Chapter 1144: Head Clan
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"Ahh, Childe Cui, what happened to you?"
On the next early morning, when Zhang Tie finished feeding birds with a basin of wheat which had been soaked in water overnight and came back from the manor of Lord Guangnan in Xuanyuan Hill, he met Uncle Zhong. At the sight of Zhang Tie, Uncle Zhong was amazed.
Zhang Tie's look remained unchanged; however, his qi and temperament had improved a lot after taking that fruit of brilliance which contained too much spiritual energy, grasping the flight ability as a divine dominator, plus promoting his immortal rune skills to higher levels.
As a knight, Uncle Zhong had very sharp knight's consciousness. Additionally, Uncle Zhong could see Zhang Tie these days; of course, he could sense the great change of Zhang Tie. Over one night, Uncle Zhong had sensed that Zhang Tie's eye light grew more profound with brighter skin as if a vigorous light of life was flowing inside his body; additionally, Zhang Tie's qi as a whole grew steadier like a mountain. Furthermore, an invisible strength was surging silently in the calmness. Any knight could sense that invisible stress as long as they approached Zhang Tie.
Uncle Zhong didn't know what happened to Zhang Tie; however, he was sure that Zhang Tie had experienced a great change last night. Therefore, he became amazed, 'Did Childe Cui grasp a secret method overnight? It's too fast!'
Zhang Tie revealed a smile as he relieved Uncle Zhong's doubt in one sentence, "Last night, I broke through a bottleneck on cultivation. Uncle Zhong really has a good insight!"
Zhang Tie's words were partly true. Besides Zhang Tie himself, nobody would know the details.
After hearing that Zhang Tie had broken through a bottleneck on cultivation, Uncle Zhong revealed a facial expression as if he was saying, "I see". Although Uncle Zhong still wondered what bottleneck, after being broken through, could lead to such a great change, he wouldn't ask about the details as the bottlenecks of secret methods that knights cultivated were one of the largest secrets of knights. They would not even tell their relatives and disciples about that, not to mention outsiders.
"Childe Cui, you're really a talent. Lately, Miss told me that Child Cui had reached the supreme situation that could integrate weather with your fist position. Childe Cui, I've not imagined that you could break through your bottleneck once again only after coming to Xuanyuan Hill for a few days. Given your age, Childe Cui would definitely promote to a heavenly knight sooner or later. I really feel happy for you, congratulations!" Uncle Zhong praised Zhang Tie sincerely.
"Hoho, I'm just too lucky, I'm just too lucky!" Zhang Tie said modestly as he touched his bald head.
As a knight, of course, Uncle Zhong knew how difficult it was for a knight to break through a realm. When Zhang Tie came to Xuanyuan Hill at the beginning, Uncle Zhong showed respect to Zhang Tie given the relationship between Bai Suxian and him; as he gradually understood Zhang Tie, this diligent and loyal old man of Lord Guangnan's Mansion sincerely respected Zhang Tie now. 'He's really a nice son-in-law. He's qualified to match Miss. No wonder Miss could behave so tamefully in front of him. He could promote to an earth knight at such a young age; win an airboat from Feng Yexiao, one of the top grand elders of Taiyi Fantasy Sect and be rewarded with a bounty land in Earth-elements Realm. It's said that he's even younger than Miss. Given his current performance, he's destined to promote to a shadow knight in the near future. It's reasonable for him to promote to a heavenly knight sooner or later.'
'How many heavenly knights are there in Taixia Country? A heavenly knight could keep a top major clan in Taixia Country safe. Childe Cui must have a limitless potential. Miss really has a good insight.'
"Aww, Childe Cui, I've had people figure out what you wanted to know yesterday..." Uncle Zhong said as he took out a card and gave it to Zhang Tie, "Here's the address of Immortal Farming Pavilion..."
After taking the delicate card, Zhang Tie threw a glance at it before saying, "It's also in Gold and Power Market?"
"Gold and Power Market is one of the most prosperous residences in Xuanyuan Hill. Numerous companies gather here, including Immortal Farming Pavilion. Childe Cui's requirement could only be met by Immortal Farming Pavilion besides the seed bank of the Agricultural Department. If we were in the south border of Taixia Country, Lord Guangnan could have people collect all the seeds for you; however, the quantity of plants in the south border of Taixia Country is limited and can't meet Childe Cui's requirement. Additionally, the seed bank of the Agricultural department is not open to the public. By contrast, it would be easier for us to get sufficient seeds from Immortal Farming Pavilion as long as we could afford it!"
"What's the background of Immortal Farming Pavilion?"
"The reliance of Immortal Farming Pavilion is Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace in Taixia Country. Herbal Medicine Palace is a top clan in Taixia Country, also the widely accepted head clan of people surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country. Many disciples of Jiang Clan have awakened the ancestral bloodlines of Immortal Farming Clan. They are born to have an affinity with plants. Jiang Clan is also doing various businesses about plants. 20% of the total medicines in big pharmaceutical factories, drug stores and Taixia Pharmacists Union come from Jiang Clan. Almost 1/3 of the seeds in the 6 warehouses of Class A cities across Taixia Country come from Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace..."
After hearing Uncle Zhong's words, Zhang Tie took in a deep breath, '20% of the total medicines in big pharmaceutical factories, drug stores and Taixia Pharmacists Union come from Jiang Clan. Almost 1/3 of the seeds in the 6 warehouses of Class A cities across Taixia Country come from Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace. What a business! It might be so-so in a small country or a subcontinent; however, it is in Taixia Country which contains so many Class A cities. Any demand would be astronomical. If a clan could account such a high percentage in such a huge market, it must have a great power.'
The so-called head clan referred to the top clan of a family name. For instance, Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace was the head clan widely accepted by people surnamed Jiang. It indicated that all the clans surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country would follow the order of Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace; namely, Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace was the representative of all the people surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country. Sometimes, what the head clan of people surnamed Jiang expressed could represent the opinion of all the people surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country. If Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace held large-scale campaigns such as sacrificial rites in shrines, all the influential figures across Taixia Country surnamed Jiang would arrive. The Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace could enjoy the blessing of all the people surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country. Any head clan would definitely have a great position and influence.
Theoretically, the number of head clans across Taixia Country should be equal to that of family names. Actually, not each family name across Taixia Country could have a head clan. A head clan had to meet the following three conditions; first, someone in this clan should awaken the most powerful and typical heavenly-level even Immortal-level ancestral bloodline of their own ancestors and could reappear the glory of their ancestors; additionally, this bloodline could be inherited generation by generation in the same clan; second, this clan should have an overwhelming influence and power among all the other clans of the same family name; if a lonely person or someone in a small family awakened the most powerful and typical ancestral bloodline, of course, their clan could not become a head clan; third, the clan should win the identification of those major clans and those influential figures who shared the same family name with them. Only after meeting the above three conditions could a clan become a head clan. It would take a clan dozens of years' hard efforts to become a head clan.
The first condition explained why many major clans across Taixia Country such as Huaiyuan Palace would value bloodline inheritance so much. Because ancestral bloodlines were the core of the cohesiveness and influence of a clan and stairs through which a clan could reach a higher position.
Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace was the head clan of people surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country. However, there was not a head clan for people surnamed Zhang across Taixia Country. It didn't mean that Zhang Clan in Taixia Country couldn't match Jiang Clan in influence and position. As a major family name in Taixia Country, people surnamed Zhang definitely outnumbered people surnamed Jiang across Taixia Country. Actually, Zhang Clans had the greatest population in Taixia Country. Top Zhang Clans also accounted for a greater percentage than other clans among the top clans in Taixia Country, such as Tianlu Palace, Guanying Palace and Bairen Palace. Any top Zhang Clan could match Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace. Because there were too many major Zhang Clans across Taixia Country, it was hard for them to select a head clan.
If Tianlu Palace wanted to be the head clan of people surnamed Zhang, Guanying Palace and Bairen Palace would not agree for sure. Similarly, if Guanying Palace or Bairen Palace wanted to be the head clan, Tianlu Palace would not agree either. None of them could overwhelm the other two; therefore, people surnamed Zhang Tie didn't have a head clan. However, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that the reputation of the head clan was almost the ultimate target of those top Zhang Clans in Taixia Country.
——Without grasping an emperor-level secret cultivation method, a major clan would never become the royal households of Taixia Country. However, if a major clan, especially a major clan of a major family name could become a head clan, they would be able to influence hundreds of millions of people of the same family name across Taixia Country; enjoy the reverence of people of the same family name across Taixia Country and make their ancestors illustrious and their descendants honorable. They would definitely be on the equal footing with the royal households of Taixia Country as the most prestigious ones. Although they were not imperial clans, they could definitely match imperial clans.
Chapter 1145: Immortal Farming Pavilion
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
"Is this Immortal Farming Pavilion?"
2 hours later, walking with Zhang Tie on a street of Gold and Power Market, Bai Suxian turned around and watched the Immortal Farming Pavilion with full of curiosity in his eyes.
The street was not the main road of Gold and Power Market. It was a bit reluctant to call it a street; precisely, it was more like a slightly spacious lane.
Compared to the bustling people on the other streets of Gold and Power Market, this place was relatively quieter. Although this street was not wide, because vehicles and mounts were forbidden in Gold and Power Market, even the minister of justice of Taixia Country had to walk in Gold and Power Market; therefore, it was not noisy here.
"This is Immortal Farming Pavilion, the only Immortal Farming Pavilion in Gold and Power Market!" The 11 years old boy who led Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian here said firmly; at the same time, he looked straight into Zhang Tie's eyes as if he was afraid that they would repudiate a debt.
Zhang Tie revealed a smile as he flicked a gold coin at this boy, "Thanks for your hard work!"
"Thanks, childe, if you two have other needs, just find me, little six at the Dui Gate of Gold and Power Market. If you want to go other places today, I will serve you for free!" The boy revealed a big smile as he took Zhang Tie's gold coin and put it in a pocket under his coat. Closely after that, he bowed towards Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian and slid away as nimbly as a monkey.
