I come to see Bai Yujing today

Chapter 294 The Perils of the Great Qian Dynasty

The true essence forging fire at Chen Zhian's fingertips had been extinguished, and a suit of armor, entirely black, floated in the air, its surface swirling with thirty thousand fine patterns.

Lightning flashed faintly at the joints of the armor plates, and the nine-aperture spirit jade inlaid on the shoulder armor was breathing in and out the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

Under the wondrous forging fire and hand seals of the hammer-wielding deity at Baiyujing Qingshan Tower, Chen Zhian forged an armor of 30,000 forgings in just one day.

Even though Chen Zhian already knew the secrets of the third floor of Qingshan Tower, he still couldn't hide his surprise.

He didn't have time to be surprised for long.

That divine essence exploded forth, landing in Chen Zhian's ears.

Chen Zhian remained calm and composed as he turned to look.

But then, more than ten miles away, atop a mountain peak, a blood-red figure could be seen.

It was a young man dressed in a dark red robe, with three strangely shaped short swords hanging at his waist.

What is most striking is the vertical scar between his eyebrows, which is now emitting an eerie red glow.

"Senior brother, your forging skills are exquisite, and your refining techniques are extraordinary."

The man in red robes arrived on clouds, but stopped three miles away and bowed to Chen Zhian.

He smiled and said, "Xia Tu of the Yellow Heaven Gate, may I ask your name, senior brother?"

Huangtianmen...

Chen Zhian had naturally heard of Huang Tianmen!

There are countless mystical sects in the world, but those who attain the highest level of enlightenment and whose names are inscribed on the plaques of mystical sects are few and far between.

Huang Tianmen not only made the list, but even ranked fourteenth on the Xuanmen Stele!

It is truly the greatest sect in the world.

“A disciple of Huangtianmen…” Chen Zhian pondered for a moment, then returned the greeting and said, “You are too kind, my name is Li Chao, and I am a disciple of Riyue Mountain. I am on my way back to my sect.”

Sun and Moon Mountain is where Jiao Nu lives.

"Sun and Moon Mountain?"

Xia Tu was somewhat surprised: "Sun and Moon Mountain can't be called a great sect, yet it has such a high-achieving disciple as my cousin!"
There are countless craftsmen in the world, but very few can forge armor with ten thousand layers of steel.

Those capable of forging a suit of armor with 30,000 layers of steel in a single day are even rarer.

As he said this, a genuine smile appeared on his face, and he shook his head, saying, "However, speaking of which, Sun and Moon Mountain is not far from my sect, [Owl Platform], only about 180 miles away."

Brother Li Chao, I am delighted to meet such a master craftsman as you today, and I am eager to befriend you.

Senior brother, why don't you come and visit my Xuanmen sect? I'd like to do my best to be a good host."

Xia Tu spoke sincerely, his eyes even revealing a hint of expectation as he gazed at Chen Zhian.

Chen Zhian let out a soft exclamation and said, "Huangtianmen is in Suinan County... Could it be that Senior Brother Xia Tu has already stepped into the Xuanlou realm and is able to go down the mountain to establish his own sect?"

Since Jiao Nu prayed to the Lord of Baiyujing and delivered the message from the Lower Immortal Palace.

Over the past ten days, Chen Zhian has found many travelogues and accounts of his experiences in the Great Qian Dynasty and read them carefully.

After more than ten days of intensive study, Chen Zhian could not claim to have a detailed understanding of the Great Qian Dynasty, but he did gain some impression of the Huangtianmen, a Xuanmen sect that was famous throughout the Great Qian Dynasty and even the world.

There is a rule at Huangtianmen.

Or perhaps many esoteric sects in the Great Qian Dynasty had such rules.

—Once a disciple in the Xuanmen sect has mastered his skills and can stand on his own, he can choose whether to go down the mountain to challenge other sects, thereby occupying the mountain gate, plundering cultivation resources, and establishing his own sect.

Once successful, one will receive rewards and support from the Xuanmen (Taoist sect).

Once the Xuanmen established through plunder grows up, it can then give back to the main Xuanmen.

This shows how cruel the Great Qian Dynasty was, as it was inherently filled with competition.

The rule of Huangtianmen is that once a disciple reaches the Xuanlou realm, he or she can leave the mountain and establish his own sect.

Xia Tu smiled and nodded, then his gaze fell on the armor hanging high in the void.

"Senior brother's weapon-refining technique is quite rare even in our Great Qian Dynasty."

As Xia Tu spoke, he walked another two or three miles and landed not far from Chen Zhian.

As Xia Tu approached, Chen Zhian felt a strong smell of blood assaulting his senses.

Xia Tu, however, was still examining the armor that Chen Zhian had just forged, a hint of simple envy flashing in his eyes: "Senior Brother Li Chao, would you be willing to part with it?"

Chen Zhian glanced at Xia Tu and said, "Senior Brother Xia Tu is joking. Your armor is probably of the level of 60,000 to 70,000 forgings. Why would you need my armor?"

