Apocalypse or Not: Different People's Circumstances

Now that even this top expert has been attracted here, let's see who dares to laugh at blacksmiths as mere "troublemakers" in the future!

Big Hammer said, "When that person arrives, everyone calm down! Don't get too excited, or we'll look like we've never seen anything like this before."

"We must clearly present our previous research findings and make sure we accomplish what the expert assigned us!"

Big Hammer was thinking to himself that once he helped this expert solve the problem, it would be equivalent to doing a huge publicity campaign that would shake the entire server.

By then, all the players in the entire God's Domain world will remember them, and the United Association might just make a name for itself!

"This is our crucial chance to turn things around, so nobody messes things up! During the fusion experiment later, those unlucky ones better stay far away!"

Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating the moment, a player suddenly pointed to the sky and exclaimed:

"Look at the sky! Birdman! -- No, it's a god!"

Everyone looked up and saw Chongxing, wearing a mask, slowly descending from the sky.

As for why he could still be recognized at a glance even while wearing a mask, it's thanks to the information previously revealed by "Blind Man" —Chongxing obtained a new wing appearance in the level 90 dungeon.

Players now widely speculate that the Barbarian God Hall dungeon may contain special items for upgrading wings.

After the news spread, not only were high-level players eager to get their hands on it, but the first to get excited were actually the female players who were obsessed with appearances.

They've been leveling up with even more fervor than the top players on the leaderboard lately, all in an effort to clear dungeons as soon as possible and obtain the materials to upgrade their wings.

The Blind Man also described that the wings of the Great God Chongxing have now transformed into the form of a four-winged angel.

Seeing it with my own eyes now, it truly felt like an archangel had descended!

A soft white halo subtly swirled around it, making it dazzlingly eye-catching from a distance.

That's so flashy!

That was everyone's first impression.

As soon as Zhang Mingzhen settled in the city, he was surrounded by a group of people.

The expressions on the faces of the crowd were complex and hard to decipher, a mixture of excitement and a chilling fervor.

"Which one of you is Brother Big Hammer?" Zhang Mingzhen asked with a smile, after all, he needed something from him.

"Me! It's me!" Big Hammer immediately straightened his chest, pushed through the crowd, and strode to the front.

He was beaming as he began to introduce the United Association's members and their research achievements to date.

He took out a bottle of golden potion:

"Master, this is the 'Gold-Melting Potion' I mentioned to you."

"Only by adding this material can a resonance be triggered between the two pieces of equipment, thus making fusion possible!"

"Gold-Melting Potion (Mutant): Increases the success rate of equipment fusion upon use; it is one of the necessary materials for equipment inheritance."

"This is what you developed? It's really impressive," Zhang Mingzhen praised.

The fact that they can produce consumables that are almost of Mutant quality shows that they do have some real skill.

"Yes, you flatter me."

"However, to complete the equipment fusion, the Gold-Melting Potion alone is not enough."

"According to the optimal formula we've derived through repeated trials, we also need Placer Gold, Limestone, and Equipment Decomposition Stone."

"The specific dosages are all recorded here."

The Big Pendulum had clearly done its homework, making sure the customer understood everything. It even had the proportions of all the ingredients clearly listed in a table, showing its meticulous attention to detail.

He wasn't worried that Zhang Mingzhen would copy it, because this was part of the game's background; having the recipe alone wasn't enough, you also needed the corresponding skills and items.

"I understand. So, anyone can attempt to fuse these materials as long as they're gathered?"

If that's the case, he could simply ask them for enough materials and experiment with them himself later.

That won't do.

"A specific Forge must be used—there's only one in the entire server, located at the blacksmith's shop in the main city, and another within our Blacksmiths Association." A look of pride crept onto Big Pendulum's face as he mentioned this.

This is why he wasn't afraid of the formula being leaked and openly shared it.

In fact, they also hoped that the other party would provide more Rare Tier raw materials.

To figure out the structure and working principle of that Forge, he had to put on countless smiles and act like a junior in the blacksmith shop where he used to work.

"Alright. Then prepare enough materials to support four successful fusions. I'll come to you when I need them."

"You should understand my requirements: allow one piece of equipment to inherit the prefix of another piece of equipment, while retaining its original base attributes."

"Can you do it?" Zhang Mingzhen asked.

His requirement was simply to give upgradeable equipment the attributes of a Radiant Set, thus making it part of the set.

