Chapter 201: Immortal Sect Ritual, Heavenly Fire Descends

Wen Kongxuan moved quickly, and in less than half an hour he brought an elderly man with him.

Even from a distance, Yang Ling could smell the medicinal herbs clinging to the old man's clothes.

Yang Ling glanced at the old man's Status Panel and saw that his stats were similar to Dai Huaijin’s.

But the old man was older than Dai Huaijin.

“Because Dai Huaijin perished, the Pharmacy Guild sent a supervisor inferior to him this time, which shows the guild still worries about the Rong tribe spy matter.”

With that thought, the old man hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

On the way here he had already learned that this was the newly promoted Director of First Division from the Public Security Department, and from Wen Kongxuan he had confirmed the man had just become a Newly Promoted Sixth-Rank.

That made him dare not be even a little careless!

Yang Ling smiled and nodded, exchanged a few polite words, and then got down to business.

An hour later, the old man left satisfied, leaving behind forty thousand taels in silver notes.

After watching him leave, Wen Kongxuan turned to Yang Ling, cupped his fist and said:

“Director Yang, the Pharmacy Guild profited handsomely this time, and they will surely acknowledge Brother Dai’s contribution. I believe they will properly take care of his funeral arrangements.”

Wen Kongxuan was an old hand; of course he could guess Yang Ling could sell the rare exotic herbs and flowers in the provincial capital.

He had brought them back specifically to preserve Dai Huaijin’s dignity so no one would sneer at him even in death.

“Director Wen, if Brother Dai’s family needs any support, just say the word.”

Yang Ling cupped his fist in reply.

Wen Kongxuan looked grave and nodded slowly.

After handling this matter, Yang Ling left the Ironclad Department and went to the blacksmith shop in the Martial Market.

The master blacksmith at the forge, upon seeing Yang Ling, immediately pulled out the hundred-times-refined Vermilion Gold throwing daggers he had just finished!

There were ten in total, fifty taels each. Yang Ling paid the remaining two hundred and fifty tael balance, then picked one up to examine it.

[Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold Throwing Dagger, Attack 100]

“That’s far stronger than ordinary throwing daggers that only have a dozen or twenty attack, but it’s still a long way off from the Quenched-Gold Armor-Piercing Flying Dagger.”

Thinking this, Yang Ling put the Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold dagger away and grinned at the master:

“Master, can you forge a pickaxe out of Kylin Iron?”

The master seemed not to have heard clearly. “Director Yang, what iron did you say?”

“Kylin Iron.”

Yang Ling repeated it.

The master froze in place, disbelief flashing across his eyes. He stammered:

“You mean Kylin Iron, could it be from Water Qilin Cave…”

“Yes, it was brought back from there.”

Yang Ling nodded with a smile.

The master grew dazed: “I’ve heard of Kylin Iron since I first apprenticed. My master said materials like that are meant for forging divine weapons.”

As he spoke, he looked at Yang Ling with yearning in his eyes:

“Director Yang, may I… see the Kylin Iron?”

Yang Ling nodded and took out the pouch holding the Kylin Iron, handing it over.

The master opened the bag and inspected the contents carefully. After a long moment he nodded in satisfaction and cupped his fists:

“Director Yang, my craft is not exceptional. I’m afraid I could not use Kylin Iron to forge a pickaxe.”

“You’ve been talking in circles and said nothing useful.”

Yang Ling put the Kylin Iron back, slightly helpless as he complained.

The master’s face flushed, but he did not feel ashamed. Instead he spoke excitedly:

“Director Yang, it’s true my skill might not be enough to work Kylin Iron properly, but among all the blacksmiths in Zhao State there are very few who have even seen Kylin Iron with their own eyes. Now I am one of them.

As far as I know, over in Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital there’s a reclusive old blacksmith who, when young, may have forged Kylin Iron under his master’s tutelage.

If Director Yang could find that old smith’s hideaway, you could ask him to make a Kylin pickaxe.”

“You know where that old blacksmith lives?”

Yang Ling’s expression shifted.

The master shamelessly shook his head:

“I don’t know.”

Before Yang Ling could speak, he hurried on:

“Director Yang, you could inquire through the Mining Guild elders. The Mountain and River Sect is connected to the Mining Guild, right? Director Yang must have acquaintances in the Mountain and River Sect?”

That hint gave Yang Ling an idea.

“Sect Master Liang might know where that old blacksmith has retired to.”

“Xiangfeng Prefectural Capital is the prefecture that Official Shi is going to. After I return to the Vermilion Gold Mine to rest for a bit, I’ll head over there.”

Thinking that through, Yang Ling said, “Master, do you still have Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold on hand? I’ll need a few hundred of those throwing daggers.

No, the more the better — a few thousand would be ideal!”

“……”

The master smiled awkwardly and shook his head:

“I don’t have that many Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold pieces. But if Director Yang pays the price, I can personally place special orders across the major prefectures to manufacture Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold throwing daggers.”

“I’ll place an initial order for one hundred and eighty. Here’s ten thousand taels in silver notes; the rest is your commission.”

Yang Ling produced the ten thousand tael silver note and handed it over.

“Once everything’s ready, deliver them straight to the Ironclad Department and list my name.”

“Director Yang, rest assured. Leave this to me!”

The master took the silver note, counted it, and nodded excitedly.

With that transaction, he would earn at least a thousand taels.

“Director Yang, I’ll also need an official permit letter from the Ironclad Department.”

The master suddenly remembered and hurriedly said.

“I’ll have someone deliver the letter to you.”

Yang Ling nodded lightly.

When he left, he filled every empty slot on his belt with throwing daggers; ten of them were Centenary Refined Vermilion Gold daggers.

…

In Green Mountain City, Chen Guoqing was Yang Ling’s deputy, so when Yang Ling was away, Chen Guoqing was the highest-ranking official at the Ironclad Department there.

As for Chen Xu, Li Tianye, and Wang Haodong — although they carried the Constable title, most of their time was still spent at the Vermilion Gold Mine; they only came into the city occasionally.

Old Zhao stood before Chen Guoqing and spoke in low tones. When he finished, he fell silent.

Chen Guoqing frowned slightly: “Immortal God Sect? Luo Yu and the others joined the Immortal God Sect as well?

How could he be so irresponsible? That sect does not sound like something harmless.”

“Director Chen, the Immortal God Sect already has many believers, and a large portion of them are vagrants.

Many townspeople in Green Mountain City have joined this cult, all saying that after joining the Immortal God Sect, when they die they will become immortals.”

Old Zhao sighed softly, “How could these people be so foolish? I can’t understand their willingness to donate money and goods to whatever leader hides out in some hole…”

“As for your acquaintance Luo Yu, it seems he’s currently handling all Immortal God Sect matters in Green Mountain City. The followers call him Protector Luo.”

Chen Guoqing thought for a moment, then stood up:

“Gather all the brothers. I’m going to find this Luo Yu for a proper talk.”

Old Zhao immediately followed orders. Before they reached the door, there was a thunderous explosion right by their ears.

It was followed by violent shaking of the ground.

Chen Guoqing and Old Zhao exchanged baffled looks.

Soon after, a Constable burst in, covered in dust and smeared with blood, panicked eyes wide:

“It’s bad! The Immortal God Sect performed an immortal rite — heavenly fire descended and destroyed the Ironclad Department’s main gate! Several brothers are dead or wounded!”

Chen Guoqing’s face changed instantly. Old Zhao snapped:

“How many dead? How many injured!?”

Before the Constable could answer, Chen Guoqing had already rushed toward the gate to inspect. Old Zhao quickly followed.