Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 593 History
Li Zhongren's mind raced through cold, hard logic.

Using extraordinary powers to drive the Industrial Revolution?

He nipped the idea in the bud as soon as it popped into his head.

In a world where individual power exists, without matching military protection, advanced productivity is nothing but a death warrant, turning his territory into the fattest lamb in the eyes of surrounding forces and even wizards.

What he needs is something that can be quickly monetized and used to enhance himself, without touching the sensitive nerves of higher-level forces.

"The product must be good enough to entice people to trade it for extraordinary items, but not so good that the wizard would feel threatened."

He pondered.

"It should belong to the pinnacle of the 'ordinary,' but with my help, it can be easily scaled up. However, it cannot possess 'growth potential' or 'knowledge value'; it is best to be a pure consumable or tool."

His gaze swept across the territory resource report, landing on the words "ore" and "blacksmith".

Plate armor.

A clear plan took shape in his mind.

The manufacture of plate armor in this era was extremely time-consuming, relying on master blacksmiths to forge it by hand, hammer blow by hammer blow. A set of fine full plate armor was quite valuable.

But he is different. His fighting spirit can easily create water-powered forging hammers, high-precision stamping dies, and standardized fixtures that are ahead of their time. He will establish a "plate armor production line" that should not exist in this era.

He is the King of Knights, and as long as he is in charge here, no one will dare to openly rob this property.

The high-quality, relatively inexpensive plate armor produced will become his hard currency for exchanging extraordinary materials.

Lords, mercenary groups, and even other nobles will go crazy for this equipment that can greatly enhance the strength of their armies. Their gold coins, and more importantly, those extraordinary items whose uses are unknown or which are treasured, will flow into Iris Country in an endless stream.

"That's it."

Once he made up his mind, Li Zhongren immediately demonstrated remarkable efficiency.

He practically emptied the baron's treasury, hiring all available manpower in the territory—miners, fishermen, farmers, and even some nimble women—at unprecedented salaries.

Large, simple yet functional sheds were quickly built outside the castle.

On the mine, the scale of mining has expanded several times, and the clanging of chisels never stops day and night.

The wagons, originally used to transport fish, are now laden with ore, rumbling toward the newly built, large-scale smelting area on the riverbank.

Several tall iron smelting furnaces stood there, with black smoke and steam billowing day and night, and the red glow of molten iron reflecting on the sweat-drenched faces of the workers.

The most central area was personally controlled by Li Zhongren.

He used his fighting spirit to mimic a huge, tireless "water hammer," precise stamping dies, and a set of fixtures to ensure the standardization of parts.

An assembly line operation method was introduced, where each worker only needed to repeat a simple step: place the red-hot iron block into a fixed position, start the "tool," remove the initially formed armor plate, and perform simple polishing and finishing.

They couldn't understand the workings of the tools that appeared after the Baron's silver light flashed; they only knew that they were incredibly powerful and precise.

They no longer produced rough iron ingots, but rather plates of armor with beautiful curves, uniform thickness, and a cold metallic sheen. Breastplates, armplates, and legplates were stacked in categories, like a jungle of metal.

The entire territory seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant, and the dullness of the fishing village and mines was replaced by a bustling and energetic atmosphere.

Although it was hard work, the real money paid by the Baron gave every family something to look forward to.

The air was no longer filled with only the smells of fish and earth; it was now permeated with a powerful aroma of coal, rust, and sweat.

A vibrant energy is surging across this land.

Once the warehouse was filled with the expected number of plate armor parts, Li Zhongren released the news.

He did not appear in person, but spread the news of "Iris Flower Territory producing high-quality and inexpensive plate armor parts" like the wind to the surrounding areas and even more distant countries through the songs of bards.

Soon, representatives from major chambers of commerce across the mainland flocked to the scene.

They were invited into the castle hall, where a unique "territorial agency rights auction" was being held.

Among the crowd, one figure stood out: a female elf named Pastor Oak.

In this region, elves are rare, a reclusive race of wandering merchants known for their keen eye and adventurous trades.

Her attire blended practicality with elfin elegance, and though she was travel-worn, it couldn't conceal her clear and sharp gaze.

She stood quietly in the corner, observing the other chamber of commerce representatives arguing heatedly over the agency rights, their prices soaring. They were using not only gold coins, but also all sorts of strange items: magic scrolls, rare herbs, and ancient artifacts of unknown purpose...

As the bidding gradually subsided and the largest regional agency rights were awarded to the most powerful human guilds, Pastoral Oak slowly stepped forward. Instead of bidding in gold coins, she took out an object wrapped in soft silk from her baggage.

