1177 - 1185
Chapter 1177: Counting the Booties
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"Principally yes?" Zhang Tie knew that it was not that easy given the tone of Heller.
"Yes. Castle Lord, you have to know some points!" Heller said calmly, "The daily output of the aura value couldn't match the basic energy that could be gained by the Abyss of Elements each day. If not include the aura value points that you have accumulated over the past years, the daily aura value increase that could be produced by plants in Castle of Black Iron could only form 0.16 square mile's land which could contain ores. Unless you expand the current land area of Castle of Black Iron by over 30 times, namely having it reach at least 7,000 square miles while being covered with a wood on its surface could the daily aura value increase match the daily basic energy increase and meet the constantly expansion of the space of Castle of Black Iron. The premise is that Castle Lord has to provide enough merit value points!���
"Besides, Castle Lord needs to know some more tips. First, the ores are produced optionally in the process of the formation of the earth's surface; 160 square miles' land is just the minimal requirement for the formation of ores, which are of the lowest qualities. They might even not be formed sometimes. Even though it is a gold ore, don't expect that you could gain hundreds of tons of gold from it. You could gain at most a few tons of gold from it in the earth on such a scale. The greater land area you could form for a time, the more varieties and amount of ores could you gain."
"Second, there are merely less than 10 templates about the varieties of ores that could be formed in Castle of Black Iron. The former two kinds are the low-quality iron ores and crystal ores that you gained in Wild Wolf Valley. The other ores originate from those crystal ores and ordinary ores that Castle Lord gained from the Earth-elements Realm casually. If Castle Lord wants more varieties of ores in Castle of Black Iron, you have to provide the corresponding templates. The higher level the ore is, the more aura value and merit value would it require. Additionally, as Castle of Black Iron form ores randomly, even if Castle Lord inputs a great amount of aura value and merit value in forming it, you could not gain high-level ores for sure. The more aura value and merit value you input in, the more possible it will be for you to gain high-quality ores. Additionally, the possibility has an upper limit…"
Whenever Heller "woke up" Zhang Tie, he would become very serious like a set of precise difference engine.
After hearing Heller's words, Zhang Tie indeed knew it much better. However, he didn't give up his thought completely.
"I've purchased plant seeds. But I've not imagined that I could gain a piece of God's Star this time. Therefore, the bottleneck of basic energy storage is solved at once. The insufficiency of aura value that you mentioned just now is indeed a problem; however, it doesn���t mean that I couldn't solve it!" Zhang Tie said as he started his multi-tasking ability and gained a figure at once, "The basic energy storage that Castle of Black Iron absorb per month could be used to expand 160 square miles' land in the thickness of 50,000 m. As long as I maintain the current earth thickness of 200 m, I could expand 160,000 square miles' land per month. Is that right?"
"Yes!"
"Can't the current aura value and merit value in Castle of Black Iron meet such an expansion one month later?"
"Castle Lord, your merit value is enough for it; however, even one month later, the aura value in Castle of Black Iron could only meet the expansion of about 9,000 square miles' land!"
"Well, just 9,000 square miles' land!" Zhang Tie forcefully waved his hand as he determined his mind in a split second. He added, "Whatever, there're only a few people in Castle of Black Iron. They don't pose a great demand for ores. Let's make a thin pie first. After that, we will spread plant seeds over it. We only need to make the increase in daily aura value match the increase in daily basic energy as fast as possible and constantly meet the expansion of Castle of Black Iron. After solving this problem, I will further solve the provision of merit value!"
"Castle Lord, do you plan to expand and improve Castle of Black Iron as fast as possible in the future?"
"Yup. After this event in Xuanyuan Hill, I'm afraid that Taixia Country would be increasingly chaotic. I might have to live in here with my family members and those people that I could save. Therefore, I should make some preparation now!"
Zhang Tie then negotiated with Heller about the details of the expansion of Castle of Black Iron 1 month later beside the Abyss of Elements. After the negotiation, Zhang Tie suddenly thought about something as he asked Heller, "Oh, Han Yuanhong and Han Zhengfang should not only carry one piece of God's Star. I saw a tan token when Han Zhengfang died…"
"They indeed carried many more items. Castle Lord makes unimaginable achievement this time. Those items are in the treasure bank of the palace tree. Castle Lord, you should review them by yourself. You might have a surprise!" Heller said with a meaningful look.
'The last surprise that Heller mentioned referred to the piece of God's Star, what about this one?'
Zhang Tie's curiosity was aroused by Heller at once. He patted the thunder hawk to have it fly off before saying, "If you say so, I have to count my booties!"
"I think Castle Lord will not be disappointed!" Heller replied with a smile.
After throwing another glance at the Abyss of Elements in front of him, Zhang Tie left…
…
A few minutes later, Heller and Zhang Tie returned to the lobby of the palace tree. Zhang Tie looked around the small tree before entering it.
This fruit of brilliance almost became dark as if it could absorb the surrounding light. In the dark, the fruit contained a bizarre spiral light band which looked like a galaxy in the universe. Zhang Tie had not seen such a fruit of brilliance; however, he could sense the terrifying spiritual energy in this fruit of brilliance, which was far greater than that of any fruit of brilliance that he had ever taken.
There were 3 fruits of judgment on the side of this fruit of brilliance.
Zhang Tie knew that these fruits of judgment were of the same skill——body-separation skill. At the sight of the three fruits of judgment, Zhang Tie had known that his body-separation skill would advance to a super level from preliminary level. After taking the 3 fruits, the final fruit of judgment would advance his body-separation skill to master-level.
A red and black fruit of bloodline was hiding in the dense leaves of the small tree in the shape of a bizarre 16-side crystal gem. He could almost not discover it if he didn't look at it carefully. Like that pitch-dark fruit of brilliance, this fruit of bloodline also manifested something special. This one was larger than the former ones; colorful lights were flashing by inside the fruit of bloodline now and then.
'When I killed Old Monster Qi, I've already gained a fruit of bloodline, which contained 1784 points of bloodline energy. I spent 67 points in activating a fundamental "spear affinity". There are still 1717 points of bloodline energy left. This fruit of bloodline definitely carries much more bloodline energy points than the former one. I could gain 1784 points of bloodline energy by killing an earth knight when I was a black iron knight. This time, after killing a shadow knight as an earth knight, I should at least gain two more times bloodline energy than the last time.
Besides these fruits, there were two more fruits of redemption on the small tree.
Watching those bizarre fruits, Zhang Tie knew that he had made a fortune. After taking these fruits, his overall strength would definitely rise greatly once again, as the fruit of brilliance, the fruit of bloodline and the 3 fruits of judgment were all of the unusual effects.
'Besides these fruits, I've not fully converted the water elements that I gained from Han Zhengfang and Han Yuanhong into my own chakra.'
Zhang Tie revealed a brilliant smile. He was not anxious about taking them right now; instead, after circling around the small tree and counting those fruits, he left the small tree and followed Heller into the treasure bank of the palace tree.
Zhang Tie's treasure bank was at the bottom of the palace tree. The entire treasure bank covered about 60,000 square meters and was higher than 50 m. There was a golden fluorite crystal lamp in each a few meters, which illuminated the entire treasure bank. The entire treasure bank was divided into 4 regions. Each region was filled with various rarities that Zhang Tie plundered from subcontinents and continents. If a commoner entered the treasure bank for the first time, he might be thrilled too much and have a heart attack at the sight of so many treasures. It was like the legendary paradise where was covered with treasures.
Precious metals such as gold and silver were the most ordinary items in the treasure bank. Zhang Tie didn't pack gold in crates, but in piles like the piles of wheat straws on the threshing grounds in rural areas. Each pile of gold was about 4-5 m high like a golden Mongolian yurt. The moment one entered the treasure bank, he would see dozens of rows of tidy golden Mongolian yurts extending all the way towards far…
Chapter 1178: Bloody Soul Sutra
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The treasure bank contained all the wealth that Zhang Tie plundered from the 18 Three-eye Association clans in Waii Subcontinent, which were robbed by the latter from the northern countries in Waii Subcontinent.
Zhang Tie didn't feel like counting the value of the gold and silver in the treasure bank. He had been numb about them. The largest region of the treasure bank was used to store these gold. There were over 300,000 tons of silver, all of which were put in the underground warehouse as they were less valuable than gold.
As for the other 3 regions in the treasure bank, the second region was used to store other precious metals, gems and top-quality crystals. Mithril, abyss magical iron, mountain copper, violet gold, ruby, sapphire, cat's eye and diamonds were packed in crates in terms of categories. These treasures covered over 30,000 square meters. In order to store these items, Edward even made high metal racks. Like books in the library, these crates were put on the high metal racks. If a person couldn't fly, he had to use a professional mobile bridge ladder.
The third region of the treasure bank was used to store cultural relics, rare curios, jewelry and artworks of each human age. Many things were strange to Zhang Tie. However, now that those Three-eye Association clans collected these things seriously, he robbed away all of them, including some boring sculptures, oil paints and antiques.
The 4th region of the treasure bank contained what Zhang Tie could use now. They were of the highest value, including more than 10 silver secret items, over 10 secret pearls that had not been opened, some vials of rare medicaments on special medicament racks, some weapons and armors on the armracks and batches of element crystals that were placed in categories.
The footsteps of Zhang Tie and Heller were reverberating around the entire treasure bank. The resources in the treasure bank were as rich as a country; especially those silver secret items and space-teleportation items; even top clans in Taixia Country could not have such luxurious furnishings.
In the beginning, after coming here, Zhang Tie would not feel like leaving anymore. Several times later, he would still feel thrilled. Gradually, Zhang Tie had been used to it. Now, Zhang Tie had been numb about this shiny treasure bank.
When he passed by the 3rd region, he didn't even throw a glance at those priceless items over there. After passing by the 3rd region, Zhang Tie glanced at a golden mountain in front of him for a short while.
The golden mountain was genuinely a mountain of gold coins.
This golden mountain was in the center of the treasure bank. The entire golden mountain was composed of gold coins with various patterns. From a distance, it was like a pyramid made of gold coins. The golden mountain was 40 m in height. After being spread over the ground, they could cover a circular area whose diameter was almost 100 m. There was a huge pit as deep as dozens of meters beneath the golden mountain, which was also filled with gold coins. Under the lamplights, numerous gold coins were sparkling and dazzling.
It was very vulgar to put a pile of gold coins in the treasure bank. However, Zhang Tie stuck to it. Because this was one of his biggest life dreams when he was young. Zhang Tie had tried to sleep and roll on the golden mountain. After gradually losing his interest in it, Zhang Tie discovered that it was actually not comfortable to lie on gold coins; at least it was not as comfortable as lying and rolling on sand and bed. If he rolled too excessively on it, he might be buried by the gold coins that slid off the top of the golden mountain like an avalanche. Although it was not fatal, it was not funny.
