Bamboo Mound

"Five layers of colorful silk, 20,000 merit points, full-coverage clothing, absorption and replacement..." A form appeared in the disciple's hand at some point, and he was writing down some of the requirements.

"Does the elder have any other supplementary ingredients he brought?"

"There is also the shell of a Spiny Water Turtle, with a fetal heart strength of level six."

"A sixth-tier fetal heart level Spiked Black Water Turtle!" A disciple from the Appraisal Department, who had been relaxing, suddenly exclaimed, "Elder, may I have a look at it?"

“Naturally.” Ning Chang took out the tortoise shell and controlled it to float vertically a few meters away. Even at some distance, the huge tortoise shell still occupied the entire field of vision!

"I never thought I'd be able to see the shell of a Spiny Water Turtle in the Fetal Heart Realm! Elder, this shell is a treasure; it has extremely strong defensive capabilities and a high affinity for water-attribute spiritual energy."

If this ingredient is used as the main material, the resulting armor will provide only basic protection from rain and snow!

“However, this also requires a reassessment of the overall cost,” another disciple chimed in at the opportune moment. “Furthermore, the elders need to decide on the combination of the Spiny Water Turtle’s shell and the bamboo leaves.”

Are there more varieties?

"Naturally, overall, the shell of the Spiked Water Turtle is of a higher grade, so armor made primarily from it will have a higher base strength compared to bamboo leaves."

However, the final product will primarily resemble a tortoise shell, quite different from the body-covering garment the elders had just decided on, and will only be used as outer armor.

"Then let's stick with bamboo leaves. Since it's a growth type, it doesn't matter if the initial strength is a bit weak." Ning Chang put away the tortoise shell and returned to the front of the stage.

"Using bamboo leaves as the main component, and in accordance with the elder's expectations for the finished product, the shell of the Spiny Water Turtle will be broken and incorporated into the bamboo leaves to ensure the functionality of the transformation. However, it is expected that the basic strength of the finished product will be reduced to around the first level of the fetal heart. Is the elder satisfied with this plan?"

"That's it, nothing else?"

"There are still some left, let me see... The main ingredients are two thousand bamboo leaves, one Spiny Water Turtle shell, and the auxiliary ingredients are five strands of Hundred-Colored Silk, seventeen Ice Silkworms, one Yunpeng branch, three Concentration Stones, three Miniature Array Plates, and the blending auxiliary ingredients are three portions of Spirit-Solidifying Powder, two portions of Firefly Wing Powder, and one Langgan Tree Leaf."

"The total cost of materials is 74,620 merit points." The disciple calculated quickly, listing the prices of various materials in just a few breaths.

"In addition to the processing fee of 20,000 for growth-type armor, the single fee of 5,000 for array masters, the single fee of 21,000 for craftsmen, and the auxiliary manufacturing fee of 2,000, Elder, you will need to pay a total of 122,620 merit points."

"120,000 is quite cheap, but could you please tell me about the materials?" He was curious, as he had never heard of any of the materials before, and he hadn't even heard clearly when the disciple listed them out.

“Of course.” A disciple from the appraisal department took over the conversation, while the disciple in charge of recording left with the form.

"The Hundred-Colored Silk has been introduced before. It is used externally and can slightly change the shape and color of the finished product. It is made by the Refining Workshop and costs 20,000 for five forgings."

Ice silkworm silk is the silk produced by ice silkworms. The silkworms are seven inches long, black, with horns and scales. The cocoons are one foot long, multicolored, and do not get wet in water or ignite when thrown into fire.

Its waterproof function overlaps with that of the Spiny Water Turtle shell, so it is used as a fireproof and sewing material. The quantity of seventeen ice silkworms is 17,000.

Yunpeng, white as snow, a single branch is two zhang long, and can be seen with a white light at night. It is used to support and shape armor, and a single branch costs one thousand.

The Concentration Stone grants the finished product the function of protecting the soul and primordial spirit, making it an essential item for growth-type armor and armor of the Fetal Heart Realm and above...

"Does that mean the more Mind-Concentrating Stones you have, the stronger your ability to protect your soul?" Ning Chang suddenly interjected.

"That's not the case. Adding Concentration Stones only adds a protective function to the armor. The specific strength depends on its main materials and the way it is nurtured."

"Okay, continue." He wanted to add more.

"Concentration Stones, three for 30,000; Miniature Array Plates, provided for array masters to inscribe basic arrays on armor, such as spirit gathering and regulation, three for 6,000."

There are three kinds of auxiliary ingredients. One is spirit-stabilizing powder, which adjusts the spiritual quality of each ingredient to avoid conflict. Three parts of three hundred.

Firefly Moth Wing Powder, one part to neutralize the properties of the Spiny Armored Water Turtle's shell, one part to assist in regulating its function, two parts cost three hundred.

"The leaves of the *Lycoris radiata* tree can be used as a kind of adhesive, twenty yuan per leaf." He nodded and continued:

"The material costs are as described. The labor cost of 21,000 is because the materials need to be processed by three disciples, with each disciple receiving 7,000 per task."

"As for anything else, does the elder have any other questions?"

Just then, the disciple who had left returned with another disciple, carrying a polygon that was exactly the same as the one Song Yuming had brought.

"Elder, if there are no changes, just give him the bamboo leaves and the shell of the Spiny Water Turtle. As for the payment of merit points, if the elder wishes to retain merit points, other items can be used instead."

"Bamboo leaves?" He didn't have any intention of saving merit points, since there was no other place to use them in the short term.

“Bamboo leaves won’t work, at least not for now, because Elder Song Yuming hasn’t announced the official circulation of these bamboo leaves.” The new disciple shook his head.

"Then let's use merit points." He took off the jade token and placed it on the counter, while taking out the tortoise shell and two thousand bamboo leaves and piling them aside.

The new disciple picked up the jade token, lightly touched it to the polygon, deducted the corresponding merit points, and then respectfully returned the jade token to Ning Chang. He then collected the materials beside him and left.

Then the disciple in charge of recording handed Ning Chang a long strip of iron with irregular patterns engraved on it.

"It will take about two months to forge this piece of armor. Elders can come here at any time with this receipt to check the progress and collect the finished product."

"Two months, okay." Ning Chang put away the iron sheet, glanced at the interior of the weapon-refining workshop, found nothing of interest, turned around, and walked out of the cave.

He had come with Zhao Gang and couldn't move quickly, which was why he had set up the protective shield. Now that everything was alright, he naturally wouldn't stay in the furnace area for even a moment.

"Next up is the Astrology Pavilion." He still knew nothing about the Astrology Pavilion and rigidly associated it with formations.

After leaving the weapon-refining workshop, Ning Chang, filled with a slight curiosity, headed slowly towards the Astrology Pavilion.

Before long, a relatively flat body of water came into view.

Or rather, the entire area is made up of these crisscrossing streams, and on the strips of green land, houses stand neatly, smoke rises from chimneys, and people in simple clothes go about their work. It doesn't look like the residence of the Astrology Pavilion at all, but rather more like a village in the mortal world.