Castle of Black Iron

Today, Wang Clan of Yushun Palace, Ningan City was unprecedentedly brilliant.

After providing free porridge in Ningan City constantly for over 70 years, Wang Clan finally got a compensation.

Fire Dragon Hermit put in 2 dragons from each clan with earth knights and 1 dragon from each clan with black iron knights. Although Wang Clan had no knights, Fire Dragon Hermit put in 7 dragons from Wang Clan which shocked all the other clans.

What did this mean?

Fire Dragon Hermit only put in 8 dragons from the three clans with provincial governors of Yanzhou Province, Tongzhou Province and Youzhou Province in total, 2 of which were from the branch in Jinwu City of Zhang Clan, Huaiyuan Palace, which indicated that Fire Dragon Hermit favored Zhang Clan of Huaiyuan Palace and that Lion of Youzhou Province who was well-known across Taixia Country. However, he put in 7 dragons from Wang Clan, which almost matched the total number of dragons being put in from the three clans with provincial governors. If the 2 dragons being put in from the branch of Jinwu City was not included, Wang Clan would even have one more dragon than the total number of dragons being put in by Fire Dragon Hermit from Zhu Clan, Qian Clan and Zhang Clan.

90 years ago, Wang Clan had a black iron knight who was the founder of Yushun Palace of Wang Clan. However, like how those clans with knights flourished and withered, over 70 years ago, that black iron knight of Wang Clan was killed in the Earth-elements Realm. From then on, the potential momentum of development of Wang Clan stopped abruptly. Although Wang Clan didn’t fully decline, they just safeguarded the undertaking of their ancestor.

After Wang Clan’s ancestor died in the Earth-elements Realm, Wang Clan stuck to the ideology that ”a family which always do good would have a good luck for sure” and started to do good by providing free porridge and building bridges and paving roads. They had been doing that for over 70 years ceaselessly.

Today, Wang Clan finally received their compensation.

Watching 7 golden and red light flying off Fire Dragon Hermit’s golden brush and falling on the foreheads of the 7 junior disciples of Wang Clan, Wang Chongde the master of Wang Clan and some Wang elders quivered all over with tears in their eye sockets. Wang Clan’s rejuvenation was hopeful. As long as one of the 7 juniors could promote to a knight, Wang Clan would be qualified to be a major clan and recover the glory of their past days.

Wang Clan had been waiting for this day for over 7 decades.

From today on, the entire Wang Clan of Yushun Palace, Ningan City, would bind themselves to Zhang Tie’s charity.

As the old saying went, ’A man dies for his bosom friend.’ With such a reliance and glory, of course, a clan would not hesitate to stand on the side of Fire Dragon Hermit.

The omen of rejuvenation of Wang Clan had appeared; however, nobody was jealous about them. Because it was the result of Wang Clan after doing good for over 7 decades. Those who knew the reason could only admire and sigh with emotion about the good luck of Wang Clan.

If the other clan could be as persistent as Wang Clan and be known by Fire Dragon Hermit within Fire Dragon Bounty Territory by accident, the other clan might also enjoy such a special treatment; however, there was not such a clan anymore; therefore, the others could only accept the fact.

People in Taixia Country didn’t hate rich men or officials; they just hated those who were rich yet cruel and those tight-fisted officials. Those who were both righteous and benevolent would never be hated by commoners no matter how magnificent their clans were. Few people would give a false account of the true facts.

Those who carried tails were all in tales.

After Wang Clan had 7 dragons being put in, the others immediately congratulated Wang Clan to be the biggest winner in the opening ceremony of Iron-Dragon Sect.

After the Immortal Fist Position Sect’s master was beaten in the fight and left, Wang Clan became a rising star. The up and down made this opening ceremony special and brought the guests at present more topics and thoughts.

It might be a God’s will.

Zhang Tie selected 4 males and 3 females. The eldest one among the 7 lucky dogs was over 30 years old, the youngest one among them was only 16 years old. Their levels varied from LV 4 to LV 8.

Zhang Tie didn’t care what the others would think about. After enrolling the 7 disciples of Wang Clan, he continued to put in dragons.

One person from Lu Clan, Dashang City, Gaoping Prefecture of Yanzhou Province was selected.

After that, Zhang Tie respectively put in one dragon from Fang Clan of Qinghe City, Chen Clan of Muqing Palace, Langyun City, the four sons of Li Tao, the boss of Zhongpin Business Group of Dongyang City, Sun Clan of Xuantian City and Gu Clan of Snowpine City.

The masters and elders of these later clans were all in the auditorium. Because of their relatively inferior positions, their seats were close to the end. When they found that their own disciples were put in dragon by Zhang Tie, they were all very excited.

Although the other clans only had one disciple being put in the dragon, it was already a great treatment that each knight’s clan could enjoy. Such a treatment had already satisfied these clans. They all determined to fulfill the task assigned by Fire Dragon Hermit well and strive for a better performance in front of Fire Dragon Hermit so as to pave a smooth way for their own disciples in Iron-Dragon Sect.

