If I don't have money to go to college, I can only go to slay the dragon.

The copper door was pushed open, and before Chu Zihang walked in, the overflowing heat was already rushing from behind the door like a flood.

This is not an abstract description. There really is a heat wave pouring into the tunnel with the opening of the copper door. The cold air sinks quickly, and the high temperature air rushes into the new space. Slightly longer hair will be damaged by the temperature. Curls.

Chu Zihang clearly saw that the curvature of Xia Mi's beautiful air bangs beside him had become more curled. The delicate face was baked by the heat wave and subconsciously leaned back. He raised his hands to cover his eyes to relieve the dryness and sourness. burning sensation.

Chu Zihang raised his hands to cover his eyes slightly and walked into the door. Before he could put down his hands, a deafening tearing sound suddenly sounded in his ears. If this sound was visualized, it would be like a piece of paper falling instantly from a hydraulic press. The metal fragments were smashed into thin pieces in an instant. The broken metal fragments were thin and sharp. They penetrated the eardrum at the speed of sound and penetrated Chu Zihang's entire auditory pathway from the left and right ears like a knife! Finally, it converges in the center of the brain and creates an expanding bubble that bursts in the ears!

Chu Zihang was shocked by the ground-breaking roar, and his vision went black. At the same time, his chest felt as if he had been punched. He realized that this was a sign that the vestibular organs were greatly stimulated, causing the body to lose balance. His excellent self-protection His ability allowed him to quickly take a big step with his right leg, trying to spread his legs to stabilize his body, but he still underestimated the impact of the explosion on him. Even if he took protective actions, he unconsciously fell to the side. .

But in the end, Chu Zihang did not fall to the ground in embarrassment. Xia Mi next to him took the first step and put his leg on his waist. He hugged his waist with one hand and his arm with the other, catching him steadily. .

Chu Zihang's vision was blurry and he saw Li Qiuluo in front of him, covering his ears and shouting angrily at the height of the huge space. He then moved his right hand and waved it vigorously, pointing at the center of the huge underground space in the distance. A towering bronze tripod with a height of at least tens of meters, and the loud noise just now came from the bronze tripod!

Chu Zihang waved slightly to Xia Mi beside him, indicating that he was okay, and looked up to see clearly the spatial environment he was in.

This is a huge open oval underground space. In his knowledge base, the closest layout to this space should be the ancient Roman arena, but this is an ancient Roman arena built deep underground.

Circle after circle of floors are dug deep into the rock wall. The inner and outer spaces are separated by bullet-proof and sound-insulating glass with a polymer composite layer. Behind the glass, there are countless figures of researchers surrounded by various equipment. Busy work.

Chu Zihang could see clearly that in the ring-walled space of the underground space, behind the insulating glass on separate floors, a large number of researchers were minding their own work, and some were facing the sparks bursting from cutting-edge instruments. Carving, holding a coffee cup and waiting for the 3D printer to create an exquisite mold.

There are also very hard-core furnaces and stamping machines placed on some floors. Shirtless men carry heavy hammers to remove impurities from the hot metal. Countless swords, guns, swords and halberds hang from the ceiling, like a showroom of ancient weapons, so hard-core that it makes people's blood boil.

Chu Zihang even saw the trial design of thermal weapons and firearms being carried out behind the glass wall on one floor, the detonation test of grenades, the fire and the explosion of the dummy's internal organs. No sound came from behind the soundproof glass, just blooming Another dazzling white light.

It's like an ecological warehouse, where everyone is busy working to "manufacture" and "smelt" good "tools".

After a rough sweep, his eyes finally returned to the front.

What deserves his attention the most is the wonder standing in the center of the underground space shaped like the Colosseum.

A bronze tripod.

A giant bronze tripod with an astonishing height of 13 meters, a mouth length of 11 meters, and a mouth width of 8 meters occupies almost half of the open space. Standing there it looks like a small hill made of bronze! The shadow enveloped Chu Zihang and the three people at the door, causing their breathing to stop and slow down.

The shape of the entire giant bronze tripod is thick, erect ears, folded rims, a rectangular belly, and four pillars. The four corners of the belly, the middle of the upper and lower edges, and the upper part of the feet are all equipped with door edges. The majestic yet delicate coiling dragon and gluttonous patterns are cast on the tripod's surface, and the exquisite cicada patterns are cast on the feet, making the overall body majestic and solemn.

What worried Chu Zihang the most was that in front of the huge mountain-like cauldron, a wide and long black metal step rose up from the ground and connected to a mouth under the belly of the cauldron. Inside the mouth, there was light like a crater of lava. firelight.

