Dragon Clan: I am Lu Mingfei, the Intelligence Strategist, the God of Concepts!

Chapter 82 The Tiger's Fangs Tear Apart the Souls of the Cowardly (5.6k)

Lu Mingfei, who had just finished eating the melon, was completely unaware that the melon hadn't disappeared.
It just happened to me.

Faced with such a serious philosophical and ethical problem, Chu Zihang felt that it was not something he should solve, nor was he capable of solving it.

What he should really be doing is just like this...

They quietly withdrew from the main hall.

Then he exchanged a glance with the old general guarding the entrance, revealing smiles of different degrees but the same style.

……

In the afternoon, news came from the entrance that the underground palace treasure vault had finally been opened.

Lu Mingfei finished the battle feeling refreshed and walked out of the main hall with Nuwa, whose face was dark and whose forehead was throbbing.

A large sedan chair carried by eight men had been waiting at the entrance for quite some time.

Nuwa skillfully 'swam' up the specially made sedan chair ramp, lifted the curtain and patted the empty seat next to her, her voice carrying an ambiguous meaning, whether it was a provocation or an invitation.

"Would you like to sit with me?"

Lu Mingfei refused outright. What feudal etiquette... It's fine if Nuwa has difficulty walking, but we are members of the new era!

Seeing this, Nuwa didn't insist and casually lowered the curtain.

The moment they set off, Lu Mingfei clearly saw a solemn and dignified expression on Nuwa's pretty face. She had transformed back into an empress ruling the world, as if the person he had been playing games with earlier was actually someone else.

The sedan chair proceeded quietly forward until it finally stopped in a corner of the palace complex.

Before us lay a deep, sloping passage.

The Zhou family's underground palace area is off-limits to most people.

The sedan chair bearers belonged to the 'vast majority'.

They gently lowered the sedan chair.

Nuwa slowly swam out, gathered and lifted the intricate and gorgeous palace dress, and handed it to Lu Mingfei, who was standing next to the sedan chair with an embarrassed look on his face.

"This...isn't this appropriate?"

Lu Mingfei swallowed hard. No girl had ever done anything like this in front of him before, lifting her skirt... even though what was revealed underneath was a limb covered in scales and twisted like a snake's tail.

"Look at all this dust on the ground. What if my skirt gets dirty? My hands will need to be used in another situation later."

Nuwa raised her delicate chin and poked at the stone steps in front of her.

"Otherwise, you'll have to carry me on your back. Either help me lift my skirt, or carry me on your back... You choose one." Nuwa suddenly revealed a sly smile.

Lu Mingfei broke out in a sweat, thinking to himself, "Could this young lady be taking revenge on someone for losing a game?"

It's so hard to choose between them!

He hurriedly looked around for help at the sedan chair bearers and Zhou Minhao, who was hanging at the end like a grand eunuch. However, Zhou Minhao and the others seemed to be hypnotized, keeping their eyes down and indifferent to the matter.

"Hurry up! The treasure vault is opening at an auspicious time, don't miss it!" Nuwa urged again.

Lu Mingfei had no choice but to take the large hem of the skirt with both hands... He couldn't really let her carry it on her back, could he? That would be ridiculous.

At this moment, Nuwa smiled and took out an ancient key from her sleeve. It was engraved with mysterious patterns, like some kind of alchemical matrix.

Lu Mingfei was speechless.

This key is so small it doesn't take up much space in your hand; you could easily hold it along with your dress.

However, Nuwa gave him no room to back out. She immediately lowered her body slightly and slid down the gentle slope like an ice skater.

"Hehe, let's go!"

Upon seeing this, Lu Mingfei's face turned green. He felt a sense of bewilderment, like an eighty-year-old grandmother standing up from her wheelchair to dance a waltz. He would fight anyone who said that Nuwa was inconvenient to move around!
"Hey, slow down, wait for me!"

