Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 527 - 349: Meteorite Hunting_1

Chapter 527: Chapter 349: Meteorite Hunting_1

"Judging from the color of the fire meteor, it indeed could be a stony meteorite," Pan Weining said.

When a meteor body enters the Earth’s atmosphere and burns at high temperatures, the flame can vary in color due to the different metal components it contains, similar to the principle of a metal’s flame test.

Different metals may produce different colors when they burn, so some fire meteors appear green as they streak across the sky, while others are yellow or other colors when they fall and burn.

The fire meteor last night, however, did not emit any distinct color as it burned in the sky; if anything, it was somewhat white.

A few years ago, Pan Weining and others attended an outdoor event where they witnessed a fire meteor of a similar color, which turned out to be a stony meteorite once it hit the ground.

Of course, it’s not absolute, and only after finding it and subjecting it to testing by an inspection agency can its composition be determined.

However, if it really is a stony meteorite, the Metal Detector won’t be very useful.

The few people whom Wen Zhiyu disliked had already started busying themselves with their equipment.

First up, the preliminary work—

Strike a pose for a photo; solo shots, group photos, work pics; snap a few, then post them on social media when there’s a connection.

After the preparatory work was done, they began using detectors to search for meteorites.

"There hasn’t been any sandy weather recently; I always feel that the photos are lacking the ambiance I imagined."

"I think it’s pretty good, blue sky and yellow sand, the silent desolation fits my temperament perfectly."

"Quick, quick, quick! Finish taking photos and get to work! Are we going to split up?"

"Not too far apart, pair up for a grid search!"

"Hey, do you guys think that ’aliens blew up the meteorite’ thing on the internet is real?"

"Pfft, with my years of experience browsing the net, it’s clearly fake! What era is this, you can’t fool me with those blur photos! The authorities should thoroughly investigate! Those who faked it probably have some ulterior motives!"

"But I think, the experts can’t be that easily fooled, can they? There hasn’t been any debunking up until now. Maybe it’s true!"

"I’m just here for the excitement with you guys. I don’t see what’s so fascinating about meteorites, spending so much money on a black, ugly rock. Where’s the aesthetic value? I’d rather buy antiques."

"Speaking of historical age, the rocks under your feet are older than the antiques in the museum."

"Am I looking at how old it is? I’m looking at its artistic and cultural value! The significance it represents on its own!"

They argued over whether meteorites were worth the high price.

Not far away, several cars were parked haphazardly.

These were meteorite hunters taking a temporary rest.

They watched those people with sophisticated detectors and cool attire.

"Who are those people?"

"Out-of-towners. Looks like rich kids who’ve come to join in on the fun."

"Then we’ll just leave them be. How about you, any finds?"

"Nothing yet, been out here since last night, and haven’t found anything."

"I’ve made some findings over here, but I can’t tell if it’s a meteorite."

"Where is it, show me, I’ll help you check it out."

"With your skills, you still have the nerve to check for me?"

They chatted with laughing faces.

With their experience, they of course knew that regardless of the composition of the meteorite fragments from this fire meteor event, with the mystique surrounding it, it would always be marketable. Even if the meteorite market went cold, they could still sell it! Not to mention that it was now at the peak of attention, so the price would definitely not be low!

Everyone wanted to find the meteorite from this event, but they all understood that this was different; the joint protection agency’s people were watching, as were the officials. If they wanted to sell it at a high price immediately, they’d have to hide it secretly and not let a single word slip out.

The items displayed openly were mostly decoys to confuse onlookers.

Therefore, even if they noticed other hunters carrying bags that seemed to contain meteorites, and even if those bags actually held something, they would not insist on checking the contents, understanding that what was inside might not be genuine.

The hunters had found numerous rocks suspected to be meteorites, but whether they were truly fragments from this fire meteor wouldn’t be confirmed until they took it somewhere private for testing.

The group of meteorite hunters, after their light-hearted talks, lowered their voices and muttered to each other, occasionally pointing and making remarks about the young people nearby, clearly not with good intentions.

Suddenly, a cry of excitement arose from the team with top-notch equipment:

"We’ve found something!"

Whoosh!

Over a dozen pairs of eyes swept over.

"Let me see!"

"The detector reacted, but we don’t know to what yet."

"What does it look like, dig it out! Never mind, I’ll help you!"

"This is a promising start, haha, didn’t expect to find something so fas..."

"Who the hell littered this garbage?!"

"That’s despicable! Truly lacking in morals! How could someone litter in the desert like this!"

Following the mayhem, a piece of metal junk that had been buried in the sand for God knows how long was unceremoniously tossed into a trash can.

"Don’t lose heart, let’s continue."

"Work quietly if the detector gives a signal, no need to announce it just yet."

It wasn’t long before there was another discovery.

This time it was a metal artifact left behind by someone, possibly made from meteorite material or meant to imitate it, and had been there long enough to show signs of weathering.

The well-equipped team was startled and looked somewhat elite when still, but turned into a group of fools the moment they started moving.

The resting meteorite hunters’ excitement dampened considerably, and now when they heard exclamations from the other group, at most they would lazily lift an eyelid.

Not until they heard a cry of "Aha, this time it really is a meteorite!"

Everyone’s attention was once again drawn over.

The person who dug up a black rock was now holding it in his hand and showing it off.

"I heard that meteorites are heavier than ordinary rocks, hey, I think this one looks quite like it, look at the lines on it, this must be when it burned through the atmosphere as it fell from space, right?"

People crowding around looked at the rock in his hand.

A palm-sized black lump, a bit heavy to hold, also looked very similar in shape and gloss.