"Well... to be honest, we haven't actually tried the method you mentioned."

"But there have been successful cases where the attributes of two pieces of equipment were fused, and the equipment inherited the prefix of one of them."

"Your requirement is essentially the same, except that the consumption of various materials would double."

He makes a good point.

As long as the principles are the same, the differences between different equipment mainly lie in the material requirements and success rate.

As for these trivial matters, let Big Hammer take care of them.

"Sure. What kind of reward do you want? Help me clear the dungeon? Equipment? Or Gold Coin?"

That's exactly what Big Hammer was waiting for!

His heart started racing.

"Master, would you be willing to be the spokesperson for our Blacksmiths Association? We don't need to do much, just have your name listed!"

We'd like to use your reputation for some publicity!

"If we can get this big shot to endorse us, let's see which guild will dare to look down on us in the future!"

"Let's choose another one," Zhang Mingzhen said, shaking his head.

What a joke! He has his pride too.

Using a group of blacksmiths as a brand is not only beneath one's dignity, but it could also easily lead to unnecessary trouble in the future.

"Then... can you help us find a few bodyguards? Some really strong ones, just to keep things under control."

These non-combat players aren't particularly interested in dungeons or equipment, nor are they as enthusiastic about collecting costumes as those who prioritize appearance. They simply want to find a quiet, undisturbed place to hone their crafting skills.

With their combat strength, the major guilds wouldn't even look at them, and guilds have too many rules and regulations, requiring them to obey orders on a daily basis. It's not as free as building their own faction.

Since the big names aren't willing to endorse it, finding someone who can keep things under control is a good idea.

Zhang Mingzhen frowned.

How come this is getting more and more complicated?

Endorsing products and maintaining a public image are not jobs that can be done once and for all.

He didn't have any close friends to begin with, and the Legion Guild was even less likely to allocate extra manpower to this group of "unproductive" players.

They prefer direct incorporation.

Where can I find a storefront that can impress people?

Speaking of thugs to keep things under control... his mind suddenly shifted.

Isn't there a group of the Azurewave Clan about to become "unemployed" right now?

With their combat strength, they are more than capable of dealing with Ordinary Player.

As for the previous promise to grant them freedom once they completed their mission...

Staying in the city to oversee an association, without having to mobilize all members, should also be considered a kind of freedom, right?

Anyway, he agreed on their behalf first, and whether they were happy or not was not important.

"Okay."

"I'll have a few friends come to support you afterwards; they'll say it was my arrangement."

"As for combat strength, you can rest assured; it's more than enough to deal with average players."

"Great! Thank you so much, expert! To be your 'friend,' you must be a master too! Now we can rest assured!"

The other association members who were listening in also showed expressions of satisfaction.

"Now I can leave the guild with peace of mind!"

"No more getting up early and working late to do guild daily tasks!"

"So, you're working from dawn till dusk to save time for blacksmithing and mining?"

"It's not like you've joined some kind of sweatshop."

"What did you say! How could I, a craftsman with two hands, be entangled in worldly affairs! What do you know!"

After some debate, both parties were satisfied and finalized the cooperation agreement.

Zhang Mingzhen solved the problem with almost no money spent, and one can imagine how happy he was.

After he spread his wings again and left the city, the rumors about "the great god Chongxing suddenly appearing in the main city, having a brief meeting with the Blacksmith Guild, and then leaving in high spirits" had already spread like wildfire.

Everyone speculated about why this top expert wanted to find that group of blacksmiths.

"What kind of help can those simple hammering and banging methods provide? Could it just be a rumor?"

"Ignorant fool. Do you really think it's better to get equipment as a system drop, or to craft it yourself?"

"Absolutely true! My relative works in the forging union and I heard they've established a long-term partnership with the master!"

"Them? A bunch of people who only know how to fix things up?" one player scoffed.

Clearly, these are players who blindly believe in the system's features.

"I'd rather believe the expert just got lost and was asking for directions..."

Meanwhile, another piece of news about the Chongxing also ignited heated discussions among everyone—the new wings called "Archangel Wings"!

This nickname was originally given casually by a player, and because it was so vivid, no one bothered to investigate the real name.

"Bro, it's time to go level up! Time flies, what are you dawdling for?"

For the first time, "Imperial Dynasty Defies Heaven" was being urged by his younger sister to improve his strength; in the past, the situation was always the exact opposite.