Few people know that beneath this palace complex in a corner of Tang City lies an equally luxurious and exquisite area.

This passage alone is inlaid with a large number of luminous pearls and ever-burning candles that appear to be made from mermaid oil. Of course, in the terminology of those in the know, mermaids are animals that have been mutated by dragon blood, and can also be called a subspecies of dragon.

The underground palace complex features roofs adorned with shimmering glazed tiles, and its pillars and doorways are exquisitely carved, making it feel as if one has stepped back into the imperial residence of thousands of years ago.

However, Lu Mingfei quickly spotted a hidden camera in the corner, emitting a faint red light.

That's a blunder!
"What is this place?"

“The underground area is the core area of ​​the Zhou family, and those palaces are the residences of the elders,” said Nuwa.

Old man?
Lu Mingfei's heart skipped a beat. Let me see what's going on!
He quietly unleashed the 'Word of Power: Bloodline Jigsaw' that he had just acquired.

The principle behind this power of words is to awaken the caster's own bloodline, enhance their sensitivity to bloodline perception, resonate with those around them who possess dragon blood, and thus locate their position.

For normal people, bloodline ligaments are a double-edged sword.

Individuals with superior and powerful bloodlines are like candlelight in the dark, making them easier to spot. However, they can also refuse to resonate and hide themselves. Extremely powerful beings can even use bloodline resonance to harm the one who releases the power of words.

Normally, this Word of Power, whose serial number is only 02, will only awaken in hybrids with B-grade or even C-grade bloodlines. Every time they release 'Bloodline Gathering,' it's like playing a dice game with God, and who knows when the radar will explode.

But Lu Mingfei is an exception. Not only did he obtain the S-rank of this Word of Power like never before, but he even skipped the Dragon Rune incantation, as if it were an innate instinct...

'Om—'

Thick and thin red lines extended from his heart, forming a spider web visible only to him, spreading in all directions and gradually enveloping the entire underground palace.

"Holy crap, there are so many people!"

Lu Mingfei was immediately shocked.

Sure enough, beyond their line of sight, countless eyes were watching his and Nuwa's every move, while thick red threads enveloped one of the pavilions...

pat-

"Watch where you're going, don't step on my tail." Nuwa turned around and gave him a reproachful look.

Lu Mingfei quickly composed himself.

His mouth opened and closed silently.

Damn it, these guys are treating me like a thief!
……

Meanwhile, in a pavilion in the underground palace.

"What is Lu Mingfei saying?"

The wrinkled bodies of the elders were huddled together, their heads peeking out from the gaps, staring at the electronic screen in front of them.
"Who can read lips? Can you interpret them?" someone asked.

"I don't think you need to understand lip reading to interpret this..."

"That means he's found us. Tsk, no wonder I felt a chill run down my spine just now, like I was being watched by something."

The old man immediately connected the fleeting feeling of being spied on to what he had just experienced.

"Hiss... I feel that way too! I thought I caught a cold while sleeping last night!"

"Such strong perception! No wonder he's a young man who can gain the approval of the Dragon Slaying Platform just by relying on his bloodline!"

"Logically speaking, this has nothing to do with bloodline... it must be some kind of special incantation?"

"You mean Bloodline Jieluo? That's impossible! How could this Word of Power awaken in him?"

"Should we continue to observe?"

"There's no way to see them now, they've already gone into the treasure vault."

Watching the young man and woman slowly walk through a bronze and iron gate on the screen,

The elders expressed their regret.

……

"Your Zhou family... is quite trendy."

Once inside the treasure vault, Lu Mingfei was relieved to finally stop seeing those eerie red-glowing images.

"It's a combination of tradition and modernity."

Nuwa smiled and said, "Even the oldest families must constantly embrace new things. In recent years, the Zhou family has also been undergoing industrial transformation. Traditional industries are gradually being adjusted to emerging technology fields such as semiconductor wafers and intelligent CNC machine tools. We have also invested in many sunrise industries both inside and outside the family."

