Castle of Black Iron

3 days later, Zhang Tie was sitting on the opposite of an old man with grey eyebrows and beard while drinking tea and talking about runes knowledge and universal laws with him in an elegant and tranquil courtyard of Heavenly Craftsmanship City…

“What’s the definition of runes?” Zhang Tie asked.

“Runes are the shuji of good luck, bridge of two realms, immortal essence of six senses!” The old man replied.

“What do you mean by shuji? What’s the bridge? What’s the immortal essence?” Zhang Tie continued.

“Shuji refers to the law of changes. It’s born in the original chaos in the universe. There’s no rune in the original chaos. After the chaos was divided into heavens and the earth, runes were born too…” The old man replied to Zhang Tie as he sipped the tea water leisurely, “The two realms refer to the elements realm and the material realm. The rules of runes connect the two realms in a fantastic and mysterious way. The bridge is manifested in the material realm with the strength of the elements realm. The six senses refer to eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. As runes are born in nature, people could only get them accidentally. If people’s six senses could observe the universal laws, it would be no different than picking fruits from the tree…”

“How?”

“Your body is the shuji, two realms and 6 senses. If you ask me, who will I ask?”

Zhang Tie picked up his teacup which was covered with enshrouding steam with eyes closed. After a few seconds, he emptied the teacup before cupping his hands towards the old man and saying, “Thanks!”

“Could this old man’s words solve general’s puzzle?” The old man asked with a smile.

Zhang Tie’s eyes shone at once as he asked, “How do you know me?”

“In recent years, this old man has got some gnosis using the laws of runes. Last night, I dreamed about a brilliant immortal bird flying into my courtyard with a pair of huge feather wings. This morning, I practiced divination and knew that a Class III major official would come here from the theater of operations. After finding that you’re a stranger who has stayed in this city for over 2 months, I suddenly recalled a person. He’s also a well-known Class III major official of Taixia Country in the theater of operations and was born with the body-changing immortal bloodline. It’s said that that person has also left Kangzhou Province for over 2 months and always moved secretly; therefore, this old man has known who you’re…” The old man said nonchalantly.

Zhang Tie became silent. The laws of divination practice were too fantastic. He had not imagined that this old man could see through his real identity after staying in this city for over 2 months. Zhang Tie had experienced the similar thing in Ice and Snow Wilderness. Therefore, he was not too shocked this time. According to Elzida, someone could indeed predict the future. However, the immortal bird mentioned by this old man reminded Zhang Tie of the King Roc Sutra that he was cultivating.

‘Whether this person has known something or is suggesting something to me?’

A whim occurred to Zhang Tie’s mind together with slight killing intent. However, closely after that, his killing intent disappeared completely at the sight of a kind and wise eyes of the old man.

‘Am I thinking too much? It’s just a dream.’ Zhang Tie then revealed a self-mocking smile. ‘Even if he knows my real identity, so what? If everyone in the world finds out my real identity, will I have to kill everyone in the world?’

After promoting to the 9 change realm of earth knight, Zhang Tie would soon become a shadow knight; therefore, Zhang Tie’s mentality gradually changed unconsciously. Previously, he was worried that his secret of cultivating King Roc Sutra would be exposed to others; however, now, although Zhang Tie wouldn’t write the secret that he was cultivating an emperor-level classics onto his forehead and let everybody know it, he had seen through it. Even if this secret was exposed to the public, so what? Even if Emperor Xuanyuan and the imperial households of Taixia Country were cultivating the complete secret method “Xuanyuan God Sutra” was exposed to the public, so what? Who would dare harm them? In the final analysis, in this world, forces counted most.

This was the mentality of powerful ones.

“Now that the master has known that I’ve stayed in Heavenly Craftsmanship City for over 2 months, you must also know why I’m here. Please give me some instructions.” Zhang Tie asked calmly.

“What general wants to do is as hard as climbing up to the sky. Your ability is far greater than this old man’s ability. This old man is just an ordinary person who knows something about runes instrument manufacturing skills. How could I give any instructions to general? You could only try it and think about it yourself. All the others couldn’t give you any favor. What I said just now could only serve as a reference to general…”

Zhang Tie let out a long sigh before asking, “Really?”

“The strength of flywheel and steam have already reached their limits. If you want to make a further breakthrough, you might not make it unless general could discover a rune that could increase the speed of the lifeless object and make a runes array with this rune!”

The same words had been talked about by Lin Xiuxian 3 days ago. Zhang Tie realized that it must be the last possibility as it was right what he had concluded in the end.