When he didn't have such wealth, Zhang Tie thought that he would be very happy with them; however, after owning them, Zhang Tie found that what could make him really happy were not these gold coins but the rice brew that was made by his mom when he was young.
The brilliance and prosperity would finally return to plain and pureness. When one really understood what were the most precious things in his life, he had reached a higher life realm.
'Beloved ones are most precious for people; those who love a person the most is his or her parents.'
At the sight of that golden mountain that he was always dreaming about when he was young, a whim flashed through Zhang Tie's mind, 'After a few more days, I will be able to return home in front of the public.'
…
The moment Zhang Tie entered the 4th region, he had noticed the change. There were 3 most evident changes. First, there were 4 more secret weapons here. Second, there were batches of element crystals. Third, there were 3 more space-teleportation items on the rack.
Zhang Tie and Heller walked towards the rack of space-teleportation items.
It was great for any knight to have a space-teleportation item. However, there was one row of space-teleportation items here which looked like jewelry being waited to be selected and waiters to be called by Zhang Tie.
Over 10 space-teleportation items were placed in a row on a table which was covered with green goose down. They were what Zhang Tie had achieved over these years. Some of them were plundered; some were from secret pearls. After a casual glance at them, Zhang Tie had discovered 3 new items. He only had an impression of the tan token that was left after Han Zhengfang disappeared in the magma sea.
However, Heller introduced the other two to him first.
��This finger ring and waistband are two portable space-teleportation items from Han Yuanhong. As the host of Gold and Power Market, Han Yuanhong put a lot of good things in the two space-teleportation items. They contain many anonymous gold checks and documents of drawing rights of 12.8 billion gold coins in total, 43,654 earth-element crystals, 21,250 water-element crystals, 8,500 wind-element crystals and 4,000 fire-element crystal, over 1,200 vials of medicaments of different categories, some bronze secret-level armors and helmets, two quality high-level elements gathering towers and some food and drinks…"
'I made a fortune! F*ck!'
The figures reported by Heller shocked Zhang Tie a bit. Although he knew that Han Yuanhong would carry some special items when he escaped, Zhang Tie had not imagined that he could carry so many valuables with him.
'12.8 billion gold coins. What does that mean? The entire Guan Clan could hardly gather 700 million gold coins in a short period, 12.8 billion gold coins could be used to build over 100 cities or a prosperous prefecture in Taixia Country. Did Han Zhengfang prepare to use such a great amount of gold coins to recover Bloody Soul Temple or establish a country somewhere one day?'
Zhang Tie turned around and looked at the piles of elements crystals. Zhang Tie didn't know whether other clans could have so many elements crystals, he knew that Huaiyuan Palace didn't have so many elements crystals. It was Zhang Tie's first time to see a knight carrying so many elements crystals with him.
Zhang Tie took up that finger ring left by Han Yuanhong casually. It was actually a private seal of Han Yuanhong as Han Yuanhong's name was sealed on it. After injecting his spiritual energy into it, Zhang Tie found that the area of finger ring was approximately 300 cubic meters, which indicated that it was a top space-teleportation item.
The belt buckle was a dragon head as large as a half palm. Given the two eyes of the dragon head, Zhang Tie knew that it was special. Because the two eyes were made of top-class alchemist's gems. There were 7 flowers on the gems. Such gems were definitely carved by an alchemist master. What was more, this pair of alchemist's gems were rare sun gems.
Zhang Tie checked the function of this pair of alchemist's gems. Closely after that, his face turned strange. 'F*ck, this pair of alchemist's sun gems could activate the surging points on man's kidney and perineum. To put it simply, they could tonify one's Yang.
"F*ck, the two sons of Han Zhengfang are nothing different."
Zhang Tie felt a bit disgusted; however, he also knew that this item was not good or bad. In the eyes of those who needed them, this item was priceless, especially that pair of sun gems.
The space inside the belt buckle contained over 1,000 square meters, which indicated that it was also a top space-teleportation item.
After putting down the belt buckle, Zhang Tie took up that token of Han Zhengfang.
This token was almost as long as his palm. Although it looked like being made of copper, it wasn't. Because the token was heavier than mithril. Besides, there were complex and mysterious grains on the token. Zhang Tie could recognize a sealed word "Decree" in the middle of these grains. The moment Zhang Tie held the token, he had felt being sober while the spiritual energy in his mind sea became tranquil at once. He felt pretty comfortable. 'This token could lubricate one's spiritual energy. How marvelous it is!'
Zhang Tie looked at it for a short while before asking, "What's inside?"
"I've not taken the items out of it yet. Castle Lord could review it yourself…"
After hearing Heller's words, Zhang Tie immediately injected his spiritual energy into the space of the token…
The token had a large space. It was the space-teleportation item with the largest space that Zhang Tie had ever seen besides Castle of Black Iron. It was even two times larger than that of Xuanwu Secret Warehouse of Bloody Soul Temple.
A 3-storey pavilion made of violet gold was floating inside the space.
On the pitch-dark metal tablet of the pavilion, there were some bloody words——Bloody Soul Sutra Enlightenment Pavilion.
At the sight of these words, Zhang Tie's heart almost stopped beating in a split second.
However, closely after that, Zhang Tie recovered his composure as he injected his spiritual energy into the sutra enlightenment pavilion.
It was hollow in the 3-storey pavilion. As there was no sundry and redundant decoration inside it besides an eye-catching black round high platform in the middle, a high caisson-shaped dome came into being. Beneath that black high platform, there were 9 steps being embedded with top-class fire-element crystals. There was only one item lying on the high black platform quietly which looked very solemn and eye-catching. As if the entire pavilion was built for that item on the platform.
The moment Zhang Tie injected his spiritual energy into this pavilion, he had been attracted by that item on the high platform in the middle.
Closely after that, Zhang Tie had taken that item out of there. Lying on Zhang Tie's hand, it gave out a mysterious brilliance…
That item was strange as if it was composed of two circles. The item was composed of 4 snakes that devoured each other's tail. Each of the two snakes formed a circle. Zhang Tie found that the 4 snakes were movable and could be dismantled. As long as they were put in the original places, they would bite each other's tail tightly too.
After observing this item for quite a while, Zhang Tie injected his spiritual energy into it; however, he got no response from it.
In Zhang Tie's impression, all the senior items would make a response to him as long as he injected his spiritual energy into them.
'How could Bloody Soul Temple and Han Zhengfang put such a worthless item in the Bloody Soul Sutra Enlightenment Pavilion in such a solemn way?'
Zhang Tie observed this item carefully and found that the 4 snakes being connected with each other formed a pattern with a marvelous meaning. In the Western Continent, it represented the never-ending samsara between life and death both physically and spiritually. The pattern of two snakes biting each other was still preserved in some hospitals in the Western Continent; in Eastern Continent, the pattern of snakes biting each other could actually be seen everywhere too. However, it changed a bit. Hua people had replaced snakes with fish or dragon and tiger. The more abstract symbol of this pattern was the taichi diagram of Hua people.
Zhang Tie gradually felt that this item was like a headband. Therefore, he directly put it on his head.
Soon after that, the spiritual energy in Zhang Tie's mind sea shocked as the spiritual energy of this item had been connected with that of Zhang Tie, manifesting three unimaginable huge words in Zhang Tie's mind sea——Bloody Soul Sutra!
Chapter 1179: Skyrocketing Overall Strength
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
On December 1st, the 903rd year of Black Iron Calendar…
At this moment, the sky was a bit white while the ground within 30,000 square miles was covered with rising vapor as usual. As the first ray of sunlight reached the smoking crater, two figures broke out of the gurgling magma. After reaching high above the volcano, they suspended in the sky.
They were Zhang Tie and his old slave Zhang Gui.
It was really a great achievement. After Zhang Tie woke up, it took him 11 days to digest all the booties.
Although it was less than 2 weeks, Zhang Tie had been greatly different than when he followed Han Zhengfang here 2 weeks ago.
2 weeks ago, Zhang Tie formed 38 scales on his water chakra and had just reached 1 change earth knight realm. 2 weeks later, Zhang Tie had already formed 161 scales on his water chakra and entered 4 change earth knight realm.
From 1 change realm to 4 change realm, Zhang Tie had strengthened his ability as an earth knight for 3 times. As a result, his overall strength had been increased by 30%, including his battle strength.
As Zhang Tie killed Han Zhengfang in the deep magma sea, he was severely injured under the great pressure of the magma. After strengthening himself 3 times, the protective force of Zhang Tie's protective battle qi and his anti-striking ability surged once again. Zhang Tie had tried some times during these days and found that his protective battle qi and anti-striking ability had been intensified by about 40%.
Additionally, Zhang Tie's strength, speed and sensing capability of knight's consciousness had increased by 20% to 30%. What Zhang Tie was most interested in was that his battle qi started to become denser, more compact and more powerful. Additionally, his battle qi started to be solid from virtual.
The fruit of judgment enabled the last body-separation skill of his immortal rune to promote to a super realm. The super body-separation skill could never be matched by the preliminary body-separation skill in all aspects.
The latest fruit of bloodline brought Zhang Tie 15,687 points of bloodline energy; plus those of the former fruit of bloodline that he had not used, Zhang Tie could activate 17,404 points of bloodline energy in total.
Because Zhang Tie had not considered which bloodlines to activate with these bloodline energy points, he didn't use them for the time being.
After taking that fruit of brilliance which contained super strong spiritual energy, Zhang Tie could launch an attack by that secret item-level Thor's Hammer with the ability of divine dominator much easily. At this moment, even Zhang Tie himself couldn't imagine how strong was his spiritual energy.
However, compared to all the above improvements, Zhang Tie felt that his largest achievement was the Bloody Soul Sutra .
Zhang Tie spent a few days in browsing the contents of the Bloody Soul Sutra . The secret methods, knowledge and cultivation system in the Bloody Soul Sutra had greatly widened his horizon.
Evidently, it was impossible for Zhang Tie to grasp those great secret methods and battle skills in the Bloody Soul Sutra in such a short period. If not enter a secluded cultivation for dozens of years, he could never make any great achievement about this classic. However, after reviewing the former Soul Forbidden Method that he had cultivated referring to the original contents in Bloody Soul Sutra , Zhang Tie's Soul Forbidden Method had entered a wholly new realm.
