Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
Su'en packed every book from the shelf into his storage space, just like ants moving house.
Sereya's erudition made the text in these tomes exceptionally clear.
Both cherished this rare master-disciple time.
Sereya taught with dedication,
And Su'en asked questions as they came to mind.
He noticed the spider spear on Sereya's body and asked, "Teacher, what tier is your spider spear symbiotic armor?"
His own spider spear was worlds apart from Sereya's, despite both being the same type.
Sereya smiled, "First tier."
She understood what Su'en was pondering and added, "When I fused my spider spear symbiotic armor, the blueprint was much cruder than your current golden blueprint."
"Teacher, then your…"
Su'en's eyes grew more puzzled.
Why was there such a big difference between first-tier symbiotic armors?
"Are you asking why my spider spear looks so formidable?"
Sereya saw Su'en nod and explained with a smile, "The original purpose of Master Nicolas Flamel's creation of alchemical symbiotic armor in the ancient era was to give alchemists some combat ability and to compensate for certain deficiencies in human physiology by grafting limbs from other species. But the significance of alchemical symbiotic armor isn't limited to this; it also represents an alchemist's understanding of the life alchemy of other species. Symbiotic armor is essentially the creature an alchemist understands best. Many people only know how to use it, but don't understand it, which is a misconception. Do you know why the ultimate question of alchemy, 'creating life,' is so difficult? Because an organism is the most complex existence known to the world so far, it's about understanding the hierarchy of life. Symbiotic armor is also a shortcut for us to understand organisms…"
Sereya's explanation was detailed, and Su'en understood.
He had thought symbiotic armor was just equipment with level restrictions, like his spider spear, which was useful at the first and second tiers but would become "outdated" at the third and fourth.
But that wasn't the case.
Everyone's symbiotic armor is "growth-oriented equipment," becoming stronger and more perfect as the alchemist's understanding of the creature's limbs and the curse characteristics merge.
The prerequisite is to learn and understand everything about these biological limbs.
Theoretically, as long as one fully understands, one can have everything through the principle of equivalent exchange.
That's the wonder of alchemy.
Like his "spatial ability," he currently only knew some basics and was far from truly understanding the spatial laws.
Once he truly understood, this ability would gradually become stronger.
This was the difference between true masters, according to Sereya.
***
Creating the [Isaac Alchemy Heart] would take about a whole day.
Master and disciple spent the entire day chatting in the alchemy lab.
Su'en also noticed that as time passed, the scenery in the room began to distort, like the tape in a cassette, with light and shadow warping.
He knew this was a sign that the space was about to collapse.
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat melancholic.
Su'en felt a heartfelt respect for this teacher he had known for only a day.
It was a respect from the level of knowledge, cognition, and spirit.
This was a master-disciple fate that had missed a thousand years.
Sereya, however, appeared calm, accepting the fact that she had died and this parting.
Her face carried a warm smile as she looked at Su'en and said, "You know, you're my only official disciple."
Hearing this, Su'en respectfully bowed.
It was time to say goodbye.
Sereya seemed to remember something, took off a ring from her hand, and quickly wrote a string of text on it with her finger before handing it to Su'en, saying, "Let me give you one more little gift."
[Sereya's Blessing]
Focus +21
Insight +2
Luck +1
Description: A ring filled with blessings, engraved with "To my disciple Su'en";
Details: A seventh-tier alchemical product, with the [Concentration] effect, it allows the wearer to study, cast spells, and work more focused and efficiently;
Although not a cursed item, its high tier makes up for it.
Like a first-tier golden equipment compared to an eighth-tier common equipment, the attributes are worlds apart.
All very practical attributes, greatly aiding his future studies.
Su'en looked at the golden ring with a complex gaze and put it on his right index finger, "Thank you, teacher."
"No need to be so formal. After all, you are my disciple. Oh, right…"
Sereya looked at Su'en, probably thinking of her daughter, and took off another ring, similarly crafted for a while.
Handing it to Su'en, she said, "If you see Pestoya later, give this to her. As a mother, I really owe her…"
Su'en nodded solemnly, "Mhm."
Just then, the ground trembled slightly, and the space began to collapse.
The nine-pointed star alchemical formation suddenly appeared under Sereya's feet again. She looked at it, formed the alchemist's seal with both hands, and shouted softly: "Release!"
At that moment, a red light flashed, and two items floated above the alchemical formation.
One was a hexagonal ancient lamp, naturally the [Volgan's Furnace Lamp].
The other was a heart wrapped in heavy runes.
