After Class

So Zheng Zetian focused intently on two long classes, sitting for four hours straight, feeling that he still wanted more and could go back for more. When he looked back after class, the Dudou Senior Sister was nowhere to be found.

That's true. After all, everyone's time is precious. You're studying hard in the library, while she's out partying and enjoying her youth. Nobody wants to waste their life waiting around.

However, as the Grand Master said, no matter whether the train changes course or not, people will still be run over and killed. It's just a matter of whether one person dies or a bunch of people die. Fate is the same. So although he missed the opportunity to communicate and discuss the Dao with Dudou Senior Sister in private, Zheng Zetian, a Daoist with a destiny bound by fate, is naturally not lacking in side stories, or rather, immortal connections.

Sure enough, before I even left the classroom, the plot unfolded and triggered.

"I am Lu Qi, the garrison commander of Fashuang Mountain. Are you Song's disciple?"

Lu? Another garrison commander?

Zheng Zetian noticed immediately upon raising his eyes that the appearance of the Nascent Soul Stage cultivator in front of him was indeed seven-tenths similar to that of Senior Brother Lu, the Railway Warden, suggesting a possible blood relationship.

Unlike Lu Qi, a fair-skinned scholar, this guard of Fashuang Mountain was clearly a martial arts practitioner who cultivated his body. His fists were as big as sandbags, and the calluses on his hands were like deck plates. He was wearing the training clothes of the Moshan School, and the chainmail lining was almost bursting out of his large pectoral muscles. His skin was a wheat color from being exposed to the wind and sun, and he was over two zhang tall. He stood like an iron tower, and even though he was suppressing his aura, one could clearly feel the monstrous strength hidden under this body, which made people feel awe.

Martial God Body? No, it's still a little bit short, but it's almost there, really just a little bit short.

So, his surname is Lu, and he was sent by Lu Qi...?

"Greetings, Garrison Commander, your disciple Zheng Zetian..."

Zheng Zetian bowed his head in a deep bow, and then saw a stray dog sitting at Lu Zhenshou's feet, sticking its tongue out at him.

Hmm, a dog? I wonder what kind of Divine Beast it is; I can't tell at first glance...

Zheng Zetian squinted and stared at the stray dog.

"I've heard about Junior Brother Song's matter. The Nangong Family has committed another offense, and we must retaliate. This time, I've been ordered by the Grand Master to lead an army to Yu Mountain for a rotation of battles, and I will try to reclaim his Dao body."

Hearing what the other person said, Zheng Zetian was stunned for a moment, then looked up.

Being a warrior, Lu Qi was quite straightforward, unlike the other who beat around the bush, pointing at the mongrel.

"However, I've been hunting demons in the Ten-thousand-mountains for years and haven't seen my junior brother. The area beneath Yu Mountain is full of traps. Do you have any of my junior brother's belongings? Give me one, and I'll have my dog look for it."

"Oh oh..."

Zheng Zetian took out the math notebook given to him by Song Dayou and handed it to Gouzi to sniff. Gouzi sniffed it and said, "Woof woof!", probably indicating that it was a sure thing.

No! It's just an ordinary dog!

"This, this, Commander Lu, those demonic disciples are numerous and powerful, their hidden weapons are unpredictable, I heard they must be at least at the Transformation Stage..."

Lu Qi nodded and comforted her.

"Don't worry, we've been rivals with Nangong for a long time, so we're naturally prepared. Alas, there weren't many people in our two classes to begin with, and we've been through thick and thin together over the years, so we're like brothers and sisters. I'll definitely avenge this grudge."

The school here has everything I need. I'm just a rough guy who only knows martial arts; I don't have any impressive magical weapons. I came in a hurry, so here are three thousand Banknotes. Take them and spend them first. If that's not enough, take my token and go to the warehouse at Fashuang Mountain. There are still quite a few materials from the demons I hunted, as well as Spirit Stones. They should be enough to exchange for over ten thousand taels. Just take what you need."

