Kays Translations

Chapter 19: The sea, it's full of water

The issue of mineral resources was temporarily resolved. The temperature for smelting metals was sufficiently achieved using the flame array technique, which was quite mature. By adding charcoal to the molten iron, iron could be refined. Craftsmen in the cultivation world were truly fortunate.

With the materials in place, the production of cold weapons became much simpler. In cooperation between the machinery plant, metallurgy plant, and textile plant (for armor linings, boots, etc.), the first batch of 100 sets of stainless steel weapons was finally completed in just five days. On this day, even Li Liang, who held the stainless steel armor, went a bit crazy, composing eighteen poems, although he later never mentioned them again.

Generals Wang Jian, Chang Lin, and Cheng Jiming, attempting to selfishly claim a set for themselves, were sternly rebuked by Li Xian. “Good things should be given to the soldiers first to earn their respect.”

Li Liang agreed with “Xian弟’s” view and pulled the three who were rolling around on the armor off the gear.

Each set of weaponry included armor, helmet, sword, and boots. For the first batch, Li Xian did not forge long swords. Although cultivators preferred long swords, they were not suitable for the battlefield.

After another round of discussion, it was decided: in ten days, the military would hold its first grand martial competition! The competition would be between "hundred-man teams and centurions," with the top team winning a hundred sets of stainless steel weapons.

Needless to say, the appearance of stainless steel weapons made the soldiers drool. Looking at the weapons gleaming under the sun and unaffected by a whole day of seawater exposure, the soldiers went wild. To them, a good weapon was far more valuable than gold and silver. With these weapons, they could seize gold and silver—that was their simple and straightforward thought.

However, ten days felt too long. As the countdown dragged on slowly, many soldiers drooled over the sparkling weapons, and some even experimented with seawater, resulting in a thick layer of salt accumulating on the weapon and armor display tables.

Finally, after ten days, the grand competition began. The soldiers launched challenges with a fierce determination.

During these hundred-man battles, Li Xian consciously began to cultivate the ideas of mutual trust and cooperation among the soldiers.

From then on, every few days, Li Xian would release a hundred sets of weapons. The teams that had already received weapons could still participate in the battles and would be rewarded with money. Under such incentives, the army’s strength was reinforced daily.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed. With everything now on the right track, Li Xian finally turned his attention to the most important and urgent task: the導线 (wires).

Now, whether it is engines, lamps, or even some metallurgical tools, they are all made from jade. However, each piece of jade has its own texture and spiritual veins, which means that every formation carved into the jade needs to be meticulously etched by experienced craftsmen. This severely impacts Li Xian's vision of large-scale industrialization.

A technology that cannot be mass-produced is, at most, considered research and not industry.

Although Li Xian has many ideas and is eager to establish a complete industrial system immediately, everything is in vain if the issue with the wires is not resolved.

Initially, Li Xian wanted to find relevant materials in the Great Xia Kingdom and even wrote to trouble Li Yulong's capable father. Unfortunately, even Li Yulong was powerless to help.

Materials like these spiritual threads are rare and expensive, and the top-quality silk threads can be used to make bows. The demon race also tightly controls the flow of such materials.

Seeing problems arise both in scientific research and industrial expansion, Li Xian anxiously developed blisters on his lips. After several days of hesitation, Li Xian finally made up his mind—to go to the demon realm! And he decided to personally lead a team to negotiate trade with the demon race.

For this trip, Li Xian prepared many items: silk, cotton cloth, mirrors, colored lanterns, and even stainless steel weapons!

Li Yulong and Li Liang strongly opposed Li Xian's use of stainless steel weapons for trade, believing that such good items should be kept for themselves. Li Xian, of course, did not want to part with them either. However, compared to ordinary cold weapons, Li Xian valued the wires more.

As long as we have the wires, we can do without cold weapons and use intelligent weapons instead.

Additionally, considering the dangers of traveling to the demon realm, Li Xian only took fifty volunteers, all of whom were young and strong. Li Xian even refused the bodyguards dispatched by his elder brother.

There is no difference between a few dozen people and a few hundred when traveling to the demon realm; in fact, fewer people make things easier!

To the northeast of An Yang, there is a mountain range with an area of over three hundred miles. It is the best barrier between the Great Xia Kingdom and the northern Cai Kingdom, as well as the eastern demon realm. There are many majestic fortresses here, their surfaces mottled and clearly antiques with a long history.