Xia Tu's brow twitched, and he shook his head and sighed, "Times have changed. In the past, when I was in the Yellow Heaven Gate, I didn't need to be in charge, so naturally I wouldn't be tempted by armor made of 30,000 taels."

But now that I've built a [Heroic Platform], and have many elders and disciples under my command, I have to devise strategies for them.

Chen Zhian first nodded, then shook his head.

"Since you come from a great sect like Huangtianmen, you naturally don't know about the financial difficulties of us disciples from smaller sects."

It's funny, but I've been collecting many of the materials for forging this armor for a full twenty years.

Today, we have finally managed to forge this suit of armor. My junior brother intends to use it for protection, but it cannot be sold.

Upon hearing this, Xia Tu's eyes first showed some disappointment, then he nodded with considerable understanding.

"But I wonder what this armor is called?"

Chen Zhian's gaze remained unchanged as he smiled and said, "On the blueprints I obtained, this armor is called the Azure Emperor Armor."

"Azure Emperor Armor! How imposing!"

Xia Tu praised him, then looked at Chen Zhian carefully before bowing deeply to the ground: "Senior Brother! My Xiaotai also has many precious ores and materials, as well as several blueprints, which can be used to forge several types of armor and weapons! It's just that we are struggling to find a suitable craftsman..."

Before Chen Zhian could express his doubts, he continued, "Huangtianmen has its own craftsmen, but unfortunately my master has a falling out with several craftsmen in the Craftsmen Hall, which makes it impossible for me to invite craftsmen to help."

Seeing my senior brother today is truly a wonderful thing.

"I wonder if my senior brother has the time to come to my Xiaotai and forge a weapon for me?"

As he spoke, he looked into Chen Zhian's eyes, and just then he noticed a hint of hesitation in Chen Zhian's eyes, so he quickly said, "Senior brother, don't worry. My Xiaotai is in Ganlin County, which is only 180 miles away from Riyue Mountain."

"If you want to return to Riyue Mountain, you'll have to pass through Ganlin County."

"If Senior Brother is willing, Xia Tu has already offered a generous reward."

As he finished speaking, he bowed for the third time, his eyes growing increasingly sincere.

Looking at Xia Tu in front of him, Chen Zhian felt alarm bells ringing in his heart.

"The stench of blood on this man was almost impossible to conceal; it's unknown how many people he has killed."

But when he saw me, he remained humble and polite, without a trace of ferocity…

"But... does he really think that by putting on a show, he can trick people into going to his command post?"

Chen Zhian muttered to himself.

At this moment, Xia Tu once again spoke, flicking his sleeve.

With a flick of his sleeve, a blueprint suddenly appeared in his hand. The blueprint radiated golden light and exuded an extremely sharp blade-like aura. Without much thought, one could tell how precious the blueprint was.

“If you are willing to go, I will give you this blueprint.”

"It records a sword of grade 99,000, which is only one step away from becoming famous throughout the world."

As he spoke, he unfolded the drawing halfway through!

The half-drawn blueprint is incredibly mysterious, with an unimaginable aura flowing through it. The use of various materials makes it shine, making it extremely precious!

Chen Zhian was immediately moved. "This Xia Tu actually possesses such a treasure?"

Chen Zhian couldn't help but look closely at Xia Tu.

The man had a smile on his face, and his cultivation level was concealed by a qi-concealing technique, making it impossible for Chen Zhian to see through him.

"On the surface, he may only appear to be at the Xuanlou realm, but Xia Tu is a hidden master. He is at least a Xuanchi expert, and may even be a Xuanfu expert."

As Chen Zhian pondered.

Xia Tu suddenly closed the blueprints in his hands: "Senior brother, would you be willing to come with me to my Xiaotai?"

Chen Zhian stopped thinking about it and a slight smile appeared on his face. He nodded and said, "I really can't refuse such a kind invitation from my senior brother!"

The two then traveled together for a hundred miles.

We crossed mountains and a long, winding river.

Chen Zhian and Xia Tu finally caught sight of a county in the distance.

"Xiaotai is not comparable to the Daqian Gate of Yahai County. It only governs three counties, the most recent of which is Baishui County."

Xia Tu chuckled and introduced him to Chen Zhian.

The county town was quite large, but there were very few pedestrians on the streets. The few pedestrians who walked by were dressed rather simply compared to the people of Dayu.

"That's how it is in the Great Qian Dynasty... The vast majority of resources are used by cultivators for cultivation, while ordinary people live a simple life in terms of clothing, food, housing, and transportation."

"Moreover... in the Great Qian Dynasty, only one or two out of ten people can be considered ordinary citizens."

Many more...are just firewood!

With this thought in mind, Chen Zhian left the county town.

As the mountain road rounded a narrow pass, thick smoke mixed with the stench of burning filled the air.

Chen Zhian frowned and looked around. He saw twelve black stone quenching workshops standing on the outskirts of Baishui County. Each workshop had a bronze-cast crow-shaped chimney on top, which was spewing out dark red smoke.