His companion took a look at the rock and said, "Let’s label it ’suspected’ for now, we’ll know once we take it back for testing."

The one who found the rock continued to show off, even asking his buddies to take pictures for him. At this moment, he was the center of attention.

Wen Zhiyu watched the triumphant face and prepared to share his thoughts with Pan Weining.

But he found that Pan Weining wasn’t paying attention to that at all.

"What’s on your mind, Big Pan?" Wen Zhiyu said.

Pan Weining lifted his chin slightly, signaling Wen Zhiyu to look towards Feng Yi.

"Did you forget who decided to stop the car here?"

Wen Zhiyu was taken aback, then understood and looked over.

He saw Feng Yi slowly walking around not far away, as if discerning something.

"Damn! He’s onto something!"

Wen Zhiyu broke into a run, heading towards Feng Yi.

After getting out of the car, Feng Yi didn’t pay attention to others, even if the well-equipped team nearby shouted in excitement from time to time, he didn’t divert his focus.

Perhaps because the meteor had exploded under his influence, the falling fragments and dust enabled Feng Yi to faintly sense a signal.

Feng Yi, sensing the subtle signals around him, walked slowly and then squatted down to pick up a small pebble from beneath the sand.

He blew the sand off of it; Feng Yi looked at the grey-black pebble he was pinching between his fingers.

It wasn’t very big, even smaller than the glass marbles that children played with, and in a desert area rich in sand and stones, it wasn’t noticeable.

Wen Zhiyu took a closer look and asked, "Is this it?"

Feng Yi replied, "I think so."

Wen Zhiyu, looking surprised, said, "It’s so small."

He had assumed that the meteorites they were looking for would be big chunks.

"Just this one?"

"No, there’s more."

As he spoke, Feng Yi picked up a black particle as large as a green bean from not far off.

Wen Zhiyu watched him.

Feng Yi nodded.

Just when Wen Zhiyu was about to say something, a young man, hearing the noise, ran over. After seeing clearly, he couldn’t help but laugh and said:

"You’re not saying that this thing is a meteorite, are you? It’s only this big; you’d need a magnifying glass to see it!"

Wen Zhiyu had been somewhat skeptical about the pebble, but when the disagreeable person spoke like that, he felt annoyed:

"What’s wrong with being small? You can’t look down on it or question its identity just because it’s tiny! Does the authenticity of a meteorite depend on the size?"

The young man was about to retort, but upon seeing Feng Yi and seemingly recalling something, his expression changed, ignoring Wen Zhiyu’s defensive disdain, and quickly walked up to Feng Yi. He looked at the two pebbles in Feng Yi’s hand and asked softly:

"Willing to sell?"

Feng Yi raised an eyebrow and said, "Not selling. If these two pebbles are indeed fragments of yesterday’s bolide, you wouldn’t be able to trade them even if you took them back because the proof wouldn’t come out now, and the testing agencies won’t issue you a certificate."

The man didn’t get angry but smiled and said, "I know who you are, an expert from the Conservation Bureau, right? We all understand your stance, and we’re not the kind of people who challenge laws and regulations. Here’s the thing, you sell them to me, and I’ll take them back for testing with the agencies. If they have significant scientific value, I will turn them in directly."

After observing Feng Yi’s reaction, the man continued:

"Pan Weining must have told you, we brothers don’t lack the money. What I’m saying is, this method is like me helping you take these two stones back to the testing agency, so you don’t have to make the trip yourself. How about that, interested?"

Wen Zhiyu listening on the side, laughed: "I get it, you guys want to take the stuff back and show off!"

The man didn’t even bother with Wen Zhiyu and kept his gaze on Feng Yi: "Let’s say you helped us find it, we’ll pay you a finder’s fee, what’s it called, expert consultancy fee? That should be within the rules, right? Even if it got out, there’s nothing to be afraid of, right? With your skills, if you can find two, you can find four or six, why fixate on just these two? You get your fee, we get our findings, it’s good for both sides, everyone’s happy!"

By this time, Pan Weining had also come over, pulling Wen Zhiyu aside and asking, "What’s this guy up to?"

Wen Zhiyu replied, "He wants to buy those two little stones from Feng Yi. It’s hilarious, trying to play the rich man in front of Feng Yi? Doesn’t he know Feng Yi buys meteorites by the batch?"

Pan Weining said, "Quite obviously, they don’t know that."

Wen Zhiyu mocked, "Am I right? They can’t find their own, so they buy it from someone else and then swagger around saying they found it! Doesn’t this sound familiar? The seasoned fishermen from the Air Force also do this!"

The meteorite hunters, who were some distance away, also noticed the commotion around Feng Yi and his group.

"Those young masters couldn’t really think that the small black grains are meteorites, could they? Aren’t there enough of these kinds of stones in the desert?"

"No, I know that guy over there, he’s an expert from the Conservation Bureau!"

At this revelation, the few meteorite hunters looked at each other, quickly went back to their car for the biggest bags they had, picked up their tools, and rushed to the area where Feng Yi found the pebbles to start sifting sand!

The group of well-equipped young men still bragging to each other were baffled by the scene before them.

Ah, what...

Their idea of meteorite hunting—following the star trail, sweeping through the sands of the vast desert like a lone traveler, the perfect pairing of high-quality gear and accurate gaze, the relentless search, and finally finding the real deal, touching the melted crust and sighing: Ah~ I found you!

The reality of meteorite hunting—

"Get the fuck out! This area has been scoped out by me!"

The legendary seasoned meteorite hunters, with fierce faces and behaving madly, swing their shovels at competitors and then, dig frantically through the sand.