Chapter 568: Strange Core
The blacksmith shop was filled with a hot atmosphere, the sound of forging iron was heard one after another, and sparks flew everywhere. Master Zhang was shirtless, wielding a sledgehammer, striking the iron block with concentration, and sweat soaked his back.
After a while, Lao Zhang had finished forging the iron tool in his hand. Looking at the people in front of him who had obviously been waiting for a long time, Lao Zhang asked, "Huh? It's you. Are you here to purchase some things today, or to commission forging?" Lao Zhang put down the sledgehammer in his hand and wiped the sweat from his face with a towel.
Hearing Master Zhang's question, Yun Jin took light steps forward and said, "Thank you, Master Zhang. Have you ever heard of the Thousand Wonders Core?" Yun Jin's voice was gentle and polite, with a hint of expectation in her eyes. She also hoped that Master Zhang could give them some useful information, so that they could save a lot of effort.
Hearing Yun Jin's question, Lao Zhang immediately replied, "Of course I have heard of it." After that, he looked at Yun Jin with suspicion and asked, "You are..." Lao Zhang looked Yun Jin up and down, full of doubts. He felt that this woman looked a little unfamiliar, but she looked very familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere.
Hearing Old Zhang's question, Yun Jin replied softly: "My name is Yun Jin, Master Zhang may not recognize me. However, my father once asked you to forge some swords and guns for use on the stage." Before, she rarely showed up in front of others, and more often appeared on the stage. It was normal that Old Zhang did not recognize her.
After hearing Yun Jin's answer, Old Zhang couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Yun Jin? Stage? Hiss... Could it be that you are the famous Mr. Yun?" Old Zhang's eyes suddenly widened, and an expression of surprise appeared on his face. He had watched Yun Jin's opera many times, but the makeup on the stage was fake and vivid. He didn't expect to meet him in person today.
As soon as he finished speaking, Old Zhang seemed to suddenly realize his own mistake, scratched his head awkwardly, and then hurriedly explained, "Ahem, look at my stupid head, I've been busy forging iron all day, and my brain is almost confused! Mr. Yun, your name is well-known, even a rough person like me who doesn't like to listen to opera has heard of it."
As Old Zhang spoke, he smiled embarrassedly. It seemed that what he had just done was indeed a bit rude. After he finished speaking, Old Zhang guessed the purpose of their visit, so he asked.
"I guess you all came here for the matter of the 'Thousand Wonders Core'. To be honest, I can indeed make this thing. I was fortunate enough to contribute when Lord Ningguang was repairing the Qun Yu Pavilion last time. But the ore required to forge this 'Thousand Wonders Core' is quite rare. It was prepared by Lord Ningguang himself last time. I wonder if you have brought it this time?" Old Zhang said while touching his chin. The materials were prepared directly by Ningguang last time, so it didn't take much effort. He just didn't know if these people in front of him had brought the materials.
After listening to Lao Zhang's questions, Paimeng, who was standing aside, suddenly looked embarrassed and scratched his head embarrassedly, because they really knew nothing about those so-called rare materials that Lao Zhang mentioned.
Faced with such a situation, Paimon felt helpless and could only respond helplessly: "That... no, in fact, the reason we came to you is to ask what materials are needed to make the 'Thousand Wonders Core'."
After listening to Paimon's words quietly, Lao Zhang seemed to be dragged into a deep and hazy vortex of memories by an invisible force. After a long while, when Lao Zhang had sorted out the information he needed in his mind one by one and confirmed that it was correct, he slowly spoke.
"Well, in general, the materials urgently needed at present are mainly 'Star-Breaking Iron Ore' and 'Secret Hua Stone'. If my memory is correct, Ningguang seems to have discovered and collected this ore near Tianheng Mountain last time. Speaking of this 'Star-Breaking Iron Ore', it is easy to find. It has a very wonderful and unique property. According to legend, this iron ore will produce some kind of mysterious resonance phenomenon with the Eye of God worn by the owner. So, as long as you are willing to spend enough time and energy to search and explore, it is still possible to successfully find their traces."
However, just when everyone had just started to have a glimmer of hope about finding the "Star-Breaking Iron Ore", Old Zhang mentioned another extremely rare material that gave everyone an instant headache.
He frowned slightly and continued with a serious expression: "However, in comparison, this 'Secret Stone' is much more troublesome! As far as I know, this kind of stone is so rare in the market that it is hard to find. It is not easy to get it..." Old Zhang's voice was full of helplessness and worry. He knew the rarity of the Secret Stone and knew that it was not easy to find it. It was impossible to find the Secret Stone without spending some time. Of course, the most important thing was that even he himself was not very clear about how to obtain the Secret Stone.
Hearing this, everyone who was originally full of expectations was stunned. Especially when they heard Lao Zhang say that even Li Yue, the most knowledgeable blacksmith, thought that this "secret stone" was extremely rare and difficult to find, everyone's faces showed frustrated expressions, and the originally high enthusiasm was instantly extinguished.
As a result, everyone turned their hopeful eyes to Old Zhang, hoping to get some useful clues or methods about finding the "Secret Stone" from him. Kong couldn't help but ask anxiously: "Master Zhang, how should we find this 'Secret Stone'? Please give us some advice. If we just search aimlessly, it will waste a lot of time!"
After listening to what Kong said quietly, Old Zhang frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then slowly opened his mouth and said, "Uh... To be honest, I don't really understand this matter."
Old Zhang shook his head helplessly, with an apologetic look on his face. He also wanted to help everyone, but he really didn't know much about how to find the secret stone.
As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up as if he suddenly remembered something important, and he continued speaking. "However, as far as I know, there is a group of mysterious people living in the Tianheng Mountain area. They seem to have mastered an extremely mysterious and profound secret method that can accurately locate the specific location of the legendary secret stone."