410 Chapter 402: Redemption!
BANGG!!
"It's finally the thousandth hit..." Duan Li said as he wiped off the beads of sweat off his forehead, his breathing haggard.
Usually, while he would be slightly tired using the All-Father forge set to create an ultimate graded weapon, he could continue going for another few rounds without taking a break at a rapid tempering speed!
However now, he had only just finished tempering one of the three cuboids, but he already felt like collapsing and swimming in his own sweat!
"This takes too much energy to temper, and my hands are going numb..." Duan Li sighed. He thought that his physical strength was powerful enough, but it still took a lot out of his stamina!
Let's see what I had just created..
[Ding!]
[Left foot of the armor set of Exodia was forcefully tempered. Size reduced to a thirtieth of the original size.]
[Possess infinite weight. Cannot be lifted. Cannot be destroyed.]
[Forcefully tempering the material has led to unknown change.]
"Eh? There is not much change to it at all other than the size had became smaller.." Duan Li's initial excitement died down as the outcome was not what he had expected.
BANGG! BANGG!
Still, he continued tempering the remaining two cuboids until they also shrunk to a thirtieth of their original size, about the size of one's palm.
After a moment has passed, he finally finished.
"Hey Brother, what are you up to? You look so crippled... Did you make a heaven defying weapon or something for you to be like this?" a voice suddenly called out to him in a joking tone while he was laying on the floor resting and catching up his breath.
"Oh Brother Shen Lu? You're finally back." Duan Li said as he turned his head to look at Shen Lu from the floor.
"Nothing much, just trying my luck.. but it seems like I failed to create anything amazing this time around." he continued.
Then, he remembered that Shen Lu was tasked to do something in the Liu Empire back when they went there by Utmost Being, so he asked curiously on the progress.
"Well, your clone has tasked me to discuss some important strategic matters in terms of communication and infrastructure. Long story short, it was successful." Shen Lu answered and explained further.
Since both the Jiu and Liu Empire were neighbour and was only separated by the Wang mountain ranges, Utmost Being proposed that they needed to modernize the transportation system in that region so that diplomatic relations could go much smoother next time.
In addition, Utmost Being somehow managed to convince the Liu Empire to develop and increase tourism activity between their two empires!
In this way, both citizens would be more accustomed to each other and many deals between the two parties could be made possible in the future which will further develop their empires in a butterfly effect, giving immense benefit!
"By the way, I saw an Elder Lich cultivating outside..."
Duan Li explained how he met Elder Lin and that now the other party had become his loyal servant due to Utmost Being.
Hearing the story, Shen Lu could not help but to burst into laughter.
"That clone of yours sure is a piece of work Brother! To think that an Elder Lich was slapped into submission, who in the world could do such a thing other than him?" Shen Lu wiped the tears off his eyes from laughing too much.
"Don't let him hear you said that.." Duan Li also laughed for a bit as they stayed and talked for a bit more.
...
"I'm worried for Senior Brother Wang Xiaolun..." Shen Lu sighed. In truth, this has been weighing on his mind all the time. After all, Wang Xiaolun was the very first friend he made before meeting Duan Li and Xiahou Yu.
"Don't worry, I can feel that he is still fine somehow..." Duan Li replied. This was because all of his followers had absorbed a portion of his blood.
If Wang Xiaolun was truly in danger, he would be able to feel it.
Seeing that Shen Lu was still worried, Duan Li tried to reassure him, "After we rescue my mother and aunt, we will quickly enter the Eternal Maze and search for him."
"Thanks Brother!" Shen Lu said in relief. Due to time relativity in the Eternal Maze, they might be able to arrive a few hours or even days after Wang Xiaolun entered the Third region. But if their luck was bad, then it might be months or even years!
Duan Li decided that the next time they entered the Eternal Maze for the Third region, he would have to think of a way for them to be able to enter and arrive at the same date and time!
He also received messages from Di Rou through the communication jade slip, and apparantly, she along with Xiahou Yu and Xu Rong were away on a mission with the Seven Saints Chef to gather the last bit of ingredients that he tasked them to procure. By her estimate, they should be able to return a few days later.
Thinking that they might run into some problems, Duan Li sent a telepathic message to Queen Levy that was currently on a shopping spree to follow after them as their backup. He also sent Bulu along with her so that the other party could gain experience as a monster that evolved into a cultivator.
...
The following day, Duan Li visited the principal's office and he finally got a reply.
