"Huh?" Ji Jue blinked in confusion.
"To say nothing of the realm of Sages, even the realm of Celestial-Humans is already far beyond your reach," Ye Xian said, shaking her head. "It is so distant that you lack any concrete grasp of it, which is precisely why you dare to act so recklessly time and again.
"The relationship between Celestial Chosen and Sovereign Virtue is inherently intimate. The Celestial Chosen draw upon the power of Sovereign Virtue to cultivate themselves, while the power of Sovereign Virtue is likewise exercised through the many Celestial Chosen.
"Between the two, it is just as modern alchemy describes—'The All' and 'The One.' Without the One, the All cannot be completed; without the All, the One has no meaning.
"Yet once a Celestial Chosen becomes a Celestial-Human, the distinction between them and Sovereign Virtue blurs. To a certain extent, they can be considered a part of Sovereign Virtue itself.
"The realm of Sages or Dragons is even more exalted than that.
"A Sage engraves time and establishes origins. Even in death, their imprint endures eternally within the world of Sovereign Virtue. Their lingering power and the path they forged will continue to manifest and circulate throughout countless secret rites and phenomena.
"The most prominent manifestation of this is the Fluid Alchemy she created... If she hadn't proven herself as a Sage, do you think the effects of Fluid Alchemy would have been elevated to such heights? Without her permission before her passing, could you have learned it so quickly?"
Those who attained such a realm were already no different from gods to ordinary people. Their power merged into the world itself, becoming part of Sovereign Virtue and flowing through every relevant domain.
Just like the two Sages who once laid the foundations of the Federation and the Empire—Heavenly Overseer and Earthly Warden. Even though they had been dead for several centuries, both nations remained sheltered under the Law of Tianyuan that they had established, maximizing the environmental stability within their borders. The likelihood of disasters and cataclysms was far lower than elsewhere, sparing them the fate of the Archipelago on the Endless Sea, which constantly scuttled about seeking refuge from natural disasters...
Was the fracturing of the Four States of the Mid-Continent and their ceaseless war not also the result of accumulated grudges and hatred from generations of Celestial-Humans warring among themselves?
"In all things, it's best to maintain a measure of reverence. Unless pushed to the absolute brink, there are things you shouldn't touch at all. Understand? Never mind—talk is cheap for things like this. Once you suffer a setback down the line, you'll understand completely.
"As your teacher, I have only one reminder for you: do not let the favor of Quicksilver from ages past make you arrogant and reckless. Sovereign Virtue is ever-shifting without fixed form, and the truth of Sages is the same. It is an extraordinary feat for even a shred of spirituality to have lingered to this day.
"That is the last trace she left behind in this world. It is only by observing these faint remnants that later researchers can confirm the existence of the pioneers and unearth those lost techniques and paths."
Professor Ye's expression grew stern. "If you rely on this favor and squander it recklessly, you will eventually exhaust the tiny bit of spirituality Quicksilver left within Sovereign Virtue. Do you understand?"
In his wheelchair, Ji Jue instinctively tried to stand up, but a spasm racked him, and he couldn't push himself up.
He could only prop up his torso with effort and nod solemnly.
Though he didn't grasp most of it, he had at least gleaned one crucial takeaway: the incense smoke at the ancestral grave was finite. If an unfilial descendant squandered too much of it, that scarce lingering legacy would eventually run dry.
That would be a terrible outcome, both for Ji Jue and for anyone who might learn Fluid Alchemy in the future.
In short: don't take good fortune for granted, and know when to stop.
Besides... even with an expendable tool like the ghost fetus last time, Ji Jue felt like the Soul-Calling Bell had nearly rattled his brains into mush.
A minuscule-probability event made possible only by a stroke of luck was hardly something he could rely on as a lifeline in a crisis.
Seeing Ji Jue's sober expression, Ye Xian gave a slight nod. It was hard to tell whether she felt relieved or disappointed; she had originally planned to throw a few more punches his way if he proved brainless.
Looks like she could save herself the trouble.
"Now that both Masterwork Nature and Primacy of Mind have undergone qualitative changes, with Non-Offensive assisting you, your proficiency in Fluid Alchemy should be sufficient to reach the level of an artisan."
