Book 4: Chapter 30: Heaven Punished Stone

“Brother-in-Law, have you perfected your saber technique?” 

“Perfected? Perhaps. However, the saber couldn’t keep up. I will need to forge another one later,” Gu Hai said while shaking his head.

“Huh? Brother-in-Law, don’t you have the incredible Life Ender Saber? Why do you need to forge another one?” Long Wanyu asked in surprise.

Gu Hai showed a faint bitter smile. Indeed, the Life Ender Saber could endure the Third Cycle. However, what was the point of practicing a saber technique if he used the Life Ender Saber?

Although Gu Hai created the Cycle Saber Technique, he still needed to familiarize himself with the moves, making every swing instinctive rather than intentional.

If Gu Hai used the Life Ender Saber, there would be no point in practicing a saber technique. With its powerful attributes, all saber techniques would bow before it. When the tiny skulls in the black energy appeared, he did not have to put in much effort.

Gu Hai understood that it was not that the saber technique was useless. It was just that it had not reached the right level. Hence, he needed to practice it. He could not always rely on the Life Ender Saber.

“The Life Ender Saber? I don’t really want to use it,” Gu Hai explained.

“Oh! That makes sense. The Life Ender Saber looks rather ugly.” Long Wanyu nodded.

Gu Hai: “…”

“That’s right. Brother-in-Law, what kind of saber do you like? I’ll help you pick one out when I next go to the old fogey’s treasury,” Long Wanyu immediately said excitedly.

Gu Hai felt slightly stunned.

Suddenly, he recalled the crimson saber. Back when Long Wanqing passed it to him, she said her younger sister took it out from the Qian Heavenly Emperor’s treasury.

Thinking of this, Gu Hai gave Long Wanyu a strange look. The Qian Heavenly Emperor dotes on her too much. To think that he lets Long Wanyu enter the treasury as she pleases, even letting her take anything she wants?

“There’s no need. I’ll forge it myself. There’s no need for any incredible attributes for the new saber. It only needs to be tough and resilient.” Gu Hai shook his head.

“Tough and resilient? Demonic Phantom, what is the toughest metal in the world that my Brother-in-Law can forge a saber with?” Long Wanyu immediately called out to the demonic phantom in her body.

The demonic phantom: “…”

“I asked you a question. Quickly answer!” Long Wanyu yelled.

“Tough? How can there be a toughest metal? Every metal has its attributes. There is no strongest, only stronger. It depends on what one wants when forging a weapon,” the demonic phantom said indifferently.

“Huh? What is the point of saying so much? If you don’t know, then you don’t know. What a waste of time! You keep telling me how incredible you are and how much you know, yet when I ask you something, you can’t answer.” Long Wanyu rolled her eyes.

The demonic phantom felt so depressed that it wanted to vomit blood. I am telling the truth, alright? There really is no toughest in the world. Every metal has a different hardness, tensile strength, melting point, freezing point, resistance to corrosion, and many other attributes. There are many factors at play, and they are all different, alright?

However, Long Wanyu had already made up her mind that the demonic phantom knew nothing. This made it feel very wronged. Why am I so unlucky, ending up possessing her?

“Alright. I know of a metal. However, whether you can find it or not is your problem. Do you want to know?” the demonic phantom said in a pique.

“Who knows if you are making it up? Stop bluffing. If you don’t know, then you don’t know. Why all this nonsense about whether I want to know or not?” Long Wanyu said in disdain.

The demonic phantom felt extremely depressed. Do I have no prestige at all?

“It’s called Heaven Punished Stone,” the demonic phantom said.

“Heaven Punished Stone?”

“Yes. This Heaven Punished Stone has a consciousness and can consume all sorts of metal to strengthen itself. The more metal it eats and the more variety, the tougher it is. It is like even heaven cannot bear its existence. Wherever it goes, heaven will send heavenly lightning to strike it. In any case, this is the most incredible one. If Gu Hai is that capable, get him to look for it,” the demonic phantom said.

“Is there any in the old fogey’s treasure?” Long Wanyu asked.

“There’s none,” the demonic phantom said after thinking.

“Lies. Go on and continue lying. Do you think I will believe you?” Long Wanyu said skeptically.

