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

Looking at Huang Rong's haughty little face beside him, Zhang Xiaoshan knew that the little girl had become a bit arrogant because of Hong Qigong's arrival.

Chapter 176 Chef Huang Rong Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole

"Seventh Master, how about trying some?"

Looking at the Five Delicacies Stew in front of him, Zhang Xiaoshan had eaten it before and didn't think it was anything special.

After all, the many delicious dishes he had replicated were basically no worse than this Mandarin Duck Five Treasures Stew, and in terms of taste, he preferred the Shandong cuisine of today and the Sichuan cuisine of later generations.

However, chili peppers are not yet available in Kyushu; the spiciness is extracted using dogwood and Sichuan pepper.

As for "Little Chili Zhang Jing," it's just a special nickname.

The name "chili pepper" only came about after chili peppers were introduced to the country.

"Mmm, so fresh and fragrant! Rong'er, your cooking skills are absolutely amazing."

Hong Qigong took a bite and was immediately overjoyed.

Yesterday he thought Huang Rong was bragging, but after taking a bite, he realized that it was even better than the Five Delicacies Stew he had in the Imperial Kitchen.

Given the abundance of delicacies in the Imperial Kitchen, the one that Hong Qi could always reminisce about must be the "870" masterpiece among the finest.

Huang Rong's cooking skills were far more refined than he had imagined, surpassing even the flavors of that time.

Chicken slices with egg white filling, Zu'an tofu, beef balls that splatter...

Although it wasn't as elaborate as last night's feast, this kind of food was more to Hong Qigong's liking.

He was a gourmet hunter, and felt that Huang Rong's hospitality the night before was too formal.

I was far less interested in the exotic foods available today.

"Young Master Zhang, I heard that you developed most of these dishes?"

The many famous dishes of Hongfu have shaken the Central Plains.

This is one of the reasons why Hongfu is so prosperous; these famous dishes have made Hongfu a renowned brand.

According to rumors, these dishes were all created by the young master of the Zhang family.

"Senior is joking. I am not a gourmand like you, how could I possibly have developed such delicacies?"

It's just some rare books I saw, and I copied some recipes from them.

Actually, it's not just these recipes; I also have quite a few medical classics lost after the Great Zhou Dynasty, famous musical works, and various other miscellaneous subjects.

Since he needed to cover up the lie, Zhang Xiaoshan naturally implicated Lei Laowu.

Tomb raiders can find martial arts manuals, musical scores, pharmacopoeias... and naturally, recipes are also among the classics, so no one can find any flaws.

"How is that possible? Since it was lost, did you somehow obtain some kind of inheritance?"

"It's the Celestial Official who discovers tombs!"

Suddenly, Huang Rong thought of something, and her eyes lit up.

After a moment's thought, she understood why these things, which had been lost, had reappeared in the world.

Isn't it just something dug out of an ancient tomb?

She hadn't noticed it at all before, and only now did she discover that Zhang Xiaoshan had these collections, which were far more interesting than she had imagined.

"Lei Laowu? He... he robbed an ancient tomb from before the Great Zhou Dynasty?"

Hong Qigong also realized what was happening and immediately understood the reason.

The things on the ground have been lost, but the things underground have not been completely eroded by time.

"That's right, these are just extra gains."

The Ghost Doctor once asked Lei Laowu to collect medical classics and music masters from the martial arts world, and he found some lost famous pieces, such as Guangling San, Da Zhou Gong Yue, and even Tianlong Bayin.

Even Hong Qi was immediately incredulous upon hearing Zhang Xiaoshan's introduction.

It's unbelievable that an industry I thought was unethical has made such a significant contribution.

Thinking that Lei Laowu had unearthed the Great Golden Dragon Vein and brought out eight dragon pearls that were related to the fate of the Jin Kingdom, it's true that in every profession, there are outstanding individuals.

"I didn't expect Ghost Street to have such good stuff. No wonder you could tinker with these things."

"I want it, I want it..."

"what would you like?"

Seeing Zhang Xiaoshan's inexplicable smile, Huang Rong suddenly realized something, her cheeks flushed, and her delicate hand spun 360 degrees around Zhang Xiaoshan's waist.

"Do you want to die!"

····

Twenty million taels of gold!

This news shocked both the legitimate and criminal worlds.

Knowing that wealth can move people's hearts, Zhang Xiaoshan invited so many experts to protect him.

It wasn't just the underworld and legitimate society that were eyeing these things; even many people in the imperial court wanted to get their hands on them. Once they obtained this money, they would have the resources to rebel.

They don't care what the money is for.

Even the imperial court's disaster relief funds, once they reached a certain amount, were still seized without hesitation!

Over the course of three days, while Hong Qigong feasted at the Zhang family's house, Zhang Xiaoshan prepared a great deal of food.

Specially prepared food for the journey, essential tear gas canisters, and antidotes...

It's easy to hide from open guns, but hard to guard against hidden arrows!

These are all righteous masters, so Zhang Xiaoshan would never give them hidden weapons like the Rain of Pear Blossoms.

However, tear gas uses a special herb called hemp vine; even a slight ignition releases its fumes into the nose and eyes, causing uncontrollable crying.

"Fellow seniors, if you really encounter an invincible being, you should prioritize saving your life."

Since something cannot be protected even with all one's might, keeping one's life is merely a futile sacrifice. Only by living can one have the chance for revenge; money is ultimately just an external possession.