"Many of the younger members of the family have been sent out to manage related projects."

Lu Mingfei nodded in realization.

He remembered that one of Zhou Minhao's labels was that he was the CEO of Kunshan Electronic Wafer Factory.

Nuwa continued, "I've also been pushing forward with computer-related matters, helping some of the elders in the family gradually learn to use these electronic products. A few years ago, I also initiated a research project related to artificial intelligence. Kassel College's 'Norma' is very powerful, and we've fallen behind in this area. We can only slowly transform and catch up. This is also the inevitable trend for the future development of orthodox families..."

Faced with the endless chatter of Nuwa, Lu Mingfei would occasionally give her an approving look and offer some "uh-huhs" or "yeahs".

Is this a disclosure?

In fact, he had never heard of many of the industry names, but he knew that they were probably some of the Zhou family's recent policies.

But talking about these things with an outsider like him... is that just like flexing your muscles?

It seems the Zhou family does indeed intend to recruit him; otherwise, they wouldn't have said these things.

Lu Mingfei thought to himself.

Actually, it's not so bad; having a powerful backer is not a bad thing.

Soon, his attention was drawn to the scenery inside the treasure vault.

The treasure vault didn't feel opulent at all; in fact, it was rather deserted, clearly indicating that the Zhou family's requirements for the items stored in the vault were quite high.

Many of them are antiques, or books in the shape of bamboo slips.

The shelves on display are covered with yellowed booklets that record the dynasties and years, including Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing, and even many that can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period, and the pre-Qin and Han Dynasties.

"Don't look at these things, they're useless. We have rubbings of ancient books at home." Nuwa tugged at Lu Mingfei's sleeve, gesturing for him to follow her inside.

"Oh, okay." Lu Mingfei reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

Although he didn't know much about antiques, his intuition told him that each one was probably worth its weight in gold.

As Nuwa entered another compartment, the style of the scene suddenly changed.

Exclamation marks everywhere...

This means that everything in this room is related to alchemical tools.

“This is…” Lu Mingfei looked at a silver plaque on a shelf.

Nuwa explained, "This is called the Flag-Opening Talisman. In Taoism, it is a talisman used to summon divine soldiers to suppress evil. These are genuine."

Raise the flag... Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered that the little devil's [special status] seemed to have one called Flag Raising Formation Suppression. Could it be related to this?
"Five Thunder Generals, Train General, turning the world upside down..."

Lu Mingfei subconsciously read out the words on the silver medal, but after reading only three paragraphs, he felt a cold finger pressed against his mouth.

"Don't recite it, it will be activated," Nuwa said, releasing her fingers.

"oh oh……"

Lu Mingfei immediately realized what was happening, but his old face couldn't help but turn red. Damn it, he'd been teased by that little girl!

However, he still unfolded the panel of the silver medal.

[Alchemy Tool: Flag-Opening Talisman]

[Forger: Zhou Yuwan]

[Brief Description: This is a magical artifact used to ward off evil spirits. It contains spiritual power and can suppress dragon-blooded creatures. It can be effective against pure-blooded dragons of the third generation, but the effect is short-lived. However, it may be able to turn the tide of battle in crucial moments.]

[Evaluation: Still some distance from the limit, but comparable to the average level of ancient alchemy masters; modern people are not necessarily inferior to the ancients.]

"Wow—that's a very high rating!"

Lu Mingfei clicked his tongue inwardly in amazement.

He suddenly felt that the creator's name looked familiar... Damn it, isn't that Nuwa?!

Lu Mingfei was shocked. So this girl was an alchemy expert!
Upon closer inspection, although the characters engraved on the silver plaques are different in style, the content is the same: they are all flag-raising incantations. Some are in small seal script, some in thin gold script, and some even have minority ethnic scripts.

This one is the only one in simplified Chinese, in regular script that he can understand, and it works the best. Most of the others only work on fourth-generation species.

