Chapter 354. Black Iron Armor (2)

Anhui, Hefei.

The Dark Heavens Association led ten thousand—no, nine thousand—troops and settled in Hefei.

Aside from the eight gates that had been breached during the raid on the headquarters, there was no significant damage to the buildings, making it ideal for a residence.

"Lord Blessed Existence, a report.”

“Yes.”

"The mechanisms and traps within the headquarters have been disarmed.”

"What about the Bamboo Forest nature formation?"

"We've adjusted it.”

“Good.”

Meanwhile, the Dark Heavens Association was busy reorganizing.

"To think it took two full days to disarm the traps inside and outside the building... Heavenly Strategist, I knew that fox-like bastard wouldn’t have just retreated quietly. But I didn’t expect it to be this bad. What a disgusting bastard."

The Martial Alliance had retreated from the headquarters empty-handed. However, that didn’t mean they had done nothing.

The stronghold itself had long been used as a protective mechanism. Before retreating, they had activated every trap that Zhuge Shengji had repaired.

Because of that, the nine thousand-strong army had to sleep in the yard for two days, despite the building itself remaining untouched.

"Well, it doesn't matter. It's just a waste of effort anyway. Hahaha.”

After frowning briefly, Blessed Existence let out a laugh, clearly unconcerned.

He seems to be in a good mood after the great victory.

Well, this time, Zhou Xuchuan didn't have a chance to interfere.

Didn't the Association Lord also praise Blessed Existence's hard work?

The Seven Stars Division soldiers thought to themselves.

Although they had suffered a crushing defeat in the first clash at Guizhou, the result was still a great victory.

Their casualties were minimal, and they had also taken the enemy's headquarters.

What’s more, the Martial Alliance had fled in a hurry, leaving behind significant wealth.

It was a much-needed gain, especially as the Association had begun to feel financially strained.

Even though their pursuit of the retreating enemy had yielded little, the results were still decent.

Above all else, the reason Blessed Existence was practically ecstatic wasn’t just the victory—it was because of his mortal enemy, Zhou Xuchuan.

“Hahaha. Zhou Xuchuan, you brat. You’ve been chasing after the Association all this time and sabotaging everything we do, but this time, you failed. You pathetic brat, even if you struggle, you’re just like the Monkey King trapped in the Buddha’s palm.”

Blessed Existence had learned from his previous failures and prepared very carefully this time.

He was careful not to let any internal information leak out, and had sent people to the Stockade Boss to reiterate the plan to her several times.

Thankfully, the result was as satisfactory as the effort he had put in.

"He ran until his feet bled. Just imagine how he felt, hearing about the defeat right before he arrived. Oh, how his mouth must have twitched. A shame I didn’t get to see it in person."

Blessed Existence licked his lips as if truly regretting not witnessing the scene.

“You look happy.”

“...!”

Blessed Existence was startled and quickly fell to his knees.

The Seven Stars Division soldiers nearby reacted similarly.

The one who opened the door to the conference room that had been filled with Martial Alliance strategists just a short while ago and came in was none other than the Dark Heavens Association Lord.

“We greet the Association Lord.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your joy, but I came to hear what you’re going to do next.”

"I was planning to come see you anyway, but I was so overwhelmed with joy that I ended up being late. I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting. From now on, I will make sure to arrive a little earlier out of respect for your grace, Association Lord."

“Blessed Existence, you always report back on time, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Thank you for your generosity.”

“Let’s get to the point. How do you think the Martial Alliance, or rather the Righteous Faction, will move?”

“They’ll definitely target the Nine Water Gangs, the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest.”

“Hmm, as expected.”

It made sense.

Whether it was moving troops or supplies, transportation was an essential element in any strategy.

The Yangtze was the largest transport route in the Central Plains, and could also be used as a retreat pathway. So, the Righteous Faction couldn’t just sit back and watch them control it.

"However, the Righteous Faction doesn't have any notable masters of water immersion arts. So, they'll either send a separate force of a few elites, or..."

"Or?"

“I think they’ll mobilize the Righteous Faction forces from Hainan Island.”

Blessed Existence raised his head as his eyes lit up.

"A while ago, I received a report about the situation in Hainan Island from a member of the Vast Gate Star, one of the Eastern Pirates of the East Sea, albeit a bit late."

Fang Jun of the South Sea wasn't the only Eastern Pirate who had joined hands with the Dark Heavens Association. There were also Eastern Pirates from the East Sea.

