Published: February 12, 2025
The chaotic sounds outside did not affect Ye Zhongming; he and an elderly man were quietly savoring tea.
This tea was a specialty of the Blue Secret Realm, and after being roasted by several members of Cloud Summit who mastered tea-making techniques during peacetime, it was rich in aroma and had a distinct and pleasant aftertaste. It was one of Ye Zhongming's favorite drinks, often consumed for its great benefits to health.
Of course, Ye Zhongming's awareness of these benefits was negligible, partly because his physical constitution was too robust, rendering such improvements insignificant, and partly because he drank it so often that he had grown accustomed to it.
But it didn’t mean others felt the same; the elderly man in front of him wore an expression of astonishment and envy as he savored the flavor.
“Is Cloud Summit filled with such good things?”
The old man put down his teacup. He had already had three cups and still felt unsatisfied.
Ye Zhongming smiled, “Since Elder An is here, I naturally have to bring out some high-quality goods.”
This elderly man, with hair and beard all white, was none other than Elder An, the mastermind behind the Morning Light Pavilion and the creator of the four dragon heads from Black Dragon City.
Elder An laughed heartily, stroking his beard, and said, “It seems, Master Ye, that you were not surprised at all that I guessed your identity.”
“Those equipment all have my mark. Others might not care or may not recognize it, but how can one hide it from you, a fellow artisan?”
Elder An nodded, sighing as he spoke, “I once thought that even if I wasn’t the best artisan in the national zone, I would at least be one of the best. But after seeing the equipment you created and those on the national leaderboard, I realized the gap between us has grown to a point that fills me with despair.”
Ye Zhongming waved his hand, “Elder An, you are too humble. Though I haven’t observed closely, just looking from a distance, I can tell that the four dragon heads you made are not ordinary purple equipment. They connect to the structure of the city wall and possess four different attack methods, each with adjustable power. I even suspect that if the energy supply keeps up, they could pose a threat to ninth-level life.”
Seeing Elder An's astonished expression, Ye Zhongming continued, “That ninth-level man-bear king that always comes here craving sweets, he must have some thoughts about the four dragon heads, right? Even though the dragon heads are dead, the special method you used has preserved… their nutrients. As time passes and with the nourishment from the energy inside the city wall, these nutrients are continually increasing, making them more attractive, am I right?”
Elder An was speechless, stunned for a moment, “If I weren’t so sure that you have never been to Black Dragon City and have never seen the inside of the city wall, I would really think you participated in the creation of the four dragon heads. How did you figure this out?”
Ye Zhongming remained silent; it was something that could not be explained clearly with words, entirely based on his experience and intuition after evolving into a top glorious artisan.
However, he did not lie about one thing: he indeed held great admiration for the four dragon heads, and even Ye Zhongming himself could not guarantee he could create the same or similar equipment.
He truly respected Elder An.
Elder An sighed, “There used to be a saying: once you debut, you reach the peak. For me, my first time creating purple equipment marked my peak; after this, I doubt I will ever produce equipment better than the four dragon heads.”
Seeing Ye Zhongming wanting to console him, Elder An interrupted with a smile, “What I said is true. The appearance of the four dragon heads can be attributed to the right time, place, and people. The materials were outstanding, I was also at the peak of my evolution into a high-level artisan at that time, and I got a partially finished energy connection base. That’s how we have the four dragon heads today.”