zhang Tie uttered, "Just call it Fire Dragon Bounty Territory!"
"Are you sure?"
"Sure!" Zhang Tie determined his decision.
"Okay!"
...
Half an hour later, an official document and the corresponding certificates being marked with some red seals had been prepared for Zhang Tie.
The moment Zhang Tie took these documents, he had thrown them into Castle of Black Iron. Until he left the tower, his heart was still racing.
Only after a short while, when Zhang Tie reappeared in the lobby, all the knights over there watched him in a formidable way.
...
2 days later, a grim and vivid shadow demon specimen appeared in Black Armor Battlefortress.
On the same day, Zhang Tie left Black Armor Battlefortress and disappeared into the dense black mist of Tiewei Mountain...
Chapter 997: A Glimmer of Dawn
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
After the huge earth-element crystals mine was discovered by demons in the 1st loop of Tiewei Mountain, the large-scale battle between humans and demons had lasted over 1 year.
In the first abyss where human knights were crisscrossed with demon knights, as long as one party had some big movement, it's very difficult for them to cover it. The tools and human resources required for exploiting large-scale earth-element crystals would never come out of the void. Of course, the transfer and movement of these tools and human resources would arouse the attention of human management. As a result, human management would make tentative arrangements.
From a certain perspective, the so-called holy war referred to the tentative battles between demons and humans which lasted over 100 years.
All the old knights knew that the so-called holy war was actually a long-term large-scale battle between humans and demons which tested the patience of both parties.
Humans and demons were like two sides of a millstone. After being squeezed together forcefully, the two pieces of stones would rotate towards the opposite directions. They both wanted to grind the opposite. The side that faced the opposite was always the most dauntless fighters on their own party. Each a trivial relative movement of the two sides would grind many fighters.
In the 3rd holy war, the first large-scale battle between humans and demons also the first fierce collision between the hardest parts of the two pieces of stones of the same milestone broke out in Tiewei Mountain in the first abyss of Earth-elements Realm.
...
On March 27th, the 903rd year of the black iron calendar, Zhang Tie finally appeared in the 2nd loop of Tiewei Mountain after leaving Black Armor Battlefortress for many days.
Yesterday, namely March 26, was Zhang Tie's 30th birthday. He celebrated it alone again like how he did over the earlier two years. Whenever this day came, he would leave a reply under the post "The Inscription on the Gravestone of the Despicable" that he had issued in the Mountain of Brightness by that knight's crystal plate named Chakra's Lion. He wanted to tell his family members that he was safe through this reply.
——After another 1 year, the first abyss in the Earth-elements Realm has a good scenery. Being filled with dense black mist, I feel safe here. In the Earth-elements Realm, as long as you have a human face, you will almost be safe. The large-scale battle in Tiewei Mountain is turning white-hot. I'm traveling in the periphery of Tiewei Mountain and intend to kill 1 or 2 black iron knights so as to live up to my travel to the Earth-elements Realm. I don't plan to prove anything with 1 or 2 demon knights' heads. As a murderer in Taixia Country, no matter how many demons I killed, the Supreme Court of Taixia Country would not easily revoke the order for arrest. Over the past 2 years, someone else has been dead due to my event. However, the truth is still covered like that demon who hides in the dense black mist of the first abyss, the culprit who grasps the Bloody Demon Imitation Skill. He must be hiding in a corner of Taixia Country in a high position. I just want to let you know that I'm very good. Tycoons, of the Supreme Court of Taixia Country, the Gobbling Party, are you all right?
This was how Zhang Tie replied to his own post yesterday.
...
It was out Zhang Tie's imagination that the article that he posted in the forum of the Mountain of Brightness 3 years ago had been replied over 100,000 times and become the popular post in the forum. Additionally, the number of replies was increasing every day. He had escaped for 3 years; however, he had become the most famous black iron human knight because of his article in the forum of the Mountain of Brightness. Zhang Tie had already surpassed his master Zhao Yuan in popularity and attention rate instead of the overall strength.
Zhang Tie didn't become well-known among human knights when he almost lost his life in Waii Subcontinent. When he helped Zhang Taixuan compete for the position of provincial governor of Youzhou Province, he just became a bit well-known in Youzhou Province. After he inflicted a great loss to the Heavens Breaking Church, his reputation was beyond the border of Northeast Military Region; however, after becoming a murderer in Taixia Country, his name was well-known across the knight's world as a hot, touching tragical hero.
Any knight with a normal conscience would have a strong emotional resonance and make a judgment about the truth after reading Zhang Tie's "autobiography".
With the increasingly extensive and greater impact of that event, even Green Flute Mountain Hermit and Guo Tieyi, an elder of Lancang Sect both replied Zhang Tie under his post at the risk of exposing their bynames in the Mountain of Brightness. They revealed the details about how they chased after Zhang Tie that night.