“Do you mean that we could only expect that someone discovered some relics from Earth-element Realm?”

The runes that rune instrument masters used now were all excavated from those mysterious relics in Earth-element Realm. People could only discover 2 rune relics in the Earth-element Realm over the past 900-odd years since the Catastrophe. The 2 rune relics well developed the profession of human rune instrument masters. It’s as difficult and impossible as looking for a needle in the bottle of hay if people expected to discover any new rune relics in the Earth-element Realm, not to mention discovering some runes that could increase the speed of a lifeless object among the rune relics.

Zhang Tie’s words sounded a bit disappointing.

“It is possible. But…”

“But what?”

“We don’t know whether someone could invent such a rune which could increase the speed of the lifeless object.”

“Could really someone make it?”

‘Inventing a rune? That sounds a bit exaggerating. ‘ Although Zhang Tie had seen the world, he also felt that it was impossible.

“The runes that we got today were all acquired by far-ancient immortals through observing the marvels in the universe. This old man doesn’t have such an ability to invent it. However, there’re so many talents in the word. Some top knowledgeable sages might be able to create the magnificence of human rune instrument masters by evolving new runes from the changes in the universe…”

Zhang Tie revealed a bitter smile. After appreciating the old man once again, he left the teahouse.

The old man stood up and saw Zhang Tie off.

It was a courtyard outside the teahouse, which was filled with peach blossoms. In March, peach blossoms were in full bloom. These peach blossoms reminded Zhang Tie of those peach trees in Xuanyuan Hill. The old man’s disciples were waiting outside the teahouse. Watching the old man seeing Zhang Tie off himself in such a kind and respectful way, the two disciples watched Zhang Tie with their eyes widely opened as if they were watching a monster. Because their master had a lofty status in Heavenly Craftsmanship City, over these years, the old man only saw the other visitors off the teahouse politely at most; instead of entering the courtyard. However, today, the old man saw Zhang Tie all the way off the courtyard.

After recovering their composure, the two disciples hurriedly showed the way.

Many people were waiting to visit the old man outside the courtyard below the stages. They were at least mysterious rune instrument masters. After the gate of the small courtyard was opened, all the others were dumbfounded when they watched the old man and his two disciples seeing Zhang Tie off.

“Ahh, who’s that one? How come Mr. Jinlong saw him off himself?”

“I have no idea. Could he be the new disciple of Mr. Jinlong?”

“No, I don’t think so. Additionally, Mr. Jinlong has already taken his last disciple a few years ago!”

Those people who were waiting outside whispered to each other as they watched Zhang Tie with jealous, admiring and abhorrent looks. The reason that they were abhorrent was that they blamed Zhang Tie for being that presumptuous to be seen off by Mr. Jinlong himself.

“Please go back!” Zhang Tie turned around and told the old man.

“See you!” The old man said with a smile.

Zhang Tie nodded. Closely after that, he threw a glance at those onlookers outside the courtyard before going downstairs and leaving the lane.

Not until the old man saw Zhang Tie disappear at the end of the lane did he return to his courtyard. By then, all the onlookers recovered their composure as they hurriedly rushed towards him.

“My master won’t receive any more guest today. Please leave your letters for paying a visit and go back!” One of the old man’s disciples opened his mouth to stop all of them.

After hearing his words, those people could only present their letters for paying a visit to the two disciples of the old man. Whenever the two disciples received a letter for paying a visit, they would give a metal plate to the very person which was marked with time. The latest time on the plate was June 21, which means 3 months later.

Mr. Jinlong was a venerable rune instrument master in Heavenly Craftsmanship City; especially in the study of runes. Additionally, Mr. Jinlong was glad to give instructions to those junior rune instrument masters. Therefore, a lot of rune instrument masters would come here for him every day. Zhang Tie presented the letter for paying a visit to the old man over 2 months ago and was received by him today…

…

After leaving the small courtyard, Zhang Tie wandered in the city alone. After meeting Mr. Jinlong, Zhang Tie was all clear-minded.

‘It’s time to leave!’

Zhang Tie muttered to himself inside.

Soon after he made the decision, reverberating exclamations had entered his ears. Everybody in the street looked up at the sky.

So did Zhang Tie. He then saw 7 air-cavalry I airplanes flying over the sky, leaving 7 wisps of colorful smoke…

It was sunny; therefore, the 7 airplanes were especially clear; especially the 7 wisps of colorful smoke behind the airplanes which drew an eye-catching rainbow in the sky.

