"Five coins, not one less."
Mortal Domain Camp.
Chen Fan led the monkey back to the entrance of the Canyon. The rest would have to unfold slowly. Currently, there was only one route between "Mortal City" and "Northbank City," a one-way trip.
Trial operation.
It's been running for free for the past few days.
Spread your reputation.
He was able to do this mainly because of two things.
"Copper Pipe" + max-level "Gondola".
These two buildings are quite Rare, especially the former. As far as he knows, he is the only one who possesses this Building Module. But no matter Rare a building is, if it's not unique, then others will definitely have it too.
Therefore, what he needs to do is to spread out the network as quickly as possible.
That way, even if someone tries to steal his business, they can't.
Most importantly.
The cost of building the structure he constructed was extremely low; the cost for others to build a line like his would be...
It's impossible to recoup the investment in a short period of time, let alone extract so many Eerie Stones at once.
There will be no competitors in the short term.
The next step is to conduct certain tests.
The first step is the collision avoidance test.
At the entrance to the Canyon.
A Max-Level Gondola hovered on the ground, Ready to Unleash to launch at any moment, while a newly constructed "Level-1 City Wall" stood not far ahead.
The next moment -
The High-Speed Rail has started operation.
It accelerated extremely fast, carrying the sound of wind as it crashed straight into the City Wall.
"Bang!"
A tremendous crash was heard, and the Gondola shattered into several pieces, which flew through the air.
The transparent Light Barrier above shattered instantly.
It is easy to imagine that if there were a person sitting in the carriage, they would certainly die under such circumstances.
The crash test is over.
The Max-Level Gondola has decent speed, but insufficient defense. It needs to keep the route clear, which is Copper Pipe hidden on the ground. The Gondola can only travel along the Copper Pipe.
Roadblock test.
He then led out a Skeleton Horse and placed it in front of the Max-Level Gondola.
Restart.
"Bang!"
The Skeleton Horse was smashed to pieces, while the Gondola continued forward almost unscathed.
Ordinary obstacles cannot stop Max-Level Gondola.
Chen Fan glanced at Qi Yue beside him. He actually wanted to try whether Martial King could stop the High-Speed Rail, but after thinking about it, he decided against it and continued testing. With a thought, he...
The Copper Pipe that connects the Mortal Domain directly to the "Harbor" is missing a section.
The High-Speed Rail has started operating again.
The speed instantly accelerated to its maximum, then came to an abrupt stop at the gap; the Copper Pipe was missing, and it could not continue moving forward.
"Good."
Chen Fan nodded slightly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Max-Level Gondola has enough defense; it just needs to be able to smash through the Skeleton Horse. As for the Level-1 City Walls... well, there's really nothing you can do about them. Even Level-1 City Walls are tougher than many other structures.
"Young Master."
The monkey said with some concern, "Currently, it seems that if someone deliberately damages the Copper Pipes, it could cause this line to stop operating for a short period of time."
"Um.
Chen Fan nodded slightly and said softly, "There will be Eerie Fire flowing inside the Copper Pipe, with its own certain range. Eerie Fire Strange Entities will not attack it outside the Rainy Season, but Strange Entities will rush into the range of Eerie Fire Rainy Season."
"But the Copper Pipe is buried one meter underground."
"Apart from that, there are no buildings on the ground, and ordinary, unintelligent Strange Entities can't destroy anything."
7
"Even if some intelligent Strange Entities were to dig three feet into the ground and damage the Copper Pipe, the Copper Pipe is buried a meter deep underground, so digging it up wouldn't be very convenient, and it wouldn't cause much damage. We can just repair it after the Rainy Season ends."
"The main concern is with other forces."
"Some forces might be jealous of us and sabotage the Copper Pipes we lay, causing the lines to jam."
"What we need to do is to awe the world with the power of thunder."
"Any force that dares to damage the Copper Pipes will be exterminated once it is discovered."
There's a lot of filth in this world.
"We cannot guarantee that no plan will be disrupted. All we can do is reduce the number of people involved. When the High-Speed Rail network is extensive enough to connect Four Regions of Jiangbei, even if one line is disrupted, it will not be a major issue."
Chen Fan didn't speak again, but stood there looking at the Max-Level Gondola that was hovering close to the ground not far away. The existence of the High-Speed Rail had greatly accelerated his plans, which made the profits he could obtain soar again.
Four years?
Give him some time; Suppression Jiangbei for four years.
Ten years later, they launched a counterattack.
