Chapter 37

Wu Tie peeked from the side.

Wu Tie was peeking from the side.

Better: Wu Tie was peeking from the side.

The skills taught by Old Iron were very useful; Wu Tie's techniques for concealment and stealth in the wild had become highly proficient. With the aid of those metal spiders, ordinary people could not possibly detect Wu Tie's movements.

Translate: The skills taught by Old Tie were very useful; Wu Tie's techniques for hiding and sneaking in the wild had become highly proficient. With the aid of those metal spiders, ordinary people could not possibly detect Wu Tie's whereabouts.

Make concise but keep all info.

The Changsheng Sect's three wooden boats located the site where Red Granny, Stone Spirit Qing, and others had perished.

=> The Changsheng Sect's three wooden boats found the place where Red Granny, Stone Spirit Qing, and others had fallen.

The bull hero's body was utterly destroyed, and the stone cavern containing his remains collapsed completely, creating a massive pit in the basin more than a hundred li across and several kilometers deep.

=> Niu Yingxiong's body was completely shattered, the stone cavern where his remains lay also totally collapsed, leaving a huge pit in the basin over a hundred Chinese miles in diameter and several thousand meters deep.

Countless boulders were piled up in layers.

=> Countless boulders were piled up in layers.

Red Granny's trio sensed that Red Granny's wooden boat lay beneath a thick layer of rock. They labored for several days, urging the young men and women to dig a pit tens of meters deep, but ultimately they had no choice but to abandon further searching.

=> Chi Laolao and her two companions had already sensed that Red Granny's wooden boat lay beneath the thick rock layer; they labored for several days, urging the young men and women to dig a pit tens of meters deep, but ultimately had no choice but to give up further searching.

That boat was buried so deep that it could not be unearthed by human effort.

=> That boat was buried so deep that no human strength could excavate it.

Having given up on searching for the bodies of Red Granny and the others, the three Red Grannies developed a great interest in this strange realm itself.

=> Having abandoned the search for the corpses of Red Granny and the others, Chi Laolao and her two companions developed great interest in this strange realm itself.

Ignoring the surrounding Gobi desert, the basin at the heart of the strange realm, roughly a thousand li in diameter, is extraordinarily fertile. It has thick soil, abundant water sources, a lava river providing ample heat, and native vegetation and wildlife.

=> Setting aside the surrounding Gobi desert, the basin at the heart of the strange realm, roughly a thousand li in diameter, is extraordinarily fertile: thick soil, abundant water, a lava river supplying ample heat, plus native vegetation and wildlife.

This is a truly blessed land from top to bottom.

=> This is a pure treasure land.

How large is the Wu family's occupied Witch Valley? Just a stone cavern less than ten li in diameter. Even if we add the passageways and mines opened around it, plus the Bear family's territory conquered by the Wu family, how much total area do they actually control?

=> How big is the Wu Valley occupied by the Wu clan? Just a stone cavern less than ten li across. Even if we add the tunnels and mines opened up around it, plus the Bear Clan territory conquered by the Wu clan, how much total area does the Wu clan actually control?

This basin, a thousand li across, could easily accommodate thousands of Wu families.

=> This basin, a thousand li across, could easily hold a thousand Wu clans.

Only tangible benefits can move people's hearts; as for the dead, the deceased hold no value.

=> Only tangible benefits can move people's hearts; as for the dead, the dead have no value.

The Changsheng Sect is definitely not a benevolent force; even Chi Granny, who seemed close to Red Granny, quickly abandoned the quest for the 'truth,' casting it aside into the heavens.

=> The Changsheng Sect is certainly no benevolent force; even Chi Laolao, who appeared on good terms with Red Granny, soon cast aside the pursuit of the "truth" to the clouds beyond.

The three wooden boats repeatedly charged upstream against the waterfall's torrent back into the Yin River, each time bringing personnel back.

=> The three wooden boats repeatedly charged upstream against the waterfall's torrent back into the Yin River, each time bringing personnel back.

Wu Tie saw the shuttle‑shaped conveyance that Stone Spirit Qing and Luo Lin had boarded when they mistakenly entered this strange realm—a fully enclosed vessel capable of long‑duration voyages in the Yin River.

=> Wu Tie saw the shuttle‑shaped conveyance that Stone Spirit Qing and Luo Lin had boarded when they mistakenly entered this strange realm—a fully enclosed vessel capable of long voyages in the Yin River.