"By the way, what's the deal with orthodox alchemy?" Lu Mingfei asked curiously.

"Alchemy is a tradition of the dragon race. In essence, it is similar in both the East and the West, just with different names. For example, in orthodox tradition, the power of words is more often called 'the art of truth,' while alchemy is the art of refining pills and crafting weapons," Nuwa explained.

"oh oh."

Lu Mingfei suddenly had a thought.

Since Nuwa is also an expert in alchemy, there's no need for him to slowly investigate the method of activating bloodlines; he can just ask her directly.

“Um… I have a friend,” Lu Mingfei said cautiously. “She’s an ordinary person. Is there any way to turn her into a hybrid using alchemy?”

"It is a consensus that bloodlines cannot be rewritten."

Nuwa shook her head. "Alchemy also needs to follow certain rules; it is not omnipotent."

Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered something and asked, "What if her mother is of mixed race?"

Nuwa thought for a moment and said, "You mean activate?"

"Ah, right! Activate!" Lu Mingfei slapped his forehead.

"Normally, as human society has developed to this point, almost everyone carries dragon blood genes, only in varying amounts. So-called hybrids are simply those with a higher concentration of dragon blood, which is why it's showing up. And your friend..."

Nuwa paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "If the mother is a hybrid, even if the concentration of dragon blood in her body is not high enough to manifest, it will most likely be higher than that of a normal person. This kind of forced activation is not impossible... The bloodline concentration will not change, and it may be equivalent to E-level or F-level."

"E-level or F-level?" Lu Mingfei was slightly taken aback. "What level are these?"

“D-rank hybrids are generally not much stronger than ordinary people. E-rank and F-rank hybrids can only be described as hybrids in concept, but they may not even be able to awaken their Word of Power.”

“Our Zhou family has similar methods. If you need them, I’ll get you a copy later,” Nuwa said.

"Uh... never mind for now." Lu Mingfei couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

In that case, it seems to have little meaning.

“However, I heard that the Secret Party has come up with a Nibelungen Project, which involves implanting alchemical matrices throughout the human body, using dragon blood as a catalyst, to steadily enhance one’s bloodline,” Nuwa suddenly added.

"Hiss—there's such a thing?" Lu Mingfei immediately perked up.

However, Nuwa poured cold water on his enthusiasm.

"It's just a rumor. I heard the cost is huge and the plan is far from perfect. It's still in the 'theoretical' stage."

Lu Mingfei understood; it meant that the folder had just been created.

"We'll see," he sighed.

"Ah."

Nuwa nodded, then continued swimming deeper into the compartments.

"Come with me. This place is all consumables, it's not suitable for you. There are better things inside."

Lu Mingfei quickly caught up with her, holding up her skirt.

The other room was also covered in exclamation marks.

The room was still full of alchemical tools, but now they had been replaced by various swords and knives.

As soon as I entered the room, a chill that felt almost tangible hit me.

"This is……"

Lu Mingfei's gaze locked onto the nearest shelf, where a deep, ancient sword hung. There was a circular guard between the hilt and the blade, and the surface was engraved with a seven-star pattern, as if it were naturally formed, clearly an alchemical matrix.

Alchemy Tool: Dragon Abyss

[Creator: Ou Yezi]

[Brief description: To understand Longyuan, observe its shape; it resembles a high mountain overlooking a deep abyss.]

[Evaluation: Capable of slaying a snake, but only so-so at slaying a dragon.]

"Fuck!"

Upon seeing the information panel of this sword, Lu Mingfei was immediately shocked.

Even if he was ignorant, he had heard of the name of Master Ou Yezi from the Spring and Autumn Period. He had heard of many swords such as Zhanlu, Chun Jun, Ju Que, Yu Chang, Tai A, and Long Yuan, which had appeared in countless games. He also knew the famous Sword of Goujian, King of Yue, which was also his work.