The demonic phantom found this conversation such a pain in the ass. Why is it that when I tell the truth, you don’t believe me? What happened to the basic trust between people? Why am I so unlucky, trapped in Long Wanyu’s body?

“What lies?” Gu Hai asked, feeling curious.

Gu Hai could not hear one side of the conversation. He only looked over because of Long Wanyu’s final expression of disdain.

“Nothing much. I was talking to the demonic phantom. It is a liar, pretending to be very learned. When I asked it what metal is the best for forging a saber, it mentioned a Heaven Punished Stone. Supposedly, Heaven Punished Stone can eat other metals on its own. The more it eats, the more incredible it becomes. It even said that heaven is jealous of Heaven Punished Stone, so heaven sends heavenly lightning to strike the stone,” Long Wanyu said with disdain on her face.

“Heaven is jealous of the Heaven Punished Stone?” Gu Hai said in shock.

“I did not say heaven is jealous! Not at all! Long Wanyu, if you are introducing it, just say what I said. Don’t change the words!” The demonic phantom felt like crying, but it could not.

Of course, Long Wanyu simply ignored the demonic phantom, and Gu Hai could not hear it.

“Brother-in-Law, don’t listen to it. It is just a flaky trickster. It is not very capable and pretends to be old and experienced. Does it think that I would believe it? Brother-in-Law, just ignore it,” Long Wanyu said in disdain.

The demonic phantom: “…”

Why am I so unlucky?

Gu Hai nodded.

Now, Meng Tai and Gao Xianzhi walked over.

“Salutations, Your Majesty. Congratulations on perfecting Your Majesty’s saber technique!” Gao Xianzhi said respectfully.

“Salutations, Your Majesty. Please pardon this official for being late,” Meng Tai said respectfully.

“It’s good that you have come. Let’s go. Follow us to Huangfu Palace Hall and update us on the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s condition,” Gu Hai said with a smile.

“Yes,” Meng Tai answered.

The group boarded an immortal crane carriage and flew towards Huangfu Palace Hall. Along the way, Meng Tai spoke excitedly about his Embroidered Uniform Guard. After all, he had not been idle during this time. He had continuously recruited and trained people. Now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had vast numbers.

Along the way, Gu Hai listened patiently. When they were about to reach Huangfu Palace Hall, Gu Hai nodded and said, “It is still alright, overall. However, all the Embroidered Uniform Guards have to go through strict selection. We cannot let a black sheep ruin the fairness of the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

“Yes!” Meng Tai answered.

“I called you here this time because I need to spread the Embroidered Uniform Guard into the twenty-four cities. At the same time, we will need an external affairs branch of the Embroidered Uniform Guard,” Gu Hai said.

“Oh?”

“The purpose is to monitor everyone within the nation and to collect information outside the nation. We need you to continue expanding the Embroidered Uniform Guard rapidly. Prepare a proposal for the expansion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard for us,” Gu Hai instructed.

“Yes!” Meng Tai said while suppressing his excitement.

Now, it is no longer just monitoring the people but collecting information outside of the Han Royal Dynasty? Is His Majesty giving me more authority?

Meng Tai felt eager and excited. “Your Majesty, we will need plenty of spirit stones to recruit. About the spirit stones…” 

“That’s why I need you to write up a proposal. We will give you a budget. As long as the Embroidered Uniform Guard does well and brings back valuable things or information, we will not be stingy with spirit stones. You will have however much you need,” Gu Hai said.

“Yes!” Meng Tai answered.

Whoosh!

The immortal crane carriage carrying the group landed in Huangfu Palace Hall’s plaza.

The nearby Bing Ji immediately came over.

“Your Majesty!” Bing Ji said with a frown.

“Yes?” Gu Hai looked at Bing Ji.

“This official went to the revenue department to get spirit stones, and they told me to use it sparingly. Are there sufficient spirit stones? The reconstruction cannot stop,” Bing Ji asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry. It won’t stop,” Gu Hai replied with a smile.

“However, this official heard that Your Majesty diverted all the taxes from the recently captured twelve cities to their redevelopment. As for Chaoge City, back then, everyone lent their spirit stones to Your Majesty to deal with the Fire Locust Deity. At that time, Your Majesty also promised to repay everyone. Will there be sufficient revenue from the remaining cities?” Bing Ji asked worriedly.