Many people in Heavenly Craftsmanship City might have been used to airships, even airboats; however, it might be their first time to see airplanes. Therefore, the entire city became boisterous.

They were air-cavalry I airplanes assembled by the factories in Heavenly Craftsmanship City according to the blueprints. Fiery Oil was transported from afar. The pilots must come from the Thunder Hawk Instructions Squad of Fiery-Dragon Corps.

This trial flight was the best adversisement and the most thrilling encouragement…

When they saw airplanes drawing rainbows in the sky, kids and juveniles chased after it on earth; all the adults moved their heads out of the balcony and windows to watch them. At this moment, those fighters who were patrolling in the city seemingly had forgotten about their duties as they all stopped and watched the 7 airplanes in the sky with bizarre eye light. The driver of the trolley moved half of his body outside the window and looked up at the sky. Many drivers on the street were looking up at the sky from inside the vehicles…

“Bang…” Some vehicles tailgated one after another. However, the drivers didn’t quarrel with each other; instead, they directly parked their vehicles and walked out of their cabs before looking up at the sky.

Many people even ran onto the roof and watched the airplanes by telescope seriously.

Those workers in the city who participated in making airplanes and providing components also ran out of their workshops under the leadership of their heads and managers. Watching the airplanes and the brilliant rainbows in the sky, they all felt pretty proud because those airplanes were assembled by them.

…

“They are airplanes, Fiery-Oil airplanes brought by Qianji Hermit. With them, we could f*ck those demon b*tards ferociously. We will never be afraid of demons no matter what their population is…” Someone cried on the street.

“Fiery Oil? What’s that?”

“You will know it in a couple of months. We’ve got a Fiery Oil base outside Heavenly Craftsmanship City. When corns are ripe, we will be able to produce Fiery Oil…”

“Could we defeat demons with it?”

“Of course, even airships can’t defeat these airplanes in the sky!”

…

At this moment, many colorful pieces of paper were thrown off the airplanes from the sky like snowflakes. The moment these pieces of paper fell onto the ground, the onlookers had started to grab them.

…

“We’re protecting Taixia Country by producing Fiery Oil!”

“We’re fighting demons by producing airplanes!”

“Males would become heroes by joining the unrivaled air cavalries of Taixia country!”

“We extend our thanks to all the workers in Heavenly Craftsmanship City who are participating in the major airplanes manufacturing projects in the western theater of operations!”

“Taixia Country will win the holy war for sure; Hua people will win the holy war for sure!”

All the colorful pieces of paper were marked with thrilling words.

The people started to cheer up increasingly loudlier. Gradually their cheers covered the entire city like a tsunami.

…

When a red piece of paper reached in front of Zhang Tie, Zhang Tie caught it at once. At the sight of the content on the slogan, Zhang Tie revealed a smile as he said inside, ‘Those sons of b*tches are really good at capturing opportunities!’

Things were unpredictable. Over the past 2 more months, although he didn’t know when he could develop his high-power steam centrifugal ballista to kill knights, the airplanes had been developed.

‘What I sowed finally sprout. All the dauntless fighters in Selnes Theater of Operations could finally close their eyes at this moment.’

‘Whatsoever, I will not feel regretful.’ Zhang Tie let out a sigh inside before putting away the piece of paper.

In the cheers of people in Heavenly Craftsmanship City, Zhang Tie silently left this city…

…

Soon after Zhang Tie left that small courtyard, Mr. Jinlong had already stood under a peach tree in his courtyard. Watching the gradually thinner rainbow in the sky quietly and hearing the increasingly louder cheers from his neighbors, Mr. Jinlong muttered, “That’s the remarkable military exploits of people who’re good at fighting…”

Except for Mr. Jinlong, nobody else across this city knew that the one who brought all these marvels had visited his courtyard today. Perhaps, that person had already left the city at this moment.

…

In the sky, tens of thousands of meters high, Zhang Tie flashed as fast as a lightning bolt while he had already recovered his original look.

After leaving Heavenly Craftsmanship City for hundreds of miles, Zhang Tie felt a strong gold wind blowing towards his face while his thunder hawk had caught up with him from behind.

Zhang Tie instantly mounted the thunder hawk as he patted the thunder hawk’s head and ordered heroically, “Let’s go to Yezhou Province to kill demons, slaughter traitors, eat fruits and promote to a shadow knight…”

The thunder hawk replied with a long yowl as if it had understood what Zhang Tie said. Closely after that, its speed broke the sound barrier as it flew towards the west…