Chapter 235 - Deal
“Enter the capital to meet the emperor?” Ou Yangming’s face took on a strange expression.
The emperor was the present monarch. All lands in the world belonged to the emperor, and everyone in the world was the emperor’s people.
In other words, whether it was Ou Yangming, Li Xinfan, or the Ni family, which was a superb clan, they were all the emperor’s subjects.
Needless to say, in a world where the strong was revered, great ancestors, whose cultivation bases were at Extreme Grade, had a certain immunity from prosecution such that some even ignored imperial power.
Nonetheless, a nominal ruler in the world was enough to be worshipped.
Li Xinfan nodded slowly and explained, “I suggest you meet the emperor because I’m considering the world. By now, you should know the reason the Immense Forest Military Camp was built, right?”
Ou Yangming hesitated and answered, “The disaster of being attacked by ferocious beasts.”
“Yes. Each time the beast tide occurs, it’ll be a huge disaster, and the disaster isn’t limited to Changlong and Linlang only.” Li Xinfan sighed.
“Do other places have it too?” Ou Yangming asked as he was surprised.
Li Xinfan nodded seriously. “The Wu Dynasty has eight counties; the imperial family from the capital keeps watch in the middle while the eight counties prevent attacks from the four directions because every direction has a disaster.”
Ou Yangming’s heart pounded because he could tell from Li Xinfan’s facial expression that the disasters from the three other directions were not any better than the one faced by Changlong and Linlang. “General, why are the Humans faced with these disasters?” Ou Yangming asked with a deep voice.
“I don’t know. Perhaps we’re just bound to face the disaster that happens once in a hundred years,” Li Xinfan answered with a bitter smile.
Seeing as Li Xinfan looked gloomy, Ou Yangming comforted him, “General, the Humans got through the disasters for many years, so we’ll definitely be able to overcome it this time as well.”
“We’ll be victorious, but each time the disaster happens, our vitalities will be drained. That said, the situation will be completely different this time because we have you.” Li Xinfan smiled abruptly and raised his voice. “The molds that are forged by you can increase the military’s strength on a large scale. Hehe, this time, we must let them have a taste of our power!”
Ou Yangming responded softly, “General, I only did what I should do.”
“I’m glad you’re not claiming credit and being arrogant, but people from later generations will assess if it’s a merit or a demerit, so you don’t need to be so humble.” Li Xinfan could not help but laugh, then he looked at Ou Yangming with a serious face. “I’m inviting you to the capital to meet the emperor so that you can promote the molds there for everyone in the world to use.”
Ou Yangming’s eyelids twitched. “General, I’ve smithed the Rune Molds, so you just need to get Runes Masters and blacksmiths to imitate the references, and there shouldn’t be a big difference. As for entering the capital to meet the emperor… I don’t think it’s necessary.”
If he had his heart set on progressing in the military, meeting the emperor would unquestionably be a shortcut, but his mind was no longer in the military.
Li Xinfan pondered for a while and asked, “Master Ou, do you know why the imperial family keeps watch in the center?”
Ou Yangming was startled. “No, I don’t.”
“The imperial family is situated in the center to provide support to any of the directions at any time. If any of the defenses fail, powerhouses from the imperial family will make a move.”
“Did Humans ever fail?” Ou Yangming’s face changed.
“Yes!” Li Xinfan answered without any hesitation, “Throughout a thousand years, we resisted disasters from different sides many times. Although every county has a trump card, there were times when we failed, only then will powerhouses from the imperial family step out to clean up the mess. Heh, in the past generations, numerous powerhouses from the imperial family have died because of the disasters; even a Saint who surpassed Extreme Grade had fallen as a result.”
Ou Yangming’s heart skipped a beat. “A Saint who surpassed Extreme Grade? Did a person like that exist in the imperial family?”
Li Xinfan smiled faintly. “Yes, among Humans, the imperial family is the only one that can guarantee a powerhouse like that in the past generations.”
Ou Yangming was deeply moved, and his eyes lit up.
He had been thinking hard for a way to kill the spirit beast, but he felt hopeless at the thought of the spirit beast being superior to a Supreme Great Ancestor.
A spirit beast was a powerhouse that did not belong to this world. It was just like a magic tool, which was shackled by the world’s power, and the mighty divine weapon could not be smithed through normal means.
Ou Yangming knew very well the great destructive power of a magic tool on a piece of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade.
What about spirit beasts?
Would it be easy for them to kill Supreme Great Ancestors?
Therefore, while Ou Yangming pledged, he did not have a specific implementation direction to complete it.
Now, he vaguely saw silver lightning.
A power that was beyond a Supreme Great Ancestor was the only thing that could resist a spirit beast. In that case, could Ou Yangming find the answer from the imperial family?
The young fellow looked up and expressed, “General, I’m willing to enter the capital to meet the emperor.”