Treasures Meeting was the grand meeting of knights, rich businessmen and many children from common clans. Many kids had already poured into Gold and Power Market and gathered at those entrances of Gold and Power Market. Gold and Power Market was as large as a small city. If outsiders couldn't find a place, they could fetch a kid casually who would be very pleased to lead them to the destination. During the period of Treasures Meeting, those who visited Gold and Power Market were not commoners; they were all generous in expenditure. Gold coins were nothing different than copper coins in their eyes. Like Zhang Tie, they would spend 1 gold coin as a tip casually, which would surprise these kids a lot.
After what happened yesterday, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian didn't enter Qian Gate today; instead, they got off the vehicle at the Dui Gate. At the sight of their brilliant clothes and unusual looks, a lot of kids ran towards them immediately and wanted to be their guide. This boy called little six was smarter as he directly called Bai Suxian sister. Being satisfied by this appellation, Bai Suxian immediately selected this boy as their guide.
Zhang Tie was also watching the Immortal Farming Pavilion. At least from its look, Zhang Tie couldn't identify that it was the residence of Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace. Besides being tranquil, it looked more like a courtyard of a common family. However, the three words "Immortal Farming Pavilion" looked a bit interesting as they were not inscribed on the top of the gate, but on a huge rock at the gate. The huge rock was in the shadow. Alongside that huge rock, there was a small artificial rockery while water was flowing down the rockery. The huge rock was covered with thick green mosses which formed three words "Immortal Farming Pavilion".
People came and went. It seemed that this place still didn't lack business although being located in such a remote place. 'Good wine needs no bush.'
"Let's take a look inside!" Zhang Tie told Bai Suxian with a smile. Bai Suxian nodded tamely as she followed Zhang Tie in.
The moment they entered the gate, Zhang Tie had caught sight of the colorful peony powders, pink, red, purple, yellow, green, black and white. It was really dazzling. Smelling the fragrance of the peony and watching the peonies in full blossom in the garden, Zhang Tie became a bit amazed. 'According to my knowledge, peony always blooms in May or June; however, it's already November. How could these peonies bloom in this season while there's not a greenhouse? Jiang Clan is really something!'
"I was told that one ancestral bloodline of Immortal Farming Clan that Jiang Clan awakened was called Flower Gentleman. After awakening this bloodline, they could allow flowers to bloom whenever they want. This peony blooms must be the meritorious service of Flower Gentleman of Jiang Clan. It's the best live advertisement that could display Jiang Clan's power..."
Bai Suxian's words entered Zhang Tie's ears in a secret way. Zhang Tie blinked his eyes as he asked Bai Suxian, "Is there such an ancestral bloodline?"
"The one who manages the imperial garden of the emperor's imperial city in Xuanyuan Hill is a member of Jiang Clan. When a member of the Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace manages the imperial garden, whenever Emperor Xuanyuan visited the garden, Jiang Clan would allow various flowers in the imperial garden to bloom in an order. Even Emperor Xuanyuan had praised the beautiful blooms in the imperial garden. Don't you know that?"
Zhang Tie indeed didn't know about that. However, Bai Suxian's words reminded Zhang Tie of the scene when he arrived at Ice and Snow Wilderness for the second time and allowed all the golden sea buckthorns to bloom over Ice and Snow Wilderness for the sake of propaganda. Of course, the scene shocked those Slavs and believers of Ancient God Church too much; however, Steward Guan Xiyi of Golden Roc Bank on his side was not amazed by that too much; neither did he treat Peter as a God. At that time, Zhang Tie even thought that Steward Guan Xiyi just pretended to be calm or didn't believe in God. Given Bai Suxian's words, Zhang Tie realized that Guan Xiyi must have already owned all the marvelous phenomena through which Peter had awakened some ancestral bloodlines such as Flower Gentleman. Therefore, Guan Xiyi looked that calm.
Bai Suxian's words relieved a puzzle that had existed in Zhang Tie's mind a few years ago.
After they talked for a short while, a young woman in green clothes had walked towards them in a lightsome way with a smile, "Hi, may I help you?"
"Hmm, I want to do some business with Jiang Clan. Buy some seeds!" Zhang Tie replied frankly.
The woman in green clothes glanced at Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian before nodding, "Please follow me!"
Under the guidance of that woman in green clothes, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian entered a relatively independent yet tranquil room on the side of the peony garden. After making a cup of tea for Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian respectively and telling them that a steward would come here to negotiate with them about the details after a short while and confirmed that they didn't have any other demand, the young woman left in a lightsome way.
After the woman left, the room was filled with the fragrance of tea water. Zhang Tie sniffed and had a sip before finding that they were served with the top-quality wild spring tea water.
Speaking of the value, the two cups of tea water in front of Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian was far more valuable than 1 gold coin that Zhang Tie gave to the boy just now. The woman in green clothes had sharp eyes. She could identify that Bai Suxian was a knight. Now that Bai Suxian behaved tamely in front of Zhang Tie, the woman realized that Zhang Tie was definitely not a commoner and it would not be a small business; neither would they come here to drink tea for free; therefore, she brought Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian here.
The woman was not very beautiful; however, she behaved in a good manner when she received Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian. Although being smart, she didn't display it; therefore, Zhang Tie felt pretty comfortable as he sighed with emotion inside, 'That's what a top clan should be! Given its look, the entire Immortal Farming Pavilion has nothing to do with magnificence; however, the peony garden and the two cups of wild spring tea water felt rich and dignified in simple life like what a real major clan should be! It seemed that all the major clans in Taixia Country liked this style. Those who wanted to show that they were rich were all nouveau riches.
It was not a big room; however, it was arranged in a plain and elegant way. The only decoration on the wall was a clear and beautiful calligraphic work of the poem "Common Flowers will wither".
——
Common flowers and grasses will wither sooner or later, only the beautiful peony still blooms in this morning;
The scarlet flowers being covered with dew slightly incline like having drunk too much sweet alcohol, leaving their beautiful looks to the late spring;
I appreciate it until sunset while the warm spring wind wavers the leaves constantly;
The rich fragrance of peony blooms enters the room from the window as if it is having a blind date with the people lying on the bed silently.
When Zhang Tie was having tea water and tasting the realm of the poem "Common flowers will wither", a spirited old man entered the room. After sitting squarely in front of Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian, he revealed a genial smile, "This humble old man is Jiang Yu, one steward of Immortal Farming Pavilion, I was told that you wanted to buy some plant seeds from Immortal Farming Pavilion?"
"Yes, I want to buy some plant seeds!" Zhang Tie replied.
"May I know what kind of plant seeds do you want and how many do you want, childe?" The old man asked.
"Do you have all the seeds that I want?"
Jiang Yu picked up his teacup and had a sip before saying, "We could provide you all the seeds as long as you could name or draw them..."
The so-called arrogant demeanor didn't mean that you had to squint at someone or sneer at him. Like what this old man did, having a sip of tea water before telling you that we could provide you with all the seeds that you could name or draw. This was the real arrogant demeanor.
"I want a plant seeds bank which contains all the plant seeds that you could provide!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile. He didn't feel disgusted about the arrogance of Jiang Clan; instead, he appreciated it very much. The more arrogant Jiang Clan was, the more possible would this business be made. That was what Zhang Tie wanted.
Jiang Yu didn't feel amazed by Zhang Tie's words. Zhang Tie was not the first one who proposed such a requirement to Herbal Medicine Pavilion. Because more and more major clans across Taixia Country would like to store seeds in the past one year, Jiang Clan's business was growing better. Overall, this might not a good omen; however, it was just a business; now that the customers arrived, it was not reasonable for them to refuse the customers. Who could predict what would happen in the future?
"Do you want all the plant seeds except for grain seeds?"
"Yes, all of them!"
After hearing Zhang Tie's words, Jiang Yu became slightly spirited as he straightened up his body a bit more and said, "Jiang Clan could provide you 513,697 plant seeds, 125,471 among which come from the Earth-elements Realm, 39,817 among which were aquatic plant seeds from freshwater and salt water. These plant seeds cover all the categories of plants that humans have discovered till now. It's only 192 special plant seeds less than the seeds bank of the Finance Ministry of Taixia Country..."
Chapter 1146: The Business
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
After staying in the Immortal Farming Pavilion for less than half an hour, Zhang Tie had already closed this deal. After paying for half of the total expenditure as the down payment and signing a contract with Immortal Farming Pavilion, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian left.
The contract value of this seeds bank was 3.1 million gold coins, which included the freight. After a month, Herbal Medicine Palace would transport these plant seeds to Xuantian City of Iron-Dragon Sect. These plant seeds didn't include over 90 extremely rare ones such as fiery-flame lotus seed, golden glossy ganoderma seed and dragon-digesting grass seed and mutated ones.
After finishing this task, Zhang Tie let out a sigh inside. Previously, Zhang Tie constantly teleported plant seeds into Castle of Black Iron. However, there were only tens of thousands of kinds of plant seeds in Castle of Black Iron, which was far less than that provided by Immortal Farming Pavilion. The plant seeds provided by Immortal Farming Pavilion even included those from other continents, subcontinents and Earth-elements Realm, besides those in Taixia Country.
Of course, these plant seeds would be teleported into Castle of Black Iron. As he was in Xuanyuan Hill, Zhang Tie prepared to complement the plant seeds in Castle of Black Iron so as to make biological resources in Castle of Black Iron plentiful.
Zhang Tie had already got a plan. He would fill Castle of Black Iron with the most fundamental plant resources at first; after that, he would gradually fill animal resources into Castle of Black Iron according to the pass order of food chain. When he was free, he would expand the land area in Castle of Black Iron by hundreds of times, even thousands of times. After such a series of operations, the ecosphere in Castle of Black Iron would be completely consistent with that of the outside. Such an ecosphere would be more vigorous and suitable for human habitation.
In this holy war, even major sects like Taiyi Fantasy Sect which had powerful sage-level knights had made the worst preparation. After knowing this information, even though Zhang Tie was confident about humans, he didn't feel that he could match Taiyi Fantasy Sect in power. Therefore, it was necessary for him to leave a room for maneuver. Zhang Tie used these plant seeds to manage his room for maneuver. As many major clans and sects were expanding their plant seeds banks, it was not special for Zhang Tie to expand his seeds bank as the owner of Fire-Dragon Bounty Territory and the master of Iron-Dragon Sect.
