1687 - 1693
Chapter 1687: Dragon Emperor City
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
One week later, all the 70-odd airboats of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace finally arrived at Dragon Emperor City, the core city of Dragon Emperor Realm on April 7th, the 3584th year of Calendar of Emperor NvWa in Motian Realm after passing by so many air zones and Brokenstars Ocean for over 20 days.
At the sight of Dragon Emperor City, Zhang Tie had been shocked by the high building of immortal palace which was higher than 10,000 m.
For a time, the dense airboats in the sky almost reminded Zhang Tie of the scene that he had seen in Xuanyuan Hill. Undoubtedly, it was the largest city and most populated region that Zhang Tie saw since he came to this world. This place was definitely much more prosperous than that of Heavenly Square City.
"Are we in Dragon Emperor City?" Zhang Tie asked Leng Manxue.
"Yes, in Motian Realm, Dragon Emperor City is a large city with over 100 million population. Very few cities could have so many people!" Leng Manxue explained as she nodded. Closely after that, she turned around and asked Zhang Tie, "What do you feel about it?"
"Hmm, not bad, not bad!" Zhang Tie replied in a perfunctory way.
To be honest, after visiting Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie was not interested in any large cities anymore. No matter how large and prosperous these cities were, they could not match Xuanyuan Hill which was the center of all humans in that world.
"As the immortal city of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, of course Dragon Emperor City is not bad…" Leng Manxue replied as she was not satisfied with Zhang Tie's perfunctory reply.
Zhang Tie just smiled while all the other immortal generals in the command module nodded.
"Oh, General Deacon Leng, where are we settling down in Dragon Emperor City? I don't think any branch of immortal palace is available to us here…" Liu Yong scratched his head as he asked Leng Manxue straightforwardly, which was rightly the common concern of all the others.
After hearing Liu Yong's question, all the other immortal generals exchanged a glance with each other.
Leng Manxue became hesitant for a few seconds before answering, "We're here for registration. As for the details, it depends on the arrangement of the superiors. After all, besides us from Heavenly Square City, there should be many immortal generals from other cities…" Leng Manxue raised her voice after a pause, "But don't worry. No matter what, you will at least get your monthly compensation. Your rank in the immortal palace would not drop either!"
"Ah, it means we might separate from each other. Couldn't we…" Liu Meng asked.
"After entering the immortal palace and becoming the immortal generals of the immortal palace, you have to follow the order of the superiors…" With this voice, Huang Baimei in black robe entered the hatch door of the command module leisurely.
"Head Huang…" All the others paid their tribute to Huang Baimei.
Nodding, Huang Baimei looked around. After looking at Zhang Tie's brilliant face for a second, he turned to Liu brothers, slowing his tone, "It's really uneasy for us to return to Dragon Emperor Realm from Heavenly Square City safe and sound. Factions that violate the will of the immortal palace is forbidden here. As long as we could live well, we would reunite sooner or later. Remember! Don't talk to others about it in the public anymore.
"Yes, sir!" Liu Meng promised in a low voice.
"I've already received the signal from the ground. Send signals to the following airboats, let all of them park there…" Huang Baimei looked at the airport in the distance as he waved his hand towards the pilot behind him, sending an order.
…
Twenty minutes later, Zhang Tie's group saw over 30,000 people getting off their airboats. After taking an ID card, a bottle of water and a piece of dried rations respectively, those people were carried away by vehicles driven by giant beasts being similar to lizards with the guidance of people in deacon's clothes.
Being different than Zhang Tie's group, although those commoners were vacant after getting off their airboats, most of them were full of prospect. Additionally, those deacons received them in Dragon Emperor City politely. Their vehicles were not shabby either. Everything was in order.
After these people arrived here safe and sound; instead of being involved in his event, Zhang Tie finally became reassured.
"Guess what head is talking about with that man?" Liu brothers silently approached Zhang Tie as Liu Yong asked Zhang Tie using his battle qi. Meanwhile, he threw a glance over there.
After getting off the airboats, only two immortal generals of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace received Zhang Tie's group. One was a solemn old man in white beard and triangle eyes who looked tense. There were nine silver lines in dragon pattern on his sleeves like that of Huang Baimei. The other was a female who looked a bit kinder. Her rank was as same as Zhang Tie, namely VII rank with silver dragon pattern. However, she was just an earth immortal general.
It looked a bit distant. Leng Manxue took Xun Zizhou and that female immortal general with VII rank in silver dragon pattern to hand over the materials and the household registration data of those commoners that they brought from Heavenly Square City. Huang Baimei was talking about something with the old immortal general using battle qi. As a result, none of Zhang Tie's group knew what they were talking about except Zhang Tie.
Zhang Tie looked over there as he found that Huang Baimei's tender smile disappeared after a few seconds of talk. With a slight frown, Huang Baimei's face turned solemn. However, that old man just took it as a public task as his face remained unchanged from the start as if Huang Baimei owed him thousands of element crystals.
"How do I know what they're talking about?" Zhang Tie rolled his eyes to Liu Yong, causing Liu Yong to smirk bashfully while stroking his nose.
However, in fact, Zhang Tie had heard every detail of their talk. As long as it was within the sphere of Zhang Tie's spiritual energy, there would be no secret for him.
"General Manager Yu, couldn't we further negotiate it? I remember it was not like that before…"
"Head Huang, please forgive us. Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is not as rich as before. As for these fresh immortal generals, the immortal palace has made its utmost efforts to pay them 10 element crystals per month. Everything is in short in Dragon Emperor City now. Additionally, you're not the only immortal generals who evacuate to Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Many people are waiting for the arrangement of elders. Therefore, please wait for a few more days. It would be fine when Head Huang finishes your work report and all the others get their new jobs…"
"When will I make my work report to the Church?"
"Head Huang, you could settle down your subordinate immortal generals first. After the Church became free, they would notice you!"
Chapter 1688: The Reality
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Not until all the 30,000-odd people left the airport did Huang Baimei, Leng Manxue and Xun Zizhou who had handled with the procedures come over here.
Even being composed, Huang Baimei still didn't look good.
When Huang Baimei was approaching Zhang Tie, Liu brothers had been pushed aside by Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin. The two women were asking funny questions, which made Zhang Tie embarrassed.
"What did you eat these days?"
"Do you take care of your skin?"
"How do you make yourself look younger?"
Zhang Tie said he ate nothing; nor did he take care of his skin or know some method to make himself younger. However, the two women still watched him out of suspicion.
"Liar, these days, I feel you look much better day by day while your skin looks increasingly brighter. If you don't eat something or have some recipe for skin-care, how could your skin improve even better than mine and xin? You see, we take care of our skin every day!" Ji Yuelan pouted her mouth as she looked at Zhang Tie.
Zhang Tie indeed looked different these days. However, it was definitely not caused by improving his state of mind. In fact, Zhang Tie assimilated almost half of the wind chakras of the red and blue devils and promoted to four change realm of a shadow knight. On April 1, Zhang Tie even slipped into Castle of Black Iron for the fruit of brilliance.
After promoting to four change realm of a shadow knight, Zhang Tie's overall strength was strengthened once again, including his speed, physical strength, defensive ability and spiritual energy. The fruit of brilliance that he took contained all the spiritual energy of the two heavenly knights, which caused a sharp increase in Zhang Tie's real spiritual energy. As a result, the brilliant light in his mind sea and his state reached a new height generally; especially Zhang Tie's spiritual energy. These days, Zhang Tie gradually sensed that his real spiritual energy was silently penetrating downwards from his mind sea like invisible water every day, which lubricated Zhang Tie's muscles, organs and cells as a whole. As a result, Zhang Tie experienced subtle changes all over.
Take his skin which was admired by Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin as an instance, Zhang Tie's skin gradually turned as smooth and bright as jade as if it was giving out a brilliant light. Especially for women, who doubted that Zhang Tie was using a secret recipe for skin-care.
Skin change was external which could be seen by people; by contrast, some changes could only be known by Zhang Tie himself. These days, Zhang Tie felt his bones all over being joined with each other firmly, his tongue redder, teeth whiter, defensive ability higher while his hands, feet, shoulders, back and abdomen appearing being softer. What was more, Zhang Tie felt his saliva was turning sweeter and fresher. His mouth felt fresh and fragrant every day. Zhang Tie was even obsessed with swallowing his own saliva.
