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Chapter 2: Chapter Two: Dragon Gate Valley

"Yes, father," they all nodded excitedly.

"Everything within the mansion will proceed smoothly, father, rest assured," Zhong Tian said.

"Hmm," Mr. Zhong nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes as he looked at his seven adopted sons who had reached the pinnacle of the post-celestial realm, nodding approvingly.

Gently, Mr. Zhong tapped the floor of the hall with his dragon-headed cane, making a rhythmic sound.

"Tap, tap, tap, tap."

In the astonished gaze of the adopted sons, a section of the floor in the hall split open, revealing a passage leading underground.

Seeing this scene, the adopted sons were all surprised. Even Zhong Tian, who had been serving Mr. Zhong all along, had a look of astonishment in his eyes. How many secrets did their father still hold?

"Let\'s go," Mr. Zhong said, leading the way and descending the stairs slowly.

The adopted sons exchanged glances, but none dared to ask questions.

As they descended, the passage widened, leading to a large underground hall.

On the walls, there was a carving of a wolf\'s head. Mr. Zhong turned it gently, and the passage that had opened above closed once more.

The adopted sons looked down in astonishment at the vast underground hall below. It was incredibly large and deep, and at the edge of the hall was a massive passage that seemed to stretch infinitely into the distance. Along the sides of the passage were lamps illuminating the way, and at the edge of the passage stood a gigantic iron structure.

The entire passage was filled with countless iron bars, two of which extended into the infinite distance. Standing in front of the iron structure were a dozen or so people, who bowed deeply upon seeing Mr. Zhong, indicating that they had been arranged by him earlier.

As Mr. Zhong looked at the iron structure, he couldn\'t help but sigh. What was this? In his memories from a previous life, it resembled the earliest form of steam trains, which utilized coal to heat water and create steam under high pressure. This steam then powered pistons to drive the locomotive forward. While Mr. Zhong didn\'t know how to recreate many technological advancements from his previous life, the basic principle behind steam trains was something he still remembered.

For fifty years, Mr. Zhong searched for many skilled craftsmen and spent nearly twenty years studying steam engines. Eventually, they managed to develop the most primitive form of a steam locomotive. However, Mr. Zhong did not make this discovery public; he preferred to keep it to himself.

Therefore, underground, a railroad was constructed. Mr. Zhong was wealthy, incredibly wealthy, so he didn\'t mind the expenses. After all, a crafty rabbit always has multiple burrows, and Mr. Zhong was no exception.

"Let\'s go, get in," Mr. Zhong said as he led the group into one of the train carriages. The eight adopted sons looked at each other in astonishment. What was this? Weren\'t they supposed to be going to the Dragon Gate Summit?

After the doors were closed, Mr. Zhong instructed, "Depart."

"Yes," the dozen or so people outside immediately responded.

Then, seated in the incredibly luxurious carriage, the adopted sons suddenly felt the iron structure move. And from the front, there came a deafening roar.

"Rumble, rumble, rumble..."

The steam train sped swiftly through the underground towards Mr. Zhong\'s destination. The adopted sons were filled with questions as they watched the lights outside the stained glass windows rapidly recede, indicating the iron structure was moving rapidly.

They exchanged astonished looks and then glanced towards Mr. Zhong. He sat there, leaning on his dragon-headed cane with his eyes closed, seemingly resting. Seeing this, the adopted sons didn\'t disturb him, burying their questions deep inside.

For three days, the train journeyed non-stop. After three days, the adopted sons knew they were far away from the Zhong estate. The initial surprise at the sound of the train gradually turned into acceptance.

On the third day, the train slowly came to a halt. Still underground, they disembarked at the edge of a hall. Led by Mr. Zhong, they walked up the same passage they had descended, emerging into another hall above ground.

"We\'re at the foot of Hengshan Mountain. This estate belongs to me. Rest here for two days and get yourselves in the best shape. Two days later, we\'ll head to Dragon Gate Valley to attend the summit," Mr. Zhong announced.

"Yes, sir," the adopted sons immediately responded.

After leaving the hall, the group found themselves in a vast estate, bustling with numerous servants. Upon seeing Mr. Zhong, the servants all bowed respectfully. After Mr. Zhong gave some instructions, the adopted sons were each taken to their respective rooms by a steward-like figure.

Once the adopted sons were seen off, Mr. Zhong made his way to a small courtyard, which served as his residence within the estate. He gently pushed open the door to his room, finding it neat and tidy inside.

There was a large bed and some high-quality cabinets. On the wall opposite the bed hung a portrait, weathered with age, indicating its existence for many years.

Mr. Zhong entered the bedroom and walked slowly to the portrait, examining it closely with earnestness. In the portrait was a woman, exquisitely beautiful, with sparkling eyes, glossy black hair, and a figure that captivated the gaze. She wore a red robe and delicately held a flower to her nose, smiling faintly with an enchanting charm that seemed to outshine everything around her.

