The auditorium of Dongsheng Academy could accommodate more than three thousand people. The teachers and students of the alchemy department squeezed in, leaving hardly any empty seats. Ramille and Aquinas sat in the front row, and the staff of the college's office had adjusted the magic amplification.
Ge Zheng stepped onto the platform, and the magical screen on the wall behind the platform projected the equation. Although it was just a formality, Ge Zheng asked, "Has anyone decoded this equation?" There was silence below, and Ge Zheng asked, "Merkel, what about you?" Merkel, who was also sitting in the front, stood up and said coldly, "This equation is self-contradictory and inexplicable. It cannot be called an equation."
Ge Zheng smiled, "Merkel, I admire your courage, unable to solve it yourself and yet saying this equation is fake. Your confidence, I don't know where it comes from, reminds me of someone."
There was laughter below, and Merkel, annoyed, said, "Don't be arrogant. Today, I will see how you explain your equation."
Dean Ramille whispered to Aquinas beside him, "Have you figured it out?"
Aquinas hesitated for a moment and said, "No." Ramille nodded, as if nothing had happened, continued to look at Ge Zheng on the platform.
Ge Zheng pointed at the equation on the magical screen and said with a smile, "It's actually worthless. The wilderness represents the environment in which the reaction occurs. The snake grassland represents a patch of silica sand. I don't need to explain this, do I?"
Indeed, stripped down, the snake signifies the primal state of matter, and the wilderness, apart from grass, is just sand, one of the common materials used in alchemy. No one, however, had thought that this reaction was not taking place in a furnace, but on a pile of silica sand.
"The creature with the head of a horse and the body of a dog - the horse represents wildness, while the dog represents a guardian of order. Together, they represent a 'wildness in restraint.'" He looked down at the audience, "Can anyone tell me what material 'wildness in restraint' represents?"
There was silence below, and Ge Zheng shrugged, "Really? No one can answer such a simple question..." Master Aquinas was also somewhat angry. These students could talk eloquently in ordinary times, but they all froze at critical moments. He looked at Merkel, who was lost in thought.
Aquinas shook his head with reluctance and coughed, "Magic crystal."
Ge Zheng clapped, "Students, see the gap? You still have a lot to learn!"
Ramille couldn't help but laugh, and quietly said to Aquinas, "Old friend, take that as a compliment."
Aquinas shook his head, somewhat helplessly.
"The director's words are entirely correct; it's magic crystal. Within the magic crystal is contained a violent force, yet it maintains an unsettled state - precisely 'wildness in restraint'. When you're free, don't spend all your time passing notes to your female classmates. Go to the library and read more books."
Ge Zheng found that he was increasingly talented as a teacher now, being able to reprimand people with any excuse.
"Now, the balanced-shaped carriage - the balance represents law, and the carriage represents a furnace. The combination of law and the furnace represents 'a new law furnace.'"
This time, someone spoke up from below, "It represents a furnace of new law."
Ge Zheng nodded, "Correct. It's a furnace that's born under new laws, combined with the silica sand from earlier, meaning a new alchemical law is present in this furnace."
Merkel couldn't help but stand up and shout, "This is impossible. The flames in the furnace would melt the silica sand. How could silica sand be used as a furnace?"
Aquinas said to Dean Ramille, "I also don't understand this part."
Ge Zheng raised his eyebrows, "Did you not hear what I just said? New rules! In this furnace, no flames are needed."
"No flames?" This time, not only Merkel, but also Aquinas and all the students and teachers below were stunned. Without flames, how could they "refine" metal?
Ge Zheng didn't give any further explanation but continued, "A rooster on one tray signifies the 'morning light' within the 'circle,' does everyone understand?"
The circle, like a sphere, represents the unity of matter, the unity of the beginning and the end; the morning light also means light. Suddenly, a student shouted, "It's solar stone! Stone during the day, solution at night."
Ge Zheng nodded, "It seems we have many geniuses in our department apart from Merkel. That's right, it's solar stone, and the number of points needed can be known by counting the roosters. Let's look at the other tray. The phoenix represents immortality, symbolizing red, it's quite simple. There's a magical language explanation along the edge of the tray. If you can't find from which step to start, I advise you to drop out quickly."
"Haha..." the students below burst into laughter.
"Well, this is the last difficult question - the wheel symbol. The key, clock, sun, hexagram, and fish. The wheel is also round, obviously representing the unity of these five elements. Bat under the carriage, the carriage representing the furnace, then the wheel symbolizes 'refining,' just like the flames in a normal furnace. This part signifies the medium used for refining. But it’s also under the silica sand, which means that this medium is reacting inside the furnace."
