Chapter 1326: The Ten Eastern Islands! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”What!?”
Wang Chong was shocked by the words of the Demonic Emperor Old Man. He had obtained the treasure map from Iron Cloak Li, and it was a map that had been passed down for several centuries, perhaps even as far back as the Daye era of the Great Sui. Ever since, countless martial artists had attempted to find the number one art of the world, but all of them came back empty-handed, the vast majority merely chasing shadows and groundless rumors.
Thus, it was later said that the supreme art had been totally lost.
Wang Chong had never imagined that his master and the Wushang Village Chief would make progress so quickly. Although he didn't dare to be sure that the area they found was where the art really was buried, it was worth trying.
It had been many years since there had last been any news of a likely area in the martial arts circles. This alone was enough to raise one's spirits.
The Demonic Emperor Old Man continued speaking.
”This time, I was planning to go with the Wushang Village Chief, but for this incident to happen is fine as well. Leave the capital and come with us!”
Even if Wang Chong's cultivation were not a problem now, he would have still faced the risk of cultivation defect in the future. It had only been pushed up ahead of schedule.
Wang Chong stood in a daze, the suggestion taking him by complete surprise.
The Demonic Emperor Old Man took note of Wang Chong's silence and immediately became rather angry. ”What? In such a state, you're still not willing to leave? The empire won't die just because you're not here. Just what is in this place that is worth your lingering around like this!?”
”Haaah…”
Wang Chong said nothing, but he sighed. He naturally understood the pains his master was taking, but at a time like this, how could he possibly leave? If he had not been reborn, perhaps he could have accepted his master's argument, that without him, the Great Tang would continue to exist. But Wang Chong was well aware that this was not the case at all.
”Master, your disciple understands the efforts you have taken! But… can I have some time to think it over?”
Wang Chong gave a deferential bow.
The sight of the earnest Wang Chong made the Demonic Emperor Old Man feel like he had nowhere to vent his anger. This child was constantly thinking about the realm and the people. He felt very proud about his disciple for this, but he also felt extremely helpless before such an attitude.
”Fine! If you're not willing to go, then I can't force you. But your current state can't be allowed to persist for very long. The dangers of the Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art are not as simple as you imagine!”
The Demonic Emperor Old Man jumped onto the wall, and at almost the same moment, whoosh! A letter flew through the air like a sharp sword toward Wang Chong. Wang Chong subconsciously snatched the letter out of the air, and as he glanced down, he saw that it was covered in his master's handwriting. This was clearly the mantra and methods his master had used to suppress the unstable Stellar Energies in his body and delay the cultivation defect.
”Master…”
Wang Chong felt a surge of warmth, but his master had already vanished in a gust of wind.
……
As time went on, Wang Chong spent every day in the residence supervising the general situation, constantly dispatching men to observe Ü-Tsang, the Western and Eastern Turks, Arabia, Goguryeo, and the other countries, ready to guard against their attacks at any time. He was also keeping an eye on the progress being made with the hybrid rice and the warehouse construction.
Along the southeastern coast, countless boat-building clans were in such a building frenzy that they had even drawn the notice of the court. But just like the dynasties that had preceded it, the Great Tang did not place much emphasis on its navy. As long as Wang Chong was not showing any designs on the mainland, the important officials of court, including Li Junxian and his Confucian Sect, did not care what he did on the sea.
On the Sindhu side, the ore-excavating machines Zhang Shouzhi had built had long ago been put to use, and large amounts of Hyderabad ore were being excavated. At the same time, Wang Chong had also ordered for fortifications to be built on the Hyderabad Mountains to defend against any potential Arab assault. Now that Khorasan had fallen, the Arab army could advance into Sindhu at any time and directly threaten Wang Chong's mining operations.
Everyone in the world knew about this precious ore. The Imperial Court of the Great Tang wanted to meddle in the mines, so Arabia almost certainly wanted to as well.
Fortunately, Sindhu was a land covered in miasma and ravaged by plagues and epidemics. Coupled with the fact that the Hyderabad Mountains were steep and difficult to attack, Arabia had still not decided to attack the mines. Besides that, Wang Chong had written a letter to Gao Xianzhi in the distant Western Regions asking him to occasionally take his Anxi Protectorate army and intimidate the Arabs so that they did not act recklessly.