bestfiction Chapter 406
Chapter 406
Zhong Ming responded sharply.
"How would I know if I can't afford the price and have to leave, or if you're just trying to gain fame and fortune and can't actually do it, making a living by scamming people out of money?"
He remained calm and composed, as if the person sitting opposite him was not a weapon refiner who was a whole realm higher than him, but a rogue street vendor.
“I’ve said before that my ideas are valuable.” He pondered for a moment and said, “But I can prove my ability by looking at my previous works.”
He opened a recording stone, inside which was a container he had crafted to hold a liquid that looked like a bunch of grapes.
Of course, the genuine product has already been delivered.
He began to explain in detail, “This design is inspired by grapes, a type of fruit. These small balls of different colors each have different functions. For some spirit wines that do not have high requirements, it is not necessary for all areas of the wine container to meet its required environmental conditions. Only a part needs to be guided. For example, this 'grape' that is like an ice crystal will generate ice spirit power after it is activated.”
Only this small part of the entire wine pot can generate ice energy, but it is enough to maintain the temperature of the entire wine pot.
Seeing Zhong Ming's engrossed observation, the man's suspicion deepened. 'Could this be a wine vessel commissioned by someone else, and he's just trying to piggyback on my design since he has no ideas?'
"How long would it take you to refine such a magical artifact?" Zhong Ming asked, looking very satisfied.
The other party held up a finger, shook it a few times, and said, "No, this is a spiritual artifact. It took me almost a hundred days to refine it, not counting the preparation time."
Zhong Ming silently compared his own scales in his mind. Either the person in front of him was not skilled enough, or the blacksmith who made them for him had cut corners. There was quite a difference in the time.
"Do you believe me now?" Seeing that Zhong Ming seemed lost in thought, his suspicions grew, and he began to become impatient.
The bone-white mask began to move unnaturally, shifting up and down across his face. The movement was small, but it was clear that the other person was not nodding.
Zhong Ming pondered for a moment and asked, "Excuse me, but I still want to ask what position you hold in the army." He took out five high-grade spirit stones in one breath, which was equivalent to five hundred military merit points, enough to prove his wealth.
The cultivator sneered, "Cannonballs? You're in charge of forging cannonballs. Are you satisfied now?"
"As far as I know, the shells are delivered every three months, or ninety days. You spend more than a hundred days in seclusion refining magical artifacts. How are you going to find the time to refine the shells?"
The artillery shells in the military camp are not something that can be made in advance by the foundry master. There are strict material restrictions. Materials are delivered once every three months, so you can only make one batch every three months.
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. I also have fellow disciples I can ask for help with."
Zhong Ming didn't know if what he said was true, but at least there was something that had delayed him that he himself dared not tell his fellow disciples.
"Okay, now that we've both proven what we need, can we begin collaborating?"
He wanted to shake his head, but after looking at the five high-grade spirit stones laid out below, he swallowed hard and said, "Very well, now repeat your detailed requirements."
"Before that, let me ask you a question: what do you think a warrior, a normal combat cultivator, should carry on his back without looking out of place?"
He was already annoyed by the questions. "Anything is fine. It's normal to carry a huge gourd of wine, and it's not uncommon to carry a big bottle. Anyway, once you're on the battlefield, no one will have time to guess your magical artifacts. They'll just deal with whatever comes their way."
"So, you're quite familiar with the battlefield?"
"Hmph," the man was clearly taken aback for a moment, then turned angry, "What, did I cultivate my cultivation level in this lifetime by being free from illness and disaster?"
"Okay, I'll give my opinion, and you can give your assessment. Is it normal for a lone warrior to patrol with a large shield on his back?"
"That's normal."
"So, do you have a way to make the wine jug into the shape of a shield?"
"You! Oh~~~"
His body swayed, and he thought to himself, 'I thought he was some troublesome ghost, but he's just a drunkard trying to sneak a drink on patrol.'
"Aren't you afraid that if a real fight breaks out, the 'shield' will shatter at the slightest touch?"
"At least no one would be stupid enough to attack me from behind while I'm carrying a 'shield,' right?"
'Hmm, a guy who excels at face-to-face combat.' He mentally filled in the gaps in his understanding of the other party, as both of them sized each other up.
"A smart choice, but we'll have to pay more."
"Fellow Daoist, could you please put it more politely? We're still discussing the specific price."
"Then let's settle on five..."
Zhong Ming, quick as a flash, snatched a high-grade spirit stone and said, "Let's set the base price at four hundred spirit stones, the average price."
The sound of teeth-sucking flowers drifted through the air.
"Alright, then it'll be shield-shaped, made of metal, and powered by spirit stones. The opening for the spirit stones will be placed..."
"The middle part, the grip you normally hold when you hold a shield, where your forearm rests on the shield... Hey! Do you really think it's possible to make a shield like that? Using alcohol as a cushion to reduce the impact!"
"Don't push yourself too far!"
He almost flipped the table and refused to talk anymore.
"Hey, don't be so agitated. We're talking right now." Zhong Ming stroked the spirit stone, forcing him to calm down.
"Five hundred military merit points, not a single one less; a shield-shaped wine bottle, a top-grade magic weapon, with the strength of a high-grade magic weapon, five openings to hold wine of five different attributes, and a pentagonal shape."
Zhong Ming emphasized again, "How long does it take to refine?"
"Fifty days."
"How about refining two?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, in one hundred days, can two be delivered?"
"Didn't you say yourself that the shells are supplied once every three months? Why are you trying to stir up trouble?"
"There's business to be had, are you going to take it or not?"
"We can only do it one at a time. In these extraordinary times, don't cause trouble, just behave yourselves."
Zhong Ming nodded.
It can now be proven that this matter was not comparable to a typical request for refining.
He stood up, looked around, and saw a curtain blocking the view; the area inside must be where the weapon-forging workshop was located.
"May I have a look around?"
"What else do you want to see?"
"Look at this legendary source of fire, is it really a super flame remnant born of nature?"
"Fine, look, look all you want." Master Heli was extremely angry. He lifted the curtain, revealing a large bronze cauldron inside. There was a restriction below it, which should open to reveal the so-called divine fire.