The next day, morning.
A Yunying-class VTOL transport aircraft entered Rongcheng's "Sky Curtain." As it passed through the energy shield, Lin Zhao and Chen Xue both frowned. Rongcheng, as the true "linchpin" of the Huaxia region's heartland, seemed to have a higher level of city defense than Su City. Soon after, the aircraft flew deeper into Rongcheng, and in front of a cluster of buildings, it entered a second energy shield after inputting a verification code.
Shortly thereafter, Huo Dao personally piloted the aircraft, which slowly landed on the designated tarmac.
Not far away, a group of people approached. Nangong Muyun, dressed in a suit, walked at the forefront, looking exceptionally handsome. Lin Zhao had brought few people with him this time, only Chen Xue, Huo Dao, and several dozen others. Shen Xingchen, as the strategist, was considered a legendary "untouchable" and did not come. Moreover, the flight from Su City to Rongcheng passed through many no-man's-lands, which were fraught with danger. It was highly likely that the Shen family's guards would not allow Shen Xingchen to leave Su City easily.
"Boss Lin Zhao!"
Nangong Muyun raised his hand in greeting.
Lin Zhao also walked over, smiling, "Muyun, long time no see."
"Yes, long time no see."
Nangong Muyun took a step back, clasped his fists, and smiled, "Congratulations on reaching the Tenth Realm!"
Lin Zhao was taken aback, then also smiled and clasped his fists, "Thank you!"
"Let's go."
Nangong Muyun was very enthusiastic and invited everyone onto a flight machine from Rongcheng Aerospace Industry. They first toured this advanced industrial fortress and then began to view the products, including various transport aircraft, fighter jets, and even the rudimentary forms of starships. Naturally, Lin Zhao had no intention of considering starships; that was something only at the national level would pay attention to, so it was unnecessary for him.
A beautiful讲解员 explained the various aircraft models. Lin Zhao still wanted to purchase civilian transport aircraft. Buying a Yunying-class transport aircraft did not require much paperwork. However, this time, Lin Zhao wanted to purchase escort fighter jets with truly formidable combat power.
"Cruiser fighter jets?"
Nangong Muyun frowned and said to the讲解员, "Pull up the data for the Chi You-class cruiser fighter jet and let my boss take a look."
"Alright."
Soon, a giant fighter jet image appeared before them, with various combat data presented one after another. Nangong Muyun, as the young master of Rongcheng Aerospace Industry, was by no means just a rich second-generation who only knew how to indulge in pleasure. On the contrary, he knew these fighter jets like the back of his hand. He smiled and said, "This is the most advanced cruiser fighter jet currently available. It was recently named the Chi You-class and is divided into light, medium, and heavy types. If your Scarlet Moon Transport is only for escorting cargo, the light type is sufficient. The heavy and medium types are actually strategic assets. Unless there is a war between the two regions, they will not be deployed, and they are too expensive. I'm also worried that Scarlet Moon Transport won't be able to afford them."
Huo Dao nodded. He personally operated and flipped through the data of the light Chi You-class cruiser fighter jet. The more he looked, the more excited he became. Finally, he secretly came to Lin Zhao's side and whispered, "Damn it... this is truly a treasure. I've fought for a lifetime and never seen such advanced equipment. I can say that a single Chi You-class cruiser fighter jet, even the light type, with sufficient ammunition and supplies, can easily defeat an entire legion-sized mercenary group. If we get one, escorting will definitely not be a problem in the future."
Lin Zhao looked into the distance. A Chi You-class cruiser fighter jet was parked on the flight deck platform in the distance. It was silver-gray all over and was indeed a massive machine, equivalent in size to 2-3 Yunying-class transport aircraft. Its weaponry, shields, and defense were incomparable to the Yunying-class transport aircraft.
"How much is it?" he asked cautiously.
The讲解员 smiled and said, "The internal pricing for a light Chi You-class cruiser fighter jet is currently 1.5 billion universal coins. For the military, it's double, about 4.5 billion. Moreover, this model is currently too advanced, and the military has only just procured fewer than 20 units."
"Triple the price?"
Chen Xue's small mouth parted. It was too expensive. How many years would she have to dance in the bar to earn this back?
"Lin Zhao."
Nangong Muyun smiled slightly, "The internal price is 1.5 billion, but it's no problem. I'll give you a brotherly price, 1 billion universal coins, and it will come with sufficient ammunition, as well as three years of free maintenance and repairs, and so on."
"Deal."
Lin Zhao finally dared to speak, "Then let's set one. Also, I have 460 million. Can you order three more Yunying-class transport aircraft with that?"
"This way..."
Nangong Muyun frowned and said, "Then we'll have to recalculate. If you, Lin Zhao, can come up with 1.4 billion, I can sign an order for one Chi You-class light cruiser fighter jet and four Yunying-class transport aircraft. This way, it's easier to calculate, and the order will look better. I can prioritize it, and it should be delivered within half a month."
"Okay."
Lin Zhao nodded, immediately paid, and the order was completed.
...
At noon, Nangong Muyun hosted a banquet for his distinguished guests at the hotel of Rongcheng Aerospace Industry. Lin Zhao, Chen Xue, Huo Dao, and others could not refuse the warm invitation and had to stay for dinner. Moreover, Nangong Muyun must have borne considerable pressure for this order. In fact, after this order was delivered, Rongcheng Aerospace Industry would not make much profit. As Nangong Muyun had said, this was the legendary, unprofitable brotherly price, even more exorbitant than the internal price.
After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Zhao and his group bid farewell and returned to Su City.
Around 3 p.m. that afternoon, they arrived at Su City.
Logging in.
