Chapter 627
(Unedited)
…
Shin Jiao was surprised deep in his heart at the craftsmanship of those pieces of jewelry. However, he didn't know how General Xang was able to get his hand on such a thing?
He knew that normal humans are unable to handle those black and white stones. So how was it crafted to such exquisite form?
Although he was thinking deeply, Shin Jiao is not showing anything in his expression. This did not deter the general.
"This thing was supposed to be given to a special… being… from the Silver Moon Empire. We plan to ask for her help, to fight against the beasts. But it seems that we cannot do that anymore as all of our plans have already failed." General Xang said with a smile.
"She is called Queen Klo, the queen of the Li'angs. It is said that assault failed due to a single person. A single human… who was able to get in and out of the famous Under City."
When Shin Jiao heard General Xang's words he was a bit taken aback. And a hint of suspicion was clearly written all over his face.
"At first I didn't know who you are and so we did a thorough investigation. Sigh… it was you, right? The person who defeated us in the Great Crossing, and also the person who saves the Under City."
Shin Jiao was silent but was amazed at the intelligence gathering of the Golden Dragon Empire.
"So what? Do you want revenge?"
His direct answer made General Xang show a faint smile on his face.
"Haha… War and death go together. If you have fought battle as long as I did, then the word revenge is already a luxury for me. I have killed countless soldiers from the other empires. And they have killed countless numbers of soldiers from ours. It's an unending cycle that I have already accepted. Though sometimes I would think of revenge, who am I to be self-righteous?" the old general said with a hint of guilt and resignation in his eyes.
Shin Jiao was silent as he also knew that what the general said was correct. But still, he didn't know what he wanted from him?
"So… what do you want from me then?"
General Xang hesitated for a moment but suddenly lifted his head with a determined gaze.
"In every battle, there are victors and losses. But once those beasts completely overwhelm our empire then everything would be for naught. We would all perish and every single living being in this land would vanish." General Xang said with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
"Although I could not believe the report I have received these past few days. But I guess I have no choice but to accept it. According to what I have learned, you were the one who uses the 'divine fire' that the Li'angs is calling. They even named you the high deity of the Under City."
When Shin Jiao heard the general's words, he was a bit taken aback but did not react. It seems that this man wanted a weapon to exterminate the beast horde infestation.
"Hmm… So you wanted me to give you a weapon, in exchange for this fine trinket?"
General Xang nodded his head, to convey his thoughts.
"Tempting offer… but I don't have anything to gain from this except for this trinket… I'm not interested." Shin Jiao said as he turns around and was about to leave.
"Wait… I… I still have something." General Xang called out as he immediately walked towards his bed and from under his pillow, he took out a flat black wooden box with the width of two palms.
From inside the box, Shin Jiao saw the general took out a parchment made of beast skin. In that parchment was draw an intricate map.
When the general seem to notice that Shin Jiao is showing interest, he immediately explained.
"This is a map I found from a dead soldier a few years back. The soldier is from the Black Iron Empire and is already a pile of bones. I discover that this box is actually inside his stomach. I don't know if it is by coincidence or was just placed there. But after I found it, we tried going to the place on this map. However, we could enter it. All those who attempt to enter the area would suddenly die by some mysterious means…" General Xang explained.
As the general continue explaining, Shin Jiao learned that the place on that map is called the 'Eye of Death'. It is a mysterious place near the border between the Golden Dragon Empire and the Black Iron Empire.
Although these two empires have been fighting for resources for many years, they dare not send any army in that vast expanse of wilderness. Those who were sent to scout that place would either die or come back with their lives barely hanging on a balance.
It is said that terrible monsters and mysterious creatures are in that place. And those who enter it would suffer from their rage and attacks.
"Many have thought that there is a great treasure inside that place. But none came back alive to tell the tale about it." Those were the last words of General Xang.
However, Shin Jiao's eyes are already glowing upon observing the map. This is because as a formation master, he actually found something peculiar about this map. From the way it is drawn, this is clearly the whole map of the four empires in a simplified manner.
However, what surprised him the most are those spots marked on the map with gem-like legends. One of those is the Under City. Then as he traces the other like it in the map a pattern immediately appears in his mind.
"This pattern… this is a complex rune." Shin Jiao thought to himself.
He shifted his gaze to General Xang and showed a stern look on his face.
"Alright, I agree… I will give you the means to fight against those beasts. But I will not give you a very powerful weapon which would cause you to destroy yourselves in the process. However, a weaker one would do… Visit my room tomorrow morning and I will give you some instruction on how to make it." Shin Jiao said as he suddenly vanished from the spot.
General Xang was a bit taken aback as Shin Jiao's figure seems to have merged with shadow and suddenly disappear. Although he is not new to martial cultivators, he was still taken aback. He knew that with that kind of skill, assassinating anyone he likes will not be hard for that young doctor… or is he really just a doctor?
The next day, General Xang had an anxious expression on his face as he stood in front of Shin Jiao's room. He waited there for a few minutes which made those soldiers behind him feel anger at the person inside the room. If not for the warning that General Xang told them beforehand, they would likely have rushed inside the room already.
Suddenly the room opened and they were greeted by the calm smiling face of Shin Jiao.
"Only the general…" he suddenly said.
With a nod, General Xang entered the room.
For the whole night, Shin Jiao thought of what kind of gun design to give them. He was thinking first to give them flintlocks. However, the power of those things are not enough to kill normal beast how much more those that enter from the Valley of the Gods.
So he decided to make a few steps higher, revolvers.
Just like those movies in the Wild West. Revolvers could be a lethal weapon against those beasts. With that in mind, he began to draw a blueprint and also made a prototype at the same time.
As he handed the general a small book full of drawings with accurate measurements and materials, the general showed a dumbfounded look on his face.
He was a little confused as to what those things mean. But when Shin Jiao showed him a prototype of a shiny new revolver laying on the table, the general immediately showed an excited look on his face.
"This… this is the weapon? It's small and looks… nice…" the general said with an awkward expression as he didn't know how to use such a weapon.
"Let's go out for a bit…" Shin Jiao said as he took the revolver from the table.
The group walked out of the garrison and into a vast field. Shin Jiao explained for a while what he is going to show to the general. Then after that, he pointed at a tree around 50 meters away from him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The series of loud explosions made everyone behind Shin Jiao immediately docks to the ground in fear and trepidation. Then when they saw the tree suddenly swaying then falling to the ground they were all gobsmacked.
The explosion and the smell of gun powder in the air made everyone shiver in fear. It's like smelling the scent of hell and feeling the scythe of death on their necks.
"Alright, this is the weapon I am talking about. With this, you will have a chance to fight against the horde of beasts." Shin Jiao said.
"I don't care what you do with your lives and this weapon. But I still have to warn you that this weapon could cause your very own destruction. Is this understood?" He added.
The imposing aura of Shin Jiao coupled with the knowledge that General Xang has known about this person made him almost fall to the ground with fear. He knew that this person is not a normal human being.
In fact, in his mind, he is already agreeing on what the Li'ang called this guy. He is a deity walking amongst them.
With a contented look on his face, Shin Jiao walked back inside the garrison with many onlookers clearing a path for him.
As he disappears, General Xang immediately commanded his soldiers to gather all the blacksmiths in the garrison to meet with him as soon as possible.
He knew of the importance of that powerful weapon that produces thunder and lightning along with its destructive power. He knew that the era of warfare would change in the future, and this thought made General Xang shudder.