The Camp currently has 1.62 million Eerie Stones, of which Eerie Stone were brought back by Shao Qiu after he destroyed the Wind and Rain Tower. He does not intend to save these Eerie Stones, but will continue to invest them in the construction of the Mortal Domain.
The shortage of hundreds of millions of Eerie Stones three years later cannot be accumulated simply by saving them up.
Flowers should be spent when they are needed.
The more you invest, the more you earn.
The "Gondola" building can be placed on most buildings. When placed on a building, it will consume the building's Eerie Stones after activation. He checked and found that the Gondola's consumption is very low, almost negligible.
It's even far less than the daily operating costs of Copper Pipes.
Just then--
"Domain Lord."
Qi Yue, who had been following behind him, suddenly spoke up, "It's time. I may have to leave for a while."
He turned and glanced at Qi Yue. He knew about this; Qi Yue was going to kill a group of people.
Don't you need my help?
I have to kill this man myself.
"Good."
Chen Fan didn't say much and agreed. Even if he couldn't win, a mere Martial King was enough to escape.
Within the Mortal City.
The Medicine King Valley Master paced back and forth at the Inn window for a long time before finally stopping and looking at Qi Feng beside him with a serious, hoarse expression.
Qi Feng.
"Our Medicine King Valley's Alchemy techniques have always been far ahead. Jiangnan is the most developed region among the Four Regions of Jiangbei, and our Alchemy techniques surpass those of the other three regions. But do you know why East River and Jiangxi don't buy Pills from us?"
The reason is simple.
"Many Pills are not much different. Even if our Pills are slightly better than theirs, they are only slightly better, not by much. When we transport our Pills to the East River, we will definitely have to add transportation costs."
"It's definitely not as cost-effective as the Pills made by the local Alchemy groups."
"But"
What if transportation costs could be significantly reduced?
"Will people still buy Pills from those Alchemy groups?"
"No."
"At the same price, they will definitely buy our Medicine King Valley Pills, because our Medicine King Valley Pills are better than Pills made by other Alchemists."
"If..."
"This 'High-Speed Rail' in the Mortal Domain can go directly to the entrance of our 'Medicine King Valley,' and then connect to other areas. Our Medicine King Valley can then control the entire Alchemy market in the Four Regions of Jiangbei!"
"Father."
Standing to the side, Qi Feng looked at the bustling crowd outside the Inn with a somewhat dazed and helpless expression, and said, "You may have forgotten the production capacity of Medicine King Valley. There are only so many Alchemists. Even if we really get this many orders, we can't refine that many Pills."
"That's Alchemy."
"It's not like we're growing cabbages..."
He was most deeply moved by the development of the Mortal Domain.
Thinking back to the first time I met Chen Fan, the Mortal Domain had just Slaying the Wraith King, and a group of forces were heading to the Nameless Mountain to celebrate. At that time, there was no "Mortal City," no "Silk Road," and certainly no "High-Speed Rail."
Now...
Everything is here.
It seems like a long time has passed, almost a year.
But in reality, only a little over a month has passed.
During this month, Medicine King Valley also underwent changes. It joined the "Silk Road" of the Mortal Domain at the first opportunity and earned a lot of Eerie Stones through those Skeleton Horses, but compared to the Mortal Domain, it was nothing.
"You make a very good point."
The Medicine King Valley Master excitedly put his arm around Qi Feng's shoulder. "Being able to think of this shows that you have indeed been thinking about it."
"If..."
"Our Pills are cheaper and of better quality than others."
"Do you think other Alchemy organizations can still sell a single Pills?"
"They definitely won't sell."
Qi Feng shook his head. "But what's the point? We'll lose a fortune."
"A hard loss."
The Medicine King Valley Master said seriously, "We can quickly seize all the markets in the Four Regions of Jiangbei by leveraging 'High-Speed Rail' and 'subsidies,' crushing all other Alchemy forces and ensuring that people in the Four Regions of Jiangbei will only Medicine King Valley's Pills from now on."
"Then we'll absorb Alchemists from other Alchemy factions to replenish our production capacity."
"Those Alchemy factions will unite and attack us..."
"Pay protection money to the Mortal Domain."
"This..."
"This move will result in a significant loss of Eerie Stones in the early stages, but if we succeed, Medicine King Valley will become the largest Alchemy force in the Four Regions of Jiangbei. This is the greatest opportunity that Medicine King Valley has faced in decades, bringing glory to our ancestors."
"Father."
Qi Feng looked at the gray-haired Elderly Man in front of him with a complicated expression. "I never realized you had such courage."
"Isn't this a backup plan?"
