In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

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Undoubtedly, the Persian royal family spared no expense this time.

Such divine weapons forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron are probably no less powerful than the Longquan Sword or the Dragon Slayer Saber.

Even if Zhang Xiaoshan doesn't need it, those around her always will. For example, if someone like Liu Sheng Piaoxu were equipped with an absolutely sharp divine weapon, their strength would definitely increase greatly.

But how could such extraordinary iron from outer space be used to forge a samurai sword?

Zhang Xiaoshan felt it was a bit of a waste.

After all, this samurai sword cannot be passed down to a second or third generation... Zhang Xiaoshan would not allow the next generation of the Zhang family to study the way of the samurai.

As for soft swords, the Zhang family doesn't seem to have any sword masters, and even skilled weapon users are rare.

The Zhang family members all specialize in cultivating internal energy.

With profound internal strength, he possesses the power to split rocks and shatter monuments with a mere flick of his wrist.

Moreover, their strength does not diminish with age; in fact, the older they get, the more profound their inner strength becomes, and the stronger they become.

After all, those around Zhang Xiaoshan all practiced authentic Xuanmen internal martial arts.

"never mind!"

Even if Zhang Xiaoshan didn't want to forge a samurai sword, the only one he had at hand who was suitable for a divine weapon with the extreme cold attribute was Liu Sheng Piaoxu.

It would be a waste to leave it in the warehouse waiting for a destined owner. Forging a samurai sword of the level of a peerless divine weapon would greatly enhance Yagyu Hyouse's strength.

When Zhang Xiaoshan decided to forge the divine weapon, Arans also left the princess's residence.

Undoubtedly, Princess Taiping did not achieve her goal.

After all, the Wootz steel wasn't in his hands. The Wootz steel that Zhang Xiaoshan traded came from the Persian religious leaders and nobles, and it wasn't owned by him, a big merchant.

At most, he earns a middleman's fee or builds his own network of connections.

It was simply impossible for Princess Taiping to buy Wootz steel directly from him.

Because he doesn't have any!

When Arans returned to the ship, he also received the goods sent by the Zhang family.

Looking at the sealed musk coffee and the elephant dung coffee reserved for the nobility, Arans couldn't help but smile after inspecting them.

While elephant dung coffee may lack the richness of muscat coffee, it does lack the bitterness.

Moreover, it tastes superior to regular coffee.

In this way, the royal and aristocratic coffees are clearly categorized, and he no longer has to make things difficult.

Musk coffee signifies royal status, while elephant dung coffee is suitable for the aristocracy. As for ordinary coffee?

Persia has no shortage of ordinary coffee.

····

"So, the goods the Zhang family traded with the Persian merchants were coffee, similar to tea?"

The Empress looked at Princess Taiping, who had approached the Hu merchants twice. The Empress's Plum Blossom Guards were not to be underestimated.

Upon learning of Princess Taiping's purpose, the Empress was filled with admiration.

Undoubtedly, his daughter inherited his lust for power.

They knew they had armed themselves, and the best weapon was a sharp weapon forged from Wootz steel.

However, Wootz steel is so rare that it's almost as precious as the Akhal-Teke horse on the Silk Road.

It wasn't that there was a shortage of Wootz steel, but rather that merchants from the Western Regions used all of it to forge protective gear for themselves.

How could I possibly sell something that concerns life and death?

Moreover, smuggling a single Akhal-Teke horse can fetch an astronomical price of tens of thousands of gold coins, while a piece of Wootz steel is worth at most a hundred gold coins.

"Yes, this coffee is exclusively for the Persian royal family, who in turn provide two hundred billets of Wootz steel each year. This year, a solid trading arrangement will be established!"

"It seems that this young master of the Zhang family is quite remarkable, able to make Persian tea a tribute item, and even get the Persian royal family to exchange it for Wootz steel."

Such top-quality coffee is optional.

