Beneath Tianshu, beneath layers of lockdowns, isolated inside and out by countless constructs and guarded under the strictest watch, lay the Grand Library, hailed as a sanctuary of mysteries and taboos.
Here rested the vast majority of precious tomes, legacies, and theories collected by the Association over hundreds of years; formulas once worth more than ten thousand pieces of gold; relic-grade volumes that had laid the historical foundation of modern alchemy; techniques handed down from severed lineages; the painstaking works, published and unpublished alike, of generations of artificers and masters... and even the latest research and breakthroughs from the Profound.
Countless to number, endless to behold!
For any artificer, it was an absolute treasure trove—a vault so colossal it would drive anyone to despair over their own aptitude.
It was said that even if a peerless genius were tutored on its contents from their first babbling words, spending an entire lifetime would scarcely allow them to master ten or twenty percent of it.
When the heavy doors swung open before Ji Jue, the sheer magnificence of the spectacle left even him momentarily breathless.
As one of the advance payments promised to him, Jiang Tongguang had pledged that Ji Jue, or someone he designated, could study freely within the Grand Library for a week.
Apart from the handful of taboo theoretical assessments classified as [End], everything else was available to read and learn at will.
It was truly letting a mouse loose in a rice vat.
After getting through the initial ten-odd minutes of being dazzled by the overwhelming abundance, Ji Jue began making targeted selections and commenced brute-force rote memorization.
Hailed as one of the origins of the Embers, the oldest surviving alchemical scripture: all sixteen collected and preserved editions of the Emerald Tablet. Spanning mediums including but not limited to stone tablets, papyrus scrolls, spiritus reflections, and rubbings of residual spirits, he didn't miss a single one. He examined every last copy, then set them aside and moved on.
Origins that were too lofty and ancient were fine to browse on occasion, but Ji Jue had already read countless analytical treatises on them; what he needed to understand, he had basically mastered. Even if he truly wanted to trace things back to their roots, now was not the time—that would be aiming too high too soon.
Next were the key texts of lost legacies: the Treatise on Philosophic Metal Transmutation, discussing the transformations and influences between metals and the soul; the Six Explications of the Red Liquid Transformation, detailing life conversion and sacrifice; the Scroll of White Frost, the culmination of the Entropy branch; the heretical Seventy-Seven Treatises, which documented a mass of conflicting theories; and the Secret Essentials of Yellow Sprout and Purple Gold, which relied on the Regeneration form and Encircled Realm to sublimate an artificer's soul and life...
Secret scrolls that countless masters in the past had emptied their life savings and queued for approvals just to catch a glimpse of were now laid out before Ji Jue like common cabbages, free for him to gorge and stuff himself on.
These were, after all, the core works of so many schools and traditions. Their profound vision went without saying, and their far-reaching insights inspired awe; with just a few concise words, they outlined directions and captured the very essence.
After reading for just an hour, Ji Jue's forehead throbbed with ache, and his vision swam with darkness.
There was no time to ponder deeply—memorize them first, digest them later.
A week's worth of time didn't have to be burned in one go. At worst, he could split it into intervals: memorize a bunch at once, go back to digest and master it, then return to memorize more.
Ji Jue made no secret of this little scheme, and the Association didn't hold it against him. Since the perk had already been granted, he could use it as he pleased.
As long as they ensured Ji Jue wouldn't step outside and recklessly disseminate the texts, all insights, understandings, and theories gained from them were entirely unrestricted.
The Grand Library was certainly precious, but not that precious.
For artificers, this was a rare accumulation of foundational knowledge, but no matter how long one steeped oneself in old papers, would a Grandmaster ever emerge from them? Which of the three Grandmasters had been groomed by the Grand Library?
The Grand Library's strict lockdown, aside from preserving its value as an Association reward, was also meant to prevent chaos if these overly lofty, or even self-contradictory, legacies proliferated unchecked.
