Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ren Baqian was trying to figure out what he wanted to know most. Was it how Li Fu had transformed from a blacksmith to the number one expert in the world or how the other party had searched for the gods?
What would those people, who were anxious to spend every minute practicing martial arts and who wanted to improve further, think?
What would people like him, who diligently practice martial arts, think?
As he already had a fiancée 200 years ago, he should be at least 220 years old now, right?
The lifespan of a Spirit Wheel expert was generally 180 to 200 years. Even if Li Fu had a longer lifespan than others, he should be approaching the end of his life at 220 years old. It was said that there was another realm above the Spirit Wheel level, but it wasn’t known whether Li Fu had reached this level.
Was it possible for him to wait for the rocket to be produced in the next few decades? If not, a hot-air balloon could be made to fool him, but Ren Baqian’s hope to use the number one expert in the world as his hatchet man would be shattered…
At this point, Ren Baqian asked softly, “Senior, please answer truthfully. Can you wait 30 to 50 years for a rocket to be made?”
“Are you worried that my lifespan isn’t long enough?” Li Fu laughed. “I can still wait for another 30 to 50 years. Although this is possible, I don’t wish to wait that long. For these 200 years, I have been waiting every day to kill the deities somewhere in the sky. Hurry up and tell me the method!”
“Use a rocket.” Ren Baqian used a stone to draw a rough diagram on the floor. “Use the thrust generated by the burning fuel to propel the rocket into the sky.”
“I had thought of flapping through the air with my palms to fly up. It’s a different method with a similar result. However, I can’t go more than a few hundred meters by flapping my palms, and your method seems to be more feasible.” Li Fu was quite delighted.
“As mentioned before, the amount of time it will take to make rockets will not be short. The whole industry must improve; the manufacturing technology, the alloy issues, and the fuel problem…”
Ren Baqian told Li Fu the details about rockets and carefully scrutinized Li Fu’s expressions as he talked.
In actual fact, just making a rocket to send someone into the sky wasn’t an easy task even if one didn’t consider the problem of sealing and other such matters. Without alloys, how heavy would a rocket made out of steel be and how much fuel would be needed to propel it into the sky?
It would take a long time just to solve this problem, not to mention other aspects of the task.
Following the explanation from Ren Baqian, Li Fu became more serious.
Although there were many things he didn’t understand, he did understand a certain portion of it because he was a blacksmith. Being the foremost master, he could infer many things through analogy.
Based on what Ren Baqian told him, it was really not as simple as he had thought.
“Therefore, the technological standard of the whole country must reach a certain level before rockets can be made. A timeframe of at least 30 to 50 years is expected and will require the effort of the whole country,” Ren Baqian said.
Li Fu folded his arms, closed his eyes, and became engrossed in thought. According to Ren Baqian, this thing called a rocket was feasible, but it simply took too much time for him to wait.
Ren Baqian looked appraisingly at Li Fu and found it hard to admire him since he looked like a country bumpkin.
Although he was the number one expert in the world, after hearing his stories, Ren Baqian felt that he was no different from a country bumpkin.
Such a man could actually become the number one expert in the world. Ren Baqian wondered how much psychological impact had been cast over this world’s heroes during these 200 years.
“Senior, why don’t you stay in Dayao for a while? I may need your skills as a blacksmith since I’m making a steam engine and there are some difficult problems to fix. If senior can help out with this, things might progress at a faster speed,” Ren Baqian said earnestly.
With regards to the steam engine, it had to wait until after the problems in Tianjing Basin were solved. If this top expert couldn’t wait and rushed to capture the leader of the rebel soldiers, it would be a big bonus.
“I have to consider this,” Li Fu said hesitantly.
“Senior, what’s there to consider? You want to go up into the sky, whereas I want to build the thing that will bring you up. This will represent Dayao’s technological achievement, and our goals are the same. Furthermore, I’m very interested to see what is up there.”
“It’s too much time!” Li Fu shook his head. “It’s better for me to go to the end of the Sixty Thousand Mountains to search for the ladder to ascend into the sky.”
“Senior, this is Dayao and the Sixty Thousand Mountains are part of Dayao too. With one order from Her Majesty, countless people will help search for you. Senior can wait for the good news before proceeding.”
“That young lady will find trouble with me.” Li Fu shook his head.
“If it’s because senior brought me here, Her Majesty will not pursue this matter any further after I go back. Her Majesty just wanted to see how powerful the number one expert in the world is. If senior has nothing to do, you might as well put on a display for her. Then, she will not pester you again. After all, senior also needs Her Majesty’s help in order to search the Sixty Thousand Mountains for the ladder to ascend into the sky. I don’t think it’s too much to perform for her.” Since Ren Baqian felt that he could sweet-talk this bumpkin into going back, his tone became kinder and his attitude grew more solicitous.
Li Fu thought for a long time before saying, “I will bring you back.”
After speaking, he carried Ren Baqian with one hand and a gusty wind blew across his face again.
A moment later, Ren Baqian squinted his eyes due to the gusty wind. He could see firelight in the far distance, and the wind also carried along some noise.
The empress was the first to spot the two of them and shouted as she came rushing over, “Li Fu!”
“Young lady, I’m not here to fight with you.” Carrying Ren Baqian, Li Fu turned in midair to evade the empress, conveniently put Ren Baqian on the ground, and retreated far away.
When the empress observed that Ren Baqian wasn’t hurt, her face softened a little.
However, her expression quickly became frigid again as Li Fu had easily evaded her attacks twice. This was hard for her to accept.
“Your Majesty, please refrain from attacking!” Ren Baqian called out hastily when he saw that the empress was preparing to strike again.
“Your Majesty, both of you are acclaimed masters, so there are bound to be injuries if fighting ensues. Putting down the rebellion is the most important issue now! Please think twice! Furthermore, this senior has already agreed to display his eye-opening skills. Your Majesty, why don’t you take a look from the side?”
The empress frowned because Ren Baqian was already speaking up for Li Fu after disappearing for a short time.
However, she saw Ren Baqian winking at her and kept quiet after snorting because she guessed that there must be a reason behind this.
“Senior, we have known of your fame for a long time, and it’s a pity we haven’t seen you displaying your skills! Why don’t you display three moves and broaden our horizons?” Ren Baqian turned around and winked at Li Fu.
“Whatever. Although I’m not good at fighting, I still know a little bit.” The two sides exchanged positions, with Li Fu becoming the requesting party, so he didn’t object.
“This place is small and narrow. Plus, there are many people. How about going to the mountainside? There’s a big empty place where senior can give an unfettered display!” Ren Baiqian spoke again.
