Castle of Black Iron

Zhang Tie didn’t mean to eavesdrop it; nor did he extend his spiritual energy towards that place on purpose. However, with the “overflow” effect of his strong spiritual energy, he could easily sense any sound or wave in the air within hundreds of meters.

On this occasion, Zhang Tie could receive enormous information. To put it simply, the total amount of information that poured into his ears per second could make commoners feel dizzy and crazy.

Imagine how you would feel if you could hear the talks of hundreds of people, twitters of hundreds of insects, birds, cockcroaches, rats and fleas, intestines wriggling, blood running in blood vessels, hearts beating, earthworm creeping in earth, worms chewing the fibers of twigs and sucking juice of leaves, rats mating, birds’ feathers plucking in the air, fleas moving in animals’ furs, fish bubbling at the bottom of river per second incessantly. That was how Zhang Tie felt spiritually on that occasion.

Zhang Tie was also fed up with that ability before; however, he soon found the solution——filtration. It was humans’ instinct. Even though it was full of people, as long as he focused on one person, all the surrounding sounds would be ignored and filtered out. As a result, Zhang Tie could keep the most important information. After a new round of evolution of his spiritual energy, Zhang Tie could use his spiritual energy to do many things with a greater filtering capability.

After filtering all the information in his surroundings spiritually, Zhang Tie could frankly face this colorful world.

After that, Zhang Tie only paid attention to some special sounds while all the others sounded nothing different than that in the ears of commoners.

Additionally, Zhang Tie could hear the secret talks between knights.

After hearing that voice, Zhang Tie’s heart raced. He then continued to walk forward and came to a teahouse on the roadside over 100 m away from the lane where the voice originated from. He entered a private room. While taking tea and honey fruits leisurely, he paid attention to the two mysterious “guests” in that boite.

With the effect of his strong spiritual energy and lotus-flower eyes, the 100 m longer distance and the thick walls were as transparent as a piece of glass.

The lane was called octagonal lane. It was only a bit wider than 2 m. There were so many small stores on both sides of the lane, selling fruits, tea, pastries, daily needs, shoes, hats and clothes, scissors, chopping blocks, wood tools and furniture. They were all commoners, who sold things and lived there. They chatted with neighbors while doing their jobs leisurely.

At the end of the octagonal lane, there was a small boite called Yuean Boite. As lunchtime had passed, it was pretty empty inside it. A waiter and a cook were sitting outside the gate, bathing the sunlight while the boss was going through the account books behind the counter. Some tables on the first floor were empty. Only two guests were drinking in a private table isolated by screens on the second floor.

“Xiao Gao, go ask guests what else do they need…”

The boss called, as the waiter who was peeping at the plump widow Zhao in the tailor shop in the opposite hurriedly ran upstairs. After a short while, he came downstairs and served one flagon of liquor upstairs. Then, he ran downstairs again, saying, “Boss, they said it’s enough. They don’t want me to disturb them anymore. They want to have a private talk…”

The boss waved his hand as the waiter hurriedly ran to the doorway and continued to peep at widow Zhao.

On the 2nd floor, two commoners were sitting at a small table and proposing toasts to each other, one in green, the other in black as if they were old friends. There was not exotic food on the table, but some common dishes and two flagons of liquor.

“Come on, Brother Zhao, finish it up…”

“Brother Li, one more!”

“Hahaha, I’ve not imagined that we could meet each other in Dragon Emperor City. It’s God’s will…”

“Yeah…”

“Brother Li, how do you do lately?”

“It’s hard to say, I feel sweet and bitter…”

Their talk faintly went downstairs, which sounded normal. Dragon Emperor City was the most prosperous city in Dragon Emperor Big Domain. These days, at least 300,000 to 500,000 people were seeking for opportunities in Dragon Emperor City.

However, Zhang Tie was watching and hearing an utterly different talk in his eyes and ears.

“Brother Ying, I’ve not heard about you for long. How long have you stayed in Dragon Emperor City…”

“Only four years!”

“Brother Ying, do you really prepare to stay here for long?”

“Why not? I rented a house in Dragon Emperor City where I could cultivate. By contrast, wandering across the world is no better than waiting here for opportunities. I could even wait for four decades here, not to mention four years…”

The one being called Brother Ying was the guy in green. With a big belly, he had whiskers. Although being a bit dark-faced, he looked sagacious as if he was an overambitious businessman. However, in Zhang Tie’s lotus-flower eyes, Zhang Tie saw a dreamlike fog under his face, where an utterly different face was looming. He was not wearing an ordinary disguising mask; neither was it a body-changing immortal bloodline; instead, it was an unknown marvelous disguising method.

The other in black was in grey hair and wrinkles who looked humble with a meticulous smile just like a rural teacher. Also, there was a fantastic fog under his face, where lay another utterly different face.

