Chapter 778
Zhao Xingqiu! Ice Room, Ice Making
The newcomer was a tall woman wearing a blue floral dress. When she saw Bai Wanxi beckoning, she immediately walked over and asked bluntly, "Who exactly is this person who asked me to help him get an identity card as soon as you returned?"
As they were talking, her gaze fell on Zhang Lingshan, and she looked surprised, saying, "An ice-type unique spiritual root?"
"Yes."
Zhang Lingshan cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Miss Qiu. Thank you so much for helping my brother obtain his identity card. I will never forget your great kindness."
Miss Qiu waved her hand and said, "Don't thank me yet. First, Xiao Xi asked me for help, and I owe Xiao Xi a lot of favors, so I had no choice but to help. You should thank Xiao Xi. Second, I only got you an identity card. The little brother next to you hasn't gotten one yet. If you want him to get an identity card too, you have to do good deeds in our Ice Chamber."
"May I ask, what does Himuro do, and how does one earn merit?"
Zhang Lingshan asked.
Autumn Girl looked at Bai Wanxi and said, "You haven't even explained to him what he does, and you're already trying to stuff him into my hands?"
Bai Wanxi smiled apologetically and said, "I haven't had a chance to introduce him yet, but I think he has an ice-type spiritual root, which should meet the requirements of your Ice Chamber. He can definitely be of help to you."
"That's not necessarily true. I've seen ice-type spiritual roots before. Compared to a single water spiritual root, ice-type spiritual roots are more difficult to control. So not only will they not help make ice, they will also shatter the ice crystals and make a mess."
Qiu shook her head and said, "But since I've already helped him get his identity token, let's give it a try first. Li Xuanbing, right? Take your brother and come with me. And Xiaoxi, do you have any instructions for her?"
"I have none left."
Bai Wanxi smiled and said to Zhang Lingshan, "I wish Young Master Li good luck and hope he can establish himself in the Ice Chamber soon. If you have time, you can come back and visit me."
Zhang Lingshan solemnly cupped his hands and said, "I will come back. I will do anything to help you, even at the cost of my life!"
"Alright, what can you do to help? Talking about this is useless. Go back and make ice with me. As long as you work hard, we can solve your brother's identity problem soon."
Qiu was a decisive and efficient person, and she didn't seem to be good with polite words. She impatiently interrupted Zhang Lingshan's declaration of loyalty to Bai Wanxi.
In her opinion, what kind of status did Zhang Lingshan have that he was qualified to help Bai Wanxi?
He was already struggling to take care of himself, and Bai Wanxi had to ask him to help him get an identity card.
Although he has an ice-type unique spiritual root and is exceptionally talented, there are many geniuses in the world, but how many can ultimately become the supreme powerhouse?
Let alone strong individuals, even obtaining a spot as a Golden Immortal would be extremely difficult for Zhang Lingshan.
Therefore, saying that he would risk his life to help Bai Wanxi whenever she needed him is utter nonsense and meaningless.
Instead of wasting time talking nonsense, you might as well go back to the ice room and make more ice crystals. At least you'll get some credit points.
"gone!"
Qiu said goodbye to Bai Wanxi, and then left with Zhang Lingshan and Zhang Lingshe.
On the road.
The Autumn Maiden gave Zhang Lingshan her identity token, which was made of ice, crystal clear, like jade, and cool to the touch.
"The identity token itself is a test of your strength. If the identity token is destroyed, you will lose your identity. Do you understand?"
"Autumn Girl said."
Zhang Lingshan nodded and said, "Understood. May I ask Miss Qiu's esteemed name, and how I should address her?"
"My name is Zhao Xingqiu, and I'm currently the manager of the Ice Room. Actually, I'm capable enough, but there's no opening. Otherwise, I could be promoted to head manager. Although I'm not head manager right now, I do manage a few junior managers. You were recommended by Xiaoxi, so if you work hard, I'll arrange a junior manager position for you."
Although Zhao Xingqiu spoke bluntly, he valued Bai Wanxi's reputation and treated Zhang Lingshan quite well.
"Thank you, Steward Qiu," Zhang Lingshan said.
Zhao Xingqiu said, "Don't give me these polite nonsense anymore. As long as you do your job well, this identity token I gave you won't be a waste. Alright, enough of this nonsense, let's talk about what you're going to do next. It's actually very simple, it's just making ice. Ice boxes, refrigerators, ice crystals, things like that."
"What's the point of making these things?"
Zhang Lingshan asked in surprise.
Zhao Xingqiu said, "Many materials need to be stored in a cold environment, but not every caravan has skilled ice makers. Even if they do, they can't make enough ice outside in a short time. So we need to prepare these ice products in advance to preserve the materials."