Chi Granny and her companions piloted the wooden boats, each time attaching a long line of shuttle‑shaped submersibles behind them, loaded with varying numbers of gray dwarves, stone gnomes, and other personnel, continually returning to the strange realm.

=> Chi Laolao and her two companions piloted the wooden boats, each time hanging a long line of shuttle‑shaped submersibles behind them, carrying varying numbers of gray dwarves, stone dwarves, and other hands, continually returning to the strange realm.

In just over a month, Chi Granny's trio made four or five trips back and forth like ants moving house, hauling over three thousand gray dwarves and stone gnomes, plus several hundred elite servant warriors.

=> In just over a month, Chi Laolao and her two companions, like ants moving house, made four or five trips back and forth, hauling over three thousand gray dwarves and stone dwarves, plus hundreds of sturdy servant‑warriors.

Near the riverbank where Stone Spirit Qing and the others landed, a modest settlement quickly took shape.

=> Near the riverbank where Stone Spirit Qing and the others had landed that day, a modest settlement quickly took shape.

The gnome slaves labored diligently, erecting a stone wall about two li long and wide to keep out wild beasts, and building huts for shelter. They even opened three farm plots outside the settlement, planting large quantities of earth rice mushrooms and giant meat mushrooms.

=> The dwarf slaves labored hard, erecting a stone wall about two li long and wide to keep out wild beasts, and building huts for shelter. They even opened three fields outside the settlement, planting large quantities of earth‑rice mushrooms and giant meat mushrooms.

Wu Tie had been observing the Changsheng Sect's movements, and he felt a growing sense of unease.

=> Wu Tie had been observing the Changsheng Sect's movements, and he felt a growing unease.

This is the unease felt when a mighty beast's territory is invaded by another herd, a feeling that springs from deep within the bloodline.

=> It was the unease felt when a mighty beast's territory is invaded by another herd, rising deep from the blood.

However, Wu Tie had no good countermeasure; he could only watch helplessly as the Changsheng Sect's settlement gradually expanded, with more and more personnel being brought in.

=> But Wu Tie had no good counter‑measure; he could only watch helplessly as the Changsheng Sect's settlement expanded and the number of brought‑in hands grew.

After two months, the Changsheng Sect's settlement began dispatching exploration teams to conduct a detailed survey of the entire basin.

=> After two months, the Changsheng Sect's settlement began dispatching scout teams to conduct a detailed survey of the entire basin.

Wu Tie dared not rashly make contact with or attack the Changsheng Sect's exploration teams; he could only keep his distance.

=> Wu Tie dared not rashly contact or attack the Changsheng Sect's scout teams; he could only keep his distance.

Because the Changsheng Sect's base is not far from the Ancient God Army camp, which lies within the survey range of their exploration teams, Wu Tie's area of activity quickly shrank, making hunting much more difficult.

=> Because the Changsheng Sect's base was not far from the Ancient God Soldiers Camp, which lay within the scouts' survey range, Wu Tie's range of activity quickly shrank, making hunting much harder.

Wu Tie dared not leave obvious hunting traces, so he could not hunt the bulky hippopotami or giant water snakes; he could only target the gray rock lizards, as well as snakes and rodents.

=> Wu Tie dared not leave obvious hunting traces, so he could not hunt the bulky hippo‑like beasts and giant water pythons, limiting himself to gray rock lizards, snakes, and rodents.

Such hunting efficiency is very low; fortunately, Wu Tie has been suppressing his foundation‑building cultivation, so his need for foundation‑building medicines has decreased considerably. Otherwise, his supply of those medicines would become problematic.

=> Such hunting efficiency was low; fortunately Wu Tie had been suppressing his Foundation Establishment cultivation, so his need for foundation‑building medicines had dropped considerably. Otherwise, his supply of those medicines would become problematic.

After a little over two months, something happened that shocked Wu Tie.

=> After more than two months, something happened that shocked Wu Tie.

That day, Wu Tie lay prone on a small hill a few hundred meters from the Changsheng Sect's base, gazing at the activity inside from afar.

=> That day, Wu Tie lay prone on a small hill a few hundred meters from the Changsheng Sect's base, gazing far off at the movements inside.

