Castle of Black Iron

The Ancestral Shrine Palace of Huaiyuan Palace rested on Embracing Tiger Mountain, which was one of the forbidden lands in Tiger Embracing City. Ordinary people were forbidden to approach Embracing Tiger City, not to mention entering it.

Zhang Tie walked all the way to the foot of the Tiger Embracing Mountain. The moment he entered the territory of Tiger Embracing Mountain, clan warriors of Huaiyuan Palace had come forward to stop him.

“Travellers are forbidden to approach the clan territory of Huaiyuan Palace!”

Two teams of clan warriors were standing at the entrance of Embracing Tiger Mountain. All of them were tall and strong in heavy armors with heavy swords on one side of their waists. They looked very imposing and solemn. Two clan deacons were standing behind those warriors.

Additionally, there was a huge stone archway higher than 20 m at the entrance. There were 4 vigorous, huge golden words on the archway——Huaiyuan Family Style.

Zhang Tie didn’t speak; instead, he just pulled off his hood, exposing his face.

At the sight of Zhang Tie’s face, the 20 warriors and 2 clan deacons quivered all over at the same time. Closely after that, all the warriors knelt down by one knee at the same time. The two clan deacons also bowed deeply towards him before saying, “Elder Mushen!”

Zhang Tie’s face could even be recognized by ordinary people in the Embracing Tiger City, not to mention these clan warriors who were responsible for the safety of Embracing Tiger Mountain. Zhang Tie’s meritorious services were known to everyone in Huaiyuan Palace. After Zhang Tie came back, all the members of Huaiyuan Palace became spirited. Therefore, Zhang Tie’s prestige in Huaiyuan Palace reached a peak.

“Don’t be that polite!” Zhang Tie replied simply as he was thinking about something else. After that, he passed through the archway and walked up the mountain. Two clan deacons hurriedly led Zhang Tie to the Ancestral Shrine Palace of Huaiyuan Palace.

“Have the clan head and the other elders arrived?” Zhang Tie asked the two clan deacons.

After Zhang Taixuan promoted to the provincial governor of Youzhou Province, he and the other elders of Huaiyuan Palace spent more time in Youzhou City than in Embracing Tiger City. If not the clan elders meeting, it might be a bit easier for the clan elders of Huaiyuan Palace to gather in Youzhou City than in Embracing Tiger City.

Actually, this clan elders meeting could also be held in Youzhou City; however, as Zhang Taixuan was meticulous; he was afraid of being reproached for turning Youzhou City the private city of Huaiyuan Palace after promoting to the provincial governor of Youzhou Province; therefore, this clan elders meeting was held in Embracing Tiger City.

“10 minutes ago, besides Elder Muray, all the clan elders and clan head had already arrived at the Ancestral Shrine Palace!” One deacon said respectfully.

Zhang Tie arrived at Embracing Tiger Mountain 1 hour earlier than the scheduled time. After promoting to an earth knight, Zhang Tie also paid attention to his image in Huaiyuan Palace; he didn’t want to leave a bad impression on people. Therefore, he arrived 1 hour earlier. Zhang Huaiyuan and the other clan elders of Huaiyuan Palace almost arrived at the same time.

Zhang Tie nodded.

The Ancestral Shrine Palace was halfway up to the mountain. The pine needles over Embracing Tiger Mountain were still hanging over snow while the steps up to the mountain were swept clean.

Almost when Zhang Tie arrived at the terrace outside the Ancestral Shrine Palace, a figure landed on Zhang Tie’s side with flame.

“Elder Muray!”

“Elder Mushen!”

The two people greeted each other before entering the Ancestral Shrine Palace at the same time. At this moment, Taixuan, Muan, Muyuan, Muyu and Muen walked out of the Ancestral Shrine Palace to welcome Zhang Tie and Elder Muray. They greeted each other outside the Ancestral Shrine Palace.

They had not seen each other for almost 1 month. When they met each other once again, none of them looked relaxed.

Zhang Taixuan threw a glance at the others before saying, “Now that all the elders have arrived, it’s unnecessary for us to wait anymore. Let’s come to a start!”

Everybody nodded as they entered the Ancestral Shrine Palace. The moment they entered it, the gate had been closed from outside. Many clan deacons guarded outside the Ancestral Shrine Palace. There were also clan deacons inside doors. As a result, the atmosphere became solemn at once.

The imposing statue that Lord Huaiyuan stood with a crossbow in hand in the Ancestral Shrine Palace was nothing different than that in Jinyun Country. In front of the statue, there were memorial tablets of forebears of Huaiyuan Palace.

As the head of Huaiyuan Palace, Zhang Taixuan led the other elders to light incense for the memorial tablets of their forebears. After that, they sat down around a roundtable.

Zhang Tie sat beside Zhang Taixuan, which indicated that Zhang Tie’s position in Zhang Clan was evidently much higher than that of the other elders. After accomplishing this rotating chakra ceremony, Zhang Tie would become the only grand elder in Huaiyuan Palace. Although Zhang Tie had not officially promoted to a grand elder of Huaiyun Palace, his supreme position had been gradually displayed in all aspects. Therefore, everybody accepted that, including Zhang Taixuan.