"Immortal Farming Pavilion is really good at making money. Over 3 million gold coins could only afford over 500,000 kinds of plant seeds. 6 gold coins for one kind of plant seed on average. If I fetch someone casually outside Immortal Farming Pavilion and pay him 10 gold coins, he could at least give me hundreds of plant seeds near Xuanyuan Hill. In the south border of Taixia Country, many plant seeds are almost free. With one gold coin, you could have people collect hundreds of plant seeds for you."
Even Bai Suxian who didn't care about money also knew that Zhang Tie had spent too much on seeds. To be honest, these plant seeds weren't worth so much. Although over 3 million gold coins were nothing for Zhang Tie, it was an astronomical wealth for commoners. In Taixia Country, if a common family could have a deposit of thousands of gold coins in the bank, it was already a well-off family, not to mention over 3 million gold coins. Even commoners could collect these plant seeds.
Zhang Tie shook his head with a smile, "You can not do accounts in this way. If these seeds are sold one by one, they are not even worth 100,000 gold coins; however, after gathering all of them, their value skyrocketed. Over 3 million gold coins are not the value of those seeds, but the value of the ability of Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace which integrates with these plant seeds resources. Besides Jiang Clan, any individual or clan might have to spend far more than 3 million gold coins and longer time for such a complete seeds bank from continents, subcontinents, underground space even Earth-elements Realm. Jiang Clan has realized the value of their integrating ability; therefore, they price the complete seeds bank so high!"
"Are you angry about that?" Bai Suxian asked Zhang Tie when they walked out of Immortal Farming Pavilion and entered the wide lane.
"Nothing to be angry about. I just admire their integrating ability. They deserve that price!" Zhang Tie replied straightforwardly; meanwhile, he made a hand gesture and said, "There were two most profitable businesses in the world: first, monopoly. As you're the only seller, you could make profits all the way. Nobody else could imitate you; second, take Jiang Clan as an instance, they integrate with many common resources for sale. The first business depends on the monopoly qualification on exclusive goods or rights; the second business depends on insight and integrating ability. These seeds are just there. Everybody could do such a business; however, only Jiang Clan across the world could integrate over 500,000 kinds of plant seeds. Therefore, they deserve that price!"
"After listening to you, even I start to admire Jiang Clan of Herbal Medicine Palace. However, how do you understand business so well?" Bai Suxian asked Zhang Tie as she grabbed Zhang Tie's arm.
Zhang Tie blinked his eyes, "Have you forgotten about my job when I was young?"
Bai Suxian immediately remembered that Zhang Tie once served as a salesman in a grocery when in Blackhot City through Zhang Tie's article in the forum of Mountain of Brilliance.
The two people then burst out into laughter at the same time.
"Where are we going?"
"Is there any place that sells secret methods in Gold and Power Market?"
"How could people sell secret methods in the public?"
"I mean incomplete ones such as Robust Ox Skill and Heavenly Blue Technique ."
"Besides those who couldn't promote to a knight, anyone who might promote to a knight would not cultivate such secret methods. What do you want them for?" Bai Suxian asked Zhang Tie with a curious look.
"Do you remember Xu Yian in Xuajia Village?" Zhang Tie mentioned the small village that he and Bai Suxian once saved at the critical moment from bloody figures.
"Yes, I do!" Bai Suxian nodded.
"Xu Yian said that he cultivated Heavenly Blue Technique . The complete version of Heavenly Blue Technique is count-level Heavenly God Sutra . It even contains a complete Heavenly God's Saber Skill . Although being limited to cultivation level, Xu Yian couldn't play the full effect of Heavenly God's Saber Skill . However, the count-level battle skill is also powerful enough. I was thinking that now that there is a corresponding battle skill being attached to Heavenly Blue Technique , there should also be complete secret skills being attached to other secret methods!"
"Secret methods which contain corresponding battle skills are at least on count-level. Even baron-level and viscount-level secret methods are not matched with corresponding battle skills. However, if the cultivators of these battle skills don't promote to a knight, they couldn't even exert 1/10 of the maximal power of these battle skills as they could not coordinate these battle skills with the corresponding surging points and the ability of their chakras of the corresponding secret methods. Do you really want to learn these battle skills?"
"Stones in other mountains could be used to refine jades!" Zhang Tie turned solemn, "After the battle with Nangong Sheng, I've got a lot of insights. If I could learn from other battle skills and secret methods on other levels, I might make further progress in my cultivation base."
"I see!" Bai Suxian revealed a serious look, "I've not been to such a place. However, I remember that there's a store called Semi-jade Pavilion in Gold and Power Market which especially sells incomplete secret methods. It's even a bit well-known!"
Zhang Tie tried to recover his composure as he said calmly, "That's great, let's take a look over there!"
…
Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian strolled in Gold and Power Market as they asked passers-by about the location of that Semi-jade Pavilion. After 1 hour, they finally came to the front store of Semi-jade Pavilion.
Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian knew that they were followed by some "tails". However, they didn't care about that.
Compared to the tranquil Immortal Farming Pavilion, Semi-jade Pavilion looked utterly different. The 3-storey front store, the shiny obsidian floor and the two rows of sturdy armored mighty guardians made it look like a court's residence.
"What do you see?" Zhang Tie asked Bai Suxian with a smile.
"It seems that this place rips off people, too!"
Zhang Tie nodded as he could basically confirm that most of the customers in Semi-jade Pavilion didn't have a strong battle strength and background. Because they had no cultivation resource or chance, they came here to select a cultivation method although they could not promote to a knight anymore. Therefore, the arrangement in Semi-jade Pavilion was superficial. Customers could understand the value of the arrangement at the sight of it. Customers here might not understand the value of peony blooms and top-quality wild spring tea water in Immortal Farming Pavilion. Therefore, Bai Suxian's comment was spot on.
The two people then entered the resplendent and magnificent Semi-jade Pavilion…
At the sight of Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian entering Semi-jade Pavilion, a "tail" after them kept a close watch on the gate of Semi-jade Pavilion as he pressed one hand onto the other wrist, where there was a remote-sensing crystal…
…
"Master, Cui Li and Bai Suxian have just entered Semi-jade Pavilion. I've also figured out their deal with Immortal Farming Pavilion. Cui Li bought a lot of plant seeds from Jiang Clan. The trade volume is 3.1 million gold coins…"
After Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian entered Semi-jade Pavilion for less than 1 minute, the guy with a long face and sparse beard whom Zhang Tie slapped twice yesterday was reporting Han Yuanhong about the traces of Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian. Since Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian entered Gold and Power Market, Han Yuanhong's subordinates had been keeping a close watch on them.
After hearing the report, Han Yuanhong revealed a sneer as he mocked, "Seeds bank? This Cui Li is really patriotic. Does he still think that he is the provincial governor of Youzhou Province? Although I could not interfere with the deal between them and Jiang Clan, didn't they ask who was the boss of Semi-jade Pavilion before they entered that store? Han Sui, go to Semi-jade Pavilion; I think you already know what to do…"
Chapter 1147: Abandoning One Thought
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Semi-jade Pavilion sold over 200 dazzling secret books including dos, methods, techniques, flows and skills. It was said to have the most kinds of incomplete secret books across Taixia Country. Looking at so many secret books on the brochure, Zhang Tie felt dazzled. Fortunately, he had not seen the virtual objects of these secret books. He only needed to select what he wanted from the brochure.
'What a Gold and Power Market!' Zhang Tie sighed with emotion when he read the introductions, 'Perhaps only Xuanyuan Hill could have such a great store!'
According to the introduction, the secret books here were for sale; actually, it meant that the buyer could accept enlightenment only once. The buyer could not impart the secret method that he bought here to the others. If one really wanted to buy an incomplete secret method from here, the price would be pretty high.
Zhang Tie remembered that the Robust Ox Skill that he bought in the black market of Selnes Theater of Operations only cost him 10,000 gold coins; however, the same incomplete secret method in Semi-jade Pavilion would cost him 120,000 gold coins. The enlightenment fee for one time of Robust Ox Skill would be 1,200 gold coins. As for commoners, both 120,000 gold coins and 1,200 gold coins were not small figures. Even the value of this kind of secret method dropped greatly in the life or death situation facing Selnes Theater of Operations, Zhang Tie still felt that the incomplete secret methods in Semi-jade Pavilion were a bit expensive.
Of course, Zhang Tie would buy the entire incomplete secret method. As an earth knight, if he accepted others' enlightenment here, it would be a joke and ruin his reputation to a certain degree.
Incomplete secret skills were the cheapest ones in this store. The prices of incomplete secret dos, methods, techniques and flows would rise by times one level after another. Even the cheapest secret flows would be priced at 300,000 gold coins; enlightenment for one time would also reach 3,000 gold coins. The price of enlightenment was 1/100 of that of the entire incomplete secret method.
After skimming over the prices of these secret books, Zhang Tie realized why Confucianism was treasured so much in Taixia Country. Because a commoner could barely learn any senior secret books or battle skills without a mater. The prices of these secret books would make people from common clans breathless.
Those major clans and sects would not favor these secret books. Because these secret books could not help people promote to knights. However, although Taixia Country was so big with such a large population, there were only very few knights. Those clans and sects with knights would be at least local magnates. Below these magnates, there were still huge demands for secret books on different levels. Not everyone was thinking about promoting to a knight. This also explained why these secret books could exist.
Like commodities, sutras were top luxuries. Not everyone could enjoy such top luxuries. Therefore, people with poorer purchasing capabilities would choose similar commodities of different levels below these top luxuries. That explained why dos, methods, techniques, flows and skills existed in the market.
Those joining Fire-Dragon Sect could have a chance to learn Fire-Dragon Sutra ; however, youngsters living in small villages such as Xujia Village might only learn a bit Heavenly Blue Technique . Those major clans and sects which owned secret sutras could also control the dissemination of their own secret sutras through enlightenment in case that outsiders learned them. Of course, disciples in major sects could learn secret books which could help them promote to knights; however, would every soldier in the army learn secret books that could help them promote to knights? Of course not. In the army, the simplest secret books that could help most of the soldiers promote to LV 9 or LV 10 were the best.