The Medicine King Valley Master said somewhat, "If we fail, Medicine King Valley will simply join the Mortal Domain. You and Domain Lord Chen have a good relationship, and the Mortal Domain is short of Alchemists, so they shouldn't refuse us."
Didn't I make some Eerie Stone selling the Skeleton Horse during this period?
"Bring out 150,000 Eerie Stones."
"Dedicated to the Mortal Domain."
"We've discussed collaborating to build a High-Speed Rail to 'Medicine King Valley,' ensuring that Medicine King Valley is one of the key nodes along the route."
"And it needs to be done as soon as possible."
"If we can become the first node, the reputation of Medicine King Valley will spread throughout the Four Regions of Jiangbei along with the High-Speed Rail, which will give Medicine King Valley's Pills a huge advantage in seizing the market in the future."
"I'll leave this matter to you."
"Good."
Qi Feng agreed, looked at the Elderly Man in front of him, and smiled, "Father, it's been a long time since I've seen you so energetic."
People always feel a little more energetic when they see a miracle.
The Medicine King Valley Master laughed.
Soon.
It's late at night.
That night, thanks to the countless messages relayed through the Message Talisman, news of Mortal Domain New Work, "High-Speed Rail," spread throughout the Great River.
Countless forces are restless and unable to sleep or eat in peace.
The main problem is that they don't know how fast the High-Speed Rail will be built in the Mortal Domain, or how much it will cost, which is affecting their judgment. If the construction of the "Northbank City" to "Mortal City" line has already consumed Great Achievement of Mortal Domain's resources.
You can stop worrying about it for a short period of time.
The cost incurred is not significant.
That would be a serious matter.
Mortal Domain Camp.
Chen Fan was sitting on the City Wall, wearing a coat, writing something on a piece of paper. The title was "Mortal Domain Communications".
"Young Master."
Just then--
The Crippled Monkey climbed the City Wall, looked at Chen Fan who was writing with his head down, and asked curiously when he saw the title, "What does 'Mortal Domain Communications' mean?"
"Oh, this."
Chen Fan leaned back in his chair and chuckled, "The new plan we'll be launching in the future will have limited communication range with the Message Talisman. To achieve long-distance communication, we'll need to establish multiple Stations for information transmission."
"Time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly."
"This has led many factions to consume large amounts of Eerie Stones every year to maintain the operation of their Communications Stations in order to expand their influence."
"The Eerie Stone shouldn't be wasted like this."
"I'm thinking about whether it's possible for the Mortal Domain to unify 'communication,' allowing all factions to place their Message Talisman on our Station. This way, they wouldn't need to maintain their own Station anymore, and we could collect a considerable fee."
"It seems unlikely..."
The monkey hesitated for a moment and said, "After all, messages transmitted through Message Talisman are all confidential to each family, and it's unlikely they'll pass through the hands of our Mortal Domain. They wouldn't feel comfortable with that."
"Um.
Chen Fan nodded slightly. "So this plan is only on paper and hasn't been implemented yet."
"Young Master, aren't you tired of thinking so much every day?"
"What's so tiring about this?"
Chen Fan tilted his head and looked at the monkey with a light laugh, "Everything you think of can come true in reality. Don't you think that's interesting?"
"I want the High-Speed Rail to go wherever I want it to go, High-Speed Rail will go there."
"I'll stay in Jiangbei; I'm not going anywhere."
Other forces will have to come to me.
"Alright."
He got up and walked towards the foot of the City Wall: "Time to go to sleep. Tomorrow morning I have to send King Mazi and the others out to sea. I hope everything goes smoothly."
Daylight broke.
Harbor.
All the Mortal Domain Core were gathered here. A Level-4 Eerie Fire was burning fiercely next to the Harbor. This was Eerie Fire that had been created separately, and no City Wall had been built outside the Harbor.
And at the berths in the Harbor.
Three "Sea Ships " were moored there.
They are now ready to set sail at any moment.
"Domain Lord."
"Everyone."
King Mazi, accompanied by his men Subordinate the Commerce Pavilion, stood solemnly on the Seaside, looking at Chen Fan and his group. "That's enough for now. Wait for me; I'll definitely come back with good news."
And on the side.
A dozen or so Mortal Domain Member were loading large quantities of Eerie Stones, as well as plants and fresh water produced by "Sunset City," onto the Sea Ship one by one.
Going to sea is no easy task.
Leaving land means you have nothing left. Even if you don't encounter Strange Entities, the chances of survival will be greatly reduced if you encounter strong winds and waves.