In the distance, the waterfall suddenly roared, a column of water tens of meters in diameter shooting out, sending sheets of spray everywhere. Red Granny's three wooden boats glided out of the falls, and behind them three black iron cables were pulled taut.

=> In the distance, the waterfall suddenly roared, a column of water tens of meters in diameter shot out, great waves splashed everywhere, and the three wooden boats carrying Chi Laolao and her companions glided out of the fall, with three black iron cables stretched taut behind the boats.

The iron cables emitted a loud humming sound, and a fully enclosed, shuttle‑shaped massive object burst out of the waterfall.

=> The cables emitted a loud humming, and a fully enclosed, shuttle‑shaped giant object shot out from the waterfall.

With a diameter exceeding twenty meters and a length over a hundred meters, this is a specially made giant submersible, and it is clearly lacking the flight capability of the three wooden boats—it is merely an ordinary submersible.

=> Over twenty meters in diameter and over a hundred meters long, this was a specially made giant submersible, and it clearly lacked the flying ability of the three wooden boats—it was just an ordinary submersible.

After the huge submersible burst out of the waterfall, it was slammed downward by the torrent's rush.

=> After the huge submersible burst from the waterfall, it was hurled downward by the torrent's rush.

The sails of the three gliding wooden boats suddenly lit up, the characters 'Changsheng' bursting with blinding light as they strained to pull the iron cables forward in their glide.

=> The sails of the three gliding wooden boats suddenly lit up, the two characters "Changsheng" bursting with blinding light, straining to pull the iron cables forward as they glided.

The submersible plummeted quickly; the three wooden boats could not withstand its tremendous pulling force and fell awkwardly from height. Fortunately, the boats' full‑power flight slowed the submersible's descent considerably.

=> The submersible plummeted quickly; the three wooden boats could not withstand its tremendous pull and fell awkwardly from height. Fortunately, the boats' full‑force flight slowed the submersible's descent considerably.

Even so, the specially made giant submersible struck the turbulent river surface, still emitting a groaning of overstressed metal as its thick black coating split open, allowing river water to rush in.

=> Even so, the specially made giant submersible struck the turbulent river surface, still emitting a groaning of overstrain; its thick black coating split, and river water rolled in.

The three wooden boats slammed heavily onto the river surface.

=> The three wooden boats slammed heavily onto the river surface.

Chi Granny trio's shouts echoed from afar; the three wooden boats surged forward, hauling the slowly sinking submersible through the waves.

=> Chi Laolao and her two companions' shouts rang out from afar; the three wooden boats sped forward, hauling the slowly sinking submersible as they cut through the waves.

On the shore, many gray dwarves and stone gnomes paddled large fern‑bound rafts at full speed to meet them.

=> On the bank, many gray dwarves and stone dwarves paddled large rafts made of bound ferns, rushing forward at full speed.

After a chaotic scramble, before the submersible could sink, Chi Granny and her companions hauled it onto a shallow beach, where hundreds of gray dwarves and stone gnomes disembarked.

=> After a frantic scramble, before the submersible sank, Chi Laolao and her companions hauled it onto a shoal, where hundreds of gray dwarves and stone dwarves climbed out.

Wu Tie lay in wait far away, frowning as he watched the scene.

=> Wu Tie lay hidden in the distance, frowning as he gazed over.

Such a huge submersible clearly required a great investment from Chi Granny and her companions.

=> Such a huge submersible—Chi Laolao and her companions had obviously invested heavily.

Stone gnomes kept going in and out of the submersible, hauling out many strange and curious objects—oddly shaped metal components.

=> Stone dwarves kept going in and out, hauling out large quantities of strange curiosities from the submersible—oddly shaped metal components.

Over the next few days, Wu Tie saw Chi Granny's trio piloting their airships, continually flying up to the vaulted ceiling, carving complex grooves into it, and fixing large quantities of metal components within those grooves.

=> Over the next few days, Wu Tie saw Chi Laolao and her companions piloting their flying vessels, repeatedly soaring to the dome, carving complex grooves into it, and fixing large numbers of those metal components into the grooves.

Half a month later, something very familiar to Wu Tie was fully formed on the vaulted ceiling.

=> Half a month later, something very familiar to Wu Tie was fully formed on the dome.

It was a nearly hundred‑meter‑diameter 'phantom sun'!

=> It was a False Sun nearly a hundred meters in diameter!

Chi Granny and her companions actually assembled a phantom sun here!