Besides armies, rural areas, towns, small cities or sparsely populated clans also required secret books on different levels. Anyone who could get hang of secret techniques or flows would be qualified to enroll apprentices and thrive their clans.
In Semi-jade Pavilion, even secret flows were divided into different ranks. The more complete the secret book and its attached battle skills were and the more surging points it would ignite, the expensive it would be.
If Zhang Tie didn't have the special imitation ability of "King Roc Sutra", he would definitely ignore such secret books like Bai Suxian. However, with this special ability and the marquis-level Fire Dragon Sutra , Zhang Tie became picky even if he came here especially for those attached complete battle skills of those secret books. Zhang Tie almost ignored all the secret books below marquis because it was meaningless for him.
After sifting those secret books for about 1 hour, Zhang Tie became a bit disappointed. He was too optimistic. Among over 200 secret books in the Semi-jade Pavilion, there was only one incomplete secret book above marquis-level being attached with complete battle skills, namely Shocking God Sutra. This sutra could light 281 surging points. It contained two battle skills, namely "Shocking God Swordsmanship" and "Shocking God Flight Skill". No more senior secret books being attached with complete battle skills could be found in the Semi-jade Pavilion. Although there were duke-level and throne-level secret books, they were severely incomplete. Two secret methods and three secret flows were not even attached with a battle skill.
'What could they be used for? The complete version of Shocking God Sutra is not as advanced as Fire Dragon Sutra . Even if I spend great efforts to recover the complete version of this secret book and get hang of the Shocking God Flight Skill , would it be more powerful than the Fire Dragon Flowing Light Skill ? Would the Shocking God Swordsmanship surpass the Fire Dragon Burning Heavens Spear Skill ?'
This Shocking God Sutra was useless for Zhang Tie. The other incomplete secret books lacked corresponding battle skills, which Zhang Tie would not be interested in. He had already learned an emperor-level secret sutra; the only regret was that he had not grasped the corresponding battle skills of the emperor-level secret sutra, how could Zhang Tie be interested in these rubbishes?
'I could not always have a good luck. There're not too many duke-level and throne-level incomplete secret books being attached with complete battle skills in this world that could be further developed by me.' Zhang Tie abandoned the thought that occurred to his mind in Xujia Village.
"I will take this one!" Zhang Tie didn't reveal his disappointed feeling; instead, he just pinched his nose as he selected a secret book on the brochure of Semi-jade Pavilion.
Of course, Zhang Tie didn't select the Shocking God Sutra; instead, he just chose an inferior count-level Double-moon Flow which included Crescent Hook Skill and Moon Shadow Movements . Zhang Tie chose this secret book because it was much cheaper. He just patched up his lie in front of Bai Suxian. Of course, it was unnecessary for him to spend too much money in vain.
"Childe, are you going to take this Double-moon Flow ?" A steward of Semi-jade Pavilion asked Zhang Tie.
"Yes, I will take this Double-moon Flow !"
After saying that, Zhang Tie even felt a bit pitiful. Thankfully, over 400,000 gold coins were nothing for him. He just took it as an experiment. Even if this experiment failed, at least he would learn that this way didn't work! If he couldn't find any proper secret book in Semi-jade Pavilion of Gold and Power Market, he would not find it in any other place.
"Alright, Childe, please wait for a short while. I will bring it back!"
The steward stood up and left.
"Why did you choose this one? I think the Shocking God Sutra is better!" Bai Suxian asked Zhang Tie out of curiosity.
"Big mouthfuls often choke. I bought this incomplete secret book only to learn its attached battle skills. I want to see whether I could have a gnosis from them. I don't know whether this way works or not. I will have a try. If it indeed works, I will buy others back here. It won't take me too much time. If it doesn't work, I will abandon this thought!" Zhang Tie explained with a solemn look.
Bai Suxian nodded.
Not until Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian waited in the reception room for almost 10 minutes when Bai Suxian became a bit impatient, someone else swaggered in the room. It was the guy with a long face and sparse beard whom Zhang Tie slapped twice at the Qian Gate yesterday.
Although this guy's face had been daubed with ointment, it still looked a bit red and swollen.
At the sight of this guy, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian had frowned. However, this guy just watched Zhang Tie like a small man intoxicated by success.
"I'm sorry, Double-moon Flow is running out stock in Semi-moon Pavilion !
The moment Bai Suxian heard that guy's words, her eyebrows had raised as she smashed onto the table and sprung up before roaring, "There was one just now; why it's running out of stock now? Where's the steward? Call him out. If you dare play trick in front of your grandma, this grandma will demolish your goddamn store."
Bai Suxian's fury and tantrum scared that guy one step back. That guy swallowed his saliva forcefully before sneering while stretching out his neck, "I'm the boss of Semi-jade Pavilion. If I say no, it's a no. If you want one, pay me 5 million gold coins…"
"You…it was worth less than 500,000 gold coins just now; how it skyrocketed by 10 times now?" Bai Suxian who had not been ripped off since young raised her hand. Before she slapped that guy's face, Zhang Tie who had been watching with a distant look on one side had already stood up and caught her wrist, "Let's go…"
"But…"
Before Bai Suxian said anything, Zhang Tie had already stridden out of the store by pulling her hand, leaving the guy with long face and sparse beard standing in the original place; opening his mouth, he looked like a clown who had just gone on to the stage; before he started his performance, he found that all the audience had already left; therefore, he became embarrassed…
Chapter 1148: Folding Wings and Lowering Body
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Until Zhang Tie pulled Bai Suxian out of the Gate of Semi-jade Pavilion for a short while did he release Bai Suxian's hand.
Bai Suxian was still furious as she shouted, "That son of a bitch is too abominable. Why not give him a lesson?"
"They're waiting for us to fight them!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"As long as one of us couldn't stand to launch a fight, those guards outside the gate would rush in at once. In the chaos, as long as one of them died there, we might have to die for the dare-to-die fighter raised by others. In Xuanyuan Hill, even knights would face the death penalty after killing a person." Zhang Tie revealed a cold smile.
"I will see whether they dare do that or not!" Bai Suxian shouted out of fury as she almost goggled out her eyes.
"You're the princess of Lord Guangnan's Mansion, of course, they dare not do that to you. They're aiming at me. I've not imagined that Semi-jade Pavilion is under the direct control of Gold and Power Market. I'm afraid that Han Yuanhong has already known the moment we entered Semi-jade Pavilion. Therefore, he set a fatal trap for me. In others' store, they could price their goods as high as they want. After all, we've not closed the deal yet. If we kill people out of fury because we fail to close the deal, we are not justified; we would even lose our lives for that. That guy has already arrived there half an hour ago. He's not there alone as 10 more people went there together with him. All the guards outside the gate of Semi-jade Pavilion have been changed into his dare-to-die fighters. As long as we started a fight, they would rush in at once and make it severe. Someone would die for sure. As for those guests who entered the store 20 minutes ago, one of them was a knight. As their witness, he pretended to purchase secret books on our neighboring room!"
Although Zhang Tie was in the reception room, he could sense almost everything in the neighborhood with his knight's consciousness. The moment that guy whom he slapped yesterday entered the room to offend them, Zhang Tie had realized the opponent's arrangement and vicious trick. If he was a hot-blooded or a bit impulsive young man, he would fall into their trap the moment he started a fight.
The small Semi-jade Pavilion contained such a killing intent. They even wanted to screw an earth knight. How many people could bear such a trick? The only thing that was out of Zhang Tie's opponent's imagination was that Zhang Tie who had a pretty bad temper yesterday was actually always good-tempered. Additionally, Zhang Tie was very scrupulous in crisis. He could always identify the trick rapidly. Being silent, Zhang Tie just pulled Bai Suxian away. Therefore, the opponent's following tricks became useless…
Just now, Bai Suxian didn't figure out the trick; therefore, she was furious. After hearing Zhang Tie's analysis, she changed her face at once as she felt chilly inside. Even being a female, Bai Suxian also knew that many heroes who had experienced many great battles were finally screwed by small sinister figures. Actually, what happened just now was very dangerous.
Although being bustling on the street, who could imagine that an earth knight was almost screwed by someone here a few minutes ago? Even the winter sunshine in Xuanyuan Hill could not drive away Bai Suxian's chilliness.
"I will demolish that godd*mn store right now!" Bai Suxian was driven extremely mad.
"Hahaha, if you demolish their store, you have to compensate for that. If you kill someone, you will have trouble. Even if you don't compensate for that, they will ask your dad for the compensation. They're gaining the upper hand. If we're tricked, we will lose!"
"Will we just let them go?"
"We still have time!"
After buying a seeds bank and strolling in Semi-jade Pavilion for a while before encountering such an annoyance, Bai Suxian and Zhang Tie both lost their interest in wandering in Gold and Power Market. Therefore, they directly left there. After considering the strengths of what happened just now for a short while, Zhang Tie found that he didn't need to pay hundreds of thousands of gold coins in vain anymore; additionally, he abandoned the thought of getting some complete senior secret books easily. As for whether he could gain some senior secret books in the future, it depended on his fortune.
…
Soon after Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian left Gold and Power Market, Han Yuanhong had received the information in Treasures Complex. Watching that person kneeling down in front of him with a flurried look, Han Yuanhong even comforted that guy with a long face and sparse beard, "You've already tried your best. But I've not imagined that Cui Li could be so scrupulous and could seek through our trap. It's nothing serious. He's just an earth knight. We've got many chances to deal with him in the future. We still have time!"
…
"We still have time!"
Both Cui Li and Han Yuanhong said the same words in the end.
…
2 days later, in a small special auction…
"The No. 17 space-teleportation equipment, 7,200 earth-element crystals one time, 7,200 earth-element crystals second time, 7,200 earth-element crystals third time…close the deal!"
When the auctioneer knocked onto the metal stand by a small hammer, Mountain Lifting Hermit's face turned completely white…
Sitting close to Mountain Lifting Hermit, Zhang Tie let out a sigh inside. Bai Suxian also looked at Mountain Lifting Hermit with a sympathetic expression. The bottom price of that average space-teleportation equipment was only 800 earth-element crystals. Who could imagine that its transaction price could be 9 times more than that of its bottom price? It's far more than its market price in late years and out of Mountain Lifting Hermit's purchasing power.
