American Comics: Tales of Cultivator

Chapter 142: Drawing Talismans, Racing, Borrowing Helicopters (Large Chapter)

The Lake Heart Pavilion is a stone pavilion built right in the center of the entire Artificial Lake.

As Boss Tang's financial resources and influence expanded, not only did the area of Tang Manor double, but the area of this Artificial Lake also expanded significantly.

Surrounded by lotus flowers, the lake water rippled. In the pavilion stood a Stone Statue of a Bixi, with the head of a dragon and the body of a turtle, over three meters tall, carrying a Stone Stele.

The Bixi's four feet were connected to the pavilion structure. Its dragon head's dragon eyes were slightly closed, and between its opening and closing dragon mouth, a lotus platform carved from jade could faintly be seen.

The Han white jade Stone Stele carried by the Bixi was inscribed with hundreds of characters in Bird-Beast Script, faintly gleamed with golden light under the sunlight.

Bixi, the eighth son of the Ancient True Dragon's nine sons, also known as Baxia, Ao, Guifu, or Tianxia, resembles a turtle in appearance and is good at bearing heavy loads. It is often used to serve as the base for steles.

However, Bixi steles were generally erected by ancient people to commemorate deceased emperors and sages, singing their praises.

Huge steles were often placed on the Bixi's back, implying that its divine power would ensure they lasted forever, for thousands of years.

But this Bixi statue carrying a stele, judging from its form, seemed intended more for suppression than for commemoration.

Beside the Bixi Stone Statue, on a round stone table carved entirely from green jade, Tang Song held his Jade Handle Talisman Brush and wrote with swift, flowing strokes on a small emerald jade tablet the size of a peace talisman.

The Jade Handle Talisman Brush was drawing talismans in the void three feet above the emerald jade tablet. Spirit marks flickered in the air like streams of light.

The spirit marks outlined and formed Bird-Beast Script runes in mid-air.

These runes arranged, combined, and intersected in the void, gradually forming a three-dimensional restriction array.

Tang Song pressed his talisman brush downwards. Spiritual light in mid-air flickered, and a wall-sized restriction array was pressed directly into the small emerald jade tablet by his brush, like a wisp of smoke.

The emerald jade tablet, which originally symbolized peace and safety and had smooth surfaces, now had countless earthy yellow patterns on it, as if they had grown naturally from the stone.

The emerald jade tablet, which was originally icy with green, instantly turned completely earthy yellow, looking extremely unremarkable.

"Take this to Iceland and give it to Frank!"

Tang Song put down his talisman brush, picked up the emerald jade tablet, examined it, placed it in a Wooden Box, and handed it to the Black-clothed Bodyguard who had been waiting silently nearby.

"Yes, Boss!"

The Black-clothed Bodyguard carefully took the Wooden Box, opened the silver briefcase beside him, placed it properly inside, then bowed to Tang Song, picked up the briefcase, and turned to walk towards the Lakeside.

On the Lake Surface, a Stone Arch Bridge spanned the lake from one side of the pavilion, leading directly to the Manor's Long Corridor.

"Phew! Boss, although I know you can do this kind of amazing magic, it's still shocking every time I see it!"

While Tang Song was drawing talismans, Skye and Fox sat on the long bench by the stone pavilion, not daring to breathe heavily.

It wasn't until Tang Song finished drawing talismans and sent the Black-clothed Bodyguard away that Skye patted her chest and exhaled dramatically, saying.

"Stop flattering me. You're the first person to cultivate the Great Yin-Yang Joyous Union Scripture with me. Now Fox has already channeled Qi through a hundred meridians, while you're still stuck in the Entry Stage. You're truly incorrigible!"

Tang Song glanced at Skye, flicked his hand, and the thick Blood Ink on the Jade Talisman Brush, like golden liquid, fell back into the Inkstone.

"It's not because you, Boss, don't teach well. By the way, I heard that you met a Baroness in Antarctica. Boss, are you interested in someone else's..."

"By the way, has Professor Gu left?" Tang Song looked at Skye, who was full of resentment, and quickly changed the subject, putting down his talisman brush and casually splashing the Blood Ink from the Inkstone into the lake.

The Blood Ink fell into the lake water and did not float on the surface but sank straight to the bottom like metal beads.

"He's already gone!" Fox pulled Skye to the Long Table in front of Tang Song and helped him tidy up the tools for drawing talismans: the brushes and ink, the Inkstone, and the layers of Xuan paper underneath.

"It's a bit of a shame. I really wanted to see that cunning little girl cry!"