Inexplicably, he remembered the Mount Doom in the "Lord of the Rings" series of movies that he watched together in Lin Nian's high school days. In the final ending, after Frodo walked into the cave, there was a long stone road leading to it. Towards the center of the crater, and in the space where the stairs lead into the tripod, there seems to be an active volcano swallowing hot lava. The scorching temperature spreads from the mouth, burning people's respiratory organs and eyes.

"Is he okay?" Li Qiuluo walked over quickly and frowned at Chu Zihang, who was being supported by Xia Mi. However, before he asked this question, he stared at Xia Mi again and found that her right ear was bleeding, and the blood was almost slipping down her cheek. She didn't even bother to wipe it when she reached her chin, because she was holding Chu Zihang with both hands and had no time to care about the blood on her face.

Xia Mi saw Li Qiuluo talking to her, but he couldn't hear what the other person was saying, and he kept saying "ah" and "ah" loudly. It was obviously the sequelae of hearing shock.

Chu Zihang noticed Li Qiuluo's mouth shape, but could not hear the sound. He shook his head slightly and patted his ears, trying to restore his hearing.

"Stand here and don't move." Li Qiuluo said to the two of them, speaking very slowly, trying to let them see the words on his lips clearly, and at the same time he repeated it in sign language.

She turned around and left. After a while, an elevator door opened in the distance. A researcher wearing a gray coat and glasses came out and trotted towards Li Qiuluo.

Although the sullenness on Li Qiuluo's face had not dissipated, the expression of the guy she was leading seemed a little careless. As he walked up to Chu Zihang and Xia Mi, he took out a small bottle that looked like eye drops from his coat. , motioning for the two of them to turn their heads.

Chu Zihang and Xia Mi tilted their heads in response to each other's reminder, and then felt cool liquid dripping into their ears. The other party repeatedly tapped the small bottle twice in each of their other ears, and handed it to them. Two cotton swabs came up and made a gentle stirring motion.

After the two of them did this, they felt a cool to cold feeling in their ears, as if Fengyoujing had been applied to their temples. However, because the blood vessels inside the ears were more sensitive, the refreshing feeling was even more uncomfortable. .

"Can you hear me?" The researcher put his hands in his gray coat and tried to shout to the two of them.

"The hissing is a bit fuzzy, but I think I can hear it a little better." Xia Mi was chilled by the cool and refreshing feeling in his ears, but not to mention that he gradually started to recover his hearing.

Chu Zihang also nodded slowly. His ears were still a little sore, but the dripped liquid began to quickly relieve the pain and restored his hearing. The effect of the liquid was not as obvious as Xia Mi's. It was probably him. His bloodline has not yet recovered, and his body is still very weak compared to Xia Mi.

"It's something sent by the Danding Division. It's said to be the raw material of Ting Ting's blood, but a brother told me that it's actually cicada blood of dragon bloodline, but it's quite rare. Generally, creatures that are too weak can't inherit the dragon's bloodline. Now Tianji There isn't much inventory in the pavilion, so we were asked to save some." The researcher smiled and showed the small bottle to Chu Zihang and Xia Mi, then put it back in his pocket, "Are your ears okay? ? I took a look just now. The bleeding is probably just a broken capillary, and it shouldn't be a big problem. It's so hot. If nothing goes wrong, I'll go back and continue working. Next time, remember to knock and report before pushing the door in, otherwise you'll be beaten again. After two shocks from Honglu', you will have to wear a hearing aid."

"We have already reported it. The time and application for the visit have been submitted to your deputy minister through 'Jiuzhou'. It is your fault that the 'Ruyi Bagua Honglu' was operated at the wrong time." Li Qiuluo frowned and asked the researcher responsibility.

"That's a coincidence. Our deputy minister is busy with other things right now. I guess he didn't receive your visit application? So he didn't tell us that we couldn't start the furnace during this time." The researcher turned to look at the underground space. The huge bronze cauldron in the center, his eyes wandering, "There has been another breakthrough in the A1 material. Now everyone is very enthusiastic about research. I wish the furnace would be open all day long. It is inevitable that such an accident will happen."

"Are you from 'Old Tianji'?" Li Qiuluo looked the researcher up and down, suddenly relaxed his frown, and said calmly, "It seems that I will speak out to Liu Yong at the next meeting where the ministers and deputy ministers are recommended. The deputy minister is canvassing for votes, and now Tianji Pavilion may need some restoration of traditional concepts to learn what it means to act safely."

"Don't." The originally careless researcher was suddenly startled. He put away his casual expression and quickly pushed his hands and sneered, "I will go and catch the project team that started the furnace for you. Please Commander Li, please don't worry about our secrets." Now the Tianji Pavilion and the Tiangong Ministry are all one family." He was very particular about the word 'family', as if he was emphasizing something to show his concession. "Then what, do you still need me to call the minister?"

