West of Beijing, at the end of Jiangmi Alley.
Inside the "Worryfree Tavern" pub, the lights were dim.
Drizzle is falling outside the window, a few strings of dried chili peppers are hanging under the eaves, and the spicy aroma of soju and braised pork fills the inside of the store.
Kuai Dayou and Kong Shangzhao were sitting in the corner opposite each other. On the table were a plate of peanuts, half a pot of loose wine, braised beef and elbow.
Kuai Dayou's face was covered with stubble, and his eyes were bloodshot. He slammed the wine bowl hard, and the wine spilled out and wet his clothes.
He spat. "Son of a Bitch Zhao Qingxu! There's only one step left, Brother Shang Zhao, then Mount Taodu Wood is in hand! If I had known this, I could have just gone to the execution ground, why bother with this."
Kong Shangzhao lowered his head to sip the wine and rubbed the rim of the bowl with his fingers.
He was still wearing the white-washed Confucian shirt. He didn't say anything and was obviously distracted.
As the saying goes, they are friends between life and death. After experiencing a disaster, the three Fatty Lin became friends and occasionally got together to drink.
Kuai Dayou admires Kong Shangzhao's knowledge, so we get closer.
Seeing Kong Shangzhao's appearance, Kuai Dayou came closer and lowered his voice. "Brother Kong, you have been out of your mind since you came back from Nine Gates Yin Ruins. In the room before, I saw your pen shaking when you were copying the "Caohe History Examination"."
"If you have any troubles, tell me. Are we still keeping our friendship hidden?"
Kong Shangzhao sighed deeply, pushed away the wine bowl, and said with bloodshot eyes, "Dayou, it's not that I didn't say anything, it's just this prison... I'm really fed up with it."
He looked around and saw that they were the only table left in the small shop. Even the shopkeeper had gone to the back kitchen to take a nap, so he complained in a low voice, "Commandery Commandant Office's small courtyard is not much better than this. I sit in that small corner all day long, recording testimonies and checking case files. It's like a machine to perform meritorious deeds on people."
"A while ago, I worked hard to find some clues about the demon priest, but the ones who got the credit in the end were those Court of the Imperial Clan yellow-robed warlocks!"
"I'm just a piece of paper. I nod and bow in front of others. When I go back to my house, I'll face the dead lamp all night!"
Kuai Dayou was about to comfort him when Kong Shangzhao suddenly clenched his fists and said in a hoarse voice, "I want to leave, of course! People like Twelve Yuan Chen travel across the rivers and lakes, traveling north and south, that's what life is called!"
"But... but I can't walk!"
"What's wrong with walking?"
Kuai Dayou rolled his eyes, "I have legs on you, is it possible that you can't even resign from Commandery Commandant Office? I have already said that the public gate is as deep as the sea, and it is not a place to stay for a long time."
"However, it's not a good idea to follow Twelve Yuan Chen. Look at the powerful enemies those people are provoking. With your small body, you will die sooner or later!"
"In short, Commandery Commandant Office is by no means a good place. It's better to leave as soon as possible."
"It's not that easy."
Kong Shangzhao's voice was low, full of shame, "You also know that when I offended Qufu's first wife, if it weren't for Master Luo MingZi's intervention, I would have been expelled from the ancestral hall by Lineage and became a refugee. I might have lost my life."
"Your Excellency personally responded to me: 'Shang Zhao, please rest assured in the capital, I will take care of your family's troubles.' If I leave, won't I become a treacherous rat? The walls of this capital are thicker than the heavenly prison!"
Kuai Dayou's eyes lit up when he heard this, he slapped the table and laughed so hard that the dishes shook, "Is that just because of this? You nerd, you have been going around for a long time!"
He grabbed the wine bottle and filled it with Kong Shangzhao. He grinned with a hint of slyness and said, "Master Luo, you keep your promise and you keep your justice. This is true. But we can't use the wind to make the ship?"
Kong Shangzhao was stunned, "How do you say that?"
