Journey to the West: Building a Celestial Empire Starting from Lion Camel Ridge

"My lord, you summoned me?"

Zhang Tie knocked on Chen Ping'an's door.

"Hmm, I know you used to be a blacksmith. I'd like to talk to you about adding a blacksmith shop to the shelter. What do you think?"

Chen Ping'an looked at the weathered middle-aged man in front of him. Due to a battle with a monster in his early years, his right leg was injured, and he still walks with a limp.

Furthermore, due to his poor aptitude, he was still unable to embark on cultivation even in middle age.

Whether it was hunting or gathering supplies, it couldn't help much, so he became depressed.

"Does the lord intend to forge weapons?"

Zhang Tie asked tentatively, a glint of light appearing in his eyes.

If he hadn't been unwell, this outstanding craftsman wouldn't be in this state right now.

Chen Ping'an nodded and discussed the overall plan with Zhang Tie.

Zhang Tie glanced at the few sheets of hemp paper laid out in front of him, flipped through them, and pondered for a while, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"Rest assured, my lord, as long as it's not one of those particularly bizarre weapons, I can handle it."

Upon arriving at the new shelter, he initially thought he would still be a marginal figure, but now, he finally had a chance to put his skills to use.

Everyone was busy and working hard, and Zhang Tie didn't want to be completely idle.

Because he was originally an outstanding blacksmith, Zhang Tie posed a question to Chen Ping'an after putting down the hemp paper.

"My lord, there's no forge in the shelter right now. We need to discuss how to build one."

......

There is no option for a fully-fledged blacksmith shop on the building panel, but there is a building called a forge.

Forging Furnace (Level 1)

【Consumable: 20 Demon Crystals】

[Function: Weapon forging, capable of reaching temperatures up to 2500 degrees Celsius]

Chen Ping'an explained the basic information about the building to Zhang Tie.

"A forge is enough. Just put a shed on top of it. The shelter has a pure atmosphere, which is perfect for forging weapons."

"As for the anvil and such, with this furnace, I can design and build them myself."

"A forging furnace that can reach 2500 degrees Celsius would be considered a top-notch furnace even in the old Bone Town."

"As long as the iron ore can be heated to the right temperature and then forged with sufficient forging, weapons can be forged."

After confirming that the furnace temperature was perfectly suitable for forging weapons, the two discussed the location of the blacksmith shop.

It was finally decided to place a blacksmith shop in the southwest corner of the barrier.

This location is a bit far from where everyone lives, making it the most suitable.

Chen Ping'an didn't say much.

He looked at the demon crystal reserves, which had once again reached 349, and clicked to confirm.

The forging furnace (Level 1) is under construction...

Watching the forging furnace rise from the ground, a confident smile finally appeared on Zhang Tie's face, as if he had once again become the blacksmith praised by everyone in White Bone Town.

After using 20 demon crystals to complete the forging furnace, Chen Ping'an handed over the weapon rack and forging furnace to Zhang Tie.

"As for the blacksmith shop shed and such, you can choose a few boys to help you. Tiger and Stone can both lend you a hand."

"Alright, just you wait and see, my lord!"

"I guarantee that before the rainy season, every member of the force in the shelter will have a suitable weapon."

From this moment on, the shelter's weapons stockpile finally got on track.

......

rainy season.

Five days left.

After everyone's tasks were arranged, Chen Ping'an himself didn't have much to do.

He watched as the boys excitedly ran around, helping Zhang Tie set up the blacksmith shop.

Then I watched Xu Ying taking stock of the daily supplies.

Two or three elderly people sat in a corner chatting. They were old and didn't have much time left, but the happy smiles on their faces and their rapidly increasing loyalty meant that they were very satisfied with this shelter.

As Chen Ping'an strolled over, the elderly people greeted him with smiles.

Chen Ping'an responded gently and sat down on one of the stone benches.

Listening to the elderly reminisce about the past, Chen Ping'an felt drowsy, as if he had returned to the time when he was still on Earth.

Until the sun gradually began to set in the west.

Outside the barrier, there was a cacophony of voices.

The hunting party has returned.

......

The hunting party went out twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and the game they caught piled up like mountains.

Chen Ping'an specially built two storage rooms to house his belongings.

One room is for refrigeration, and the other is for freezing.

In this way, people can enjoy both salted and fresh meat during the rainy season.

Chen Ping'an cultivated a vegetable garden not far from the blacksmith's shop, planting the vegetables and seeds that everyone had brought from the wild.

The vegetable field is only 5 meters by 5 meters square, but with its special features, it is enough to ensure that everyone can eat fresh vegetables even during the rainy season.

......

The days flowed by peacefully.

The last day of the rainy season.

Chen Ping'an stood calmly on the stone wall.

In the light drizzle, Ali and her group returned home laden with their spoils.

On the last day, everyone managed to gather enough meat for the entire shelter to last three months.

Behind Chen Ping'an, patches of green sprouted in the vegetable garden, adding a touch of life to the shelter.

Amidst the clanging and hammering sounds, the blacksmith's furnace emitted intense heat, turning pieces of pig iron red-hot.

The weapon rack next to it had already been upgraded to level four.

It has changed from three squares at level one to nine squares now.

......

In a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.

The group enjoyed their last dinner before the rainy season began.

As night fell, rustling sounds began to rise.

Chen Ping'an looked at the crowd in front of him and could see the fear in everyone's eyes.

With the rainy season approaching, not only the people in the shelter, but even he, the lord, felt a little nervous.

Every rainy season may bring new, previously unseen strange creatures.

Currently, none of the people in the shelter dare to say that they are 100% confident they can survive the rainy season.

"This shelter initially had only two people."

Chen Ping'an held his wine glass, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present.

"Later, we had the dog, and then we had everyone."

"From two people to eighteen people."

"This shelter has been there for a month, but I believe it will last for a year, ten years, or even a hundred years."

"The rainy season is just a challenge that we all face together."

"So, I hope everyone can muster their courage and persevere!"

"One day, we will break out of these ruins!"

"One day, we will reclaim Lion Camel City!"

"We want to show all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens that they are not in charge of the human world!"

"The power of humanity is the fourth pole of this world. It is neither an appendage of the Heavenly Court, nor a faith machine of Buddhism, nor a consumable for monsters to slaughter at will."

"Raise your glasses and drink together!"

"Raise a glass!"

The crowd remained silent, yet excited, as they downed their drinks in one gulp.

Then they slowly walked to their respective positions.

......

Chen Ping'an sat cross-legged on the purification altar in the center of the residence.

He looked down at the fish swimming freely in the basin.

Since it last exhaled silver bubbles, the golden carp has fallen silent once again.

This led Ali and Zhao Gou'er to start discussing stewing the fish again.

As Chen Ping'an watched the fish, the golden carp also looked at him.

After a brief silence.

The fish released a purple-gold bubble.

It wasn't gold, but a deeper purplish-gold.

Bubbles rise to the surface and burst.

Smoke drifted out and condensed.

Chen Ping'an's expression was solemn.

He stared at the smoke in front of him, which eventually condensed into several large characters.

"The journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures begins today!"