"Go back and do what you should do. We are just visiting. Warn the project team that just started the furnace that someone is down there now. If you don't want to go to Lang Juxu's arbitration hall, don't do anything stupid. And tell the person in charge of the project team to go and write A report will be sent to your minister, who will then sign it and deliver it to Lang Juxu personally," Li Qiuluo said.

"Oh." The researcher immediately gave up. He cupped his fists and arched his head towards this untouchable woman, then turned around and ran away dejectedly.

"Ministry of Heavenly Engineering?" Chu Zihang barely heard the argument between Li Qiuluo and the researcher, and asked the question he was most concerned about.

Li Qiuluo looked at Chu Zihang, who was getting better, and explained, "In the past, in addition to the 'Tianji Pavilion', there was also a 'Tiangong Department'. Both departments were responsible for the casting of 'tools', but the latter adhered to ancient methods, and the former was more Tends to cite innovative, modern craftsmanship.”

"After communicating with Kassel College, and visiting and studying the Equipment Department, Orthodoxy internally decided to integrate the two departments, so that the ancient and modern methods can put aside their prejudices and go hand in hand. The names of the two departments were finally decided to use the former. The one just now Before the merger, he was a member of the old Tianji Department, and he is also an old group of subordinates of the current head of Tianji Pavilion."

"Is the deputy minister the former minister of the Ministry of Engineering? No wonder he was so panicked when you said you wanted to recommend the deputy minister to become a full-time official." Xia Mi understood such a convoluted thing, "It seems that your orthodox internal affairs are very complicated. "

"It's just a matter of human nature. Tianji Pavilion and Tiangong Ministry should have merged a long time ago. Now there are only some criticisms internally, but this is a merger order issued by the clan leader, and no one will protest." Li Qiuluo said, "Don't say this. Okay, how are you? Now that we have arrived at Tianji Pavilion, what are your thoughts?"

"I don't have any ideas, I just want to ask." Chu Zihang looked at the huge black cauldron without hesitation.

His attention was completely attracted by this incredible creation. At the same time, he felt that his blood vessels were inexplicably hot. It was not discomfort caused by high room temperature, but an inexplicable feeling.

"Even if I had any thoughts, I was shocked by the big cauldron." Xia Mi covered his ears and rubbed them in pain, then looked up at the towering bronze cauldron, "What is this? Is it for sacrifice?"

"It is not used for sacrifices here. Since this is called Tianji Pavilion, it has only one function." Li Qiuluo also looked at the huge bronze creation, his eyes flowing on the complex and charming dragon pattern and said, "Casting, This is its only mission. The 'Ruyi Bagua Hong Furnace' is the core weapon of Tianji Pavilion and one of the true treasures of orthodoxy."

"'Ruyi Bagua Honglu'? Is this filming Journey to the West? Will a monkey pop out of it?" Xia Mi opened his eyes wide and looked at the wonder-like bronze tripod. The entire huge space seemed to surround it. The building was the same, and the burning sensation they felt came from the cauldron, as if the crater was constantly releasing heat.

"Tai Shang Laojun's Bagua furnace is for alchemy, and our Bagua furnace is for casting. The two are different in nature. The loud noise you heard just now was made when the Bagua furnace was operating." Li Qiuluo overturned Xia Mi's hypothesis. Xing, "I remember that Tianji Pavilion should have sent the trial version of 'Seven Stars' to your principal, Hilbert Jean Angers. Have you seen the finished product, right? How do you feel?"

"Uh, what seven stars? What seven deadly sins?" Xia Mi looked confused.

"Incredible craftsmanship, terrifying alchemy weapons that rival the Seven Deadly Sins." Chu Zihang said, and he stared at the mountain-like black tripod with understanding, "What do you mean?"

"The 'Seven Stars', or the 'Seven Deadly Sins', are cast from the heavy tool you see. This is the only furnace we know of that can melt and cast gold and titanium alloys, from heating to casting. Model, all processes are completed by the 'Ruyi Bagua Hong Furnace'. And all projects involving gold and titanium alloys require the participation of this important tool." Li Qiuluo said lightly.

"What is gold-titanium alloy?" Xia Mi looked confused.

"A metal material for the Dragon King." Chu Zihang explained to Xia Mi, and immediately asked Li Qiuluo, "Where did you find it, and how did you move it in without disturbing others?"

He had too many questions. In front of this incredible creation, the secrets of orthodoxy seemed to be dug deeper and deeper. They actually controlled such an unreasonable thing.