“This is the quenching furnace,” Xia Tu said casually. “Every child under the age of six has to walk through here to see if it’s high-quality firewood or just ordinary weeds. They can tell by looking at this quenching furnace.”

Heart-wrenching cries echoed from inside the quenching workshop.

Through the half-open iron gate, Chen Zhian saw dozens of children chained to bronze pillars, the pillars covered with vein-like grooves, already unconscious.

They had no injuries, but they were pale, their lips were cracked, and some of the children were startled awake with terrified eyes.

It was as if he had suffered a great torment.

Chen Zhian remained expressionless and continued walking.

Thirty miles from Baishui County, there is another county called Shi County, which also has many quenching furnaces.

In addition, Chen Zhian also saw rows of black tents.

He wanted to use his divine power to investigate, but Xia Tu was not far from him. In order not to alert Xia Tu, Chen Zhian suppressed his curiosity.

As night fell, the night deepened.

Chen Zhian was surprised to find that there were few pedestrians in Shi County, but the candlelight on both sides of the street was very bright, making the county town as bright as day.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look at Baishui County, where he had just been.

The same was true in Baishui County, where the lights were on full display.

"Such a bright candlelight..."

Chen Zhian suddenly remembered the reason recorded in a travelogue.

"Inferior firewood dies and loses its value, so it will be made into human candles to illuminate the entire Great Qian Kingdom."

"If someone could fly up to 30,000 feet in the sky and look down at the Great Qian, they would see countless places with dazzling lights."

"So these are all human candles?"

Chen Zhian looked at the candlelight on both sides of the street. The crimson candles burned very slowly, and thick wax dripped under each lamp, emitting a slightly fishy smell.

Chen Zhian remained silent and followed Xia Tu for several dozen miles until they finally arrived at Ganlin County.

As always, the county town was sparsely populated, and outside the town, there were many black tents and quenching furnaces.

In Ganlin County, however, a huge tent had its curtains drawn.

Chen Zhian looked up and saw that the tent was filled with countless emaciated people.

These people were filthy, their eyes showed no fear, and they appeared completely numb.

These people... are probably the firewood Xia Tu mentioned.

Long ago, when Chen Zhian went to extradite Lin Ting, he heard about the theory of "firewood" from Meng Huali.

"The Great Qian Emperor once said that heaven and earth are like a furnace, which can cook true gold and also firewood."

Firewood falling into the furnace will naturally turn into ashes, becoming nourishment for the furnace and making the flames in this furnace of heaven and earth burn ever brighter.

But pure gold will have its impurities burned away, becoming even more precious and brilliant.

"Firewood is just firewood. In the eyes of cultivators and nobles of the Great Qian Dynasty, it is not considered a person at all, but merely nourishment."

Chen Zhian pondered in his heart.

The two landed and walked towards a valley shrouded in mist.

As Chen Zhian stepped into the clouds, a mountain suddenly appeared before him.

The mountain was low, like a high platform.

It is likely that Xiaotai got its name from this mountain.

The two walked another three or four miles when Chen Zhian suddenly stepped on a broken bone...

Immediately afterward, as the thick fog dissipated, deeper into the valley, Chen Zhian saw many buildings. Behind the buildings, thousands of "firewood" workers were being whipped by overseers to move organs. Some were responsible for cutting open the abdomen to remove the liver, while others used silver hooks to remove the eyeballs.

“This is Xiaotai’s raw material yard.” Chen Zhian couldn’t help but look at a hollowed-out body in the firewood. “The heart is used to refine blood pills, the bones are used to make spiritual treasures, and even the oil is boiled into lamp oil.”

At this moment, Xia Tu suddenly stopped in front of a large building.

He turned to Chen Zhian and said, "Senior brother, you shall forge weapons and armor in this prison of owls."

"The Prison of the Tyrant?" Chen Zhian raised an eyebrow.

Xia Tu's smile remained unchanged as he said, "Does Senior Brother really think I haven't seen through your identity?"

"You are a man from the Sun and Moon Mountain, yet you do not know my great name, Xia Tu."

"You are an extraordinary craftsman, yet I have never heard of your name."

"You are a cultivator of my Great Qian Dynasty, the True Fire of Great Qian Dynasty! Seeing the blood sacrifice of the Dao True One, there was even a hint of reluctance in your eyes... Seeing those firewood, there was even a touch of compassion in your eyes!"

"Senior Brother Li Chao, I don't know where you come from... but it's not hard to guess your purpose. I suppose you've come for that Lower Immortal Palace."

Nowadays, Yahai County is full of stupid sheep like you.

"Killing a few and raising a few shouldn't cause any problems."

Xia Tu paused slightly, took a few steps forward, and stared at Chen Zhian: "Let me teach you a few principles."

We cultivators of the Great Qian Dynasty wouldn't even glance at firewood.

"The Great Qian Dynasty is treacherous! I will never go with anyone who invites me!"

"Our Great Qian is a land of blood sacrifices. Even I must be constantly on guard to avoid becoming someone else's blood sacrifice!"

"Senior Brother Li Chao, have you remembered this?"

(End of this chapter)