Given their superficial looks, they were both below LV 13. That one in green was a bit more powerful.

In fact, the two people purposefully hid their true levels. Even Zhang Tie could see through their real levels. Whereas, given their talk, Zhang Tie realized that they were at least heavenly knights because those who could enter Mountain Ruins were at least heavenly knights. As they had met each other in Mountain Ruins 80 years ago, they might be higher than heavenly knights. Given the fact that they dared to seek for opportunities in Dragon Emperor City, they must be higher than semi-sage level knights or sage-level knights.

One part of their talk was especially for people downstairs which sounded trivial while the other part was for themselves, which sounded a bit terrifying.

The two people could never imagine that there was an abnormal person like Zhang Tie in this world. Even though they were chatting using battle qi in such a secret place, their “talk” was still discovered by Zhang Tie when he passed by in the distance. He could even eavesdrop their secret talk. That was really abnormal!

Zhang Tie soon verified that the two people were all sage-level knights through their talk.

“Brother Ying, when I saw you in Mountain Ruins last time, you were already a supreme immortal general. I thought you might have long found your own immortal palace. Why didn’t you…”

“If not taste the Nine Heavens Immortal Spring in the core of Mountain Ruins, it’s meaningless for me to found an immortal palace. Even so, I still couldn’t find the way to promote to an immortal emperor…” the one being called Brother Ying said as he bottomed up with emotions.

“Even though you didn’t drink Nine Heavens Immortal Spring, you could also found an immortal palace so as to prepare for the next plan. It’s only a few years left since the Mountain Ruins opens next time…”

“Hahaha, young brother, you know, I couldn’t find a place to found an immortal palace among the big domains and middle domains occupied by humans in Motian Realm at all!” His voice was full of frustrations; additionally, it sounded a bit unsatisfied. “Over these years, the 3 emperor-level immortal palaces and 14 supreme immortal generals’ immortal palaces have already shared all the possible regions. On this occasion, it’s meaningless for me to persuade some small clans and occupy 3-5 cities. Even if I could drink Nine Heavens Immortal Spring, it’s still far away from promoting to an immortal emperor!”

“I see. It turns out that Brother Ying has more than one purpose in Dragon Emperor City. If Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace collapses, Brother Ying, you could raise your arms and gather an army immediately. By then, you could found your immortal palace in Dragon Emperor Big Domain. That’s a good plan! That’s a good plan…”

“More than one person has the same plan. The five elders and the two grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace are all average ones. Many powerhouses who couldn’t establish their immortal palaces after promoting to supreme immortal generals like me are also gazing at the situation facing Dragon Emperor Big Domain. Perhaps I’m not the only supreme immortal general in Dragon Emperor City. Look, even young brother, a powerhouse who has long joined Force Emperor Immortal Palace as a grand justice is here too. Young brother, I wonder whether Emperor Force is here?” the one being called Brother Ying asked tentatively.

“If His Majesty does everything himself, what would we do?” the one in black sighed with moods as he said ambiguously, “Additionally, Brother Ying, I really couldn’t answer you. His Majesty always takes action secretly. Perhaps His Majesty is not here today, but His Majesty might come tomorrow. Conversely, perhaps His Majesty is here today; but His Majesty might leave here tomorrow. The targets of His Majesty are some demon emperors. If demon emperors don’t show up, how could His Majesty show up? Although Dragon Emperor Big Domain is important, it’s not our foundation…”

“I see, hopefully young brother and I don’t meet each other on the battlefield. Come on, cheers…”

The two people then cheered as they bottomed up the glass of wine again.

“Brother Ying, you must be kidding. More powerhouses are casting covetous eyes on Dragon Emperor Big Domain and Dragon Emperor City, not only the two of us. The powerhouses of the other immortal palaces might have long lurked in Dragon Emperor City. If we two fight each other, neither of us could gain any benefit. Emperor Force is ambitious, wise and generous, who usually appreciates you. If Brother Ying would like to join Force Emperor Immortal Palace one day, I guarantee Brother Ying’s title would not be lower than mine. If Brother Ying could make meritorious deeds for Force Emperor Immortal Palace and gain popularity among people in Force Emperor Immortal Palace, you might have a chance to promote to an immortal emperor. This way might be easier than you founding an immortal palace yourself…”

“Ohh? Would Emperor Force like to share the brilliance of his immortal palace with his subordinates?”

“If not, why am I still in Force Emperor Immortal Palace? After Mountain Ruins opens, if I could drink immortal spring, His Majesty promises to allocate 20 cities and 30 million population to me as the assets for me to promote to an immortal emperor. If I could make greater meritorious deeds, I could share more profits. Brother Ying, think about it…”

The one in green became silent at a stroke. Zhang Tie sensed that person became a bit moved, who replied, “Well, let me think about it…”

“Brother Ying, as I could fight shoulder to shoulder with you in Mountain Ruins and meet you here again, I feel complex. I have one tip for you!”