Kuai Dayou drank the wine in one gulp and said with a smile, "The Twelve Yuan Chen gang are now Commandery Commandant Office's regular customers - the Steam Engine case, the Japanese Demon Rebellion, every major case is related to them."
"Tomorrow, if you find a reason to go to the archives and reveal it, you will say that there is a new 'Ghost Nuo Noodle' in Caohe, or it may be related to the theft of Mount Taodu Wood. Commandery Commandant Office must ask Twelve Yuan Chen to take action!"
"At that time, I will find someone to report falsely: the case involves ancient books, and no one like you, Kong Shangzhao, can solve it!"
"You can also do some 'tricks', such as 'losing' a few key talismans during the handover, or letting the demon pretend to attack and force you to leave the capital with the team - halfway through the case, wouldn't you just follow Li Yan? Not only would you save face, but you would also get your wish!"
Kong Shangzhao was stunned, smelling of wine, and his cheeks turned red:
"This... isn't this a trick on Lord Luo?"
Kuai Dayou was about to elaborate when the wooden door of the tavern creaked open. Fatty Lin rushed in covered in moisture. He shook off the oil-paper umbrella and put it next to him. "Unlucky! East City checked the shipping materials and hit a wall again. You two are hiding here for a while!"
He wiped the rain off his sleeves, sat down, and without being polite, picked up the bowl of Kong Shangzhao and started filling it.
Kuai Dayou's eyes moved and he turned to Fatty Lin: "It just so happens that you are here. I really can't stand this stupid scholar, so please come with me to persuade him..."
As he spoke, he recounted what happened just now.
Fatty Lin thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "This method is inappropriate."
"Commandery Commandant Office Where, with your little tricks, people can tell at a glance that they will fall out, and the old friendship will not work. But I have something here, and I need your help."
"Although I, Lin Family, belong to a wealthy family in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with the rise of maritime transport, the imperial government imposed heavy sea taxes, and the fleet suffered another disaster. In addition, Japanese pirates invaded and plundered, causing heavy losses. The situation in our clan is very bad now."
"Although I don't like to be involved in these things, I can't bear to see my father grow old with worry, so I have to find a way to help the clan survive this disaster."
With that said, he turned around and stared at Kuai Dayou: "Brother Dayou, you know mystical craftsmanship and can refine water and fire spiritual weapons. Will you help me? Look for spiritual trees to make ship bones. Ancient books record that there were many spiritual trees in ancient times that can support Gangsha Two Qi. If you can find them, the ship can cut through the waves like a god and pass through those dangerous areas."
"Easy to say!"
Kuai Dayou patted his chest generously, "But there is one thing. Ordinary spiritual trees cannot withstand the wind and waves of the ocean. Good materials must be found. We are familiar with each other, but I can't ruin my own brand."
Fatty Lin smiled bitterly and said, "I came to Mount Taodu Wood just for this matter, but it's a pity..."
Hearing the conversation between the two, Kong Shangzhao was thoughtful, and took out the half-volume <Classic of Mountains and Seas Illustrated> from his pocket. The corners of the pages were burnt yellow, and he muttered in a low voice, "This unique copy <Extensive Records of Hailing> mentions 'Bohai Twisted Wood Reaching the Nine Abyss', it seems to be over there in Jinling."
"Oh?!"
Fatty Lin's eyes lit up and he smiled and said, "Brother Kong, don't worry, leave this matter to me. It will not only save you from the sea of suffering, but also make you right!"
Emperor Xiao Qixuan's determination is like a mountain and a tsunami.
Less than half a day after Zhao Wujiu left, a red-gilded secret order was transmitted like thunder to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Inner Palace Warehouse. In an instant, all Capital Region's resources began to be tilted towards the Qiankun Academy.
Chengtian Gate On the road to the academy, there were unprecedented numbers of cars and horses.
The heavy wooden wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, making a continuous muffled sound. The transported goods were not ordinary. They were all covered with thick felt and guarded by elite soldiers from the Beijing camp wearing iron armor and with sharp eyes.