"If it signifies opening, it represents acid solution. The clock represents an alert and symbolizes lightning, which can be extended to the magic energy of thunderbolt. Here what we need is the magic core powder of a thunderbolt beast. The sun symbolizes gold, but here it represents pure gold. The hexagram naturally represents a magic array. Without the help of a magic array, it is not easy for the powder and pure gold to dissolve in the acid solution. Finally, this fish, symbolizing wealth, can also symbolize mating, extended as the birth of a new thing, which is also the process of dyeing red. How to complete this process is also described in the magic language around the wheel."
"Are there any other questions now?" Master Aquinas couldn't help asking, "Ge, if I'm not mistaken, the product of the wheel part, which you called the alchemical medium, will be a liquid." Ge Zhen nodded, "Master is right."
"But how can a liquid be used as an alchemical medium?" Aquinas didn't understand.
Ge Zhen smiled, "Of course it can, you only need to have done it yourself, and naturally you'll understand. But I want to remind everyone, the amount of silica sand must be large, the walls of the silica sand furnace must be thick. Because in this reaction, the furnace is not just a simple container, in fact, the solution medium will also undergo displacement with the silica sand inside the furnace, which is also part of this alchemy."
This theory is really novel for the Star Refining World, but in the Ge sect, it's just a simple "water refining."
Alchemy has both "fire refining" and "water refining," it's just that the Ge sect's "water refining" is actually conducted in the smelting pool, and Ge Zhen has simply moved it into the furnace.
Merckel stood up again, "I don't believe it! Throughout the generations of title artisans, no one has ever said that alchemy can be done with water. True gold refining is only achieved through flames, roaring flames, to give substance new life! Teacher, although you are a teacher and I should respect you, your academic attitude really doesn't convince me."
Most of the people below are skeptical of Ge Zhen. Indeed, in the history of the Star Refining World, there has never been "water refining," so their disbelief is a normal reaction.
"If you want us to believe, you should tell us what this formula produces," a student said.
Ge Zhen smiled, took out a bright blue crystal bead from his pocket. "This is it. If what you produce isn't this, then unfortunately, your alchemy has failed."
"What is this, and what is it used for?" Merckel asked.
Ge Zhen took out something else from his pocket: it was a doll, a black-faced little person holding a thin-blade battle axe, with a large wooden stake in front.
"Let me demonstrate its use to everyone. This thing is actually a device similar to a recording magic crystal." He inputted magic power, and the crystal bead lit up with a faint glow. Ge Zhen said to the bead, "Merckel."
"Hmm?" Merckel subconsciously responded, "I wasn't calling you, you don't have to respond," Ge Zhen looked at the bead, nodded, "Alright."
Ge Zhen opened the back cover of the doll, stuffed the crystal bead inside, and then said, "Everyone watch closely. Merckel." Merckel was about to get angry, but when he heard Ge Zhen's voice, the doll actually moved, raising the axe and clumsily striking down. The axe chopped the stake in half, revealing a thin toothpick inside!
Ge Zhen took out the toothpick, and the two halves of the stake quickly rejoined. He shouted again, "Merckel."
The doll's axe fell once again, splitting the stake and revealing another toothpick!
"Hmm..." the students found it quite interesting. After all, they were all sixteen or seventeen-year-old kids and couldn't contain their curiosity when they saw something new.
Ge Zhen tried a few more times, then raised the doll and said, "Did everyone see? This is a voice-controlled toothpick dispenser, the latest product from the Ge Sect Alchemy Shop. You can set any sound to control it, and once you've set it, just call out and it will chop a toothpick for you. Merckel, this was just an experiment, I hope you don't mind."
As soon as he said it, the doll swung its axe again, and another toothpick came out!
Merckel's face looked worse than ever, but he could only grit his teeth and say, "Of course, I don't mind..."
Some students had already noticed that although the doll didn't have much in common with Merckel, the slender blade battle axe in its hand was almost like a pocket-sized version of the battle axe he used in class. If Ge Zhen didn't do it intentionally, probably no one would believe it.
Some students were already making fun of it, as Merckel usually held the position of the top alchemist in the school of alchemy, and had quite a few enemies.
"Hey, Merckel, I need a toothpick."
"Snap," Ge Zhen's doll obediently chopped one out.
"Hey, Merckel, you're really obedient..."