After a ray of white light flashed before his eyes, Lin Zhao's character appeared in front of Natural Abode. As soon as he appeared, Liu Liying walked over with a smile and said, "Young Master, Shang Hujun from Dongting Lake has brought a few disciples up the mountain, saying they want to visit Natural Abode."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao exclaimed in surprise, "Good, Shang Hujun is a distinguished guest. I'll go and welcome them!"
"Mm."
At the mountain gate, Shang Xuli, clad in dazzling golden armor, was followed by a cloak that seemed to carry the entire water transport of Dongting Lake. Behind him were four young disciples dressed in green robes. Shang Xuli was a mountain and water deity, and his disciples were all spirits from Dongting Lake. In fact, as long as they had good character and were taught well, they could become pillars of the human race as they grew up.
At this moment, the slovenly man guarding the gate was chatting animatedly, holding Shang Xuli's hand and saying with a smile, "Shang Hujun is a distinguished guest, and this must be personally welcomed by our Mountain Lord at the mountain gate. The etiquette must not be neglected. Please do not ascend the mountain alone to the Peak Villa. Otherwise, it would seem that our Peak Villa has been impolite."
Shang Xuli was a bit helpless. The slovenly man's sword intent was incredibly strong; he might not even be able to defeat him.
Fortunately, at this moment, Lin Zhao descended the mountain with Yu Zhi, Chu Yu, Yu Wanling, and others, riding the wind.
"Shang Hujun!"
Lin Zhao landed and clasped his fists with a smile, "What a rare visitor! Please come in, please come in. Shall we go directly up to the Peak Villa, or would you like to tour the scenery of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake and experience the local customs of the town?"
"Experience it, experience it."
This Shang Hujun was stationed in the waters of Yun Prefecture and indeed had few opportunities to come to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. A hundred years ago, during the great battle, he was only at the Eleventh Realm. The world was frozen at the time, and he bore the heavy responsibility of consolidating and preserving the water transport of Yun Prefecture. Therefore, he did not participate in that great battle on Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. Moreover, at that time... coming would have likely meant perishing. Although Shang Xuli was a scholar, he actually had a fiery temper. The moment he saw the demon race crushing the human race's mountains and rivers, he would have certainly fought to the death.
"Mountain Lord."
Behind Shang Xuli, his four disciples clasped their fists and bowed, showing great respect.
Lin Zhao vaguely recognized two of them. They were the green carp he had fished out of Dongting Lake back then. Their cultivation had improved significantly now; they had grown up quickly. He smiled and clasped his fists, "No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite."
The group walked through the town.
Shang Xuli, in his golden armor, appeared very noble. The aunts and grandmothers in the town all looked over, but no one dared to dote on him this time because they all knew that this man in shining gold was actually a deity, a genuine immortal. They dared not overstep their bounds, otherwise, if the deity became angry, their descendants might suffer misfortune.
Shortly thereafter, they arrived at the rebuilt Mingyue Shrine.
Shang Xuli hesitated for a moment and said, "May I pay respects to Mingyue Pool?"
"Of course."
Lin Zhao smiled and said, "This is Second Senior Sister's shrine. Shang Hujun, please pay your respects."
"Good!"
Shang Xuli stepped into Mingyue Pool, lit a few sticks of incense, and paid his respects devoutly. Then, he led his disciples out and followed Lin Zhao up the mountain to Natural Abode.
In the game, it was dusk, and it was time to prepare dinner.
Lin Zhao gave instructions. Shang Hujun was a distinguished guest, so dinner must be sumptuous. There was rice porridge made with spirit rice, fish soup boiled with white fish and翘嘴, braised wild boar with bamboo shoots, braised wild goose, and stir-fried mushrooms, all of which were rustic delicacies. However, each dish was prepared with great care. As for the wine to entertain distinguished guests, there was no need for Dongting wine. All of it was replaced with Peach Blossom Brew from Tongjing Lake, to show sincerity.
Su Shanjun and Han Buyu were invited up the mountain.
"Shang Hujun, long time no see," Su Shanjun said with a smile, his sleeves folded.
Shang Xuli quickly returned the greeting. This Su Shanjun was not simple. In his prime, he was a Thirteenth Realm Mountain Lord. Stationed at Heavenly Lake Mountain, he was a Fourteenth Realm. To put it bluntly, the supreme ruler of all water transport in the world was Lin Xingchu, the River God Empress of Xi Jian Jiang. As for the supreme ruler of mountains, it was not the Four Sacred Mountains of the Great Shang Dynasty, but the Su Shanjun before them. Unfortunately, Su Shanjun had too many tribulations in his life. Each time he reached the Fourteenth Realm, it was fleeting. Otherwise, such a person stamping their foot would make the entire human world tremble.
Han Buyu bowed.
Shang Xuli also quickly returned the greeting. This old Sword Immortal Han, although his initial cultivation was not high, and his background was rather humble, and he was even bullied by the Rain Master Yue Ling for over a hundred years, as one of the top deities in Yun Prefecture, Shang Xuli naturally knew all these martial world secrets. However, later, Lin Zhao helped Han Buyu break through with a poem, allowing him to become an Eleventh Realm Cloud Master. This was a beautiful story.
Although Shang Xuli resided in Dongting Lake, he had heard many stories about Lin Zhao in the martial world, as well as Chen Mengjun from Furong Prefecture and Shi Hanyin from Yun Prefecture. Lin Zhao's popularity with women in the martial world was something even handsome men like Shang Xuli envied.
...
Furong Prefecture.
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the moon was round.
In Dream Heart Pavilion, Chen Mengjun, dressed in a long gown, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, her heart filled with lingering melancholy.