An artificer's astonishing genius paired with an artificer's inclination to mess around, plus a few chaotic little trinkets—God only knew what horrors they might concoct.
Setting aside what it meant for others, to the current Ji Jue, these theories and legacies held little utility beyond serving as references and foundational accumulation.
A person's energy was ultimately finite; it had to be invested first where it mattered most.
Every school, and indeed every artificer, had their own established path, customary playstyle, and research direction.
Ji Jue had already progressed far along the path of Three Phases Circulation; there was no need to pick up sesame seeds only to drop the watermelon and abandon his own projects.
The foundation his teacher had laid for him was simply too solid. Having grown to this point, it was enough for him to maintain his course without losing himself amid the temptations of countless theories.
After memorizing a bunch of legacies without striving for immediate comprehension, Ji Jue directed the bulk of his energy toward the category of [Transformation of Celestial-Human].
Within the Association's records, accounts of achieving Celestial-Human were virtually countless. From Federation to Empire, from the Age of Chaos to the present day, normal and abnormal alike, extensive and magnificent to behold.
After skimming through a few volumes, they supplemented Ji Jue's own understanding significantly.
Although the methods of attainment varied and the final outcomes differed widely, the trajectory—from a Raw Stone revealing its radiance, reaching Celestial-Human, then breaking through to Sage, and even pointing toward the Domain of Supreme Dominion—now lay broadly outlined before his eyes.
Beckoning, Transmutation, Regeneration, Exaltation.
The four realms were merely the foundation for completing the Raw Stone.
Through resonance between human and celestial with their corresponding Supreme Goodness, Celestial Chosen sought Blessings: from initially perfecting themselves, to amending reality and reshaping the world, and even altering past and future.
Prior to Celestial-Human, a single Supreme Goodness served as guide to complete oneself as a Raw Stone; after Celestial-Human, grounded on chronowedges, one wove multiple Supreme Goodnesses together, gradually plumbing the origins or dooms one pursued.
In this process, starting from a tiny point, an intricate pattern was formed; from a single hue, it blossomed into kaleidoscopic color. Borrowing the warp and weft of the tapestry, it even extended toward the genesis and culmination of all phenomena.
Past and future, beginning and end, origin and doom... everything was encompassed within this magnificent tapestry woven of all phenomena.
In this manner, Supreme Goodness and Celestial Chosen accomplished, confirmed, and mirrored each other, merging into one across near-infinite intimacy.
Compared to the pattern of a Celestial-Human, the current Ji Jue was merely a tiny pixel in that boundless tapestry, a single node where warp and weft crossed and overlapped.
No matter how much he expanded, diffused, or grasped immense power, he remained confined within this single point.
This was an absolute disparity in scale and quality. No matter how dazzling the moon in the mirror appeared, it could never rival the real moon; no matter how brilliant the firefly's gleam, it could never match the radiance of the blazing sun...
To put it simply, a Celestial-Human could beat him like a dog.
The existence of the chronowedge had already anchored the Celestial-Human within the tapestry, sublimating them into a higher form.
Yet Ji Jue hadn't even settled the precursor to the chronowedge—the Encircled Realm.
The Encircled Realm of the Exaltation rank was itself the foundation and origin point of a Celestial-Human's chronowedge, akin to drawing together the warp and weft of the tapestry to overlap and tie a "knot" named Ji Jue.
Carrying so many legacies, with the Sage's remnant in Non-Offensive and the subtle influence of the Edge of Reformation, Ji Jue was fully capable of tying that knot.
Yet frustratingly, he was still just a hair away...
He was still outside the gate.
After so long, this damn gate hadn't budged in the slightest!
Or rather, there was movement, and compared to others it was already absurdly fast, but for Ji Jue, who urgently needed a qualitative leap right now, it was still far too slow.
Couldn't this goddamned Exaltation just be like Regeneration—done and over with after a good night's sleep?
He was starting to get anxious.