"Thank you for the reminder, young master!"

Although they knew Zhang Xiaoshan meant well, they didn't have the face to accept it.

For those who live in the underworld, face and reputation sometimes trump everything, even at the cost of their lives.

However, in Zhang Xiaoshan's eyes, this was undoubtedly a stupid act.

Knowing that taking a step forward meant certain death, and that it would be a pointless sacrifice, they might as well abandon the goods and run away to report the danger.

At least we'll know who stole it afterward, and we'll save on compensation.

The group consisted of 300 people, including 100 from the two major escort agencies, all of whom were experienced and trustworthy veteran escorts; 100 from the Zhang Family Merchant Guild, led by Zhao Longxiang, who marched in formation; and the remaining 100 were experts from various forces, at least first-rate fighters.

Watching the grand procession set off, Zhang Xiaoshan couldn't help but feel a strange light in his eyes.

In addition, numerous forces in the distance were also watching the departing team.

"Piaoxu, after you go back, cooperate with Yizheng Shenren to cover up the news of my departure. It will take at least half a month, and at most a month!"

"Young master, are you going to follow them?"

Liu Sheng Piaoxu couldn't help but look at Zhang Xiaoshan with concern.

She knew that Zhang Xiaoshan's sudden following must mean he had foreseen something, and that there was likely great danger involved.

"Alright, don't worry about it."

Even if a grandmaster came, I would still have the Dragon Ball to protect me, let alone some mere demons and monsters.

"The young master is in the shadows; they're the only ones who will suffer."

"Be careful, son!"

Liu Sheng Piaoxu thought about it and realized that even if Zhang Xiaoshan didn't have the bronze-armored warriors protecting him, he still had the Dragon Ball as a trump card.

Furthermore, with Zhang Xiaoshan hiding in the shadows, it's definitely not Zhang Xiaoshan who will suffer.

"In addition, this is meteorite copper."

The meteorite bronze can be used to activate the bronze-armored warrior corpses. Give this to Palace Master Lianxing; if anyone attacks, activate the bronze-armored warriors to defend against the enemy.

"Yes, son!"

Taking the meteorite iron folding fan, she knew the special nature of the meteorite copper. Apart from Zhang Xiaoshan, who could directly control everything, only the meteorite copper was the key to everything.

Zhang Xiaoshan left the carriage, and at the same time, another Zhang Xiaoshan appeared inside the carriage.

Chapter 177 The Sixth Prince, the Zoroastrian Church, the First-Class Hall, and the Jin Kingdom

"No wonder!"

This is not the first time that meteorite copper has been activated.

Lianxing, by controlling the bronze-armored warrior through the meteorite, suddenly understood why Zhang Xiaoshan hadn't handed the meteorite to his stand-in before leaving.

Because the bronze-armored warrior is the Dragon Ball, and the Stand ninja gained immense power by being infused with the Dragon Ball, Zhang Xiaoshan dared not gamble on his loyalty.

Human nature is the most difficult thing to test.

And this isn't just one Dragon Ball, it's three Dragon Balls.

The three Dragon Balls that the Golden-Faced Buddha obtained that day were all on the Copper-Armored Warrior. Thinking of the fourth Black-Armored Demon God, wouldn't Zhang Xiaoshan have five Dragon Balls?

For a moment, even Lianxing was astonished.

It should be noted that, apart from the Dragon Ball in Zhang Xiaoshan's possession, no other Dragon Balls have appeared in the martial arts world at present.

Many dragon-seeking plates were sold, but unfortunately, no one won the prize.

Or someone might win the prize, but there's no way they could reveal it.

However, Zhang Xiaoshan had already collected two Dragon Balls, a feat so advanced that it was astonishing.

Even if we don't know how Zhang Xiaoshan collected the Dragon Balls, the fact that he managed to collect two would definitely shake the entire land.

"Just as he predicted, all sorts of monsters and demons came out!"

Three nights later, Lianxing suddenly glanced outside.

It seems that some people have sensed something, which is why many assassins have come to test whether Zhang Xiaoshan has left.

Under the cover of darkness, a group of highly skilled individuals resembling assassins stormed into the villa.

These people are all martial arts masters, and I don't know where these idiots came from, but they are willing to be his pawns.

How could these people afford to offend the Zhang family? They completely disregarded the 19 consequences of offending the Zhang family.

The wages of avarice is death!

They probably thought that after doing this, they could retire from the world and live a happy and carefree life.

Lianxing's kindness was only relative; as the second master of Yihua Palace, she had killed countless people.

They had absolutely no intention of showing any mercy to these uninvited guests.

He immediately activated the bronze-armored warriors, and they emerged from the darkness like a lion awakening or a tiger unleashed from its cage, their auras like three ferocious beasts gradually emanating from the darkness.

The group of experts, sensing the killing intent, were immediately startled and hurriedly tried to retreat.

Bang!

Suddenly, the head was separated from the body—no, the skull was smashed apart by a single blow.

The bronze-armored warrior flashed by, and several experts who tried to escape lost their heads instantly, not even having time to react to the warrior's slaughter.

That fleeting afterimage, with its seemingly clumsy body, was actually incredibly agile and fast!

kill!

When a tiger enters a flock of sheep, a demon is born.

The three bronze-armored warriors were not only incredibly fast, but their moves, though seemingly simple, were actually incredibly powerful.

No matter how skilled they are, they can be defeated in a single move by them.

After the figure passed, there were no survivors on the ground.