“Go ahead!”

“In the final analysis, Dragon Emperor City is just a bet about the rise or fall of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace, one of the three emperor-level immortal palaces. Demons might not know that we’re preventing demons from destroying Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace. Even the elders and grand justices of Dragon Emperor Immortal Palace don’t know that they’re trapped in it. We’re just betting with different purposes. Although Force Emperor Immortal Palace won’t do it; it doesn’t mean that other immortal palaces would not do it. In someone’s eyes, Dragon Emperor Big Domain is a piece of fat. Now that Brother Ying wants to join it, you’re regarded as grabbing food from tigers’ mouths or taking chestnuts from fire by others. Brother Ying, bear it in mind, there’s still a long way to go. Never lose your life in Dragon Emperor Big Domain…” the one in black said with moods.

“Thank you so much…”

…

A few minutes later, the two sage-level knights finished their talk as they went downstairs while drunk. They then separated from each other at the entrance of the lane.

However, the two people didn’t know that a tracing feather had been attached to their soles respectively when they left the boite.

Zhang Tie was still drinking in the teahouse. Not until then did he realize that Dragon Emperor City was a dangerous swirl full of baits, which attracted many unexpected figures…

A sage-level knight should have waited in Dragon Emperor City for a few years.

Real knights were all something. What Zhang Tie had thought about might have been hit by someone else, who had long been preparing for that.

After sitting there for a few more minutes, when the two sage-level knights had left far away, Zhang Tie checked out and went downstairs. From a few streets away, he slowly followed that one in green as he wanted to know where he lived…

Only after a short while, Zhang Tie had “seen” the one in green buy a small pack of cheap sugar. After that, he continued to move forward. Over 20 minutes later, that one in green negotiated into another lane.

“Uncle Zhao, you’re back; Uncle Zhao is back…” A lot of kids swarmed up to take sugar when they saw the pack of sugar in the hand of the one in green.

“Easy, easy, everyone has a share; everyone has a share, hahaha…” The one in green burst into laughter as he distributed the pack of sugar to those kids.

“Ah, Uncle Zhao, I smell alcohol from you; you must have been drinking…” a kid sniffed the one in green as he said.

“You’re a kid, you’d better not care about adults’ affairs. I met an old friend and had some drinks with him. Did anyone enter my room and make it messy when I was absent?”

“Nobody. We watched it for you, uncle…” those kids answered in unison.

“That’s great; that’s great…” the one in green said as he took out a key and unlocked a small house.

After knowing where the one in green lived, Zhang Tie immediately turned around from a few blocks away as he walked towards the one in black.

Two hours later, Zhang Tie strode to the avenue where a rich family lived in the east of Dragon Emperor City. After watching the location of Zhu Mansion two blocks away, Zhang Tie left. Within Zhu Mansion, the one in black was listening to the butler in the accountant’s office.

Who could imagine that two sage-level knights were lurking in Dragon Emperor City in this way? There were definitely more powerhouses lurking in Dragon Emperor City. It was a coincidence for Zhang Tie to discover the two of them today. It was not that easy for him to find other disguising powerhouses in Dragon Emperor City. After all, Zhang Tie’s spiritual energy was not almighty. If he didn’t have specific targets or directions, he could barely find more powerhouses in Dragon Emperor City and in the surroundings only by his spiritual energy.

‘It’s becoming more and more interesting in Dragon Emperor City.’ Zhang Tie thought as he stroked his jaw.

Zhang Tie wandered in Dragon Emperor City until the night had fallen. He then prepared to return to Flyingdragon Manor.

After making a turn on the avenue and walking forward for a few minutes, Zhang Tie negotiated it where he crashed a group of people at the entrance of a top-level boite.

When he saw Zhou Baifei, Lu Tianqiang and Xun Zizhou, Zhang Tie became slightly stunned; so did Zhou Baifei and the others.

Zhang Tie had not imagined that he could meet them here after following up that man in black to the east of Dragon Emperor City. What a coincidence! However, as the east of Dragon Emperor City always gathered dignitaries, of course, the boite was top level in Dragon Emperor City. Therefore, It was normal to see Zhou Baifei’s group here.

“What a coincidence…” Zhang Tie greeted them with a smile and pretended to pass by. He didn’t want to say too much in case of trouble.

However, when Zhang Tie passed by, a shrewd light suddenly flashed across Zhou Baifei’s eyes as he suddenly opened his mouth, “Zhang Tie, you don’t need to do that. Just now, I invited you to come with us for a drink; you declined it. But why did you follow us three here? Do you want to know whom we’re drinking with? I want to know why do you behave so stealthily…”

Zhang Tie had already passed by them; however, Zhou Baifei’s words stopped him at once as he slowly turned around…

“What did you say?”