Mechanical Alchemist

Su Lun had also guessed that the previous great battle had not been as easy for his senior as it appeared. After all, she had been forced to leave her retreat prematurely, her strength had not fully recovered, and she had traveled a long distance only to engage in a fierce battle, during which she seemed to have sustained some minor injuries.

After chatting for a while, Mr. Jing began meditating in a seated position.

Yuta was still unconscious and recovering from her injuries, leaving no one else to talk to. Su Lun was not idle either; he started to get busy with his own affairs.

The mechanical armor was severely damaged and urgently needed repairs; the two pieces of "Living Silver" he had recently obtained were not enough to make an alchemical golem, but that did not prevent him from studying and familiarizing himself with the various properties of this legendary puppetry material; he also needed to digest and understand the skills and laws he had acquired previously; and he had discovered some issues with his mental tentacles in real combat...

Su Lun soon immersed himself in his busyness.

The crypt was very dim, illuminated only by a not-so-bright blue magic lamp, which lit up a small area and cast the shadows of three figures.

From the collapsing tunnels around them, one could occasionally hear small, scattered sounds, like the noises of deformed creatures following the scent.

But with his Golden Leg senior by his side, Su Lun was not worried at all.

This meditation lasted for two days and two nights.

Finally, Yuta woke up.

...

Su Lun had been keeping an eye on Yuta's condition; her breathing was steady, and her injuries were healing.

Suddenly, he sharply heard a change in Yuta's breathing and opened his eyes from his meditation.

Yuta looked like someone recovering from a severe illness, her expression blank for a moment as if she had just remembered what had happened.

She turned her head and saw Su Lun, her eyes filled with the joy of having survived a disaster.

A glance at the mysterious cloaked woman nearby also added a hint of caution to her pretty face.

Su Lun approached and asked, "Yuta, how are your injuries?"

As he spoke, he also did not shy away from checking her injuries himself.

Yuta responded, "They're mostly healed now."

At that moment, Mr. Jing also opened his eyes.

Realizing he had not formally introduced them, Su Lun said to Mr. Jing, "Sister, this is Yuta, a Druid from the White Wolf Tribe of the Dalu Clan."

Then turning to Yuta, he said, "This is my senior, Lady Ophelia Fei Isaac; you can also call her Mr. Jing."

Yuta nodded politely, her expression slightly reserved, and took the initiative to greet her, "Mr. Jing, hello."

After all, she was facing a presence whose seniority was immeasurably high.

Sir Isaac was a witness to the ancient pact signed with the ancestors of the Dalu Clan, his own daughter...

Truly a figure of ancestral stature.

Even without that connection, this mysterious Lady Ophelia was Su Lun's senior.

Yuta felt as if she were facing elders like the Clan Leader and Wolf Granny, which gave her a kind of invisible pressure.

Mr. Jing nodded.

Naturally reserved, her tone was just like that of a caring elder, as she said indifferently, "Being able to awaken the Sacred Totem of the Dalu Clan is also a recognition by the god of nature of a great Druid. You need not be so formal."

She naturally noticed the relationship between Su Lun and Yuta, and as she spoke, a smile appeared on her lips.

Hearing this, Yuta obediently nodded and said, "Yes."

Observing the tone of their conversation, Su Lun's expression became somewhat strange.

The two seemed normal enough, but suddenly... it felt like an adult speaking to a junior?

He commented internally that although his senior had lived for over a thousand years, she looked, in every aspect—appearance, temperament, and physique—nothing different from a young woman. Her character was also gentle and kind, and there shouldn't really be any generational gap.

It did not seem right for Yuta to be treating her like one would treat the Wolf Granny.

Su Lun recalled regular interactions with Mr. Jing. His senior, aside from being somewhat cold, did not seem to care about seniority much and was quite amiable.

He couldn't understand why.

And didn't know how to broach the topic.

Anyway, the atmosphere had become somewhat strange.

Their exchange was brief.

Noticing that a previous black hole had disappeared, Yuta couldn't hide her concern and directly asked, "Mr. Jing, how is the seal here? The God once decreed a divine edict for our Dalu Clan to guard this place..."

Mr. Jing responded, "The seal is secure. I have set up a barrier to make it less detectable. That deep-sea giant should not return anytime soon."

Relieved by this answer, Yuta sincerely said, "Thank you for resolving the crisis of our people and for saving me."

Though she expressed gratitude, the worry in her eyes did not completely dissipate.