Different from the previously throbbing living heart, after refinement, the heart had lost its vitality and turned into a metallic luster, like a mechanical heart.
However, the alchemical heart now had many intricate and mysterious alchemical components, making it obviously extraordinary.
[Isaac's Alchemy Heart]
Quality: Epic.
Details: An alchemical symbiotic armor crafted from the heart of a divine creature; a great creation that will go down in history; provides an endless supply of dark spirit energy; minimum fifth-tier containment value S+ rating, dark spirit energy greater than 3 million, fusion mutation probability less than 10%; non-fallen angel bloodline professionals, 100% mutation after fusion; after fusion, dark spirit energy recovery efficiency massively increased, overall body resilience massively improved, fallen angel bloodline purity significantly enhanced…
(Author: Don't get hung up on why 'Epic' is higher than 'Legendary', that's just how it's set in this book)
When Su'en saw the details of this item, he knew it was no ordinary thing.
The two sealed items in his hand were still "Legendary," but this heart was "Epic."
Moreover, the tier was secondary.
The most crucial thing was that after fusion, Su'en would have the legendary "infinite mana bar"!
The heart of a god has special law abilities, forming its own domain. It can naturally breathe in a world, converting all energy into dark energy.
Moreover, it can also enhance the purity of the "X Serum" bloodline, and the body's attributes will surge significantly.
Sereya held the heart in her hand and said, "This heart symbiotic armor requires a high tolerance for curses, at least you need to be fifth-tier before you can possibly fuse it. Puppeteers in the later stages, the more puppets they control, will definitely need more dark spirit energy, this symbiotic armor has a very high compatibility with you. The rest, you have the [All-Seeing Eye], you don't need me to say more…"
"Mhm."
Su'en listened with a slight frown.
The item was good, but the fusion conditions were too exaggerated.
His current dark spirit energy value was less than 30,000, and fusion required almost a hundredfold increase. This was after his bloodline transformation, a normal person… 100% mutation.
Time was pressing, and Sereya didn't ramble on. With one hand forming the alchemist's seal and the other holding the heart, she suddenly slapped it towards Su'en's chest, shouting softly, "Godslayer Seal·Forbid!"
Su'en didn't have time to react and suddenly felt as if his chest skin was scorched for a moment.
Looking down, his shirt was burned with a hole, and a nine-pointed star mark appeared on his chest skin.
After doing all this, Sereya explained, "But the energy leaking from this thing is too violent for your current tier, even if it's in the storage space, it will cause mutations. I've sealed it in your body, and from now on, you'll have a source of dark spirit energy to draw from for your cultivation. Listen carefully to the method of unsealing…"
Su'en listened, amazed.
Sereya's methods as a top alchemist were indeed incredible.
He also tried it out and quickly got the hang of it. That [Isaac Alchemy Heart], the seal was like a "faucet."
Turn it on, and dark spirit energy flows out.
Draw as much as you want, as much as you need.
This solved a big problem in Su'en's cultivation.
He had been thinking that only in this Dawn Relic, where dark spirit energy was abundant and absorption efficiency was at least dozens of times that of Old Lingdun, could he consider cultivating until he could no longer ascend.
But then, he faced a big problem.
This underground world was just a "mine," and to break through to higher tiers, he always had to go to the surface.
He also wanted to experience that broader world.
And in the future, when he went to the surface, "dark spirit energy" would be very scarce, and cultivation would be a big problem.
Using cursed crystals or energy conversion arrays was possible, but that method of cultivation was completely burning money.
Su'en didn't think he had the financial resources to support it.
Now, this [Isaac Alchemy Heart] perfectly solved this problem.
It must be said, Sereya as a teacher, thought very thoroughly.
Su'en also suddenly understood why Mr. Mirror and the others were fighting for other divine limbs.
Apart from limiting that fallen angel from obtaining its full power, it was probably for this purpose.
…….
The space was collapsing, and Sereya's body began to disintegrate. She gave her last few words of advice.
"There's not enough time. I won't say much else. In the other notebooks, there are several alchemical symbiotic armors researched by Isaac. If you can find them in the future, they might give you a lot of help on your path…"
"I don't know where the end of death is, maybe it's the underworld of myths and legends, or maybe it's complete dissipation. But I vaguely feel that if one day you comprehend the 'law of death,' we might have a chance to meet again… Grow strong, my disciple."
"But with the heart on you, once you go out, that fallen angel will sense it. It will definitely come for you. Be careful, no one knows what will happen…"
"…"
Su'en listened carefully, nodding from time to time.