The two people's replies fully proved the truth of the "fatal details" that Zhang Tie had mentioned in his article——that night, the two people were indeed attacked by Qin Wu's battle qi smoke. When chasing after Zhang Tie, they both admitted that Zhang Tie had left their sights for a while. The entire chase process was dominated by Qin Wu. Additionally, when Qin Wu suddenly changed his search region and caught sight of Zhang Tie, he launched an attack on Zhang Tie firstly. When Qin Wu started to attack Zhang Tie, Zhang Tie had indeed asked Qin Wu why he left Fuhai City and attacked him. Additionally, Zhang Tie indeed explained that he was induced over there by someone else...
Pitifully, the two people didn't believe Zhang Tie's words in that situation.
In the beginning, Zhang Tie just defended himself. After being driven mad, Zhang Tie started to fight them fiercely; however, he still didn't exert his full effort.
Even Qin Wu's death was as same as Zhang Tie described. In that situation, Qin Wu's battle qi was boiling. The two people didn't see how Zhang Tie attacked Qin Wu at all; however, Qin Wu's body split into pieces.
In their replies, Green Flute Mountain Hermit and Guo Tieyi both felt guilty and self-condemned.
They both thought that if they could be a bit sober at that moment, the result might not be that worse. They both felt that they had become the indirect accomplices of the culprit who framed Zhang Tie.
In his reply, an elder of Fan Clan also admitted a judgment that Zhang Tie wrote in his article when Household Register Director Fan as the only witness of the tragedy saw Zhang Tie raping his daughter, he remembered that Zhang Tie was indeed wearing clothes and left no body fluid on the spot.
1 year ago, green flute mountain hermit had already paid a visit to Yanghe Prefecture, Youzhou Province to apologize to Zhang Tie's parents.
...
Because of the above things, 95% of replies to Zhang Tie's post didn't think that Zhang Tie could do such a brutal thing in Fuhai City; instead, they thought that Zhang Tie was wronged and framed. Very few people were still doubting about some details. It could be said that most of the human knights had thought that Zhang Tie was innocent and slandered. Zhang Tie had not only clarified his own innocence, but he also became a touching tragical hero. Additionally, his poem "The Beloved One" was composed and spread over Taixia Country...
In the past 3 years, Zhang Tie was still wanted. However, facing the one-sided stress of consensus and doubts, even the Supreme Court of Taixia Country and the Gobbling Party had been involved in the tragedy of Fuhai City and condemned. If it was just commoners who condemned and doubted the Supreme Court of Taixia and the Gobbling Party, they could still put their airs or ignore that; however, thousands of human knights were blaming and doubting their judgment about Zhang Tie; such a great stress would not be ignored by the management of the Supreme Court of Taixia Country.
Under this circumstance, the Supreme Court and the Gobbling Party had both dispatched their elites to investigate the truth of the tragedy in Fuhai City, Yingzhou Province.
Death was the most effective means to cover everything.
In the past 3 years, the whole family of Yang Yushan the former head of the Morality Association in Fuhai City was slaughtered. After that, a famous doctor in Yingzhou Province who diagnosed Household Register Director Fan many years ago took poison to commit suicide. Then, Qin Wu and some relatives who were closely related to Qin Wu disappeared. When the elites of the Supreme Court started to investigate the provincial governor's mansion in Yingzhou Province, the archives staff was found dead out of taking gold at home...
The truth of the tragedy in Fuhai City was still confusing.
Under this circumstance, the mayor of Fuhai City resigned in advance; the grand justice of Yingzhou Province was degraded; the rating of the provincial governor of Yingzhou Province was worse; Cheji General of Yingzhou Province was transferred to another position. Over 20 backbones of the Gobbling Party in Yingzhou Province were accountable for the event and exiled. Due to the aftermath of Yingzhou Province, the entire Gobbling Party in Taixia Country started to strengthen disciplines these couple of years...
Especially in the past year, the call for revoking Zhang Tie's order for arrest grew louder among the people and in the Mountain of Brightness. They would like to clarify Zhang Tie's innocence completely.
Especially 2 months ago, two famous gentlemen of Jingzhou Provincial College submitted a written statement to Xuanyuan Hill in order to clarify Zhang Tie's innocence, which shocked the whole country. The tragedy about Zhang Tie started to make the Supreme Court of Taixia Country uneasy, exposing a glimmer of dawn.
In the same 3 years, the Heavens Breaking Church directly vanished in Taixia Country which was pretty weird.
...
Only after Zhang Tie replied his own post a few hours yesterday, it had aroused a shock.
In the earlier two replies, Zhang Tie didn't tell them that he was in the Earth-elements Realm. This time, Zhang Tie revealed that he was in the Earth-elements Realm. Those who read it would think that Zhang Tie had just come to the Earth-elements Realm. Of course, even if they arrested and inquired all the human knights one after another in the Earth-elements Realm, they would definitely not find him, not to mention that they would know that Zhang Tie had been well-known in the Earth-elements Realm in the past 3 years. Besides having promoted to an earth knight, he had gained a bounty land with his own ability in the status of Cui Li.
Even the most imaginative person could not imagine that there's any relation between Zhang Tie the escaping tragical hero and Cui Li from Yongzhou Province...