Castle of Black Iron

’There is only one alchemist master across Taixia Country who could make full use of this eternal stone yet could not be invited?’

After hearing the words of Mountain Lifting Hermit, Zhang Tie immediately thought about his master Zhao Yuan. However, he still asked with astonishment, ”Elder brother, who’s　　　　　　　　　　　　that alchemist master? Now that he’s so great, why can’t he come here to refine this eternal stone?”

Mountain Lifting Hermit revealed a smile as he threw a glance at Zhang Tie in a profound way, ”That man is a legendary figure in Taixia Country. Young brother, you should have heard about him. He’s Zhao Yuan, the alchemist master who has been ranked top on the wanted list of the Supreme Court of Taixia Country for many years. Given alchemist’s skill, nobody across Taixia Country could match him. It’s said that Zhao Yuan the alchemist master is eccentric, vicious and has a great battle strength. Additionally, he’s a heavenly knight who has formed 4 chakras with a lot of means; it’s said that this guy could even protect himself from sage-level knights. Who would be able to invite such a great figure to refine this eternal stone?”

”Oh, I see!” Zhang Tie understood it right away; meanwhile, he also understood why Mountain Lifting Hermit threw a glance at him; additionally, Zhao Yuan and Zhang Tie were all ”hot figures” on the wanted list; therefore, Mountain Lifting Hermit threw a glance at him in that way. Standing in front of the 9-dragons wall, Zhang Tie looked at it as he said, ”What a huge eternal stone! There must be a lot of leftover bits and pieces!”

”It’s said that over 100 tons of bits and pieces were cut off, which were also shopping-rush goods. They became the treasure of many alchemists. As 9-dragons wall is too famous, most of its bits and pieces were processed into various jade wares surnamed 9 and were sold at high prices. Young brother, we could see these items on the Treasures Meeting!”

”I’m waiting for that!” Zhang Tie replied with a smile.

”All the items being made of the bits and pieces of this eternal stone are surnamed 9. However, there’re too many fake goods. All the items that were made of top-quality eternal stones are declared to come from the eternal stone of 9-dragons wall. Actually, who knows where do they come from?” Bai Suxian explained straightforwardly, ”Lord Guangnan’s Mansion would receive some pieces of refined items from the 9-dragons wall almost every year. All the other major clans and sects would receive some year too. All the rich and powerful ones would like to show off with one or two alchemist’s items from 9-dragons wall. All the so-called alchemist’s items from the 9-dragons wall would weigh thousands of tons. Therefore, less than 1 of 10 items made of top-quality eternal stones in the market really comes from the 9-dragons eternal stone. But nobody could identify them. Given the same effect, everyone just pretends to not know that it’s fake!”

Zhang Tie shook his head with a bitter smile as he had not imagined that he could meet such a ridiculous thing in Taixia Country too. Actually, Zhang Tie did such a thing in Donder’s grocery store. It was a common trick in groceries. Take those small metal parts and tools in the grocery as an instance. They purchased them in Blackhot City; however, they labeled the items with ”made in Kalur City”. As long as there was not a sharp difference between them in quality. The buyers would not identify them at all. After being labeled with ”made in Kalur City”, they could make some more copper coins. As Zhang Tie was young at that time, he even despised Donder’s trick very much. It was really out of his imagination that he could meet such a trick in Taixia Country. Those being trapped were all top-class ones in Taixia Country. Therefore, everyone pursued benefit and fame, whether they’re knights and Lords or commoners.

After throwing another glance at this shocking 9-dragons wall, the 3 people detoured it and walked towards the inside of Treasures Complex.

After passing the 9-dragons wall, they entered a magnificent lobby, which was over 100 m in length and 30 m in width. Additionally, there was a huge ceiling crystal lamp composed of tens of thousands of high-quality crystals on the highest dome of the lobby, which looked like sparkling stars over the sky. On both sides of the lobby, there were 4 bank counters. There were beautiful Hua girls behind each window of the four counters, who were watching the passers-by in the lobby with genial smiles or serving people who were standing in front of the windows.

Additionally, there were labels behind each counter, which were Xuanyuan Bank, Golden Roc Bank, Pangu Bank and Eastern Bank respectively.

People came and went in the lobby. Zhang Tie found that most of them were knights. At the sight of such a boisterous scene, Zhang Tie felt like coming back to the Lion Fortress.

The 4 banks carried out the same businesses here, namely, mortgage, guarantee, financing and debit and credit. Each knight coming to the front of each bank window would be received by exclusive personnel. After dealing with the procedures over the counters here, many knights hurriedly left with documents and certificates in hands. Someone directly withdrew thick gold notes over the counters. Zhang Tie also saw a large amount of earth-element crystals and water-element crystals behind some counters which were taken away by some knights in regular procedures.