After browsing Bloody Soul Sutra, Zhang Tie realized how lucky he was on that day. Han Zhengfang was a heavenly knight. In the Sincerity Garden of Xuanyuan Hill, Han Zhengfang used a secret skill of Bloody Soul Sutra to elevate his level to the semi-sage realm. After escaping away from Xuanyuan Hill, his vitality had been severely weakened, causing Han Zhengfang to directly decline to shadow knight from heavenly knight. Therefore, Zhang Tie got a chance to kill him. If Han Zhengfang's realm didn't decline or after he cultivated for a period, Zhang Tie would not have such a chance anymore. That was God's will.
'The secret skill of lock of bloody chakra is also recorded in the Bloody Soul Sutra . This secret method could coordinate with Purgatory Samsara Method pretty well. However, it's not easy to practice this secret skill. I couldn't practice it until I promote to a shadow knight. Additionally, one has to suffer a great loss for using this secret skill. If not being flurried, Han Zhengfang would never use this secret skill at the risk of his own life.'
If Zhang Tie was free or in a secluded cultivation, he didn't mind spending 10 years in studying the secret skills in Bloody Soul Sutra. However, Zhang Tie knew that it was not the right moment for him to enter a secluded cultivation somewhere. After making big trouble in Xuanyuan Hill 2 weeks ago, Zhang Tie knew that it must have been in a large-scale turmoil outside. Therefore, Zhang Tie could only hurriedly form his water chakra and take a lot of fruits before leaving Castle of Black Iron.
After flying out of the crater, Zhang Tie immediately contacted with his elder brother and Bai Suxian by the remote-sensing crystal.
As it was another space in Castle of Black Iron, the remote-sensing crystal was not available inside it; neither was it available in portable space-teleportation equipment.
Soon after contacting with Zhang Yang his elder brother and confirming the identities in jargons, Zhang Tie had received a lot of words.
"You're not in Xuanyuan Hill?"
"Are you alright these days?"
"I could not contact with you these days, I was worried about you very much!"
"It's chaotic across Taixia Country. Youzhou Province has entered a state of emergency as a whole; Yanghe Prefecture is in the state of siege. Our parents are worried about you so much, but I dare not tell them about your news!"
"I was always sleepless these days as I was afraid that I couldn't receive your news when in deep sleep."
"Whether you had long known that there was going to be a turmoil in Xuanyuan Hill? Otherwise, why did you tell me to leave in advance?"
Zhang Yang's news arrived so fast even before Zhang Tie asked him about the latest situation. Zhang Tie could imagine how anxious was his elder brother, which enabled Zhang Tie to sense a bit brotherhood and warmth.
Of course, Jinwu Business Group would not miss such an important occasion of Treasures Meeting in Xuanyuan Hill, because this was the best stage for expanding the popularity of all-purpose medicament. When Zhang Tie was in Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Yang was actually in Xuanyuan Hill too. The two people were busy doing their businesses. Zhang Tie didn't go to find Zhang Yang as he was afraid of bringing trouble to Zhang Yang. One day before his revenge, Zhang Tie told Zhang Yang to leave Xuanyuan Hill for Youzhou Province by airboat without landing in any intermediate cities in the way as soon as possible through remote-sensing crystal without telling him about the reason.
Zhang Tie left Xuanyuan Hill by airboat on the morning of November 14th. On the evening of November 15th, Zhang Tie started his revenge, sending the entire Xuanyuan Hill into big chaos. As a wise man, of course Zhang Yang could guess that Zhang Tie must know something before telling him to leave Xuanyuan Hill. Therefore, Zhang Yang couldn't stand asking about that. Actually, he had been fermenting this question for over 2 weeks. As he couldn't contact Zhang Tie during the past 2 weeks, he became a bit anxious.
"I'm fine. I've not even lost a hair. Don't worry about me, elder brother!"
"Let's talk about Xuanyuan Hill later!"
"Additionally, I've already exposed my real identity to Bai Suxian and the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect. They know that Cui Li and Zhang Tie are the same. I don't need to use the identity of Cui Li anymore!"
Zhang Tie replied 3 messages too.
The first 2 messages were within the expectation of Zhang Yang; however, after reading the 3rd message, Zhang Yang became silent for quite a while before replying Zhang Tie as if he didn't believe that Zhang Tie could make such a sudden decision.
"You've exposed your real identity to all of your disciples?"
"Yes, even Chengze and Chengxu have known about it. None of my disciples have carried any remote-sensing communications device. They are still in Zhongzhou City; but when we return to Youzhou Province, all of them should know that I'm Cui Li!"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure!"
"Whether the one who set you up is Han Zhengfang?"
"Yes, I've already killed Han Zhengfang! Elder brother, you're the 2nd people who know this news besides me, don't expose it to others!"
After hearing that Zhang Tie had killed Han Zhengfang, Zhang Yang, being in Youzhou Province, was shocked once again. Zhang Tie didn't know that all the news about Han Zhengfang had shocked the entire country over the past days.
Who was Han Zhengfang? The former finance minister of Taixia Country; a super powerhouse who had promoted to a heavenly knight; the master of Heavens Reaching Church who aroused turmoils in Taixia Country; the culprit of the tragedy in Fuhai City; the public enemy of Hua people; the one who could escape from Meng Shidao who had promoted to semi-sage realm and couldn't be blocked by anyone across Xuanyuan Hill. Unbelievably, he was killed by Zhang Tie.
Only after a few days, the alchemist demon Zhao Yuan had dropped to the second place on the wanted list of Supreme Court of Taixia Country while Han Zhengfang the master of Heavens Reaching Church ranked first. 'My brother killed the heavenly knight who ranked first on the wanted list of Taixia Country.'
Zhang Yang became muddle-headed; however, he knew that Zhang Tie would not make fun of him.
After a few seconds, Zhang Tie received another message from Zhang Yang.
"Do you know the reward for…Han…Zhengfang's head by Xuanyuan Hill?"
Zhang Yang must be thrilled at this moment as even his message was not incoherent.
"What's that?'
"Anyone who could kill or catch Han Zhengfang alive would be conferred with the hereditary title of nobility of human duke and be rewarded with a bounty land along with the guard of honor as same as that of top three chancellors and a promise in cinnabar on iron sheet, with which all the death penalties of him and his family members would be remitted!"
Chapter 1180: Opportunity in the Chaos
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The only way for a person to be regarded as a "noble" in Taixia Country was to be conferred as a duke after killing demons, which referred to the narrow sense of demons and those lackeys of Three-eye Association who cooperated with demons. It had long been proved that Heavens Reaching Church colluded with demons and cause turmoils in the world. Of course, Han Zhengfang, as the master of Heavens Reaching Church, was the most abhorrent demon of the demon.
Zhang Tie had not imagined that Xuanyuan Hill could provide such a high reward for catching Han Zhengfang.
The bounty land of one province; the hereditary dukedom, the treatment of three chancellors; the promise in cinnabar on an iron sheet which could remit the death penalty of all of his family members…With this reward, anyone who killed Han Zhengfang could enter his heyday in a split second.
If it were before, Zhang Tie would definitely be touched by such a great reward; however, he was only amazed about it now. He had just set a plot to push the Gobbling Party to the opposite side of Heavens Reaching Church. However, could he jump into this trap once again only for such a bit reward?
'With one more province's bounty land, I will not eat 10 times more than now or sleep in a room which was 10 times larger; the dukedom could not accelerate my cultivation; the honorable treatment of three chancellors could not make me like a king at once; neither am I ambitious and interested in rebellion; the promise in cinnabar on the iron sheet is just an iron sheet for me. Across Huaiyuan Palace, nobody else needed to be remitted except for me, whose case has just been redressed.'
Therefore, the reward from Xuanyuan Hill became meaningless for Zhang Tie.
"Elder brother, this reward is a red-hot iron. Neither could I nor Huaiyuan Palace bear it. Additionally, Han Zhengfang didn't even leave any bones. It's difficult for me to prove that I've killed him; additionally, nobody would believe that. I'm afraid that Xuanyuan Hill mostly wants to unite the other 6 top sects and some top clans of Taixia Country to deal with Han Zhengfang and Heavens Reaching Church. We'd better not be involved in it!"
After removing his covetous thoughts and worries about gains and losses, Zhang Tie immediately saw through the purpose of Xuanyuan Hill behind this reward. The biggest function of this reward was to inspire morale and make clear the attitude of Xuanyuan Hill towards Heavens Reaching Church and demons. No matter what, Han Zhengfang was the former finance minister of Taixia Country. Such a person as a mole of demons really affected Taixia Country too much. He had to be eliminated; however, only the top sects and a few clans in Taixia Country could kill a heavenly knight on the premise that few people knew the sequela of Han Zhengfang after using the secret method of Bloody Soul Sutra . Therefore, this reward was actually prepared for these super forces——
'I won't be touched by it, but it doesn't mean that the others won't be touched by it either. Just let those people look for Han Zhengfang across the world!' Zhang Tie thought.
After being reminded by Zhang Tie, Zhang Yang recovered his composure too. When he heard that Zhang Tie killed Han Zhengfang, Zhang Yang who had been dreaming about reinvigorating Zhang Clan immediately remembered that reward. After hearing Zhang Tie's explanation, Zhang Yang also realized that even Huaiyuan Palace as a whole could not bear such a reward, not to mention their family.
"I see, only you and I know this secret!"
"Cui Li is my incarnation. Elder brother, you can tell our parents about that in case of their concern now. I will return to Youzhou Province in a few days. After arriving at Youzhou Province, I will go to Jinwu City right away!"
"The culprit of the tragedy in Fuhai City has died. You came back too. Our parents could finally be reassured! And, don't forget to notice Huaiyuan Palace about your incarnation. Even your disciples have known your real identity, if you don't notice these elders in Huaiyuan Palace before you return, you might be blamed for estranging your relatives!"
"Elder brother, you can notice Huaiyuan Palace about that when you're free. You only need to tell them that Cui Li is my incarnation. We will talk about other things when I come back!"
"Sure!"
"And oh, what major events have happened in Taixia Country from November 15 till now? I was ill-informed over the past 2 weeks. What response have Heavens Reaching Church made?"
"Taixia Country is in great chaos just like when the holy war broke out in Waii Subcontinent. Over 60 provinces of Taixia Country have been afflicted by bloody figures. The entire territory of Taixia Country has been involved in it. What happened in Zhongzhou Province 2 months ago is repeating across Taixia Country now!"
"Including Northeast Military Region?"
"Yes, the Weiyuan Prefecture in Tongzhou Province and the Anlan Prefecture in Gaozhou Province have been afflicted by bloody figures. As a result, the entire Northeast Military Region has been in a turmoil. Youzhou Province has been on the alert in an all-round manner. All the corps in Northeast Military Regions have already reached the border for strict defense. Even Elder Muray and Elder Muyu have been dispatched to encircle and annihilate large-scale bloody figure troops. All the other provinces have imposed a curfew. The clans of Heavens Reaching Church are making troubles everywhere across Taixia Country, increasing a great number of names on the wanted list of Supreme Court. I've not heard any good news in Jinwu City lately!"
