Chapter 47

"This is... the Crimson Sunstone!" Chen Dachui looked at the large piece of ore in Zhong Wen's hand, which was slightly warm, and let out a series of admiring exclamations. "A piece of Crimson Sunstone this large is truly rare."

"Old Master Chen, you are an expert. Could you please evaluate this? What kind of weapons can be forged with this piece of Crimson Sunstone?" Zhong Wen humbly asked. He only knew how to forge alchemical stoves and medical tools, and was completely a novice when it came to weapons.

"The world often misunderstands the forging of weapons, thinking that using the best materials will result in the finest weapons. In fact, a good weapon requires a balance of materials. To forge a fine sword, only a small piece of Crimson Sunstone needs to be mixed with ordinary steel. With a piece of Crimson Sunstone this large, it would be more than enough to forge ten swords." Chen Dachui stroked his beard and nodded his head.

"Oh?" Zhong Wen's eyes lit up. "Could I ask Old Master Chen to use this piece of Crimson Sunstone to forge some weapons? I am willing to pay the appropriate compensation."

"If you need them, I would forge not just ten, but a hundred, a thousand, without hesitation." Chen Dachui waved his hands. "My grandson and I have already received great kindness from the Piaohua Palace, and have been staying here for several days. I have long wanted to find a way to repay your kindness. Forging a few weapons is just a matter of lifting a finger for me; how could I accept payment?"

"One thing at a time. It is already a great honor to have a top forging expert like you. I must pay the spirit crystals." Zhong Wen smiled. "Even if you don't consider yourself, you should consider Xiaowan. With her appetite, if you don't carry more spirit crystals, how will you live after leaving the Piaohua Palace?"

Hearing Zhong Wen hit a sore spot, Chen Dachui couldn't help but smile awkwardly. "However, I did not bring my forging tools this time. I will need your help to gather them."

"Old Master Chen, just tell me what you need." Zhong Wen said readily. "I will directly purchase them from Miss Shangguan."

"Do you think I'm a general store?" Shangguan Mingyue pouted, feeling like a laborer in front of Zhong Wen, and said with some dissatisfaction.

"Would you like a fine sword I forge?" Zhong Wen said with a grin.

"..." Shangguan Mingyue wanted to refuse, but thinking about the rarity of the Crimson Sunstone and the fact that it would be forged by a master, the temptation was too great to resist. She changed her tone, "Since you are so considerate, I will reluctantly help you one more time."

Thus, Zhong Wen procured a batch of forging tools according to Chen Dachui's requirements, and added some high-level spirit pattern discs for drawing the "Spirit Gathering Array."

After dinner, Zhong Wen slowly made his way to the back mountain where "Indigo Fairy" was located.

As expected, the tiger and the eagle were still guarding the spot, their eyes fixed on the spirit flower, not daring to leave for a moment.

"Big Sister Tiger, Big Sister Eagle." Zhong Wen greeted the two spirit beasts with a smile.

"You have come." The White Tiger responded in a friendly manner.

The giant eagle only nodded slightly, acknowledging his presence.

Without further ado, Zhong Wen held the earthenware jar and slowly poured the well water, which had been soaked with the "Taishui Pearl," onto the smaller blue spirit flower.

"What are you doing?" The giant eagle couldn't help but ask.

"This is divine water, which can help the spirit flower grow quickly." Zhong Wen explained.

The two spirit beasts, not being human, did not mock the term "divine water" but showed great interest.

"Will it work on other spirit medicines?" The White Tiger asked first.

"Of course, divine water is effective on all plants." Zhong Wen boasted proudly.

"There are a few spirit fruits on the back mountain, which are also rare. If it works, could you give those spirit fruits some 'divine water' as well?" The giant eagle suddenly said.

"If Big Sister Eagle commands, how can Zhong Wen refuse?" Zhong Wen was very eager.

"Thank you!" The proud giant eagle, surprisingly, expressed gratitude.

"The effects of the 'divine water' will be visible in a couple of days. Please be patient, Big Sister Tiger and Big Sister Eagle." Zhong Wen gave detailed instructions and then left, leaving the two spirit beasts staring at each other, continuing to guard the flower.

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"Miss Nangong, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Looking at the tall and handsome young man in front of her, Nangong Ling's eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness. "Could you be Duan Lei, ranked twenty-second on the Great Qian Heroes List, known as 'Fire Cloud Spear'?"

"I didn't expect Miss Nangong to remember my name. It is truly an honor for me." Duan Lei had once seen Nangong Ling from a distance and was struck by her beauty. This chance encounter made him unable to resist approaching her.

"What can I do for you, Brother Duan?" Nangong Ling asked with a smile, her beautiful eyes exuding charm, making Duan Lei's heart race and almost forget to answer.