Previously, Mountain Lifting Hermit had full confidence in getting this space-teleportation equipment. These two days, Mountain Lifting Hermit had sold all of his collections in Gold and Power Market; plus his savings, he accumulated 7,100 earth-element crystals in total. Unexpectedly, he still failed to gain that space-teleportation equipment.
In the beginning, over 10 people joined the competition for this space-teleportation equipment. After some rounds of quotations, when the quotation of this space-teleportation equipment surpassed 4,000 earth-element crystals, most of the people gave it up, except for two people who raised the quotation of this space-teleportation equipment to 5,500 earth-element crystals. When Mountain Lifting Hermit quoted 5,600 earth-element crystals, the two people gave it up. The one who competed with Mountain Lifting Hermit to the end was a person in the front of the auction. When others quoted, that person didn't quote. When Mountain Lifting Hermit quoted alone, that one would definitely add 100 more earth-element crystals on the basis of Mountain Lifting Hermit's quotation.
The final quotation of Mountain Lifting Hermit was 7,100 earth-element crystals when Zhang Tie found Mountain Lifting Hermit clenching his fists. However, the moment Mountain Lifting Hermit finished his last quotation, the other bidder quoted 7,200 earth-element crystals without any hesitation.
At this moment, Mountain Lifting Hermit refused Zhang Tie's good intention about lending him earth-element crystals. Therefore, he just watched that space-teleportation equipment being taken away by the other bidder after the auctioneer inquired them three times.
Even Bai Suxian felt that Mountain Lifting Hermit was a bit miserable. However, she didn't know how to comfort him; neither did Zhang Tie know how to tell him. Actually, Zhang Tie had many space-teleportation equipment; however, as an earth knight, Mountain Lifting Hermit had his dignity and persistence and could not be easily humiliated.
At this moment, the guy who had been competing with Mountain Lifting Hermit in front of them turned around and revealed a pleasant smile towards the three people as if he had won a battle.
However, Mountain Lifting Hermit loosed his fist at this moment as he forced a smile and said in a hoarse voice, "Let's go!"
Although there were other items to be auctioned, Mountain Lifting Hermit didn't want to stay here anymore.
The three people then left their seats.
When they left the auction hall, passing through a winding corridor and was going to leave the Secret Items Pavilion, Han Yuanhong appeared in front of them with the space-teleportation finger ring that Mountain Lifting Hermit had been bidding for just now in hand. He tossed the finger ring like a toy as he watched Zhang Tie, Mountain Lifting Hermit and Bai Suxian with a commanding look.
"Don't you want to look at it? I'm so sorry. I found this space-teleportation equipment was delicate and could be used as a gift, I've not imagined that I disrupted your plan. There's some more space-teleportation equipment in the auction, if you lack earth-element crystals, just let me know. As we're all Hua knights, it's my pleasure to give you a favor, hahahahaha…"
Mountain Lifting Hermit who had been reluctant to part with that space-teleportation finger ring threw a deep glance at Han Yuanhong. Without even looking at the item in Han Yuanhong's hand, he directly passed by Han Yuanhong with a glassy-eyed look. Bai Suxian wanted to lose her temper; however, Zhang Tie pulled her away.
Bai Suxian suppressed her anger as she threw a glare at Han Yuanhong. Zhang Tie revealed a smile as if he had not seen such a person in front of him.
Watching the three people passing by with glassy-eyed looks, Han Yuanhong's sneer frozen at once…
…
The three people directly left the Treasures Complex.
"What a bullsh*t place! I will never come here again. It's disgusting…" Bai Suxian said out of fury.
"Elder brother, where are you heading for?" Zhang Tie asked Mountain Lifting Hermit, "If elder brother is free lately, how about returning to Youzhou Province with us in a few days?"
"There's always a way. If it doesn't work here, it doesn't mean that it won't work in other places!" Mountain Lifting Hermit gradually recovered his composure. He even talked to Zhang Tie with a smile, "I prepare to try my fortune in Taiyi City. The largest trading center of secret pearls is located in that city. Knights who come back from Earth-elements Realm would exchange their secret pearls for money over there. With these earth-element crystals, I want to try my fortune by buying some secret pearls over there. After I get a space-teleportation, I will come for you in Youzhou Province!"
'Is there a place for trading secret pearls in Taixia Country?' Zhang Tie bore the name of Taiyi City deep in mind. The moment he heard this name, Zhang Tie had realized that this city might be related to Taiyi Fantasy Sect.
"Elder brother, when do you prepare to go there?"
Mountain Lifting Hermit looked up at the night being covered with stars as he took in a deep breath and said, "I'd rather choose now than selecting a day…"
…
Half an hour later, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian saw off Mountain Lifting Hermit out of Xuanyuan Hill.
When an eagle was going to launch a strike, it would fold its wings and lower its body; when a fierce beast was going to charge at a prey, it would lower its head and body.
'Could I match a bird or a beast?'
Watching Mountain Lifting Hermit flying towards afar as fast as a lightning bolt, Zhang Tie asked himself as he revealed a faint smile…
9 days left, he could form 3 trouble-reappearance fruits at most…
…
In the next one week, Zhang Tie didn't go to Gold and Power Marke anymore. Each morning, he would feed birds; in the daytime, he would visit the scenic spots in Xuanyuan Hill with Bai Suxian. In the evening, he would cultivate quietly in his room. He didn't meet those nuisances anymore.
He formed one trouble-reappearance fruit per 3 days. Zhang Tie didn't feel pitiful about that; instead, he treated the effect of trouble-reappearance fruits increasingly lighter.
As for Zhang Tie, he only needed to make his utmost efforts to do that.
On November 12th, Zhang Tie's disciples finally came back to the manor of Lord Guangnan in Xuanyuan Hill after having fun for almost 2 weeks in Xuanyuan Hill. All of them were in great delights safe and sound.
On November 13th, Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian traveled across Fairy Lake in the daytime. In the evening, Zhang Tie formed a trouble-reappearance fruit at the fastest speed in his cultivation room. Closely after that, he entered the trouble-reappearance situation…
Before entering the new trouble-reappearance situation, Zhang Tie's mind settled as still water as he didn't have any hope for that inside the trouble-reappearance situation anymore…
Chapter 1149: Hard Work Paying Off
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
How did the last trouble-reappearance fruit taste?
In the trouble-reappearance situation, before Zhang Tie tasted the last trouble-reappearance fruit carefully, the LV 9 demon fighter had already rushed towards him with bloody eyes.
Like how he did in former times, Zhang Tie shot out a battle qi by finger and blew up the demon fighter's legs in a split second, sending its blood and flesh flying in all directions. As a result, his room was contaminated and was filled with a bloody smell.
When the demon fighter fell onto the ground and roared miserably, Zhang Tie leisurely opened his room and went downstairs frankly. After coming to the parlor, he took a treasured sword from a wall before leaving the house.
When Zhang Tie left the house, the LV 9 demon fighter who had lost its legs was still inching towards Zhang Tie by hands with bloody eyes while roaring miserably and gritting its teeth.
It was still windy in the deep night in the manor. Besides that persistent demon knight's miserable roars, it was quiet in the surroundings as before. This Xuanyuan Hill belonged to Zhang Tie himself.
What he saw was almost as same as that in the former 4 times. Therefore, Zhang Tie didn't expect that the last trouble-reappearance fruit could bring him any achievement. Zhang Tie had seen through it. If it was the same result as before, he had to use the directest method tomorrow. After all, as long as he could uproot Han Clan's power from Xuanyuan Hill, he would be the winner. Even though he used the directest method, he would not lose a hair.
Although the sword in his hand was for an appreciative purpose, nothing in the Lord Guangnan's Manor in Xuanyuan Hill was common.
This was a two-handed huge sword, which was 177 cm in length, 112 kg in weight and 15 cm in width. Being affected by LV 3 sharpness rune and firmness rune, it also had the splitting and freezing effects. This sword was definitely a competitive rune weapon, even for knights.
Zhang Tie dropped off the sword while the sword suspended in front of him. Closely after that, Zhang Tie jumped onto the sword. Stepping on the broad sword's body as if stepping on a skating board or a surfing board, he flew off the manor into the sky above Xuanyuan Hill. Almost in a split second, a jarring sonic boom that rocked the entire Xuanyuan Hill sounded above this city where there was only one person…
If someone in Xuanyuan Hill saw Zhang Tie's movement at this moment, they would definitely bow towards him out of worship as they would treat Zhang Tie as a sage-level knight or a legendary immortal.
Over 1,000 m high in the sky, Zhang Tie stood leisurely on a huge sword. The sword broke 3 times that of the sound speed in the blink of an eye as fast as a lightning bolt, arousing constantly shrill sonic booms. Zhang Tie was standing on the huge sword as steady as Mount Tai with hands on his back leisurely, his clothes were swaying in the wind as if he was a poet strolling in a tranquil courtyard while looking up at the moons and thinking about poetry…
These days, Zhang Tie had been folding his wings and lowering his body so as to give a fatal blow to Han Clan at any time. After enjoying with Bai Suxian in the daytime, Zhang Tie would train his flight ability as a divine dominator in the trouble-reappearance situation.
Like a thin window, the flight ability as a divine dominator was soon grasped by Zhang Tie; additionally, Zhang Tie concluded some flight skills.
This flight mode by stepping on a huge sword was the most pleasant and stylish way for a divine dominator. The benefit of this flight mode was that he could maintain a demeanor of an immortal. This flight mode was most destructive for commons. Its shortcoming was that Zhang Tie would have a great resistance when facing the wind and couldn't reach the maximal flight speed of divine dominator.
The second flight mode was the most secret flight mode. This flight mode required a pair of caligas with steel-plate soles or alloy materials, a metal waistband and two metal wristlets. In flight, he should control the caligas, metal waistband and metal wristlets at the same time for the optimal flight effect. Without the three types of equipment, he could also fly; however, it would not feel as comfortable and flexible as that with the three types of equipment.