Without exaggeration, Zhang Tie felt he was becoming more and more handsome these days whenever he looked into the mirror.
"One's look comes from one's heart? Really? What a fresh saying!" Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin exchanged a glance with each other as they started to believe in Zhang Tie's words.
"Trust in me. As long as you stick to it, after a period of time, you would yell about your beautiful look in your dreams. I yelled about my beautiful look in my dream every day!"
"Nonsense!" Ji Yuelan who had pouted her mouth finally revealed a big smile; even Jiang Ruoxin chuckled while covering her mouth by hand; meanwhile, she threw a pleasant glimpse at Zhang Tie. They always felt relaxed and pleasant being with Zhang Tie. Even if they knew Zhang Tie was talking nonsense, they still felt it was funny.
Zhou Baifei was chatting with Lu Tianqiang and Liu brothers as he threw a glimpse over here every once a while. Zhang Tie directly ignored him.
Watching Huang Baimei walking towards them, Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin didn't ask Zhang Tie anymore as they hid their smiles, turning solemn. At the same time, Zhou Baifei, Lu Tianqiang and Liu brothers also approached them.
"Ahem ahem, head, have you handed it over?" Zhang Tie asked Huang Baimei, although he had long known the result.
"The followers from Heavenly Square City will be properly arranged. They've already built a new area outside the city. These followers from Nine Heavens Big Domain would soon resettle in the new residential area, restart their lives and join the immortal palace over here. Dragon Emperor City is complex in many aspects. We need to live in Dragon Emperor City for a period of time. As you've just joined Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, your identities would be officially registered in the headquarters of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in Dragon Emperor City. After that, your titles would be fixed. Let's leave here now. They've already arranged a residential area for us…"
After leaving these words, Huang Baimei left the airport, followed by the others.
When Zhang Tie exited the airport, he looked back and saw people from the headquarters of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace carrying crates of treasures that the branch of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in Heavenly Square City confiscated from Zi Clan Castle, who had stored hundreds of years. The moment those crates were unloaded, they had been sealed and carried away. The two immortal generals who had talked with Huang Baimei and Leng Manxue just now were gazing at those crates, leaving the immortal generals from Heavenly Square City alone.
'They're keeping wealth rather than people. How ironical it is!'
Zhang Tie sighed as he shook his head inside.
After hearing the complete talk between Huang Baimei and that person, Zhang Tie faintly felt that Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace might face more serious problems than he could imagine. However, it had nothing to do with Zhang Tie for the time being. Therefore, Zhang Tie didn't care about it…
…
Outside the entrance of the airport, a deacon of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace was waiting for them with a vehicle. Watching them coming out, he respectfully invited them to get on the vehicle.
The vehicle was driven by the commonest animal in Motian Realm——flying lizard.
After realizing that they would take the same vehicle; instead of riding a flying lizard respectfully, they were all amazed except for Zhang Tie. However, watching Head Huang getting on the vehicle ahead of them, all the others just exchanged a glance with each other before getting on the vehicle with Huang Baimei.
Being clean inside, it contained four rows of seats, each row for three people. However, it was far less than being luxurious. It was a popular traffic tool for the public, which was just a bit better than vehicles driven by ordinary lizards. Rich and privileged ones would ride flying lizards independently.
After getting on the vehicle, Zhang Tie found a seat casually. Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin were both next to Zhang Tie while Jiang Ruoxin neighbored the aisle.
Liu brothers were behind Zhang Tie.
"That's too mean. Couldn't Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace prepare a flying lizard for each of us? We two brothers have not taken a vehicle for long!" Liu Yong couldn't stand complaining about it to Zhang Tie using his battle qi the moment he sat down.
As Huang Baimei was also sitting in front of them, Liu brothers dared not complain it to Huang Baimei.
"Haha, it's fine. Better than having no vehicle. I'm afraid that the immortal palace wants to take us all to the residential area in case we get lost. You're a man, don't be so narrow-minded!" Zhang Tie replied.
Liu Yong then became silent. Among so many people in the immortal palace, Liu brothers admired Zhang Tie the most. Although Zhang Tie had not lost temper at them, the two brothers would always take his order.
"Head, could we go now?" the deacon turned around as he asked Huang Baimei through a little window.
"Yes, please…" Huang Baimei nodded.
"Hmm, watch out, we're setting off…"
With a sharp whipping sound, the vehicle started to move at a medium speed…
Zhang Tie then enjoyed the streetscape of the Dragon Emperor City through the window.
"What did you say to Liu brothers!" Ji Yuelan asked Zhang Tie.
"They were complaining that the immortal palace is mean!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile.
"I notice it too. Do you feel that Head doesn't look good…"
"Hmm, I'm afraid that Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace doesn't live well recently. But it's none of our business for the time being. Just take care of ourselves…"
"Haven't you seen that? All the 100-odd crates of treasures that we confiscated from Zi Clan Castle might have been taken away…" Ji Yuelan asked out of fury, "It's you who swept over Zi Clan. The others don't know about it; however, Head should know about it. According to your meritorious deed, you should at least share 20% of the booties. How could they directly take away all the booties without your consent? Even Head doesn't mention about it!"
"Haha, it's a little treasure. As immortal generals, we don't need such treasures!" Zhang Tie replied in a perfunctory manner.
The red and blue devils must have done a lot of evil things in Motian Realm these years as the number of treasures in their space-teleportation finger rings shocked Zhang Tie too much. By contrast, Zi Clan Castle's accumulation of wealth was just an odd of that in the space-teleportation finger rings of red and blue devils. Of course, Zhang Tie didn't care about such a bit of loss.
"Humph, you're so generous. But even immortal generals couldn't just live on element crystals…" Ji Yuelan continued to complain about it…
Chapter 1689: Concerns Facing Dragon Emperor City
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The vehicle driven by the flying lizard was not heading for the prosperous core region of Dragon Emperor City, but a village outside the city.
It took them about 2 hours to arrive at a manor at the foot of a mountain in the east of Dragon Emperor City at dusk by the wonky vehicle.
The manor was very large. Leaning against a high mountain, it was facing a village with a river in between. It was the suburb of Dragon Emperor City while a large area of farmlands was neighboring that village.
After getting off the vehicle, they were all stunned by the manor and the wisps of smokes that rose from some households in the village on the opposite of the river.
At the same time, an old man was passing by with a herd of sheep on the path leading to the manor, leaving so many fresh excrements which were like black pine nuts.
With a different state of mind, Zhang Tie felt that everything here was interesting; instead of feeling embarrassed at all. By contrast, given Liu brother's looks, Zhang Tie almost burst into laughter. They were like travelers being cheated by illegal guides.
A stern water immortal general within a dragon pattern of seven red threads in white robe was standing on the stairs outside the manor and waiting for Huang Baimei's group, hands on his back. Although he had seen them get off the vehicle, he didn't mean to approach them; instead, he just threw a glimpse at them.
"Head Huang, it's Flyingdragon Manor, if I'm not needed here, I better get going…" The humble deacon bade farewell to Huang Baimei.
"Hmm, thanks!" Huang Baimei forced a genial smile towards this deacon, adding, "How are those wind immortal palaces doing in Dragon Emperor City?"
"Don't you know about that, Head Huang? It's said that those wind immortal palaces in Dragon Emperor City have been sold to the Emperor NvWa Palace by the church…" The humble deacon wanted to speak more; however, after taking a look at that person in white robe, he stopped. "As for others, Head Huang would know it after staying in Dragon Emperor City for a period of time…"
"Thanks!"
"See you!"
The deacon then drove away. After taking a look at the others, Huang Baimei entered the gate of the manor, followed by the others.
"Are you Huang Baimei's group from Heavenly Square City of Nine Heavens Big Domain?" That person didn't stop talking until Huang Baimei's group came to his front.
"Yes!" Huang Baimei replied calmly.
"Follow me then!" That person turned around and entered the manor, followed by Huang Baimei's group.
