Chapter 42

Wu Qiong took a deep breath and entered the fortress with the few people behind him.

Soon, the one-eyed young man appeared in front of them. “Please follow me to meet Mister Black Cloud.”

Wu Qiong and the others nodded slightly and then followed him.

Hui Tianyu led the way, looking as usual.

A few disciples of the Cold Mountain Sect on guard at the fortress gate looked at Wu Qiong and the other members of the Thunderclap Sect with slightly complicated expressions.

When they heard Wu Qiong introduce his clan earlier, they guessed that the Thunderclap Sect, like the Cold Mountain Sect, was going to serve Chang’an Fortress.

This, by all accounts, was not very surprising.

The higher-ups of the Cold Mountain Sect basically had a common understanding and reminded the disciples to stay calm and concentrate on their own work.

The Chen clan had come previously.

But at least it had an excellent reputation in the past.

Chen Jiezhi, who now had the final say, was also an expert at the sixth realm of the Martial Dao.

The young people of the Cold Mountain Sect were somewhat mentally prepared to face them.

But the Thunderclap Sect was different.

It was basically a local like the Cold Mountain Sect.

Everyone had the same starting point earlier.

“We have taken the lead. If they are one step behind, they will always be one step behind.” Someone cheered on his fellow sect member. “Just like Senior Brother Cao said earlier, our competitor now is the Chen clan, so we have to look ahead!”

Everyone nodded and looked cheerful.

Wu Qiong did not pay attention to the small commotion behind him.

He was getting ready to meet Mister Black Cloud with all his heart and soul.

Following behind the one-eyed young man, the Thunderclap Sect members went through a courtyard and arrived at a large hall.

After informing about their arrival, Hui Tianyu left, and Wu Qiong led several of his fellow sect members into the hall.

Zhang Dongyun projected the black-clothed Mister Black Cloud to sit facing the door and gaze at them as they entered.

“Greetings, Senior.” Wu Qiong and the others bowed to him.

Mister Black Cloud, who looked like an old man in black, appeared indifferent. “How is it?”

“For the time being, I am temporarily taking the position of sect master,” Wu Qiong replied calmly.

Mister Black Cloud’s snow-white eyebrows raised slightly. “Where is your former sect master?”

Wu Qiong said with some caution, “Senior Brother was injured, so it is difficult for him to travel a long, bumpy journey. He’s still recovering in our sect.

“I am sure he will be able to recover somewhat after a few days. If Senior has any orders, I will ask someone to escort him here.”

Mister Black Cloud smiled. “It’s fine.”

Wu Qiong was relieved to see that he was not dissatisfied with him for sparing the sect master.

He added, “Unfortunately, the outsider in secret contact with my senior brother escaped, and our sect failed to capture him.

“I asked my senior brother afterward, but he did not know the other party’s exact background, as that person always contacted him on his own initiative.

“But…” Wu Qiong said a little more cautiously, “according to Senior Brother’s guess, the person behind may be… a certain prince of the capital.”

“A son of the King of Tang is secretly cultivating his own party in order to seize the throne?” Mister Black Cloud smiled nonchalantly.

He did not delve further into this topic but instead asked, “How much blood was shed in the Thunderclap Sect for you to replace the sect master?’

Wu Qiong looked slightly saddened and replied slowly, “Senior Brother’s perverse actions have displeased most of our fellow sect members, but some still take orders from him.

“Although our surprise attack caught them by surprise, we still suffered some casualties.”

As he spoke, he scrutinized the expression of the old man in black in front of him.

“However, it did not hurt the morale of our sect, nor did it cause any major disturbance.”

From Wu Qiong’s observation, the old man in black in front of him was definitely not compassionate and kind-hearted.

When the other party asked him about the casualties during the internal turmoil of the Thunderclap Sect, he was most likely unconcerned about the disciples.

Instead, he was asking how the turmoil would affect the strength of the Thunderclap Sect and whether it would delay the sect from serving Chang’an Fortress.

After hearing Wu Qiong’s answer, Mister Black Cloud nodded slightly. “According to what you said last time, there’s a horse carriage transportation business under the name of the Thunderclap Sect?”

Wu Qiong replied, “Yes, there is.”

“Tongzhou is an important place for transportation, and people travel back and forth there,” Mister Black Cloud said. “Right now, I have a suitable task for the Thunderclap Sect.”

Wu Qiong bowed. “Please instruct us, Senior. We will get it done well.”

A few of the Thunderclap Sect members behind him, who were his trusted aides, bowed in unison. “We are willing to serve Chang’an and Senior.”

“All of you should know about turquoise crystals.” Mister Black Cloud glanced at them.

Wu Qiong and the others nodded.

Turquoise crystals were a widely-used mineral.

Besides the common folk, even cultivators used them.

They were not particularly scarce, but the overall demand exceeded the supply.

This was especially true for high-quality turquoise crystals.

They were generally quickly sold on the market.

Wu Qiong wondered whether the first constructions of Chang’an Fortress needed them.

If Chang’an is really looking for turquoise crystals, where should we go to buy them in large quantities?

While he was pondering, the old man in black before him said, “We have turquoise crystals here. Since there is a heavy flow of people to and from Tongzhou, I don’t think we need to worry about buyers.”

Mister Black Cloud looked at Wu Qiong. “If the Thunderclap Sect can maintain a stable sale, you may act as the representative. What I value is a stable result. Do you understand?”

Wu Qiong and the others took a deep breath.

The mineral veins of turquoise crystals are now mostly in the hands of the Eastern Tang Dynasty’s royal family and major top powers, and no new mines have been discovered for a long time.

I didn’t expect Dragon Ridge to have some.

Why didn’t anyone discover them before?

Were they buried too deep?

This will pose problems for extraction and yield.

“Senior, may I ask how many turquoise crystals can be extracted in Chang’an, each day, each month, and each year?” Wu Qiong asked cautiously.

Mister Black Cloud said in an unhurried tone, “The daily yield is about a thousand tons of raw stones, and as the fortress becomes more populated, the yield will only increase.”

Wu Qiong and the others were stunned.

For a mineral like turquoise crystals, a daily yield of a thousand tons was an exaggerated figure.

If the fortress could keep on digging deeper, this place would undoubtedly be a super mine.

“I will return to Tongzhou and make sure I get this matter done properly. I will give Senior a reply as soon as possible,” Wu Qiong said seriously.

Mister Black Cloud waved his hand. “You don’t have to leave so quickly.”

Wu Qiong and the others were startled.

Mister Black Cloud got up and walked out of the hall with his hands behind his back.

The Thunderclap Sect members quickly followed him.

At this moment, a voice came from far outside the fortress. “Elder Tang Chi, a deacon of the Forgotten Truth Temple, seeks an audience with the Chang’an Fortress Lord.”

An old Daoist priest looked solemn outside the fortress.

Four fellow sect members followed him, two old men and two middle-aged men.

The two old Daoist priests were of the same generation as Tang Chi. They were two generations older than Xie Zhao, who had been captured earlier.

The two middle-aged Daoist priests were Xie Zhao’s two uncle-masters.

The five people of the Forgotten Truth Temple looked solemn as they gazed at the magnificent fortress before them.

Then a light voice came out from the fortress. “Come in.”

Tang Chi and the others sorted out their looks before going inside together.

Who knew that the old Daoist priest had only just stepped one foot inside when the voice suddenly sounded. “Left foot?”

Tang Chi and the rest were startled.

That voice sounded again. “Seize him.”