Farming with Entries: From Lord to Emperor-Chapter 304 - 193: Holy Land of the Giant Hoof Yak People
Hmm—
The yakman’s nostrils emitted a deep sound, and together with Luo De, they pressed the iron plate with a creaking noise.
"Bain, let go!"
Luo De ordered, and the yakman quickly backed away.
Luo De hurriedly bent down to shake the ratchet, slightly raising the mold to lock it in place.
Bain pulled the iron chain beside him sharply, and the upper mold slowly rose, revealing the pressed iron plate.
Luo De swiftly clamped the pressed iron plate and tossed it into a bucket.
"Ssss!"
White steam rose, and the iron plate emitted a low hum. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Luo De let out a long breath and instructed Hammer and Bain, "Raise the mold up."
"Yes, my lord."
Hammer followed Luo De’s instructions, shook the ratchet to raise the mold, and then refixed it.
The blacksmiths around tiptoed and held their breath, their eyes wide open like brass bells, staring closely at the iron plate in the bucket.
Luo De didn’t keep them waiting too long and clamped out the cooled iron plate to show everyone.
"It’s done!"
The blacksmiths exclaimed in amazement!
"Oh my god..."
"Brother Bard would have to hammer for several days, right?"
"And now it’s done in one go?"
"So amazing!"
"Lord, this... this is simply a miracle!"
...
The blacksmith shop exploded in chatter.
Everyone was discussing, their eyes full of disbelief.
Even though there had been rumors before, even though the lord had already created two machines to help them work.
But that was only to improve efficiency.
Now, this directly produces a finished product!
Luo De clamped the iron plate and handed it to Bard,
"Take a look."
Bard took the iron plate, his fingers trembled as they stroked the curve in the plate.
This was the prototype of a chest armor, with smooth lines, even better than what he hammered himself.
"It only took a moment..."
Bard’s voice quivered, as if he had seen a deity.
He looked up at Luo De, his eyes filled with both joy and confusion.
Gradually, Bard’s eyes became slightly moist, his voice choked, "Sir, you once again opened our eyes..."
"Hit again? Starting to doubt yourself?" Luo De asked with a smile.
"No, my lord."
Bard turned his face away, taking a deep breath,
"You said, they are just tools, and people must learn to use tools well."
"That’s right."
Luo De patted Bard on the shoulder, "You will have more time to refine and polish the details, and you can teach more apprentices."
"Yes, sir." Bard nodded forcefully.
Luo De’s gaze returned to the prototype of the chest armor,
"By the way, pressing this once is still a bit rough, it’s best to compress it again."
Luo De explained, "Like a rolling mill, heat the iron plate again, and compress it one more time."
"This time, Hammer and Bard, it’s your turn."
"Yes, my lord."
Bard took the tongs from Luo De’s hands, clamped the iron plate, and started heating it.
Following Luo De’s earlier demonstration, after the iron plate turned red, it was placed again into the lower mold, and the buckle was removed.
The loud bang made the blacksmiths blink uncontrollably.
But everyone was still excited, crowding forward.
When the upper mold rose, Bard clamped the iron plate out again, and the plate had completely transformed into the shape of a chest armor.
"Amazing!"
A young blacksmith’s face turned bright red, shouting loudly.
He looked at Luo De with eyes full of worship, "The lord is amazing!"
"Yes, this is a miracle!"
"This machine, it’s simply unimaginable for a human to come up with it!"
"Saint Master, no wonder those wildmen call you Saint Master!"
...
The blacksmith shop became noisy again, the looks on Luo De were even more fervent.
"Alright, everyone quiet down."
Luo De raised a hand to suppress the noise,
"Each of you come, all of you learn about this machine."
"Yes, my lord!"
The blacksmiths’ loud voices made Luo De’s ears ache.
Especially the young apprentices, who were as excited as if they had seen a bride.
Luo De quickly pulled Bard aside, letting Hammer arrange for these blacksmiths to try and learn about the machines.
"These tasks will be handed over to the ordinary apprentices in the future."
Luo De instructed Bard, "You’ll be mainly responsible for the details and teaching the apprentices how to rivet and join the plate armor."
"Yes, my lord."
