Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Qingyang Palace

“Oh? Master Zhao has seen this item?”

“Indeed.”

Zhao Suling said, “This item bears some resemblance to our Daoist alchemical materials. It’s rumored that hundreds of years ago, a Daoist elder added too many raw materials while refining elixirs, resulting in a sudden explosion.”

“The blast was so powerful, it destroyed the entire alchemy room.”

“Many of these materials were gold, mercury, lead, sulfur, magnetite, saltpeter, and the like, later gradually developed into fireworks, used to illuminate festivals and holidays, especially during New Year’s Day…”

That’s it.

Mercury, sulfur, saltpeter, aren’t these the ingredients of gunpowder?

“It seems this person is not an Immortal Cultivator at all, nor does he possess any cultivation secrets, but rather uses something like gunpowder to deceive people.”

Zheng Yi said, “Just a swindler of the Martial World.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Zheng Yi laughed, “But, this person is quite a character to have developed such an item.”

“Liu Cheng’en!”

“At your service.”

“Does the Ministry of Industry have officials who oversee or are familiar with fireworks or gunpowder?”

“This…”

Liu Cheng’en hesitated and said, “I need to ask around personally.”

“Go quickly and report back immediately. After finding out, bring the person here.”

“Yes!”

Liu Cheng’en quickly left, while Zheng Yi ordered someone to take away the four miniature bombs and then strolled over to Lei Mingzi.

“Unlock his meridians.”

“Yes!”

Chen Liancang unblocked his meridians, and as soon as he did, Lei Mingzi’s body went limp, collapsing onto the ground.

“Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me…”

Zheng Yi said coldly, “Reveal your true identity now!”

“Otherwise, I’ll behead you!”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Lei Mingzi quickly said, “My… my real name is Lei Shitou, originally from Qingyang Palace in the Shu Region.”

“Most at Qingyang Palace are alchemical practitioners who refine elixirs. I grew up working in the alchemy room and learned some alchemical skills, especially in refining this… Palm Thunder!”

What a talent here!

Zheng Yi asked, “Master Zhang, do you know Qingyang Palace in the Shu Region?”

Zhao Suling nodded, “I know it; it’s one of the renowned and righteous sects.”

“Within the palace, there exists a book called ’Supreme Hidden Palace True Scripture,’ recording alchemy, meditation, arrays, internal cultivation, and other Daoist classics, it is extremely precious.”

“Are there any Innate Powerhouses within the palace?”

“No.”

“Any cultivators?”

“This… it’s been over thirty years since I last went to Qingyang Palace,” Zhao Suling hesitated, “I suppose not.”

Zheng Yi shook his head; these Martial Arts Sects seize local power and disregard the Imperial Court’s decrees, truly making them enemies of the court.

At least the renowned and righteous sects superficially obey the Imperial Court.

As for those Demonic Path and Evil Sects, and even Black Gangs, they care nothing for the court’s directives.

In time, these Martial Arts Sects must be suppressed.

Search the entire realm’s sects, collect cultivation classics and techniques!

“Lei Shitou!”

“At your service!”

Lei Shitou shivered all over, thinking Zheng Yi intended to kill him, he quickly pleaded, “Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me…”

“Heh heh heh…”

From behind, Chen Liancang suddenly laughed coldly, “You’ve committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, punishable by death under the law!”

Lei Shitou collapsed on the ground in fear, “Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me, I didn’t mean it…”

Zheng Yi glanced at Chen Liancang, this old eunuch certainly understands people’s hearts.

“Lei Shitou, answer my questions satisfactorily, and I might spare your life.”

“Perhaps even offer you great fortune.”

Lei Shitou quickly kneeled again and shouted, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please ask!”

“I will speak frankly and thoroughly!”

“Very well, how is this Palm Thunder produced?”

“Your Majesty, it is primarily refined from saltpeter powder, mixed with charcoal, sulfur, and other materials.”

“The gunpowder components are just in different proportions.” Zheng Yi asked again, “Without a fuse, how do you make it explode upon impact?”

“This…”

Lei Shitou hesitated, evasively speaking.

“This method is your secret, outside, it could be passed down as a family secret recipe. But here…”

Zheng Yi said coldly, “Committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, or revealed the gunpowder formula, your choice?”

“Yes, yes, yes, I understand!”

Lei Shitou quickly said, “I… I added Ghost Fire, which upon slight impact creates flame to ignite the Palm Thunder.”

Ghost Fire?

What is this?

Could it be Lei Mingzi really possesses some cultivation items?

No…

Ghost Fire?

Flame upon slight impact?

Good heavens!

This is friggin’ white phosphorus!

Zheng Yi was startled; this fellow carried a batch of pills mixed with white phosphorus and gunpowder around without blowing himself up.

Such luck?

And I’m this close to him?

“You…”

Zheng Yi pointed at Lei Shitou, truly unsure whether to call him a genius or just lucky.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

At this moment, Liu Cheng’en returned briskly.

Behind him was a middle-aged man in dark blue official robes.

“Your Majesty, Assistant Minister Zhan Liang is here!”

The middle-aged man hurried forward, respectfully kneeling, “Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Industry Zhan Liang, greets Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty.”

Liu Cheng’en introduced, “This man is one of the rare officials from the Ministry of Industry skilled in making and keeping fireworks and gunpowder, responsible for managing fireworks and other supplies used during palace festivals.”

“Zhan Liang?”

“Your Majesty!”

“Do you recognize these?”

Zheng Yi pointed to the four Palm Thunders, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard immediately handed them over.

After examining them for a few moments, Zhan Liang immediately said, “Your Majesty, they resemble the Ministry of Industry’s pure ’Thunderbolt,’ but these are much smaller.”

“Can the Ministry of Industry produce them?”

“Uh… we can, but it will take time.”

Zhan Liang hesitated and said, “However, Your Majesty, if there is someone who made these present…”

“The creator is here.”

Zheng Yi said, “Lei Shitou.”

“At your service!”

“Here’s your chance to redeem yourself. Work with Zhan Liang to produce a hundred Palm Thunders for me, and I will pardon your death sentence, how about it?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you for your grace!”

Lei Shitou was overjoyed, thinking he was destined to die, but the emperor allowed him to produce Palm Thunders.

Immediately guaranteed, “I won’t disappoint Your Majesty!”

“Take him away now!”

“Yes!”

Watching Lei Shitou and Zhan Liang leave, Zheng Yi gestured for Lu Lian to come over.

“Assign two Embroidered Uniform Guards to watch him. If he tries to escape, kill him without mercy.”

“Understood!”

Lu Lian withdrew, while Zheng Yi turned to look at the other two ’Unusual People.’

The revelation of Lei Mingzi shocked and impacted them significantly.

At this moment, both looked a bit tense, but they braced themselves.

Zheng Yi said, “Since you dare to challenge my Immortal Seeking Order, you must have some talents.”

“If you truly have skills, I won’t hesitate to reward you.”

“But if you dare deceive me… that’s a capital offense!”

“Yes, yes, yes, I understand.”

“Chen Gou’er!”

“At your service!”

Chen Gou’er was startled, frantically answering.

“What are your skills?”

“I… I can cultivate Spirit Beasts!”

Chen Gou’er quickly pulled out the wolfhound from behind: “Your Majesty! This Spirit Beast can understand human language, it can obey all commands from its master.”

“It can even comprehend human speech and write human characters, incredibly miraculous!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep