Chapter 4: Zhu Li [Thanks to the "Gentleman in the Wind" for his continued support]

Guancheng became very prosperous because of the opening of railways between the two countries, and it seemed to be a new economic center of the Qing Dynasty. However, the good times did not last long. When the railway was abandoned due to the change in the desert weather, Guancheng began to decline at a staggering speed. Until now, all prosperity has become yesterday's yellow flowers.

For the residents of Guancheng, that glory was like a dream bubble, like dew and lightning, and now only memories are left.

Of course, all this has nothing to do with Zhang Panqian, who had just arrived here.

If Li Yaozu hadn't been the ardent and whispered to say all this, Zhang Shen wouldn't have known that this small-scale town had such a past.

Since seeing Zhang Shen's methods that day, Li Yaozu tried every means to get closer to Zhang Shen, talked about the world, talked about the past and the present, and tried his best to deepen his impression in someone's heart.

Although Zhang Shen was a little unhappy even though he learned a lot about the Qing Dynasty's information about Armestorius from Li Yaozu, he was so "attentive" by an old man. However, the former has a very good grasp of the degree and can always stop or change the topic before Zhang Shen is impatient...

"The convenience in front is where we usually rest." Li Yaozu pointed to a sign at the corner of the road, "Yuelai Inn, the largest and safest inn in Guancheng, has many business dealings with our Li clan."

Yuelai Inn... Zhang Shen looked embarrassed.

From the moment I entered Guancheng, the atmosphere of the entire caravan changed apart and was very active. Not only did I enter an absolutely safe place, but I also could see my family and relatives again when I returned to my hometown, and everyone smiled.

The large desert between the two countries is vast. Even if there is an excellent ready-made trade route like an abandoned railway, it will take one or two months to go back and forth. What's more, there are sand thieves, environment and other dangers on the road. For everyone, every time they go out, they tie their heads to their belts, and they are fighting for their lives.

Finally returned safely, how could they not be happy?

Reunion... Zhang Shen saw all this in his eyes, and his heart was a little lost. The images of Li Jing and Bu Lichen and others floated through his mind, covering his heart with a layer of dust.

Forget it, worrying about it is useless, so let's take care of yourself first...

In the inn room, after Zhang Shen took a shower and changed his clothes, he stood quietly in front of the window, looking at the clear sky, and his thoughts were flying.

"I came to Qing Dynasty to learn alchemy. Although I have plenty of time, I can't waste it in the boring family disputes. It's better for Li Yaozu to cut off the contact as soon as possible."

"The chat during this period has made me more detailed in the Qing Dynasty. Regardless of the domestic political situation, I have a better understanding of the status of alchemy and alchemists in the Qing Dynasty."

"The alchemist has a high status in the Qing Dynasty because the pills they have refined can cure diseases and pains that cannot be explained by secular medical principles. In addition, it seems that the top alchemists have also mastered a considerable degree of extraordinary power. If it weren't for this, I'm afraid that the alchemist would have long become a forbidden family."

"The alchemy is very different from what I have learned before."

"I thought before that the so-called alchemy was more about the method of refining lead and mercury by ancient warriors of Xia Kingdom. It was the germination of modern chemistry and was not very helpful to my own alchemy. I came here just to increase my knowledge and absorb some knowledge from alchemy to supplement my own alchemy."

"I only now realize how ridiculous this idea is!"

"Alchemy has its own independent theoretical system, promotion system, and it is a unique lineage."

"It's a pity that now I only know that its theoretical basis is 'qi', and no one else can know it. Alas, if I had known this, I would have saved some general points in the space and exchanged for a basic theory of alchemy..."

Before, when the Guardian Space was approaching separation, Zhang Shen used up all the common points and world contributions to the five women, and exchanged all possible things for the five women. On the contrary, he was because he just came here to learn and explore the origin of alchemy, and felt that he could not encounter any danger and had almost no preparation for anything. If Bu Lichen had not strongly exchanged several life-saving gadgets and stuffed them into his hands, Zhang Shen would have probably come here alone.

If it is always if, Zhang Shen would just sigh. Even if he knew, he would give priority to Li Jing and the others.

Zhang Shen’s current understanding of alchemy stems from chatting with Li Yaozu, and partly from some folk books.

That’s right, it’s mythical and bizarre novels like Xia Guo’s "Journey to the West" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio"...

"Kunlun, whether it is Li Yaozu or those novels, mention such a place. It seems that it is necessary to go to Kunlun." Zhang Shen recalled the map in his mind, "My current location is in the westernmost part of the Qing Dynasty. Kunlun is located in the northwest of the Qing Dynasty, about the northeast of Guancheng. I just need to search all the way, and it is not a big problem to find Kunlun."

"Well, now it's time to think about how to part ways with Li Yaozu and the others."