As the three equipments were usually worn by people, they would not arise people's suspicion; this flight mode was most mysterious. He could use the three props to accelerate his speed at any time using the ability of divine dominator when in normal flight condition.
The third flight mode had the highest efficiency. He wore a full-body metal armor which even covered his eyes. He manipulated this full-body metal battle armor using the ability of divine dominator. In this flight mode, with the protection of metal battle armor, Zhang Tie could easily reach the maximal flight speed using his ability as a divine dominator without even releasing his protective battle qi.
What was the maximal flight speed under the control of divine dominator?
Through numerous trials these days, Zhang Tie made a precise conclusion, based on his current spiritual energy level and knight's level, he could at most reach 6 times that of the speed of sound, namely almost 4,700 miles per hour.
This discovery and experience stunned Zhang Tie for quite a while.
A few days ago, he was still thinking about breaking through the speed of sound using knights' flight ability. However, a few days later, he had already broken through the sonic barrier using the ability of divine dominator and reached the flight speed of hypersonic aircraft before the Catastrophe.
With the ability of divine dominator, he could reach 6 times that of the speed of sound. When he attacked with weapons alone using the ability of divine dominator, Zhang Tie himself couldn't identify how fast the weapons moved. It would be far greater than 6 times that of the speed of sound. It was as fast as his consciousness. As long as he caught sight of the target, his attack would arrive as if the speed had broken through the limit of the physical rule.
After studying the sharp difference between the flight speed using the ability of divine dominator and the attacking speed, Zhang Tie found that there might only be one reason, namely, the closer the objects under the control of divine dominator were to his body, the slower they would move. It seemed that there was an invisible line between those objects and his spiritual energy. If the objects were too close to his body, before they reached their maximal speed, they had been pulled back by that invisible line.
6 times that of the speed of sound, namely, about 5,000 miles per hour. Zhang Tie had been satisfied by such a great flight ability very much. Even though this speed might be the maximal manned speed of divine dominator, Zhang Tie was also satisfied with it.
Zhang Tie was not greedy. He had not even seen a person who could break through the speed of sound after he promoted to an earth knight. He could already break through 6 times that of the speed of sound now, of course, he was very satisfied with it. Zhang Tie didn't know how fast a shadow knight could fly; however, he was sure that even a shadow knight could not reach 6 times that of the speed of sound in the sky.
This speed would bring him a great advantage that could never be matched by commoners. It would even be a wholly new combat pattern for him, a combat mode that only belonged to a divine dominator. The difference between this advantage and knights were like that between powerful horse archers and common infantries. The striking ability and maneuver speed of this flight mode were overwhelming.
3 times that of the speed of sound was almost equal to 0.55 mile per second.
The linear distance between Lord Guangnan's Manor and Finance Minister's Mansion in Xuanyuan Hill was almost 130 miles. As for Zhang Tie, such a distance only took him less than 4 minutes by flying on the huge sword and overlooking the entire Xuanyuan Hill.
Under the control of Zhang Tie, the huge sword dove downwards like a spiritual living being silently and suspended only one stage's height above the floor outside the study near the lotus pond of the Finance Minister's Mansion. Zhang Tie then landed on the ground leisurely.
The door of the study still closed. Zhang Tie pushed in. Closely after that, he threw a glance at the golden folder on the table as usual.
Actually, Zhang Tie didn't think that he could see any hope in the golden folder anymore. He just accomplished today's task like completing a rite.
Zhang Tie walked over there and unfolded the golden folder. An extremely plain and elegant invitation card was put on the top. This invitation card was utterly different than those invitation cards which especially pursued luxury and level; additionally, now that it could be put on the top, it indicated that it counted most in Han Zhengfang's heart.
Zhang Tie picked up that plain and elegant invitation card and opened it out of curiosity…
There were only two short lines inside the invitation card.
——Between 5 pm to 7 pm on the 15th day of this lunar month, I invite Brother Han to have a drink in Sincerity Garden.
——Meng Shidao.
At the sight of that name, Zhang Tie narrowed his pupils. After a few seconds, he couldn't stand bursting out laughing…
Chapter 1150: The 15th Day of This Lunar Month
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
On the 15th day of the lunar November of the 903rd year of Black Iron Calendar, although people living in Xuanyuan Hill didn't feel it was anything special, none of them could imagine that this day symbolized that Taixia Country was involved in the 3rd holy war between humans and demons in an all-round manner in the eyes of people dozens of years later.
Although the holy war had started so many years ago, the battle flames and smokes in subcontinents had not extended Taixia Country on the Eastern Continent. Besides the disappearance of Emperor Xuanyuan and the riots of the remnants of Heavens Reaching Church which were annoying, commoners' lives were not affected by the 3rd holy war during the past years.
The 15th day of lunar November was an unusual sunny day.
After getting up in the morning and having a bow of decoction of medicinal ingredients, Uncle Zhong felt much better after so many days' recuperation; especially today, he felt like he was untroubled by the witch parasites anymore. Uncle Zhong felt pretty happy as he finally saw a bit of hope in curing the broken-gold witch parasites.
When Uncle Zhong got up, Old Zhou, the boatman on the Golden Water River also got up. After cleansing up, Old Zhou stood in the courtyard which was planted with some peach trees and looked up at the clean, blue sky as he told his wife with a smile who was preparing breakfast for him, "It's a good weather today. I guess more people would like to travel on the Golden Water River; if I'm fortunate, I could make another 2 gold coins!"
"Watch out your health. Come back earlier!" The woman prepared the breakfast rapidly in the kitchen as she said.
"As it's the Treasures Meeting lately, I could make more than that I made in a week previously, it's nothing to be a bit tired!"
"You have to watch out your safety. Liu Hui told me that one of your guests fought a woman on a gaily-painted pleasure-boat and made a great trouble on the Golden Water River…" The boatman's wife told him out of concern.
"You don't know that. Childe Cui and Miss Bai are dignitaries; especially Childe Cui. He's like a river god. When the huge waves approached us, Childe Cui just stood on the prow. When I realized that the boat might be capsized, a water flow rose up and cupped the boat like a pair of hands steadily. I carried some knights before; however, it was my first time to meet such a great knight. 3 months later, I will have our 2nd son and his uncle go to Youzhou Province…"
"Do you really believe in their words? The traveling expense between Youzhou Province and Xuanyuan Hill is high; additionally, they have to spend much time on the way…"
Old Zhou touched that gold coin which was marked with Zhang Tie's fingerprint in his pocket before saying, "This is a favorable fate, how could a man like Childe Cui play a joke with small figures like us? I think we could have a try. Our Zhou Clan might make our ancestors illustrious one day…"
After hearing the boatman's words, the woman in the kitchen became silent.
After having breakfast with the peach bloom spirit and dried plums that were prepared by his wife at home, the boatman, with full of aspiration towards a bright future, left for a wharf on the Golden Water River where he fastened his boat to the cleats on the dock…
…
When the boatman arrived at the wharf, a customized top black Faerie-dragon limo was slowly driving out of the Finance Minister's Mansion in Xuanyuan Hill. A flock of sparrows on those peach trees outside the Finance Minister's Mansion were tweeting. Han Zhengfang was watching those jubilant sparrows on the tips of twigs on the roadside in the car with a glassy-eyed look.
Hearing the tweets, Han Zhengfang felt fretful unconsciously.
Of course, the Finance Minister who attended myriad affairs daily would not lose temper to those sparrows that could be seen everywhere daily outside his mansion. What he was fretful was that his 2nd son had been missing for many days. Additionally, his 2nd son's airboat was also missing, leaving no trace at all. Therefore, Han Zhengfang felt something bad out of his instinct.
'Did something bad happen to my 2nd son?' Han Zhengfang had considered about this possibility; however, given the comprehensive intelligence, Han Zhengfang found Xuanyuan Hill was as normal as usual. The top 4 armies were still following the prescribed orders. The top three chancellors didn't encounter any abnormal situations. Therefore, Han Zhengfang didn't believe that his son could encounter any accident. 'Who dares do harm to my son across Taixia Country? Additionally, my 2nd son is not a weak scholar, he has a great aptitude and has already promoted to an earth knight. Besides, he's protected by an earth knight, a black iron knight and so many bodyguards. As long as he shows his identity, he will face no obstacle wherever he is. How dare anyone find him trouble?'
'Is he having fun with a lot of women somewhere once again?'
'It's possible; it's probable.'
However, even though Han Zhengfang convinced himself that his 2nd son was meddling with women somewhere, he still felt gloomy.
After promoting to a knight, one's perceptions and aspirations would be exceptional. The higher level a knight was, the stronger his sixth sense would be. Han Zhengfang felt that he might have ignored something and something was going to happen. However, he couldn't figure it out; therefore, he felt fretful unconsciously.
Being fretful, he didn't feel good these days. Therefore, the entire Finance Minister's Mansion in Xuanyuan Hill was repressed lately. All the officials and clerks in the Finance Minister's Mansion behaved meticulously in case of any mistake.
'After Yuantu comes back, I will have his subordinates carry remote-sensing communications devices for sure in case of such an annoying condition!'
The window of Faerie-dragon limo rose up quietly and blocked the vision from outside. Before the tweets disappeared, a whim occurred to Finance Minister's mind.
'Oh, the master of royal prince invited me for a drink in Sincerity Garden today.'
When Han Zhengfang thought about the old man on the back of the emperor's imperial city, he tried his best to recover his composure.
Without this old man on the back of the emperor's imperial city, the three top chancellors might not feel safe leaving Xuanyuan Hill for an inspection.
…
When Han Zhengfang went to the Finance Minister's Authority for dealing with public affairs, the master of Sincerity Garden in the emperor's imperial city was feeding carps leisurely on one side of the pond in his courtyard.
The master of the Sincerity Garden was Meng Shidao. Few people might have heard this name, because nobody had dared call his name directly for dozens of years. In Xuanyuan Hill, everybody called him Master of Royal Prince. In other places, the name of Meng Shidao sounded like an identity for the Gobbling Party which was growing increasingly powerful. Meng Shidao was the leader of the Gobbling Party. The members of the Gobbling Party called their leader Daoshi.