However, it was just that the Dark Heavens Association's East Sea Eastern Pirates didn't have as much influence as those of the South Sea. Moreover, their numbers were much smaller, meaning that they weren't very useful.

As a result, they were mainly used as informants.

The Eastern Pirates of the East Sea had been recently searching the South Sea to confirm the disappearance of Fang Jun and his subordinates who had been stationed in those waters.

Among the explorers, there was an informant from the Dark Heavens Association.

"It took a long time to get this information because of the borders of Hainan Island, and the information we were able to recover was quite small. Still, I was informed that the conflict in Hainan Island was recently resolved. I'm assuming that had to be because of the aid of Zhou Xuchuan and his group."

"That sounds about right. Then the Hainan Sword Sect must have ended up indebted to them."

The Hainan Sword Sect was the South Sea's

murim

force and also a martial sect from the Central Plains. It was also recognized as one of the prestigious Righteous Faction forces belonging to the Martial Alliance.

While it focused more on swordsmanship than water immersion combat, water immersion combat itself wasn't completely out of their skill set.

At the very least, their grasp of such combat was better than those of the Righteous and Evil Alliance.

In addition, it was necessary to consider the possibility of the Righteous and Evil Alliance mobilizing the small and medium-sized sects within the South Sea that had ties to the Hainan Sword Sect.

"I don't know how many forces they'll be able to mobilize, but the Hainan Sword Sect has also suffered considerable damage due to the conflicts that have occurred in the South Sea, meaning that they shouldn't be able to contribute much strength."

“Hmm.”

"Of course, even if their strength is lacking, the Righteous and Evil Alliance will definitely attempt to subdue the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest, or rather, the Nine Water Gangs."

A deep smile spread across Blessed Existence’s lips.

There was rarely a situation where he could predict the enemy’s movement this easily. So, he planned to make full use of it.

"I have prepared several other strategies as well besides this, so please leave it to me."

***

While Blessed Existence was making plans in Hefei, Zhou Xuchuan met with the key figures at the temporary headquarters and finished greeting them.

Due to the urgency of war, there was no time to rest or drink tea. After a brief strategy meeting, they left Henan.

“We will run nonstop to Shandong.”

Their destination was Shandong, northeast of Henan. The existing special force had been dismissed in Henan and a new one reorganized.

Now, the team consisted of Luo Xiaoyue, Meng Ge, Tan Xiang, and seven Plum Blossom Swordsmen from the Mount Hua Sect.

Tang Hui, and nine from the Tang Family.

Zhuge Xiuluan, and nine warriors from the Martial Alliance.

Duan Lihua, and nine swordsmen from the Qingcheng Sect.

On the surface, including Zhou Xuchuan, there were forty-one members. However, including the Phantoms following them from the shadows, there were fifty-one.

“...Doesn't this feel a bit excessive?"

Luo Xiaoyue’s gaze turned to Tang Hui and Duan Lihua.

“Lady Tactician, I understand you’re here since you're in charge of the strategy and other things, but... why are these two?”

“...because I’m the only one who can deal with poison," Tang Hui retorted.

"You had to pause for a moment before answering. That’s a bit concerning. Can I ask why?" Luo Xiaoyue pressed.

“What about you, Unnie?”

Tang Hui glossed over Luo Xiaoyue's question and looked at Duan Lihua.

“It’s to make contact with the Sword God’s big and long

thing

.”

“W-what...!”

Tang Hui and Luo Xiaoyue were both caught off guard. Even Zhuge Xiuluan, usually unreadable, had her eyes widen in shock.

“Listen. I’m curious, but is the Wave Sword Phoenix... No, is Young Lady Duan Lihua always like that?” a Tang family’s warrior asked a Qingcheng Sect disciple.

“...”

The Qingcheng Sect disciple kept his mouth shut and avoided eye contact.

He seemed to be pretending not to have heard. Zhou Xuchuan, who was the target of the inappropriate remark at the front, acted the same way.

“Oh my, oh my. What were you all thinking about for you to react like that? I just wanted to see the swordsmanship of the Sword God, one of the Six Empyrean Overlords. Were you thinking of something strange?”

Duan Lihua covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed. The crescent-moon-like eyes under her bamboo hat were full of mischief.

“Shut up! You slut!”

Tang Hui’s face turned red as she swung her palm. Poison spurted out from between her fingers.