"These days, you will be living in Flyingdragon Manor. The daily lifestyle here is nothing different than that in the immortal palace. Two meals a day, right in the canteen of the manor. No food after noon. Each one of you will have a room. New immortal generals should especially bear in mind the awards and punishment rules in the immortal palace. Anyone who dares violate the rules would be punished two times more severely! In addition, some immortal generals from other domains have already lived in Flyingdragon Manor. Brawl is forbidden between immortal generals here. Once being found, you would be severely punished." that person said coldly as he turned around and looked around the others with a warning. After noticing the silver dragon pattern of seven threads at Zhang Tie's wristbands, he slightly frowned.
"General Deacon Leng, where does this scumbag come from? Why do I feel like we owed a lot of money to him in our former lives…" Zhang Tie asked Leng Manxue using his battle qi.
"Supervision Department!" Leng Manxue answered Zhang Tie straightforwardly.
'This is the Supervision Department?' Zhang Tie shook his head. 'No wonder he's cold to everyone else.'
At the sight of Huang Baimei's group, all the servants in the manor hurriedly moved aside, waiting there and showing their respect to them. They didn't raise their heads and return to the aisles until Huang Baimei's group passed by.
Watching their deeds, Zhang Tie knew that it was even more hierarchical in Dragon Emperor City than Heavenly Square City.
They were soon led to a courtyard by the person in white robe. The moment they entered it, they had heard broken sounds from a room along with one's curse, "What the f*ck is this place? There's not even a single cultivation room. This father didn't join Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace to suffer from this mistreatment, nor did I come here to take others' orders. Damn it! We've been here for five days; however, we've not even got a job. Besides 10 element crystals a month, we got nothing else. What the hell does that mean? If I knew that Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace was such a sh*t place, I would never have joined it…"
At the same time, a fierce immortal general with whiskers slammed his door forcefully and left there, coincidentally encountered with Zhang Tie's group. When he caught sight of the immortal general in white robe from the Supervision Department, he became stunned at once.
The immortal general in white robe looked straight into that person's eyes distantly as he scolded, "As you've ruined properties of the immortal palace, you need to pay tens times more for that. The fine would be deducted from your monthly compensation. As you've already joined the immortal palace, if you betray the immortal palace, even if you survive the damage of the bloody pledge, you would not survive the chase of the killers dispatched by Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace!"
After saying these words, the immortal general in white robe ignored the fierce immortal general directly as he led Zhang Tie's group through this courtyard and came to a neighboring courtyard, leaving that fierce immortal palace standing still with a flush, feeling being put on the spot.
After penetrating through this courtyard and detouring around a pond, they came to their own courtyard.
Their courtyard was neither large nor small. Covering 1,000 square meters, it was composed of two storeys and over 10 rooms. There were a lush huge tree and a pond in the courtyard. A butler was waiting there. After leaving some words to the butler and having the butler give a key to each of Zhang Tie's group, the person in the white robe had left.
Playing with the key in hand, Zhang Tie slightly shook his head. Commoners could live in such a courtyard; however, it was really improper for immortal generals to live here as immortal generals needed the secret environment for cultivation. This courtyard didn't have any isolated or preventive measures at all. Therefore, nobody would feel reassured entering cultivation here. As long as they were disturbed in cultivation, they might be possessed by devils. No wonder that guy with whiskers lost his temper.
"Zhang Tie, come to my room. I've got something to talk with you!" Before Zhang Tie returned to his room, he had heard Huang Baimei's voice; therefore, Zhang Tie followed Huang Baimei to his room.
At that time, Zhang Tie saw Zhou Baifei, who got his key first, catch up with that immortal general in white robe outside the courtyard and talk to him with a big smile.
Of course, Zhang Tie was crystal clear about the contents of their talk even if he didn't want to eavesdrop it.
As Zhang Tie listened to the talk between Zhou Baifei and that person in white robe, he entered Huang Baimei's room.
"Take a seat…"
After entering the room, Huang Baimei took a glance at the room before sitting down ahead of Zhang Tie.
"Head Huang, go ahead if you have something to talk with me…" Zhang Tie smiled as he sat beside Huang Baimei.
Huang Baimei took a look at Zhang Tie, feeling sorry about him. After being silent for one second, he started the talk using his battle qi, "The current situation facing Dragon Emperor City is out of my expectation. I just heard about it. The five elders and two grand justices of the Church are all busy cultivating so that they could promote to supreme immortal generals as soon as possible. Therefore…therefore…the atmosphere in Dragon Emperor City is a bit…a bit subtle…"
Zhang Tie asked with an amazed look, "Head, what do you mean by 'subtle'?"
"The five elders and two grand justices are all fire immortal generals. As long as one of them could promote to a supreme immortal general within one century, that person would become the immortal king and inherit everything of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace!"
Zhang Tie acted like he finally understood it as he replied, "Oh, I see. Head, you mean the relationship between the five elders and the two grand justices are not harmonious…"
"Alas, who could imagine that Dragon Emperor City would deteriorate to such a situation in such a short period of time!" Huang Baimei sighed as he added, "Last year, Dragon Emperor City was still fine. The relationship between the five elders and the two grand justices was not such intense yet. They were still working together for the sake of the immortal palace. However, during the past one year, the Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace has changed a lot. You're smart, you know what I mean!"
"I see!" Zhang Tie let out a sigh too. 'As the dragon emperor is missing, it would be strange if Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, being such a large organization, was not a mess.' Zhang Tie thought that the semi-sage knights in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace might have long started a fight if not being threatened by demons and being afraid of being shared by the other forces of immortal palaces. The action that Star Emperor Immortal Palace occupied Biyao City of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace was the last straw that broke the camel's back. The external stress led to the basic stability and divisions inside Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Those elders and grand justices had their own plans. Even if they didn't start a brawl in the public, as they were all striving for one title, it was impossible for Dragon Emperor City to run smoothly…
"I've not reported what you've done in Heavenly Square City to the Church. Previously, you should share those booties; however, if I told the truth to the Church, you might have trouble. Therefore…"
"Thanks for your concern, head, it's just a bit otherworldly wealth. It's meaningless to me. Just let the bygones be bygones. I would not care about it!" Zhang Tie said sincerely as he understood Huang Baimei's concern. Additionally, Zhang Tie didn't want to expose what he had done in Heavenly Square City to the public. As too many people were competing inside Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace and peoples' hearts were most complex and unpredictable, in someone's eyes, what Zhang Tie had done might be good; however, the others might not think so.
"Glad to hear that!" Huang Baimei smiled, feeling reassured, "I got the right man!"
"Previously I wanted to develop my undertaking in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. It seems that Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is facing a more complex situation than I had imagined!" Zhang Tie said with a bitter smile, "Now that Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is facing such a poor situation and didn't welcome us, why did they determine to recruit more immortal generals in Nine Heavens Big Domain?"
"Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is unstable. Previously, according to the Church, they wanted to recruit some more immortal generals so as to train a big formation of thousands of immortal generals after Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace contracted its force for the safety of the Dragon Emperor Big Domain. However, Elder Shi who masters the foundation of the big formation changed his opinion these days. As the other elders disagreed with him, they couldn't make a decision; therefore, it's a bit disordered in Dragon Emperor Big Domain now!"
Zhang Tie shook his head as he asked, "Head, are you ready to join those elders and the two grand justices? I'm afraid that someone you know would come for you earlier than tomorrow…"
After hearing Zhang Tie's words, Huang Baimei quivered slightly as he watched Zhang Tie with sparkling eyes. Zhang Tie just watched him with a smile. The room became pretty quiet at a stroke.
After a short while, Huang Baimei hid his sparkling eye light as he revealed a bitter smile, saying, "It seems that you know everything. Would you believe that if I told you I don't know either?"
"Of course!" Zhang Tie nodded as he added, "Head, you should belong to the centrist that were loyal to the Dragon Emperor before. You always kept a distance with those elders and the two grand justices. Otherwise, they would not dispatch you to Heavenly Square City which was far away from Dragon Emperor Big Domain for so many years. Facing the complex situation inside Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, I understand why head couldn't make a decision!"
"What would you do if you were me?" Huang Baimei asked Zhang Tie.
"On this occasion, if you choose to rely on an elder; of course you would be taken care of by that elder's force. Meanwhile, you would be repelled by the other elders. If you don't join any of them, you wouldn't offend anybody; nor would you be favored by anyone. If I were you, head, I would choose the second way. I don't care about them. I just do as same as before!"