"There's no use in rushing. Leveling up isn't something that can be done overnight. You're still a long way from level 90."

Even at level 90, we both know how difficult the top-tier dungeons are; they are by no means easy to conquer.

"Who told you not to help me raise my wings!"

"If I have to grind through dungeons all by myself, when will I ever be as awesome as those pro players?"

The Imperial Dynasty Little Princess found a screenshot that was being widely circulated among players on the forum, showing Zhang Mingzhen appearing in the city that day.

Behind the masked man in the picture, four pure white wings spread out, radiating a holy glow, as if a god had descended to earth.

This is exactly the version she was looking forward to.

Players who already idolized Chongxing became even more fanatical.

"I just saved up enough points to exchange for a pair of wings, and now I have even more advanced ones? Don't ask me how to tell the difference, just looking at their shape tells you they're extraordinary!"

"Speaking of which, that pure white glow is a perfect match for the Priest profession. As Priest myself, I definitely have to get my hands on it!"

"That's really flashy, definitely Cheater."

"How do you get started? The primary requirement is level 90, and the drop method is still a mystery."

"That clueless guy I brought last time couldn't explain anything either. It's better to bring me; at least I'm smart!"

"Those people who prioritize appearance have gone mad. You can run into them everywhere in the wild these days; it's like they're planting spies."

"With the end of the world looming, they're still putting on this flashy but impractical stuff. It's ridiculous!"

Those of you at the top of the rankings, beware of those who are obsessed with appearances secretly sabotaging your efforts!

Players on Earth, whether seeking the speed granted by advanced wings or pursuing a more dazzling appearance, have seen a surge in the number of players in the wild during this period.

As a key figure in a group that values appearance, the Imperial Dynasty Little Princess was at the forefront, her enthusiasm seemingly tireless.

What doomsday?

That was the end of the world for the poor, but a celebration for the elites.

Even during the Three Kingdoms, when the population plummeted from 50 million to 5 to 10 million, the Wei-Jin era still flourished.

It's not that serious yet.

The Imperial Dynasty Defies Heaven said helplessly:

"Wait a moment, I have many things to attend to. Go with your sisters first."

I don't know where you get such energy.

"Speaking of new wings, I remember Fengming is also from your association, right? She seems to have obtained wings with a special appearance before?"

"Why don't you just buy one from her?"

The Little Princess scoffed, "You yourself said it's just about appearance. It's a different style, I don't care."

"What I want are truly high-level wings!"

She had been seething with jealousy just moments before, complaining countless times about how lucky that woman had become, but now she was pretending to be completely indifferent.

"Since you all belong to the same society, why do you dislike her so much?" He really didn't understand why these women had so many entanglements every day.

Three women, six groups—it's ridiculous.

That Fengming is also spoiled and arrogant; I wonder how Longyin can tolerate him.

"She's incredibly unreasonable, always overthinking things, and utterly hypocritical and pretentious. Stay away from her!"

As soon as the person being discussed came forward, they sent word.

"Honey, wanna go for a jungle run? All the girls are here! My husband's leading the group today, come on over!" Fengming messaged.

The Little Princess instantly beamed with a bright smile, "Okay, okay, I'm coming!"

The Imperial Dynasty Defies Heaven, who was observing from the sidelines, looked up at the sky and sighed.

Was their relationship good or bad?

The existence of women is truly perplexing.

Zhang Mingzhen was unaware that his appearance had ignited the enthusiasm of countless players to venture into the wilderness, and many even contacted him privately to inquire about the drop sources of wing upgrade materials.

He obtained the items needed for advancement from the initial treasure chest in the dungeon, but he couldn't be sure whether this opportunity stemmed from the treasure chest's inherent characteristics.

Because this instance is a special setting that allows for a preliminary level, the truth must be revealed.

When players learned that the newly created wings could also carry others, their enthusiasm soared even higher.

Whether it's to accompany their beloved, to showcase their extraordinary strength, or simply for convenience, those brand-new wings that can greatly enhance speed are definitely worth their all-out effort.

"Did you see the latest announcement? The new wings can carry people with them!"

The pretty young girl and her sisters exclaimed and whispered in surprise.

Yu Tian, who was silently taking on the main offensive role, suddenly felt a sense of helplessness. As the guild leader, he had to personally deal with these monsters. Even when he was in Fixed Team, he had never felt so tired.