“Okay!” Li Xinfan laughed out loud. “Master Ou, the Humans will be blessed if you could quickly spread the method of smithing molds to the rest of the world.”
Ou Yangming had a grave look on his face. “General, I’m sure it’s achievable even if I’m not in the picture.”
Li Xinfan shook his head. “How can their molds be mentioned on equal terms with the ones that were personally smithed by you. Hehe, 3% of Counterattack attribute will certainly make an unexpected impact in tangled warfare.”
Ou Yangming twitched his mouth and thought, ‘I see, General Li is planning to use me for labor.’
However, as long as he could find a way to exceed a Supreme Great Ancestor, he would be willing to do so.
Ou Yangming was instantly relieved after settling the matter with Li Xinfan, such that the hard work and pressure that he had for a month disappeared at once.
Honestly, Ou Yangming knew he might not necessarily find his answer if he entered the capital to meet the emperor.
If it was easy for one to break through Extreme Grade, the imperial family would not have been the only one to have a Saint in the past generations.
Despite that, at least Ou Yangming had a direction to work in as compared to having no clue at all.
After bidding Li Xinfan farewell, Ou Yangming went to look for Ni Xuetian.
He cut to the chase. “Senior, I’d like to meet Elder Sister Ying, and I hope you’ll fulfill my wish.”
Ni Xuetian’s face changed, and he sighed. “Master Ou, you probably know the difficult reason behind our actions now.”
Ou Yangming replied to the elder sternly, “Yes, I’m aware.”
“If you have other requests, the three of us will get things done for you even if it means risking our reputations and lives. Ying’er’s matter affects countless lives from two counties, so please forgive me for not agreeing,” Ni Xuetian said in all seriousness.
“Senior, you misunderstood me. I’m not a genius, but I can’t sit by idly knowing that the Humans will be in grave danger.” Ou Yangming grinned and looked at Ni Xuetian with his clear eyes. “When the disaster happens, I’ll render my service, but I’d like to make a deal with you.”
“What?”
“Please give me a chance.”
Ni Xuetian was moved, and he inhaled deeply before he uttered, “Go ahead.”
“When the spirit beast appears, please delay the usage of the Iron Blood Loyal Heart Art, and allow me to slaughter it,” Ou Yangming requested seriously.
Ni Xuetian twitched the corner of his mouth and sighed. “Ah, Master Ou, you’re gifted in the smithing path. If you go full force in smithing magic tools, the Humans will be abundant in assets, so why do you insist holding on to your request?” Ou Yangming smirked. “Without persistence, how could I have gained my current achievements?”
Ni Xuetian was stunned, and he looked deeply at Ou Yangming. “Fine, come with me.”
The elder and the young fellow left the military camp and hurried to the Land of Inheritance without saying a word to each other throughout the journey.
They successfully arrived at the Chaos Cave, but before Ni Xuetian could make a summon, a yellow figure had already shown up. The big yellow dog flashed and pounced on Ou Yangming, who had to crouch slightly to fend off the enormous power, which was extremely forceful.
Ni Xuetian’s face twitched as he cursed, ‘I’m the Ni family’s great ancestor, Big Yellow. Why are you so friendly toward an outsider? This doesn’t make sense at all.’
Even though Ni Xuetian was jealous, he had not gone mad to reason with the big yellow dog. The great ancestor simply shook his head with a bitter smile. “Master Ou, you may enter with it.”
“Yes, thank you, senior,” Ou Yangming responded.
It was then when the big yellow dog noticed Ni Xuetian, so it barked at the elder as a form of greeting. Following that, it turned and stuck out its big tongue to lick Ou Yangming’s face.
Ou Yangming kept dodging the big dog to prevent it from succeeding.
Ni Xuetian did not know to cry or to laugh, but he was feeling somewhat regretful because he felt like they made a mistake by sending Big Yellow and Ou Yangming into the Chaos Cave in the past.
The big yellow dog became so burly that it was shoulder to shoulder with Ou Yangming if it stood up.
Ou Yangming reached out his hand to hug the big yellow dog’s neck, then they paced into the Chaos Cave.
As soon as he entered the passage, he heard Ni Xuetian’s reminder.
“Master Ou, please remember your promise.” Ou Yangming paused and replied to the elder loudly, “I remember; please remember my request too.”
Ni Xuetian kept quiet. He listened to Ou Yangming’s footsteps as the young fellow went deeper into the cave, and he mumbled after he could not hear the footsteps anymore, “You’re the Humans’ future pillar, so if I do as you say, how am I going to explain to the other people?”
He looked up at the sky but suddenly recalled Ou Yangming’s last words and Ni Yinghong’s playful and crafty smile.
After a long time, Ni Xuetian sighed. “Forget it, even if I have to risk everyone’s condemnation, I’ll fight for this opportunity for you. Even so, if you can’t convince me, I won’t be a man of sin…”