"You must come back alive."
Chen Fan stepped forward, patted King Mazi on the shoulder, and said softly, "Your main goal this time is to find out what's at sea. If you encounter a crisis, don't try to fight it head-on; just run."
"I see."
King Mazi grinned. "Don't worry, Domain Lord, I'll definitely come back alive."
"Okay, did you bring the Ghosthide Map that Qi Chong made for you?"
"Don't lose it, or you won't be able to find your way home."
"They're all well-preserved; they definitely won't be lost."
At this moment.
All supplies were ready. Several Mortal Domain Member stood at the berth, preparing to untie the ropes, while King Mazi took a deep breath and said in a deep voice.
"King Mazi, the Pavilion Master the Mortal Domain Commerce Pavilion."
"Ordered to execute the 'New Continent' project."
"Please give the order, Domain Lord."
Chen Fan laughed, "Let's go."
"Yes!"
King Mazi didn't linger any longer. He led his Subordinate onto the three Sea Ships in batches. The ropes connecting the Sea Ships to their berths were untied, and the sails were raised, making a whooshing sound.
The three Sea Ships gradually sailed into the depths of the Sea.
Standing at the stern, King Mazi waved goodbye to them.
This parting.
Who knows when we'll meet again?
Perhaps they will return safely soon.
Or perhaps it will run to the Strange Entities's Headquarters.
But no matter how dangerous it is, someone has to go. Just like High-Speed Rail, even though there's a high chance it will be sabotaged, it still has to be built. That's how things are in this world.
Difficulties don't excuse us from doing things.
Danger cannot be avoided.
Go do it.
Just grit your teeth and do it, solve problems as they arise, and keep going.
There will eventually come a day when the clouds part and the moon shines through.
Wang Kui, Zhou Mo, and the others standing beside him watched the three Sea Ships gradually disappear into the depths of the Sea with complicated expressions, waving goodbye, even though they knew that King Mazi could no longer see them at this distance.
But they knew that King Mazi was still watching them.
"The dream we talked about during the Rainy Season has come true for King Mazi."
Wang Kui muttered something under his breath.
Zhou Mo turned his head to look at Wang Kui and couldn't help but laugh, "I remember your dream was to get married and have children, what, didn't you find a girl you liked?"
"This can't be rushed; it depends on first impressions."
"But you're not getting any younger, I'm afraid you'll lose your edge."
"Roll!"
After seeing King Mazi off, the Mortal Domain Core sat back on the back of the "Giant Turtle" and headed towards Mortal City, preparing to return to their posts.
"Crippled Monkey."
Chen Fan kept the monkey there, instructing him, "The Mortal Domain is short-handed again."
"After the High-Speed Rail opens, we will need a group of people to operate High-Speed Rail. In addition, various places need manpower, so we need to find another batch of people."
"You should send out a notice in the next few days."
Cultivation doesn't matter.
"Mainly, someone clever, with all their limbs intact, and a clean background."
"Young Master, what exactly do you mean by 'clean background'...?"
Qi Yue.
"Like Qi Yue?"
"No, it means don't be like Qi Yue."
"Understood.
Mortal City.
Chen Fan sat inside the shop, listening to Wang Kui report on today's revenue.
"Domain Lord."
"In the past few days, we've received another payment, totaling 790,000 Eerie Stones. The first batch of Credit Limit issued will soon be fully recovered."
We gave them a period of one month.
"Most factions have already replenished their quotas ahead of time, and some even received a second batch of Credit Limit yesterday. That faction is really going all out, with two teams of the Trade Association shuttling back and forth."
"They have a wide range of connections."
"The Skeleton Horse they brought back sold out immediately."
"Um.
Chen Fan flipped through the ledger in his hand. Mortal Domain grew larger and larger, the ledger became more and more complex. It was nothing like the simple ledgers of the past, where each Eerie Stone was recorded individually, and there was no need for a ledger at all. He could keep accounts on his own.
We don't look at the ledgers now.
He himself didn't even know exactly how much wealth he had.
Just then -
A Mortal Domain Member walked beside him and reported, "Domain Lord, Young Valley Lord Qi Feng Medicine King Valley, requests an audience."
"Let him in."
Soon.
Qi Feng, dressed in a long robe, walked into the shop alone. Without any opening remarks, he immediately said, "Domain Lord, Medicine King Valley wishes to become the first node in the Mortal Domain High-Speed Rail network."
"To this end..."
"We brought 150,000 Eerie Stones, hoping to work with the Mortal Domain to build the High-Speed Rail."