Tang Song didn't actually go to see the scene of Professor Gu and Gu Zi Yun, father and daughter, reuniting and crying together, and there was no need to peek with his Divine Sense.

One reason Gu Zi Yun is still alive is partly because her appearance suits his taste.

Another reason is that as his cultivation improved day by day, Boss Tang was also sorting through the memories of his previous life, especially after discovering that this was a composite world.

It's possible that someday a powerful figure he doesn't recognize might appear.

When Sloan brought Gu Zi Yun back to the Manor, he thought of this girl's identity.

"The Witch", Tang Song remembered this movie. Gu Zi Yun, this cunning loli, is highly intelligent, ruthless, and decisive in her actions! And she has the Adoptive Parent as a weakness.

Compared to those pedantic Superheroes, she is a talented person! And very malleable. This is also the reason Tang Song didn't use the Heart Demon Great Curse but used a different Restriction Formation to control her.

However, only a few people can enter the core of his small group. As for whether Gu Zi Yun is capable, it depends on her performance.

After tidying up the things on the table, Tang Song patted Fox and Skye's... well...

"There's an Antique Car Competition in Morocco in a couple of days. It should be quite interesting. I'll take you to Morocco to relax!"

Hearing Tang Song's words, Skye cheered and pounced on him, wrapping her beautiful legs directly around his waist...

......

"The Morocco Antique Car Competition, held in five days, has reached a historical high for the first-place Bonus amount, totaling twenty million US Dollars, thanks to the Sponsorship of Stark Industries! At the same time, the President of Stark Industries, the sponsor of this competition, our Iron Man, Mr. Tony Stark, is also said to be personally participating in this competition with his beloved Car.

He left a message on his social Account, welcoming Racers from all over the world to challenge him.

Of course, we hope Mr. Stark's definition of an antique car isn't just his old Iron Suit / Armor..."

On the Tablet Television hanging in the Bar, an entertainment news host was talking eloquently.

Looking at the blonde, large-breasted female host, Xincha felt a surge of heat inside. He took a big gulp of the wine in his glass.

"Twenty million US Dollars, Morocco Antique Car Competition! What the hell, why isn't it held in New York!"

However, if it's really like the television says, he might be able to find a few Racers in the Underground Street Racing scene to try their luck.

Xincha calculated the Racers he had on hand. During this time, because he had gained the favor of several big bosses, Xincha was thriving in the Underground Street Racing world.

He had organized several large Underground Racing Competitions and made a fortune from the betting.

Even the gold chain around his neck had gotten thicker.

"Usable Racers..." Xincha calculated and, after thinking it over, decided on the person he was most confident could win the competition.

He put down his Wine Glass, casually pressed two twenty-dollar bills as a Tip under the glass, and walked out of the Bar.

"Hey, Dominic Toretto, it's me, Xincha. There's a competition with a big Bonus. I'll provide the Car, are you interested in running a lap for me? We'll split the Bonus fifty-fifty!"

Los Angeles, a thousand miles away from New York!

With the Bonus Money won from several competitions in New York plus some savings and Deposit he had on hand, Dominic Toretto opened an Auto Repair Shop in Los Angeles,

and successfully established a foothold in the Los Angeles Underground Street Racing scene.

With his excellent driving skills and tough Fist, he became the Leader of the Street Racers in Los Angeles.

"Competition! Brother, I'm in Los Angeles right now, over three thousand kilometers from New York!"

Dominic Toretto put his Mobile Phone on speakerphone on the Car roof, lifted the Engine hood of the blue Sports Car, and checked for Engine problems.

"I think you should ask how much the Bonus is first?"

"Then tell me how much the Bonus is?" Dominic Toretto held a large wrench, planning to remove the eight-cylinder Engine of this Sports Car.

"Twenty million US Dollars!"

"Twenty million US Dollars!" Dominic Toretto repeated the amount, somewhat disbelieving: "Just for racing!"

"Yes, just for racing!"

"Then book me an Airplane Ticket to New York. Is your Car ready? I want to choose the Car myself!"

Dominic Toretto glanced at his Girlfriend and sister who were queuing at the newly opened fried chicken restaurant across the street from his shop, threw the wrench aside, and took the Phone from the Car roof, saying.

"The competition isn't in New York, it's in Monaco, an Antique Car Competition. You can see it if you turn on the television. I'll book you an Airplane Ticket to Monaco!"

"A legitimate competition!" Dominic Toretto frowned: "Xincha, you should know, I have a criminal record, I can't participate in this kind of legitimate competition—"

"Don't worry, I'll handle the registration. You just need to focus on winning!"

