"Oh? What are the specific effects of this Battle Armor?"
Ning Fengzhi automatically filtered out Chu Chengzhou's "I am invincible under heaven," and instead grew keenly interested in the Battle Armor that could "turn weaklings into experts."
"I've already forged Thousand Refinement–grade Battle Armor. A five-ring Soul King wearing it can match a seven-ring Soul Sage."
"... Chengzhou, your father-in-law may be old, but I am not senile."
After a moment of silence, Ning Fengzhi spoke in a low tone.
It was not that he did not trust Chu Chengzhou, but a five-ring Soul King matching a seven-ring Soul Sage—two full major ranks apart—was simply too hard to believe.
Chu Chengzhou rolled his eyes. "Believe it or not. Elder Fang knows Thousand Refinement, doesn't he? Have him try it and you'll see."
He had written the forging method for Thousand Refinement Battle Armor in great detail, with every difficulty and its solution laid out.
Fang Quan already knew Thousand Refinement. What he lacked to make Thousand Refinement Battle Armor was only learning to inscribe soul guidance arrays.
And inscribing soul guidance arrays is not hard, at least far simpler than metal forging. The hard part is creating from nothing and innovating. With a "textbook" to copy, for Fang Quan, who is now a nine-ring Titled Douluo, it is no trouble at all.
"Does it really grant such a massive increase in strength?"
Seeing that Chu Chengzhou did not look like he was talking nonsense, Ning Fengzhi's expression turned solemn and he hurriedly asked.
"If I had an unmarried, pretty sister-in-law, I would be willing to bet on this with you."
Rubbing his chin, Chu Chengzhou said.
Ning Fengzhi: "."
Keep dreaming.
"That Thousand Refinement Battle Armor of yours, take it out and let me see."
Shooting Chu Chengzhou a glare, Ning Fengzhi could not help growing impatient.
Hearing can be false. Seeing is believing. Even if seeing is not absolutely true, it is better than hearing.
"Uh."
Chu Chengzhou was stunned.
"What? You can't produce it?"
Contempt filled Ning Fengzhi's gaze.
"Ahem. That kiddie toy, I gave it to Big Brother Qinghe."
Chu Chengzhou really could not produce Thousand Refinement Battle Armor at the moment, because after having Qian Renxue arrange testing, he forgot to take it back.
"Enough. Tea is drunk, bragging done, goods delivered. If there is anything else, just say it."
Taking a sip of tea, Ning Fengzhi spoke blandly.
Ning Fengzhi was a seasoned old hand and understood Chu Chengzhou's temperament. He knew that if it were only to give good things, this fellow would not come knocking in person.
"You truly live up to being an old fox, Elder. Your son-in-law is impressed."
Chu Chengzhou gave Ning Fengzhi a thumbs-up.
Then, ignoring Ning Fengzhi's face growing darker, he continued, "I only have seven elemental-attribute rare metals at home. I still lack water, wood, time, or space attribute rare metals. Also give me some Windspirit Iron and Profound Thunder Gold."
Getting down to business, Ning Fengzhi put away the urge to cut down Chu Chengzhou, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't actually know much about rare metals. I'm not sure which metals Windspirit Iron and Profound Thunder Gold refer to, and I don't know how much the sect has in stock.
As for the four attributes you want, water, wood, and time, I don't know if we have them. But I do know of a space-attribute metal called Thousand-Mechanism Copper."
To be honest, although Ning Fengzhi was the continent's biggest mine boss, he truly did not know how many kinds of ore his own business sold, and he did not recognize many rare metals.
The kinds of minerals on the continent were too many, not limited to metal ores. Even for iron alone, there were many kinds, such as Blackiron, Coldheart Iron, Nether Iron, Starfall Iron, Sunflame Iron, and so on.
And in this era the continent's demand for rare metals was not high. The bulk of metal-mining income under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still came from ordinary gold, silver, copper, and iron.
The first three could be used to mint coinage, while the last was widely used for weapons and armor, farm tools, and all sorts of daily goods. Prices were low, but demand was high.
Since it was not the main source of profit, and with sect affairs already busy, and sometimes needing to take time to save pitiful young ladies, it was natural that Ning Fengzhi did not know much about rare metals.
He remembered that the sect had Thousand-Mechanism Copper only because this rare metal had the high-sounding space attribute.
"By the way, from what you mean, you want to gather eleven different elemental-attribute rare metals for forging. Is that to make that Battle Armor?"
Ning Fengzhi asked again.
Though Thousand Refinement Battle Armor letting a five-ring Soul King match a seven-ring Soul Sage sounded fantastical, if it came from Chu Chengzhou's hand, it was not impossible.
After all, this son-in-law had done many things beyond his understanding before.
Chu Chengzhou nodded. "That is the plan. Excellent weapons and armor need excellent materials. The strongest Battle Armor should naturally be made from the strongest metals.
But not eleven kinds. Nine. Nine is the ultimate number. The rules of the world do not permit fusion forging with more than nine rare metals."
At this, Ning Fengzhi raised his brows.
A knowledge point arrived. The rules of the world do not permit fusion forging with more than nine metals.
"Hold on. That doesn't sound right.
Rare metals perform far better than ordinary copper and iron. In the past, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did study rare-metal alloys. Some craftsmen even got wild and melted more than a dozen rare metals together to cast an alloy, and we never encountered any restriction."
Recalling one of the sect's experiments, Ning Fengzhi asked in puzzlement.
Although that whimsical experiment failed and the rare-metal alloy produced was a lump of crap, he was certain there was no so-called world-rule restriction.
Chu Chengzhou rolled his eyes. "I said fusion forging, not simply mixing rare metals.
After fusion forging, a rare metal's properties change and it becomes a new metal. This is not merely a change in name but in essence.
For example, Fine Gold and Magic Silver can be fusion-forged into Spirit Gold. But even if you melt the forged Spirit Gold at high temperature, it remains Spirit Gold and will not revert to Fine Gold and Magic Silver."
An awkward look flashed across Ning Fengzhi's face. Skipping the topic, he said, "The rare metals in your home were all sent by the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce in Heaven Dou City. Since you have Windspirit Iron and Profound Thunder Gold at home, the sect treasury must have them too.
I won't say much, but it will be no less than a ton. Otherwise the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce would not be selling them."