Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“A mere Du Kun will be very simple for someone like you with supreme cultivation,” the middle-aged man of the Cold Mountain Sect said respectfully.

They hoped that Chang’an Fortress could withstand the pressure brought by the Great Xuanwu General Du Kun.

No, it should be said that Chang’an Fortress had better be able to crush the Tang Dynasty army under Du Kun with ease.

The Cold Mountain Sect had taken a significant risk to help Chang’an Fortress collect livestock and transport things into the mountains.

If word got out, the Cold Mountain Sect would be the first ones to suffer when Du Kun’s army rushed over.

Even though they were now suppressing the power of the Mountain Tiger Hall and dominating Qinzhou Prefecture, things might change when Du Kun arrived later, and the Cold Mountain Sect might be chased out of Qinzhou Prefecture and even face Du Kun’s wrath.

They now only hoped that Chang’an Fortress would save them at the time for what they had done today.

“I am loyal to His Majesty, and I have accomplishments thanks to His Majesty’s authority.” The old man in black smiled slightly. “However, His Majesty will not bother taking care of trivial matters, so he entrusted this to me. I am always on tenterhooks for fear that I will let down His Majesty’s trust.”

Hui Tianyu and the others looked in awe and subconsciously looked at the distant Great Ming Palace.

They suddenly had a thought.

How could they get the legendary Fortress Lord to summon them?

Instead of always coming into contact with the old bloody shadow demon and the old man in black…

Despite having such thoughts, nobody dared to be disrespectful to the old man in black.

“You were able to gain His Majesty’s trust because of your loyalty and skillful means,” Hui Tianyu said softly. “I hope we can have a chance to listen to your teachings and do our part for Chang’an Fortress.”

“His Majesty has set rules for Chang’an Fortress. Those with meritorious deeds will be rewarded, and those with guilty deeds will be punished.” The old man in black nodded slightly. “You did a good job on this task.”

He raised his hand, and a longsword appeared in it.

Hui Tianyu was startled. Only then did he realize that he only had an empty sword sheath at his waist. The longsword had appeared in the old man’s hand.

The next moment, the old man in black thrust the sword.

His movements were extremely slow.

Hui Tianyu and the rest felt completely immobilized as their attention fell upon the sword blade.

It was as though their hearts, minds, and souls had been sucked into it.

The surrounding world lost light as everything fell into darkness.

The sounds of people and wind died out as silence filled the place.

That bit of sword light advanced slowly, leaving behind an elegant trail.

Shadows seemed to be flickering on this trail.

The hearts of the Cold Mountain Sect members moved slightly.

Each shadow seemed to be like a person using the sword.

Each shadow was a sword technique.

Any move had surpassed the most core moves that the Cold Mountain Sect had accumulated over the years.

Hui Tianyu and the rest watched in entrancement.

Completely immersed in it, they lost track of time.

Suddenly, a glorious light appeared before their eyes, and they could hear sounds again.

The phantom of the sword moves had vanished.

Hui Tianyu was dumbfounded as he watched the tip of the sword stop a fraction away from him. The cold aura from the sword blade caused him to break out in a sweat.

The old man in black withdrew the sword. With a flick of his hand, the longsword returned into the scabbard at Hui Tianyu’s waist.

The Cold Mountain Sect members all came back to their senses with a jolt.

Some were excited and thrilled.

Some forced themselves to calm down as they tried to remember what they had seen, lest they forget all about it.

Some quickly thanked the old man in black. “Thank you for your guidance, Senior!”

“This Night Elegance Sword is just the beginning.” The old man in black, whom Zhang Dongyun had incarnated into, said indifferently, “Your performance will determine whether you can get more in the future.”

‘Evil Emperor’ Ming Tonghui had collected many manuals, most of which he had not cultivated.

If Zhang Dongyun improved them slightly or simply left them unchanged, he could reward people with them.

Although the Cold Mountain Sect was a local hegemon in the southern foot of Dragon Ridge and had a remarkable sword technique inheritance, they were still far from the apex in Zhang Dongyun’s eyes.

His casual pointers were far stronger than the Cold Mountain Sect’s sword techniques, causing Hui Tianyu and the rest to be over the moon.

“Please instruct us, Senior. We will do our best.” The one-eyed young man took a deep breath to calm his excitement, and his voice also remained calm.

Zhang Dongyun looked at the Tang Dynasty troops working in the distance and leisurely said, “Chang’an should have some popularity when it is established.”

Upon hearing that, the hearts of the Cold Mountain Sect members moved slightly.

“Fellow members of our sect yearn for Chang’an Fortress. Unfortunately, the commoners have limited insight, miss their homeland, and are unaware of the greatness of this fortress. We might need a longer time to plan how to evict and relocate them forcibly.”

Hui Tianyu said. “Longbei County is currently experiencing civil unrest. The officials are forcing the commoners to rebel, and the commoners are suffering and displaced.

“If they can get a place to settle down and live without fear of Eastern Tang Dynasty’s coercion, they will be satisfied if they can eat to their fill.

“When they know about the existence of Chang’an Fortress, I believe that many vagrants will be willing to seek shelter under us. However, it may initially bring chaos with the good and bad mixed…”

The old man in black was expressionless. “Uproar in Chang’an Fortress?”

Hui Tianyu replied, “They wouldn’t stir up trouble. If Senior does not mind, we are willing to get in touch with the vagrants and guide them into the mountains to Chang’an Fortress.”

Zhang Dongyun nodded. “All right. I’ll leave this matter to you. Don’t disappoint me.”

“I would not dare,” Hui Tianyu said. “I will definitely do my best.”

He looked at his fellow member of the Cold Mountain Sect. “Uncle-Master Zhao…”

The middle-aged man, who was the head, bowed to the old man in black. “The other members of our sect in Qinzhou Prefecture will help Tianyu in his task. We wonder if we can stay in Chang’an and wait for Senior’s instructions and other assignments?”

“You can if you abide by the rules.” Zhang Dongyun smiled. “Now, I have a task for all of you.”

The Cold Mountain Sect’s Elder Zhao said, “Please instruct us, Senior.”

“Plant all of these.” Zhang Dongyun pointed at the grain seeds and vegetable seedlings.

The Cold Mountain Sect members had a strange look on their faces.

They had specially purchased a batch of farming tools as they transported the seeds and seedlings over.

But being told to plant them themselves…

The Cold Mountain Sect was almost worthy of being called a hegemon in Qinzhou Prefecture. Even the disciples of smaller sects would not personally do farm work.

However, they did not dare refuse the orders from the old man in black, so they could only smile bitterly and agree.

Fortunately, the old man had assembled some Tang Dynasty troops with farming experience.

A group of people went outside the fortress.

The old man in black, on the other hand, stood above the fortress.

Marking fields in the fortress would be somewhat odd, and it would easily arouse suspicions and expose the truth of the Impenetrable Fortress’s coverage.

Fortunately, the power of the system can still affect a small distance outside the fortress. Although it’s much attenuated, it’s enough for now… Zhang Dongyun thought.

He marked an area with his back against the wall outside the fortress.

A powerful force emptied all the weeds and trees and even removed the rocks under the soil, turning it into a flat field.

“I’ll leave the grain fields, vegetable fields, fruit forests, and livestock fences to you,” Fortress Lord Zhang ordered.

The Cold Mountain Sect members outside the fortress, as well as the group of Tang Dynasty troops, widened their eyes.

Senior, you do look handsome transforming the mountains into fields.

But you seem to have forgotten to create a canal. How are we going to irrigate without water?

How can newly-cleared land in the barren mountains and forests be used for farming immediately?