"Of course the question is not how you moved it in. It should be how did the orthodox build this kind of thing? Is it as tall as a residential building? Did you hollow out a mountain and use it as a mold to pour molten bronze water into it? (This is Shi Chu Zihang suddenly glanced at Xia Mi with unclear meaning) "Xia Mi raised his hand in front of his eyebrows, stepping on his feet to look at the huge tripod like a monkey looking into the distance. Even from a distance, he still had to look up to finish the whole thing. The appearance of the entire giant thing.

"It's an interesting idea, but we didn't move the Ruyi Bagua Hong Furnace here." Li Qiuluo shook his head and said lightly, "It was originally here. We just built the prototype of the 'Tianji Pavilion' around it, or in other words It was the prototype of the 'Tiangong Ministry' in the past, but now it's all the same."

Xia Mi was stunned.

"It was originally here?" Chu Zihang asked immediately, "The Forbidden City was built during the Chengzu period of the Ming Dynasty. Was it created during the Yongle period?"

"No, earlier." Li Qiuluo said, "Judging from its shape, this is a creation that can be traced back to the late Shang Dynasty. The pattern on the tripod is consistent with the now discovered national treasure-level cultural relic 'Shang Houmu Wu Ding' Similarly, the body of the tripod is decorated with a coiled dragon and a gluttonous dragon, the ear pattern is commonly known as the tiger biting human head pattern, the cicada pattern is cast on the feet, and the words 'Ruyi Bagua' are cast on the inner wall of the abdomen, so it was named 'Ruyi Bagua Honglu'."

"Alchemy items." Chu Zihang stared at the lines and suddenly said, "Is this cauldron a product of alchemy?"

Li Qiuluo nodded slowly.

Chu Zihang's vision gradually became a little horrifying. The entire giant cauldron, which was tens of meters tall, was itself an alchemical product. This was probably the largest alchemical item he knew. It was as tall as a building, and it was actually hidden under the Forbidden City. in space.

But it was at this time that someone raised objections.

"I believe it when you say it is a product of alchemy, but saying it is something from the Shang Dynasty is a bit nonsense, right? The Forbidden City was built during the Yongle period." Xia Mi felt that his three views had been subverted, and he began to look at the sky and began to do rapid mental calculations. , muttering in his mouth, "How could this thing be from the Shang Dynasty? It's quite different."

"3000 years." Chu Zihang said the answer directly.

3000 years are enough time for the earth's landscape to change, and one dynasty after another decline. But in the unknown underground, in the dark space, there is a huge bronze tripod standing there quietly, witnessing the mountains and seas on the earth. Displacement, dynasty change.

Thinking about it makes me feel heavy. The meaning of this tripod itself is also terrifying to think about, including who cast it, what is the purpose of casting it, and what was born from it. It is all a thick and dense cloud. .

"You mean there was such a natural underground space underground where the Forbidden City was sited 3,000 years ago, and this tripod is here?" Chu Zihang asked.

"Ha, it seems you have grasped the key point." Li Qiuluo glanced at Chu Zihang with a faint smile, led him and Xia Mi gradually closer to the black giant cauldron, and after a certain distance, began to circle around and observe it from different angles. This can be called a "wonder" creation. The complex patterns on the tripod wall outline a circle of historical heaviness that permeates the underground space along with the heat wave.

"What's the key point?" Xia Mi was puzzled.

"Site selection. There is a reason why the Forbidden City is located here." Chu Zihang said, "This is the inference. It is not a coincidence that the Forbidden City and the underground tripod are located in the same geographical location."

Xia Mi was stunned for a moment, then his expression became strange, and he looked at Li Qiuluo and Chu Zihang, "You mean that Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, noticed that there was a problem here, so he specifically moved this place to build the Forbidden City?" She felt He himself said a conclusion that would make all historians unbelievable.

It’s not because the Forbidden City is here, that’s why the tripod is here. But because the tripod is here, the Forbidden City is here.

"When Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital, he finally decided to locate the Forbidden City in Bei'an. It was determined by the geographical and strategic location. But in addition to this, there is another more important reason than the former." Li Qiuluo said slowly, his gaze lingering. On the huge black tripod, "Emperors in ancient times regarded themselves as real dragons, and the place where the dragon lives must meet one requirement, which is the 'Land of Dragon's Hing'. The Forbidden City was built here with many features that meet the requirements of 'Long's Hing'" The conditions of the place, this underground space, and the 'Ruyi Bagua Hong Furnace' that may have stood for three thousand years in the space are one of the reasons."

"Such a huge alchemical product can only be made by the Dragon Clan." Chu Zihang said in a low voice.