Bard nodded in response.
He also knew that these were the things he could do that others couldn’t at the moment.
Luo De looked at Bard, who had a serious face, and with a smile asked, "So, when can the fifty sets of plate armor be ready?"
"If you can prepare the molds for the other types of plate armor..."
Bard glanced at Hammer, who was busy at the press, and thought, "We can make fifty sets in a week."
"Good."
Luo De liked this kind of answer.
Finally, he saw some light at the end of the tunnel.
Excited, Luo De waved his big hand and promised:
"Next, I’ll add two more production lines to the blacksmith shop!"
...
...
The cold wind howled, lifting fine snowflakes, which struck against Rein’s heavy leather armor.
Black Pine Ridge was already warm, but the edge of Razor Plain was still stormy with snow.
Rein didn’t mind, standing in front of the barren mountain, squinting at this desolation.
There was no plant life around, not even the pine trees commonly seen in the northern lands.
Stranger still, there were layers of snow on the mountain peak, but at the foot of the mountain were charred and iron-gray rocks with not a flake of snow.
This mountain seemed cursed.
Rein frowned, a hint of unease creeping up inside him.
Clutching his bow and arrow, he turned to Kael and said, "Ask him, are we sure this is the place?"
The Snow Rabbit People, Kael, played with the snowball in his hands, walked over to the bowed Yakman, Alse, and began to communicate.
After Chris left Razor Plain, Kael stayed behind and joined Rein’s team to guide and translate.
After a round of exchange, Kael reported to Rein, "Yes, their Holy Land is in that mountain ahead."
"His tribesmen are likely hiding inside."
"Is he sure we can just enter?"
Rein questioned, "I mean, can we outsiders enter the Yak People’s Holy Land?"
Kael shrugged and inquired Alse, "Your Holy Land, can outsiders enter? Are there any taboos?"
The Yakman Alse stopped, slowly turned around, his tall figure blocking the wind and snow.
He scratched his head, a few flakes of snow falling from his fur.
"You can enter..."
His voice was deep, like muffled thunder squeezed from the depths of his chest.
Kael conveyed Alse’s reply to Rein.
"Alright, let’s go, let him lead the way."
Rein turned and waved to everyone, and the hunting party immediately followed Alse’s footsteps.
After climbing over the hill, Alse stopped halfway up.
"The Holy Land is inside."
He pointed to a dark cave opening on the distant mountain wall.
Rein looked along his gesture, the cave mouth like a giant beast’s mouth, deep and unfathomable.
"Then let’s go."
Rein urged.
Alse stepped forward again, leading the way.
Rein felt the air was filled with a faint strange smell, pungent yet indescribable.
The smell was like rotten eggs mixed with burnt wood, infiltrating the nostrils, making the throat itch.
As they got closer to the cave, the strange smell grew stronger.
Rein furrowed his brow, disliking the scent.
The others noticed the odor too and couldn’t help but cover their noses.
Rein glanced at Kael, seeing him wrinkle his nose, clearly uncomfortable with the smell as well.
"What is that smell?"
Kael couldn’t help but ask Alse, the Yakman.
Alse scratched his head, grinning,
"The smell of the Holy Land."
There was a hint of inexplicable pride in Alse’s tone.
Rein was a bit speechless, not asking further but drew an arrow, holding it ready for any sudden circumstances.
The cave passage sloped downwards, underfoot were rocks and some sharp small stones.
Rein was amazed, for he saw water occasionally dripping from the walls, and also heard the sound of water droplets falling from above.
Rein instructed his men to light torches, illuminating the cave.
As they went deeper, the air began to feel stuffy and warm.
The white breath from their mouths no longer condensed into mist as they breathed, and the air even felt somewhat humid.
Observant Rein noticed tiny white plants growing on the cave walls—something he did not recognize.
The surrounding rock walls had many honeycomb-like holes, from which warm gusts of wind blew, carrying a strong pungent odor.
The cave grew hotter, sweat gradually appearing on Rein’s forehead, prompting him to undo his cloak’s clasp.
"Clang, clang, clang..."
The sound of metal striking came from within the cave, and Alse’s face lit up with joy,
"My tribesmen!"