"Why?"
Zhang Tie revealed a disdainful smile, replying, "They just care about profits. None of them could promote to a supreme immortal general after Dragon Emperor disappeared for 900 years. None of them could defeat the others and integrate the entire Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Even if all of them promoted to supreme immortal generals in 100 years, they would also be defeated by immoral emperors. By following them, people wouldn't see a bright future. If so, why do we waste our time keeping them company? Why not jump out of this circle and find a place for cultivation. Just reply to yourself! Even if you prepare to rely on someone in the future, you should find someone with a prospect. At least, you will look clean in their eyes at that time!"
Zhang Tie's words shocked Huang Baimei for quite a while. After a few seconds, Huang Baimei asked Zhang Tie, "Now that you don't look good at Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, why did you join it?"
Zhang Tie shrugged, saying, "It's a coincidence. Heavenly Square City was the first city that I visited after losing my memory. As everything was strange to me, I just joined the branch of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in Heavenly Square City. It's not bad to join an organization. I have not thought about getting anything from Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. If I came to Heavenly Square City a few days later, I might have already joined Unicorn Immortal Palace. If I came to Biyao City at that time, I might have already joined Star Emperor Immortal Palace…this might be God's will!"
"What if Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace disappears in 100 years…"
"So what? Without Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, the immortal generals in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace wouldn't have to die for Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace; they would have other chances. Other immortal palaces would be founded in Motian Realm, and would assume their own responsibilities, fighting demons. Isn't it good? It's always better for human elites to fight demons under the leadership of talented ones than incompetent ones. A herd of sheep under the leadership of a lion is always more aggressive than a herd of lions under the leadership of a sheep!" Zhang Tie shrugged as if he didn't care about anything, continuing, "After all, the current situation facing Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is not caused by me. Those who should be responsible for it is Dragon Emperor or the Church. If the Dragon Emperor didn't disappear and the Church was not incompetent, Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace would not face such a poor situation. I don't feel sorry about it at all. I just live up to my monthly compensation and consciousness!"
Huang Baimei watched Zhang Tie, shaking his head, then nodding before revealing a bitter smile, "Whatever, I've promised you to recommend you to the Supervision Department. When I make my work report to the elders, I would fulfill my promise!"
"Just let it be��"
One minute later, watching Zhang Tie close his door, Huang Baimei was slowly in meditation as he murmured, "Just let it be…would such a person really lose all of his memory…"
…
When Zhang Tie left Huang Baimei's room, Zhou Baifei had returned to the courtyard. At the sight of Zhang Tie, Zhou Baifei turned solemn at once as he returned to his room!
'What a weirdo!'
Zhang Tie pretended to not know about it. On the way back to his room, Zhang Tie saw Jiang Ruoxin pulling Ji Yuelan out of the latter's room with a blush. Ji Yuelan didn't look good either.
"What's up?" Zhang Tie asked out of curiosity.
"We couldn't live in such a broken house…" Ji Yuelan lost her temper. At the sight of Zhang Tie, she instantly grabbed Zhang Tie's hand, saying shamelessly, "Whatever, we two would not live in such rooms. I'm afraid that General Deacon Leng would not live here either. As the deputy head, you have to solve this for us!"
"Ahh? Is there a cockroach, rat or something else disgusting inside the room?" Zhang Tie took a cursory glance at Ji Yuelan's room as he continued, "But I don't see any!"
"Alas, you don't understand…" Ji Yuelan stomped her feet.
After taking a look at Jiang Ruoxin who slightly blushed and hearing the splashes of water from Liu Yong's room, Zhang Tie understood it at once——erm, the reason is a bit ridiculous. Although they had their own rooms, all the men in the courtyard could hear clearly about those girls' "songs" in their own rooms given the sharp auditory sense of knights. It was so embarrassing!
Zhang Tie realized that Jiang Ruoxin might have not discovered this problem at the beginning; however, when she prepared to "sing a song", she suddenly felt something wrong. Therefore, she stopped it with a bashful look…
After thinking through it, Zhang Tie burst into laughter at once.
Chapter 1690: Doing It Ourselves
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
The lobbyist arrived faster than Zhang Tie could imagine.
Zhang Tie didn't even enter his room in the Flyingdragon Manor. When Zhang Tie, Jiang Ruoxin, and Ji Yuelan were leaving Flyingdragon Manor with Liu Yong and Liu Meng, they saw an aged, gentle immortal general with elegant bead getting off his flying lizard and was asking a butler of the manor about something at the entrance.
"Has Head Huang's group from Heavenly Square City of Nine Heavens Big Domain arrived here?"
"Yes; they have arrived just now…" Watching the silver dragon pattern of 8 threads on the old man's wristbands, the butler almost bowed his head to the ground.
"Head Huang is my old friend. Quick, show me the way…"
"Yes, sir; please come with me…"
When that visitor encountered Zhang Tie's group of 5, he revealed a smile at them. Zhang Tie also nodded towards him. After that, they passed by each other silently.
After leaving Flyingdragon Manor, Liu Yong whispered, "Ah, that man…"
"Hahaha, he's a friend of Head Huang. He must be paying a visit to his old friend!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile.
"How do you solve the problem?" Ji Yuelan continued to care about the housing.
Zhang Tie smiled as he pointed at that village on the opposite of the river, saying, "It's not far from Flyingdragon Manor. We will know it right away over there if something happens here. Let's go to that town and renovate a house!"
"You can renovate a house?" Jiang Ruoxin asked as he took an amazed look at Zhang Tie. If Zhang Tie said he could kill people, the two women would never doubt him; however, it was really unbelievable that he could renovate a house. Even Liu brothers watched Zhang Tie in an unimaginable way.
"You will see it!" Zhang Tie smiled. After exchanging a glance with each other, Liu brothers and the two women all became curious as they urged to go there with Zhang Tie.
However, Zhang Tie didn't feel strange about their response; because the professions in Motian Realm were sharply different than those in the world where he came from. There was no coal or petroleum in Motian Realm; neither could steam engines or powerful machines be invented here. Perhaps people here didn't think about developing those things which appeared useless. Generally, there was no common ground between engineers, common workers and immortal generals. By contrast, rune instrument master shared common grounds with engineers, common workers and knights in Taixia Country. At the low level, rune instrument masters would make a lot of things that were closely related to common lives. Even a rune instrument master was not a professional engineer, after promoting to an immortal craftsman, a rune instrument master could almost make everything that he saw using metals. On this occasion, it was a piece of cake for an immortal craftsman to act as an engineer and renovate a house.
After passing by the river, the group of five came straight to the village along the flagstone pavement on the riverside.
After staying with each other and executing tasks for so many days on the airboat, those women were getting along well with each other and almost became good sisters. Previously, Jiang Ruoxin and Ji Yuelan wanted to call Leng Manxue to go together with them; however, they remembered that Leng Manxue had already left Flyingdragon Manor the moment she arrived.
With over 600 households, this village was full of apricot blossoms. There was a large apricot wood on the hillside on one side. As it was close to Dragon Emperor City, villagers lived well. There was even a small shrine in the village. On the side neighboring an avenue of Dragon Emperor City, there were some hostels for travelers from all walks of life. Across the village, there were 20-30 households which looked nice. Outside the village, some courtyards looked pretty nice; those who lived in there might not be local villagers. After circling around the village for a while, the group of 5 focused on a new courtyard.
Being built on the riverside, that courtyard in shape of the Chinese character "目" covered over 2,000 square meters. It was over 600 m away from the public road towards Dragon Emperor City, with an apricot wood in between. Therefore, it looked pretty tranquil. Two bluestone trails were connected to the village and the public road.
After knocking at the gate, they waited there for half a minute before an old servant opened it. He took a look at the group of 5. When he noticed their special costumes of the immortal palace, the old servant instantly lowered his body to show his respect.
After acknowledging their purpose, the old servant became stunned for a second as his smile became more passionate. He then hurriedly invited them in and called out the slightly fat master in brilliant silk clothes.
"Are you introduced by Head Huo of the village's shrine?" the master asked them out of curiosity.
"No!" Zhang Tie replied as he shook his head with a smile.
"Ah? If you're not introduced by Head Huo, how did you know I was going to sell this house?" the master asked as he became more curious.