Ye Xian paused in thought for a brief moment before continuing, "Your studies and research in modern alchemy need to pick up the pace.
"People might approach you later on, but you don't need to pay any heed to the association's invitations and promises. With me here, the Ring of Taiyi's pressure won't reach you. There is no need for you to fawn over those people.
"Also, if you don't want to be kicked out of my tutelage, never apply for the registered artisan exam using Fluid Alchemy. Understand?"
Ji Jue blinked in slight surprise.
Hearing Professor Ye speak with such severe tone and warnings made him slightly nervous. Though he had never voiced it aloud, during times he felt like slacking off, he had secretly contemplated that if the artisan qualification exam for modern alchemy proved too troublesome, he might take a shortcut through Fluid Alchemy.
"Do you know how wealthy the Ring of Taiyi is?"
Ye Xian asked bluntly, not waiting for his answer. "Today, over ninety-nine percent of patents in modern alchemy are registered by association members and monopolized by the association. Every year, from these patents alone, the wealth the association rakes in is an astronomical figure—enough to wake the finance ministers of both the Federation and the Empire from their sleep in a cold sweat.
"Not only that, consider an artisan's power, status, and privileges. The recipes, materials, and technical heritage that artisans require... In today's world, every artisan—no, anyone who requires alchemy—can never bypass the Ring of Taiyi.
"Do you really think a behemoth of that scale is peaceful and harmonious on the inside?"
Ji Jue remained silent.
Even using his heels to think, he knew that was impossible. The bureaucrats in the Academic Affairs Office at Tianmen University alone would tear each other's throats out over a scrap of authority, let alone the Ring of Taiyi.
It would only be more exaggerated, more ruthless, and darker.
"Even within the association, artisans are divided into distinct tiers—factions, backgrounds, status, race, and even fields of expertise... An apprentice lacking a zeal for exploration and a hunger for knowledge stands no chance of becoming an artisan, while those who do become artisans will never allow themselves to submit to others, much less let anyone lord over them."
Ye Xian asked suddenly, "I believe you've already seen concrete examples of this, haven't you?"
*Mm-hmm, right in front of me.*
Of course, even if beaten to death, Ji Jue wouldn't dare say that aloud. He could only nod vigorously in agreement. "Right, right, right! That petty Master Kong is exactly like that."
Ye Xian's expression didn't change. She shot him a faint, knowing smirk and didn't pursue the topic, merely saying in a measured voice:
"That is why I'm warning you. You could use Fluid Alchemy to submit a project, but at the same time, as the basis for evaluation, you would have to submit a detailed explanation of all principles and applications.
"Put simply, you surrender this technology in exchange for fourth-class status within the association, then helplessly watch as every conceivable direction is patented by others, completely sealing off your path. At annual conferences, you might not even secure an admission ticket; letting you stand outside the door to audit would be treated as an immense act of charity.
"The mainstream of the industry today is modern alchemy.
"Though the vast majority are a bunch of petty schemers, it remains the mainstream nonetheless.
"It's not that other disciplines don't exist, but they're treated like endangered species—a few tokens kept around just to show a veneer of diversity, with no one truly giving a damn about them.
"Ranked dozens of tiers below everyone else for nothing, and on top of that, a pack of fools who still engage in endless infighting."
Professor Ye let out a cold scoff and said slowly, "Don't play games with fools, and don't make friends with idiots.
"Passing the registration exam as an orthodox modern alchemy artisan and using Fluid Alchemy as your specialty field to gradually win people over, cultivate apprentices, and eventually form your own faction—that is how you maximize your gains and secure your footing. Understand?"
Faced with such words of wisdom that sketched out a grand avenue to success in just a few sentences, Ji Jue wasn't so foolish as to let them go in one ear and out the other. He nodded like a woodpecker.
Still, he couldn't help asking in confusion, "Is there no cutthroat rivalry in modern alchemy?"
"Of course there is. Far more, far crueler, and far crazier," Ye Xian replied without hesitation. "However, that is the one thing you don't need to worry about."
"...Why?" Ji Jue asked instinctively.
Ye Xian merely offered a gentle, elegant smile, radiating the poise of a true grandmaster. "Because in academia, our lineage is the only one doing the crushing."
As for those outside academia who dared to try crushing her... they had all been turned into raw materials by now.