She gently opened it, and in an instant, the entire hall seemed to be lit up by starlight.

It was a gem the size of a pigeon's egg, with liquid starlight flowing inside, radiating pure and powerful energy fluctuations.

"Your Excellency, the Baron."

Her voice was like a clear spring in the forest, with a hint of the ancient accent unique to elves.

"I am willing to exchange this 'Star Tear' gem for your exclusive agency rights in the northeastern region, including parts of the edge of the Elf Forest, and..."

She paused, raised her head, and looked directly at Li Zhongren on the throne.

"An opportunity to have dinner with you."

An uproar erupted in the hall.

The value of that gem far exceeded the offer from any previous merchant guild.

Li Zhongren's gaze lingered on the gemstone for a moment. He could feel the abundant energy contained within it, far exceeding any of the treasures in his collection.

He nodded slightly.

"can."

Dinner was held in a quiet little room in the castle.

Li Zhongren's attitude was indifferent and distant. To him, this elven merchant was just a trading partner who provided precious and extraordinary items. Perhaps he was a little different from other merchants, but there was no essential difference between them.

At the dinner table, Pastoral Oak was well-mannered and spoke with an air of knowledge and experience.

She talked about the local customs and traditions of various parts of mainland China, as well as her experiences on business routes.

Li Zhongren mostly listened quietly, occasionally asking questions.

Somehow, the conversation drifted to ancient legends.

Pastoral Oak took a sip of fruit wine, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

"It is said that long, long ago, this world was not like this. Magic energy, or rather, a more primal energy, filled every corner of the world. At that time, the great Elf Empire stood on the continent, glorious and magnificent..."

Li Zhongren paused slightly in the hand holding the wine glass.

"But something happened, a huge change occurred, and the magic power gradually weakened and disappeared like the receding tide."

"Without its foundation, the powerful empire disintegrated and turned into dust and ruins of history."

"We survivors have no choice but to wander around. The glory we once had is now just stories passed down by word of mouth and some fragments scattered in ancient ruins."

Her voice lowered. Li Zhongren put down his wine glass and asked casually.

"Are there any more specific records about that upheaval?"

Pastoral Oak shook his head apologetically.

"I'm very sorry, Your Excellency, all I know are these vague legends. The era is too long ago, and many records have been lost."

"Perhaps in some of the ancient dwellings of our people that have long been abandoned, one or two broken scrolls or stone carvings can still be found, but those places are mostly dangerous and remote."

Seeing that Li Zhongren seemed very interested in this, she took the initiative to speak.

“If you are interested in this ancient history, sir, I can keep an eye out for it on my next business trip. My family once had a ancestral home site, and I vaguely remember seeing some ancient things there when I was a child.”

Li Zhongren's heart stirred, but he remained outwardly calm.

“Oh? If Miss Oak can find some valuable ancient books or records, I am willing to give you an extra 10% discount on this year’s transaction share as a reward.”

A flicker of joy flashed in Pastoral Oak's eyes: "Thank you so much for your generosity, Baron! I will do my best to find it!"

The night breeze ruffled his short, golden hair, and the bright moonlight bathed the earth, enveloping the distant workshops and the wider territory in a silvery glow.

Behind him was Pastoral Oak, curled up asleep on the bed. This woman's little scheme was quite interesting. She maintained her pure body as capital for investment, and then, after seeing him, she actually went all in.

All I can say is that she truly has the nature of a businesswoman.

Of course, Li Zhongren didn't care about this. He was long past the age of love. In this world, only interests are eternal.

"Magic energy overflowing... waning... the empire collapsing..."

As the night wind blew again, Li Zhongren couldn't help but recall the words of Pastoral Oak.

As a time traveler, he has an extraordinary sensitivity to this pattern. Behind the historical gaps in this world, there may be a huge secret, or even something related to the nature of supernatural power.

The purity of the "Star Tear" gem's energy far exceeded his expectations, which aroused his strong interest in even more ancient and extraordinary relics.

However, he took a deep breath of the cool air and suppressed his turbulent thoughts.

"Build high walls, store up plenty of grain, and delay declaring yourself king."

He muttered to himself, his gaze regaining its calm and sharpness.

Secrets are important, but strength is the foundation for uncovering all secrets.

Right now, he needs to lie low and accumulate experience.

The most important thing is to use the plate armor business to harvest extraordinary materials and convert them into attribute points and skill levels.

Under the moonlight, his figure stood tall and lonely, like a primordial beast that had sheathed its claws and silently gathered its strength, quietly watching this land that was about to be changed because of him.
-
Dividing line

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, an elven carriage decorated with simple vine patterns quietly drove away from the border of the Iris Collar.