Daoshi, the master of universal laws.
It was unimaginable that there was a place covering 66,600 square miles like an abandoned rural courtyard in the emperor's imperial city.
It was Sincerity Garden. There was no gardener, florist in the Sincerity Garden. There were only very few servants. Looking at it from outside, this garden was like an abandoned rural courtyard which lacked management. It was covered with weeds. There were only some wooden hedges around the garden. Some stray cats would drill into the garden through the gaps of the hedges and wallop in the weeds. However, all the people who were qualified to push open the hedge door and enter Sincerity Garden were influential figures in Xuanyuan Hill. Many dignitaries across Taixia Country were even glorious about having a chat with the master of Sincerity Garden.
The universal laws were in nature; the sincere minds were close to the universal laws.
When the master of Sincerity Garden told the royal prince about the source of Sincerity Garden, it caused a tide in Xuanyuan Hill. Someone meditated about it day after day; someone scrambled for it; someone was driven ecstatic.
At this moment, the master of Sincerity Garden was feeding the carps in the pond in a dedicated way.
After being dropped into the pond, the lifeless dough suddenly turned into vital white small fish, shrimps and insects swimming in the water in a split second like a magic, which could even dodge from the golden fish, making the shoal of carps boisterous.
With a sound of "Pah", a 30-cm longer black carp slapped the water by its tail in order to chase after a small shrimp incarnated by a dough, wetting the master's long gown with sprays. Closely after that, the black carp jumped into the gaps between stones on the side of the pond and was fixed there. The carp could only struggle in vain as it waved its tail and made the master's clean cloth shoes and the lower hem of his long gown dirty with some mud.
The master stopped dropping dough into the water. Watching the black carp struggling in the riprap while its scales were being scraped one bit after another, the master of Sincerity Garden slightly frowned. He looked at the waterlogging and mud stains over his shoes and gown and the black carp which had lost its strength to struggle in the riprap as his face gradually turned gloomy…
At this moment, a huge stray cat suddenly charged out of the weeds on the side of the pond with sparkling eyes. It was attracted by the fishy smell and movements of the black carp. This huge stray cat was not afraid of people at all. It charged towards that riprap by leaps and bounds. Closely after that, it scratched the black carp for a few times, causing the black carp to struggle for a short while once again. The huge stray cat then bit the spine of the black carp before dragging it out of the riprap and darting towards the weeds nearby. As the carp was too huge, plus it was struggling, the huge stray cat couldn't grip it by teeth and dropped it onto the ground. Then, the huge stray cat scratched it for a few times once again before biting its tail and slowly drawing it into the weeds far away from the pond…
Chapter 1151: Return of Zhang Tie
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
At 4 pm, all the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect had arrived at the airport outside Xuanyuan Hill and were ready for coming back to Youzhou Province by airboat.
Lord Guangnan's Mansion dispatched some vehicles to transport all of them to the airport. Zhang Tie said that they would leave at 4 pm; therefore, nobody dared to be late.
All the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect came to Xuanyuan Hill empty-handed; however, many people left with sabers, swords, armors, rouge, medicaments, books, various bizarre objects as well specialties of subcontinents. All of them were jubilant. These days in Xuanyuan Hill were too cool for them. Zhang Tie gave them freedom and 1 million gold coins. Additionally, Zhang Tie requested them to spend the money in Xuanyuan Hill. What an understanding, generous and unique master! If not Bai Suxian was on one side, some female disciples of Zhang Tie would have kissed Zhang Tie's face forcefully.
Uncle Zhong came here to see off Zhang Tie, Bai Suxian and the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect.
"We've already replenished the airboat. Lord Guangnan knows that Miss likes dried almonds, pear bloom sugar, blooms brew, rose ointment in South Province since young; therefore, he had people brought some here. They arrived 2 days ago. I've already had them loaded in the airboat…"
Bai Suxian became stunned for a second as her face turned a bit complex, "My dad…"
Uncle Zhong let out a sigh, "Miss, I will not talk about the domestic affairs of Lord Guangnan's Mansion. Lord has been used to be dissolute. Although he made some mistakes, it's nothing serious. What counts most is that Lord might be the one who cares about Miss most in the world. Those barbarians who sexually harassed Miss a few days ago had been killed by the killer assigned by Lord in Daizhou Province. Lord knows that Miss dislikes those dirty and smelly heads; therefore, he didn't have people carry them back. Additionally, Lord let me tell Miss to bring back the son-in-law for him when you're free…"
Bai Suxian blushed as she threw a glimpse at Zhang Tie stealthily. After finding that Zhang Tie was content, she let out a sigh before saying, "Uncle Zhong, watch out your health!"
Uncle Zhong replied with a big smile, "I'm fine. I feel much better lately. I suppressed the broken-golden witch parasites in my body for the first time. This morning, Childe Cui gave me another prescription. I think that my disease will be cured completely after a few more days. I have to appreciate Childe Cui for that…"
"We're of the same family, you're welcome!" Zhang Tie replied with a smile.
Both Uncle Zhong and Bai Suxian felt happy when they heard "We're of the same family" from Zhang Tie.
"Childe Cui. you'd better be vigilant about Gold and Power Law and Han Clan from today on. Although they wouldn't dare harm Miss, they could dare find you trouble. Lord said you could seek help from him directly if you meet dangers"
Uncle Zhong told Zhang Tie in a secret way. On the way towards the airport, Uncle Zhong silently passed a remote-sensing finger ring to Zhang Tie. According to Uncle Zhong, Zhang Tie could directly contact Bai Suxian's dad with this remote-sensing finger ring. Zhang Tie didn't refuse him.
After bidding a farewell to each other, Bai Suxian's and Uncle Zhong's eyes turned wet too. Zhang Tie and Bai Suxian got on the airboat in the end. After waving their hands towards Uncle Zhong, they closed the cabin of Iron-Dragon Airboat. As a result, they could not see Uncle Zhong anymore; vice versa. Iron-Dragon Airboat then slowly floated up and left the airport.
…
The Iron-Dragon Airboat soon arrived at Heavenlyqin Lake where it had passed by a few days ago.
Standing by the porthole, Zhang Tie watched the increasingly smaller Xuanyuan Hill which was rapidly moving backward as his eyes sparkled in a bizarre way.
Xuanyuan Hill was the most magnificent human city; however, Zhang Tie was only impressed by those grand and grotesque buildings and scenic spots. He didn't have too much resonance about Xuanyuan Hill. Xuanyuan Hill was neither strange nor familiar for him. That was all.
What a city could genuinely impress people was only people; instead of those cold or magnificent buildings. As nobody in Xuanyuan Hill could deeply impress Zhang Tie in his mind, Xuanyuan Hill was just Xuanyuan Hill. Zhang Tie might meet Blackhot City in dreams; however, he would never dream about Xuanyuan Hill.
Standing on Zhang Tie's side, Bai Suxian watched the sparkling Xuanyuan Hill under the sunlight, then Zhang Tie. Based on her acute insight, Bai Suxian felt that Zhang Tie was a bit special today since she met him in the morning.
"It's finally all over!" Zhang Tie muttered.
"What's all over?" Bai Suxian looked at Zhang Tie out of curiosity.
Zhang Tie smiled as he put his arm around Bai Suxian's tender and beautiful waist before saying, "I mean something should come to an end today. My identity as Cui Li should also come to an end too. Although it feels a bit fresh and stimulative by incarnating into another person by accident, if it's too long, it would be like putting on a play, I feel tired about it too. Whenever I cleansed up and looked into the mirror each morning, I would look at this fake face; therefore, I almost forgot about my original look. From then on, there will be only Zhang Tie; instead of Cui Li. I will be myself!"
After hearing Zhang Tie's words, Bai Suxian was too shocked to utter a word. Although Zhang Tie had told her that there would be such a day sooner or later, she had not imagined that it could come so fast. Previously, Bai Suxian thought that Zhang Tie would find an opportunity to expose his real identity to the public when they returned to Iron-Dragon Sect, she had not imagined that it was now.
"Now?" Bai Suxian asked Zhang Tie so as to confirm it.
"Hmm, right now!" Zhang Tie replied as his skeleton as a whole started to utter sounds. Closely after that, his figure started to change while hair started to grow out of his bald head. Only after a short while, Zhang Tie had recovered his original look——A juvenile at the age of 16 years old with black hair and black eyes who looked handsome like a juvenile in the neighborhood.
Watching the sunny juvenile in the mirror, Zhang Tie revealed a smile while the juvenile in the mirror responded with a smile too; Zhang Tie pulled a face while the juvenile in the mirror pulled his face too. The smile and grimace looked as same as before.
Previously, Zhang Tie thought that he might be intense after recovering his original look; however, at this moment, he found that he was pretty frank and quiet inside; he even felt a bit relaxed. He didn't care about the series of responses caused by this change; neither did he care about once being Cui Li as it was just a process of growth. Whatever, it was also a tough process of growth for Cui Li to incarnate into Zhang Tie himself.
Cui Li's underwears and robe were all larger than that of Zhang Tie's. Therefore, they looked loose and improper. After taking off those clothes, Zhang Tie took a whole set of clothes that Huaiyuan Palace prepared for clan elders out of his portable space-teleportation equipment and put them on from head to toe.
After putting on a long gown made of boa silk, a pair of caligas with gold soles and a full-moon dragon soul waistband, Zhang Tie turned into a handsome boy at once, a handsome boy who was already an earth knight and the master of a sect.
Bai Suxian kept watching Zhang Tie's original look on one side silently. Nobody knew what she was thinking about. Although Bai Suxian had watched Zhang Tie to change his look before, she felt more shocked this time. When she saw that tough man turning into a big boy and pulling his face in front of a mirror, Bai Suxian became stunned while blushing unconsciously. Her eyes contained an unspoken affection.
"Well, come on, help me fix my hair!" Zhang Tie turned around in front of the mirror as he waved his hand towards Bai Suxian. Zhang Tie's hair was about 30 cm in length which was pitch-dark and carried the healthy and young brilliance.
When Bai Suxian touched Zhang Tie's face and neck, she even became absent-minded. She stealthily glanced at Zhang Tie's look every now and then before blushing unconsciously.