A special carriage pulled by six strong horses slowly drove into the side entrance of the academy. Dozens of shirtless men shouted in unison and carefully unloaded a huge object covered with oilcloth.
When the oilcloth was uncovered, it was revealed to be a strange stone the size of a water tank, dark as ink but faintly tinged with gold.
This is the newly discovered Zhenhai stone essence in Lingnan. It is invulnerable to swords and water and fire. What is even more valuable is that it contains a trace of innate water energy. It is a top-notch treasure material for carving the bases of statues.
Another team of people escorted the rare treasures contained in red sandalwood boxes.
The box was opened, and a dense air filled the air.
The mutton-fat white jade produced from the depths of the Kunlun Snow Mountains in the Western Regions, condensed with the beauty of thousands of years of ice; the "cloud thunder crystal" formed by quenching under the thunder fire rock layer in Sichuan for thousands of years; the whole piece of warm jasper mined from Laokeng, Liaodong...
Each piece is of great value, but now it is being transported here without any hesitation.
These things are all rare Heaven and Earth Spiritual Treasure.
Each piece may be stained with the blood of many people and is priceless, but at this moment it is used as an ordinary material, turned into the flesh and bone fascia that shapes the body of "Sui Lun True Monarch".
The originally empty storage area of the academy was filled up in an instant, and all kinds of rare treasures were piled up. Yan Jiuling, who was responsible for counting and storing them, felt his scalp numb.
This is no longer a simple luxury, but the whole country's efforts, just to forge the statue that entrusts the important tool of change of Human Path and draws the attention of the Great Luo Dharma Realm before Zi Hour the day after tomorrow.
The pressure was like a mountain on the shoulders of Yuan Feng and Yan Jiuling, and it was also spread in every inch of the air in the entire academy.
Zhao Wujiu's phrase "at all costs" still rings in my ears.
And there are only two days and two nights left.
In the core area of the workshop where the foundry is located, the fire is kept burning day and night, and the temperature is extremely high.
Mo Sect Grandmaster Tao Fengchun has not closed his eyes for a day and a night, and the sinews on his body that are as sharp as a knife and an ax are also showing a trace of tiredness, but those radiant eyes are sharper than ever, as if they are burning with two spiritual fires.
"Move quickly! Boys from Xuan Gong and Jing Yi, give Laozi the pattern of the three-talent inlay method you learned yesterday and mark it clearly on the mold! A slight mistake will delay the finalization of the statue, and Laozi will break your legs!" Tao Fengchun's roar was mixed with the deafening sound of hammering, sonorous and powerful.
He knew the meaning of this idol.
If the forging is successful, it will leave a mark in history.
Even if you die of exhaustion, your life is worth it.
Countless craftsmen were busy rushing back and forth, and all of them were gray and gray. Their clothes were soaked with sweat and dried by the high temperature, leaving white salt stains.
The top craftsmen from Tiangong Institute, Five Armies Commandery Directorate of Constructions, and even major shipyards in the south were temporarily recruited and gathered here.
In the past, these famous craftsmen with their eyes above their heads and deep knowledge of the industry had to put down their bodies now and twisted into a rope under the coordination of Tao Fengchun.
Arguments and curses are inevitable, but efficiency is also difficult to achieve in ordinary times.
The main body of the statue has been basically finalized. It uses a unique "thousand-forged gold-melting bone" technique, using a special alloy as the skeleton, filling the shape with rare "mica glue" mixed with refined hardware powder, and finally embedding the Dharma Treasure components carefully carved by Xuan Gong disciples.
The most important thing is the "Filling the Statues" ceremony of the statue of the god.
Ordinary statues of gods Filling the Statues are nothing more than placing scriptures, grains, gold and silver, silk symbolizing the five internal organs and other objects to pray for the return of the gods.
However, the birth of "Sui Lun True Monarch" has a significance far beyond ordinary secular gods.
Its essence is to embed the original Steam Engine core into the belly of the god statue and serve as the center for communicating Human Path's will to innovate with the Gangsha Two Qi of heaven and earth!