"I see."
Zhang Lingshan nodded in realization.
This is like having a large portable refrigerator.
Although it doesn't require electricity, it's disposable because even the best-made ice won't last forever and will eventually melt.
Even the oldest ice, which has been frozen for a thousand years, will eventually melt away.
The reason why millennia-old ice can be formed is due to the environment. If it is removed from the corresponding environment, even ten-thousand-year-old ice will slowly melt away.
Of course, those people in the ice chambers couldn't create top-tier materials like thousand-year-old or ten-thousand-year-old ice.
However, they can enhance their ability to condense ice energy, thereby increasing the shelf life of ice products.
According to Zhao Xingqiu, these ice-making workers are divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D.
As long as the ice products manufactured can be maintained for 360 days under the corresponding environment, they can be considered as Class A workers.
"It will take at least 360 days for me to pass the assessment and become a Class A worker?" Zhang Lingshan asked in surprise.
Zhao Xingqiu glanced at him and said, "Judging from what you're saying, you're very confident that you can be directly assessed as Grade A. Hehe, don't worry, it doesn't need to be 360 days. The corresponding environment I mentioned refers to the ordinary environment in the ring space. We can strengthen the temperature detection of ice products to assess you. The specific reference values are quite complex and have been verified by many parties. You just need to know that it will be absolutely fair."
"I see."
Zhang Lingshan nodded and said, "Then I will apply for the Class A assessment."
"hehe."
Zhao Xingqiu smiled faintly and said, "It's good to be confident, but don't try to run before you can walk. First, learn how to make ice, test your skills, and then rethink which level to assess."
"it is good."
Zhang Lingshan did not argue with him, because facts speak louder than words.
Anyway, just let her watch over it once the ice-making process starts.
Zhang Lingshan had been in the Anning Army for so long, and he had been through all the ranks. Although he had come to a new place, he had already laid a solid foundation. Rank A was not his end point, but only his starting point.
He's a genius with an ice-type unique spiritual root!
Ice room.
What comes into view is an ordinary, unremarkable doorway with two unremarkable characters written on the plaque.
Once inside, it was just an ordinary house, very unassuming and lacking in sophistication, even more shabby than the homes of ordinary people.
However, this was only on the surface. When Zhao Xingqiu made a hand seal, layers of ice crystals appeared on the floor of the room.
These ice crystals initially formed chaotically, but in the blink of an eye, they formed a teleportation array.
"go!"
Zhao Xingqiu gave a low shout, and then Zhang Lingshan felt himself immediately begin to fall to the ground.
This teleportation array is very simple; it simply teleports them from the surface to underground.
"arrive."
Zhao Xingqiu said calmly.
The room that came into view was made of ice crystals. Amazingly, these ice crystals could emit white light, making the entire basement as bright as day.
However, light doesn't mean heat; it's terribly cold here.
"I'm so cold."
Zhang Lingshe couldn't help but shiver. He was a cold-blooded animal by nature, and even after transforming, he hadn't shaken off his instincts. He still involuntarily stiffened, his face turning deathly pale. "It's nothing."
Zhao Xingqiu casually released a burst of energy, enveloping Zhang Lingshe, and said, "Go through this passage, there's a large hall where the families of you workers stay. Someone will greet you when you get there; it's very warm there, and there's food and drink. But don't wander off. If you get lost and freeze, no one will be able to help you."
"Yes."
Zhang Lingshe immediately ran along the passage.
Zhang Lingshan asked, "Where do we go to make ice now?"
"Come with me, you impatient one."
Zhao Xingqiu gave a faint smile.
She even likes this kind of impatient nature. As long as it gets things done, being impatient is an advantage, representing high efficiency.
soon.
Led by Zhao Xingqiu, Zhang Lingshan arrived at an ice room.
In the room, there was an ice platform with intricate patterns engraved on it.
"Is it a formation?"
Zhang Lingshan asked in surprise, "It's not relying on its own power, but on this ice platform formation to make ice?"
Zhao Xingqiu said, "Of course, how much power one can condense will cause a lot of energy to dissipate. Without an array to collect the ice energy, how can one successfully make ice?"
Zhang Lingshan said, "You said before that water-type spiritual roots are easier to control because this ice platform formation can convert water-type energy into ice-type energy?"
"clever!"
Zhao Xingqiu laughed and said, "As expected of someone with an ice-type spiritual root, you understand so quickly. Since you've figured it out yourself, you know that if you don't control your ice-type energy well, it will actually affect the formation's ability to condense ice crystals. So, you need to control your ice-type energy carefully, lest the ice crystals explode and injure yourself."