Huh? They actually came specifically to give him money? This Commander Lu is quite shrewd despite his rough exterior; he clearly understands the hardship of cultivating alone when one's pockets are empty. Unlike some otherworldly tycoons...

Zheng Zetian bowed in gratitude, "Thank you for your care, Uncle-Master."

Lu Qi waved his hand, "No need for such formalities. By the way, I noticed you've been listening attentively for so long; you seem quite interested in mechanical arts, right? That's perfect. I won't be able to help you with anything urgent while I'm not in the mountains. If you encounter any trouble, you can go to Lou Guan City to find my elder sister, Lu Xing. She is the dean of the Mechanical Engineering Institute, a graduate of the Great Learning, and exceptionally intelligent. She has a broad knowledge of both mechanical arts and the Five Arts."

Moreover, unlike a roughneck like me who's only familiar with people on the front lines, she has a wide network of connections throughout Ink Bamboo Mountain. There's probably nothing she can't handle. It's just that she's usually very busy, conducting research in the outer secret realm, so she's not easy to find. It all depends on your luck.

Of course, there are many things she knows, and I think she should know that. If you need anything, just go to the Engineering Institute for help, and someone will naturally be there to assist you."

Zheng Zetian cautiously asked, "Thank you for your guidance, Martial Uncle. I heard there's also a Railway Warden Lu Real Person's traveling with the train. I wonder..."

Lu Qi frowned. "Lu Qi? You saw my elder brother? Hmm..."

That fellow is indeed capable; he was the first among us younger disciples to complete the Great Learning and receive the true teachings of the Grand Master Tai Su Dao. But unless absolutely necessary, you should avoid contact with him; he's not on our side. He...

Alas, even though he couldn't cultivate before, his father didn't give up on him, teaching him the Four Books and Imperial Examination Classics so he could serve the court. Unexpectedly, instead of being loyal to the emperor and serving the country, this fellow didn't take the proper path of the imperial examinations. He instead associated with bandits and outlaws, and in Changsi City, he even colluded with eunuchs, committing all sorts of evil deeds and disrupting the court. I heard he even used his connections in the mountains to become some kind of underworld boss and a tycoon's advisor; his reputation is truly awful.

Later, the Grand Master, pitying his talent, gave him a chance to reincarnate. Unexpectedly, this scoundrel still did not repent. Although he obtained the true teachings of Mo Shan with his talent, he relapsed into his old ways and spent his days mingling with those powerful families, reorganizing the Northern Faction.

Although the distinction between North and South is no longer made, those people still sound the same. In short, they are scions of powerful and wealthy families who look down on us ordinary people from the Southern Faction, who aspire to attain enlightenment, because of their family's scholarly traditions and wealth.

Hmph, old habits die hard! If I weren't truly outmatched, I would have smashed his head in with a stick!

Lu Qi, engrossed in listening to Zheng Zetian's gossip, coughed twice to stop.

"Sigh, in short, the Grand Master only uses talent, punishes the guilty and ignores the innocent. He trusts that guy Lu Qi a lot. I heard that when he goes to build the Sword Palace, he plans to hand over the Mechanical Railway Institute to that guy to manage. The Railway Institute is such a crucial department, why is the Grand Master..."

Sigh, perhaps the tycoon has his own plans...

Zheng Zetian thought about it. This Lu Qi was also known as a true disciple, and he was very close by. The Grand Master even had to send people from the South China Sea to save him. It was not necessarily true that he trusted this person much.

Moreover, in these mountains, there's a legend that there aren't even five people who can attend university. If Lu Qi isn't entrusted with guarding that crucial demon-sealing area in the inner carriage, there's probably not much else to choose from. The Railway Institute and such are probably just formalities.

Even the choice between Lu Qi Northern Faction and Southern Faction is understandable. After all, no matter if it's one of the Three Great Sects or a master-disciple lineage, once a sect grows strong, it relies on the early core disciples and their families to form a powerful clan for protection. Currently, Ink Bamboo Mountain is still in its growth phase, constantly expanding its territory and giving new positions to newcomers. If it were to stagnate like the Three Great Sects in the future, it would probably be difficult to maintain its current system of vigorously promoting ordinary people.