"It's a coincidence. We've just arrived at Dragon Emperor City today and are living in Flyingdragon Manor. Because it's a bit inconvenient over there, we would like to buy a courtyard in the nearby. As your courtyard looks decent and is tranquil in the surroundings, we especially came here to ask whether you want to sell it or not!" Zhang Tie talked with the owner of this house as Ji Yuelan, Jiang Ruoxin and Liu brothers watched from aside.
The master took a look at Zhang Tie, then Jiang Ruoxin, Ji Yuelan and Liu brothers, then Zhang Tie again as he instantly understood it and nodded hurriedly, "It's true; it's true. I've been told that many immortal generals of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace came back from other domains these days, you must feel inconvenient living with the other immortal generals as you have wives and concubine and guards. However, my courtyard has recently been built at a high cost. I've just started living in it. Previously, it was built by my son for me. However, in the late couple of months, I urgently needed money because of business; otherwise, I would not sell it. Look at the furniture in the house, they're all of the top quality. I don't plan to remove these pieces of furniture anymore. The pond, the rockery and the woods took me too much time and money…"
Ji Yuelan and Liu brothers didn't even change their face when they heard the master's words. Ji Yuelan even glanced at Jiang Ruoxin. Jiang Ruoxin even pinched Ji Yuelan stealthily with a blush.
"It's okay, how much do you want?"
After watching Zhang Tie for a while, the master gritted his teeth before answering, "At least 620 purple crystal coins…"
Zhang Tie directly took out an earth element crystal and put it on the table, saying, "I've not brought so many purple crystal coins. You must have seen the world and know what is this. This item is far more valuable than 620 purple crystal coins. How about exchanging your house with this element crystal?"
Goggling at the element crystal on the table, the master screamed, "Are you…are you sure?"
"Sure…but I need you to move out as soon as possible. We will live in tonight. As it's not far away from Dragon Emperor City, you could have someone take you to the downtown to your son. Is there any problem?"
"No problem, no problem. I could rent a flying lizard from the hostel on the roadside. If not, I could live in the hostel for one night…"
"That's the deal…" Zhang Tie smiled as he gave the earth element crystal to that master…
…
Only after 10 minutes, an old servant of that master had already rent a flying-lizard vehicle and pulled over outside the gate of the courtyard. After loading on the master and some packages that his two servants had prepared, he drove away happily.
Referring to the contract, Zhang Tie jostled down a list of items and gave it to Liu Yong, telling Liu brothers to rent two mounts from the hostel and inquire about the stores and markets where they could buy these items. Liu brothers were asked to come back as soon as possible.
Taking Zhang Tie's list, Liu brothers hurriedly left.
"How did you know he was going to sell this house?" Ji Yuelan asked as she widely opened her eyes.
"It's a coincidence, more like God's will!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile. After that, he started to take a tour of the house.
This house was indeed a new one. Nobody had lived in it before. It's proper to renovate it. Additionally, the furnishings inside the courtyard were not luxurious. With a small bridge over the pond, a rockery, green willows and red flowers, it was pretty tranquil.
In over 2 hours, the night fell when Liu brothers came back with an assistant by two flying lizards full of loads.
The vehicles were full of items, which were rightly what Zhang Tie had jostled on the paper——building materials, including iron sheets, copper wire, golden lacquer, silver sheets, lead foils and some processing tools.
Under the gaze of the other 4, Zhang Tie adroitly used those tools. On a worktop, he extended a roll of an iron sheet before tailoring it into a vivid image of blossoms by a pair of scissors which could be pasted onto the wall. After fixing the image onto the wall, Zhang Tie dipped golden lacquer by brush and touched it on the image. In a split second, a bizarre rune appeared as it became alive; closely after that, it lurked in the image…
"The skill of runes…" Jiang Ruoxin, Ji Yuelan and Liu brothers were startled at the same time.
Zhang Tie turned around and took a look at Liu brothers, saying, "What are you staying there for? Give me a hand. Measure the size of those stone bricks on the floor of rooms and toilets and cut those copper wire into sections as long as the diagonal line of those stone bricks. I will use them after a while…"
After that, Zhang Tie told Jiang Ruoxin and Ji Yuelan, "You two cut those lead foils into the shape of stone bricks…"
Not until then the did the four people wake up.
…
Four hours later, the first renovated room was completed.
After Zhang Tie's renovation, the common room became an artwork. The walls and floor had been covered with thin iron sheets in the shape of flowers which carried three-dimensional effect, leading to a bizarre space themed by a park. After being processed, those dead metals became completely alive. The perfect allocation of colors and those patterns that Zhang Tie drew on the walls were exceptional.
Of course, those metals were not only for a good look or aesthetic effect. The runes that lurked in those metals had made this room a private space that couldn't be peeped in from outside.
No matter what, Zhang Tie was an immortal craftsman. Even though not too many rune skills were applied in renovating this room, numerous people would queue up to live in such a room in Taixia Country.
Watching such a grand room, Jiang Ruoxin, Ji Yuelan and Liu brothers were shocked too much that they couldn't utter a voice for quite a while. They could never believe that this perfect room was renovated by Zhang Tie if they did not watch him do that.
Especially Jiang Ruoxin and Ji Yuelan, who felt this room was more like a piece of delicate jewelry.
"Time limit, I couldn't demolish the walls and add something inside. Therefore, this is the best that I could do for the time being. With these furnishings, the effect of privacy and safety inside the room would be a bit better than that of our hatch rooms on the airboat. It's enough. Additionally, I've set some runes of recovery inside the room. As a result, people would sleep well inside it. It's also suitable for cultivation. I've already improved the lock and the fixed structure of the door, it becomes firmer now. This room belongs to me. It's a template. If you have any suggestions, just let me know. I will make a better one for you!"
After exchanging a glance with each other, the two women uttered in unison, ���What? Your room? It's our room. Go, go, go…"
Before Zhang Tie and Liu brothers made any response, they had been pushed out of the door by Jiang Ruoxin and Ji Yuelan.
With a loud sound "bang", the three men looked at each other outside the door…
"Boss…" Liu brothers changed their appellation to Zhang Tie as they rubbed their hands and watched him with fawning smiles, continuing, "Look, they've got one. We brothers are not inconvenient in Flyingdragon Manor either, how about…"
Zhang Tie then let out a sigh, saying, "Alright, I owe you!" Closely after that, he turned solemn, adding, "But here's the deal, your room won't have so many flowers. Additionally, you two will live in one room. I don't have time to make one room for each of you!"
"Hehheh, we know, we know, just make it a bit private so that we could sleep a bit better!"
"Which one do you want?"
The two brothers then pointed at a room far away from here in another courtyard, saying, "That one!"
"Hmm, but I will make it in the end. I have to make one for General Deacon Leng and me respectively first. Am I clear?"
"Clear, boss, you could make it whenever you're free!"
…
Zhang Tie was busy for one night with the help of Liu brothers.
When the day broke, Zhang Tie had already completed the renovation of two more rooms, one for Leng Manxue, the other for Zhang Tie himself.
Watching the room of his own, Zhang Tie heaved a sigh satisfactorily…
'No matter how long would I stay in Dragon Emperor City for nothing, I finally got a place to take fruits and promote to five change realm of shadow knight.'
'Flyingdragon Manor is too populated and disordered. What is more, it is far from privacy and safety. On April 1st, I only took the fruit of brilliance. It took me more than one day to fully assimilate it. There're still a lot of fruits on the small tree. Half of the new wind elements have not been refined and integrated yet. On this occasion, I couldn't hide somewhere for one fruit in each half month. If I always do that, intentional persons like Zhou Baifei might find my loopholes. That would not be good!'
'Therefore, the best way is to stay in his eyes. As long as I close my door, he would not know what I'm doing inside….'
When Zhang Tie was renovating his nest not far from Flyingdragon Manor, he didn't forget about noticing the talk between Huang Baimei and his "old friend".
As was imagined by Zhang Tie, that visitor was on behalf of Elder Xiong, one of five elders of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace.
What surprised Zhang Tie was that Huang Baimei refused Elder Xiong's olive twig…
Chapter 1691: The Five Change Realm of Shadow Knight
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
When the last geometric patterns of the 189th scale of Zhang Tie's wind chakra were lit, the long-awaited familiar feeling came to Zhang Tie again.