As Mr. Zhong gazed at the stunning woman in the portrait, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

"My dear, have you forgotten about me? Why haven\'t you returned yet?" Mr. Zhong sighed with a hint of sorrow and pain on his face.

In front of the portrait, Mr. Zhong stood silently for two hours before letting out a sigh, shaking his head, and then sitting down on the bed.

Placing his dragon-headed cane gently by the bedside, Mr. Zhong eased his mind. He closed his eyes and began to meditate, preparing himself for the upcoming Dragon Gate Conference. Two days later, outside the estate, Mr. Zhong led the way with the eight loyal sons following behind.

Heading north from the estate led them to rugged mountain terrain with no discernible path. Only skilled martial artists like them could navigate such treacherous terrain, fraught with poisonous plants and creatures. Even with decades of experience, Mr. Zhong and his party had to proceed cautiously to avoid danger.

As they journeyed, young Zhong Nineteen held Mr. Zhong\'s cane, while the others, except for Zhong Tian, who lagged behind due to his slower pace, managed to keep up despite the challenging terrain. Mr. Zhong patiently waited for Zhong Tian, adjusting their pace to accommodate him.

As night fell, they found a suitable spot to rest and recuperate. Each member of the group focused on preparing themselves for the journey ahead, with Zhong Tian taking on the role of sentinel, keeping watch for any threats from the surrounding wilderness.

Zhong Tian was known for his simple and honest nature. Although he was the eldest son of Mr. Zhong, his cultivation progress was not particularly rapid. He had only reached the eighth stage of the acquired realm, and Zhong Tian harbored no illusions about advancing further. He simply wanted to witness the legendary Dragon Gate Conference.

Mr. Zhong certainly wouldn\'t assign Zhong Tian to night duty. As for the other seven sons, Zhong Tian couldn\'t shake the feeling that they were rather superficial, showing respect to him only when they were children and mostly performing for the sake of their father. However, Zhong Tian\'s easygoing nature prevented him from dwelling on this too much, especially considering their superior cultivation levels.

The journey through the mountains was arduous, fraught with dangers such as poisonous creatures, plants, and miasma. However, Mr. Zhong always seemed to have the right antidotes on hand, ensuring their safety at every turn. Seeing the items Mr. Zhong carried, the other sons couldn\'t help but realize that their father was intimately familiar with this route, having traversed it many times before.

After five days of trekking through rugged terrain, they finally emerged from the mountains into a valley. Outside the valley, they encountered several groups of people arriving from different directions. Most were unfamiliar, but one group of six individuals was instantly recognizable.

The Zhao family, one of the four major clans of the Great Kun Kingdom?

"Is that the head of the Zhao family?" The sons of Zhong were clearly surprised.Leading the group was a man in white robes who appeared to be in his forties or fifties, but the Zhong sons knew that he was the head of the Zhao family, and his youthful appearance was due to his cultivation reaching the innate realm.

"Zhong Shan?" The head of the Zhao family recognized Mr. Zhong holding the dragon-headed cane at a glance, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

"It\'s a small world, isn\'t it? Zhao Family Head, it\'s been a while. How have you been?" Mr. Zhong smiled lightly.

Behind the Zhao family head, the five Zhao family juniors cast disdainful glances at Zhong Shan\'s eight sons. However, upon seeing Mr. Zhong, they all showed a hint of respect. After all, Mr. Zhong\'s legend was well-known throughout the Great Kun Kingdom, even among their millennia-old family.

Mr. Zhong was a legendary figure, despite lacking deep roots. Everything he had accomplished was admired by all, while his sons merely enjoyed the benefits.

"Haha, I didn\'t expect you to know about this place. You\'re not ordinary," remarked the Zhao family head, narrowing his eyes.

"Just bringing a few juniors to see the sights. And what about you, Zhao Family Head? Which sect are you planning to enter?" Mr. Zhong inquired.

"Enter a sect? Well, you and I are of the same age. I\'m already eighty. Even if there are family members in high places, they can\'t get me in. This time, I\'m just bringing some talented juniors to try their luck," replied the Zhao family head with a smile.

"In that case, I wish you good luck," Mr. Zhong said.

"Likewise, I wish your Zhong family luck in finding someone who can enter a sect," the Zhao family head said, squinting at Zhong\'s eight sons.

"Thank you," nodded Mr. Zhong.

"Farewell," said the Zhao family head before leaving.

Watching the Zhao family members enter the valley, Mr. Zhong\'s expression turned solemn as he squinted his eyes, pondering for a moment.

"Let\'s go. Inside," Mr. Zhong said, leaning on his dragon-headed cane.

"Yes," the sons of Zhong immediately nodded.

Following Mr. Zhong, they slowly made their way inside, alongside various other factions.