Chapter 2 - Two: Dragon Gate Valley

Chapter 2: Chapter Two: Dragon Gate Valley

Three days later, in a hall at the rear of the Zhong Residence, Mr. Zhong leaned on a dragon-headed cane, gazing at his eight excited adopted sons.

"Is everything clear?" Mr. Zhong asked.

"Yes, father," they all nodded excitedly.

"Everything within the mansion will proceed smoothly, father, rest assured," Zhong Tian said.

"Hmm," Mr. Zhong nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes as he looked at his seven adopted sons who had reached the pinnacle of the post-celestial realm, nodding approvingly.

Gently, Mr. Zhong tapped the floor of the hall with his dragon-headed cane, making a rhythmic sound.

"Tap, tap, tap, tap."

In the astonished gaze of the adopted sons, a section of the floor in the hall split open, revealing a passage leading underground.

Seeing this scene, the adopted sons were all surprised. Even Zhong Tian, who had been serving Mr. Zhong all along, had a look of astonishment in his eyes. How many secrets did their father still hold?

"Let's go," Mr. Zhong said, leading the way and descending the stairs slowly.

The adopted sons exchanged glances, but none dared to ask questions.

As they descended, the passage widened, leading to a large underground hall.

On the walls, there was a carving of a wolf's head. Mr. Zhong turned it gently, and the passage that had opened above closed once more.

The adopted sons looked down in astonishment at the vast underground hall below. It was incredibly large and deep, and at the edge of the hall was a massive passage that seemed to stretch infinitely into the distance. Along the sides of the passage were lamps illuminating the way, and at the edge of the passage stood a gigantic iron structure.

The entire passage was filled with countless iron bars, two of which extended into the infinite distance. Standing in front of the iron structure were a dozen or so people, who bowed deeply upon seeing Mr. Zhong, indicating that they had been arranged by him earlier.

As Mr. Zhong looked at the iron structure, he couldn't help but sigh. What was this? In his memories from a previous life, it resembled the earliest form of steam trains, which utilized coal to heat water and create steam under high pressure. This steam then powered pistons to drive the locomotive forward. While Mr. Zhong didn't know how to recreate many technological advancements from his previous life, the basic principle behind steam trains was something he still remembered.

For fifty years, Mr. Zhong searched for many skilled craftsmen and spent nearly twenty years studying steam engines. Eventually, they managed to develop the most primitive form of a steam locomotive. However, Mr. Zhong did not make this discovery public; he preferred to keep it to himself.

Therefore, underground, a railroad was constructed. Mr. Zhong was wealthy, incredibly wealthy, so he didn't mind the expenses. After all, a crafty rabbit always has multiple burrows, and Mr. Zhong was no exception.

"Let's go, get in," Mr. Zhong said as he led the group into one of the train carriages. The eight adopted sons looked at each other in astonishment. What was this? Weren't they supposed to be going to the Dragon Gate Summit?

After the doors were closed, Mr. Zhong instructed, "Depart."

Mr. Zhong certainly wouldn't assign Zhong Tian to night duty. As for the other seven sons, Zhong Tian couldn't shake the feeling that they were rather superficial, showing respect to him only when they were children and mostly performing for the sake of their father. However, Zhong Tian's easygoing nature prevented him from dwelling on this too much, especially considering their superior cultivation levels.

The journey through the mountains was arduous, fraught with dangers such as poisonous creatures, plants, and miasma. However, Mr. Zhong always seemed to have the right antidotes on hand, ensuring their safety at every turn. Seeing the items Mr. Zhong carried, the other sons couldn't help but realize that their father was intimately familiar with this route, having traversed it many times before.

After five days of trekking through rugged terrain, they finally emerged from the mountains into a valley. Outside the valley, they encountered several groups of people arriving from different directions. Most were unfamiliar, but one group of six individuals was instantly recognizable.

The Zhao family, one of the four major clans of the Great Kun Kingdom?

"Is that the head of the Zhao family?" The sons of Zhong were clearly surprised.Leading the group was a man in white robes who appeared to be in his forties or fifties, but the Zhong sons knew that he was the head of the Zhao family, and his youthful appearance was due to his cultivation reaching the innate realm.

"Zhong Shan?" The head of the Zhao family recognized Mr. Zhong holding the dragon-headed cane at a glance, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

"It's a small world, isn't it? Zhao Family Head, it's been a while. How have you been?" Mr. Zhong smiled lightly.

Behind the Zhao family head, the five Zhao family juniors cast disdainful glances at Zhong Shan's eight sons. However, upon seeing Mr. Zhong, they all showed a hint of respect. After all, Mr. Zhong's legend was well-known throughout the Great Kun Kingdom, even among their millennia-old family.

Mr. Zhong was a legendary figure, despite lacking deep roots. Everything he had accomplished was admired by all, while his sons merely enjoyed the benefits.

"Haha, I didn't expect you to know about this place. You're not ordinary," remarked the Zhao family head, narrowing his eyes.

"Just bringing a few juniors to see the sights. And what about you, Zhao Family Head? Which sect are you planning to enter?" Mr. Zhong inquired.

"Enter a sect? Well, you and I are of the same age. I'm already eighty. Even if there are family members in high places, they can't get me in. This time, I'm just bringing some talented juniors to try their luck," replied the Zhao family head with a smile.

"In that case, I wish you good luck," Mr. Zhong said.

"Likewise, I wish your Zhong family luck in finding someone who can enter a sect," the Zhao family head said, squinting at Zhong's eight sons.

"Thank you," nodded Mr. Zhong.

"Farewell," said the Zhao family head before leaving.

Watching the Zhao family members enter the valley, Mr. Zhong's expression turned solemn as he squinted his eyes, pondering for a moment.

"Let's go. Inside," Mr. Zhong said, leaning on his dragon-headed cane.

"Yes," the sons of Zhong immediately nodded.

Following Mr. Zhong, they slowly made their way inside, alongside various other factions.