“Red Dragon Alloy?”
“This old lady naturally knows of it.”
Kuntu looked Li Xiuman up and down before continuing.
“That stuff is extremely precious.”
“Since you're asking, it seems you have Red-Faced Square Gold.”
Kuntu sat back down in her chair, crossed her legs, and stared at Li Xiuman.
“You brat, you sure have plenty of good stuff on you.”
“Not at all. Compared to Master Bal, my meager stash is nothing,” Li Xiuman sat upright in his chair and replied.
Kuntu chuckled and held out a hand toward Li Xiuman. “Where is the Red-Faced Square Gold? Let this old lady take a look at its quality.”
Li Xiuman hurriedly pulled out a fist-sized chunk of Red-Faced Square Gold from his coat.
Kuntu took it, weighed it in her hand, and used her monocle to inspect it with Magnify.
“A rare grade indeed.”
“This old lady has a chunk of Red-Faced Square Gold too, but in terms of quality, it pales in comparison to yours.”
As Kuntu spoke, she retrieved her own piece of Red-Faced Square Gold from the cabinet and held it side-by-side with Li Xiuman's for comparison.
Hers was a dull, lusterless dark red.
Li Xiuman's, on the other hand, glowed with the light of molten lava, as if liquid magma were truly sealed inside it.
“If it were the same quality as mine, there wouldn't be any need to hesitate.”
“But your piece... the quality is far too high. Using it to synthesize ordinary Red Dragon Alloy would be a shame.”
Hearing Kuntu's words, Li Xiuman's eyes lit up. “Is... is there an extraordinary kind?”
Kuntu took a puff of smoke before replying to Li Xiuman's question.
“Ordinary Red Dragon Alloy is an alloy refined at high temperatures in a furnace, using Red-Faced Square Gold as the base material along with mithril, pure magic steel, and other elements.”
“Naturally, this kind of Red Dragon Alloy is still extremely precious. Its mana conductivity and hardness are among the highest of all alloys.”
“As a rare magic material, it enjoys a grand reputation throughout the magic world.”
Li Xiuman nodded along.
He already understood these basic facts regarding the synthesis of Red Dragon Alloy.
“And that kind of Red Dragon Alloy...”
Kuntu extended a finger while supporting her pipe, pointing it at Li Xiuman as she continued, “This old lady calls it Fake Red Dragon Alloy.”
Fake Red Dragon Alloy?
Such a precious alloy was merely called "Fake Red Dragon Alloy"?
Seeing Kuntu pause without elaborating, Li Xiuman instantly realized she was waiting for him to play along.
So he hurriedly chimed in, “Then Master Bal, what counts as True Red Dragon Alloy?”
Kuntu pulled back her pipe, thoroughly satisfied with Li Xiuman's prompt response, and continued.
“Red Dragon Alloy, Red Dragon Alloy...”
“Just as the name implies, true Red Dragon Alloy naturally has something to do with actual red dragons.”
Red dragons?
“Infuse red dragon scales, forge it with red dragon fire, and blend in the standard materials like mithril...”
“Only then can you forge True Red Dragon Alloy.”
“This type of Red Dragon Alloy truly holds the power of a red dragon's flame inside it. Once forged, its surface bears a pattern resembling dragon scales.”
“It truly lives up to the name of Red Dragon Alloy.”
Li Xiuman's face instantly fell with disappointment.
Red dragon flames, red dragon scales... How could he possibly get his hands on things like that?
Back then, the bone dragon Pound had put him through absolute hell right after he transmigrated.
And a red dragon—a classic legendary creature—was certainly not something he could target.
“Let's just synthesize ordinary Red Dragon Alloy.”
Although he wanted it, Li Xiuman valued his life far more.
“Hey, you're supposed to be a young man! How are you even more listless than an old timer?”
Seeing Li Xiuman give up the moment he heard the requirements despite his clear interest, Bal immediately raised her voice.
“I'm a young man, not an idiot.”
“Don't refuse just yet! At least let this old lady finish speaking. Young people these days are so impatient.”
Kuntu stomped her foot and huffed.
Being lectured like this by what looked like a little girl felt quite bizarre to Li Xiuman.
Still, he decided to hear out this expired loli first. After all, Kuntu didn't seem like the type to talk completely out of her hat.
“This old lady wouldn't offer suggestions that are impossible to accomplish.”
“South of Iron River City, there's a volcano where a juvenile red dragon resides.”
“Calculating the time, that red dragon should be due for its shedding period about now.”
Kuntu pulled out a map, unrolled it, circled a location, and said to Li Xiuman, “That red dragon's tier should currently be around Tier 4.”
“However, as a member of the dragon race, its strength is roughly equivalent to a weaker Tier 5 creature.”
Li Xiuman looked at the location on the map, lost in thought.
“Tearing scales straight off its body is naturally unrealistic for you.”
“However, finding a way to gather the scales it sheds during its shedding period is entirely doable.”
Having said this, Kuntu turned and sat back down in her chair, leaving Li Xiuman standing before the map spread across the table.
“The choice is yours.”
“With such a great opportunity, if you still want to stick to ordinary Red Dragon Alloy, this old lady won't force you.”
“After all, you are the client. The decision lies with you.”
“This old lady is merely offering timely, reasonable advice.”
Li Xiuman fell silent for a moment, his heart swaying.
With the Dungeon Core, he could retreat into the White Bone Dungeon in times of danger.
Besides, since the red dragon was undergoing its shedding period, it wasn't impossible for him to gather even more shed scales to synthesize even more Red Dragon Alloy.
He certainly wouldn't say no to having more of such valuable True Red Dragon Alloy.
“You're right, Master Bal. As a young man, how could I lack vigor?”
“I'll go try my luck.”
Saying that, Li Xiuman rolled up the map and tucked it into his coat.
“May I borrow this map?”
“It's just a map. If you want it, take it.”
“However, if you wish to synthesize True Red Dragon Alloy, this old lady has a new forging design in mind for your saber.”
“That is, assuming you can safely bring back the materials.”
Kuntu said as she stared at the Red-Faced Square Gold in her hand. Then, she tossed a bottle toward Li Xiuman.
Li Xiuman caught it and instinctively used Appraisal on it.
[Magic Flame Bottle] A bottle capable of devouring flames to form a spark. The spark can provide a single burst of combustion corresponding to the absorbed flame.
[Quality] Green
A magic tool?
As expected of a wealthy blacksmith—lending out a magic tool without batting an eye.
“This Magic Flame Bottle can absorb a red dragon's flames to condense a spark.”
“Of course, expecting you to directly absorb a red dragon's breath attack is unrealistic.”
“You only need to collect enough heat and flames from around the dragon's nest to condense a dragon flame spark.”
Kuntu explained to Li Xiuman.
Li Xiuman stowed the Magic Flame Bottle inside his coat.
“Thank you for your trouble, Master Bal.”
“In that case, I shall take my leave.”
Offering a polite bow, Li Xiuman departed from the blacksmith shop.
Kuntu quietly puffed on her pipe, watching Li Xiuman leave.
Then, she brought the Snow Wolf God's Fang closer to inspect it carefully.
“Is it just this old lady's imagination?”
“It feels as though this wolf tooth bears... the faint aura of the legendary Glacial Seal Sword?”
“I'll ask that brat next time.”
And in the next instant, Kuntu completely pushed the matter to the back of her mind.
When one lives long and accumulates too many memories, the speed at which one forgets speeds up as well.
Rate on N.U.