”The imperial households of Taixia Country are on the back of Xuanyuan Bank; Xuanyuan Bank is the most powerful bank in Taixia Country. It could formulate some industrial regulations like central banks in foreign countries. Golden Roc Bank is the most important member of Gold and Power Law which has a long history. Although Golden Roc Bank is a bit weaker than Xuanyuan Bank in Taixia Country, it’s most powerful in all the overseas subcontinents. Additionally, until today, the identity of the master of Golden Roc Bank is still mysterious. It’s said that that guy has never shown up. I only heard from my father that the highest management of Golden Roc Bank was a commission. Each member of the commission is very mysterious and powerful. They barely show up. Only one or two members of that commission contact Taixia Country. The members of the highest management have the right to meet Emperor Xuanyuan, like the top 3 chancellors and 9 ministers in Taixia Country. My father guessed that there was a sage-level figure behind Golden Roc Bank whom even Emperor Xuanyuan was afraid of!” Bai Suxian said in a secret way.

As it was Zhang Tie’s first time to visit Treasures Meeting, Bai Suxian and Mountain Lifting Hermit introduced him about the situation here. Only Zhang Tie and Mountain Lifting Hermit could hear it. Such news might only be touched by top-class figures such as Lord Guangnan. At least Zhang Tie didn’t know that there were so many secrets behind Golden Roc Bank.

”Now that there’s a sage-level knight on the back of Golden Roc Bank, why would Golden Roc Bank join Gold and Power Law? With a sage-level knight, Golden Roc Bank could be on the equal footing with the major sects in Taixia Country, right?” Zhang Tie asked with astonishment.

”I have no idea!” Bai Suxian shook her head before saying, ”It’s just a speculation. Nobody knows whether there is a real sage-level knight or not, male or female, Hua or foreigner. Those members of the top management of Golden Roc Bank almost never show up. They were only received by Emperor Xuanyuan for a few times. Outsiders are confused about the process of the receptions!”

”What a bank!”

”It’s said that Golden Roc Bank didn’t appear in Taixia Country and Eastern Continent at the beginning, but in the Western Continent. Its headquarters is also in the Western Continent!” Mountain Lifting Hermit also revealed a secret.

After digesting this secret, Zhang Tie continued to ask, ”Who are on the back of Pangu Bank and Eastern Bank respectively?”

”It’s the other 6 major sects besides Gold and Power Law on the back of Pangu Bank. As Emperor Xuanyuan established Gold and Power Law to restrict the other 6 major sects, the other 6 sects also established Pangu Bank and Xuanyuan Bank to restrict Golden Roc Bank. In the spheres of influence of the top 6 sects, Pangu Bank has the largest influence; Eastern Bank was established by over 100 top clans in the 9 immortal provinces. With 9 immortal provinces as their foundation and the support of over 100 major clans, even if there’s no sage-level knight on the back of Eastern Bank, it could also be on the equal footing with the major banks. Additionally, Eastern Bank always remained neutral between the imperial households and the major sects in Taixia Country. This bank didn’t even join Gold and Power Law!”

”According to you, the 4 banks almost represent the 4 greatest powers inside Taixia Country. Xuanyuan Bank represents the imperial households and court of Taixia Country; Pangu Bank represents the 6 top sects; Eastern Bank represents major clans in Taixia Country; Golden Roc Bank might represent a mysterious and powerful group that covered another continent and Taixia Country. The powers on the back of these major banks have privity with each other...”

”That’s right!”

Touching his jaw, Zhang Tie said, ”If Taixia Country is regarded as a brilliant big house, Xuanyuan Bank stands on one side; Pangu Bank stands on the other side. Although they dislike each other, they don’t fight for the sake of the furniture and antiques inside the house; Eastern Bank stands in the middle as a buffer and a yes man. The major clans in Taixia Country do business with Xuanyuan Bank and Pangu Bank at the same time. When disciples of major clans of Taixia Country serve as officials in the imperial court, they learn skills from the top 6 major sects at the same time. Golden Roc Bank visits the house and has a drink once in a while. Sometimes, it will leave the house. Because Xuanyuan Bank is the nominal boss of this house, Golden Roc Bank joins Gold and Power Law out of respect or as a compromise and exchange. Actually, Golden Roc Bank has more than one foundation; it has a position inside the house; outside the doors, it could also summon wind and call for rain...”

After hearing Zhang Tie’s words, Bai Suxian and Mountain Lifting Hermit both smiled. Mountain Lifting Hermit nodded, ”What a lively metaphor! As you say, the major powers in Taixia Country are indeed restricting each other. Look here, most of the foreign knights are at the counter of Golden Roc Bank...”

Zhang Tie looked around and found that it was real. Most of the knights in front of the counters of Xuanyuan Bank, Eastern Bank and Pangu Bank were Hua knights; however, most of the people in front of Golden Roc Bank were foreign knights.

’Wait.’

Zhang Tie widely opened his eyes at once.

When Zhang Tie looked at the counter of Golden Roc Bank, he caught sight of 2 people walking out of a tunnel on beside of the counter of Golden Roc Bank, one fat, one thin. The fat one was like a huge bear. When they walked, they looked around in gibberish. The thin guy looked glassy-eyed.

Although it was not cold in Xuanyuan Hill, the 2 people were wearing bear-hide coats which looked eye-catching and improper.

They were old Dali from Wild Bear Tribe and Elder Gulas from Huge Bear Tribe...