As he was deep in thought, a figure, over 24 feet tall, covered in fish-scale iron armor, with iron bones encased in steel, and wielding a heavy iron staff, walked over and said...

"Commander, it's getting late, we should set off."

Zheng Zetian rubbed his eyes. It really was just a suit of armor! And it was empty!

"Alright, that's enough for now. I should head out and raid Yu Mountain. Those Mo Mountain people are prone to causing trouble if no one's watching them at night."

Seeing that Zheng Zetian had never seen the iron helmet before, Lu Qi introduced it to him.

"Oh, this is the Iron Guard Holy Armor of my Moshan. It is a mechanical exoskeleton combat armor designed by the Grand Master and developed and manufactured by my sister, based on the Nangong Family Shangfang Divine Weapon and puppet technology, so that ordinary disciples can fight against the Demon God General of the Nangong family.

It's a pity that Junior Brother Song was ambushed and his Saint Cloth was damaged in battle, otherwise he probably wouldn't have... Oh well, life and death are unpredictable. When everyone put on this battle armor, they were already prepared to die on the battlefield."

Lu Qi patted Zheng Zetian on the shoulder, almost knocking him to the ground. He smiled apologetically, then raised his hand, and the Iron Guard Holy Armor automatically wrapped around him and dressed him, transforming him into an iron god of war!

Along with that, even the dog was rolled up in the Saint Cloth, wrapped in a layer of dog armor! It was placed on the shoulder armor at the 'Beast Devouring' position, with only the dog's head showing, completing the fusion!

Zheng Zetian stared in disbelief, completely dazed. He'd actually replicated the Shangfang Divine Weapon... wait, your Saint Cloth can even bring a dog along! How am I supposed to fight like this?!

Lu Qi didn't seem to care. He pulled the masked figure back and said in a muffled voice,

"Ze Tian, after you reach the Core Formation stage, you can also join the army on the front lines. As long as you have the Golden Core realm, or the Body Domination Technique Divine Essence Body, the Divine Body, the strength of the fourteenth level of the Gang Fist Ink Mountain Fist, and the skill to operate various weapons and props, you can register as a soldier in the sect, become a registered Armored Soldier of Ink Bamboo Mountain, and receive the sect's mass-produced battle suits."

In peacetime, one can recruit soldiers for rewards, and in wartime, one can enlist in the army. Those who make outstanding contributions, such as having three merits of being the first to charge and behead enemies, will be provided with custom-made holy armor by the sect's armor craftsmen, which can enhance their combat power by one level.

Da You has served as a brigade commander in both the Sixth Division of Yushan and the Eighth Division of Moshan, and has repeatedly distinguished himself on the front lines. He has a wide network of connections. If you're willing to join my ranks, I'll give you a position as a Military Commander. Goodbye!

Dog, "Woof!"

Then the iron giant, carrying a stick on one shoulder and a dog on the other, leaped into the air and soared straight into the Qingyun. Four pairs of iron wings, like blades, sprouted from his back. He waved goodbye to Zheng Zetian, who stood below with his jaw agape, and then with a deafening 'bang,' broke the sound barrier and flew eastward with a piercing shriek. His speed was like lightning, like thunder and lightning, earth-shattering, and he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Holy crap...

Outdated...

I don't understand...

Even in a sect as large as the Immortal Palace and the Divine Sect, cultivators at the Golden Core External Alchemy, are mostly mid- to low-ranking officers. Only exceptionally elite personal guards, such as the Thunder Department, can form a military academy entirely composed of Golden Core cultivators. Lower-ranking infantrymen are mostly composed of Foundation Establishment, or even commoners who have only studied martial arts for a few days and are still in the Qi Refining stage.