A sudden silence fell. Ye Xian finally looked back at him, seemingly filled with high expectations. "So you'd better work hard too, understand?"
Ji Jue swallowed dryly and nodded frantically.
He was terrified that if he hesitated for a second, his teacher might deem him a stain on her pedagogical record and clean house right then and there.
Yet it was undeniable... Though his teacher was petty, hot-tempered, aloof, and harsh, that line just now was damn cool.
Ji Jue felt as though little stars were practically shining from his eyes.
*Merciful, magnanimous, and benevolent—truly the outstanding qualities passed down through our lineage!*
"Very good. I hadn't planned on letting you waste more time on classical alchemy, but given the current circumstances, it seems you don't have the luxury of taking things slow."
With a flick of her hand, Ye Xian tossed the repaired and sealed Soul-Calling Bell into his lap. "Let's begin the next lesson right away—the part you need the most right now."
She said, "Show me your results in spiritus refinement."
Ji Jue picked it up and rang it without hesitation.
After the first ring, shimmering green flames rose from the opened spiritus cage. After the second ring, excitation was complete. After the third ring, the phantom of a spiritus hand flashed into view above the bell for an instant.
Immediately after, within the contracting green flames, a white-clad figure stained all over with blood slowly emerged and straightened up. Across its face, riddled with stitches, stretched an enthusiastic smile that sent chills crawling down one's spine.
Along its mutated limbs, sharp bone spurs protruded everywhere, and its claws were razor-sharp.
The Physician from the Chrono Ruin hospital had been crafted into form by Ji Jue.
Wielding the Mercy Blade, which still retained so many records left behind by the Physician, it was like working from a blueprint for Ji Jue. A few quick adjustments were all it took, making additions or subtractions depending on what the situation demanded.
Unfortunately, it lacked that crucial strand of obsession, leaving it with nothing but pure malice, fit only to be used as a tool.
"Very good."
Ye Xian inspected it for a moment and nodded. "Though it doesn't possess a blessing, its structure is remarkably stable. As a tool, if you had a few more of them, it would be enough to handle most ordinary Metamorphosis stages."
She said, "Have him attack me."
Ji Jue rang the bell again without a second thought.
He wasn't worried in the slightest.
If this phantom tool could harm even a single strand of Professor Ye's hair, he would write his surname upside down. Why waste precious class time on empty displays of student-teacher sentiment?
The moment the chime sounded, the mutated Physician's body vanished into thin air. Boundless phosphorescent fire erupted outward and contracted once more, forming razor-sharp claws that ripped toward Ye Xian's heart.
From behind.
Enveloped in crimson, the spiritus claws, sharp as scalpels, surged with malice as they struck straight for her vitals.
Yet the very next instant, it seemed to crash into an invisible wall, shattering and dissipating rapidly. The Physician shrieked shrilly, dispersing once again to glide through the surroundings, lurking and watching like a monster crouched in the shadows.
Until Ji Jue rang the bell once more, issuing an order to press the attack.
Amid guttural howls, the Physician's body manifested from the green flames, swelling anew. With a manic grin across its mutated face, it lunged violently at Ye Xian.
Then, it saw her raised finger.
At her fingertip.
A metallic droplet as crystal-clear as morning dew—mercury!
Something she had casually scooped up from the floor.
Ji Jue's eyes widened instinctively. Then, he witnessed an unbelievable sight—as if an invisible vortex suddenly manifested, a storm of souls erupted from that droplet of mercury, instantly engulfing the entire basement.
Next, the screeching remnant spirit of the Physician was dragged uncontrollably by a terrifying gravitational pull. Its limbs warped, thinning down until it was sucked into that single drop of mercury.
Devoured completely!
Finally, spiritus circuits surfaced over the mercury, locking and binding it in layers.
It hardened into a tiny bead.
The bead trembled faintly and ceaselessly, as though something inside was struggling violently, but in the end, it fell silent.
Not a sound remained.
"A... Poké Ball!?"
Ji Jue gasped in shock. Forgetting his pain, he clambered up from his wheelchair, inspecting it from every angle. He leaned in close, examining it carefully for a long while before finally confirming his suspicion:
"Is this... Fluid Alchemy?"
Chapter 178