Chapter 84: The Devourer
Inside the alchemy laboratory, Su Xiao stood in deep thought before a worktable pressed against the wall. The cells in his hand alone were not enough; he planned to add other components.
After searching through his storage space for a moment, Su Xiao took out several items: [Heterogeneous King's Blood], [Primordial Soul Energy Blood (from Rogesh)], and [Kuska's Body Marrow (Transcendent Plant·Dibamu Fusion Body)].
These were all in trace amounts, containing three characteristics: life evolution, darkness/immortality, and plant growth, each with varying degrees of life properties.
Since this was a biological system, Su Xiao decided to also take out a trace of the Archbishop's divine blood. The Archbishop represented the Dark Flame/Heart Flame, which was also somewhat related to life characteristics.
Thinking this, Su Xiao then took out a trace of [Writhing Tentacles]; the life force within this item was not weak either.
As the saying goes, "in for a penny, in for a pound," Su Xiao also brought out some Ancient God energy extract, which was purified Ancient God life force.
Before he knew it, Su Xiao had placed quite a few items on the worktable. He considered this merely an attempt; failure was acceptable, as he would not consume all the obtained cell fluid.
Adjusting the environment within the alchemy laboratory, Su Xiao began creating a new alchemical creature. This alchemical creature would have no intelligence, and its functions were to be as singular as possible. The more singular, the more powerful the abilities gained.
Beini poked her head in at the entrance of the alchemy laboratory. Above her was Bubu Wang's dog head peeking in, then Baha, and Amu's head topped it all off.
"Meow?"
"Not a new partner. The newborn one has no intelligence; it's a tool. Ah, no, that thing probably isn't human."
"Woof."
Bubu Wang nodded in agreement, while Amu looked confused. In his thinking, if it wasn't a partner, it was classified into the edible/inedible category.
Time flew by. Five hours later, only Bubu Wang remained leaning by the door, his dog face pressed against the wall, drooling as he slept.
Dong~
The sound of glass being struck came. Su Xiao, who had been meditating atop a glass pillar, opened his eyes. He leaped down from the glass pillar and looked at the alchemical creature inside the glass pillar.
Dong~
A mass of black-green fluid slammed against the inner wall of the glass pillar. It had no fixed form and slid down the inner glass surface. This thing not only lacked intelligence but even consciousness was vague. It had only one emotion: an endless, insatiable hunger. It was half a creature, but definitely not a living being, nor an alchemical creature.
"Boss, this thing doesn't seem like an alchemical creature."
Baha examined the unknown creature. The unknown creature clung to the inside of the glass, its feeling clearly indicating it wanted to burst out and devour Baha until not a trace remained.
Seeing this, Su Xiao checked the unknown creature's information. The data was as follows:
Name: To be named
Type: Multi-Energy Fusion Body/Semi-Creature
Storage Time: 85 Natural Days
Health: 100% (Semi-Creature Type Health)
Dark Special Energy: 8160 Points (Will rapidly increase upon entering growth period.)
Strength: 162 (True Attribute, will rapidly increase upon entering growth period.)
Agility: 165 (True Attribute, will rapidly increase upon entering growth period.)
Endurance: 169 (True Attribute, will rapidly increase upon entering growth period.)
Intelligence: 2
Charm: None
Skill 1, Hungry Devour (Passive X): This individual possesses powerful devouring capabilities. After devouring enemies, it will grow rapidly. While Strength, Agility, and Intelligence attributes increase quickly, it will also awaken new abilities in a short time (5 to 10 new abilities), depending on the characteristics of the devoured enemy.
Tip: After this ability is triggered, this unit will enter the growth period, causing its existence cycle to be greatly shortened. The existence cycle is 1 to 3 hours, depending on the user's Intelligence attribute.
Tip: During the devouring process, this unit's size will increase rapidly, and it will be indiscriminate between friend and foe.
...
Seeing this information, Su Xiao basically confirmed that creating an alchemical creature had failed. What he had created was a weapon, a weapon indiscriminate between friend and foe.
Su Xiao named this thing the Devourer. Once activated, the Devourer could exist for 1 to 3 hours. Although its existence seemed short, the Devourer's growth rate was extremely fast, and it was difficult to eliminate.
Before the Devourer grew into a giant unit, if attacked, it would be splattered everywhere, then devour more enemies, after which the splattered semi-fluid would coalesce together.
If the Devourer were placed in an enemy's stronghold, the scene could be imagined. The Devourer would grow in no time, wreaking havoc within the enemy's base.
The intended tracking creature wasn't created, but there was an unexpected pleasant surprise. The current problem was how to store the Devourer.
"Bubu, Amu, Baha."
Su Xiao took off his coat, and a crystal layer wrapped around his arms.
"Let's go."
Baha flew up, pulling the metal lever above the glass pillar. With a puchi sound, the high-strength alloy seal at the top opened.
"Roar!!"
The Devourer inside the glass pillar opened its irregularly shaped maw and let out a roar, exceptionally ferocious.
A moment later, Baha landed on a large centrifuge. The centrifuge was now running at high speed, with an arm-thick glass pillar inserted inside. The Devourer was within, spun into a semi-fluid vortex.