The relic in the Cursed Valley had troubled their Dalu Clan for five hundred years, and now that it had been discovered by people like Luying, trouble would surely follow.

Mr. Jing, seeing the still troubled look on Yuta's face, guessed her thoughts and declared emphatically, "My father once represented human civilization in signing the pact with the Dalu Clan. Although times have changed and some humans have forsaken the agreement, my Isaac family has never forgotten. From now on, the pact between humans and the Dalu Clan will be upheld by us."

Hearing this, Su Lun included himself in the affirmation and nodded.

Far from viewing the pact as a burden, he felt honored to protect certain matters on behalf of civilization.

Upon hearing this, Yuta's eyes shimmered.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and bowed deeply, "The Dalu Clan will forever remember this pact."

...

Yuta's injuries had mostly healed.

This visit to the Cursed Valley not only thwarted the heretics' attempt to break the seal, but by a fortunate coincidence, she also recovered one of the four sacred artifacts—the "Magic Cauldron of Dagda."

It was a complete success.

Moreover, she was the first Druid in five hundred years to reawaken to the call of the god of nature. This was tremendous news for the Dalu Clan. She needed to return quickly to the holy ground to share this exciting news with the Clan Leader and her people.

Moreover, a descendant of Sir Isaac had also personally arrived.

The Dalu Clan's friend deserved a grand welcome.

It seemed that everything was getting better.

The environment rich in the aura of death within the ruins was not suitable for Mr. Jing to recover his strength, so Su Lun and his two companions decided to set off immediately, heading to the Emerald Holy Land of the Dalu clan. Mr. Jing also needed to meet with the elders of the Dalu clan.

The Cursed Valley was fraught with dangers, but unlike the cautious approach Su Lun and his companion had taken earlier, their return was swift.

Now that the trio had a top-tier powerhouse among them, they didn't have to worry about any monsters.

What was originally a journey of half a month's duration, took just a few days as they were already approaching the Emerald Holy Land.

....

In these few days of constant companionship, although Yuta and Mr. Jing had become somewhat familiar with each other,

the atmosphere was still a bit strange.

Su Lun couldn't pinpoint what was odd.

But when he was alone with Mr. Jing, although they didn't speak much, they could occasionally joke around.

The same was even more so with Yuta, where laughter abounded, pleas were intense, and they could even engage in playful intimacy in the primeval forest.

However, when the three of them were together, the atmosphere would become eerily solemn, serious, and small talk was scarce.

Even when they did speak, it involved very serious matters, such as the troubles of the Dalu clan or current problems...

Su Lun guessed it might be because of Mr. Jing's seniority.

That day, the trio found a cave in the primeval jungle to stay for the night, planning to overnight.

The campfire was burning strong, roasted meat on the rack was fragrant, and some orange-red fruits were served on fresh leaves.

Yuta, like a host serving a guest, was passionately dividing the food.

Mr. Jing, being of a vampiric lineage, had little need for normal food and only ate a few bites out of courtesy.

Su Lun, on the other hand, had a great appetite; Yuta's grilling skills were impeccable, and the long journey required energy replenishment, so he feasted heartily.

Soon, night had fallen, and the sky was twinkling with brilliant stars.

The night in the Silent Forest was extraordinarily beautiful.

In the forest, the night breeze shook the leaves, creating a rustling sound like the continuous roar of ocean waves.

According to the past few days' routine, after dinner, the three of them would rest separately.

Because of the presence of others, Yuta couldn't make overly intimate gestures and usually lay down quietly next to Su Lun to sleep.

Mr. Jing would sit in meditation.

Until dawn.

Having spent several days together, Su Lun realized that Mr. Jing must have been injured during the previous battles, so he had not disturbed her throughout the trip.

But today, Mr. Jing seemed to have adjusted her condition.

After dinner, she didn't immediately enter meditation, but instead initiated some casual conversation.

She seemed quite excited about the Emerald Holy Land, saying, "My father once told me, the Sacred Lake Gaius Lake of the Dalu clan possesses a beauty of this world; under the sunlight, myriad glows descend from heaven, piercing through to the other world. I wonder if after a thousand years, the water of the Sacred Lake still holds the same scenery…"

Upon hearing this, Yuta's expression slightly dimmed, responding, "The steps to the Sacred Lake have been unvisited for hundreds of years. The elders in our clan say that only those called by the deities are worthy to ascend. I've only heard about the scenes of the Sacred Lake from the elders, I've never seen it…"

Mr. Jing's eyes slightly curved, "Oh, is that so."