The doll really did seem like an obedient pet, producing another toothpick.
The raucous noises continued, and Ramil saw that things might get out of control. He stood up quickly, "Alright, students, this open class is over for now. After you go back, summarize your thoughts. Now, I'd like to thank Master Ge for his wonderful lecture!"
The students stood up together, and enthusiastic applause broke out, but no one noticed that Merckel slipped away dejectedly. Chancellor Ramil stood smiling next to Ge Zhen, and said in a low voice, "Ge, you're promoting in the academy. The academy will take a ten percent profit from the sale of this doll toothpick dispenser!"
Ge Zhen was stunned, still with a smile on his face, but his tone wasn't as friendly. "Chancellor, don't be so greedy. It's not easy for me to make some money."
The Chancellor said, "I'll give you two options: first, I'll take ten percent of your profit; second, the Alchemy department must win the upcoming Five Great Academy Exchange Tournament."
Ge Zhen didn't hesitate, "I choose the second option." The Chancellor's smile grew brighter, but Ge Zhen's smile was noticeably forced, and he nudged the Chancellor with his elbow, "Hey, old man, I have a feeling I'm being manipulated by you." Chancellor Ramil looked at the enthusiastic students below and chose not to respond.
...
It was the inn where Ge Zhen and Princess Feifei had stayed at the time.
Efenberg stood under a withered tree in the courtyard, glancing solemnly at the iron boxes arranged in the yard. Each box contained priceless items, but compared to the Lost Winter Blade, they were nothing.
Losing the Lost Winter Blade had some impact on the relationship between the two countries, but it didn't truly endanger their alliance. Because both countries understood that if they couldn't join forces and faced the alliance of Dandela and Samuel alone, they would have no chance of winning.
Moreover, the giant wolf monster had already committed multiple offenses on the continent. It had snatched four of the twelve top-level quasi-divine artifacts on the continent.
It attacked the Anfinious Mountain Castle of the Dandela Empire and stole the Anfinious Duke's family heirloom, the top-level quasi-divine artifact Eye of the Demon God. The monster's blood flame meteor and the Lost Winter Blade collapsed a mountain peak, turning Anfinious Mountain Castle into ruins.
It attacked the main force of the Third Cavalry Corps of the small country of Shanglin in the west, and stole the top-level quasi-divine artifact "Sun Thunderbolt" that Shanglin relied on for national defense. The blood flame meteor, Lost Winter Blade, and Eye of the Demon God, the monster alone wiped out an entire cavalry corps. The next day, the neighboring country launched an attack, and successfully destroyed Shanglin.
It also captured the stronghold of the most powerful bandit group, the "Rebel God Legion," in the continent—Jueling Fort. It took the top-level quasi-divine artifact, the Ring of Rest, from the hands of the gang's leader, the first gang leader of the continent, the 12th-level high-ranking mage Byul. And without mercy, it tore Byul in two and threw him off a cliff.
The blood-red wolf-headed monster had become an enemy of the entire continent, and the Atto Empire had also issued a national mission, offering a reward in gold coins, equal to the number in the Oster Empire.
In other words, if someone could retrieve the Lost Winter Blade, they would receive four million gold coins in one go!
Rong Chuan looked at the string of tasks on the magic screen in front of her and laughed, "Xiao Sa, let's return the Lost Winter Blade first, earn these four million gold coins, and then send the Blasphemous God to snatch it back, alright? Hee hee hee..."
Xiao Sa said, "Miss, Kros once said that the Blasphemer was missing a core, greatly reducing its power. We should be more careful."
Rong Chuan waved her hand nonchalantly, "Even if it's missing a core, we now have four top-quasi-divine artifacts, which is enough to compensate for this disadvantage. No need to worry." She thought for a moment and asked, "Still haven't found Kros?" Xiao Sa shook her head, "I've sent out several groups of people, but we can't find Kros's trace anywhere in Delsum Royal City."
Rong Chuan frowned, "Could he really be dead? It's impossible..."
The people Xiao Sa sent out never expected that the esteemed Kros would actually fall to the level of a beggar.
"Send more people, and contact the gangs within the Royal City. They must help us find Kros. He's very important to us, and we must find him no matter what."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Also..." Rong Chuan's expression turned serious, "How's the situation in the city of Rolingel?" Xiao Sa responded, "I've sent out a clone, and the progress is smooth, but their city lord is absent. We'll need to make some extra effort to finally gain extraction rights."