......

"Honey, that new fried chicken place across the street is really good. The portions are generous, and the taste is great. It's also discounted for the grand opening. Mia and I bought five servings!

What are you watching, the news channel..."

Letty and Mia walked into the Auto Repair Shop carrying large buckets of fried chicken.

One was Dominic Toretto's Girlfriend, and the other was his sister.

Letty was a little surprised to see her boyfriend, who treated Cars like his Life, wasn't Researching Engines but was sitting on a tire watching the news on the old television they had acquired.

She walked over from behind, wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's front, and held up the bag from the Brothers Fried Chicken Restaurant with the LOS POLLOS HERMANOS logo in front of him. Reaching into the paper tube in the bag, Letty took out a piece of fried chicken and fed it to Dominic Toretto's mouth.

Dominic Toretto ate the fragrant fried chicken in his mouth, then looked at his Girlfriend and sister, pointed at the television, and said to them:

"Letty, Mia, I'm going to participate in the Monaco Antique Car Competition soon. If I win twenty million US Dollars, we'll get a bigger House, and you won't have to live in this Repair Shop..."

......

Iceland is located in the central North Atlantic, near the Arctic Circle, and is the second-largest island in Europe. Because it is close to the Arctic, over ten percent of Iceland's total Area is covered by Glacier.

At this time, in an unremarkable Mountain Range in Iceland, a Helicopter hovered high in the air. Trevor Anderson looked at the Mountain Range covered in Accumulated Snow below, wrapped his down jacket tighter, and shouted loudly to Frank sitting in the Cabin: "Looks like we came at the wrong Time!"

Frank sat there casually, playing with his Ejection Knife.

The Helicopter pilot, seeing that they had reached the designated Coordinates, immediately began to descend in Height.

"Why are there so many people down there?"

As the Helicopter descended in Height, Trevor Anderson finally noticed that the Mountain Range below was full of people. On the snow-covered mountain, it looked like countless black sesame seeds had been sprinkled.

"Oh my god! How many people did you find!"

The Helicopter landed on a temporarily cleared open space. Trevor Anderson pushed open the Helicopter door and jumped out.

His high-top boots crunched on the Accumulated Snow under his Feet. Trevor Anderson looked around and saw that the entire mountain was densely packed with people. Even though it was the season when the mountain was sealed by snow and Heavy Equipment couldn't be transported in, these workers wearing thick cotton clothes had managed to dig through one side of this Mountain Range purely with manpower, revealing the dark Mountain Cavity inside.

Miners pushed wheelbarrows back and forth in the mountain cave, constantly transporting Gravel outwards...

"A total of two thousand workers were hired! Welcome, Mr. Frank..."

At this moment, a Construction Site Manager wearing a Safety Helmet walked over. This manager of the Mining Company, a Subordinate of Tang Group Company, replied to Trevor Anderson and then warmly extended his hands towards Frank.

"Two thousand people, how did you do it? As far as I know, the entire Country of Iceland only has about three hundred thousand people. Working on this snowy mountain, those Icelanders wouldn't do it..."

Trevor Anderson looked at the workers pushing wheelbarrows full of stones past him, looking at their faces red from the cold, and asked in surprise.

Although Iceland is a small Country, its per capita GDP and welfare benefits are among the top in Europe and even the world.

Trevor Anderson didn't believe these Icelanders would do this kind of Work.

The Construction Site Manager tightly grasped Frank's right hand, shook it twice, and then eagerly took out prepared warm clothing and gloves.

After being refused by Frank, he retreated behind Frank, half a step behind him, and extended his arm to guide Frank towards the construction site's Command post.

"Our workers are all hired from other Countries. There are very few Icelanders!"

The manager was about forty years old, a typical Federation Person, with blonde hair, a face red from the cold, a red nose, and a plump belly, but his Look towards the two was very humble.

While guiding the two towards a Tent Cluster set up on an open space halfway up the mountain, he explained to Trevor:

"We offered a price of one thousand US Dollars per day, and Miners from many Countries are scrambling to come. We don't lack workers!

It's just that because the mountain is sealed by heavy snow and this place is in the Arctic Circle, the Frozen Soil is really difficult to clear, so our Progress is so slow!"

When the manager said this, he secretly glanced at Frank's face.

Seeing that his Look hadn't changed, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"One thousand US Dollars per person per day, you're spending two million US Dollars every day!"

Trevor did the math and gasped. This kind of Expense was simply burning Money.

Compared to that, the few pounds of Gemstone his nephew Sean brought out from the volcanic rock wall were insignificant.