This news was within Zhang Tie's expectation; however, Zhang Tie had not imagined that it could arouse so many chain reactions after he exposed Han Zhengfang's real identity to the public.
It was already not important that whether Han Zhengfang sent an order when he escaped to Xuanyuan Hill or the loyal backbones of Heavens Reaching Church made responses after they received the news that Han Zhengfang's real identity was exposed. After hearing that so many places in Taixia Country have been inflicted by bloody figures and remembering the looks of the villages and cities which were affected by bloody figures, Zhang Tie's heart pounded at once.
"Did those places being affected by bloody figures suffer great losses?"
"Fortunately, after the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out in Zhongzhou Province, all the places across Taixia Country have been on the alert by mobilizing all the local garrisons for stricter defense. All the big cities and clans have knight-level powerhouses on their back. The entire Taixia Country is preventing bloody figures over these days. Nobody dares to take a casual attitude about it, official or local major clans. Although the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out in Taixia Country suddenly this time, the chaos and losses on average in each province are less than that in Zhongzhou Province; because all the places have made precautions for that. Although this catastrophe of bloody figures has just broken out for about 2 weeks, all the troops of over 10,000 bloody figures across Taixia Country have been scattered by the knight-level powerhouses. Although bloody figures have greater battle strength than ordinary soldiers in Taixia Country, they've lost their commander; additionally, knights had an overwhelming advantage over these bloody figures. If a knight encounters a troop of bloody figures, he or she would cause a great casualty and scatter them…"
After hearing Zhang Yang's news, Zhang Tie finally realized why he could get so many merit value points after exposing the real identity of Han Zhengfang in Xuanyuan Hill.
When the entire Taixia Country was preparing for dealing with bloody figures, the catastrophe of bloody figures really broke out. What a coincidence! If the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out a bit earlier before the provinces across Taixia Country were ready for it, the loss suffered by each province would definitely be not less than that in Zhongzhou Province. If the catastrophe of bloody figures happened a couple of years later, Taixia Country as a whole would definitely relax their vigilance about bloody figures. By then, Taixia Country would suffer a greater loss. Additionally, the destructions caused by Heavens Reaching Church when they were ready for that were utterly different than that when they were not ready for that. This catastrophe of bloody figures broke out when the Heavens Reaching Church was flurried. Given the time, it was fortunate for Taixia Country.
In others' eyes, those bloody figures were just devils and killers who could only cause destructions and should be killed as fast as possible; however, in Zhang Tie's eyes, these bloody figures were as nourishing as lobsters and seashells over the rocks after ebb. If he had caught Han Zhengfang alive, he could promote to a shadow knight at the fastest speed with the help of these bloody figures.
"Elder brother, I have one thing to talk with you. No kidding. You don't need to know why because you will know it after I come back. From now on, you will mobilize all the power of Jinwu Business Group and notice Huaiyuan Palace to catch bloody figures as more as possible. I need alive bloody figures. As long as they're alive, the more, the better, even if they had no limbs. Money is not a problem. I want them even at 1,000 gold coins for one bloody figure…"
1,000 gold coins for one bloody figure; 10,000 bloody figures only cost him 10 million gold coins; 100,000 bloody figures only cost him 100 million gold coins. Such a bit of gold coins was nothing for Zhang Tie; however, if he had 100,000 bloody figures, he could extract the maximal value of these bloody figures with his bloody sacrifice furnace. Zhang Tie felt it even worthwhile to purchase a bloody figure at the cost of 10,000 gold coins, not to mention 1,000 gold coins.
It was Zhang Yang's 3rd time to be shocked by Zhang Tie today.
"Did I mishear it? You want alive bloody figures at such a high price?"
"Yes, elder brother, you didn't mishear it. I won't suffer a loss. I've got another request for you. Before I come back, elder brother could find a place near the territory of Iron-Dragon Sect to build a place for locking bloody figures. The bigger the better. As it was slow to build a city, you don't need to consider whether those bloody figures are comfortable or not; you can directly have people build a super large battle fortress near the territory of Iron-Dragon Sect.
When Zhang Tie said that, he recalled the crystal battle fortress in Selnes Theater of Operations. Given the scale of the crystal battle fortress, it could easily hold 100,000 bloody figures after slight renovation; additionally, those bloody figures could not make trouble or escape from the battle fortress…
Battle fortress was a special building in the holy war. Hua people's battle fortresses were definitely the best. With enough money, he could easily build a battle fortress in Fire-dragon Territory.
At this moment, Zhang Tie realized the significance of money. At least he didn't need to think about the amount of money for doing these things. With enough money, this catastrophe of bloody figures across Taixia Country would be the opportunity for the rise of Iron-Dragon Sect…
Chapter 1181: Arrangement
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
After contacting with his elder brother, Zhang Tie contacted with Bai Suxian too.
Bai Suxian was still waiting for Zhang Tie in Zhongzhou City.
As the catastrophe of bloody figures had already broken out in Zhongzhou Province, after this catastrophe of bloody figures broke out across Taixia Country, Zhongzhou Province was relatively less affected. Among the 9 immortal provinces of Taixia Country, the catastrophes of bloody figures also broke out in Jinzhou Province, Pingzhou Province, Fengzhou Province and Qingzhou Province besides Zhongzhou Province.
Zhang Tie didn't talk with Bai Suxian too much. He would explain it to Bai Suxian after coming back to Zhongzhou Province. Bai Suxian didn't ask him why as usual. Zhang Tie knew that Bai Suxian, as a wise woman, must have guessed that the event in Xuanyuan Hill was related to him. Because Zhang Tie had told her that it was one of the 9 ministers of Taixia Country who framed him. Soon after Zhang Tie left the airboat, Xuanyuan Hill had met such a storm. Bai Suxian must have noticed the relationship between Zhang Tie and that major event.
After contacting with Bai Suxian, Zhang Tie thought for a short while before contacting Mountain Lifting Hermit. Previously, Mountain Lifting Hermit told Zhang Tie that he wanted to try his fortune in Taiyi City. Given the distance, Zhang Tie estimated that Mountain Lifting Hermit might have not reached Taiyi City yet. 'Taiyi City is in Daozhou Province, which is over 60,000 miles away from Xuanyuan Hill. Mountain Lifting Hermit didn't take an airboat. Additionally, an earth knight couldn't keep flying around the clock. Even if Mountain Lifting Hermit had tried his utmost efforts these days, he could not arrive at Daozhou Province. Additionally, Mountain Lifting Hermit might have already contacted me over these days after knowing what happened in Xuanyuan Hill; but I failed to receive them.'
Zhang Tie's guess was right. Soon after he established a link with Mountain Lifting Hermit, he had received a message.
"I've heard about what happened in Xuanyuan Hill on November 16th. I tried to contact you; however, I failed. How's everything going?"
"I'm fine. I will tell you about it in details when I meet you. Where're you now, elder brother?"
"I'm in Zhenzhou Province. After Xuanyuan Hill met such a storm, the market where secret pearls could be traded in Taiyi City suspended its business for the time being. When the event broke out in Xuanyuan Hill, I was in Lingzhou Province, which was not affected by bloody figures; however, the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out in Zhenzhou province, which neighbors Lingzhou Province. Therefore, I came to Zhengzhou Province from Lingzhou Province and helped them deal with those bloody figures. These bloody figures afflicted villages and towns greatly. I will stay in Zhenzhou Province and kill some more bloody figures!"
Mountain Lifting Hermit looked cold yet was kind-hearted. As a Hua knight, he would never put his hands in his sleeves and just look at the catastrophe of bloody figures.
"Elder brother, you stay in Zhenzhou Province for a few days. We could keep in touch at any time. I will come for you. We will return to Iron-Dragon Sect together by airboat!"
After a few seconds, Zhang Tie received a message.
"Sure, I'm afraid that the market of trading secret pearls in Taiyi City would not open anymore before the catastrophe of bloody figures was pacified. I will go to Iron-Dragon Sect with you first!"
After hearing Mountain Lifting Hermit's words, Zhang Tie became reassured. As long as Mountain Lifting Hermit returned to Iron-Dragon Sect and officially became the grand elder of Iron-Dragon Sect after paying a formal visit to the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect, of course, Zhang Tie could have Mountain Lifting Hermit take one small space-teleportation equipment in that atmosphere.
After contacting with Mountain Lifting Hermit, Zhang Tie contacted with Sarlin Pontiff so as to learn the latest news about the expeditionary army of Sacred Light Empire.
From Sarlin Pontiff's words, Zhang Tie knew that Elder Gular and old bear Dali had returned to Ice and Snow Wilderness by airboat of Gold and Power Law 2 days ago. They might still be on the way. The expeditionary army of Sacred Light Empire had not set off yet; the Sacred Iceland Kingdom was preparing for the coming war. Besides the weird atmosphere, everything else was normal.
After contacting with the 4 people, Zhang Tie finally became reassured.
When Zhang Tie contacted the 4 people, his old slave Zhang Gui just waited beside him quietly in a steady way for his order at any time.
After putting away the bunch of remote-sensing finger rings, Zhang Tie looked around and didn't find anybody within 10,000 square miles. Additionally, there were massive smoke and water vapor in the air, causing a low visibility. Therefore, Zhang Tie called the huge thunder hawk out of Castle of Black Iron.
The moment the thunder hawk came out of Castle of Black Iron, it had crowed out of excitement for one time before flying around Zhang Tie.
Castle of Black Iron was just a huge bird cage for this thunder hawk. By flapping its wings casually for one time, the thunder hawk could finish a few rounds in Castle of Black Iron. Therefore, after coming out of Castle of Black Iron, the thunder hawk was pretty thrilled.
Zhang Tie immediately rode onto the back of the thunder hawk only by one stride. After sitting well, he waved his hand toward Zhang Gui, "You come here too. We will go to Zhongzhou City. It's a long distance. It would be too time-consuming if we fly towards there ourselves!"
After hearing Zhang Tie's words, before Zhang Gui replied, the thunder hawk had twisted its body unwillingly in the air as it turned around and looked at Zhang Gui with dissatisfaction.
"This old slave will not sit on it. Slaves are forbidden to sit together with their masters in any family. As this bird is huge, this old slave will just hold one of its claws!" Zhang Gui said in a humble way.
"Fine, your wish!" Zhang Tie shrugged. Now that Zhang Gui was so self-conscious, Zhang Tie didn't need to say anything.