A wholly new green feather-shaped seed rune of King Roc Sutra flew out of Zhang Tie's chest, namely the core region of his chakras. After breaking Zhang Tie's scalp, it suspended above Zhang Tie's head while giving out brilliant light, covering Zhang Tie as a whole.
Under the brilliance of this marvelous rune, all the surging points over Zhang Tie resonated again while each surging point gave out strong light. At the same time, bizarre runes flew out of Zhang Tie's surging points one after another. Zhang Tie then felt being surrounded by stars.
Zhang Tie had experienced the following scene for many times——the battle qi in his qi sea started to surge like a tide. At the same time, battle qi started to pour out of his surging points as a whole, which looked like wells at the seaside. After that, the spiritual energy in his mind sea flew off his central forehead like a waterfall and poured into his surging points as a whole in a split second. They combined with his battle qi and turned into bizarre energy, which lubricated his surging points a whole and brought new changes to his surging points all over.
The changes facing his surging points appeared to be opening a marvelous door for him as four elements in the elements realm started to appear out of void beside Zhang Tie before pouring into the star-studded runes, making them more brilliant. Each rune was corresponding to a surging point. Only after a short while, battle qi, spiritual energy, four elements and those runes flying out of surging points had wrapped Zhang Tie like a huge egg.
In the huge egg, all the cells, organs and the 987 surging points, the void above his mind sea and qi sea were growing "modestly".
This was the amazing feather of an emperor-level secret method.
The "modest" state was named by Zhang Tie himself. To be honest, he didn't know how to describe that state. He just felt his body was wholly new in that state. Everything was a new start but not like that. When he recalled the old Hua saying——being proud we would suffer a loss; being modest we would benefit ourselves. Zhang Tie named this state as "modest" as modesty helped people to make progress and pride made people lag behind. Undoubtedly, Zhang Tie would make great progress in each "modest" state.
…
After almost 10 hours, Zhang Tie finished "hatching" himself as the huge egg shattered and disappeared in the form of light rain. Zhang Tie didn't open his eyes at once; instead, he slowly sensed the endless wholly new strength and the wind chakra in his body. After realizing that he could light about 7 scales after assimilating all the wind elements of red and blue devils, Zhang Tie felt pretty satisfied as he opened his eyes with a smile.
Zhang Tie was now in his room Apricot Blossom Courtyard that he bought on the riverside of Flowingblossom River in Apricot Blossom Village.
Compared to that of Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin, Zhang Tie's room was evidently cruder. In his room, there was no decoration of flowers and grasses; instead, there was a huge pyramid-shaped metal frame between the floor and the beams in his room. The huge metal frame just covered the room like a huge pot cover, being connected with many odd-looking rune metal plates and grids over the floor and walls, making it a post-modern cage full of masculinity. It was far from being aesthetic. However, its sound-isolation effect was much greater than that of Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin.
After settling in this courtyard for six days, Zhang Tie finally silently promoted to the five change realm of shadow knight today.
In the stage of shadow knight, he reached two changes higher within one month, which accounted for 1/5 of the total process of this stage. Such a speed would startle a lot of people if it was exposed to the public.
After cleansing himself in his room and dressing himself up, Zhang Tie came to the front of the door and opened it. He was then shocked by the beautiful scene again…
It was still dark outside; except for a faint orange color in the eastern skyline. The fields surrounding the courtyard was full of croaking frogs and twitters of insects. Besides, he heard a gurgling stream of the Flowingblossom River. Meanwhile, he heavily inhaled the fresh and spiritual aura in the air.
These days, although there was no battle in the city, Zhang Tie had heard a lot of hidden contests as he became clearer about the things in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace.
Zhang Tie would know some things even if he didn't want to know at all. The contraditions between the five elders and the two grand justices had been exposed to the public in the city. Zhang Tie could easily learn it only by traveling across Flyingdragon Village spiritually every day whenever he was free like an onlooker in a teahouse listened to others's private chats in their private rooms; even something that he shouldn't know.
More batches of immortal generals settled in Flyingdragon Village these days. With their arrival, lobbyists came to Flyingdragon Village one after another. Three batches of lobbyists had already paid a visit to Huang Baimei. Without exception, all of them were refused.
There were totally 11 villages like Flyingdragon Village, all of which were crowded with new immortal generals who had just joined Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace and evacuated from Nine Heavens Big Domain and the others domains. Most of these immortal generals were like new members of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. The total population of new immortal generals who joined Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace was 1247, including 1047 fierce immortal generals, 187 earth immortal generals and 13 water immortal generals. Zhang Tie was one of the 13 water immortal generals.
The 1247 new immortal generals had become the fat that all the five elders and two grand justices would like to take.
However, because of the special administrative system of the immortal palace, all the new immortal generals would be affiliated to their own branch head. Namely, branch heads influenced their subordinates pretty much. As a result, the seven powers focused on drawing in those branch heads…
When the hidden forces in the city were surging fiercely these days, Zhang Tie leisurely promoted to five change realm of shadow knight in the courtyard beside farmland in Apricot Blossom Village…
Chapter 1692: Watching Sunrise
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"Morning…"
After taking a deep breath of the fresh air for a few times, Zhang Tie met Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin who were already well dressed in his courtyard. He greeted them.
"Don't you remember what you're going to do today?" Ji Yuelan asked him while blinking her eyes as Jiang Ruoxin gazed at Zhang Tie with her beautiful eyes too.
The longer they stayed with Zhang Tie, the more they felt confused about Zhang Tie. They couldn't see through him at all. In Heavenly Square City, he drew out his sword and killed so many immortal generals of Star Emperor Immortal Palace out of fury and exterminated Zi Clan in Heavenly Square City. Outside Dragon Emperor City, he renovated a courtyard in Apricot Blossom Village as a rune instrument master, being free from the contradictions between immortal palaces. A few days ago, he flirted with Ji Yuelan like a veteran, being pretty romantic and Bohemian. Lately, although he lived in the same courtyard with them, he became a gentleman and treated the two girls politely; instead of harassing them. He could really understand the demands of women and take care of them well. As a result, Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin appreciated him pretty much; despite they didn't say it.
Such a man was like a fog, fire and ice. He was full of irresistible attraction to women. During the short period of time, Ji Yuelan had been fully fascinated by him. Even if Jiang Ruoxin who intended to keep a distance with Zhang Tie gradually became open-minded and treated Zhang Tie as her reliable friend, revealing another side.
"Haha, of course not. Ladies, haven't you agreed to climb the mountain together with me and experience the marvels in my daily life?" Zhang Tie said with a smile like a waiter in a hotel, adding, "If ladies like it, I could show the way to you. This way please, ladies…"
"Show us the way then. If you're diligent and take care of us well, I will let this girl on my side give you a big award!" Jiang Ruoxin joked as she took a look at Ji Yuelan.
"That's great. I'm sure two ladies will enjoy it!" Zhang Tie promised as he hurriedly paced up to open the gate of the courtyard.
The two girls smiled at each other before leaving the courtyard after Zhang Tie.
"As we're out together, why don't you give him an award instead?" Ji Yuelan couldn't stand complaining to Jiang Ruoxin using battle qi behind Zhang Tie.
"Isn't it what you dream for? You can directly express your love to him. Let's see whether he would marry you or not." Jiang Ruoxin answered.
"Humph, if I marry him, buy-one-get-one-free, you're a gift!"
"Dare you!"
"Humph, let's see it! Don't you always dream about having a larger breast? How about letting him knead it for you. Besides being an award, it could also make your breast larger!"
"Nonsense!" Jiang Ruoxin flushed at once as she stealthily pinched Ji Yuelan.
"Ahem ahem…ladies, how do you feel about the scenery outside the courtyard?" Zhang Tie finally couldn't stand interrupting their "private" talk. If not, he would feel like making a crime.
"Hmm, not bad…" Ji Yuelan said perfunctorily.
"Along this trail, we could go straight into the mountain on the riverside…"
…
The courtyard was located on the riverside. A ridge unsurfaced rod along the river could lead straight to the depth of the mountain. The road was not broad; however, it was pretty firm. Although the day had not broken, it was fine for immortal generals to walk on it.
