The next week, Pef and Lithos worked to melt down the many tons of copper the Tyrant had collected, and then used most of it to buy land along the river, and a thousand houses in the capital.

That way, the copper will enter circulation as currency, and Pef will have a small quarter in the city as his property.

Most of the metal was owned by the Tyrant, who also started a whole industry, raising goats and copper smelters.

The Earth Tyrant found playing with metal easy, compared to his alchemy, and sweating for hours for a single pill.

Then Pef showed him the way to get brass, and a fist of zinc mineral, and the Tyrant smiled in excitement. His Earth qi will come in handy now, finding and exploiting minerals, and then buying stuff with it.

Not that he actually needed stuff, but the boy was right. Buying stuff and then giving it away as rewards for Wall heroes in principle, still made people richer.

Plus the whole airship building, would make trade overseas safer. Rare plants could be bought with this metal, and new pills could be crafted.

But even more amazing, was the new medical factory created by the young Emperor. Medicine that could cure most illnesses or reduce fever to minimum! That would save millions of lives, both at the Wall and in the towns.

Just growing mold on various cereals. And boiling off some salts or the drinking water. So simple.

Didn't have much effect on cultivators, but most of the Patriarchy citizens were regulars. They did die a lot, mostly from illness.

Even this garlic could be used both for cooking and medicine.

After three more months, Pef announced he was leaving, and taking his staff with his to secure his home continent.

Ventu and Lithos gave him a bunch of their hunted bones, and Pef cooked for them one last time.

"Young man, do you know where the Patriarch is?" Ventu asked a bit worried.

"Hmmm. Living as a fisherman in a village. That way!" Pef answered pointing towards the blinking arrow.

Lithos sighed, kinda suspecting what happened. Their father was dying, and wanted to live a normal life for while.

"How long?" he asked glancing at the glove.

"A hundred years maybe. Unless he makes peace with his soul. The Legion way needs love, or the soul withers and dies.

And Old Deng is a dried husk, and has been for...many years" Pef said in a sad tone.

"Yeah, about that. Is a Spirit rank too low? Cause I've been seeing this smith, and she makes great casts, even made a steam spinner like you showed me." Lithos asked with a worried voice.

"She'll be fine, uncle. Let's give her a pill, and then I'll awaken her. In a month, you can take her hunting!" Pef exclaimed happy.

Ventu coughed in surprise. "You want to get him to marry? At his age?" the Air Tyrant asked, glancing at Lithos with wary eyes.

"What age, uncle Ventu? We are cultivators! As long we don't give up, we will keep growing. A million years is nothing. Just a happy childhood, full of adventure and excitement. Now, you two keep up the job. When I return as a Sovereign, this place better be richer and happier!" Pef proclaimed in a heroic voice, then flew up.

Lithos lead the way, taking them to a new smithy, owned by the Earth Tyrant no doubt.

"Hello auntie, I'm Pef!" he said politely, while examining her works. Not yet as good as Lin, but she did show promise.

He stayed a few hours to show them some tricks, like rivets and nails and water jets.

By the time he left, the Spirit smith had crossed over into Earth, with a Blue Meridian Pill, and was crying in his uncle's arms.

'One month and one day?' the glove asked with some surprise.

'Right. She's not a warrior, but no need to make her too weak'

'If she survives to Emperor rank, she will be a master smith. Might even surprise us, with some new invention.' the glove mused, predictions varying from native intelligence to smithing accidents and various finds of her husband.

Pef nodded in agreement 'I hope she will, my orange glove. We do need all the smart minds we can find, for the second part of the plan'

'Too soon for that, Aspirant. Unless you're ready to roam?' the glove asked rhetorically.

Pef sighed and shook his head. Not yet. First getting back home and crafting the Anaconda airship. That should cross him over the new rank. Emperors had a 99 percent mortality while Tyrants only 25 percent.

He could wait a little, and go out stronger and better prepared.

The next day, the two airships took off, heading for the Saint continent. Unlike his early Spirit ranked airship, these new vessels were sturdy and faster.

And during day, they also used the steam engines, boosting them even more.

As the Saint continent appeared on the horizon 2 months later, everyone was eager to get off and never see anything flying, ever again.

The crew and staff had trained all the time, forging bones to make themselves better items, and Pef had finished his set of Emperor ranked plate armor, from an Anaconda tooth.

It looked fabulous, white with a bit of silver and beige colored plates, and a transparent visor made of tooth enamel. Even had belt with a set of holsters, in case some things needed to be worn outside.

And coupled with his glove and the neo blade, Pef was certain to remain the ruler of the continent, no matter any pretenders.