=> Chi Laolao and her companions had actually assembled a False Sun here!

After a few more days, Chi Granny's group surrounded the phantom sun, doing who knows what; its edge began to glow faintly, then grew brighter until the entire disc shone, shedding warm, life‑filled light that illuminated the basin for a hundred li around.

=> After a few more days, Chi Laolao and her companions fiddled with that False Sun in unknown ways; its edge began to glow, then grew brighter. Gradually the whole False Sun lit up, its warm, life‑filled light illuminating the basin within a hundred‑Chinese miles radius.

This phantom sun's power far exceeds that of the phantom sun above the Wu family's stone fortress; not only does its coverage reach an astonishing hundred‑li radius, but its brightness and heat are incomparable to what the Wu family's phantom sun can provide.

=> This False Sun's power far surpassed that of the False Sun above the Wu clan's Stone Fortress: not only did its coverage reach an astonishing hundred‑li radius, but its brightness and heat were incomparable to the Wu clan's version.

Directly beneath the phantom sun lies the Changsheng Sect's base, where stone gnomes have opened new farms; Chi Granny and her companions brought strange crop seedlings, planting them neatly in those fields.

=> Directly beneath the False Sun lay the Changsheng Sect's base; the stone dwarves had opened new farms, and Chi Laolao and her companions had brought strange crop seedlings, which they planted neatly in those fields.

These days, Wu Tie stares in awe each day at Chi Granny's group's actions.

=> These days, Wu Tie stared open‑mouthed each day at Chi Laolao and her companions' actions.

He personally witnessed the birth of a phantom sun.

=> He personally witnessed the birth of a False Sun.

The phantom suns that bring life and light to the cavern world are actually constructed in this manner by human hands.

=> The False Suns that bring life and light to the cavern world were actually constructed in this manner by human hands.

Although he cannot comprehend how the phantom sun is made or how it works, Wu Tie still feels it is utterly amazing, truly amazing.

=> Although he could not comprehend the manufacturing process or the working principle of the False Sun, Wu Tie still felt it was utterly amazing, truly amazing.

A unprecedented throbbing filled his body; Wu Tie lay on the ground, staring blankly at the phantom sun radiating immense light and heat, his hairs standing on end from excitement.

=> A unprecedented throbbing filled his body; Wu Tie lay on the ground, dumbly staring at the False Sun radiating powerful light and heat, his hairs standing on end from excitement.

He suddenly vaguely understood what Master Hui meant by constantly emphasizing 'wisdom'.

=> He suddenly dimly grasped what Grey Master had constantly emphasized as "wisdom."

'Wisdom is the greatest power,' Wu Tie wholeheartedly agreed with that saying.

=> "Wisdom is the greatest power," Wu Tie wholeheartedly agreed.

Even though he daily interacts with the Ancient God Army camp and the strange creations of Old Iron and Big Iron, Wu Tie's shallow understanding cannot grasp the greatness of the Ancient God Army camp and of Old Iron and Big Iron.

=> Even though he daily dealt with the Ancient God Soldiers Camp and the strange creations Old Tie and Big Tie, Wu Tie's shallow understanding could not fathom the greatness of the Ancient God Soldiers Camp and Old Tie, Big Tie, and their ilk.

False Sun, Wu Tie's False Sun that has accompanied him since childhood, provides light and heat for all the people of the Wu family's Shibao, the False Sun that provides the source of life. This is the extraordinary power he is most familiar with, the one he understands best.

Wu Tie looked at that False Sun with a pleased smile, truly amazing!

Wisdom, truly amazing, the strongest power.

Chi Laolao and three people stood at the bow of the wooden boat, hovering hundreds of meters above the ground, laughing freely.

This realm is extremely precious; such a vast territory is an immeasurable wealth, its value beyond description even by saying it's worth a city.

Having this False Sun, they can truly take root in this realm.

Wu Tie is still young; there are many things he hasn't encountered, so he cannot understand.

Only Chi Laolao and they can understand; only where the False Sun shines is truly a home.

"From today on, this territory belongs to the Changsheng Sect Cangyan Realm Subhall." Chi Laolao stood at the bow, looking down with satisfaction at the outpost: "This territory can support a million people... this feat of expanding the frontier..."

The old man with two blood-red skull patterns embroidered on his sleeves, after these days of observation, Wu Tie learned he was called "Bone Grandpa".