They had been fine not talking, but once they started, Mr. Jing's "ancestral-tier" status immediately stood out.

What she knew and could talk about were all things known a thousand years ago.

And once Yuta responded, her words naturally revolved around "ancestral" legends. Mentioning those topics, Miss Druid always carried a strange reverence and slight nervousness.

Mr. Jing was a very serious person, especially with those she was not familiar with, hardly ever making jokes, so she always seemed rather aloof.

But Su Lun knew that his senior sister was actually quite easy to get along with.

So, the task of warming up the atmosphere was still up to him.

Hearing the two potentially leading the conversation to a standstill, he immediately took over, "Yuta, how much longer until we reach the Holy Land?"

In answering Su Lun's question, Yuta visibly relaxed more, "By tomorrow evening, we should arrive. When the clan leader and the elders learn of Mr. Jing's arrival, they will definitely be very happy…"

The closer they got to the Holy Land, the more intense her anticipation grew.

The prophecies passed down in her clan had now all been fulfilled, "The warrior honoring the ancient covenant will appear once again, rescue the clansmen, and bring back the sacred object."

It seemed now that the warriors were Mr. Su Lun and Mr. Jing.

In Yuta's eyes, it was as if she could already see the joyful cheers of her clansmen, her eyebrows curving like crescent moons with happiness.

Mr. Jing smiled but didn't speak.

It seemed as if she felt there wasn't much else to say.

Yuta wanted to say something, but due to restraint, she didn't.

They needed to find some topics.

Seizing the rare opportunity when Mr. Jing was free, Su Lun decided to bring up some of his doubts.

He said, "Senior sister, have you ever heard of the Cyclops race?"

"Cyclops?"

Mr. Jing seemed also unfamiliar with the term, but it also seemed vaguely familiar as she tried to recall, asking, "Where did you see this race?"

Su Lun said, "I saw it in the cursed space of the ruins in the Cursed Valley. In the city of giants, there was a mural, and I guess it could be the origin of the 'All-knowing Eye' talent…"

He detailed the content of the mural he had seen and shared some of his own speculations.

After listening, Mr. Jing appeared somewhat enlightened: "Now that you mention it, I do remember some things."

Pausing, it seemed she recalled something, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly, she continued, "My father traveled to many places when he was young. When I was a child, he used to tell me bedtime stories about his adventures in the western deserts and perilous seas. My father once mentioned that on some islands in those dangerous sea areas, he encountered a type of giant capable of battling dragons. I have a deep impression of it because in the story, that kind of giant had only one very large eye on its forehead…"

"Really?"

Su Lun also looked surprised and pleased.

He had never heard of the Cyclops race before, and by all accounts, they were considered an extinct species.

He asked this question to see if his world-wise senior fellow apprentice knew any legends, ancient books, or relics about the Cyclops.

Who would have thought that the Cyclops race still existed a thousand years ago?

Perhaps they still exist now!

"Hmm."

Mr. Jing nodded, naturally guessing why Su Lun had asked this question.

She continued, "Many human talents originally come from ancient deities. According to what you said, your 'All-knowing Eye' might indeed be directly related to the Cyclops race. If that's the case, your talent's second awakening might even take the shortcut of 'reverting to ancestral bloodline'."

Su Lun had merely asked out of curiosity, to see if he could learn more about the origin of the 'All-knowing Eye'.

Listening to Mr. Jing's explanation, it also pertained to a second awakening?

The second awakening of the 'Reaper of Death' could be pondered through the enlightenment from the brink of life and death. But for this All-knowing Eye, there was completely no clue.

Now, hearing this, it seemed possible to make some efforts in the bloodline aspect?

However, before Su Lun could ask in detail how this 'reverting to ancestral bloodline' worked, Mr. Jing poured a bucket of cold water over his thoughts, dispelling them.

She shifted the conversation and said, "However, these are, after all, mythological tales whose authenticity is uncertain. Besides, I'm not sure whether the Cyclops my father had seen is the same kind you spoke of. Most crucially, that island lies in the extremely dangerous sea region of the West Sea where dragons exist..."

"..."

Su Lun heard this and gave a bitter smile.

Indeed, a race involved with mythological stories wasn't that simple.

The topic uncovered, Mr. Jing's extensive knowledge was revealed.

She suddenly thought of something, and casually said, "Speaking of your 'All-knowing Eye', I remembered a very powerful talent that might be somewhat related to your ability."