"Of course, we are well aware that 150,000 Eerie Stones are far from enough for such a monumental project, so we can also offer 15% of Medicine King Valley's net profit for the next three years."
Chen Fan smiled and looked at Qi Feng: "It doesn't sound like there's much."
Building High-Speed Rail network may not be costly for him, but that's in comparison to other forces building High-Speed Rail networks. In reality, the cost is not low at all.
A one-meter-long Copper Pipe —that's an Eerie Stone.
Mortal City is located at the northernmost part of the Jiangbei.
Medicine King Valley is located in the middle section of Jiangnan.
The straight-line distance between the two places is a full 700 kilometers.
That is to say...
700,000 meters.
The cost of the Copper Pipes alone is 700,000 Eerie Stones; if a detour is taken, the cost will be even higher.
"There should be quite a few."
Qi Feng took a deep breath, somewhat nervously, before revealing his father's plan, which was also one of their bargaining chips.
After listening to the plan of Medicine King Valley.
Chen Fan remained silent.
The Medicine King Valley Master's plan is a bit too advanced for this world... Most people in this world are struggling to accumulate Eerie Stones to fight against Strange Entities, so how could they come up with such an idea? Even if they did, how many people would dare to do it?
It became the first node in the High-Speed Rail network.
By leveraging the reputation of "Mortal Domain," the fame of Medicine King Valley can be significantly amplified, achieving widespread reach.
High-quality products at low prices are used to seize the market.
To annex competitors.
Increase productivity.
They swallowed up the entire market for Pills from Four Regions of Jiangbei.
If this plan succeeds, a 15% net profit over three years is indeed not a small number.
Medicine King Valley is trying to... build a brand.
After a moment, he nodded and smiled.
"OK.
"I agree to this."
"Thank you, Domain Lord Chen."
Qi Feng quickly breathed a sigh of relief and waved for Subordinate men outside to General Strange stone. He no longer felt the same ease he had when he saw Chen Fan.
"Oh, right."
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow. "Your plan will consume a lot of Eerie Stones. Can you handle it?"
Qi Feng hesitated slightly, but still said tentatively, "It should be possible. Father is prepared to dig out all the 'Eerie Ore' and take a gamble."
He didn't hide anything.
This is what his father told him: answer whatever Domain Lord Chen asks, and be sincere. They have no conflict of interest with the Mortal Domain.
But you should hesitate before speaking, so as to show that what you are saying is indeed confidential.
"Eerie Ore?"
This was the first time Chen Fan had heard this word.
"Hmm." Qi Feng nodded. " In Primordial Era, many Strange Entities died in battle, and their Eerie Stones were left unexcavated. As time passed, they were buried underground. Their bodies had completely decomposed, but the Eerie Stones remained."
These Eerie Stones left over from Ancient Battlefields are called "Eerie Ore."
"The reason why Jiangnan is prosperous."
"One reason is that the Jiangnan produces more of the Eerie Ore."
"There is an Eerie Ore in Medicine King Valley, but it has never been used much. The Eerie Ore produces 'Ghost Qi' which accelerates the growth of medicinal herbs. This effect disappears after mining."
He didn't say anything more.
Qi Feng took his leave, which was considered an acceptance of the matter.
Chen Fan sat at the table, repeatedly pondering the term. He could understand the formation of "Eerie Ore," but he felt that the largest concentration should be in "Jiangbei," right?
After all, Jiangbei was the Frontline in Primordial Era.
Jiangnan is merely the rear area of Jiangbei.
How come he didn't discover an Eerie Ore in Jiangbei, or even heard of it before?
It seems I'll have to take some time to thoroughly search the Jiangbei Coast; maybe I'll find something left over from ancient times.
At the gate of Mortal City.
The High-Speed Rail between Mortal City and Northbank City has temporarily suspended its trial operation.
Little Qiu, the Pavilion Master of the Logistics Pavilion, was leading the Logistics Pavilion Member on High-Speed Rail, laying out a Red Grade liquid along the route.
The High-Speed Rail lines are Copper Pipes.
The Copper Pipes are buried underground.
It's not visible from the ground.
If it weren't for the High-Speed Rail departing and it not being dark, no one would be able to tell that there is a High-Speed Rail Line here.
Therefore, this is to prevent accidental digging, or to ensure that the building is constructed along the designated route.
Little Qiu went to Nameless Mountain and picked a large amount of a fruit called "Red Fruit". The Red Grade liquid formed after crushing and mixing with water will seep into the soil and not dissipate for years.
