Shangjing City.
Recently, two rumors have been circulating within the city.
First, the prime minister’s daughter has been imprisoned and will have a public trial at the government office tomorrow, which all citizens can observe.
Second, the blacksmith Wang Dachui, blessed by divine inspiration, has mastered a secret forging technique and become renowned in the city.
Shangjing City, Ping’an Street.
Ping’an Street differs from Yong’an Street. The former is a residential area, while the latter is a bustling market. The blacksmith shop is located in front of a corridor at the corner behind the street—a somewhat remote spot.
At this moment, the corridor was filled with Shangjing citizens watching the excitement, with a few refugees mixed in the crowd.
Although these refugees could barely protect themselves, their curiosity had never diminished.
The onlookers didn’t approach the blacksmith shop, only watching from a distance, because the shop was no longer what it used to be—now it only received sect disciples.
Who are sect disciples?
They are all immortals. Ordinary commoners like them wouldn’t dare disturb immortals at work.
Baixiaosheng’s information had not yet spread widely; few knew about it. Mu Qingxue was one of them.
“Boss, can you enhance equipment here?”
In response to the player’s question, Wang Dachui, bare-chested, looked confused. He swung his hammer, continuously striking the red-hot iron ingot.
With each swing, his bronze, muscular chest trembled, displaying an aesthetic of power.
He looked at the player with a full smile and replied, “Immortal Master, I don’t understand what ‘strengthening’ means, but here I can forge equipment.”
“Haha, Baixiaosheng didn’t lie to us—they can enhance equipment here!”
“Damn, really?”
“What are you waiting for? If you have equipment, take it out and try! Once those on the World Channel find out, there won’t be any spots left.”
“Boss, is there a failure rate?”
Wang Dachui put down his hammer and patiently explained, “Immortal Master, are you asking about forging failure? With my skill, the chance of successfully forging equipment is only fifty percent.”
“Of course, the higher the quality of the strengthening materials you provide, the higher the success rate.”
The several players immediately exchanged fearful glances.
Equipment is already hard to obtain. And there’s a damn failure rate? Who would dare to enhance? If they get unlucky, they’d lose everything, right?
Just as they were hesitating, a graceful figure suddenly stepped in, bringing a whiff of fragrant wind, and asked Wang Dachui a question.
“What materials are needed for equipment enhancement?”
“Nima, have some manners! Don’t you know how to wait in li— uh…”
This player was about to curse, but when he saw the golden ID title of the one who cut in line, he immediately shut his mouth.
A cool beauty in white, with the glittering gold title “Great Disciple of Shu Mountain”, instantly attracted the gaze of everyone present.
However, aside from players, others couldn’t see the information above her head.
Wang Dachui stared blankly at Mu Qingxue. Her cool, snow-lotus-like temperament and breathtakingly beautiful features deeply captivated him, and he unconsciously became entranced.
The surroundings fell silent. Everyone quietly admired this unique beauty.
“Hmph!”
But then, a cold snort broke the silence.
Mu Qingxue’s face was like frost. She coldly looked at Wang Dachui, a flicker of disgust in her eyes.
‘As expected, men are all the same—animals that think with their lower halves. Truly disgusting.’
‘Although I really dislike this NPC named Wang Dachui, the situation is unclear, and only this place can enhance equipment. Letting my anger prevent me from enhancing my equipment would be somewhat unwise.’
“Wang Dachui, what materials are needed for equipment enhancement?” Mu Qingxue suppressed her displeasure and asked again.
Perhaps because Mu Qingxue was too cold, or he realized he had lost his composure, Wang Dachui involuntarily shuddered and quickly snapped out of his infatuation. He replied, “Xianzi, different equipment requires different materials. May I ask which one you are referring to? Could you show me the equipment you wish to forge?”
Mu Qingxue took out the Flowing Wind Sword.
This sword was given to her back then by Shen Qingqing. Its attribute increased basic attack speed and movement speed.
It was good for basic attacks and kiting.
Wang Dachui took the Flowing Wind Sword, examined it carefully, then returned it.
“Xianzi, the enhancement materials for this sword are ten pieces of high-grade iron ore, one piece of spirit ore, and five stalks of wind shadow grass.”
“As for the high-grade iron ore, I still have some leftover here. Xianzi only needs to provide the spirit ore and wind shadow grass to me.”
“What are wind shadow grass and spirit ore?” Mu Qingxue was greatly puzzled. She had never heard of these materials.
“In reply to Xianzi, spirit ore is an ore necessary for forging magic artifacts. It can only be exchanged at the Sect Alliance using fame. As for wind shadow grass, it grows in windy places, especially on mountain peaks and cliffs where it is easy to find. Of course, you can also exchange for it directly at the Alliance.”
Fame!!!
Mu Qingxue immediately caught on to this key point.
‘No wonder equipment enhancement was released together with fame quests. It turns out both are indispensable.’
“Thank you for telling me.” Mu Qingxue nodded and said.
Wang Dachui cupped his hands and smiled honestly, “Xianzi, you are too kind. This is a mission bestowed upon me by heaven; there is no need for thanks.”
Mu Qingxue did not waste any more words with him. She teleported away and returned to her sect.
She wanted to ask her master, Sword Immortal Zi, about how to exchange at the Sect Alliance, and also inquire whether the sect had a place to forge equipment.
‘If Shangjing City only allows one enhancement, then what about the remaining enhancement levels?’
Mu Qingxue had used the system to inspect Wang Dachui’s strength. He was only at level ten-something, far too weak.
‘Is it possible that because he is too weak, he can only enhance once, and later enhancements require higher strength?’
‘And speaking of strength, nothing can compare to the sect, right?’
Therefore, Mu Qingxue speculated that there must be a specialized NPC for forging equipment within the sect.
‘After all, NPCs aren’t like players who can farm equipment from dungeons. They can’t just produce them out of thin air, right?’
But then again, the Xianjie wasn’t like a traditional online game; it didn’t follow the usual path. These were just her own guesses, and whether they were correct needed to be verified.
Half an hour later, Mu Qingxue came out of Jian Ge, her face full of excitement. She clenched her little fists, almost jumping for joy.
She had guessed correctly. The sect did have a specialized forging NPC.
As for why players hadn’t discovered it, it was because the Artifact Forging Room was not public, and its location was underground within the sect compound.
Now that the equipment enhancement hurdle was solved, what about the source of materials?
Thinking of this, Mu Qingxue fell silent.
Standing on the steps of Jian Ge, she quietly pondered.
People of all kinds passed by, coming and going, constantly eyeing this stunning beauty who stood motionless.
Suddenly!
Mu Qingxue’s beautiful eyes snapped open, shooting out a sharp light. A sly smile slowly curled at the corners of her mouth.
‘Got it.’
‘This time, Xueyan Pavilion finally has something to do.’
‘The materials needed for equipment enhancement are not easy to obtain.’
‘When I originally established Xueyan Pavilion, my intention was to commercialize it.’
‘After all, letting the Pavilion’s thousand-plus members have only outflows and no inflows would eventually drain our funds.’
‘Now the opportunity is right before me. It depends on whether I can seize it.’