This core is not small, and it uses the Lu Ban secret method to wrap up the unknown magical Spiritual Material inside, which will be destroyed once it is dismantled.
Yuan Feng has passed the secret method and roughly knows the physical properties of the treasure inside.
Steam Engine, which can control Yin and Yang Gangsha Two Qi, is the top secret of the Academy and Mo Sect. Only three people know about it and will not leak it to the outside world at all.
Li Yan stood on the temporary wooden corridor erected high above the workshop, looking down at the lively but orderly scene below.
He frowned and looked around with a solemn expression.
Although there were so many people and horses guarding him, and even Grandmaster Huo Yin was sitting in charge, he was still a little uneasy, and there seemed to be a lingering chill in his heart.
The mission of the Heavenly Official requires guarding the statue until it is stable.
If someone is plotting this thing, they must take advantage of this period of time to wait for the statue to be successfully forged and send it to Temple of Earth and Grain to consecrate Attendant. Even Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect will be helpless.
Among the busy craftsmen in the distance, an old man raised his head and glanced at him quickly, then lowered his head again, carrying a few boxes, and walked towards the warehouse.
His hair and beard are all white, and his body is thin and somewhat stooped.
Although his appearance is not amazing, his background is not small.
His name is Lu Chengye, he is Attendant, the elder of Five Armies Commandery Directorate of Constructions. He is also the world's top woodcraft master, especially good at handling ancient wood and exotic materials that contain spirituality.
When the academy was established, he was also a specially hired master craftsman.
Although it is not as good as Tao Fengchun, it is also famous.
When we come to the warehouse, the security here is even tighter.
There were not only Divine Fist Sect masters selected and appointed by Huo Yin, but also several Attendant from the inner court, all of them were sullen old eunuchs with faces as pale as paper.
Just standing there, the look in his eyes gave people chills.
Lu Chengye often communicates with each other, so naturally he will not be embarrassed.
Rumble~
The heavy Mystic Iron door slowly opened a corner, and a smell mixed with sandalwood, metallic sharpness and the unique smell of Spiritual Material exotic treasures came out.
"Master Lu, you are here!"
Yan Jiuling, who was counting, saw it and hurriedly walked over and said helplessly, "There are too many treasures sent by the imperial court. Those that can be used and those that cannot be used must be registered, and those that are no longer needed must be sent back."
"There are a lot of things that even Treasure Hunter can't recognize. They have to look at you."
"Master Yan, you're welcome."
Lu Chengye nodded dully, then came to the piles of treasures and inspected them one by one, with focused eyes and calloused fingers trembling slightly.
"This thing is the essence of the sea. It comes from Imperial Treasury. I remember that it was a gift from Jiaodong on His Majesty's birthday. The thing is good, but it is useless..."
"This object is made of gold, stone, and wood. If you see any jade insects on it, they are all preserved insects from the Savage Wilderness era. You can keep them and send them to Master Tao..."
"Master Lu is indeed well-informed!"
He picked them one by one, attracting praise from everyone.
Finally, when we reached the end of this batch of top-quality spiritual trees, there was a burnt black ancient tree about three feet long and as thick as the mouth of a bowl placed alone.
This wood is unremarkable at first glance, as if it has been severely burned by lightning or fire, the texture is distorted and broken, and the surface is even charred and peeled off.
Mixed among the precious spiritual trees such as purple jade sandalwood and dragon blood yew, it looks out of place, as if it is a defective product.
The mark on the list is also very simple: "Backup ancient Thunderstruck Wood", which is said to have the effect of warding off evil spirits and attracting thunder, and was temporarily recruited.
No one noticed the subtle trembling caused by extreme fear when Lu Chengye's hand brushed the black wood.
No one even noticed that when his fingertips touched the dark, cracked wood, a bone-chilling evil thought with a crazy and blasphemous aura followed his fingertips and pierced into his sea of consciousness.
"Grandpa, grandpa, save me..."
The voice of Girl sounded in his mind.
Lu Chengye There was a flash of pain in his eyes, but he said calmly, "This thing can be used, I will take it away later and use it as a waist buckle for the God..."