CIATB Chapter 152 Radiant Gold!
Chapter 152 Radiant Gold!
In the night sky, the last firework bursts forth with the most dazzling light.
On the lake, the reflections of the two people embracing tightly were mirrored.
This promise is more dazzling than any fireworks, and more weighty than any vow.
Nie Qingcheng felt her heart filled with an immense sense of happiness, almost overflowing from her chest.
She said nothing, but buried herself even deeper into the man's arms, as if trying to blend herself into his very being.
It was already very late when we returned to the Nie family's old house.
The elders had all retired for the night, but a warm light remained on at the entrance of Tingyuxuan for them.
The air still carries the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts brought back from the temple fair.
Nie Qingcheng clung to Zhang Yan like a koala until he carried her into the room and placed her on the soft bed, at which point she reluctantly let go.
"Go take a shower and go to bed early," Zhang Yan said gently, ruffling her hair.
"And you?" Nie Qingcheng tugged at his sleeve, her peach blossom eyes shimmering under the lamplight, filled with reluctance.
"I have something to do."
"No staying up late." Nie Qingcheng pouted and issued a CEO-style command.
"Okay." Zhang Yan smiled and agreed, gently kissing her forehead before turning and walking into the study.
As Nie Qingcheng watched his retreating figure, a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.
She knew that this man, once immersed in his own world, would lose track of time.
But she didn't disturb them.
She liked watching him focus; it made her feel that this omnipotent man also had his own little world.
And she was willing to be the one who watched over him from outside the world.
Inside the study.
Zhang Yan didn't turn on the lights; he simply used his mind to unfold the enormous, violently aesthetic three-dimensional drawing in the air in front of him once again.
[Mo Family Mechanical Beast: White Tiger]
The dark golden mechanical tiger hovered silently in the air. Every part and every structure was repeatedly disassembled, reassembled, and deduced in Zhang Yan's mind.
His two major skills, [God-level Mechanical Mastery] and [Mo Family Mechanical Techniques (Grandmaster Level)], were now being pushed to their limits.
The brain, like a high-precision quantum computer, is frantically calculating.
Every data stream is crystal clear.
However, when he tried to assemble all the parts in the virtual space.
On the drawings, a crucial connecting component was always depicted as a dull, inactive gray.
[Warning: The final structure cannot be completed due to the lack of core conductive materials.]
[Required material: Obsidian.]
The system's cold notification sounded in my mind.
Zhang Yan's brows furrowed slightly.
Obsidian?
He reached out and clicked on the detailed explanation of the term on the virtual drawing.
[Obsidian: A rare metal with ultra-high density and ultra-high toughness, possessing near-perfect energy conductivity, it is the only material used to construct the energy core and nerve center of the 'White Tiger' level mechanical beast.]
Next to the drawings, a short video clip was also attached.
It was a piece of metal, no bigger than a fingernail, completely black, yet capable of refracting a dazzling, star-like light under illumination.
It doesn't look like a substance that should exist on Earth.
"System, where can I find this?" Zhang Yan asked in his mind.
[Database search in progress... Query failed.]
This substance has no record in current civilization.
Zhang Yan's brows furrowed even more deeply.
Can't even find it in the statistics?
This is a bit troublesome.
He pondered for a moment and then logged out of the system space.
It seems that we still need to rely on the power of the real world to resolve this matter.
Early the next morning.
Zhang Yan and Nie Qingcheng accompanied Old Master Nie as he practiced Tai Chi in the courtyard.
The old man performed a set of punches without changing his expression or breathing, showing no signs of being over eighty years old.
"Grandpa, I need your help with something."
After finishing his morning exercise, Zhang Yan handed him a hot towel and casually began to speak.
"Oh?"
Grandpa Nie took the towel, wiped his sweat, and looked at him with great interest. "Did the sun rise in the west?"
"You little brat, you actually need something from me?"
Ever since Qin Xiao called Zhang Yan "Brother Yan," the old man's attitude towards Zhang Yan has become more and more like that of an "old monster" of the same generation.
Nie Qingcheng, who was standing next to her, also looked over curiously.
"It's not a big deal."
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "I just wanted to ask you about a special type of metal material."
He briefly described the form and characteristics of "Obsidian".
He didn't mention the name of the material or its purpose, only saying that a "friend" of his was conducting research and urgently needed it.
After listening, Old Master Nie's expression gradually became solemn.
He did not doubt Zhang Yan's words.
At his level, he clearly understands that there are many secrets in this world that ordinary people cannot access.
"I've never seen anything like what you're talking about."
The old man pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
A hint of disappointment flashed across Nie Qingcheng's face.
She knew that if her grandfather said he had never seen it, then it would be very difficult to find one in the entire Chinese business world.
"but……"
The old man changed the subject, "Although I've never seen it, I can ask around for you."
He looked at Zhang Yan, his eyes filled with a hint of solemnity.
"Although my Nie family is mainly in the business world, we still have some influence in some special areas."
"As long as this thing has ever existed on Earth, I'm confident I can find it for you!"
The old man's tone was full of powerful confidence.
That was the terrifying foundation accumulated by someone who had been in charge of a top-tier wealthy family for half a century.
However, a day later.
Old Master Nie personally sought out Zhang Yan.
The expression on his face carried a rare hint of frustration and solemnity.
"Kid, I've asked everyone about that thing you're talking about."
"From academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to materials experts in the military industry, and then to some... unknown underground channels."
"Everyone gave the same answer."
The old man looked at Zhang Yan and said, word by word.
"Unheard of."
This result made Nie Qingcheng's heart sink.
Even the Nie family, having mobilized all their resources, could not find any clues.
So this thing called "Obsidian" is just a vague and illusory legend?
She looked at Zhang Yan with concern, afraid that he would be disappointed and frustrated because of this.
However, Zhang Yan's face still maintained that calm and indifferent expression.
He even smiled and comforted the old man.
"Grandpa, it's alright."
"If you can't find it, then forget it."
He spoke in a relaxed tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
"I was just asking for a friend; it's not something I absolutely need."
The more he acted like this, the more heartbroken Nie Qingcheng felt.
She knew that he wasn't indifferent.
He just didn't want them to worry.
"Since I can't find it, I'll just look for it myself."
Zhang Yan stretched, showing no sign of disappointment on his face.
"Who knows, maybe one day, at some street stall, we'll bump into each other?"
His nonchalant attitude left the old man both admiring and helpless.
This kid's composure is far beyond that of ordinary people.
But where does that absolute confidence hidden beneath the calm come from?
The old man couldn't understand it.
He couldn't be bothered to think about it anymore.
All he knew was that entrusting his granddaughter to him was the best decision he had ever made in his life.
The search for "Obsidian" ends here.
Zhang Yan didn't mention it again, as if he had completely forgotten about it.
He still accompanied Nie Qingcheng every day, strolling around the capital.
Alternatively, you could stay at the Nie family's old house, play chess with the old man, and give pointers to the younger generation on how to play games.
Life was leisurely and pleasant.
Until the afternoon of the third day of the Lunar New Year.
A furtive figure appeared at the entrance of Tingyuxuan.