Su Lun asked, "Oh?"

Mr. Jing said, "'S-009-Universal Deconstruction', also a Pupil Skill released through the eyes. This talent is very strong. As long as the gifted one can understand the composition of matters, they can break down everything into its primal structure. Speaking of which, it fits very well with your 'All-knowing Eye' talent. That talent requires self-understanding, and your talent understands everything. Moreover, the source of that talent, legend has it, also comes from an ancient deity."

At this point, she paused for a moment before continuing, "The myth you mentioned about 'gaining knowledge through eye extraction' makes me feel these two talents may have the same origin. However, level S talents are very rare. I have only heard of the 'Universal Deconstruction', and have never seen any gifted ones before."

At this, Su Lun's expression slightly changed.

But he didn't take it too much to heart.

Myths are indeed elusive, and adding legends and speculations makes it even less reliable.

He took it as his senior sister telling a rare story.

As the conversation went on, Su Lun suddenly remembered something. He took out a stone rune sealed in a box and asked, "By the way, Sister, Yuta, can you look at this and see if it has any use? I got this in the Cursed Space before."

As soon as Yuta saw it, sensing something, she said, "This appears to be a highly advanced solidified form of rune language. I can feel that the laws engraved within it are very complex..."

Su Lun spread his hands and said, "Hmm. This is a 'Replica of the Primal Rune'. But aside from the name, I also have no idea what it does."

Clearly, the alchemist understood runes better. Mr. Jing looked at the object and immediately realized what it was.

She sealed the box carefully, looked at it for a while, and exclaimed, "This is a great treasure. Even though it's a replica, the rune language structure it contains is among the most top-notch I've seen in over a thousand years."

If Mr. Jing said it was a great treasure, it naturally was so.

A glint of joy appeared in Su Lun's eyes, and he curiously asked, "Then...Sister, how do I use this?"

Mr. Jing evidently knew and casually responded, "Keep it close and slowly comprehend it. Once you thoroughly understand it, you might become the top master in the field of runes of this era. However, it demands very high requirements in terms of insight and proficiency in runes. You might need decades to completely grasp the high-level rune languages contained in it."

"Decades?"

Su Lun's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

The use of this stone rune was indeed thrilling, but the method of using it was problematic.

He had looked at it many times for days and apart from the "???" information, he had comprehended nothing.

This situation indicated that he probably hadn't even reached the threshold of comprehension.

He might not understand it in his lifetime.

It felt like a very impractical thing...

Seeing Su Lun's expression, Mr. Jing smiled slightly, "If you want to quickly understand this thing, there actually is a clever shortcut."

Su Lun immediately responded, "There's a shortcut?"

His knowledge level was much lower than his senior sister's.

He knew a lot about low-tier stuff, but he was completely in the dark about the domain of these top-tier items.

Instead of directly answering, Mr. Jing said, "Alchemists are strong because they know how to utilize tools."

Having guessed something, Su Lun's eyes flickered, and he instantly said, "Sister, are you suggesting that I refine this object into a 'Promotion Material'?"

Mr. Jing smiled coyly, which was as good as a confirmation.

The conversation immediately opened a new train of thought, and Su Lun's mind raced.

....

The essence of Promotion Material is to help alchemists forcefully understand things they originally cannot comprehend.

Then to slowly digest it.

This is the strength of the human alchemic vocational system.

It is also the basis on which alchemists stand.

It's like Su Lun's second-level comprehension of the 'Space Law'.strictly speaking, he only used the Promotion Material to forcefully open a gate to peer into the Space Law. He understood just the superficial aspects, which definitely doesn't count as fully understanding it. How far he can go in the future still depends on the level of his later comprehension.

But this first step of opening the gate is the most crucial.

It is the first step from nothing to something.

Now that he had this 'Replica of the Primal Rune' in his hands, once he used the method of Promotion to forcefully understand it, his proficiency in runes would definitely improve qualitatively.

That's precisely what Su Lun needed at the moment.

'Rune Studies' in the early stages looked merely like drawing patterns, but in fact, this subject is one of the most profound branches in alchemy.

The early stage focuses on working on the patterns that require improvement in 'drawing skills'.

But after reaching the intermediate and advanced levels, it involved those mysterious realms, requiring an understanding of rules and a perception of natural laws.

Su Lun, currently in the field of runes, felt somewhat powerless.

It wasn't that his foundational skills were insufficient, but rather his understanding couldn't keep up anymore.