“There’s no need to worry. The imperial casino holiday villa will be spreading to the twenty-four cities in a few days. At that time, there will be sufficient spirit stones,” Gu Hai said while shaking his head.

“Huh?” Bing Ji felt startled.

Then, she recalled the scene when she first arrived at Nine-Five Island. The imperial casino holiday villa was a cash cow. Now, Gu Hai was going to open one everywhere?

Furthermore, This Street’s Best Zither Pavilion had spread to many cities as well. These were all major cash cows. Why worry about lacking spirit stones?

“This official worried too much,” Bing Ji said bitterly.

Gu Hai nodded but did not blame her.

Bing Ji turned back to her reconstruction plans.

Gu Hai summoned the various officials to Huangfu Palace Hall for an assembly. After dealing with some government affairs, he introduced Meng Tai to everyone.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was formally stationed in the twenty-four cities.

Under Gu Hai’s rule, the Han Royal Dynasty already showed great improvements in a mere three months. Now, the citizens could see a difference.

Chaoge City’s ritual arrays were already repaired, and the injured citizens were all taken care of.

This Street’s Best Zither Pavilion and the imperial casino holiday villa brought in large sums of spirit stones. A portion was sent back to Nine-Five Island for Gu Qin to use in the ritual array, another portion was used for the government and the military, a portion went to Gu Hai’s personal savings, but most went to improving the citizens’ lives.

As the citizens saw the continuous changes happening around them, their acknowledgment of the Han Royal Dynasty improved significantly.

This was an emperor who could earn money and could bear to spend money on the citizens. Naturally, their acknowledgment of Gu Hai increased.

“It’s really boring. Brother-in-Law, I got bored of your Chaoge City already. Previously, I went to the imperial casino for some time. It’s boring,” Long Wanyu said, feeling listless.

Gu Hai looked at Long Wanyu and smiled bitterly. Of course, you would find it boring. A seer going gambling? Who can win against you?

“Brother-in-Law, how about you bring me out to have fun? This old fogey did not say that I cannot go out with you,” Long Wanyu suggested with anticipation.

Gu Hai was about to say something when a loud shout came from outside the study.

“Your Majesty!”

“Huh? Come in!” Gu Hai said.

A black-robed man walked into the study slowly.

“Ju Lu? You broke through as well?” Gu Hai said.

The black-robed man said respectfully, “Yes. This subordinate made a breakthrough, allowing me to take human form, as Prime did back then.”

“That is good. What’s the matter?” Gu Hai asked.

The black-robed man remained silent for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty, about Prime’s revenge…”

“We will definitely take revenge for the Foundation Rock Deity. Don’t worry. We still remember it. The enemy is the previous Huang Royal Dynasty’s emperor, Xi Yan, right? Didn’t we send you to investigate?” Gu Hai said gravely.

[TL Note: Xi Yan’s family name is a different character from that of Xi Yu, the Yuan Imperial Emperor. They are not related.]

“Yes. We have new information,” Ju Lu said.

“Oh?” Gu Hai narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Does Your Majesty remember the Grave Valley of Death?” Ju Lu asked.

“Back when Huangfu Chaoge got inflicted with the Hanba fire poison, we had captured the Fire Locust Deity, and he said that the fire poison came from that Grave Valley of Death?” Gu Hai said with a frown.

“Yes. We just received information that a city was made in the Grave Valley of Death. Rumor has it that dragon roars frequently come from there, as though a new dragon vein will soon be born. Countless cultivators rushed over, wanting to snatch the dragon vein. Our people saw traces of Xi Yan there,” Ju Lu said gravely.

“The Grave Valley of Death? A dragon vein?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows.

Gu Hai recalled that when his dragon vein appeared at Nine-Five Island, many experts had rushed over after hearing the news. Now, another dragon vein was going to appear?

“Yes. That newly built city is called Dragon Vein City. Your Majesty, our enemy is there. We… Xi Yan is a Lower Heavenly Palace Realm expert. We are incapable, but we have to take revenge for Prime. Your Majesty, we sincerely ask Your Majesty to take revenge for Prime!” Ju Lu knelt.

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