It's perfect for marking.
All lines marked in red are High-Speed Rail Lines within the Mortal Domain.
Anyone who dares to build structures or damage the route is an enemy of the Mortal Domain. This may seem domineering, Mortal Domain didn't rise to power peacefully either.
Just because things are peaceful now doesn't mean we won't overturn the table.
Every certain distance.
The Logistics Pavilion Members will also place a wooden sign on the ground along the High-Speed Rail Line.
The sign above clearly indicates that this is the Mortal Domain Railway.
Those who move will die.
"Young Master."
The Crippled Monkey, who had followed Chen Fan out of Mortal City, hesitated and said, "If we don't mark it, even if someone wants to sabotage our railway, won't they have no idea where it is?"
"A determined person can't be stopped."
Chen Fan shook his head. "Once the railway is completed, it will definitely be in operation. Once it's running, people will know where the line is located."
"If you're always trying to guard against everyone, you're bound to fail at whatever you do."
"Preventing 70% of people from falling."
"Eliminate 20% of the population."
"To deter one-tenth of the population."
That's enough.
"They're gone."
Chen Fan strode towards the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot that was parked at the city gate.
"Huh?" The monkey, who had been listening attentively, hurriedly limped after him. "Young Master, where are we going?"
"Repair the road to Medicine King Valley."
"Going so soon?"
"Um.
Soon after the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot disappeared, it reappeared in the same spot and began to pave the road again in front of a crowd of passersby, starting from "Mortal City" again, with Copper Pipes sinking into the ground.
High speed and efficiency.
This sparked a discussion, with people wondering where the repairs were supposed to be done.
Look in the direction.
This is deep in the Jiangbei Wasteland.
Five hours later.
It got dark.
The Nine-Five Dragon Chariot came to a stop, and the Eternal Night was about to descend. Chen Fan hastily created an Eerie Fire and placed it next to the Horse-Drawn Carriage, then got out to stretch his body.
Level-1 Eerie Fire.
The scope isn't too large.
But that's enough for activities.
"It still feels strange."
Chen Fan stood still, stretching his body and looking into the darkness within the range of the Eerie Fire. This was the first time in many days that he had spent the night outside.
Everything else can be delegated to others.
But he really had to do everything himself when it came to laying the railway.
They worked for a full five hours without much rest, laying 150 kilometers in one go. It seemed like a long distance, but it was actually still in the Jiangbei Wasteland.
We haven't even left the Jiangbei yet.
It will take another 170 kilometers to reach the junction between Jiangbei and Jiangnan.
At the southernmost point of Jiangbei is a vast Desert, and further south of the Desert is a Great River. Only after crossing the Great River can one reach Jiangnan.
He didn't plan to cross the Desert directly.
Although this is the closest distance.
However, the Desert terrain makes it difficult to lay Copper Pipes.
This route points diagonally to the east side of Jiangbei, bypasses the Desert, crosses the Great River, and then leads directly to Jiangbei.
People from the Jiangnan would not normally travel through the Desert when visiting the Jiangbei, as neither Horse-Drawn Carriages nor Skeleton Horses can travel across the Desert.
They all bypassed this Desert, circled around to the east, and then crossed the river to the Jiangbei.
The Crippled Monkeys had already started a fire, and a pot was placed on the fire, cooking soup.
Weiwei, looking around with a sense of novelty, showed less fear and more excitement for the outside world in its eyes.
This was Weiwei's first time leaving the Nameless Mountain and venturing into the outside world.
Since Weiwei recovered from her illness, Weiwei's not as timid anymore, but being timid her whole life has left her with many scars, and she's still not very brave.
Yes.
He brought Weiwei along too.
Since it was brought out, it must have been useful.
Tianyi.
Chen Fan once again embarked on the road to lay the line. When he passed through the Mortal Domain Station, he contacted Wang Kui, who was staying in Mortal Domain, through a "Message Talisman".
After confirming that nothing unusual had happened in the Mortal Domain yesterday, they were able to continue repairing the road with peace of mind.
This day.
He worked for six hours.
170 kilometers were laid.
We stopped by a bridge. There were many Caravans coming and going here. The Jiangbei and Jiangnan banks of the river are separated by a river with several bridges spanning Great River.
These bridges are all buildings.
It wasn't artificially created.
It is sturdy enough.
This Great River is 70 or 80 meters wide in some places and only a dozen meters wide in others. At their location, the river is 40 meters wide.
This Bridge also has the most expensive toll.
Each visit is charged per person, with each person required to pay five Eerie Stones.
