Hong Zhao put the gun back into his spatial ring after realizing he wouldn't have a chance to test his most recent invention, yet after seeing its big brother in action, he didn't doubt the worth of a ninth star warrior ranked nine millimeter pistol.
After the shadow sect had taken over his covert affairs, he had little else to do except cultivate, spar and go on dates with Ren Cai, so he also started focusing on his spiritual blacksmithing again. He used his connections with Zhu Bai to get the materials he needed, then all he needed was practice. He asked the alchemist not only for ore instead of ingots, but also for certain minerals that could only be found near the iron. He then sent instructions on how to make sulfur. After that, just average charcoal being ground up with the other ingredients made the firepower he needed.
It took Hong Zhao the better part of a year to recreate all the components for his weapons. Doing it all from memory especially after being so many years out of practice, needless to say, it took a few tries.
When he had finally achieved warrior rank, he knew he had to use his strength in a way that would benefit his sect, so he set aside a few hours out of each day to make a weapon, then he'd put it in a spatial ring which would disappear in his shadow, then reappear at a shadow puppet at his base. Li Wei would empty the contents, then send the ring back.
They had stockpiled a large cache of weaponry that didn't belong in this world. Hong Zhao sent detailed instructions on how to disassemble them, clean them, aim them and fire. He also expressed the urgency that they not put the ammunition anywhere near open flame.
Even with all that he had done to prepare, as he looked at the magical beast in front of him, he knew they would need to prepare even more. Now that the bird was dead, Lan had told him that a bird beast could cover the distance between Yuan and Obopin within six to eight months depending on rank. When he had followed this one, he could feel the pressure of a ninth star warrior rank, this would mean that the next to come would have to be powerful.
"I don't care if I have to mass produce king ranked weaponry, we will win." Hong Zhao swore to himself. He had no heroic ideals. He didn't care about how flashy he was when he killed, or about honor among enemies. If someone was coming to kill them, he would find a way to nuke the bastards before they could. If someone was coming for your head, you had to take theirs first. "I may not have everything ready yet, but give me time."
It had taken years for him to do it, but he had finally come full circle. He was no longer the child he once was when first coming to the Yuan Continent. He had claws to fend off beasts, but he couldn't shrug off the tried and true approach of assassinations. He was feared by the City Lord due to his ferocious cultivation, yet the man didn't even come close to grasping his intellect.
He looked towards the direction the bird beast was fleeing. He knew that the amount of help he'd be able to provide Yuan was running out. With the weapons and poison he'd stockpiled so far, they'd probably be able to handle themselves even if a beast stronger than this one would make it to shore, but he wasn't going to wait to find out.
After years since he had come to this world, he was ready to start his true task. His sect would always be here, and he'd find a way to return to them soon enough.
"Master."
Hong Zhao smiled without turning. "Are the preparations complete?"
"We are ready." Shadow said as he followed Hong Zhao towards where the bird was going. When he made it through the clearing of trees, a medium sized wood boat was hitched to a post, a small living quarters was placed in the center. The ship was steadily rocking in the ocean water, waiting for them to board. "We will have enough food and water to last the journey." He handed his master a spatial ring. "Li Wei sends her love."
Hong Zhao smiled reminiscently at the name of his adoptive sister. From what he'd heard from reports, she had turned out to be more of a leader than he could have been, which worked towards his advantage. He was the lynchpin that brought them together, but in order to survive, they needed a way to grow without him.
"Don't think you can leave without me, Slate." Ren Cai leaned up against a tree near the boat.
"If I was planning to, do you think you'd even know where the boat was?" Hong Zhao rolled his eyes at his friend's theatrics.
"So, where to?" Ren Cai gave him a wink as she walked towards the boarding ramp.
"To Obopin, of course." The expert infiltrator within flared to life. "It's time to meet our captors."