"Dare to bite me? I'll spin you to death."
Baha laughed maliciously. Seeing the centrifuge's countdown had 10 seconds left, its eagle claw pressed a few buttons, giving the Devourer a free extra session, spinning it for another hour. This thing was too ferocious; it needed to be subdued for a while.
At the worktable, Su Xiao was preparing [Ancient Demon Potion]. This was a permanent enhancement potion, increasing 6 points of Physique and 2500 points of Health.
After drinking a perfect-grade [Ancient Demon Potion], one could also drink a bottle of ordinary-grade [Ancient Demon Potion]. The effects of the two bottles combined would permanently increase 12 points of Physique and 5000 points of Health.
Last time, Su Xiao and Amu each drank two bottles. Baha drank one bottle of perfect-grade [Ancient Demon Potion] and could still drink one ordinary-grade. Bubu Wang and Beini had never drunk any.
This meant Su Xiao needed to prepare 2 bottles of perfect-quality [Ancient Demon Potion] and 3 bottles of ordinary-quality. Only 5 sets of materials could be exchanged this time. If something went wrong, he would have to wait for the next opportunity.
Ensuring success wasn't too difficult, but limiting the grade was very challenging.
Su Xiao picked up the Alchemy Codex. He wanted to first raise his Alchemy level through the Codex before preparing the potions, which would be more stable.
Turning to the fifth page of the Alchemy Codex, the metal page was covered with engravings, a total of 853. With Su Xiao's current mental strength, interpreting the fifth page of the Alchemy Codex would probably take two sessions.
Su Xiao's fingertip touched the first engraving on the fifth page, injecting his mental energy. The first engraving gradually filled with mental energy, turning blue, and the overflow spread to the second engraving.
In an instant, everything around Su Xiao disappeared, and he immersed himself in the ocean of alchemical knowledge.
Within the vast starry sky, various array diagrams and the script used by the Second Era: Alchemical Civilization slowly drifted around Su Xiao. Just as he was about to sense this alchemical knowledge, the surrounding array diagrams and script all surged toward his head.
This sudden change caused Su Xiao a splitting headache. All kinds of alchemical knowledge seemed to break through his endurance limit, threatening to 'burst' him. In the past, interpreting the Alchemy Codex had never been like this.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Xiao opened his eyes, bloodshot. He slowly exhaled.
Su Xiao forcibly entered a meditative state. Long-term persistence paid off at this moment. With his current mental fluctuations, entering a meditative state was almost impossible, but accumulated daily effort made the impossible possible.
As soon as he entered the meditative state, the stabbing pain in Su Xiao's head disappeared. He began to organize the alchemical knowledge in his mind. The newly received alchemical knowledge was actually not much. This time felt more like an integration, or rather, a test from the composers of the Alchemy Codex.
Several hours later, Su Xiao opened his eyes. All discomfort had vanished. Not only was his mind not fatigued, but it felt as if he had slept deeply for several hours.
[You have interpreted the Alchemy Codex·Page Five. Number of engravings interpreted on this page: 442/853.]
[You have passed the Codex's Trial. Your Alchemy has been integrated.]
[Alchemy Bomb Science, Alchemy Pharmacology, Alchemy Biology, Plant Harmony Chapter integrating...]
[You have mastered Alchemy Lv.60 (High-Level Knowledge-Type Ability).]
...
Seeing these prompts, Su Xiao understood what had happened. The Alchemy he had previously mastered was too messy, and now it had been integrated.
Now, whether it was Alchemy Pharmacology or the Plant Harmony Chapter, they were all combined into Alchemy Lv.60. From now on, interpreting the Alchemy Codex would raise Alchemy Lv.60.
This was a sorting of knowledge, connecting all the various Alchemy skills to the same core, which was Alchemy Lv.60.
Su Xiao felt this was a good thing. His previously messy Alchemy knowledge now formed a complete system.
After checking for a moment, Su Xiao closed the skill list for Alchemy. He first prepared [Ancient Demon Potion], then [Vitality Essence (Recovery Potion)], and finally [Life Characteristic·No. 01].
Before long, 5 bottles of [Ancient Demon Potion] were placed on the worktable. Although Alchemy had been integrated, controlling whether to produce perfect grade was too difficult. It was a very wonderful feeling, as if blessed by luck, making everything go smoothly. Either follow this feeling and prepare smoothly, or forcibly interrupt, causing the preparation to fail.
[You have obtained Ancient Demon Potion × 1.]
[You have obtained Ancient Demon Potion (Perfect Quality) × 4.]
Su Xiao looked at the five potions before him. When the touch came, nothing could stop it.
Baha drank a bottle of ordinary-grade [Ancient Demon Potion]. Bubu Wang and Beini each had a bottle of perfect grade.
Baha and Beini had no major reaction, both enduring the burning sensation within their bodies.
Bubu Wang was different. He hated heat the most. Now, with fire burning inside him, he gradually became joyous. The fool's soul within him began to burn fiercely, making him fearless!
"Woof~?"
Bubu Wang looked at the alchemical equipment ahead. His tail wagged even more happily. In the end, under the suppression of the size 64 slipper, the alchemy laboratory was saved.