Chapter 89 - Harvest Time
Chapter 89 – Harvest Time
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At the southern border of Great Xia, there were endless mountains.
There was a military camp stationed at the edge of a forest at the foot of a mountain.
This was the southernmost region of Great Xia, and farther south was the territory of the southern barbarians.
Mi Ziwen was dressed in a military uniform with a long saber hanging on his waist.
This long saber was not a Huben Saber, a Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, or a Horse Slaying Saber.
As a high-ranking general and a fourth-rank martial artist born into a wealthy family, Mi Ziwen naturally wouldn’t lack a ranked weapon.
On the battlefield, although the ordinary soldiers were the main force, there was no lack of battles between martial arts experts. At this time, Mi Ziwen naturally couldn’t use a standard weapon.
Not just him, even Sun Gongping, who was on the battlefield for the first time, had brought along a ranked weapon. The Spring Embroidery Saber he had was just for show. If he really fought with a ranked martial artist, he would be at a huge disadvantage if he didn’t have a ranked weapon.
Mi Ziwen looked at the distant forest and shouted, “Where is the scout camp?!”
“Here!” An officer appeared out of nowhere. He was not wearing armor but rather fancy clothes that looked like camouflage clothing.
He was carrying a long saber on his back, and the handle extended above his right shoulder. It was a Huben Saber.
Before the army set off, Zhou Shu had led Zhang Yibei and the others to forge 3,000 Huben Sabers. Most of these Huben Sabers were equipped to the scouts.
Huben Sabers were light and sharp, suitable for scouts.
“All scouts move out and find the traces of the southern barbarians!” Mi Ziwen said solemnly. “Before the great general and his army arrive, I must grasp the deployment of the southern barbarians’ military!
“The southern barbarians dare to slaughter the citizens at the borders of Great Xia. This time, we will make them pay a hundredfold!”
Mi Ziwen was furious, and he was no longer as gentle as he was in the capital.
The southern barbarians were the barbarians to the south of Great Xia. They were a race that looked human, but they were barbaric, violent, and bloodthirsty.
Great Xia bordered the barbarians and would often be invaded by them. The barbarians resided in the Desolated Mountains, and if Great Xia wanted to invade them, it would be extremely difficult. Thus, over the years, they had been deeply disturbed.
This time, the barbarians had once again attacked a city at the border of Great Xia. Furthermore, they had wantonly slaughtered the citizens of Great Xia, completely infuriating Great Xia.
This was why Meng Bai personally led the troops to try and completely eliminate the barbarians!
As the vanguard officer, Mi Ziwen had a heavy responsibility!
“I accept the order!” the captain of the scouts said. Then he dashed out of the camp nimbly like an ape.
“Mo Dao Camp! Kill the captured barbarians and offer them as sacrifices!” Mi Ziwen shouted.
…
The imperial capital of Great Xia, Chang’an…
A barrage of messages suddenly appeared in front of Zhou Shu.
[The Horse Slaying Saber you forged effectively completed a kill. The Golden Bell Shield Technique has improved by 10%!]
[The Horse Slaying Saber you forged effectively completed a kill. The Golden Bell Shield Technique has improved by 20%!]
…
[The Horse Slaying Saber you forged effectively completed a kill. The Golden Bell Shield Technique has improved by 15%]
In the blink of an eye, streams of true qi surged out of Zhou Shu’s body.
The true qi flowed through his meridians like a flood.
Zhou Shu seemed to hear the sound of a surging river.
As he circulated his true qi, his limbs and bones felt hot, and all the cells in his body were cracking.
A moment later, an eggshell-like sound rang out. Zhou Shu’s aura suddenly surged, and then he restrained it.
The skin on the surface of his body seemed to be shedding as it fell off piece by piece, looking rather terrifying.
Fortunately, there were no outsiders present. Otherwise, they would have been shocked.
Zhou Shu reached out, tore off a piece of skin, and threw it on the ground. He himself was shocked, and then he felt a little disgusted…
Did I become a snake while mastering the Golden Bell Shield Technique? Why am I molting? Zhou Shu thought as he endured the nausea, swept up the skin he had shed, and then threw it into the smelting furnace.
The aroma of roasted meat wafted over.
Zhou Shu felt even more disgusted. He didn’t want to eat roasted meat for a year!
After walking out of the forging room and taking a breath of fresh air, Zhou Shu felt much better.
He raised his hands. His hands had been forging weapons all year round, and they were originally covered in calluses. But now that he had shed a layer of skin, the skin on his palms looked fair and delicate, and his slender fingers made all beauties envious.
I didn’t expect the Golden Bell Shield Technique to have such an effect.
It wasn’t just his hands. Zhou Shu’s skin had become much more delicate than before. Even his pores had become almost imperceptible.
Initially, he thought that after practicing the Golden Bell Shield Technique, he would become like the Golden Arhats in his previous life’s television series. He would be covered in muscles and emit golden light.
In the end, this Golden Bell Shield Technique actually had a beauty effect.
At this rate, would he become as fair as jade when he reached the twelfth level?
This is a pleasant surprise.
Zhou Shu didn’t care much about this effect. It was just a side effect. More importantly, his skin had become much tougher than before.