Having read until his vision blackened and memorized until his skull ached, Ji Jue let out a feeble sigh. He walked out of the Grand Library, passed through layer upon layer of checkpoints, and was wondering where to grab a bite to eat when—for the fourth damn time—he saw Jiang Tongguang.
"I thought you were going to stay in there for seven straight days," Jiang Tongguang teased. "Looks like you reaped quite a harvest."
"Yeah."
Ji Jue nodded and took the glass the other man offered, downing it in one gulp. A thread of icy chill slid down his throat and burst open in his stomach, spreading throughout his limbs. He gave an involuntary shiver; his exhaustion vanished, replaced by crisp clarity.
Good stuff!
"By the way, does the Association not have any other receptionists?" Ji Jue asked quizzically. "Why is a director like you running errands back and forth for every little thing?"
"..."
Jiang Tongguang's expression twitched, words catching in his throat. "Why don't you take a damn look at how much trouble you stir up? If someone else came, could they handle the fallout? Since the Association is giving you face, how about you don't throw it back in our faces?"
"Fine, fine, fine." Ji Jue nodded.
It worked only because it was Jiang Tongguang, and only because it was Ji Jue.
Neither treated the title of "director" with much reverence, speaking without scruple like drinking buddies planning a get-together. If either of them had been replaced by someone else, any conversation between them would have required a hundred thousand meters of social distance and eight million layers of scheming.
"So what brings your esteemed self here this time?" Ji Jue asked. "Don't tell me it's starting already?"
"Not right now, but not too far off either. Just be ready at any moment."
In the deathly silent hall, Jiang Tongguang offered no elaboration, merely turning to lead the way ahead. "Come with me. Another advance perk for you has been approved."
He added, "Someone wants to see you."
"Who?"
Seeing Jiang Tongguang's solemn, grave expression, Ji Jue started for a moment, then realized—and immediately showed unvarnished disdain. Did that old dog finally lose his patience and start barking again?
Why does he come to pressure me every single time!
Can't he find someone else to pick on?
"Be serious—it's not what you think!"
Jiang Tongguang glanced back and cautioned him earnestly, "Remain respectful. Remain humble. Don't be slack for a second, and above all, do not cause any offense. Got it? Otherwise, even if that person is magnanimous enough not to hold it against you, the Association won't take your side. If you spout any insolence, eighty percent of the artificers out there will treat you as an enemy."
He said, "The one who wants to see you is Lady Scavenger."
In an instant, Ji Jue's expression changed completely; all flippancy and carelessness vanished.
He ran both hands through his hair to smooth it down, shook the dust from his clothes, and solemnly unpinned the Master badge from his chest, replacing it with the insignia of Tide Sound Workshop.
The lively lad snapped straight to attention.
Meticulous to the letter!
"Even if one should be earnest, there's no need to take it to this extreme, is there?"
The old woman on the reclining chair looked at Ji Jue and sighed softly. "Young Jiang, did you scare the young man half to death? When was my temper ever so terrible?"
"...Before coming, I told him that if he offended you, the Association would hold him fully accountable, and eighty percent of artificers would become his enemies."
Jiang Tongguang brought over two cups of tea and laid a light blanket over the old woman's knees. "Though, I imagine he doesn't give a damn about consequences like that."
He paused, looking at the scoundrel's reverent posture, and let out a helpless sigh. "Rest assured, elder. The reason he's being so grave and earnest certainly isn't because of me."
"Sounds like I still carry a bit of prestige, then."
The old woman smiled with feeling. After Jiang Tongguang departed, she patted the chair beside her and gestured to Ji Jue. "Sit down first. Standing there all stiffly is awkward for you and uncomfortable for me."
"Yes."
Ji Jue sat upright with proper decorum, presenting a stack of his papers with both hands in deep reverence. They included, but were not limited to, those published and unpublished, not omitting even his early apprentice notes and academic papers from his time at the Mechanical Engineering College.