Sereya's figure had already started to disintegrate from the feet up, "Alright, time's up…"
Su'en bowed, "Farewell, teacher."
Sereya showed a loving smile, and before she completely disappeared, she said one last thing, "If you can, please take care of Pestoya for me. She's been alone in the cursed space for a thousand years, her temper might be a bit quirky, be patient with her…"
"Yes, teacher."
Su'en responded, and when he looked up again, Sereya's final smiling face had disintegrated before his eyes.
***
The surroundings changed, the bright alchemy workshop turned into the dark, dilapidated ruins.
The five-pointed star central prison ruins were right in front of him, Su'en's gaze was misty.
He touched his chest, where the seal was still hot.
Everything seemed so real, yet disappeared before his eyes.
The thousand-year master-disciple fate had just begun, and now it was over.
Sereya's words still echoed in his ears, and Su'en's thoughts drifted.
At that moment, Kay not far away saw him and called out, "Su'en, are you alright?"
Besides Kay, only Rena and the old butler Anthony were alive.
"Mhm, I'm fine."
Su'en naturally knew they could survive, so he wasn't surprised.
In that cursed space, it would have been easy for Sereya to kill anyone.
As for the Oliver and Clark families, nearly a thousand people were buried in the space.
Sereya's threads that spread throughout the prison made it convenient to take anything, and naturally, the spoils of war all fell into Su'en's pocket.
The elite troops of the two great families, equipment, symbiotic armors, supplies, employment materials…
Incalculable value.
It wasn't in vain that he had entered and exited the prison eight times to plan this ambush.
Of course, Su'en felt that the greatest gain was meeting his teacher Sereya.
Kay was used to it.
Su'en always managed to do things that surprised people.
Even in situations that seemed certain death.
But surviving this time was completely unexpected for Rena and Anthony.
Before, whether it was the siege of several great families or that "T-level" cursed space, it was an unsolvable death trap for them.
Unexpectedly, the situation turned around.
The ones who survived were them!
And all because of the man in front of them who seemed elegant and amiable.
Rena looked at Su'en, who had changed greatly, with some disbelief, and obediently called out, "Mr. Su'en."
Su'en smiled at her and formally greeted her as "Su'en," "Mhm. Long time no see, Miss Rena."
"Thank you for saving me again."
Rena understood that her survival was entirely due to the man in front of her.
Su'en just smiled noncommittally.
After the ordeal, the pressure that had been suffocating her was gone, and the persistent worry on Rena's pretty face also disappeared. She blinked and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mr. Su'en, how… could you be Zolo?"
"Now's not the time to talk,"
Su'en shook his head gently, not explaining further.
His gaze was fixed on the depths of the ruins, and he said seriously, "You must leave the ruins immediately. In a little while, there might be a big change in the ruins… It's best to stay far away."
"Mhm."
Rena's expression turned solemn at his tone.
She always had an inexplicable trust in Su'en's words, and although she had many questions, she didn't ask further and nodded.
Kay, hearing this, asked, "Su'en, what about you?"
Su'en: "I still have things to do, it would be very dangerous for you to be with me."
Kay, now aware of Su'en's true strength, naturally knew that this kind of "monster" didn't need his concern and just said, "Mhm, then take care of yourself."
Rena also added, "Mr. Su'en, please take good care of yourself."
***
Although the old butler Anthony had been silent, when he left, he looked back for a moment, his eyes full of complexity, and thought to himself, "What an extraordinary being…"
He had heard of the notorious SS fugitive Su'en but had never seen him.
He never imagined that he had been in the team before.
The blue-skinned young man who had pretended to be "Zolo," called "Kay," had already impressed him.
But Su'en was even more astonishing to an unimaginable extent.
Looking at the young man with a gentle smile, no one would believe his combat power was so shocking.
Even Anthony, a genuine third-tier, felt a chill down his spine.
If he were an enemy… he would probably have been killed too.
Images flashed through Anthony's mind.
He had witnessed Su'en's puppet army withstand the elite troops of the two great families, kill the "Wind Thunder Sword King" Nero, and survive a battle with a man who was clearly a top expert…
No, maybe he had already killed him.
And yet, he always felt that Su'en gave off an unfathomable feeling.
But none of that mattered anymore.
The enemies were wiped out,
They had survived.
Anthony finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The conspiracy of the great families to kill the Reiss main house had completely failed, and even the Oliver and Clark families would be severely weakened.
And he and the young lady Rena surviving was already the best outcome.
The trio quickly retreated, their figures disappearing into the thick fog of the ruins.