After everybody took seats, Zhang Taixuan glanced around solemnly before saying, “On last November 15th, a riot broke out in Xuanyuan Hill. Han Zhengfang the finance minister’s real identity was exposed. Closely after that, he had an earth-shaking fight with Meng Shidao the master of the crown prince, which shocked the rest of the world. Overnight, the catastrophe of bloody figures broke out in over 70 provinces across Taixia Country, causing great casualties. After that, the overall situation facing Taixia Country deteriorated. As a result, the entire country was covered with battle smokes and flames…”

At this moment, the other clan elders threw a glance at Zhang Tie stealthily. Zhang Taixuan also paused for a second while throwing a glance at Zhang Tie. All the people at present were not idiots. Han Zhengfang was the culprit of the tragedy in Fuhai City. When Han Zhengfang’s real identity was exposed by over 100,000 swans in terms of the most exaggerating “big-words poster”, Zhang Tie was in Xuanyuan Hill. What a coincidence, the one being screwed and the culprit of the tragedy in Fuhai City appeared in Xuanyuan Hill at the same time, the catastrophe broke out. As a result, the culprit of the tragedy was exposed by a “force majeure”. Therefore, the elders of Huaiyuan Palace doubted that it was done by Zhang Tie.

However, this event was really weird. The one who could control so many swans in Xuanyuan Hill at once must be a top-class animal control master. There were fewer than 10 such figures in Taixia Country. It was not strange for Zhang Tie to know something about animal controlling skill as many knights in Taixia Country knew something about animal controlling skill. Zhang Tie might learn to control animals from Patron Church. However, he didn’t excel at it. All the elders of Huaiyuan Palace knew that point. However, the elders of Huaiyuan Palace didn’t believe that Zhang Tie could master such a terrifying animal controlling skill. Additionally, Zhang Tie went to Xuanyuan Hill to attend the Treasures Meeting and investigate the case of bloody figures in Zhongzhou Province. What was more, Zhang Tie didn’t have any contact with Han Zhengfang before; how could he know the real identity of Han Zhengfang? After staying in Xuanyuan Hill for so many years, Han Zhengfang had rooted in Taixia Country deeply. It was definitely impossible for an outsider to expose his real identity. Therefore, they felt that Zhang Tie shouldn’t be related to the riot in Xuanyuan Hill on last November 15th.

On one aspect, it was such a weird coincidence; on the other hand, it was the ability which couldn’t be explained. The coincidence was a motive; however, the ability didn’t come out of anywhere. Nevertheless, Zhang Tie kept silent about what happened in Xuanyuan Hill; therefore, Zhang Taixuan and the other elders threw a curious glance at Zhang Tie.

Zhang Tie was clear about these points. However, he would not accept it if he was treated as the target by the Heavens Reaching Church and the Gobbling Party. After all, if he didn’t admit that, nobody in the world knew that he was related to the riot in Xuanyuan Hill on last November 15th. ‘During the period of Treasures Meeting, there were thousands of knights in Xuanyuan Hill. Who would believe that I could know the real identity of Han Zhengfang only after coming to Xuanyuan Hill for a few days while I had no contact with Han Zhengfang before? This is too fantastic! If I have long known about the real identity of Han Zhengfang, Han Zhengfang had already become the target for all when I released that post in the forum of Mountain of Brightness. I became the scapegoat for so long, even God couldn’t bear it; therefore, the Mighty God made me innocent.’

Zhang Tie glanced around while blinking his eyes innocently.

When the others found that Zhang Tie just kept silent, they moved their eyes away from him. Nobody in Huaiyuan Palace would mention it later on.

“Ahem…ahem…” Zhang Taixuan cleared his throat as he continued, “As Emperor Xuanyuan is missing, Taixia Country has long been unstable internally. At this moment, Heavens Reaching Church is bewildering people in Taixia Country. The catastrophe of bloody figures has spread over Taixia Country. Even Youzhou Province was afflicted by bloody figures. The holy war has just broken out for a few years, the contingent of demons have not reached Taixia Country yet. However, Taixia Country has been suffering from troubles and contradictions both inside and outside. For the long-term benefit of Huaiyuan Palace, Taixuan has to invite all the clan elders to negotiate about the big plan of our clan. We need to make preparations as early as possible!”

“Our Huaiyuan Palace has just returned to Taixia Country from Waii Subcontinent. Our foundation couldn’t match that of the other major clans in Taixia Country. However, Taixia Country is the final asylum of Huaiyuan Palace. We couldn’t go anywhere else. All the elders at present must be clear about that. Therefore, Huaiyuan Palace has to make preparations for emergencies.”

After Zhang Taixuan finished his words, Elder Muen opened his mouth. As Elder Muen also came from the branch of Yiyang City, he agreed with Zhang Taixuan’s opinion. Zhang Tie and Elder Muyuan then exchanged a glance with each other. All the other clan elders at present then exchanged a glance with each other as they realized that Zhang Taixuan might expose something amazing…

…