"clear."
Zhang Lingshan nodded.
So right now, the first thing to do is to familiarize yourself with this formation.
So he placed his hand on the ice platform and began to channel his Xuanbing power into it.
Slowly, an ice flower began to condense on the ice platform.
At first, the ice flowers couldn't be called ice flowers because their shapes were irregular; they could be described as a piece of incomprehensible ice.
However, as Zhang Lingshan continued to supply the materials, he gradually adjusted them, creating triangles, squares, pentagons...
"Hexagonal!"
Zhao Xingqiu's eyes widened.
Surprisingly, he mastered the hexagonal ice flower pattern on his first try, and the tip of each corner was even growing and branching out, forming more branches and leaves.
What kind of ability is this?
A genius in ice making, one in a million.
As is well known, the more branches and leaves a flower has, and the more complex it is, the longer the flower will last.
Li Xuanbing was able to condense a multi-branched hexagonal ice flower on his first try. With a little training, becoming a Class A ice-making worker would be no problem at all.
No wonder he's so confident; he really does have some skills.
"good."
Seeing that Zhang Lingshan's ice crystal was successfully completed and landed on the ice platform, Zhao Xingqiu said, "With your current level, you can already be considered Grade B. Next, watch me refine it for you, learn some techniques, and becoming Grade A will not be a problem."
"it is good."
Zhang Lingshan watched quietly.
The so-called skill is actually the degree of mastery and proficiency in controlling this ice platform formation.
The more you understand the principles of this ice platform formation, the more skills you will be able to develop.
However, in Zhang Lingshan's view, Zhao Xingqiu only had a superficial understanding of the ice platform formation.
After all, not everyone is as knowledgeable about formations as Zhang Lingshan.
Therefore, Zhao Xingqiu's so-called skills are all the result of years of honing and refining.
She knows what to do but not why; she succeeds through skill, not because she understands the underlying logic.
Zhang Lingshan, however, was different.
Given time, once he fully understands this ice platform formation, he can combine it with his Xuanbing Tree to maximize its potential, and the ice crystal he finally condenses will undoubtedly be the strongest ice crystal in the entire ice chamber.
Unless, someone possesses a stronger divine sense, a greater mastery of formations, and a more powerful Xuanbing Tree than him.
If you're missing one, the other person is inferior to you.
Time passed slowly under Zhao Xingqiu's tutelage.
Although Zhao Xingqiu only had a superficial understanding, her guidance did deepen Zhang Lingshan's understanding of the Ice Platform Formation.
Thus, after ten days, Zhang Lingshan was able to condense a six-pointed, thirty-six-pronged ice crystal.
"We have passed the Grade A assessment."
Zhao Xingqiu nodded with satisfaction and smiled, "Your talent is truly remarkable. You are a natural ice-making prodigy. Xiao Xi has given me a great gift. I thought I was repaying her favor this time, but I didn't expect to owe her another favor."
Zhang Lingshan said, "I heard that Bai Lingfeng asked Tao Mingguan to propose marriage to Miss Bai. I wonder how Miss Bai is doing now?"
Zhao Xingqiu's face darkened slightly. He had been happy to have Zhang Lingshan, this prodigy, but his mood suddenly soured. He said, "We can't get involved in this matter. Don't think about it so much. Xiaoxi isn't so easy to win over. If you're so interested in this, you should focus on making ice. Once you've accumulated enough merit points, you can go on vacation. Then you can go see Xiaoxi."
"Ah."
Zhang Lingshan nodded and then asked, "When can I get an ID card for my brother?"
Zhao Xingqiu said, "After you become a Class A ice maker, you can get an identity card for your brother once you accumulate 10,000 merit points. However, that's meaningless. Your brother won't be bullied in the family hall. Instead of wasting your time, you should use those 10,000 merit points to improve your strength."
"understood."
Zhang Lingshan said this aloud, but in his heart he thought, "Damn it, I've already left the Anning Army, and I still have to work for someone else."
Moreover, the environment here is not as good as Jinglian Dange.
They went from one den of thieves to another.
Oh shit.
When will I be able to start my own business?
Fortunately, the merit points here are easier to earn than with the Anning Army, and you can exchange them for more things.
Most importantly, you can exchange spirit stones, which are the common currency here.
Here, one's status is no longer that of a slave; one can apply for a vacation to go out and explore, and spend spirit stones to buy all sorts of things in the market.
What Zhang Lingshan found even more humane was that applying for leave did not require spending merit points.
As long as you have accumulated a certain number of merit points from your work, you can apply for a vacation.
In short, this place is much freer than Anning Army, and the oppression is relatively less. (End of Chapter)