Zhang Shen thought he was a rather indifferent guy, but he cared about his family and friends very much. He also valued grudges and hatreds, and was unwilling to owe everyone favors for nothing unless the relationship between the two parties was good. At the beginning, he returned to Z City from the end of the plant world, and was forced to "take without complaints" from a passerby because of embarrassment. Later, Zhang Shen spent a lot of time to find the man and gave him dozens of times the reward through various methods.

Li Yaozu felt that Zhang Chan had saved half of the caravan's goods and his future, so he was extremely grateful to him. However, Zhang Chan felt that the former's story and the miscellaneous books he lent him to read made him re-understand alchemy, and he did not miss such a system of ability that was of great help to his alchemy path.

In Zhang Chan's heart, he really owed Li Yaozu a great favor, just like between himself and Ai Yiai in the previous world. The kindness of the two little loli has been rewarded to a considerable extent, and the two have now become their comrades, so they have understood it.

Li Yaozu is an indigenous person in this world and has a family and family. Naturally, the reward he received cannot be the same as that of the two sisters Ai.

After thinking for a long time, I still found nothing.

Suddenly, a light of inspiration appeared!

"Yes... This is the Qing Kingdom that the family secretly fights against the alchemist, which is called honorable by the alchemist..." The light flashed in his eyes, and Zhang Shen had an idea.

No words all night.

the next day.

"What, Brother Zhang, are you leaving?" Li Yaozu heard the blue sky, his expression changed drastically, but then he realized something and smiled bitterly, "Yes, we belong to a different world after all. Being able to meet and meet Brother Zhang is already the accumulation of virtue in my previous life, and having a great fortune. No matter how much we desire, it is rude..."

Zhang Shenyi shrugged and did not respond to Li Yaozu's "bitter" self-talk.

"Xiao Yanyan, this is a parting gift from uncle to you. Do you like it?" A crystal ball with colorful light appeared in front of Li Yanyan, and the latter's eyes suddenly lit up and she couldn't let go of it.

"Brother, this is my letter talisman. If I encounter an uncoordinated crisis, crush it, I will come as soon as possible." Before leaving, Zhang Shen took out a non-gold and non-wood messaging talisman from the storage equipment and handed it to Li Yaozu.

"There will be a date later." Li Yaozu and others waved their hands to see him off, and Zhang Shen turned over and jumped onto a small foal he bought, gradually moving away.

"Take care all the way." Seeing Zhang Shen leave, Li Yaozu sighed and felt deeply moved.

…………

…………

After leaving Guancheng, we walked all the way to the northeast.

Taking the sky as the quilt as the ground as the bed, eating wind, dew and rain, traveling day and night... that is impossible.

Zhang Shen is not an ascetic. On the contrary, within his ability, he has always paid great attention to enjoyment, otherwise he would not spend money to exchange for a lot of useless knowledge of "survival in the wild" and "delicious cuisine".

It's quite comfortable to walk and stop and stop all the way.

Whenever you arrive at a place, the first thing you need to do is not to find a place to live, but to find the best restaurants and the most lively small stalls in the area, and taste the local specialty food. Then, you will collect various local books and enrich your library, which can not only increase your understanding of the country, but also increase your knowledge and make your mind and will become more round and ethereal.

It is both travel and practice, and this is what Zhang Shen wants.

Before I knew it, half a month passed.

Zhang Shen rode his little foal and wandered all the way, and finally arrived at the foot of Kunlun Mountain.

Judging from the world map (if there is such a thing in this world), Kunlun is a vast mountainous area, spanning the Qing Dynasty, reaching the desert in the west and the ocean in the east, and dividing the Qing Dynasty into two parts: north and south.

However, Kunlun, the population of the Qing Dynasty, specifically refers to Tongtian Peak and Yuxu Peak, which contains hundreds of hills, among which the twelve peaks are the tallest and are known as Kunlun Twelve Days.

Anyone who lives nearby knows that this area is the temple of alchemists. More than 80% of the famous alchemists known to the Qing Dynasty live in this area centered on Kunlun Twelve Days.

Zhuli was originally just a small village, because alchemists were accustomed to entering and leaving here, gradually developing and expanding, becoming a giant urban settlement covering a radius of dozens of miles and a permanent population of hundreds of thousands.

This is the junction between the world of alchemists and the secular world. It has a large population and is very prosperous, but it strangely maintains a "perfect" order.

The order of Zhuli was maintained by patrols composed of fifty surnames.

In fact, Zhuli did not have the management agency of the Qing government, and the only permanent agency was only responsible for conveying information.

Zhu Li had actually been separated from the political and military affairs of the Qing Dynasty and was an independent existence. This was abolished by the people of the Qing Dynasty by the fifty surnames, and even the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty publicly admitted it.
Chapter completed!