The fact that the Persian royal family was willing to exchange strategic resources shows that their aristocratic class had become utterly corrupt, indulging only in extravagance and pleasure.

Otherwise, even if you offered gold, you couldn't possibly exchange it for Woolstone.

"Alright, that's the end of it!"

Although Wootz steel is precious, the steelmaking technology in the Central Plains is not bad either, and is even the top-level steelmaking technology on the mainland.

The value of Wootz steel lies solely in its natural mineral resources; otherwise, its craftsmanship might not be comparable to that of the wrought iron from the Central Plains.

Moreover, its production volume is a fatal flaw.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Princess Taiping also knew that she could not offer any incentives that would entice the Persian royal family.

After all, Arans was just a mouthpiece; the real goods were in the hands of the Zhang family and the Persian royal family. In fact, in the past, the main transactions were between the Zhang family and the Persian Zoroastrian Church.

"Also, don't antagonize the Zhang family; they're more cunning than you think!"

"Yes!"

Princess Taiping took Emperor Wu's warning very seriously.

Even Emperor Wu was so wary of the Zhang family, let alone her, a princess. Perhaps it was only her status as a princess that gave her some intimidation over the Zhang family.

As for his identity?

Although the Zhang family were merchants, they cannot be judged solely by their status as merchants.

Whether in terms of strength or prestige throughout the Nine Provinces, the Zhang family has already entered the ranks of top-tier families.

···

Three days later, the Persian merchant ship, fully resupplyed, left the capital.

Meanwhile, on the shores of the East China Sea, the Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty, undergoing their training, arrived at Ghost Street. Their mission this time was to find the ledger of the Dongming Sect, one of the three factions on Ghost Street.

With access to Ghost Street and the introduction of hydraulic presses, the Dongming School's business grew bigger and bigger.

After all, there are many sects in the martial arts world. If ordinary swords are used in a fight, they will be completely destroyed.

Therefore, a good weapon not only has a long service life, but is also a lifesaver!

Undoubtedly, the weapons of the Dongming Sect are the best choice.

Regardless of whether it's the legitimate or criminal world, or aristocratic families and warlords, the Dongming Sect's business is unimaginable.

This attempt to steal the ledgers was also a result of them being used by some ambitious individuals.

This ledger is not aimed at martial arts sects, but at those forces that keep private armies.

This is the evidence of 'rebellion'.

In this way, one can "coerce" the other party and achieve one's own goals.

However, the Dongming Sect's ledgers are not easy to steal, especially since they belong to one of the three dominant families on Ghost Street.

It should be noted that their previous employer was the Longevity Venerable, one of the three families on Ghost Street in Yangzhou.

Both dragons were terrified about this mission.

They were not just facing the Dongming Sect, but the entire Ghost Street.

There are at least three experts whose strength is comparable to that of the Longevity Venerable, not to mention the one who reigns supreme over Ghost Street—

Yama!

You must know that the Dragon Slaying Saber Technique they practiced was enough to dominate the martial world even with only three incomplete forms. Their opponents, on the other hand, had mastered the first eight forms, excluding the ninth, and were equipped with the legendary divine weapon. Their power was not simply one plus one equals two.

"Young Master Ling, this Ghost Street doesn't look like much. It's not even as lively as the Ghost Street in Yangzhou."

"How can this be the same? In Yangzhou, there was no one to control it, and Ghost Street was no different from any other ordinary commercial street."

But this place is different. It's the capital of the Song Dynasty, with the Six Doors and the Divine Marquis's Mansion above it. I heard that if it weren't for the evil dragon raised by Young Master Zhang, Ghost Street would have been wiped out by the Imperial Guards last time.

Xu Ziling looked at Kou Zhong. Kou Zhong had been careless with the intelligence, failing to properly distinguish the locations of the two Ghost Streets.

A commercial street that is unregulated and develops freely;

One is darkness beneath the light, so naturally they are treated differently.