"More than that, plus logistics and supplies, and Equipment, this number will double!" The manager shook his head and said to Trevor.

"Four million US Dollars a day, that's one hundred and twenty million a month,"

Trevor's Eyes widened, and he gestured with his hands towards Frank:

"I don't understand what's in the Subterranean World that's worth your Boss spending so much Effort and Money!"

"There might just be a Lava Sea there right now..."

Frank stopped walking, faced Trevor, and stared into his Eyes, saying:

"Listen, Doctor, you don't need to guess the Boss's intentions. Your Mission is to find the entrance to the Subterranean World as soon as possible. The Reward the Boss promised you won't be short..."

Am I doing this for Money? Didn't you half-force me and tie me up to bring me here...

Trevor wanted to retort, but looking at Frank's cold and serious Gaze in front of him, he raised his hand halfway and then put it down helplessly.

Judging from the workers spread all over the mountain and the astronomical Expense, that Tang was determined to get the Subterranean World.

Nothing he said now would make a difference; he could only find the entrance to the Subterranean World as soon as possible.

"This entire Mountain Range is covered in snow. It's hard to find that mining pit,

But I remember it was a strong Magnetic Field area. Give me a Magnetic Field measuring Equipment, and I'll try my best!"

Hearing Trevor's words, Frank turned and looked at the Construction Site Manager beside him.

"I'll go get it right away!" Without waiting for Frank to speak,

The Construction Site Manager jogged all the way to the Tent where the Equipment was stored.

Because the mountain area was slippery after clearing the Accumulated Snow, he fell once on the way. After getting up, he didn't care about the scratches on his hands and called two workers to move the Equipment.

Trevor watched this scene and felt a little emotional,

"It's just a job, why is he working so hard? I even feel like he's giving up his Dignity!"

Frank glanced at him: "Do you know how much a Federation soldier's Salary is per year? Less than forty thousand US Dollars with subsidies! His Salary for a year is six hundred thousand!"

Trevor looked at the Construction Site Manager who was running breathlessly, blinked, and the little bit of sympathy he had just felt vanished.

However, Trevor looked at the machine being carried by the two workers and said to Frank: "Even if we find that area, with this snow depth and the collapse of that mine tunnel, the scale of this project is astonishingly large. Without Heavy Equipment, relying solely on these people, it will probably take until next year..."

"Is that so!" Frank and Trevor stood side by side, looking at the Construction Site Manager who was directing the workers to carry the Equipment over, and waved at him.

Seeing this, the Construction Site Manager quickly jogged to Frank's side: "Mr. Frank, do you have any instructions?"

"I remember the Boss borrowed a set of large Laser Mining Equipment from Weyland Industries. Where is that Equipment now?" Frank looked at the Construction Site Manager and asked.

The manager wiped the Sweatdrop from his face from running: "Mr. Frank, the Equipment has been transported to Iceland, but this, the road conditions here, simply can't be transported in!

We hired Experts to evaluate that it would take at least a month to clear a road capable of transporting large Equipment!"

"A month is too long!" Frank ignored the Construction Site Manager's troubled Expression, took out his Satellite Phone, pressed the Number, and dialed.

"Hello, Lane, this is Frank. The mountain here is sealed by heavy snow, and the Equipment you sent from Weyland Industries can't be transported in.

I remember the Federation has a Garrison in Iceland. See if you can find connections to borrow a few MH-53J Helicopters from Naval Air Station Keflavik!"

"Although I also serve as your Butler, I'm not the Turtle in the Boss's newly built wishing well!"

Frank looked surprised at Lane's complaining Tone on the Satellite Phone.

He had known Lane for so long, and in his impression, Lane was meticulous, efficient, and never dragged his feet.

He had always served as the Butler for their group.

And he had never heard him complain about anything.

Frank, who had never known what an accountant did at the end of the year, was about to ask Lane what had happened.

The other side immediately replied: "Five minutes!"

Then a series of beeps came from the Satellite Phone.

Frank held the Satellite Phone, wondering if he should call the Boss and ask.

In less than three minutes, his Satellite Phone rang.

"Go to Naval Air Station Keflavik and find General Walter! Beep beep beep..."

......

Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz...

The next day, four MH-53J Helicopters lifted several pieces of Heavy Equipment with Steel Cables and flew to the construction Scene.

When the four military Helicopters slowly lowered the Steel Cables, Trevor watched the two Engineers Command the workers to assemble the powerful Laser Mining Equipment with the Weyland Industries logo printed on it, and only then did he faintly realize how enormous the Influence behind that Tang truly was.

(end of chapter)