"We have decided to send you to the Doulou Empire under the guise of an exchange student from our academy. Your identity will be a top performing student from here and got a scholarship to study there." said the principal.
An exchange student?
Duan Li scratched his head. "Weren't I supposed to be looking for my mother and aunt there? Why did I become an exchange student instead?" he asked feeling confused.
"It's like this..."
The principal gave a few dry coughs before explaining the rationality on why Duan Li had to be an exchange student there.
"I see... so that the kidnappers there would not be suspicious and alarmed of my presence..." Duan Li cupped his chin and gave it a thought.
The idea was that he will have to investigate while being undercover along with the help of the Doulou royal family. How he wanted to approach the situation next will depend on himself. After all, they couldn't really trust the words from a member of the Dark Sect and depended on the latter to actually help them.
Who knows if there was some trap or hidden agenda behind Zeng Jianshi's motives to go along with Duan Li?
Still, Duan Li could not help but to frown and felt like something was amiss as he glanced at the awkward look of the principal. Why must his identity be a transfer student as a disguise?
Wouldn't an identity such as an envoy would make much more sense?
Seeing that Duan Li was looking unconvinced, the vice-principal stepped in to add further to the explanation with a light cough and his hands placed behind his back.
"The matter of you being the Imperial Overseer of the Jiu Empire going to the Doulou Empire is truly a huge deal if exposed. You would definitely encounter hassles such as people challenging you. In fact, any other identity with an official position would get you harrassed instead."
The matter of their Jiu Empire coronating an Imperial Overseer has already spread throughout the Tian continent like wildfires. Moreover, someone with status higher than an emperor was deemed as fighting against the normal conventions which many people looked down upon.
Therefore, anyone with any relation to the Jiu Empire would be frowned and laughed upon, and troubles would automatically come looking straight for them, especially for the unconvinced.
"R-Right! So you see, as a transfer student, why would they make trouble for you? In their view, it wouldn't prove anything at all even if they were to harrass or challenge you! It's not like we are worried that you might get hurt or something, just that we don't want people causing trouble for you since you like to be low profile and are humble!" the principal added, highlighting his last sentence.
Thinking about it, Duan Li felt like their reasons made much more sense now!
"That's right, I hate being in the spotlight and to be frank, its quite lonely when people are afraid to approach me because I am far too strong... hais! I guess being a transfer student might not be too bad now that I think about it!"
Pu!
Shameless bragging!
...
"Wang Feng, I'll give you an opportunity to repent while achieving your dream at the same time!" Duan Li said with a strict and authoritative voice.
After his encounter with Wang Feng and knowing his history, Duan Li felt like the other party was far too unfortunate. So he decided to visit him in his prison and offer him a deal.
"Your Excellency! Please, tell me what it is that I should do! I will devote my entire body and will into accomplishing all the task that you instruct me!" Wang Feng kowtowed on the ground when he heard this.
He had previously thought that his dream of owning his own lands was already beyond reach when all of his bandit cavalries was destroyed by a gigantic foot during the fight near the Spring Blossom village before.
After all, it took him years of countless hard work and effort to raise such an army, and it would be a nightmare to start all over.
But now, the Imperial Overseer had just given him his words, so how could the flames of hope in his heart not be rekindled and set ablaze?
Who was the Imperial Overseer? This was someone with a status higher than an emperor, truly someone who would instruct where rain should fall under the heavens!
What Wang Clan? What Red-Blue Concordat? All of that means nothing in front of an Imperial Overseer!
Seeing that the other party was truly earnest, Duan Li nodded in recognition and approval.
"Eradicate all the bandits that had done vile deeds in the Jiu Empire without mercy. And for those bandits that only stole from people and nothing else, persuade them to join under your banner once again, else, kill!"
Duan Li then continued, "Once you achieve this task, this army of yours will have their own lands somewhere in the Wang mountain ranges between the Jiu and Liu Empire! After that, we will discuss your method to contribute to the Jiu Empire! Take Ang Busheng and Ang Busano with you. Do not fail me!"
Hearing this, Wang Feng's body and hands started to tremble before tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Thank you your Excellency! This old one will finish this task without a slight margin of error! I swear on my name, Wang Feng!"
Duan Li nodded before flipping his robes and walking out from the prison.
Staring at Duan Li's back as he disappeared, Wang Feng made a vow that day, that from that day onwards, he swore to be loyal to the Imperial Overseer, even if hell was frozen over!
...