Rong Zhen nodded, "The situation on the mainland is getting more and more delicate. It may erupt into a major war at any time. We must handle these matters before the war breaks out."
Two hundred magic arrows, plus other equipment, five thousand gold coins, Ge Zheng delivered them in advance. Emma and Powell came to collect the goods, and of course, the strong bear people served as the porters.
In addition to taking away the equipment and gold coins, they also took Solgevlin.
Although the wise dragon felt 1000% reluctant in his heart, as Ge Zheng had spoken, he had no choice. Before leaving, Feifei and Diora chased after him, leaving Solgevlin touched for a while: "It's okay, I will definitely come back safely." He had this confidence.
However, the words from Feifei and Diora that followed almost knocked the wise dragon to the ground: "Don't forget that you still owe us a level 9 riding beast. In this adventure, make sure to tame it when you have the chance, and create an opportunity if you don't have one. Seize the chance and fulfill your promise as soon as possible!"
The dragon steel hammer used to buy Vixi couldn't be too rudimentary, Ge Zheng had a considerable amount of dragon steel on hand, so making a hammer was definitely adequate. Anyway, Vixi didn't need any magical attributes, so Ge Zheng focused all his thoughts on weight and sturdiness. Unexpectedly, he was very satisfied with the result of the work. The reason for his success was not because of anything else, but because of his focus.
In the past, every alchemy process required Ge Zheng to consider both the physical and magical attributes of the weapon, which dispersed his energy. However, this time, focusing solely on the physical attributes, his control of the heat had advanced further than before. Relying solely on the weapons produced through alchemy, this one was the best among all of Ge Zheng's works so far.
Ge Zheng made a trip to the warrior department, delivered the new weapon to Vixi, and then went back to the alchemy department for classes without saying much.
He felt that the matter had already been settled and didn't dwell on it any longer.
Master Ge taught two consecutive classes and defeated the top two alchemists in the class, and Miss Palin was comforted by Vixi. Ge Zheng's teaching skills also smoothed the roughness of some of the students, and the class was peaceful. This class naturally transitioned smoothly to the end of class.
Outside the classroom, Geciel was waiting for him. "Lord Commander, the head instructor requests your presence."
On the desk in Master Aquila's office was the latest product from the Ge Men Alchemy Shop, the latest craze in the entire Delson for the noble class, a toothpick doll.
He opened the cover on the back of the doll and took out the crystal bead from Ge Zheng, as well as one of his own: "This is what I refined according to your formula." He placed his own refined crystal into the doll, and then called out, "Ge!" With a snap, a toothpick emerged from the doll.
Ge Zheng smirked, retribution came quickly indeed.
Master Aquila said, "Ge, don't you realize that this formula has ushered in a new era of alchemy?" Ge Zheng speculated, I have already solved the king's seal theorem, based on this, I have consecutively created two new eras. Moreover, my goal is to refine a quasi-divine artifact. If successful in breaking through this barrier, I will have established three new eras in alchemy. Is this what they call the alchemical knowledge explosion?
Master Aquila picked up something from the table and handed it to Ge Zheng, who, upon looking at it, exclaimed in surprise, "A newspaper?" "That's right, this is the most authoritative alchemy technical report in the Star Alchemy World, published by the Alchemist's Association. It is edited by the technical steward, Magnus, using resonance magic to deliver it to every alchemist's branch and then replicate it into a magical newspaper."
The "Alchemy Technical Report" in Ge Zheng's hand was the latest issue, with the most prominent headline on the front page being "On the Feasibility of Alchemy for Wolf-type Giants", which was the most popular topic recently.
Master Aquila said, "Ge, organize your theories and you'll definitely make the front page. You will make a splash in the Star Alchemy World!"
Ge Zheng knew that in the Earth, submitting articles paid a fee, but he wasn't sure what the situation was in this world. He asked, "Master, how is this fee calculated?" Master Aquila chuckled and pointed to the front page headline of the magical newspaper, saying, "The 'Alchemy Technical Report' is the most expensive newspaper on the continent, with a price of two gold coins per issue. Naturally, the fee is substantial."
Ge Zheng muttered, "It's only right, alchemists are all wealthy people." "If you can make it to the front page, the fee is 100,000 gold coins."
Ge Zheng was shocked, "So much!" "I haven't finished yet," said Master Aquila, interrupted and a bit displeased. "The basic circulation of the newspaper is 2 million, and if additional prints are made, for every additional million, there will be an additional fee of 100,000 gold coins, and so on."