Hearing Chi Laolao's words, Bone Grandpa chuckled and nodded: "That's right, with this territory, the death of Red Little Sister is nothing... compared to this merit, losing three or five Red Little Sisters is nothing."

Chi Laolao's face suddenly darkened.

Another old man, whom Wu Tie heard being called "Orchid Grandpa", deliberately raised his breath and laughed loudly: "Old Bone, you can't say that... after all, we're sisters, hahaha... hahaha... but we should still thank her for finding this treasure land for us, yet she herself takes no credit at all..."

Chi Laolao let out an angry long whistle, she angrily stomped her foot: "Enough! You two have enjoyed others' benefits, yet you still scheme against Red Little Sister like this?"

Bone Grandpa and Orchid Grandpa gave a "hehe" laugh twice, hands behind their backs, heads held high, glancing sideways at the vast territory below.

They completely ignored Chi Laolao's anger.

The Cangyan Realm is merely a remote wilderness; the Changsheng Sect's outpost there has its four of them as the highest leaders.

The four of them formed alliances in pairs, mutually struggling for power and profit—this is originally how the Changsheng Sect controls its outposts.

Red Granny is dead, and in the eyes of Bone Grandpa and Orchid Grandpa, the allied Chi Laolao has no deterrent left.

Even...

Bone Grandpa's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he gave Orchid Grandpa a look.

If Chi Laolao could fall here, could this realm's treasure be controlled by them personally?

Orchid Grandpa's gaze flickered; with hands behind his back, he ponderingly surveyed the surroundings.

Chi Laolao instinctively sensed something amiss; her seatboat suddenly drifted hundreds of meters to one side, far from Bone Grandpa's and Orchid Grandpa's seatboats.

"Hmph, I'll report Red Little Sister's death to the superiors." Chi Laolao said in a low voice: "I'd rather be labeled 'incompetent' by them than..."

Bone Grandpa's and Orchid Grandpa's faces slightly changed; seeing Chi Laolao's seatboat swiftly flying toward the waterfall, they hurriedly said: "Chi Laolao, anything can be said, anything can be negotiated."

"Chi Laolao, please pause, don't get agitated, don't get agitated!"

"We're all like close siblings; you must absolutely not misunderstand anything."

Bone Grandpa and Orchid Grandpa drove their seatboats to chase after Chi Laolao's, urging loudly as they went.

Their eyes flickered, their expressions changing rapidly; obviously they were still hesitating—whether to strike now or to deliberate further.

Wu Tie stared wide-eyed at what was happening high above, following close behind Old Tie; especially after experiencing those earlier events, Wu Tie had grown considerably. He also saw that Orchid Grandpa and Bone Grandpa harbored ill intentions toward Chi Laolao.

He still couldn't figure out the deeper problem, but it was quite obvious that the two grandpas' intentions were not good.

"Hit, beat the dog's brains out." A metal spider the size of a fist drifted onto Wu Tie's shoulder, Old Tie's voice full of malice rang out.

Wu Tie kept nodding; outside the Changsheng Sect's outpost, on the river, black-clad figures shot up from the water, stepping on the surface, sending ripples, carrying a chilling cold, like ghosts harvesting souls, they swiftly charged toward the outpost.

At a glance, these black figures numbered nearly a thousand, all dressed in black soft armor, bearing straight blades, their attire identical to that of Luo Lin and company.

Still about a hundred meters from the outpost, the black figures simultaneously waved their hands, hundreds of egg-sized metal pellets screaming out, heavily striking the outpost.

Flames engulfed the entire outpost; amid the explosions, large numbers of gray dwarves and stone dwarves were blown into the air, limbs scattered everywhere.

Inside the outpost, many Changsheng Sect servant soldiers were dazed by the blasts, each grabbing weapons and running about in chaos.

The black figures drew their long blades and silently charged into the outpost.

Blade light flashed; these black figures attacked with extraordinary ruthlessness, completely risking their lives, heedless of their own safety, every move a desperate fight.

The combat power of gray dwarves and stone dwarves is nearly zero; a single charge saw hundreds of them cut down.

The Changsheng Sect's servant soldiers also fell into disarray, unable to resist the desperate assassins' fierce assault, suffering heavy casualties in just a few breaths.

From the distant river came a loud, hearty laugh: "You even built the False Sun? This great gift, I, Mist Blade, accept."