Has this Ink Bamboo Mountain become so extravagant that it uses Golden Core Immortal as foot soldiers? And they've even formed six or eight divisions! Where did they get so many people, and where did they get so much money to equip each of them with armor...?

Zheng Zetian looked down at the handful of Banknotes in his hand.

Well, maybe he really doesn't lack money.

However, the Grand Master really values the Lu Family. They've got the Engineering Institute, the Railway Institute, and even Grand General. Could these three members of the Lu Family be the Grand Master's illegitimate children or something...?

"Greetings, senior brother. Are you a disciple of Uncle Song?"

Not again? Master has such a wide network of connections...

Zheng Zetian just left the classroom on the Main Peak and was walking back to his dormitory along the Plank Road when he was blocked by someone again.

Looking up, I saw a stunningly beautiful young woman approaching, her features exquisite and incomparably gorgeous, so beautiful that I couldn't look directly at her.

This woman, dressed in a green skirt and white shirt, arrived gracefully. Though still young, her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows as dark as ink paintings, and her beauty was ethereal and otherworldly. Her eyes sparkled like autumn waves, as if a drop of dew had flowed from a flower, absorbing all the beauty in the room. A gentle smile played on her lips, and her beautiful face possessed three parts romance, three parts purity, and three parts otherworldly grace. She was truly a rare beauty in the mortal world, a true beauty hard to find even in heaven.

However, she was already sixteen or seventeen years old, and only at the Foundation Establishment stage. When she walked, there was a spiritual aura mixed with a faint fragrance that wafted over. Although it was unclear whether it was due to innate talent or excessive makeup, the aura was so strong that it was clear that her basic skills in maintaining her breath and guarding her Qi were not very good. Therefore, this girl was definitely not a reincarnated Daoist with a deep foundation.

Moreover, judging from her attire of blue silk and satin, and the embroidered shoes on her jade-like feet, not straw sandals, she is clearly not a disciple of the Ink Bamboo Mountain. Looking at her face, although the upper part is excellent, her fortune declines from the middle part onwards, clearly indicating early success followed by misfortune in middle age, an unstable destiny, and difficulty in achieving wealth and status. This is a classic face, or as the saying goes, "beauty is fleeting," naturally not very suitable for Daoist cultivation.

Perhaps her master simply thought the girl was pretty and cute, and kept her around for aesthetic reasons.

Alas, this is how the master-disciple relationship works. Both are led into the door by their masters, but some masters, even after they have passed away, can still leave behind a great deal of blessings and connections for their disciples. However, some masters are extremely irresponsible, taking in only pretty faces and not caring at all about teaching and guiding them.

After a moment of silence, Zheng Zetian, having figured out the other party's background, released the Thunder Lord Pearl from his sleeve, raised his hand, and bowed to her.

"Indeed, I am Zheng Zetian, a disciple of Qingting Peak of Mozhu Mountain. May I ask what brings this senior sister here?"

The girl paused for a moment, then leaned closer with a hint of curiosity and a touch of slyness, and asked,

"Senior Brother Zheng, is your eyesight not very good?"

Zheng Zetian shook his head and said, "I don't know what Senior Sister means."

The girl in the green dress walked up to Zheng Zetian, smiled slightly, and said...

"Oh, I'm not bragging, but all the senior masters in the mountains praise my Snow Soul Ice Posture and otherworldly charm. Yet you stare at me like a block of wood, without any reaction, your eyes wandering as if you're daydreaming. So I'm asking if your eyesight is poor, if you have astigmatism and can't see clearly in the dark. Hehe."

This kid is so strong-willed and frivolous. He doesn't even bother with his sword techniques before brazenly barging up to people. Sigh, what a poor child.

Zheng Zetian shook his head and said,

"Senior sister, you are mistaken. The elders were just being polite. The art of transformation isn't difficult; you can transform into whatever you want. Being praised for your beauty won't increase your cultivation, so why care about such opinions?"