These days, Zhang Tie got up early every day to climb the mountain so as to watch the sunrise on the top of it. After that, he would return to the courtyard. Lying on the sling chair beside the pond, he would leisurely read books for 4-5 hours; meanwhile, he practiced the two bizarre energies in the void using his spiritual energy. Not until the others went to bed in the evening did he sit on the bed for cultivation and forming chakra. He was not anxious at all.
If not being leisure and comfortable, one would not sense the pleasure of mountain climbing. As for Zhang Tie, mountain climbing was not for strengthening his body; precisely, it was for improving his state of mind. After coming to Motian Realm for over one month, Zhang Tie had improved his overall strength greatly constantly. Lately, he even promoted to two changes realm higher and lit half of his wind chakra. With five changes realm higher, he would promote to a heavenly knight. This might be ecstatic for others; however, Zhang Tie could always stay calm on this occasion so that he could look everything around and his own cultivation process in a common state of mind.
To improve one's state of mind was supplementary to the progress of one's overall strength. Without a strong state of mind, one could barely master a powerful overall strength. Zhang Tie had long realized it before.
The tender grasses on the riverside were exuberant with some dew on them. After a short while, their garment corners and hemlines had been wet partly. Listening to frog croaks among grasses and water flows and sensing the great vigor of everything in the early morning, they gained a special taste like commoners, step and step forward.
As for Zhang Tie, he was not lonely on the way, not to mention that two beauties kept him company.
The mountain beside Apricot Blossom Village was called Flyingdragon Mountain. Being not dangerously steep, Flyingdragon Mountain had gorgeous scenery. With dense woods, it was pretty tranquil. Besides farming work, villagers at the bottom of the mountain always herded sheep, collected traditional Chinese herbal medicines or hunt on the mountain. For many years, many trails had been created that led straight to the depth of the mountain from the foot of the mountain. After coming here for a few times, Zhang Tie had been familiar with this terrain. Therefore, it took them less than one hour to arrive at the location where Zhang Tie usually watched the sunrise while talking and laughing with each other.
When they arrived at the top of the mountain, the gloomy skyline had been broken while the sun was going to come out.
It was on the top of a peak behind the peak where Flyingdragon Manor leaned against. It was higher than 1,000 m, from where people could get a bird's-eye view of Flyingdragon Manor and Apricot Blossom Village. In the distance, it was Dragon Emperor City. This place rightly faced the east while undulating hills could be seen. A pile of boulders formed a disorderly and open platform here, which was surrounded by natural pits, holes and cracks between boulders. It was a nice place to watch the sunrise here. Zhang Tie took the two girls to a small platform connecting two boulders.
"Ah, do you always come here to watch the sunrise?�� Ji Yuelan asked as she looked around and nodded, "You're really smart. It seems that very few people come here!"
"Hahaha, few villagers at the foot of the mountain feel like watching the sunrise every day. As for the immortal generals in Flyingdragon Manor, all of them think they're something. They are only interested in element crystals, cultivation methods and greater overall strength or being outstanding in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Very few of them would like to waste time watching the scenery which they could actually see every day." Zhang Tie explained with a smile.
"Why are you here then?" Jiang Ruoxin fixated onto Zhang Tie from afar as she asked sharply, "Don't you like element crystals, cultivation methods and greater overall strength? Don't you want to be the most popular and the most powerful one in the immortal palace?"
"Yup, don't you want them?" Ji Yuelan asked too.
"You bet!" Zhang Tie nodded without demur.
"If so, why do you feel free traveling mountains and rivers and watching the sunrise here every day? Don't you know that many immortal generals in Flyingdragon Manor are finding reliance in Dragon Emperor City these days for their future? Even immortal generals couldn't be otherworldly in some aspects!" Jiang Ruoxin continued.
Although it sounded like a question, Jiang Ruoxin was actually "warning" Zhang Tie euphemistically. There was one immortal general that met Jiang Ruoxin's description beside them——Zhou Baifei. Zhou Baifei was pretty active these days. He didn't stay in Flyingdragon Manor all day long; instead, he roped in people and found his reliance in Dragon Emperor City every day. Nobody knew what he was busy doing. According to Zhou Baifei, he knew someone in the city.
"Because I'm not like them."
"Why?"
Zhang Tie made a face at once, saying, "Because, even if I don't find those things, they would come for me. I could choose them. I don't need to worry about that!"
After hearing Zhang Tie's words, the two girls became slightly stunned. Watching Zhang Tie smiling at them, they thought Zhang Tie was joking about his future; for a time, they felt like beating him fiercely.
Ji Yuelan finally couldn't stand it as she said, "Don't you know that over 10 water immortal generals join Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace this time. Additionally, the elder sand grand justices of the immortal palace are not harmonious with each other. Even though being a water immortal general, you might not get any benefit in the end…"
"It's fine. I feel good now…" Zhang Tie shrugged.
"You…"
Zhang Tie suddenly made a "hush" gesture. Closely after that, he pointed at east. The two girls turned around as they saw a fiery arch in the eastern skyline while the morning glow tinted the entire sky as if it caught fire.
For a time, the wind blew by; the three people became quiet as they were immersed in such fabulous scenery…
…
When the sun fully rose, the three people were all bathing the first wisp of sunlight. At that time, even though they wanted to continue the former topic, they had lost the atmosphere. When Zhang Tie wanted to say something, he suddenly felt a vibration on his crystal plate. It was Huang Baimei who was calling for them. Ji Yuelan and Jiang Ruoxin received the notice at the same time…
Chapter 1693: Whose Bait
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Within a few minutes, all the immortal generals of the branch of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in Heavenly Square City had arrived in the parlor of the courtyard where they lived in Flyingdragon Manor, including Leng Manxue who had disappeared for a few days.
Since the room was renovated by Zhang Tie, Leng Manxue had not moved in. Zhang Tie didn't even talk to her about that.
After coming to Dragon Emperor City for one week, Zhou Baimei was called to report his work to the elders of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in Dragon Emperor City yesterday. However, today, Zhang Tie couldn���t see anything abnormal on Huang Baimei's face.
By contrast, Zhou Baifei couldn't hide his satisfaction even if he wanted to stay calm.
"You're all here. Take a seat!" Huang Baimei was much more easy-going than before. "I reported my work to the five elders in Dragon Emperor City yesterday. They have already agreed to my resignation!"
Huang Baimei's message made everyone at present transfixed.
Zhang Tie took a look at Leng Manxue who was glassy-eyed. Zhang Tie couldn't see any happiness on her face. It might predict something.
"Ah? Head Huang, why do you resign?" Liu Meng asked straightforwardly.
"As the branch of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace in Heavenly Square City has disappeared and there're not enough vacancies for branch heads in Dragon Emperor Big Domain, my title of branch head is meaningless. Therefore, I prefer to resign!"
"How do the five elders arrange you, head?" Zhang Tie as the deputy branch head asked Huang Baimei.
Even the branch head had proposed to resign, Zhang Tie felt more tasteless being the deputy branch head, despite he didn't care too much about this identity.
"I've requested a new title from them. I will go to the Blacksilver Snow Mountain in the northernmost part of Dragon Emperor Big Domain as an ascetic cultivator so as to prevent demons. The Church has already agreed!"
As Huang Baimei replied, Zhang Tie had already visualized the map of Dragon Emperor Big Domain in mind. It was a sparsely populated barren land in the northernmost of Dragon Emperor Big Domain. Being an ascetic cultivator over there was equal to staying far away from the pivot of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. It was like being banished. Was there any demon? Of course not. Because the army of demons would prefer the south or the west of Dragon Emperor Big Domain rather than going to the wild north after taking a very roundabout way where even a bird would grudge taking a sh*t in. There was no major target for demons over there at all.
The others preferred to avoid from such a wild place; however, Huang Baimei requested to go there voluntarily. Amazingly, those elders agreed with him. Watching Huang Baimei's calm look, Zhang Tie became complex inside as he didn't know whether he should be happy or sad about him.
"After I resign it, you're not my subordinates anymore. From now on, if the immortal palace wants to dispatch you to do something, they don't have to ask me. You could choose your own way freely. Of course, as new immortal generals, your basic compensation that has been promised by the immortal palace would remain unchanged!"