"I dare not give advice, but the South Province is not peaceful. Miss Nangong is traveling alone with only one attendant. I am concerned for your safety and would like to offer my services to accompany and protect you." Duan Lei assumed the green-clad woman beside Nangong Ling was a "servant."

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Duan, but I have traveled this path to my sect countless times and have never encountered any danger. I will not trouble you further." Nangong Ling politely declined.

"Miss Nangong..." Duan Lei tried to say more, but saw Nangong Ling gently pull the reins, and her red horse galloped away, quickly becoming a small black dot in the distance.

Watching the back of the incomparably beautiful Miss Nangong as she rode away, a hint of desire flashed in Duan Lei's eyes, and he was lost in thought.

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In a corner of Cangyun City, there was a small and dilapidated "Fusheng Inn." Despite its poor conditions and exorbitant prices, the innkeeper seemed oblivious to the poor business and continued to operate it with enthusiasm.

Around noon, a white-clad guest wearing a straw hat appeared at the inn.

Walking into the inn, the white-clad guest looked around and saw that the hall was empty, with no other guests. The innkeeper was a middle-aged man with a horse-like face, unremarkable in appearance, the kind who would blend into a crowd.

The young waiter was slumped on a table, fast asleep, completely disregarding the inn's image.

"Guest, are you here to eat or stay?" The innkeeper asked, his tone dry and expressionless.

"I heard your inn's human meat buns are excellent." The white-clad guest's voice was soft and slightly hoarse.

"Our human meat buns are not cheap." The innkeeper narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold.

"I can afford the price for one human meat bun." The white-clad guest's voice became even softer.

"What level of human meat bun?" The innkeeper asked.

"A bun made from a person at the fourth level of the Human Wheel."

"Name, address, and appearance."

"Zhong Wen, Qingfeng Mountain Piaohua Palace, this is his appearance." The white-clad guest took out a portrait from his pocket, which bore a striking resemblance to Zhong Wen. "There is only one man in the Piaohua Palace, making him easy to identify."

"A human meat bun from a person at the Human Wheel level costs 100 spirit crystals." The innkeeper said calmly.

"The Piaohua Palace has experts at the Heaven Wheel level, so I will pay 200 spirit crystals." The white-clad guest raised the price, "Please arrange for the best master to ensure success."

"Guest, rest assured, our master chefs are all top-notch." The innkeeper's tone softened, "Our rule is to collect half the payment as a deposit, and you can come to pick up the bun in ten days, paying the remaining half."

"Do I need to leave my name?" The white-clad guest asked.

"No need, we have our ways." The innkeeper paused, "Rest assured, your identity will be kept absolutely safe."

"Thank you." The white-clad guest pressed a spirit crystal bill onto the counter with his index finger and pushed it to the innkeeper, then turned and left the inn.

"Do you think weakening the Dantai family means I can't deal with you?"

At the street corner, the white-clad guest adjusted his straw hat, revealing a pair of venomous eyes. "The reputation of the Ten Thousand Gold Tower is great; don't disappoint me..."

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The translation task from the "New Huazang Scripture Pavilion" gave Zhong Wen a headache. With his current level of Great Qian language, translating an entire book was like a dream.

One day, seeing the little girl engrossed in a storybook, he had a sudden idea.

It's just translation; it doesn't say it has to be done by me!

"Xiaodie, can you help me with something?" Zhong Wen's face showed an incredibly gentle smile.

"What?" The little girl looked up at him, puzzled.

"Reciting the 'Mengxue' is too boring. I have a good way to learn characters." Zhong Wen adopted a studious attitude. "Why don't you read a storybook to me, and I will record it in my own way and memorize it repeatedly. It should be much more effective."

"Sure." The little girl, who also found the 'Mengxue' boring, nodded eagerly. "I'll read you 'The Tyrant Prince Falls in Love with Me,' written by a sister surnamed Feng in the capital. It's very interesting."

Zhong Wen: "..."

At such a young age, what kind of nonsense is she reading...

Zhong Wen was deeply concerned about the little girl's education.

However, to complete the task, he had no choice but to set aside his concerns. The storybook in the little girl's hands didn't look too thick, and the title suggested it was relatively simple and easy to understand, making it an excellent choice for the task.

"Let's do this one. This one is good. I'll get paper and pen." Zhong Wen quickly prepared the materials and sat down at the table. "Master Lin, please teach me!"

"In a dilapidated little house, Feng Qingyu was bending down to clean the dirty wooden floor, her tattered clothes unable to hide her beauty..." The little girl began to read, the story simple and the dialogue straightforward, a typical rags-to-riches tale of a poor girl being loved by a tyrant prince. Zhong Wen sat beside her, writing down the story in Chinese characters.

Occasionally, Zhong Wen would request, "Read slower" or "I didn't hear that sentence clearly, please repeat it."