After hearing Zhang Gui's words, the thunder hawk looked at Zhang Gui with a bit tender eye light. Closely after that, the thunder hawk stretched out one huge claw so that Zhang Gui could hold one iron hook-like finger. Closely after that, it flapped its wings and flew off as fast as a lightning bolt. In the blink of an eye, it had flown away from the volcanic region being enshrouded with smoke towards Zhongzhou City.
Zhang Tie sat on the back of the thunder hawk in a calm way. The thunder hawk stretched out one claw backward which formed a freak combination with Zhang Gui who looked like a kite.
If the thunder hawk carried two commoners, it would feel difficult to fly; however, Zhang Tie and Zhang Gui were both knights. They just floated in the air weightlessly and relied on the thunder hawk's speed. Therefore, the thunder hawk could fly easily. Additionally, they both released their protective battle qis to wrap their own bodies so as to reduce the windage to the minimum. In less than 1 minute, with a slight sonic boom, a mushroom-shaped gaseous circle appeared around the thunder hawk. After breaking through this gaseous circle, the thunder hawk immediately broke the sound barrier. After a few seconds, it reached 2 times that of the speed of sound and became a golden light in the stratosphere.
Sitting on the back of the thunder hawk, Zhang Tie watched the landscape flashing backward under his feet as he felt being an immortal.
'Karma is really marvelous. When it was peaceful across Taixia Country, I lived as poor as a stray dog while being wanted and chased every day. At that time, I was anxious every day. By contrast, when Taixia Country become chaotic as a whole, I've become so relaxed as if the spring is coming. The pendulum has swung back.'
"Zhang Gui, have you learned how to hide your qi?" Zhang Tie suddenly turned around as he asked Zhang Gui who was below the thunder hawk's tail.
The thunder hawk moved faster than the speed of sound in air. If Zhang Tie didn't speak through the secret means, before his sound reached Zhang Gui's ears, the thunder hawk had already flown far away.
"This old slave always did secret tasks before. Therefore, I've learned to conceal my qi!" Zhang Gui replied respectfully in a secret way.
"If so, just show the level of a common black iron knight in the public from then on unless emergencies!��
"Yes, master!" Zhang Gui didn't ask about the reason. Closely after Zhang Tie's words, Zhang Gui's qi had slowly declined and became as same as that of a common black iron knight. "Master, is this old slave okay?"
Zhang Tie threw a glance at Zhang Gui as he nodded inside, 'After forming the earth chakra, due to the concealing attribute of earth, earth knights could hide their qis without even learning any secret method; plus the effect of some secret method, commoners could barely identify that they are earth knights. If my knight's consciousness wasn't strong enough, I couldn't identify that Zhang Gui is an earth knight either.'
"Not bad. Just keep this state. Don't expose your cultivation base and battle strength as an earth knight to the public. After coming back to Youzhou Province, you will be my steward and help me look after my family members and Jinwu City!"
"Thanks for your trust, master. This old slave will exert my full efforts to look after your family and Jinwu City. As long as this old slave is still alive, I will never allow anyone to harm master's family members."
After hearing that Zhang Tie wanted him to be his steward, Zhang Gui's face immediately gave out a brilliance as he expressed his loyalty happily at once.
That was what Zhang Tie wanted, also why Zhang Tie took Zhang Gui out of Castle of Black Iron.
After this event, Zhang Tie realized that the overall strength of his family was too weak. As long as he left home, his home would lack reliable powerhouses, which Zhang Tie was concerned about the most. Over these years, although a knight of Heavens Fortune Sect always resided in Zhang Clan so as to help Zhang family tide over the stormiest days, the knight always belonged to Heavens Fortune Sect. This knight was to perform a task in Zhang Clan assigned by his sect; therefore, Zhang family and this knight always felt a bit estranged; sometimes, it was not convenient either. After bringing Zhang Gui back home, Zhang Tie would solve this problem completely.
As Taixia Country was in great chaos as a whole, Zhang Tie had to pay more attention to the safety of his family members.
'However, the identity of Zhang Gui is too eye-catching in Youzhou Province. In Youzhou Province, a lower province that has just been established, there are much fewer earth knights than that in other provinces; if I had an earth knight as my servant, Huaiyuan Palace would feel embarrassed about that, not to mention outsiders. Even Zhang Taixuan, the master of Huaiyuan Palace has just promoted to an earth knight for a few years; if an earth knight who calls himself "this old slave" follows me here and there who's the real head of Huaiyuan Palace?'
'Although I have not returned to Huaiyuan Palace yet, I have to consider these questions in advance!'
Chapter 1182: Convergence
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
If Zhang Gui concealed his real battle strength in the public, besides avoiding from outsiders' disputes and the embarrassing conflicts in Huaiyuan Palace, the biggest benefit was that Zhang Gui could easily deal with more difficult situations at the critical moment.
At any time, concealing one's battle strength would bring unimaginable benefits. A black iron knight was too weaker than an earth knight in battle strength. As long as the opponent underestimated Zhang family's overall strength at the critical moment, Zhang family would be safer and reverse the situation.
After killing Han Zhengfang, Zhang Tie found that he became increasingly "grimmer" and more "cunning" in considering and dealing with problems.
…
The thunder hawk moved very fast and smoothly on the way.
After flying about 2,000 miles away from the volcanic area, the thunder hawk met an unknown airboat in the air. The crew on the airboat might have discovered the thunder hawk, Zhang Tie and Zhang Gui; however, they must be scared by the high speed of the thunder hawk. Therefore, after chasing after the thunder hawk for a few seconds, the airboat soon lost their target as its speed was even slower than the speed of sound in air. Zhang Tie didn't care about it. Whatever, this thunder hawk would always appear in the public in the future. It was nothing strange for others to be curious about it. He didn't need to overreact in others' response.
At this moment, one claw of this thunder hawk had already put on a mithril foot loop which was specially made by Edward like a label on the foot of a homebred pigeon. It indicated that this thunder hawk had its owner; instead of being a mutated wild species. Even if the thunder hawk flew away itself and met a heavenly knight-level old monster on the way, it wouldn't be robbed away.
Although it was a bit chaotic in Taixia Country, except for b*stards of Heavens Reaching Church, people could still comply well with the basic orders and rules of Taixia Country apparently, including commoners and supreme knights. The "Laws of Taixia Country" were still unshakable in Taixia Country. The imperial court of Taixia Country was still in a ruling position. If not want to enter the wanted list of the Supreme Court, even knights dared not casually kill people and rob people's objects blatantly.
Because Zhang Tie's destination was Zhongzhou Province, which was not far from Xuanyuan Hill, he didn't see any bloody figures on the way. As the traffic arteries and dangerous terrains in the periphery of Xuanyuan Hill were strictly defended by the top 4 armies of Taixia Country, those bloody figures couldn't access to Xuanyuan Hill at all.
The thunder hawk could fly at almost 1,500 miles per hour. At afternoon, after 7 hours' high-speed flight, a class-A city had appeared on the horizon.
Zhongzhou Province was one of the top 9 immortal provinces of Taixia Country. As the capital city of Zhongzhou Province, Zhongzhou city was much more prosperous than ordinary class-A cities. Besides the inside of Zhongzhou City, the entire Zhongzhou City was surrounded by densely populated districts. The radiated urban regions of Zhongzhou City were 5 times larger than that of ordinary class-A cities. After a long-term peaceful life, even if these people didn't settle in the city, they didn't need to worry about any dangers while living at the periphery of the city.
Perhaps, people near Zhongzhou City were still not worried about dangers a few months ago, it was hard for them to persist in the same firm belief now.
Watching airships and airboats setting off and landing at the airports inside and outside Zhongzhou City, Zhang Tie directly contacted with Bai Suxian and told her to have the airboat drive to 30 miles away from Zhongzhou City. He would converge with them outside the city instead of joining the fun inside Zhongzhou City.
After gaining benefits, making a fortune, exterminating the powerful enemies and screwing Meng Shidao, of course, he needed to be low-key as it was not far from Xuanyuan Hill.
Zhang Tie let the thunder hawk slow down its speed from twice the speed of sound to equivalent to the speed of sound in air. They were not moving as fast as ordinary knights.
Old slave Zhang Gui had already loosened the sharp claw of the thunder hawk and started to fly after the thunder hawk in case of arousing others' attention.
In less than 10 minutes, the thunder hawk had passed through the border of Zhongzhou City, exposing Iron-Dragon Airboat to Zhang Tie, Zhang Gui and the thunder hawk.
The movable deck on the top of Iron-Dragon Airboat had opened while Zhang Tie's disciples were standing on the deck and waiting for Zhang Tie.
With a strong wind, a sparkling golden light and an air-splitting sound, the thunder hawk dove downwards onto the deck, causing them to widely open their eyes as they hurriedly turned around; some female disciples' skirts swayed in the air.
Before they realized what happened, Zhang Tie had already appeared on the deck while an extremely handsome golden bird was standing on Zhang Tie's side. The bird was even taller than Zhang Tie. The huge bird was preening its feathers on its neck as it squinted at the others with a pair of golden eyes in an extremely arrogant way. An old man was standing behind Zhang Tie in a docile way.
Liu Xing recovered his composure as he hurriedly deeply bowed towards Zhang Tie, followed by the other disciples; meanwhile, they said in unison, "Welcome back, Master!"
"Hmm!" Zhang Tie glanced around the deck and immediately understood the progress of the cultivation of the 121 disciples. Curiously, Bai Suxian was not on the deck. 'This is not Bai Suxian's style.'
After straightening up their bodies, at the sight of Zhang Tie, many people's heart pounded as they hurriedly lowered their heads too.
Being limited to their overall strength, although his disciples didn't know what happened to Zhang Tie these days, all of them could sense the change in their master. Their master became more imposing with milder eye light. However, after being casually glanced by their master, they would feel being seen through as they didn't feel like struggling at all.
In only a few days, Zhang Tie had entered 4 change earth realm; especially after taking that fruit of brilliance, Zhang Tie's spiritual energy had surged to a terrifying level. At this moment, although Zhang Tie didn't mean to release his imposing qi field, his movements could still bring a great stress to his disciples who had not even reached LV 10.
"Zhao Bing, Wu Yinhui, Zhou Xiao, Ma Kuicheng, Linghu Biao, Sunzhan, Zhu Yuanguang, Qian Bingbing, Huang Chongyang, Bai Hua, Zhang Yueshan, Yu Xiaoai", Zhang Tie called 12 disciples consecutively, including 2 females. After being called, all of them became flurried as they hurriedly lowered their heads. However, Zhang Tie's words were out of their expectation, "You've made great progress in your cultivation bases these days; your LV 9 realm have become more complete with denser spiritual energy. This master will enlighten Fire-Dragon Sutra to you tomorrow!"