Soon, the airships arrived over Port Li, amazing the crew with the huge navy and thousands of smoking smithies or glassmakers.

Pef flew ahead, landing next to Magister Fang.

"Hello, Fang. I see we have a Sea Guard now!" Pef exclaimed with a grin.

"Emperor, you're back! We were worried some invaders had come." the man said in a relieved voice.

"Well, I kinda recruited some people. Then trained them, like the Guardians. So they're nice." he explained with a cheerful tone.

"No problem, Emperor. By the way, I'll need more copper to pay the men." the magister whispered secretly.

Pef sighed and nodded. Navies were expensive, he knew that.

After forking a hundred copper plates, he flew to see the Guardians, and the Wong Leader.

"Wong! You're just lounging in the pool, eating grapes!" Pef yelled as he took in the sights.

"Master! It's Spirit training really. See, I crossed into Earth already!" the Wong leader exclaimed in surprise, then surged his qi to show the growth.

Pef searched around, finding Madam Chen had formed her Spirit as well, though she seemed upset at him, for some reason.

He smiled at her politely, then took out some bones for both of them. "Earth and Sky bones. Get forging, my Wong!"

"This is amazing Master. I can make some armor, and some nice odds and bits for my wives!" the floating mage said happily.

"I'm sure Chen wants to forge herself. It would help her reach Earth rank soon" Pef said with a smile, then flew away.

"Did you see, wife? Master has reached Emperor rank, and had Emperor armor!" Wong asked while waiting for another grape. Nobody fed him though. Chen had turned away and left, upset for some reason.

After a day of rest at the Guardian garrison, and spreading more copper and bones, the airships took off towards Lacrimosa City, passing over the new seaside road being built. Only about 100 kilometers were cleared of trees and rocks, but that will change. Pef had brought a new army with him.

Two weeks later, Pef sped up first, to meet Miss Ching.

She was already waiting, pouring tea as he descended.

"You're back. Sit!" she said in a commanding tone. Pef sat and waited. Always the hardest part.

They drank the tea in silence, while Ching glanced up at the sky, where the airships were coming to land.

"You've brought new wives. This won't be so bad, then." she said in a soft voice.

Pef froze, his eyes glancing towards Smithtown. "Beast attack?"

"Exactly. 14 Guardians died. And 2 of..."

"Who died?" Pef asked directly.

"Di and Kira died. Sorry." the oracle said in a low voice.

Pef nodded to himself. The girls were probably on the perimeter, or hunting. And just Nascent ranks.

"Yeah...they have these huge beast waves on Blue Xi. I killed an Emperor rank Anaconda snake and thousands of smaller beasts. Can you predict the attacks, or the source?" Pef asked with a frown.

"Only after they have started. The source...must be an oracle" Lia Ching whispered a bit scared.

"Possibly the Beastgod then. Maybe Arachne?" the young hero mused out loud.

'No. It was Locust, this time.' the glove interjected at this.

'Oh. Revenge then?'

'Petty, yes. There's nothing here to threaten you. Not yet.'

'It's fine. People die, I knew some of them would...just make sure you remember them, for me.' Pef asked with a heavy heart. He was afraid he would forget them too. Like they never existed.

'Always. But for now, consolidate and reinforce the Canal. There's millions of lives to protect, Aspirant.' the orange glove ordered.

"A god, attacking low ranks? So despicable!" Miss Ching exclaimed in anger.

"Something called Locust. Uses priests or such to sacrifice virgins. I kinda dismantled his church on Blue Xi" Pef explained while tapping his glove.

"Oh. I did that here as well. Some 200 years ago" Ching said with a sad grin.

"Anyway, look what I have!" Pef exclaimed taking out the neo knife.

The air froze around the tea table, as the blade began glowing, first white then gold.

Then it flew closer, cautiously and cut a tiny slice on Ching's finger.

A second later, it spun around and entered the glove compartment on its own.

'So, the knife knows her. Her aura at least.'

'Yes. Legion Captain.' the glove confirmed with certainty.

"That blade, I know it. Like an old friend, who I never met before." Ching whispered as her cut healed.

Pef smiled and placed a Blue Meridian Pill in front of her.

Her eyes smiled back, and Ching gulped the pill without prompt. Her golden aura gained a bit of green tinge, as the blue light mixed with it.

By the time her meridian had opened, the airships were being landed.

"So painful. Damn it. Isn't there a pleasant way to cultivate?" Miss Ching asked rhetorically.

Pef smiled a bit. It could be pleasant as well. But pain will never be far.