"What majestic mountains!" Li Xian sighed.

Xu Ren walked beside Li Xian, "Young Master, this mountain range is not simple. Flying within the range is impossible; one can only walk on the ground. It is said that the formations and restrictions here can even be traced back tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years, dating back to the time of the great war between humans and demons."

Hearing someone explain about the demon race for the first time, Li Xian immediately became curious. "So what is the current relationship between humans and demons?"

“Mutual confrontation and occasional harassment; large-scale wars are essentially over. Mainly, after the era of nations, the human race organized several large-scale battles with millions of skilled cultivators against the demon race, ultimately stabilizing the borders between them.

Currently, the northeastern region of Yingzhou belongs to the demon race, accounting for about 30% of Yingzhou’s area; the remaining areas belong to the human race, making up about 70%.

Additionally, the ocean is mainly the domain of the demon race, but the demons in the sea refer to themselves as the Sea Clan. It is said—though only said—that dragons still exist in the sea and secretly control it. But this is just a legend and cannot be confirmed.”

“The ocean belongs to the demon race?” Li Xian’s frown deepened. When Li Xian first arrived in An Yang, he was very excited, and at least half of the reason was thinking about the sea. In another world, the sea equates to boundless wealth. If the sea here is filled with demons, hmm...

The group of over fifty people proceeded slowly, and the atmosphere in the team was somewhat heavy. Traveling to the demon realm is not a vacation; it involves risking one's life. Making passionate vows is one thing, but actually setting out is another.

Behind them were thirty carriages loaded with goods; each carriage was marked with a five-foot-tall flag held up by bamboo poles, with the words: Trade.

The next evening, as they crossed to the south of the mountain range, the team saw the vast and majestic ocean. Many of Li Xian’s followers, including Song Xing, were seeing the sea for the first time and were momentarily stunned by its grandeur—confronted with the vastness that was so different from the land, they were left speechless.

Li Xian stood on a rock and suddenly felt a surge of inspiration: “Everyone listen, I am going to compose a poem, a poem that will be widely acclaimed, a poem that will shake the heavens, a poem that will be passed down through the ages.”

As everyone turned to look, Li Xian puffed out his chest and shouted: “Hey, the sea, it’s all water!”

Silence!  

  

Haha... finally, everyone burst into laughter. Seeing the crowd laugh, Li Xian also chuckled. His intention was to lighten the mood, which had become heavy among the group.

However!!!

A soft “pfft...” sound of laughter was heard. Though it was a light laugh, it spread throughout the area, and everyone present heard it clearly.

“Who’s there?” Xu Ren was the first to jump up. “Young Master, there’s an expert nearby, possibly at the Golden Core stage or higher!”

Everyone tensed up and stood, scanning their surroundings. Even Li Xian’s expression became serious. Among their group, the most powerful was Xu Ren, who was only at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, while the rest were at the Qi Refining stage. If they encountered a Golden Core expert, they wouldn’t even have the chance to beg for mercy.

Whoosh... The seawater in front of them surged, and a crystalline water pillar rose up, rolling as if alive. Droplets fell like sparkling crystals, shining with a beautiful, seven-colored brilliance. A graceful figure appeared, standing amidst the swirling waves, slowly emerging from the sea.

The woman looked like she was in her early twenties, her eyes as bright as stars. Her long, flowing hair danced in the air, with jade hairpins and golden beads swaying, and she wore a pale yellow gown that floated gracefully. Her slender and elegant form stepped upon the water pillar, rising from the ocean and flying towards the shore, like a fairy of the waves.

“Wow...” Seeing such a sight, many people were stunned, unsure of how to react. The fairy was beautiful, and her entrance was otherworldly.

Xu Ren’s face turned pale, as though he had witnessed something beyond comprehension.

But the most shocked of all was Li Xian. In his mind, a scene flashed—his previous consciousness once teasing a young girl in the streets, only to be beaten so badly that his soul was nearly destroyed. And now, that very face was right before his eyes!

Stammering, Li Xian managed to utter two words: “It’s you!”

The woman, stepping lightly on the waves, floated over to Li Xian, her eyes showing a trace of surprise as well: “You little thief, it’s you!”

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