These had all been requested by Scavenger: any theoretical works were welcome, as comprehensive as possible; if certain details were inconvenient to reveal, a general overview would suffice.
After all, the old lady rarely took an interest in guiding juniors; he wasn't about to be blind to such a favor.
In the entire mortal world, when it came to educating scholars and pointing out the way forward, none was better than her!
Her track record was verifiable and genuine.
Tirelessly teaching for four hundred years, not a single mediocrity had ever emerged from her tutelage; even ordinary folks with only a faint spark of talent could always gain enlightenment under her guidance.
Consuming all putrid venom, expelling the old and taking in the new.
She had drawn the dividing line between classical and modern alchemy, severing the ignorance and defects of archaic traditions, and lowering the threshold of alchemy to the greatest extent so that even ordinary people could enter the domain of the Embers and achieve something.
Without her guidance and rallying cry, without her four hundred years of perseverance, there would be no Association today, nor modern alchemy as it was known.
Unlike someone like Tianlu, this person before him commanded Ji Jue's utmost respect in both deed and moral character.
"Not bad, solid, interesting... This part here makes a few assumptions. Mm, corrected later on, very good."
Wearing her spectacles, Scavenger skimmed through the papers at a rapid pace like an old teacher grading assignments, offering remarks from time to time. "The direction of Three Phases Circulation is sound, but it aims too high and too far; it will likely take decades, if not a century, to gradually refine.
"Compared to the Fluid Alchemy handed down by the Sages, the foundation of your Solid Alchemy is too thin, while the trajectory of your Gas Alchemy is overly extreme.
"If you aren't careful, that may limit your future development. As for what specifically to do, you'll have to figure that out yourself. Take note of this: you can go to the Grand Library to look for a few books...
"You've modified Ye's Nine Forms quite a bit. Mm, there's still plenty of room for improvement, but the concepts are good.
"Certain things from the past... Well, what's past is past. In all things, revering antiquity is worse than having no antiquity at all. Young A-Xian did very well on that front, and you've learned it well, too."
As she spoke, she set aside the paper on Reducing Quantity to Enhance Quality by itself, shook her head with a sigh, and repeated an old critique:
"Well-written though it is, don't write like this again in the future."
"Ah? Understood, of course!"
Ji Jue nodded repeatedly in assurance.
"You're already a Master; be mindful of your influence. There's no need to bicker with people over trivial squabbles. If you're genuinely displeased, just hit back directly. Even putting on airs appropriately is fine, but in certain matters, you have to consider the impact."
She turned back to him with a serious expression. "Many apprentices save up points for years and might only get one or two chances in their entire lives to turn their fortunes around.
"What you wrote is indeed viable, but in the end, it's not suitable for them. It might even do the opposite. If they blindly follow you, treating it as gospel, and stumble onto the wrong path as a result, won't you regret it as well?"
"...You are right. I stand corrected."
Ji Jue nodded, thoroughly convinced.
At that, Scavenger smiled and resumed reading.
From start to finish, aside from commenting and discussing theory, this was the only demand she had made of Ji Jue.
Beyond that, she said nothing else.
She didn't care in the slightest about high or low morals, good or bad character, or even the numerous contradictions within Ji Jue himself.
Perhaps she hadn't noticed.
Yet whenever her gaze fell upon him, Ji Jue felt as if thorns were pricking his back. It was like raw material being inspected by an artificer, seen with piercing clarity.
As if, from just a few dry papers, she had already sketched out the full picture, and seen even further...
Yet she made no mention of it, as though she knew nothing.
Or could it be?
Could it be that she simply didn't care?
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a tricky situation." When she finally set the papers down, her expression grew complicated, and she sighed with pity. "Being your teacher must be exhausting and grueling."
"..."
Ji Jue opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He had always thought he and his teacher got along quite harmoniously—relaxed, simple, completely burden-free on both sides.
Wait, was it not like that?!
Chapter 809