Inside the carriage, Pastoral Oak, or rather, the last royal descendant of the elves, the long-lived Elaril Morningstar, leaned back on a soft cushion. All the tenderness and merchant shrewdness he had displayed the previous night at the baron's castle had vanished from his face, leaving only a deep-seated weariness and an icy silence.

Last night's physical pleasure and exhaustion have long been overshadowed by heavier emotions.

Sitting opposite her was a relatively young elven maid named Lila.

Looking at the princess's pale and restrained profile, she finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"Your Highness...you...you really...worth it? To hand over a sacred artifact like 'Tears of the Stars,' and even...even to submit to a human nobleman..."

Ellariel did not answer immediately, but slowly turned her head to look at the desolate fields rushing past the window.

Her eyes were no longer clear forest springs, but had turned into two bottomless abysses, filled with the frost of a thousand years and deep-seated hatred.

"worth?"

Her voice was as soft as a sigh, yet it carried a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Lila, tell me, what could be more worthwhile than 'revenge'?"

Her gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, returning to that nightmarish, distant past.

"You are too young; you have never experienced the twilight of an empire..."

Ailariel's voice became ethereal, lost in heavy memories.

"The first war, which they called the 'War of the Gods,' saw us elves join forces with the early human kingdoms and pay an unimaginable price to expel or completely annihilate those ancient gods who relied on faith and acted recklessly. We thought that we had ushered in an era belonging to the intelligent races of the mortal world."

Her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.

"But we were wrong. We drove away the tiger, but we nurtured a more terrible and colder serpent, the wizard."

When she mentioned this word, her voice was filled with hatred that almost materialized.

"The Second War, the 'Wizard War,' was born from the Imperial Academy and our magical research, but they took a completely different path."

"What they seek is not resonance with the world, nor the sublimation of life, but... a cold, absolute 'truth.' In their eyes, our glorious civilization, sprawling cities, powerful magic, and even life itself are merely experimental materials and data that can be dissected, analyzed, and utilized!"

Before Elaril's eyes, it seemed as if raging flames were burning again, a scene of the elven capital, "Eternal Song City," burning amidst the disintegrating magic flames released by the wizard alliance.

She saw her parents, siblings, and respected mentors not die in heroic battles, but like lab rats, having their lives stripped away, their souls broken down, and their energy structures studied by all sorts of incomprehensible magic.

The wizards' faces didn't display cruel, maniacal laughter, but rather a despairing, pure curiosity and indifference, as if they were observing ants in a glass box.

“They are not fighting to conquer or destroy; they are destroying us for ‘study’.”

Her voice trembled with extreme pain.

“They constructed a massive barrier, forcibly draining most of the world’s magical energy and concentrating it in their so-called ‘Wizard Continent,’ just to create a ‘laboratory’ with extremely high energy concentration for them. Our world, our home, was abandoned by them like discarded waste, becoming a ‘forsaken land’ with scarce magical energy.”

"I watched everything disappear with my own eyes...family, homes, civilization...everything..."

She slowly closed her eyes, and a faint yet incredibly pure power, carrying the aura of ancient life, flowed slowly within her body.

That was the last essence and a broken prophecy that the Imperial Sacred Tree "Andor" forcibly injected into her body before it was completely disintegrated by the wizards' weapons of law.

"The sacred tree has not completely abandoned us..."

Ellariel murmured softly, as if telling herself, and also as if telling her fallen brethren.

"It gave me final guidance: the elves will surely return, possessing their rightful place, and magical energy will once again spread to every corner of the world, shattering the selfish shackles of wizards..."

She opened her eyes, and a near-obsessive light rekindled in her deep gaze. The only clue left by the prophecy... was an iris.

So when she heard that a small place called Iris Ridge, a remote borderland, had suddenly begun to produce a kind of high-quality plate armor that was unprecedented and almost standardized, her heart, which had been dormant for hundreds of years, suddenly skipped a beat.

She rushed here at all costs, using one of her family's last treasured relics and her own body as stakes to get close to the human baron named Li Zhongren.

She didn't know what the prophecy specifically meant, or if it referred to this place.
Is it that man?
Or is it some kind of impending event symbolized by the iris?

But she had waited too long, and she had to seize any opportunity that might arise.

Even at the cost of everything, she would pry open the doors of fate and exact revenge on those "scholars" who stood high above the Wizarding Continent, coldly looking down upon this withered world, and who had betrayed the Elven race.

(End of this chapter)