Besides, as the saying goes, a girl changes drastically at eighteen. You are still young, your body is not yet fully formed, and your bones and muscles are not yet stable. If you wait until you form your inner elixir and your skeletal structure matures, your facial features will change shape and you will no longer have the same charm as before.

However, if one were to forcibly reshape a girl's appearance, it would require reshaping her meridians and damaging her spiritual cultivation. Therefore, in my opinion, it's better for girls to be a little less attractive when they're young. Firstly, it prevents them from attracting trouble and makes them easier to raise. Secondly, they'll learn early on that beauty fades quickly and there are no shortcuts, so they'll naturally understand that diligent effort and hard work are the right path."

"You! Humph! Old-fashioned! Blockhead!"

The girl was clever; she sensed the veiled insult and was nearly furious. She rolled her bright eyes, then suddenly laughed.

"Oh, I see. You're deliberately trying to annoy me, trying to make an impression, aren't you? Humph, I've seen this trick a million times! How boring!"

After saying that, he turned and left.

Zheng Zetian remained expressionless. "Ahem, I still don't know how to address this senior sister. Where are you from, Sanshan? What exactly are you doing here stopping me?"

The girl took two steps before realizing what was happening, so she turned back, forcing a smile and bowing.

"Senior brother, please don't be offended. My name is Yuzan. I haven't yet entered the Xuanmen sect, nor have I received the direct lineage. I am a disciple who came here to study with our master. I am here on behalf of my master to invite you to meet me outside the mountain at midnight tonight. If you agree, I will take you there."

Oh, so a nominal disciple of the Xuanmen sect is basically just a servant boy. There's really no need to bother with proper guidance. That's how it is in the Xuanmen sect. If you want to get started, practice your exams! Pass the test first!

So, it seems the other party took the bait? Is this Yuzan's master from the company? Did she switch to a Yuzan junior sister because she wasn't interested in the Dudou Senior Sister? Or is she the one who came to take his head with a flying sword?

Moreover, going outside the mountains would be somewhat risky, as it would mean leaving the protection of the Grand Master. However, the moon would be out by Moon, so even if someone were to ambush them, they should still have time to hide in the Empty Star.

"Okay, let's go then."

Zheng Zetian's decisiveness made the Yuzan somewhat suspicious.

"Senior brother, aren't you going to ask my master's Daoist name? Don't you need to ask for permission from your family elders first?"

Zheng Zetian shrugged. "Anyway, I'm going to meet him sooner or later, it's all the same. I think at the foot of Tianyu Mountain, under the Grand Master's nose, no one will dare to cause trouble. Besides, no one is waiting for me."

Yuzan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright, shall we take a boat or an airship? You can buy your own ticket. I'll just show you the way."

Zheng Zetian was taken aback. "What do you mean? Don't you have any magical artifacts or mounts?"

Yuzan couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "I'm only at the Foundation Establishment. How could I possibly control a magic weapon and fly? As for a mount? Heh, I don't have one."

What, you've never been on a boat before? There's a regular ferry to Tianyu Mountain, departing every hour, costing one tael per person, round trip with a ticket. Airships are more expensive, five taels to Daoguo Mountain. Anyway, my master only sent a telegram instructing me to show you the way, but didn't give me any money. Decide quickly, the boat is about to leave."

Hmm? A telegram was sent...?

Zheng Zetian glanced at her.

The girl retorted angrily, "What? I'm not some rich family's young lady. There are so many things to do while cultivating in Ink Bamboo Mountain! I don't have any money to give you!"

Zheng Zetian sighed, "Let's ride on my mount."

"Oh! Senior brother, you even have a mount! That's wonderful! I wonder what kind of auspicious beast it is? A crane? A deer? Ah, could it be a flying sword!"

The girl burst into laughter, as if white calyxes were blooming, her radiance filling the room with fragrance.

Zheng Zetian smiled at her, then leaned against the fence and yelled, "Tu Lou!!"

Then the Tu Lou hopped up the cliff.

And so the girl's smile seemed to die on her face.