Chapter 90: Chapter 90
Inside the private chamber, Locke ignited the semi-automatic small furnace on the work table, heating the Coldvein Meteoric Iron to a semi-molten state, then poured the Coldvein Meteoric Iron onto the Gentleman Orchid.
This was a crucial step.
If done incorrectly, the Gentleman Orchid would be ignited by the high temperature in an instant and turn to waste along with the Coldvein Meteoric Iron. All his previous investments in the [All Plants Are Soldiers] cantrip model would be reduced to nothing.
The moment the Coldvein Meteoric Iron liquid contacted the Gentleman Orchid, Ogham runes flashed across the Gentleman Orchid's surface. Locke's mana continuously flowed into it, and abundant life energy gathered together, causing the Gentleman Orchid and Coldvein Meteoric Iron liquid to actually begin bonding. Updates are released by novel·fiɾe·net
Half an hour later, Locke wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The Coldvein Meteoric Iron had completely adhered to the Gentleman Orchid. The Gentleman Orchid had formed an arc-leaf curved blade, with cold-colored stripes forming on its surface, which were the patterns formed by the Coldvein Meteoric Iron.
Locke lightly flicked the leaf blade with his finger. The leaf blade actually produced a metallic sound, while retaining the soft touch sensation of touching the leaf alone with his finger.
This was a special effect that only plant magic could create, simultaneously combining the tactile sensation of metal and plant leaves, possessing the characteristics of both.
Locke's mind stirred, and the leaf blade folded inward like origami, curving very softly. Then Locke issued a second command, and the leaf blade swung in the air of the chamber, cold light flickering in the air.
The leaf blade enhanced by Coldvein Meteoric Iron had the characteristics of both plant leaves and Coldvein Meteoric Iron, making its effects more powerful and capable of achieving results where one plus one was greater than two.
Locke walked out of the chamber, took two hundred magic stones from his Astral Ring, and handed them to the dwarf Tyne.
Then he left Kentri Furnace Workshop, and the dwarf Tyne also returned to the depths of his shop to continue overseeing his flame furnace synthesis array.
Locke walked to the front of the neighboring shop. He looked up at the white finger bone-shaped plaque and stepped inside.
The overall color scheme of the shop was black and white. He felt as if he had walked into a coffin shop. The shelves in the shop displayed many skulls and some unknown creature bones or specimens.
Locke stepped on the black yak hide carpet and scanned the shop, finding no one inside.
No one responded to Locke.
Locke frowned. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation in Chimera Trading Market.
He looked around, and his eyes were drawn to several wooden boards hanging in the center of the shop:
"This shop sells information, therefore does not engage in idle chat or answer meaningless questions. If you have questions, please read the shop introduction. The shop owner will not repeatedly answer customers' meaningless questions."
Locke raised his eyebrows. He hadn't expected this archaeologist to be such a "witty" person, with such an eccentric personality that was quite different from the common white wizards.
He continued reading.
"Second-class wizard apprentice level questions cost 50 magic stones per answer. First-class wizard apprentice level questions cost 200 magic stones per answer. Some difficult questions will require additional payment. Formal wizard level questions require detailed discussion with the shop owner."
"This shop does not answer boring questions or low-level questions. Please consult books, ask others, or conduct your own research for such matters."
"This shop declines refunds. If you are not satisfied, do not ask questions in the first place."
"This shop also provides corpse consultation services, 100 magic stones per session, allowing corpses to answer three questions. However, this must pass the White Wizard Association ethics review mechanism. All consequences are unrelated to this shop."
Locke looked at the last small blackboard hanging on the wall: "This shop welcomes all profound difficult questions. Some interesting difficult questions may even be answered for free."
"Additionally, this shop is currently offering a six-month archaeology crash course with tuition of 1000 magic stones. Requirements are second-class wizard apprentice level or above, possession of at least minor negative energy particle affinity, and love for ancient knowledge existing in history. Whether you learn it or not is your own responsibility, no refunds possible."
Locke approached these small blackboards hanging on the wall and only then saw where the shop owner was located. The old man was actually sitting on the floor behind the shop counter, looking down and fiddling with a naga skull in his hands.
He held the naga skull to his ear, seemingly quietly listening to this naga skull telling him secrets about itself.
Locke walked over and inquired, "Shop owner, are you currently offering archaeology training classes?"
Historical Scholar McCarthy frowned displeasedly and glared at Locke with extreme ferocity. This guy looked very gloomy and strange, like a vampire old man, with sunken pupils and sinister eyes, as if Locke owed him a lot of money.
McCarthy grabbed a humerus bone from the floor, then held the humerus and tapped the first small blackboard hanging on the wall, which read: "This shop sells information, therefore does not engage in idle chat or answer meaningless questions."
There were quite a few first-class wizard apprentices in Lilith's Cottage who would choose to teach classes to earn money, specifically earning money from those studious second-class wizard apprentices who couldn't find direction.
These courses were generally quite deceptive. Although they would teach some things, their main purpose was to earn easy money, so the course quality was predictable.
Locke wasn't sure whether this shop's archaeology crash course was also this type of situation.
In any case, it had already been clearly stated that whether you learned it or not, no refunds were possible.
Locke returned to his main topic for coming here. "I would like you to appraise a ring of mysterious origin, and I hope to sign a confidentiality agreement."
"I don't want the information leaked."
Only then did McCarthy show some reaction. He impatiently said, "I can sign a contract."
"My shop's reputation is much more important than your little bit of information."
Locke thought for a moment, then took out the ring Earl Augustine had given him from his Astral Ring.
McCarthy stood up, took the ring from Locke's hand, and examined it with a magnifying glass.
After looking for a while, his eyes showed a hint of interest. "This isn't from the southeastern quadrant, otherwise I would definitely recognize its origin."
"But this is a ring forged from [Stasis Iron] mixed with [Replication Bronze] and [Nibelungen Mithril]. Not to mention anything else, just destroying it would be impossible for apprentice-level wizards."
McCarthy said, "This is not an item that wizard apprentices can possess. I can only provide this much information."
"Consider it equivalent to a second-class wizard apprentice level question. Just pay me 50 magic stones."
Locke hadn't expected that the ring in his hand was not only made of Stasis Iron, but also very likely didn't belong to the southeastern quadrant.
McCarthy's expression suddenly changed. He sniffed the air, then suddenly brought his head close to Locke's side. "This scent... it can't be... you have ancient creature bloodline modification..."
McCarthy's originally cold, even impatient gaze suddenly changed. He looked at Locke with bright eyes. "First-class wizard apprentice, do you have ancient creature bloodline modification? It should be Orcni Ancient Bear..."
"In this era, you actually managed to obtain Orcni Ancient Bear bloodline." McCarthy completely changed his attitude toward Locke, becoming enthusiastic. "House of the Historical Scholar welcomes customers like you who possess rich temporal multi-layered charm."
"Consider that previous question a gift."