Sure enough... the ancient swords hanging on the shelves next to it activated one by one. Zhanlu Chunjun and his entire family were here. Each shelf had a yellowed ancient paper hanging on it, which clearly recorded the origin of these swords, as well as the methods and requirements for past users to activate the alchemical matrix within them.

"These are not quite as good as the Dragon Slaying Platform, but they are still rare and valuable items. The alchemical matrices engraved on them are quite practical," Nuwa explained.

“If you return the Dragon-Slaying Platform to the Zhou family, then our Zhou family will naturally return a decent weapon to you.”

"Of course, if you're not used to using a sword as a weapon, there are other options available. Why don't you take a look before making a decision?"

"Look, look!"

Lu Mingfei quickly wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. This was like Grandma Lu visiting the Grand View Garden. Since he was already here, wouldn't it be a waste not to see it?
Nuwa smiled slightly and continued to lead him inside.

Following the Sword Pavilion is the Saber Pavilion, which is also a gathering place for heroes, such as Su Tiedao, Xintinghou, and Daxia Longque...

Further on is the spear pavilion, containing long spears, ancient cold weapons, as well as miscellaneous pavilions.

In the past, dragon slayers did not use overly complicated weapons. The most popular weapons were swords, spears, and daggers, or they had their own exclusive weapons. Hammers and the like were all kept in the miscellaneous cabinet.

"Take your time choosing, there's no rush."

Nuwa stayed by Lu Mingfei's side, accompanying him as he read through the details of each extraordinary weapon.

What surprised her slightly was...

Lu Mingfei sometimes reads very quickly, finishing a book in just a couple of glances.

However, she didn't have any objections to this. After all, there were too many things, and even if she just glanced at them, it would take quite a while to see them all. She guessed that Lu Mingfei still preferred weapons like swords or knives.

however.

It was beyond her expectation.

Lu Mingfei stopped in his tracks. In the gun cabinet, two pieces of a weapon were hanging on the shelf in front of him.

On the left is a black blade, about nine inches long, resembling half a sword, connected to an iron shaft about two and a half feet behind it, with a twisted tiger wrapped around its neck and inscribed with black gold, shaped like a short spear. On the right is a purple sandalwood shaft, about three or four feet long. The two can be combined to form a long battle spear.

"What kind of gun is this?" Lu Mingfei asked with a strange expression.

Among all the alchemical weapons in the Zhou family's treasure vault, only the ancient paper on this spear stand did not explain its origin.

"I don't know," Nuwa shook her head.

"When the Zhou family ancestors obtained this spear, only the front half was available. The rear half of the spear shaft was remade based on the center of gravity."

Upon closer inspection, Lu Mingfei indeed noticed that the gun barrel and the gun head gave off completely different impressions.

See this.

Nuwa had to remind her, "Do you really want to choose this?"

"My personal suggestion is to choose other weapons. Although this gun should also be an alchemical weapon, no one has ever successfully activated the alchemical matrix on it."

a long time,

Lu Mingfei slowly leaned back, a smile appearing on his lips.

"It's okay, I'll take this one, I like it."

"Are you sure?" Nuwa frowned.

"Ok!"

Lu Mingfei nodded vigorously, his expression solemn.

Even though Nuwa couldn't see it, the gun's panel slowly unfolded before Lu Mingfei's eyes.

Alchemy Tool: Roaring Tiger Fang Spear

[Forger: Aloka]

[Brief Description: A magnificent weapon crafted by the greatest Aloka in the history of the Heluo people—the Daughter of Forging—was gradually lost over the long course of history, but it should not be underestimated. In the Heluo language, it is called 'Mamurdusgoria'.]

The meaning is the same as the inscription on the gun: The tiger's fangs tear apart the souls of the cowardly.

[Authority: Spirit (1.4%)]

[Comment: Before you pick it up, ask yourself if you truly deserve to be called a tiger-like man.]

(End of this chapter)