As for Tonglu Castle, it was a Hidden Sect renowned for crafting extraordinary equipnt. Their designs, even if revealed today, wouldn’t be outdated—in fact, Li Ang was currently using a Triangular Spear they had made.
Tonglu Castle treated everyone "impartially." Anyone could hire them, as long as they could afford the price. Even if clients couldn’t pay the fee imdiately, they could use precious tals, Alien blood, bones, and similar items as compensation.
Of course, this didn’t an Tonglu Castle accepted every commission. They only took on forging invitations they found interesting or challenging, such as:
A saber that could freely extend up to forty ters.
A suit of armor full of spikes designed to make the wearer feel amplified pain (often paired with a Devil Technique that grew stronger with agony).
A set of Clothes that would make the wearer appear more dignified and majestic than their natural appearance.
And so on.
Even the Heavenly Boats crafted by successive Emperors of the Forr Sui dynasty had Tonglu Castle craftsn involved in their creation.
Due to their unique and irreplaceable skills, Tonglu Castle maintained good relationships with most Sects. No one dared to plunder or harm them, as doing so would an antagonizing nurous Sects.
The reasons for Tonglu Castle’s ultimate downfall are contentious. So claid they greedily amassed wealth during warti by selling weapons to multiple factions, profiting from the conflicts, which eventually incurred public wrath and led to their unprotected destruction. Others said they beca overly obsessed with Alien-related technology, and the entire Sect collectively threw themselves into their forges to create an unprecedented artifact. To this day, there is no definitive answer.
"According to the pricing in the Chang’an Ghost Market, a well-preserved weapon clearly marked as made by Tonglu Castle is worth at least ten thousand strings of coins. If the weapon itself possesses special abilities, the price skyrockets to tens or even hundreds of thousands of strings of coins."
The new equipnt had to be tested. Li Ang quietly pushed open the bookcase, revealing a secret chamber. He summoned Mo Si from his palm, had the Ink Silk Clone take the Radiant Crossbow, and sent it sneaking into the earth. The clone traveled underground to the outskirts of Chang’an City, where it activated a teleportation, blinking to the deepest part of the East City Ghost Market.
No one was around, only the wide Dark River flowing silently. The Ink Silk Clone raised the Radiant Crossbow. As the silk thread was nocked on the Crossbow chanism, a portion of Spiritual Energy was automatically drawn out and poured into the crossbow’s body.
BUZZ—
With a tremor in the air, two beams of light extended from the sides of the Crossbow Arm, converging in the middle of the crossbow. A glittering orb of light suddenly materialized at the very center of the bowstring, illuminating the eternally lightless Dark River. A few albino fish, their eyes not yet completely degenerated, instinctively drew closer, circling the Ink Silk Clone.
That drew a lot of Spiritual Power. It shouldn’t be enough to cause the underground cavern to collapse, right? Li Ang mused, controlling the Ink Silk Clone to raise its arm and pull the trigger of the Crossbow chanism, aiming towards the far end of the Dark River.
SWOOSH—
The orb of light on the Crossbow chanism vanished instantly. Above the long Dark River, a lingering afterimage, a ribbon of light created by the orb, appeared, illuminating the pitted and uneven rock walls of the cavern as if it were day.
Finally, the orb touched the water’s surface. Then—
BOOM!!
An imnse amount of river water instantly evaporated. The smooth surface of the river abruptly caved in and split apart, as if a hot knife had sliced through butter. The cavern filled with billowing steam as large stones rained down from the ceiling. By the ti the water surface settled, a deep, dragon-like rumble was already spreading through the cavern in both directions. The few innocent white fish, initially attracted by the bright light, were startled by the explosive blast and imdiately fled in panic.
This power... can it still be called a Hand Crossbow? It’s almost no different from a cannon, is it? Li Ang thought, clicking his tongue in astonishnt as he watched rocks continue to fall in the distance. He controlled the Ink Silk Clone to release the Crossbow chanism and refold the Crossbow Arms.
Although this was deep within the Chang’an Ghost Market, the commotion had been too loud and might attract unwanted attention. It was best to retreat first. The Ink Silk Clone efficiently secured the Radiant Crossbow, slipped into the rock wall, and vanished.
anwhile, in a distant downstream section of the Dark River, a lean figure stood on the bank, silently gazing towards the dim distance from which a rolling, dull roar emanated.
SPLASH.
The waters of the Dark River beside him stirred. A massive, serpentine Exotic Beast, large enough to occupy nearly half the cavern, quietly erged from the riverbed. Its scales were a steel-like dark cyan, growing neatly in reverse, each one two fingers thick. As the giant serpent twisted its body, its scales rubbed against each other, producing a tallic clang like swords colliding. The stones piled on the riverbank crumbled into dust as easily as sandcastles when brushed by its scales. The giant serpent raised its head, joining the figure in staring into the dark, lightless expanse ahead.
The sound of rocks falling into the river continued. Due to the peculiar structure of the underground cavern, even a sound that seed incredibly clear and close could be originating from several miles, or even farther, away. Chasing the sound now would be pointless. The figure silently withdrew his gaze. The giant serpent blinked its eyelids in response, its massive, cart-sized amber eyes glowing faintly, casting a dim light on the figure’s stern and handso face.
"Don’t worry, that sound has nothing to do with us," the lean figure—or rather, Li Shan, the Ninth Prince of Yu Country and Prince Guang—said, patting the giant serpent’s wet scales. He was still wearing his Academic Palace uniform, but his expression lacked any of the warmth and amiability he usually showed to his fellow Academic Palace students, his subordinate officials, or the common people of Chang’an. Instead, it was replaced by a cold indifference to life.
Li Shan reached into his robes and pulled out a strangely shaped Dagger. It was about a palm’s length, crafted from gemstone-like red crystal, its hilt wrapped in layers of aged, darkened beast leather that exuded a rich, bloody scent.
This was ’No Return,’ a Second-level Abnormality.
Clasping the Dagger, Li Shan pressed its tip lightly against his left palm and made a careless slice. The sharp blade cut open his skin, and blood gushed out instantly. His face turned abruptly pale, but he forced himself to clench his left fist, directing the gush of blood.
The serpent, whose head towered over Li Shan, imdiately beca submissive upon slling the fresh blood. It lowered itself, pressing close, and opened its great maw to catch the ceaseless stream of blood from his palm. The trickle of blood was a stark contrast to the Exotic Beast’s massive size, but the serpent’s eyes were focused, not letting a single drop go to waste. It even began to flick its forked tongue and slowly close its gaping mouth, as if intending to bite his arm.
Li Shan’s expression turned serious at once. Holding the red crystal Dagger in a reverse grip, he forcefully struck the serpent’s forehead. The dull thud cald the restless giant, and it beca docile again.
"Drink, drink," Li Shan murmured, his face growing paler as blood continued to drain. He gently stroked the serpent’s neck with his other hand, his eyes filled with a mixture of tenderness and anticipation.
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