The bridge downstream is cheaper.
However, it involves a longer journey. Some Caravans in a hurry will use this bridge, while Caravan that are not in a hurry will use the bridge downstream.
But this is understandable.
A bridge spanning a 40-meter-wide body of water will certainly require more resources to build and will also be more expensive to construct than a bridge spanning a 10-meter-wide body of water.
Exhausted, Chen Fan ate something quickly and then lay down in the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot, falling into a deep sleep.
Two days.
The project covered 320 kilometers, which was no small undertaking and quite exhausting.
Camp where you are.
It's not that dangerous outside of the Rainy Season, especially with the presence of the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot.
Soon.
Daylight broke.
Chen Fan stepped out of the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot and walked to the riverbank, gazing at the surging Yangtze River flowing downstream, its silt and sand turning Yellow Grade as it was swept up.
He turned his head to look at the Bridge beside him.
Caravans are already crossing the bridge, traveling from the Jiangnan to the Jiangbei.
They were all slightly taken aback when they saw the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot, but after noticing him, they hurriedly stopped their Caravan and bowed in greeting. He nodded slightly in response.
Eighty percent of the Caravans that come to Jiangbei are going to Mortal City.
Even if you don't know him.
I also recognize the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot.
In fact, even someone who has never seen it before can recognize the Nine-Five Dragon Chariot. It is an extraordinary Horse-Drawn Carriage pulled by nine Flame Dragon Horses. Chen Fan is the only one in the Four Regions of Jiangbei who owns one, so it is immediately recognizable.
He did not have the Building Blueprint for a "Bridge".
There is currently no use for Bridges in the Mortal Domain.
I'll work on a Bridge Blueprint when I have the chance.
Soon--
He walked up to the guards on the Bridge and whispered, "Summon your Family Head. Tell him that Chen Fan from the Mortal Domain has come to discuss something with him."
His route requires crossing this bridge.
Naturally, the issue of costs needs to be discussed with the party that owns the Bridge.
"Yes!"
The guards on the Bridge changed their expressions slightly when they heard the name Chen Fan. After respectfully responding, they hurriedly took out Message Talisman to contact the Family Head.
In no time at all.
Then he saw an Elderly Man in a long robe walking quickly toward him, surrounded by a crowd.
"Domain Lord Chen."
The person arrived before the voice.
The Elderly Man at the head of the group, beaming with smiles, strode forward to greet him, "Domain Lord Chen, I have long admired your name. I was unaware of your presence and apologize for not welcoming you properly."
"Please!"
"Domain Lord Chen, I have instructed my servants to prepare a delicious meal in the residence."
"Polite."
Chen Fan returned the greeting with clasped hands and a smile, "Let's skip the meal and get down to business. May I ask which faction you belong to?"
"Jiangnan Shui Family."
The Elderly Man smiled and said, "Our surname is Shui (Water), and we've made our living from water for generations. We don't have any power or influence; we just rely on water for our livelihood."
"Family Head Shui, I have long admired you."
"Has Family Head heard of the 'Mortal Domain High-Speed Rail' these days?"
"Vast and renowned."
The Elderly Man said earnestly.
"Currently, Mortal Domain is building a second High-Speed Rail Line, connecting Jiangbei to Jiangnan. The line will pass over your bridge, and it won't take up much space, just a small area."
Your bridge is twenty meters wide.
"I only need about three meters of space."
"Certainly."
"I won't take it for free, name your price."
"Alright." The Elderly Man showed no surprise, holding up five fingers and saying seriously, "Any Trade Association crossing this bridge will be charged per person."
Five Eerie Stones per person.
"Fixed price."
"Since you, Domain Lord Chen, have said that I will not charge you a single penny from the Mortal Domain, the High-Speed Rail will need to stop at the bridgehead in the future. Everyone who passes through this place on the High-Speed Rail will need to pay five Eerie Stones to our Jiangnan Shui Family."
In fact.
Yesterday, he received a rumor that Chen Fan was building a high-speed railway connecting Jiangbei to Jiangnan, and he knew it would definitely pass through his area.
After all, this is the nearest bridge.
If you go any further downstream, you'll have to take a detour.
Not to mention...
Many of the bridges downstream also belong to his family.
Or rather, all the Bridges in Jiangbei and Jiangnan belong to his family, and only his family knows how to build Bridges. In other words, if his family were to perish, the entire Jiangbei and Jiangnan would be disconnected.
The saying that generations have relied on water for a living is not just an empty phrase.