The Reaper's talent had solidified his foundation in a short time, which was very useful in the lower levels. But for complex runes post-fourth or fifth levels, or more complicated variant Lu'en runes, he felt extremely impotent.

Those advanced runes that needed to integrate laws and intentions, even if he tried to copy them exactly, he couldn't produce them.

It's like everyone can paint, and when copying a tiger, some people's work looks just like skin, but others make it seem "alive."

This is the divide between a rune master and a grandmaster.

Su Lun was now trapped in this bottleneck in the field of runes.

Advancing his skill further would be extremely slow.

If he really followed the usual process, relying on proficiency to improve, he estimated that it would take a lifetime to possibly reach the "Rune Grandmaster" level, depending also on insight.

Yet, rune skill was a capability that strongly amplified his combat power.

Su Lun himself was a Puppeteer, with a significant part of his strength lying in puppets.

And in making puppets, the greatest technical challenge lay in rune skills.

Especially with alchemical golems, the higher the level of the runes, the more powerful the final product.

Currently, it seemed his skills were not enough to support him in creating too powerful a puppet in a short time.

He felt that using an advancement to open the gates of runes was totally worth it!

....

Su Lun, listening to Mr. Jing mention this method, naturally knew how to operate it.

His senior sister didn't need to beat around the bush or be overly polite.

He directly asked, "Senior sister, if I want to refine this rune into a job material, what should I do?"

Ingredients aren't meant to be eaten directly; they need to be cooked first, easier to digest.

Professional advancement items are the same; forcefully digesting them would only waste such fine raw materials.

Mr. Jing, with a smile brimming with implications, guessed his thoughts and responded, "I might disappoint you, even though I know some basics, I don't have the specific blueprints for refinement."

"Ah..."

Hearing this response, a muscle in Su Lun's eye twitched.

Even senior sister didn't know?

Like a recipe for ingredients, the optimal combination is surely the result of countless failures and time.

Now with the materials in hand, it was impossible for Su Lun to slowly figure out how to refine them into job materials just by his own efforts.

The effort required might not be less than directly comprehending the rune.

Su Lun, seeing that trace of jest in his senior sister's expression and demeanor, knew there might be a turning point.

He directly asked, "Senior sister, do you know where we can find the blueprints for refinement?"

Mr. Jing did not keep him in suspense, saying directly, "Within the ranks of alchemists, there's a small classification called 'Rune Magician.' This branch specializes in runes. And they also have systematic methods of professional material refinement. The only problem is that traditional alchemy has been stagnant for nearly a thousand years, and I'm not sure how much of the tradition is left."

"Rune Magician?"

Su Lun pondered for a moment, his mind vaguely recalling some impressions.

Among the memories of the Reaper, at least one person had heard of this branch.

This was good news.

Mr. Jing thought of something else and added, "While I'm not quite sure where the practitioners of the Rune Magician lineage are today. Remember, there are other people in our organization, you can ask around more in the future. Everyone is very capable, and by now most should be accustomed to the world on the surface. More and more information will be available..."

"Oh."

Su Lun then realized he was not alone.

He was still a member of the "Mirror Organization."

Assassin "Lei," Red Demon "Kai," Number Nineteen, Mr. Hei, Card, Decay Flower...

And of course, the most familiar one, Qian Tiao.

Each one was a highly capable companion.

When he joined the Mirror Organization, he had been told that it was a loosely structured group, but everyone would help each other out.

Talking about this, Su Lun muttered, "I wonder how Qian Tiao is doing these days..."

"Her?"

Mr. Jing's face revealed a bit of helplessness, "I contacted her a few days ago, she's thoroughly enjoying being a pirate. I heard she's already made a bit of a name for herself in the North Sea."

Su Lun couldn't help but laugh and sighed, "She really became a pirate, huh."

Gang boss turned pirate captain does sound somewhat fitting.

....

As they chatted more, the three of them gathered around the fire, and laughter filled the air.

Su Lun picked some lighter topics.

Yuta occasionally chimed in.

She was very interested in Su Lun's past, listening intently. It was only now that she learned Mr. Su Lun had also once been a slave to others.

"Mr. Su Lun, how did you meet Mr. Jing?"

"I remember the first time I met Senior Sister was in a private room at a gambling house. Senior Sister was wearing a very stylish black dress..."

"Hmm, I remember it was about selecting a guide within the Cross Society. Qian Tiao recommended you. The first impression was quite good..."

"..."