After entering Iron-Dragon Sect, besides efforts and talents, these disciples from all clans also required their own clans’ assistance.

Daddy was the key, but in different skills and patterns.

Especially in Taixia Country, everybody was clear about benefit-based relationships between major clans and sects. When their own disciples entered Iron-Dragon Sect and the other small- and medium-sized sects, they would send gifts to the master out of their sincerity. There was no fixed regulation on the value of the gifts. They should send gifts according to their own abilities. However, they all had a clear idea about that.

Although there was a much-told tale that the master of a sect might like that even if disciples and parents from poor families gifted him some tea leaves that they picked from the mountain; however, commoners had better not play that trick. If everybody could fabricate a ”much-told tale”, the ”much-told tale” would be valueless. Even a rural teacher would receive a gift of dried flesh; not to mention an earth knight of a sect.

...

Zhang Tie enrolled 121 apprentices in total, 82 of them were male, 39 of them were female. Generally, a sect should contain more males than females.

After the 121 formally acknowledged their master, they all stood behind Zhang Tie according to the order that they were put in dragons while trying to recover their composure. As Liu Xing was Fire Dragon Hermit’s first apprentice, he stood closely behind Zhang Tie as the most special one among all the apprentices of Zhang Tie.

Previously, there was nobody behind Zhang Tie. Now, after so many apprentices stood behind him and Zhang Tie sat on the golden chair in such a generous way, the Iron-Dragon Sect immediately became majestic and imposing.

’From today on, will the destiny of the 121 people behind me be connected to that of myself?’

As it was his first time to enroll apprentices, Zhang Tie also felt a bit weird. Actually, some apprentices were even elder than Zhang Tie himself.

Whatever, after they formally acknowledged Zhang Tie as their master, the identities of both parties were already fixed. From then on, they would become Zhang Tie’s apprentices while their life and future would be determined by Zhang Tie. From today on, if they disobeyed the regulations of Iron-Dragon Sect or irritated Zhang Tie, even if they were killed by Zhang Tie, the of Iron-Dragon Sect or the officials of Taixia Country didn’t have a right to say no.

It was the No. 1 taboo in Taixia Country to cheat one’s master or slander one’s ancestors. Such people would not even be forgiven by God. After joining one sect, to a certain extent, it was equal to sign an unalterable life or death contract with their sect and their master.

Zhang Tie knew that the clans of the 121 apprentices behind him indicated a great set of relationships that he cast in Northeast Military Region. It might take commoners a few generations to build such a great set of relationships. However, it was very easy for an earth knight to do it. They only needed to establish a sect and enroll apprentices. Only after one day, the nickname of Fire Dragon Hermit had become different for these clans. This interpreted the dignity and ability of an earth knight.

’From today on, if I really want to root in Taixia Country, the relationship between me and these apprentices might become a bit utilitarian; however, as they’ve kowtowed and served tea to me, I should be responsible for these people more or less.’

Zhang Tie sighed with emotion inside as he put the golden brush into the tray carried by a virgin boy on his side.

Everybody was watching Zhang Tie and waiting for him to say something; Zhang Tie also read a lot of information from the eyes of the surrounding people.

Bai Suxian’s eyes flickered with full pleasure, excitement and a bit pride.

The old guy on Bai Suxian’s side looked glassy-eyed as usual who made Zhang Tie a bit awkward. Strangely, Zhang Tie could see through the overall strength of all the people at present except for that old guy on Bai Suxian’s side. Zhang Tie felt that nobody at present could defeat this old guy except for Zhang Tie himself.

’Whatever, I will ask Bai Suxian about the background of this old guy after the opening ceremony.’

After being silent for a few seconds, Zhang Tie uttered, ”Liu Xing!”

”I’m here, Master!”

After hearing Zhang Tie’s call, Liu Xing responded respectfully at once.

”From today on, the 120 people would be your junior fellow brothers and sisters. As my first apprentice, you can manage all the 120 people at your will. With me on your back, you should pay special attention to the seniority of the members in Iron-Dragon Sect!” Zhang Tie said in a muffled voice.

After hearing that, many people’s hearts raced; however, Liu Xing became reassured. Because Liu Xing’s clan was very average; neither did he have a great natural gift. He was the one with the least background among all the apprentices of Zhang Tie. Just now, Liu Xing was still concerned that he might not be able to control his junior apprentice brothers and sisters who came from knights’ clans. After hearing Zhang Tie’s order, Liu Xing became reassured. However, Liu Xing still gritted his teeth inside after getting the expectation of Zhang Tie, ’No matter what, I have to grasp this opportunity and will never lose face for my master...’

...

When Zhang Tie finished putting in dragons, another airboat arrived at Xuantian City. At the sight of this airboat, everybody became faintly stunned as it was from the Supreme Court of Taixia Country given its symbol...

After Zhang Tie finished his talk with Liu Xing, two people had flown off that airboat towards Xuantian Courtyard...