Therefore, they had already discussed and devised a plan.
Once the High-Speed Rail is open...
Travel between the south Jiangbei banks of the Jiangnan will definitely Densification, with so many people taking the High-Speed Rail; the toll fees will be plentiful.
Chen Fan frowned slightly upon hearing this, as it somewhat affected his plans. After a moment's thought, he said, "How about this, you name a price, and I'll buy it all outright."
"I won't interfere with other Trade Association passing through the bridge in the future."
"How about we not charge passengers on the Mortal Domain High-Speed Rail a single Eerie Stone when they cross the bridge?"
"This... really won't work."
The Elderly Man shook his head helplessly. "Domain Lord Chen, we make our living by fishing, not by fish. We can't do business with just one transaction. Since you need to cross the bridge, you definitely have to pay the toll."
He then coughed lightly.
"Domain Lord Chen."
"You may not know much about the situation in Jiangnan. Only the Jiangnan Shui Family know how to build Bridges. All the bridges on this Great River belong to our family."
"If you want to cross the river, you must find our Jiangnan Shui Family."
After a moment of silence with a blank expression, Chen Fan said softly, "I remember there are three forces that control the Bridge between Jiangbei and Jiangnan. Perhaps the other two will agree to my conditions."
"Cough."
A hint of a smile flashed in the Elderly Man's eyes, "Domain Lord Chen's information is a bit outdated. There were indeed two families originally, but both were wiped out during this Jiangnan Rainy Season."
Now we're the only ones left.
"What if our family is wiped out too?"
"From then on, if Jiangbei and Jiangnan wanted to communicate, they would have to take a detour through the East River in Jiangxi. There Families on both sides who know how to build Bridges, but it's a longer route."
"How about this?"
After a pause, Chen Fan ignored the Elderly Man's words and said softly, "An Eerie Stone like this attracts many passersby; you can make a good profit."
"You used to only make money from the Trade Association didn't have much. But after my High-Speed Rail opens, many people who aren't members of the Chamber of the Trade Association will also be passing through here."
"I can be content."
Five coins, not a penny less.
The Elderly Man shook his head, somewhat smugly, and said, "I know the Mortal Domain is powerful, and I know the power of your Nine-Five Dragon Chariot, but only we in Jiangnan can build Bridges. If I don't give my approval, your Mortal Domain's High-Speed Rail will never reach Jiangnan. If you dare to build a road, I'll block it with City Walls, and..."
Before he could finish speaking...
Chen Fan turned and left without saying another word.
They don't appreciate kindness.
Dragging your feet.
I was already exhausted and annoyed after working for two days straight, and then I had to bother him.
Only your family knows how to build Bridges. Once we destroy your family and find the Building Blueprints, Mortal Domain can build Bridges on its own.
Just as Chen Fan turned around...
A cold glint suddenly appeared on the Elderly Man's neck.
Before the Elderly Man could react...
Blood splattered everywhere.
Cold air rushed in through the gaps. The Elderly Man clutched his neck with both hands, but blood still gushed uncontrollably from between his fingers. He could only make gurgling sounds in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word even when he tried to speak.
Suddenly, Shao Qiu appeared behind the Elderly Man.
Like a ghost, it moved nimbly and stealthily through the crowd.
In the time it takes to count breaths.
All that remained was a pool of blood.
These people were not highly Cultivation, and they had no power to resist Shao Qiu, a Martial King.
At the moment the Elderly Man died.
A crack suddenly appeared in the bridge beneath them. The owner was dead, and soon the Bridge belonging to the Jiangnan Shui Family would completely collapse.
After that, there were no more Bridges connecting the areas Jiangnan and Jiangbei of the Yangtze River.
And at this time -
The Nine-Five Dragon Chariot was already flying through the air, leaping across the Great River, heading straight for the territory of the Jiangnan Shui Family.
66
The group of the Trade Association watching the scene from the roadside remained silent with complex expressions, their faces full of regret as they looked at the corpses lying in pools of blood. They had heard the entire conversation.
The price couldn't be agreed upon.
In fact, they had long harbored resentment towards the Jiangnan Shui Family. The toll fees hadn't been this high before, but they increased after the other two families were wiped out.
After all, it has become a monopoly.
Many people suspect that the Jiangnan Shui Family caused trouble during the Rainy Season, allowing the Strange Tide to break through the territories of the other two forces.
Otherwise, how could such a coincidence happen?
While it might feel somewhat exhilarating, what will happen when there are no Bridge? The Nine-Five Dragon Chariot can fly, but they can't.