The Harmony Realm Master, Duan Lihua, dodged like flowing water and laughed in amusement.

"Did I perhaps hit the nail on the head? I wonder who is calling

who

the slut. It makes me laugh. Fufu."

Should I use her acupoints to silence her?

Zhou Xuchuan pondered seriously.

***

Travel just a little north from Kaifeng, located at the northeastern tip of Henan, and you would reach Shandong.

Soon after, Jinan, where the Gold Will Merchants had its headquarters, would appear.[1] To exaggerate slightly, the distance was so short that if one fell from the border of Shandong, they would land in Jinan. So, it didn’t take them long to arrive.

“Is the winter over now...”

The snow, which had been falling endlessly, stopped by the time they arrived in Jinan. Spring had come with the dawn of the third month.

Jinan Branch of the Gold Will Merchants.

“How is it?”

In the workshop, where the sound of hammers striking should have filled the air, there was no clash of metal. Instead, what could be heard was the faint sound of someone audibly drooling in awe.

“Hmm...”

Gan Yezi had a dumbfounded expression on his face.

“I still can’t believe it even after seeing it myself.”

The true nature of the black iron armor, a relic of the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, and a collection of superstitions, was even more absurd than expected.

It was an armor forged of the legendary metal, the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, so rare that even its lesser counterpart, Cold Iron, was nearly impossible to find. Its value was astronomical.

To a blacksmith, it was an object that would make the eyes shine just as brightly as a martial artist's would upon discovering the Number One Divine Art Under the Heavens—or rather, the Greatest Divine Art in all of history.

However, the reaction of Gan Yezi, the master blacksmith, was far more subtle.

“You're saying you did this?”

Gan Yezi pointed to the broken arm segment.

“Well, that’s roughly right.”

“Hmm.. In my opinion, you’re not human.”

"What do you mean?"

"Just why the hell did you shatter Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron like this?"

Clang, clang.

Gan Yezi continued his questioning, hammering at the Black Iron Armor.

"The arm armor being shattered is one thing, but there's also detailed cracks and weakened segments from head to toe.”

“Huh? That’s impossible.”

Zhou Xuchuan tilted his head, confused.

Gan Yezi then set down his hammer, picked up the Black Iron Armor, and tossed it into the blazing furnace.

“What are you doing?!" Zhou Xuchuan screamed in alarm.

"Get over it and open your eyes properly and look," Gan Yezi said calmly.

Zhou Xuchuan wanted to protest, but after thinking it over, he closed his mouth.

Thinking about it calmly, it didn’t seem like the Black Iron Armor, which didn't have a single scratch on the steel and was intact even when engulfed in the flames of the Flame Point Spear, would melt just because it was put into a furnace.

After all, it was forged entirely out of the legendary metal, the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

Just as Zhou Xuchuan had thought, the Black Iron Armor was unaffected by the flames.

If it had been ordinary iron, it would have been red hot already, but instead, it stayed as black as a moonless night.

It was only after about half an hour had passed that something strange began to happen.

“Cracks?”

Several parts of the black iron armor finally began to glow red, and cracks were visible, like roots that had been cut off.

“The armor is weakened overall. If there weren’t any intact parts left, I wouldn’t have believed it was actually the Black Iron Armor," Gan Yezi explained.

“Hmph!"

A grunt escaped Zhou Xuchuan's lips.

I went through all the trouble to get it...

It seemed that it wasn’t just the armpit area that was broken.

He hadn't realized it when he looked at it from the outside, but it was more shattered than he had thought.

"Can't you do something with it?"

“It might be impossible for others, but it is not impossible for me, the Greatest Blacksmith Under the Heavens. However, the areas that were damaged—even considering how strong Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron is—have become much weaker and are now unusable. So, you should not place any unnecessary expectations on it."

“That’s more than enough.”

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Zhou Xuchuan had to be grateful that it could even be forged into something else and be reused.

Still, he was disappointed because he had hoped that the Black Iron Armor would have been helpful in the final battle with the Dark Heavens Association Lord.

Was the power I imbued into the Black Iron Armor too much? But I had no other choice... I guess it can't be helped.

Zhou Xuchuan licked his lips in regret.

1. For clarity, since I was confused for a second, Shandong is the Province, Jinan is the city. Also, fun fact, its technically Ji-nan, but if you read it one go without pinyin, it could read as jin-an, or inside of Gold. ☜