At the seventh level of the Golden Bell Shield Technique, true qi flowed through his entire body. Other than his eyes, ears, and head, even his private parts were resistant to attacks. He could even turn the soft willow branch solid to fight against swords!
In my previous life, I would have become popular if I was an internet celebrity who performed crotch techniques… Zhou Shu thought. Then he couldn’t help laughing.
Staying in the Forging Division was indeed the right choice. If not for this place, how could the weapons I forged be equipped to the army? Only the army has opportunities to kill on such a large scale.
Zhou Shu glanced at the page on the Legendary Armament Canon. There were almost 80 completed kills!
Furthermore, from the feedback of the Legendary Armament Canon, the targets they killed weren’t weak.
Because of this, Zhou Shu’s cultivation of the Golden Bell Shield Technique was able to break through to the seventh level.
Otherwise, just relying on his own cultivation, with his poor aptitude, it would have probably taken him at least ten to twenty years to reach the seventh level.
Ever since he had cultivated the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, Zhou Shu knew very well what he was capable of.
His current body’s aptitude for martial arts was extremely poor. A genius who had cultivated for a year could probably match his cultivation of ten years or more.
If not for the Legendary Armament Canon, it would have already been an achievement to cultivate the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique to the third or fourth level in his lifetime. That way, he might not even be comparable to a ninth-rank martial artist.
Fortunately, I have the Legendary Armament Canon.
With the Legendary Armament Canon and the Forging Division backing me, I just need to wait for the benefits.
As Zhou Shu was happily thinking, he suddenly heard a voice from outside.
“Is Superintendent Zhou here? Come out and receive your reward.”
Zhou Shu’s heart skipped a beat as he walked to the front yard.
Zhang Yibei and the others had already been alerted by the noise. They had long arrived at the front yard and were nervously looking at the person at the door.
Standing at the entrance of the 0th Workshop was an official from the Forging Division. His surname was Zhang, and his name was Wufu.
Even though his name was Wufu, he was actually an out-and-out great figure to Zhang Yibei and the others.
In the Forging Division, there were four ministers under the grand minister. Below them were the directors, while below the directors were the vice directors.
Although vice director was only one rank higher than workshop superintendent, this was within the Forging Division. In reality, vice directors were sixth rank officials, while workshop superintendents were merely ninth-rank officials. There was a difference of three ranks between the two.
Strictly speaking, workshop superintendents were out-and-out low-ranking officials, while the vice directors had a certain status.
One had to know that ordinary county magistrates were only seventh-rank officials.
Zhang Wufu stood at the entrance of the 0th Workshop. Although his expression was gentle, Zhang Yibei and the others were still frightened into silence.
Zhou Shu came to the front yard and could only roll his eyes when he saw how hopeless they looked. There’s still a long way to go before I can change them. I wonder if they’ll be better after they start cultivating.
He didn’t want the people in the 0th Workshop to be a bunch of yes-men.
Zhou Shu cupped his hands at Zhang Wufu. “Zhou Shu pays his respects to Milord. Might I know what sort of instructions you have for me?”
Zhang Wufu had already met Zhou Shu during the monthly workshop examination, but the two of them hadn’t spoken at the time.
Zhang Wufu looked at Zhou Shu with a bit of envy in his eyes. “I have come under the orders of His Majesty to give you a reward from the Imperial Court.”
“Reward?” Zhou Shu asked curiously.
“That’s right.” Zhang Wufu nodded. “Superintendent Zhou, you obtained excellent results in the monthly workshop examination and also developed the Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber. His Majesty is very happy, so besides the rewards from the Division, His Majesty has also heavily rewarded you.”
There’s such a good thing? Zhou Shu was amused. Although he didn’t really care about earning money, it was better than nothing.
Surely something rewarded by the emperor wouldn’t suck. He’d be rich.
Before Zhou Shu could ask, Zhang Wufu had already waved his hand. The ten odd-job workers outside had already entered. Each of them carried a burden and placed it aside.
When Zhou Shu saw so many things, his mood became even better. “Thank you for the trouble, Milord.”
Zhou Shu chuckled as he walked forward and silently stuffed a banknote into Zhang Wufu’s sleeve.
Zhang Wufu laughed out loud. This Superintendent Zhou is really a wonderful person.
“I have already delivered the items, so I won’t disturb your rest.” Zhang Wufu smiled. “Superintendent Zhou, when you come to the Division Headquarters to handle some matters in the future, you can come to my office to sit down for a drink and a chat.”
Zhang Wufu left in satisfaction. Zhou Shu’s gaze fell on the ten boxes in the courtyard.
“Superintendent…” Zhang Yibei and the others stared at the boxes. They still didn’t know what was going on, only that this was a reward from the emperor.
“Don’t just keep looking.” Zhou Shu laughed. Today, the Golden Bell Shield technique had broken through the seventh level, and the emperor had rewarded him with so many good things. He was in a good mood, so he had to share his good mood. “Today, I am in a good mood. Open the boxes. Everyone has a share.”
Even though Zhang Yibei, Wu Laoliu, and the others were still confused, it didn’t stop them from rejoicing. The superintendent actually wanted to give them rewards bestowed by the emperor?
Who would have thought that they would have the chance to come into contact with imperial rewards in their lives?
“All hail the superintendent!” the Forging Apprentices shouted.
“Open the boxes and split the loot!” Zhou Shu laughed loudly.