"Thanks, Master!" After hearing Zhang Tie's words, these disciples became stunned for a second. Closely after that, they became overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed towards Zhang Tie. Being imparted with Fire Dragon Sutra through enlightenment, they would feel like having a new birth. None of them had imagined that their master could preach them Fire Dragon Sutra through enlightenment soon after he came back. As a result, they started to feel like climbing towards universal laws. Out of extreme excitement, someone's eyes were even filled with tears at once.
When Liu Xing was preached Fire-Dragon Sutra through enlightenment by Zhang Tie, the others disciples were admiring about him pretty much. They encouraged themselves and expected that they could be that fortunate one day; unexpectedly, that day came so fast.
The 12 disciples that Zhang Tie called had made evident progress in cultivation bases with greatest efforts during these days. Even the other disciples whose names were not called had become spirited and hopeful, not to mention the 12 disciples. With such models in front of them, as long as they would like to make efforts in cultivation, they might be preached with Fire Dragon Sutra through enlightenment in the next round.
"Zhu Dabiao, Wang Pan, Xie Qingfeng. You need to make more efforts in cultivation. Don't lag behind the others!" Zhang Tie called the three guys whose cultivation bases ranked last among all of his disciples. After hearing that, the three people hurriedly lowered their heads with a guilty look and dared not to throw a glance at Zhang Tie at all.
Zhang Tie then glanced around all the disciples before saying, "As for the others, keep it in mind, the road of cultivation is a long-lasting progress, you need to make constant efforts in a modest way!"
"Yes, Master!"
Zhang Tie succumbed all of his disciples only by three sentences. After that, he asked Liu Xing, "Where's your Uncle Master Bai?"
"Soon after Iron-Dragon Airboat left Zhongzhou City, a maid of Uncle Master Bai had told me that Uncle Master Bai felt a bit uncomfortable and was taking a rest in the cabin!" Liu Xing replied in a solemn look. All the others just looked at the ground silently.
After hearing this answer, Zhang Tie touched his nose lightly. As a knight, of course, Bai Suxian wouldn't feel uncomfortable like commoners. After promoting to a knight, it indicated that she had said goodbye to 36,000 kinds of diseases. Unless being possessed by the devil in cultivation or being poked some holes by a dagger, she would never feel "a bit uncomfortable".
'Bai Suxian must be losing temper. Because she has guessed that the event in Xuanyuan Hill is related to me, she must be blaming me for not having her as an assistant.'
Sometimes, women were narrow-minded, even being a knight.
Chapter 1183: Heading for Youzhou Province
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"This is Zhang Gui, my…subordinate. This is my pet mount. Although it looks ferocious, it's human-friendly. As long as you don't offend it, it will not hurt you. Liu Xing, make an arrangement for them. This thunder hawk will eat over 30 kg's raw flesh and 5 vials of all-purpose medicament per day on the airboat…"
In the public, Zhang Gui was Zhang Tie's subordinate.
Subordinate was an ambiguous concept, which could be a domestic general, a myrmidon, a servant or an employee. Although Zhang Gui's real identity was Zhang Tie's servant, Zhang Tie wouldn't treat him as his servant in the public as it was meaningless to be that flamboyant. Even though Zhang Gui as a knight would like to be his pious servant, it was still too eye-catching in Youzhou Province. Few elders in top clans of Taixia Country could enjoy such a luxurious treatment. For instance, Uncle Zhong was Lord Guangnan's myrmidon; instead of his servant…
In the beginning, they were afraid of the thunder hawk as it was tall and imposing. Additionally, it landed so fast in such a cool manner. After hearing that this thunder hawk was human-friendly, they immediately surrounded up to watch such a rarity. Although nobody dared touch its feathers, it should not be a problem for them to watch it from a close distance.
It was bustling in the surroundings. As these disciples were all youngsters, the moment they surrounded up, they had started to comment about the thunder hawk and discuss its kind. The thunder hawk tilted its head to look at them as it raised its wings in an evidently impatient way.
Among the comments, a young female suddenly uttered a loud exclamation.
"Wow, Master's bird is so huge!"
Soon after the praise, the deck became quiet in a split second. The wind blew over while Zhang Tie's disciples' faces turned weird. They exchanged a glance with each other with a dumbfounded look.
Soon after she uttered, the female disciple had noticed that the atmosphere on the deck became weird. A senior sister apprentice stealthily drew her sleeve which reminded her something at once. Being blushed as the sunglow, she wanted to explain; however, she didn't know how. Such an embarrassing thing could never be clarified at all.
Those disciples didn't know what to say; they just stood still as they dared not burst out into laughter. Such a sudden silence made the junior sister apprentice pretty embarrassed.
"Hahaha, don't stand still over there. Think about how to find a settlement for master's pet. Such a bird couldn't stay on the airboat for too long. We have to have it fly outside for a short while each day. Later on, this bird would be the immortal beast of our Iron-Dragon Sect. We should ask master about the name and the background of this big pet next time. We'd better look after it well. It's my first time to see such an imposing, huge bird…" Zhu Dabiao burst out into laughter at the critical moment in a shameless way, relieving the weird atmosphere.
"Yes yes, junior brother apprentice Zhu is right. we should consider where to raise such a huge bird. I feel that it could live in the lobby as common cabins couldn't hold it."
"Hmm, I feel master's pet is like a hawk; however, its size could match the legendary dragon hawk…"
"Its golden feathers are so beautiful as if they are made of gold…"
They commented one after another as if they had forgotten what the junior sister apprentice had said just now. The junior sister apprentice threw a stealthy glance at Zhu Dabiao in an appreciative way. At the sight of her appreciative look, Zhu Dabiao revealed a congenital obscene smile at the junior sister apprentice; closely after that, he even threw a customary glance at her well-developed breast self-consciously. Being scared by his glance so much, the junior sister apprentice hurriedly hid herself behind a senior sister apprentice while crossing her arms over her breast.
The casual exclamation of this female disciple became an "anecdote" being stealthily spread among disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect many years later.
…
The moment Zhang Tie returned to the airboat, the airboat had started to move. Only after slightly changing its direction, it headed towards Zhenzhou Province at once.
Although Zhang Tie had deepened into the airboat, he had already heard the talks of his disciples on the deck. Rubbing his weird face, he came to Bai Suxian's room.
Now that Bai Suxian felt "a bit uncomfortable", she would not wait for Zhang Tie in his room, but in her room.
Bai Suxian's room was not locked from inside. Therefore, Zhang Tie directly pushed open her door. The moment he entered Bai Suxian's room, he had already sniffed the special smell that combined rouge, perfume and the special body fragrance.
4 most beautiful maids were in the outer room, at the sight of Zhang Tie coming in, they hurriedly lowered their bodies on one side to hail him.
Zhang Tie nodded as he asked, "Is princess better now?"
Those beautiful maids straightened up their bodies as they stealthily exchanged a glance with each other. "Miss feels a bit uncomfortable. She's…just fallen asleep!" a maid called Qinyin replied Zhang Tie in a low voice as she lowered her eyes onto the thick carpet.
Zhang Tie revealed a smile as he raised his hand. Those maids hurriedly exited the outer room by moving backward before closing the door from outside.
Zhang Tie unveiled the bead curtain before entering Bai Suxian's warm bedroom.
All the furnishings inside this bedroom were arranged by Bai Suxian's subordinates according to her daily needs and habits.
The bead curtain of this bedroom was completely made of perfect top-class deep-sea jade beads whose diameter was about 1.6 cm. The ground of the bedroom was paved with 6.7 cm-thick golden goose velvet. Even the toad-shaped violet golden copper furnace was exclusive for airboat. No matter how the airboat fly, the copper furnace would not turn over. Guanghan osmanthus flower charcoal as expensive as gold was burning inside the copper furnace after being treated specially. Everything inside this room could meet the daily needs of the princess of Lord Guangnan's Mansion.
Lying on the snow-white bed, Bai Suxian's back was facing the door while her body was covered with an extremely thin quilt, manifesting the exquisite and undulating curve from her waist to her butt.
She was breathing evenly. Her enchanting face was reflected in the copper mirror. In a night skirt, she put one hand under her head with closed eyes, exposing half plump breasts as if she had really fallen asleep while feeling a bit uncomfortable.
After coming to the bedside, Zhang Tie sat down. After gazing at her plump butt under the thin quilt for a short while, Zhang Tie put one hand into the thin quilt and started to touch her naked body.
Only after a short while, Bai Suxian's face had turned redder while she started to breathe heavily. After a few more seconds, Bai Suxian who had been gritting her teeth finally couldn't stand uttering "Argh" lightly.
"I was told that you felt a bit uncomfortable. How about my therapy? How do you feel now?" Zhang Tie asked with a smile.
…
Zhang Tie stayed in Bai Suxian's room for a whole day. On the 2nd day, he left her room in high spirits. Bai Suxian became as tame as before in front of Zhang Tie. With a happy look, she was in a pretty good mood.
Zhang Tie didn't explain anything to Bai Suxian, because he knew that women needed to be convinced; instead of being explained.
Did a man have to report to his wife about his plan when he wanted to do something? Of course not!
Zhang Tie just told Bai Suxian that he would take her back home in Youzhou Province to pay a formal visit to his parents. After hearing that promise, Bai Suxian became tame at once.
Zhang Tie then started to preach his 2nd batch of disciples with Fire Dragon Sutra through enlightenment…
…
Those male disciples received enlightenment smoothly. After doing that to Liu Xing and the other 6 disciples, Zhang Tie had been familiar with this process; therefore, he finished this process in a higher efficiency.
Not until the first female disciple Qian Bingbing received the enlightenment did he meet a bit trouble.
During the process of enlightenment, Zhang Tie needed to touch their heads. Although Qian Bingbing was one of the most outstanding disciples of Zhang Tie and the most acceptable elder sister among those female disciples, she was also the most troublesome one when in enlightenment. Each time Zhang Tie touched her head, Qian Bingbing's face would turn red with unstable and uneasy qi. Zhang Tie had tried for a few times yet met the same problem.
"Ignore everything; stay concentrated…" As Zhang Tie's sound drifted into Qian Bingbing's mind through a secret method of Bloody Soul Temple, Qian Bingbing's finally became stable spiritually as she closed her eyes and slowly entered the state.
Zhang Tie put his palm onto Qian Bingbing's forehead once again.