"Are you worried about me? Why did you become absent-minded so many times?" Zhang Tie, sitting on the chair, sighed when he saw Bai Suxian's absent-minded look in the mirror. He then directly leaned against her two hard "softnesses".
Bai Suxian became amazed as she stopped fixing up Zhang Tie's hair and asked Zhang Tie, "What do you think I'm worried about?"
"I could only tell you that I'm as small and large as before. My original look was genuinely produced by Zhang Clan, not a copycat. You don't need to worry about me at all!" Zhang Tie replied with an obscene smile.
"Disgusting…" Bai Suxian beat Zhang Tie once when she realized what Zhang Tie referred to after 2 seconds. At the same time, her face turned redder.
Zhang Tie made a joke. Bai Suxian felt that this man was still her favored kind; therefore, she let out a sigh at once as she found back the intimate feeling with Zhang Tie…
With the help of Bai Suxian, Zhang Tie's hair was soon fixed. Closely after that, Zhang Tie summoned all of his disciples.
…
Only after boarding the airboat for half an hour, all the disciples of Iron-Dragon Sect had gathered in a specific place at Zhang Tie's order.
When Liu Xing entered that familiar room, followed by his junior fellow and sister apprentices, they saw a strange young man sitting on their master's chair…except for Zhu Dabiao.
At the sight of Zhang Tie, Zhu Dabiao's head buzzed as he felt sparkles flying before his eyes…he became speechless…
Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem
Zhu Dabiao rubbed his eyes by fingers in order to confirm that he didn't have an illusion. The one sitting on the golden chair was such familiar. Zhu Dabiao just felt his head buzzing as he faintly opened his mouth and didn't know what to say…
Few of Zhang Tie's disciples had noticed Zhu Dabiao's expression. When those disciples entered the room and saw a strange young man sitting in the position of their master while Bai Suxian was standing silently on one side of that young man, the atmosphere froze at once. Everybody just gazed at Zhang Tie and his chair; someone had already looked furious.
Standing in the front of all the other disciples, Liu Xing knew that all the others were waiting for him to make a response to this situation although he didn't look back.
"Uncle Master Bai, our master called us here. We wonder where's our master?" Liu Xing threw a calm glance at Zhang Tie before asking Bai Suxian. However, before Bai Suxian replied, Liu Xing had slowed his manner of speaking and told Zhang Tie, "Little brother, you're sitting on our master's chair. You could not sit there casually. If you're the customer of our master and Uncle Master Bai, you can sit here!". Liu Xing pointed at those rows of seats on one side of the room.
Bai Suxian didn't respond to Liu Xing's words; instead, she just threw a glance at Zhang Tie.
Zhang Tie revealed a smile. Given his disciples' facial expressions and the suddenly freezing atmosphere in the room, Zhang Tie had known that these disciples had accepted him from inside; especially Liu Xing, who treated Bai Suxian and Zhang Tie himself in a humble way. Therefore, Zhang Tie appreciated Liu Xing pretty much. What Zhang Tie felt pretty hilarious was Zhu Dabiao's 'exaggerating' expression as if he had seen a ghost. Zhang Tie's two nephews Zhang Chengxu and Zhang Chengze also looked very excited. When his two nephews saw him last time, they were only 7-8 years old. At that time, they could already remember his look. The sudden appearance of Zhang Tie shocked them too much. Zhang Chengze wanted to call him uncle; however, Zhang Chengxu stopped him by pulling his arm while throwing a glance at him. Zhang Chengze hurriedly stopped. Zhang Chengxu and Zhang Chengze both watched Zhang Tie with amazing and suspicious looks…
"Don't do that. Wait a minute. I was told that people could casually change their look using the disguising skill. We still don't know whether this man is the uncle or not!"
Zhang Chengze whispered to Zhang Chengxu; however, no matter how low the voice was, it could not escape from Zhang Tie's ears.
"Liu Xing, can't you recognize me?" Zhang Tie watched Liu Xing as he said in Cui Li's voice.
After hearing Zhang Tie's voice, Liu Xing and the other disciples behind him became restless at once. Liu Xing widely opened his eyes and looked straight into Zhang Tie's eyes; closely after that, he quivered all over.
This voice sounded too familiar. Even the qi in the voice was as same as that of Cui Li. More than that, even Zhang Tie's sitting position and expression looked familiar…
"Uncle Master Bai, what…what happened?" Liu Xing asked Bai Suxian.
"He's indeed your master!" Bai Suxian said as she threw a glance at Liu Xing and the other disciples. As she didn't know how to explain it to these disciples, she just poked Zhang Tie's back by finger as she said in a secret way, "Just clarify it to them!"
On such an occasion, how could his disciples believe him only by words? Thankfully, Zhang Tie had long predicted about this situation and worked out a method. If these people were none of his business, it might take him some time to let these people believe that he was Cui Li. However, now that they were his disciples, it would be much simpler for him to prove his identity.
Sitting on the golden chair, Zhang Tie flicked a curl of golden battle qi of spiritual energy towards his disciples. Before reaching his 121 disciples, it slightly vibrated and turned into 121 golden pedals before lurking into his disciples' foreheads. At the same time, his disciples felt dazzled as if something entered their foreheads. Closely after that, the "mark of preach" that Fire Dragon Hermit pointed at their foreheads using gilding dragon-blood cinnabar rocked and gave out brilliant golden light. Everyone then saw sparkling golden light in front of them.
Hua people valued master's inheritance pretty much. In Taixia's inheritance ceremony between master and disciples, putting in dragons with precious gilding dragon-blood cinnabar by a golden brush was an unnecessary step. When Zhao Yuan enrolled Zhang Tie as a disciple, the process was pretty simple; however, in official occasions, this step was very important. In inheritance ceremony, the master would leave a "mark of preach" in his disciples' mind sea by mixing his spiritual energy and battle qi with precious gilding dragon-blood cinnabar and pointing it onto the forehead of his disciples. This "mark of preach" was unique for disciples which meant that their blood and fleshes originated from their parents and forebears while their ranks of cultivation benefited by their master.
The disciples would appreciate their master so much like how they appreciated their parents for giving birth to them. After the step of putting in dragons with gilding dragon-blood cinnabar, the relationship between master and disciples would be confirmed.
The one who could activate the "mark of preach" was the very one who once put the "mark of preach" into their mind sea. It was even more effective than a DNA test. Before the Catastrophe, even a DNA could be cloned; however, only one person could put in the "mark of preach" and activate it.
After being shocked, Liu Xing and the other disciples confirmed Zhang Tie's identity at once. It was Cui Li, Fire Dragon Hermit, also their master. Starting from Liu Xing, all the other disciples hurriedly knelt down, including Zhu Dabiao. No matter whether he knew this person sitting in front of him previously, now that this young man was his master, he had to show respect to him. The identity of a grandson of provincial governor didn't work here in Iron-Dragon Sect.
"Master, sorry for being rude…"
It was regarded as a big crime if the disciples didn't bow towards their master.
"Stand up. You're innocent as you didn't know that. What happened today was not your fault either!" Zhang Tie said in Cui Li's slightly hoarse and mature voice. Zhang Tie's real voice sounded like that of a teenager which was even more tender than most of the disciples at present.
After confirming their master's identity, nobody felt this sound was strange anymore.
Liu Xing and all the other disciples hurriedly stood up.
"Master, have you disguised?" Liu Xing asked Zhang Tie bravely on behalf of his junior fellow and sister apprentices which was also what all the others wanted to know most.
Zhang Tie replied with a smile, "I've not disguised. This is actually my original look. Cui Li is my incarnation. Many among you might have heard my real name. I'm Zhang Tie, an elder of Huaiyuan Palace in Youzhou Province. I was screwed due to the tragedy in Fuhai City and was wanted by the Supreme Court of Taixia Country. When I was screwed and wanted, I had to hide my identity and look and escape everywhere. Now the Supreme Court of Taixia Country has already canceled off my order for arrest…"
After hearing Zhang Tie's original identity, more people among his disciples became as dumbfounded as Zhu Dabiao.
'My master Cui Li is Zhang Tie? The No. 1 black iron knight in Taixia Country? The black iron knight who wrote the article The Beloved Ones ? The main character of the Legend of Black Iron Hero? The Lion of Youzhou Province who once became especially outstanding in Youzhou City? The gentleman who was well-known across Taixia Country yet was screwed?'
'What is more important, he's so young and handsome.' Some female disciples had already cupped their hands at their hearts as they felt so happy that they almost passed out.
The name Zhang Tie was much well-known than Cui Li even though when he was just a black iron knight.
Although Cui Li was an earth knight, he had just been to Xuanyuan Hill and was strange to many people; however, the name Zhang Tie had been well-known in the knight's world. Zhang Tie's experiences could be legends of legends. He was really as brilliant as a superstar.
All of the disciples became stunned. Although the 7 black-armor fighters were usually calm, they were also shocked too much by Zhang Tie's words as they were going to fall down like stepping onto cotton or in the clouds.
'My master is Zhang Tie? My master is Zhang Tie?'
"Uncle, nice to see your original look…" Zhang Chengxu and Zhang Chengze had already rushed out of the crowd and kowtowed loudly several times in front of Zhang Tie before the others recovered their composure. When the two brothers raised their heads, their foreheads were already red while they burst out into tears…
When they were at home, many people at home told them that their uncle was wronged. Their father Zhang Yang also told them that their uncle was the pillar of the Zhang family. The two boys grew up hearing the stories and legends about Zhang Tie told by their grandparents. Therefore, they had long treated Zhang Tie as their life idol and hero. The two brothers had not imagined that they could meet Zhang Tie at this moment. Being extremely thrilled, they didn't even know what to say.
After seeing what Zhang Chengxu and Zhang Chengze did, the other two disciples from Huaiyuan Palace responded to it too, one male, one female. Closely after that, they walked out of the crowd and kowtowed loudly three times in front of Zhang Tie.
"Elder Mushen, Zhang Yueshan…Zhang Yawei are glad to see you recover your look…"
Zhang Tie was the hero of the Zhang family and Huaiyuan Palace. None of the disciples in Huaiyuan Palace would deny it…