After hearing Huang Baimei's words, people at present looked different. A complex light flashed by Leng Manxue's eyes. By contrast, an ecstatic look flashed by Zhou Baifei's face.
The title of branch head was absolutely a key title in the entire administrative system of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. It connected the high-end immortal generals with the low-end immortal generals. Branch heads could make arbitrary decisions. Without the consent of branch heads, even though the Church couldn't deliver orders to subordinate immortal generals directly. In other words, branch heads were like overbearing lords who could rule one region.
As for those lobbyists who came to Flyingdragon Manor lately, as long as they could move Huang Baimei, they could move his subordinates like Zhang Tie, Ji Yuelan, Jiang Ruoxin, etc.. As long as Huang Baimei agreed at the risk of his life, his subordinates had to follow him wherever he was. It was the authority of a branch head, which represented the interests of the class of branch heads and the tradition for the succession of all the immortal palaces in Motian Realm. Even the Dragon Emperor would not easily break this rule and tradition by challenging the class of branch heads, not to mention the Church.
Huang Baimei's resignation meant the disappearance of the constraint of his subordinates. Therefore, those lobbyists who once wanted to rope in Huang Baimei might come for his subordinates. As his fresh subordinates had no reliance in the immortal palace, it was the right moment for those elders and grand justices to cozy up to them at the minimal cost.
If elders and grand justices were on the same page, it was meaningless for them to rope in branch heads' subordinates; instead, they only needed to deliver the transfer orders. The branch heads' subordinates could only take it. However, as elders and grand justices had their own considerations for the sake of profit, competitions were inevitable. As a result, they started such a ridiculous thing.
"Before the resignation, I met Elder Shi the head of Immortal Generals Department yesterday. He talked about you to me. He said you might get acquainted with his disciple. Therefore, Elder Shi wanted to transfer you to the Immortal Generals Department. He even asked me whether I agreed with him or not. I agreed. Therefore, you might receive your transfer order in a couple of days…" Huang Baimei said as he watched Zhou Baifei.
The others at present immediately fixated onto Zhou Baifei. Liu brothers even despised him. After hearing Huang Baimei's words, the others finally knew what Zhou Baifei was doing these days. Before Huang Baimei's resignation, Zhou Baifei had started to find his reliance so as to leave Huang Baimei's camp. That was really a mean behavior!
Zhou Baifei's pleasant look stagnated as it recovered soon, "Head Huang, please forgive me. As Brother Shaopeng is my bosom friend, after knowing that I've joined Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace and come to Dragon Emperor City, he talked to his master about me. Elder Shi is kind-hearted!"
"Of course, Elder Shi is kind-hearted!" Huang Baimei replied with a smile as he stayed calm, adding, "Immortal Generals Department is one of the five major departments of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Of course, it's good for you to go to the Immortal Generals Department. Although you're not my subordinate anymore, I still hope each of you could have a bright future!"
"Thanks, Head Huang!" Zhou Baifei cupped his hands before being silent.
"I've already recommended you to Elder Xia the head of the Supervision Department!" Huang Baimei said as he watched Zhang Tie seriously.
Zhang Tie revealed a bitter smile as he shook his head, at a loss of what to say.
"Well, given your future, I have to tell you about that. There were recruitment announcements for immortal generals outside each of the five major departments of Dragon Emperor City, if you have any intention, you could go have a try. As for the future, it depends on you…" Huang Baimei said as he waved his hand towards them. All the others left after exchanging a glance with each other, except for Zhang Tie.
When everyone else left, Zhang Tie smiled as he started the talk with Huang Baimei using his battle qi, "I've not imagined that Head Huang could be so decisive. I really admire you!"
"What you said that day really moved me a lot. Previously, I didn't belong to any party of the five elders and the two grand justices. It would be shameless if I went for one of them at this moment. Additionally, I didn't want to do that at all. As an immortal general, I always put cultivation first. It might be a good thing for me to leave this dangerous place!" Huang Baimei smiled as his words sounded a bit desolate. Among those immortal generals in the Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, besides Leng Manxue, only Zhang Tie could talk with him about that.
"Head Huang, have you heard about the fable The Old Frontiersman Losing His Horse ?"
"No!"
Zhang Tie then told the story to Hung Baimei vividly. As this story didn't happen in Motian Realm but in Taixia Country, Huang Baimei was instantly fascinated by this story.
"Thank you so much. After hearing your story, I feel much better. This time, I might be the frontiersman, hahaha…" Huang Baimei burst into laughter.
"Perhaps Head Huang would realize soon how correct your decision is!" Zhang Tie said with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. As I was traveling outside these days, I couldn't help thinking about what I would do if I were the demon emperor and knew the internal situation facing Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, doing nothing or doing something?"
Huang Baimei deeply frowned at a stroke as he asked, "What do you mean?"
"It's a method to let Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace solve its internal contradictions itself; but the result of this method might be that one of the five elders and two grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace might promote to an immortal king within 100 years and lead Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace to its heyday once again. Then, that person would promote to an immortal emperor faster with the resources of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. It's the risk of facing demons. If demons take action at this moment, they could at least split up Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace and destroy one opponent in advance with the contradictions between human immortal palaces!" Zhang Tie said as his eyes sparkled, being far away from being casual.
"Impossible!" Huang Baimei exclaimed.
"Of course it's possible!" Zhang Tie smiled, revealing his white teeth, which Huang Baimei felt gloomy, saying, "If I were the demon emperor, I only need to dispatch some powerhouses to kill the five elders and two grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, even by myself. As long as the five elders and the two grand justices were killed, Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace would perish itself. As a result, the other human immortal palaces might fight each other for sharing Dragon Emperor Big Domain. Demons could make us chaotic internally. Why not? Therefore, it might be wise for you to leave Dragon Emperor City on this occasion…"
Huang Baimei was transfixed completely. Being limited to his position and insight, he had almost not thought about that…
In many cases, one's overall strength and position determined how far he could see.
Huang Baimei felt muddle-headed as he sprung up and intended to leave.
"Elder Huang, you've just resigned yesterday and determined to be an ascetic cultivator. If you go to tell those elders and grand justices that they might become the targets of demons and would face dangers, do you think they would believe you? What would they think of you?" Zhang Tie sighed as he continued, "They would never appreciate you; instead, they would only feel that you're insulting them and mocking at their short-sightedness and greed and threatening them for your maximal profit. As long as they're alive, they would hate you and mock you and treat you as the sore in their eyes. If it happens and it proves that you're right, they would first kill you; instead of fighting demons as long as they survive it. As for the reason, Head Huang, what if they frame you for colluding with demons? If not, how did you know demons' plan?"
After hearing Zhang Tie's warning, Huang Baimei instantly became froze as his foot had already stridden out of the threshold.
After half a minute, Huang Baimei hardly turned around as he returned to his seat, throwing himself onto his seat with a bitter look. He then watched Zhang Tie as if it was his first time to see him, saying, "Wh…why did you tell me this?"
"Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace is a human force. As a human, I don't want to see my friend die for idiots. Is it enough?" Zhang Tie explained as he shrugged.
"Erm, what about you? What's your choice?"
"Me? Of course, I'll stay in Dragon Emperor City!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile.
"Why? Why don't you leave?"
Zhang Tie then watched Huang Baimei with a solemn and righteous look, saying, "As a human, of course, I should do something for humans. If there's really such a day, I'd like to avenge for the elders and grand justices!"
If Zhang Tie said it previously, Huang Baimei might have believed him; however, Huang Baimei didn't believe in him at this moment because Huang Baimei faintly felt that Zhang Tie was waiting for demon powerhouses in Dragon Emperor City… In Zhang Tie's eyes, the elders and grand justices in Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace might be his bait for demon powerhouses…
It was such a weird and shocking feeling that Huang Baimei even doubted that there was something wrong with his brains.
"D…did you really lose your memory?" Huang Baimei asked him.
"Ah, Head Huang, that reminds me. I have a headache again. What did I say just now? Ah, ayaya, why I couldn't remember it. Head, do you remember it…" Zhang Tie suddenly watched Huang Baimei with an innocent look as he stroked his head.
Huang Baimei became speechless…