525: Chapter 265: Feng Shui (Please Subscribe)_2 525: Chapter 265: Feng Shui (Please Subscribe)_2 Chu Xisheng’s expression was melancholic as he let out a bitter chuckle.
His mind wandered back to Iron Madman’s voice and laughter, as if from another lifetime.
Chu Xisheng still harbored a sense of confusion and doubt, as if it were all a dream.
He couldn’t believe that Iron Madman had just departed from this world.
Just one month ago, they had been drinking and laughing together, discussing the past and present, offering insights on the world.
Chu Xisheng dearly wished that Iron Madman were still alive.
As long as Uncle Kuang was around, someone would have his back against the West Mountain Hall and he could peacefully secure the resources for cultivation through the small canal in West Mountain Town.
Now, maintaining the Iron Banner Gang and seeking revenge were the only things he could do for Iron Madman.
Chu Xisheng sighed softly before asking with the last glimmer of hope, “Uncle Tie, do you think there’s any chance that Uncle Kuang is still alive?”
A few days ago, when he had Lu Pingyuan build a tomb, he hadn’t intended it to be a ceremonial mound.
Initially, Chu Xisheng wanted to have Lu Pingyuan dig deep into the ground to retrieve Iron Madman’s remains.
Iron Madman went underground wearing the Divine Armor ‘Iron Futing’.
This First Grade Demon Armor was undoubtedly a source of disaster, especially since Iron Madman had already removed its seals, leaving it fraught with great peril.
However, Chu Yunyun showed great interest in this armor.
As a result, even after Lu Pingyuan dug nearly a thousand feet down, there was no sign of Iron Madman’s body or the ‘Iron Futing’.
“The likelihood is next to none.”
Tie Xiaosheng shook his head with an impassive face, “If you had spoken to me earlier about this, I wouldn’t have let you waste the manpower.
My sixth brother intended to dive into the Earth’s core with ‘Iron Futing,’ using the molten lava to melt the First Grade Demon Armor.
How could you possibly dig it out?”
He pointed at the ground, “Though we stand on soil here, deep underground, about seventeen thousand zhang down, it’s all incredibly hot molten lava.
The temperature inside is extraordinarily high, and normal iron would melt upon contact.
One of the prerequisites for entering the Second Grade of our Tie Armor Sect’s Iron Armor Mixed Element Skill is to take one’s battle armor deep underground and stay on top of the molten lava for half a month.
If both the person and the armor do not melt, then the bloodline seals can be successfully released.”
Chu Xisheng furrowed his brows, unable to agree.
He doubted that Iron Madman, in his condition at the time, could take ‘Iron Futing’ seventeen thousand zhang down.
He still wanted to mobilize manpower to continue digging deeper.
In any case, if someone is alive, they must be seen; if dead, their body must be found.
The secret medicine Iron Madman had taken was poisonous, but after all, it was a complete Fourth-grade Secret Medicine.
So in theory, Uncle Kuang’s cultivation had reached Fourth Grade before his demise.
A Fourth Grade martial cultivator’s life force was incredibly strong; as long as the Primordial Soul remained, even if only the head was left of the flesh, it could still be restored.
The reason why Ren Dongliu, East State Internal Mansion Army Commander, was severely injured and difficult to heal was not due to physical wounds, but because his Primordial Spirit had been devoured by the myriad souls within ‘Iron Futing’.
The key was that the Tie Armor Sect’s Iron Armor Mixed Element Technique possessed the capacity for ’embryonic breathing,’ allowing one to survive underground for a long time.
And although ‘Iron Futing’ this Demon Armor has caused harm, its protective capabilities are beyond doubt.
Therefore, Chu Xisheng still wanted to give it a try.
Even if Iron Madman had perished, they could attempt to retrieve ‘Iron Futing’.
If the Demon Armor couldn’t melt in the Earth’s core and remained underground, it would be a major threat; one misstep could lead to desolation for miles.
Yet he also understood Tie Xiaosheng’s feelings—Uncle Tie did not wish to disturb Uncle Kuang’s eternal rest.
Thus, this matter could be managed by his own appointed people.
“I plan to build Tieshan Hall here, with the former Xunyang Hall Master Lu Jiuli, Uncle Lu, in charge, responsible for guarding this Mi Family Castle and overseeing the mining of iron and the management of the canal and related affairs.”
Chu Xisheng gestured toward Mi Family Castle, “Moreover, the one from Bu Yancheng is to hold the position of Xunyang Hall Master!”
Upon hearing this, Tie Xiaosheng gave a slight nod of approval, “Uncle Lu’s edge has dulled with age; having him take charge of Tieshan Hall couldn’t be more perfect!”
Compared to that, Mi Family Castle was much safer and more profitable, making it the most suitable place for Lu Jiuli, who wanted to withdraw from Jianghu.
And for someone with substantial power like ‘Eight-Armed Vajra Sword’ Bu Yancheng, who had reached the peak among Fifth Grade cultivators, the Iron Banner Gang must put in great effort to win him over.
Offering him the respect of a hall was the minimum requirement, and it couldn’t be just any ordinary Outer Hall Tangkou.
Xunyang Hall was one of the major halls within the Outer Hall, located at the Xunyang county dock, with four hundred members.
It was secretly regarded as the most distinguished among the various Xunyang halls, which was quite appropriate.
What Tie Xiaosheng didn’t know was that Chu Xisheng actually hoped that Lu Jiuli would oversee the excavation of Iron Madman and ‘Iron Futing’.
This task could only be entrusted to the most reliable person within the gang.
“Bu Yancheng has some knowledge of military strategy, but he is, after all, an outsider, particularly inexperienced in naval warfare.
Moreover, his foundation is not stable, and the old brothers may not find him credible,” Chu Xisheng continued, “Therefore, the affairs of Xunyang county should still be under your control, Uncle Kuang.
Especially the conflict with the Seventeen Linked Wharves, we must uproot all their Tangkous within three months!”
Tie Xiaosheng couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “I’ll take full responsibility for this matter.
If the Seventeen Linked Wharves last more than ten days, then I admit defeat.”
He hadn’t forgotten that the death of Iron Madman was partly because the Seventeen Linked Wharves had tied up much of their strength.
It was regrettable that Dragon Head Ren Daoheng, cunning as he was, had vanished without a trace even before the rebellion in Xiushui county was quelled.
Now that the Seventeen Linked Wharves had no leader, had the State Army not still been stationed in Xiushui county, the Iron Banner Gang would have already swept away all the remnants of the Seventeen Linked Wharves.
But what Tie Xiaosheng was most concerned about was another matter.
He looked intently at Chu Xisheng, “When do you plan to hold the incense hall ceremony to formally succeed as the Flag Leader and appoint positions to the brothers?”