Qian Bingbing's forehead felt as icy as her name while being covered with fine sweat drops although being a bit hot just now…
After the process, Qian Bingbing opened her eyes as she watched Zhang Tie who was sitting opposite with complex sparkling eyes. After that, she bit her lips as she put her hands onto her forehead and approached her forehead to the ground in an extremely respectful manner as a disciple, "Master, thanks for paving the steps towards the universal laws for Bingbing…"
"It's fine, call in Huang Chongyang…"
"Yes, Master!"
Qian Bingbing stood up before leaving the back room.
Watching Qian Bingbing's back, Zhang Tie looked a bit weird as he sighed inside, 'Qian Bingbing is really a smart girl. After being preached with Fire Dragon Sutra, she called herself Bingbing in front of me, in which way, she had drawn herself closer to me.'
Closely after that, Zhang Tie shook his head as he revealed a faint smile, 'Perhaps, I've thought too much. Girls always like to call themselves in that way…'
…
On December 6th, Iron-Dragon Airboat arrived at Xiushan Prefecture of Zhenzhou Province. After converging with Mountain Lifting Hermit over there, Iron-Dragon Airboat headed for Youzhou Province…
Chapter 1184: Welcome Back
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Due to the heavy snow in the chilly north wind, it had been snowwhite within 3,500 miles. Even though, Iron-Dragon Airboat was not affected at all as it marched forwards rapidly and steadily in the heavy wind like an iron-armor battleship that rode the wind and waves.
At this moment, a gold light and two humans landed on the entrance of the stern of Iron-Dragon Airboat in the heavy snow.
After they returned with the thunder hawk, the movable dome on the deck of the stern slowly closed.
"Look at you. Didn't you tell me that you were just going to take a look outside with elder brother? Why did you come back so late?" Bai Suxian walked towards them in winter clothes and a brilliant ferret cloak. Although there was not a bit snowflake on Zhang Tie's clothes, Bai Suxian still came forward to pat his clothes like his virtuous wife.
Lately, as Iron-Dragon Airboat gradually approached Youzhou Province, Bai Suxian became more and more virtuous like a good wife and mother. 2 days ago, Bai Suxian even washed Zhang Tie's clothes. However, it was her first time to do laundry. Finally, although Zhang Tie's priceless boa silk robes became clean, after being dried, they would become mops if being bound to wooden clubs.
Watching Bai Suxian leveling a corner of his garment by drawing it, Zhang Tie threw a glance at Mountain Lifting Hermit with a helpless look. Mountain Lifting Hermit then burst out into laughter.
"You've killed someone?" Bai Suxian stood up and asked Zhang Tie.
Due to her sharp knight's consciousness, Bai Suxian could notice the faint blood smell over Zhang Tie. Although there was no blood on Zhang Tie's clothes, it still carried a faint blood smell in a short period after staying in a bloody environment.
"Just now, I wanted to take a look at the northern landscape outside. Unimaginably, Little Thunder had a sharp vision and discovered a team of bloody figures in the wild hundreds of miles away. Therefore, elder brother and I went there to deal with those bloody figures and warmed up our bodies by the way!" Zhang Tie said with a smile.
Zhang Tie named the thunder hawks as Little Thunder. After hearing that Zhang Tie was speaking highly of it, the thunder hawk fluffed up its feathers.
"There were over 70 bloody figures. It was a big team. In Tongzhou Province, even if they couldn't break through a city, they could easily sweep over villages and towns. Even the ground guardians of ordinary business groups couldn't defeat so many bloody figures. We'd better clean them up the moment we saw them. Otherwise, many commoners would be killed by them!" Mountain Lifting Hermit said as he shook his head.
"However, those bloody figures' heads and corpses are in the wild. They will not easily rot in the snowy day. It's said that Tongzhou Province has a high reward for heads of bloody figures. If members of Supreme Court or local garrisons killed them, they could even promote to higher positions. I wonder who would pick up those heads and corpses of bloody figures!" Zhang Tie joked. In such a high position, of course, he would not care about a few gold coins and the so-called meritorious service.
Of course, the food chain of a huge deep-sea monster was different than that of small shrimps and fish. The former would not admire about the later either.
"We've done a lot of meritorious services for others." Mountain Lifting Hermit briefed.
The three people burst out into laughter at the same time. Closely after that, they entered the airboat. They didn't need to care about the thunder hawk as it could enter the airboat itself step by step just like a human.
Over the past half a month, since Iron-Dragon Airboat set off from Zhenzhou Province, it had been approaching to and crossing those provinces and prefectures that were afflicted by bloody figures at Zhang Tie's request. Although Iron-Dragon Airboat didn't stop on the way, with thunder hawk as a high altitude reconnaissance satellite outside Iron-Dragon Airboat, they had exterminated 20-30 small teams of bloody figures within 60 miles on the way. They didn't let any alive bloody figures go. Additionally, they even saved two villages in the wild and a small city from those bloody figures. Besides, they coordinated with the local garrisons to exterminate a team of bloody figures that hid in a mountain cave. After doing all the above meritorious services, Zhang Tie's group directly flew away pleasantly without leaving a name or accepting the local invitation and appreciation.
In the words of Mountain Lifting Hermit, this was what knights should do.
When they entered the airboat, all the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect hailed them. As Mountain Lifting Hermit had become the grand elder of Iron-Dragon Sect, of course, Zhang Tie's disciples dared not snub him.
"As it's winter, local garrisons are inconvenient in marching. If bloody figures went out, they would easily leave traces. These bloody figures are pretty cunning. They would definitely hide somewhere. Therefore, before next spring, the catastrophe of bloody figures should be relieved for the time being. It will take Taixia Country as a whole at least 1 year to completely exterminate these bloody figures." Mountain Lifting Hermit talked about the overall situation of the catastrophe of bloody figures in Taixia Country, "When in Zhenzhou Province, I had heard that the prime minister would resign after the catastrophe of bloody figures across Taixia Country was slightly pacified next year…"
The Finance Minister's Mansion was under the direct leadership of prime minister, who was one of the top three chancellors. Han Zhengfang the finance minister of Taixia Country was the master of Heavens Reaching Church, who detonated the catastrophe of bloody figures across Taixia Country. Of course, the prime minister of Taixia Country had to take responsibility for it. After the prime minister resigned, the position of prime minister would be vacant. Given the high popularity, Meng Shidao, the master of the crown prince would succeed to the position of prime minister.
In over 1 month, the news that Meng Shidao had promoted to the semi-sage realm and killed Han Zhengfang had been spread across Taixia Country. Therefore, in the large-scale catastrophe of bloody figures, the fame of Meng Shidao skyrocketed. Of course, he became the very person who would succeed to the prime minister. Benefited from him, even crown prince's position rose greatly.
After Meng Shidao succeeded to the prime minister of Taixia country, the crown prince who was acting as regent could have a bigger right of speech in the imperial court. The subordinates of the Gobbling Party across Taixia Country had been ready celebrating their "master" and "leader" for reaching his heyday stealthily.
In the opinions of many members of Gobbling Party, if Meng Shidao promoted to the prime minister, it indicated that the Gobbling Party had started to reach its heyday in Taixia Country.
The stone that Zhang Tie threw in Xuanyuan Hill was arousing an increasingly larger ripple. Although Zhang Tie couldn't predict everything. Each coin had two sides. After making a plot to have Meng Shidao fight Han Zhengfang ferociously, although the Gobbling Party was pushed to the opposite of Heavens Reaching Church, Meng Shidao was also pushed to the position of prime minister of Taixia Country.
After fighting Meng Shidao, Han Zhengfang had disappeared. Therefore, the speculation that Meng Shidao had caught up with Han Zhengfang and killed him after the latter escaped away from Xuanyuan Hill with heavy injuries became popular across Taixia Country. Of course, this news was a great strike for the remnants of Heavens Reaching Church; however, it was a pretty good news for the Gobbling Party of Taixia Country. Therefore, the Gobbling Party helped intensify the strength of billows and waves at this moment. Zhang Tie even doubted that this news was released by the Gobbling Party. This news would bring a great political dividend for the Gobbling Party and could severely suppress the power of Heavens Reaching Church and boost the morale of soldiers and commoners across Taixia Country. Therefore, even Meng Shidao didn't deny the news.
As Meng Shidao didn't deny the news, of course, Zhang Tie would not jump out to be a target. Whatever, Zhang Tie had already reached his target. It was none of his business even if Meng Shidao promoted to the prime minister; neither would Zhang Tie be afraid of him.
'As long as I returned to Huaiyuan Palace, Meng Shidao and the Gobbling Party would never easily shock Huaiyuan Palace and Zhang family.'
'I'm not the same person as I was 4 years ago. Huaiyuan Palace is not the same Huaiyuan Palace either. Additionally, the Gobbling Party should consider how to deal with Heavens Reaching Church instead of dealing with me and Huaiyuan Palace.' On the way here from Zhenzhhou Province, Zhang Tie had evidently sensed that the Gobbling Party and the clans that supported the Gobbling Party suffered the greatest losses among the regions which were afflicted by bloody figures. The clans of Gobbling Party would encounter great tentative shocks from bloody figures immediately. The families of some local backbones of Gobbling Party were even exterminated. The Heavens Reaching Church had fallen into the trap of Zhang Tie by targeting at the Gobbling Party at this critical moment. Zhang Tie only needed to watch two lions fight in the mountain.
…
In the command module, Zhang Tie told Mountain Lifting Hermit as he pointed at the looming, boundless and undulating mountain range in front of him, "That's Yangui Mountain Range. We head for north from Tongzhou Province. After crossing Yangui Mountain Range, we will arrive at Youzhou Province! Previously, our Iron-Dragon Sect only occupied over 600,000 square miles of Iron-Dragon Sect. I've not imagined that I could win a bet from Guan Qianchong. Therefore, Guan Clan gifted me the rest land of Yangui Mountain Range. From then on, the entire Yangui Mountain Range belongs to our Iron-Dragon Sect. We can do whatever we want here!"
"Yangui Mountain Range is majestic and imposing. It's abundant in natural resources and connects with many provinces. The entire Yangui Mountain Range occupies millions of square miles. No other sect in the surroundings could match our Iron-Dragon Sect. Besides, there are many basins and plains in the mountain range, large or small. We could easily build dozens of big cities here. This Yangui Mountain Range is indeed the treasure land for Iron-Dragon Sect to be prosperous!" Mountain Lifting Hermit nodded with a strange look as he watched the Yangui Mountain Range in the far, "This Yangui Mountain Range is even similar to my real name. My mortal surname was Yan. It seems that it's predestined for me to join Iron-Dragon Sect!"
Zhang Tie became stunned for a second.
Right then, two airboats appeared in front of Yangui Mountain Range. Suspending in the air, the two airboats seemed to be waiting for Iron-Dragon Airboat.
