Chapter 1066: Assistance from Songyang Prefecture

Li Fubo’s two nephews were put forward, as were the top disciples of several other master craftsmen. Like cultivation, the art of crafting also emphasizes opportune moments. He Lingchuan presented a great opportunity here, one that could potentially elevate the students' abilities to a new level.

He Lingchuan knew this was entirely due to Li Qingge's tireless persuasion and strong endorsement. Otherwise, no matter how adventurous these young people were, sending them thousands of miles to the remote Yangshan Archipelago would feel more like a banishment.

However, upon closer inspection of the ten Songyang Prefecture disciples, he noticed their expressions, though showing fatigue from the long journey, were primarily marked by curiosity and eagerness, rather than any sign of dejection or impatience.

According to Li Qingge, she had personally met with these disciples and exaggerated He Lingchuan's past achievements, praising Elder He as a brilliant and world-saving talent. She had told them that if Songyang Prefecture disciples were to follow him now, their future accomplishments would be boundless.

Reading her letter, filled with such extravagant praise, even the thick-skinned He Lingchuan felt a slight discomfort and cleared his throat before asking the Songyang Prefecture disciples:

"Was your journey smooth?"

"The winds and waves were quite strong, and we occasionally felt unwell." Three of the ten suffered from seasickness, taking several days to recover after much vomiting. "Otherwise, the journey was smooth."

After two and a half months at sea, the initial enchantment with the boundless ocean view faded, leaving behind only boredom, monotony, and idle thoughts. However, upon arriving at Blade Port, the Songyang Prefecture team heard legends of Elder He everywhere: how he subdued pirates, developed desolate islands, tamed shadowy vipers, and even sold Imperial Ambrosia...

They had no idea what shadowy vipers were, let alone the difficulty of taming them, but the phrase "selling Imperial Ambrosia" truly left them awestruck!

Li Mingrong, disbelieving, retorted a few words. The tavern patron, clearly annoyed, recounted how his own grandfather had purchased a Jisheng Pill from Suoding Island. Though the old man suffered from dementia and wouldn't recognize anyone during episodes, taking the pill immediately restored his senses, sharpened his mind, and allowed him to recognize people without hesitation.

The Songyang Prefecture team had arrived on the island, fueled by the myriad legends of Island Master He, their curiosity long since eclipsing the fatigue and irritation of their extensive journey.

"You've all worked hard," He Lingchuan said, always adept at pleasantries. Furthermore, the arrival of the Songyang Prefecture contingent would fill a significant gap in the Yangshan Archipelago's capabilities, providing exactly the talent he urgently needed. "You can rest at Yingxiang Pavilion. Dinner has already been prepared outside. Please, take your seats!"

The dinner comprised eighteen dishes, a lavish spread of delicacies from land and sea, featuring everything that flies, runs, or swims—a truly substantial feast.

Cultivators are typically hearty eaters. He Lingchuan told them not to hold back, and they indeed wasted no time, feasting with gusto. With the aid of fine wine, relations between the two sides quickly grew warmer.

In fact, as a guest elder, He Lingchuan was considered half a native of Songyang Prefecture. The Li brothers, being from the State of Yuan, shared a common ancestry and origin with him, fostering a natural sense of kinship. With He Lingchuan deliberately guiding the conversation, they found themselves increasingly congenial.

After several rounds of drinks, He Lingchuan finally revealed his true intention, laying out his request: he wanted the Songyang Prefecture disciples to serve as supervisors, specifically to oversee the urgent production of armaments for the Yangshan Archipelago Guard!

Although the archipelago had recruited blacksmiths, crafting weapons differed entirely from making farm tools or daily necessities, especially concerning material ratios and temperature control. These local blacksmiths had attempted weapon casting, but the yield rate and quality were far from satisfactory. Previously, the guard's armor and weapons largely relied on smuggled goods from Platinum Island, which were inconsistent in supply, of uncontrolled quality, and prohibitively expensive—how could such a valuable commodity ever be cheap on the black market?

He Lingchuan had tasked Ding Zuodong with calculating the costs, and it turned out that purchasing military supplies from Platinum Island was over seventy percent more expensive than acquiring raw materials and casting them locally. Consequently, every time he had to buy these items, it pained him so much he would tremble.

Yet, not buying them wasn't an option. The guard's numbers were steadily growing, and equipment suffered wear and tear during training. As the Yangshan Archipelago became known to more interested parties, enhancing its armed forces became an urgent necessity. The arrival of the Songyang Prefecture contingent at this moment was nothing short of a godsend. Li Qingge, as always, proved incredibly reliable.

The Li brothers nodded as they listened to He Lingchuan's request, understanding that crafting conventional weapons would be straightforward, provided there were sufficient materials and manpower. These ten individuals were merely a start; He Lingchuan's future armament needs would be far too extensive to be met by just ten people.

Even though He Lingchuan had never brought it up, Li Qingge had already considered this point. She suggested that He Lingchuan use the Li brothers and the others as mentors to teach their skills to the island's artisans. In just a few months, a cadre of urgently needed talent could be identified and trained—after all, He Lingchuan's guard temporarily required only standard military equipment. Ultimately, casting is a process that relies on proficiency; ordinary artisans could master it with a few months of intensive training. As for which artisans could advance from conventional to specialized, or from ordinary to exceptional, that would be a goal to pursue gradually in the future. This arrangement served as both a means for Songyang Prefecture to establish a branch on the Yangshan Archipelago and a way for them to assist He Lingchuan in building his own skilled workforce.

The Li brothers also inspected the minerals He Lingchuan provided, confirming their good quality. Hearing that these were produced on the Yangshan Archipelago, everyone was somewhat surprised, exclaiming that it was truly a blessed land with incredibly abundant resources! As for other metals and materials required for weapon casting, He Lingchuan now possessed multiple acquisition channels, no longer feeling helpless as he once did.

The dinner continued until both hosts and guests were thoroughly satisfied and it was nearing its conclusion before He Lingchuan finally inquired about the current situation in the State of Yuan. The cheerful chatter and laughter at the dinner table immediately subsided by more than half. Four of these Songyang Prefecture disciples were originally from the State of Yuan.

Li Mingyang whispered, "In truth, we journeyed across the vast ocean to seek refuge with you because our homeland is shattered and our country is in ruins. These days truly feel endless."

It was only then, as they spoke, that He Lingchuan learned the State of Yuan's northern front had collapsed over two months ago! General Ke Jihai was killed on the battlefield! Zhao Pan's forces were also dispersed, compelled to retreat south.

He Lingchuan had traveled countless miles to leave the State of Yuan behind, precisely to sever all ties and start fresh in a foreign land. Yet, despite this, the news still deeply moved him. He had once defended Shuhuan City alongside Ke Jihai against the ghost apes. On that occasion, in front of countless dignitaries of the State of Yuan, General Ke had effusively praised "Young Master He," even unbuckling his own sabre to gift it to He Lingchuan, declaring that such a fine blade suited a hero. General Ke's return to Shuhuan on that trip was to secure provisions and pay for the frontline army, who were starving and ill-equipped for the winter. Even as the nation crumbled and its destiny wavered, he had stood steadfastly on the front lines, resisting the Grand Marshal and firmly guarding the State of Yuan's northern gateway.