Moreover, after the last campaign to suppress Ghost Street, Ghost Street's status became exceptional, but Ghost Yama continued to manage it according to the previous model.

After all, no matter how powerful Ghost Street is, it is still a dark place, and it is not good to be too ostentatious.

Unlike Yangzhou, which was known for its decadent lifestyle and had long since become a den of iniquity.

"Then what do we do next?"

"Let's figure out the Dongming Sect's trading methods first. They must have some information channels since they asked us to steal the ledgers."

"Let's just wait. This Ghost Street is too eerie and fraught with danger; I've heard that even grandmaster-level (peerless) experts have perished in the snake's jaws if we enter that evil dragon's land!"

Chapter 393 A Secret Meeting with Lady Dongming: Mastery of the Heavenly Demon Heart Technique

"Cold Stone from Outer Space!"

Inside Ghost Street.

Lady Dongming looked at the treasures brought by Zhang Xiaoshan, and a hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Although the seemingly crystal-like surface didn't exude any coldness, Lady Dongming recognized this rare and precious material at a glance.

This is an extraterrestrial meteorite.

The high-temperature beeswax that passed through the atmosphere appears to be opaque crystal on the surface, but its interior is actually extremely cold meteorite iron.

This is a treasure for forging unparalleled divine weapons. I never expected that Zhang Xiaoshan would have such a treasure.

"Young master wishes to forge a divine weapon using celestial cold stones?"

What kind of place is the Dongming Sect? Their purpose in bringing this treasure here is self-evident.

Moreover, Madam Dongming was extremely concerned about Zhang Xiaoshan, her 'young boyfriend,' as many of the interests of her Dongming faction were related to the Zhang family.

The reason why the Dongming Sect made so much money during this period, through the sale of snow salt and weapons, was because of Zhang Xiaoshan.

"This is a gift brought by the Persian merchants."

I originally intended to keep it as a treasure, but I didn't know when I'd remember it, or I might completely forget about it. So, I decided to forge a samurai sword.

"A samurai sword? A Japanese samurai sword?"

"That's right, Zhang doesn't have many skilled weapon users around him."

Moreover, Piaoxu had served Zhang for many years, always working diligently and without complaint; this knife would be perfect for her self-defense.

A famous Yagyu master?

Lady Dongming immediately thought of the stunningly beautiful warrior beside Zhang Xiaoshan, who was also a top-notch master of Bushido.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Xiaoshan arranged for this extraordinary iron, which could be used to forge peerless divine weapons, to be used so hastily.

"There are very few masters in the Central Plains who can forge samurai swords. The forging skills of the previous masters have only reached a certain level."

Furthermore, craftsmanship requires practice to master; if you wish to forge a samurai sword of type 183, the best candidate is Japan!

“Japan? That’s right. Madam should know the master forgers in Japan. In that case, I’ll entrust this cold stone to Madam to pass on.”

"Don't worry, young master, the Dongming Sect has some connections with the Japanese forging masters!"

Moreover, no master blacksmith could refuse the creation of an unparalleled divine weapon. However, with the birth of such a weapon, the Japanese samurai code...

"Kill them one by one, wipe out one sect by one. What is there to fear even if the entire Japanese martial arts world comes together?"

Zhang Xiaoshan's arrogance is based on his own confidence.

On the surface, the Japanese samurai code doesn't have a single unparalleled master, at most four or five top-tier masters.

A single squad of Blood Droplets from the Zhang family could easily sweep through the Japanese samurai world.

As for the Japanese experts around Zhang Xiaoshan, Liu Sheng Piaoxu cultivated the Nine Yin Divine Skill, and Yin Zheng Shenren would probably be dead by now if Zhang Xiaoshan hadn't used the power of the Dragon Ball to enhance his strength.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan's arrogance and contempt for the Japanese martial arts world were not unfounded.

"Young Master Zhang is absolutely right."