Zhang Tie identified the two airboats at once. One of them was the private vehicle of Zhang Taixuan, the head of Huaiyuan Palace; the other belonged to his elder brother.
"Huaiyuan Palace is welcoming young brother back home…"
Chapter 1185: The Return of Elder Mushen
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Honestly, Zhang Tie was very thrilled at this moment.
After the new year festival, he would have left Youzhou Province for 5 years. Zhang Tie had been waiting for returning to Youzhou Province in the public and meeting his family members for too long.
At the sight of Iron-Dragon Airboat, the two airboats had been slowly approaching it. So did Iron-Dragon Airboat.
As if they felt the airboat was too slow at this moment, before their airboats got closer to Iron-Dragon Airboat, some knights had already flown off their airboats towards Iron-Dragon Airboat like meteors in the daytime at their maximal speeds.
Mountain Lifting Hermit was the grand elder of Iron-Dragon Sect, he would not join the fun when Zhang Tie united with his family members. Neither did Zhang Tie waste time on persuading him to join them. After leaving some words to Mountain Lifting Hermit, Zhang Tie had called Bai Suxian and Zhang Gui to fly off Iron-Dragon Airboat towards those knights.
Although it was chilly, it didn't influence these knights.
Both parties soon met in the sky.
Elder Muyu, Elder Muray, Elder Muyuan and Elder Muen of Huaiyuan Palace had arrived. Even Zhang Taixuan had come to welcome Zhang Tie.
It was the supreme etiquette for the head of a clan to welcome a person on the border of a province.
Both parties suspended in the air with a distance of 20 m. Elder Muray and Elder Muen both looked very excited. Zhang Taixuan's eyebrows were quivering which indicated that he was not calm inside.
Zhang Tie watched these familiar faces; the elders of Huaiyuan Palace also watched Zhang Tie and the two people on Zhang Tie's side. After over 4 years, they all felt overwhelmed inside at the sight of each other.
After hearing that Cui Li was Zhang Tie's incarnation, all the elders in Huaiyuan Palace including Zhang Taixuan didn't believe that. The reason was simple. They all knew when Zhang Tie promoted to a black iron knight. It was too unimaginable for Zhang Tie to promote to an earth knight only after leaving Youzhou Province for 4 years.
However, all of their doubts had faded away the moment they saw Zhang Tie. At this moment, Zhang Tie didn't hide his qi. Therefore, the familiar qi of earth knight shocked all the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace. They started to regard Zhang Tie with reverence unconsciously.
The young elite and the youngest clan elder of Huaiyuan Palace had long been famous across Taixia Country.
Watching Zhang Tie's face which was still as young as that of a teenager, all the elders of Huaiyuan Palace thought inside, 'How could such a teenager promote to an earth knight? Even the top 7 sects and top clans in Taixia Country don't have such a young earth knight.'
"Clan head, elders!"
In the wuthering wind, Zhang Tie broke the short silence as he hailed Zhang Taixuan and the other clan elders.
After hearing Zhang Tie's kind voice, all the elders felt a sense of relief. At the same time, the boulder in the heart of each elder finally landed steadily.
Before coming here, all the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace were mostly afraid that Zhang Tie still had a grudge against Huaiyuan Palace for not fully standing on his side at the critical moment over these years. If Zhang Tie really thought so, the entire Huaiyuan Palace would break apart the moment he came back. A few years ago, Zhang Tie might not have such an ability; however, Zhang Tie had been able to have Huaiyuan Palace turn upside down at this moment. When Iron-Dragon Sect was founded, the powerful battle strength that Zhang Tie performed when defeating Nangong Sheng had absolutely surpassed Zhang Taixuan the current clan head of Huaiyuan Palace. It could be said that Zhang Tie had been the No. 1 powerhouse of Huaiyuan Palace. If he lost his anger over domestic affairs, nobody could suppress him.
Straight-forward Elder Muray flew towards Zhang Tie as he punched Zhang Tie's shoulder forcefully and sighed, "Good boy, I've really been surpassed by you…".
Although Elder Muray was smiling, his eyes were sparkling with tears. It was hard to tide over these years for both Huaiyuan Palace and Zhang Tie. Thank god, they finally tided over it. After Zhang Tie came back, all the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace saw the hope of reinvigorating Huaiyuan Palace.
Zhang Tie replied with a smile as he accepted Elder Muray's punch frankly, "Elder Muray is becoming more vigorous with age. I was told that Elder Muray was killing bloody figures in Tongzhou Province these days, I've not imagined that you could come back!"
"Your return is the biggest thing for Huaiyuan Palace. We have to put aside other things no matter how important they are. This one must be Miss Bai. This one…" Elder Muray said after glancing at Bai Suxian and Zhang Gui's faces.
The other elders of Huiayuan Palace must have known Bai Suxian's identity; even if they didn't, they must have heard about that. However, Zhang Gui was a bit strange to them. Because Zhang Gui had been following up Zhang Tie in an obedient manner the moment he flew off the airboat with Zhang Tie, the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace thought that he was a powerhouse on Bai Suxian's side. However, after observing him carefully, they found that this black iron knight behind Zhang Tie was fully obedient to Zhang Tie.
"This is Zhang Gui, my subordinate…" Zhang Tie introduced Zhang Gui to the other elders. Zhang Gui revealed a smile towards the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace silently.
At this moment, Zhang Tie's prophetic vision was manifested. If Zhang Gui still maintained his original look as an earth knight and called himself this old slave, these elders of Huaiyuan Palace would feel very embarrassed and the atmosphere would be in an impasse.
"Nice to see you, Count Long Wind and the others elders of Huaiyuan Palace, I'm Bai Suxian!"
Being different than Zhang Gui, Bai Suxian greeted all the others of Huaiyuan Palace in an elegant manner.
After knowing the identity of Bai Suxian, nobody in Huaiyuan Palace dared give themselves airs in front of her. Therefore, all of them returned their salute to Bai Suxian.
"It's Huaiyuan Palace's great pleasure to have Elder Mushen back. It's chilly here. We will talk about it in the airboat!" Zhang Taixuan who had been watching Zhang Tie silently finally opened his mouth.
They all nodded as they flew towards the two airboats dispatched by Huaiyuan Palace.
Zhang Yang was standing on the deck of the airboat in a black mink coat and watching Zhang Tie and the others flying back. Although it seemed to be easy for knights to fly in the sky, commoners could only wait in the airboat on such an occasion.
"You two wait for me in that airboat. I have something to negotiate with the clan head and the other elders!" Zhang Tie told Bai Suxian and Zhang Gui as he pointed at his elder brother's airboat.
Of course, Zhang Gui followed Zhang Tie's order. Bai Suxian also replied, "Hmm" in a pretty docile way before flying towards Zhang Yang's airboat.
Watching the princess of Lord Guangnan's Mansion being so obedient to Zhang Tie like his wife, the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace exchanged weird glances with each other. Zhang Taixuan threw a profound glance at Zhang Tie too.
Zhang Tie told Zhang Yang something in a secret way before boarding on Zhang Taixuan's airboat with Zhang Taixuan and the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace. After they boarded on the airboat, the Iron-Dragon Airboat turned around and flew towards Fire Dragon Territory. The two airboats of Huaiyuan Palace then flew towards Yanghe Prefecture.
…
With the arrival of Zhang Tie, the clan head and all the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace, this conference room immediately became the decision-making center of Huaiyuan Palace.
After the door of the conference room was closed, causing a sound "bang", two lineal powerhouses of Huaiyuan Palace guarded outside the door. Closely after that, the atmosphere in the conference room started to become official.
"I know that clan head and all the other elders have many doubts. Now that I've already come back, you can ask whatever you want!" Zhang Tie said frankly.
"We're not doubting your identity. But Zhang Yang has not clarified something. All the elders and clan head are just curious about that!" Elder Muyuan pretended to cough twice slightly, "As Elder Mushen has not come back for a few years, considering the current catastrophe of bloody figures, please confirm your bloodline!"
Zhang Tie threw a glance at the bloodline testing crystal that he had seen in the Ancestral Bloodline Palace. Closely after that, he took it and pierced one finger by the pointed end of the crystal, allowing one drop of blood to fall onto the bloodline crystal. Watching the blood in the bloodline crystal becoming berserk and giving out strong, dazzling glow, all the elders at present let out a long sigh. They exchanged a glance with each other before nodding at the same time.
"Elder Mushen, please don't mind it. When clan head returned home from the Earth-elements Realm, he also accepted the test of the bloodline crystal under the gazes of all the other elders. As it's concerned about the safety of the clan, there's no exception." Elder Muyuan explained.
"It's okay. I understand it. If not pass this test, even I would not feel reassured!" Zhang Tie replied as he waved his hand. After confirming his identity, the small wound on Zhang Tie's finger healed automatically in a split second. Zhang Tie glanced around before asking, "You must want to know how I I became Cui Li and promoted to an earth knight in a short period."
"We indeed want to know how did Elder Mushen became Cui Li and cheated all the people across Taixia Country over these years. As for how Elder Mushen promoted to an earth knight in a short period, as it's involved with your secret method, if Elder Mushen doesn't feel like telling us, you don't need to tell us about that!" Elder Muyu opened his mouth.
As for how Zhang Tie became Cui Li, as it was involved with the confirmation of Zhang Tie's identity, they couldn't be careless about that; as for how Zhang Tie promoted to an earth knight, as it was Zhang Tie's privacy, he was not obligated to expose it to the other elders. Elder Muyu's words indicated the fairness of Huaiyuan Palace. Zhang Tie also nodded inside.
"Elders, you must remember that pupil-changing bloodline that I've manifested in front of you. This pupil-changing bloodline is just the preliminary stage of a more senior immortal bloodline. After fully awakening this immortal bloodline, I could even change my hair, eyes, look and figure…" Zhang Tie said as he started to change his body under the gaze of all the other elders at present. In the blink of an eye, he had incarnated into Cui Li while his body change had reached the maximal endurance capacity of his garments.
"Have you seen it clearly?" Zhang Tie asked in Cui Li's voice. After that, he gradually incarnated to his original look.
The conference room became quiet while all the elders of Huaiyuan Palace became dumbfounded. Zhang Taixuan looked shocked. They had heard that shadow demons could incarnate into humans; however, they had not seen any human incarnating into another one casually. Without the bloodline test, some elders would have taken Zhang Tie as a shadow demon and fought him at the sight of this scene.
Under the amazed looks of all the others, Zhang Tie directly took out a brilliant water-element crystal from his portable space-teleportation equipment and absorbed it at the fastest speed…