Chapter 59: Catching Up
By the Silver Moon Lake, a ferry with a mechanical style started up, heading toward the island at the lake's center, loaded with various equipment.
Su Xiao sat on the gunwale. It wasn't that he wanted to go to the island; rather, Seraphilia had arranged the location for concocting the [Enlightenment] secret medicine there.
Using solar energy as the energy for resonant compression naturally carried a risk of explosion. If this were done in the lakeside dormitory, the other distinguished guests staying there would move out overnight.
Furthermore, the lakeside dormitory wasn't far from the "Midday Academy." If the dormitory blew up, that was a minor issue, but if the explosion affected the "Midday Academy," it would be troublesome.
Even with Seraphilia's status in Arcane Eternal Star, this matter would be difficult to handle. So, the location for concocting the [Enlightenment] secret medicine was arranged on the island. First, the vast Silver Moon Lake served as the primary safeguard. Second, a passive defensive barrier was set up around the lakeshore.
Su Xiao happened to want to see the island anyway, so he agreed to the location. If the island had a wolf burial ground for the Moon Wolves, he could upgrade [Silver Moon Blade] to the highest tier of Overlord Equipment. Presumably, [Silver Moon Blade] would undergo a qualitative change then.
However, Su Xiao didn't fully agree to move out of the lakeside dormitory. Using the excuse that the living conditions on the island were average, he had Seraphilia arrange for someone to set up a sufficiently stable teleportation array, allowing him to return from the island to his room in the lakeside dormitory within a short time.
The reason for this was to continue being neighbors with the Goddess of Fortune. Although he wouldn't arrange for this goddess yet, once the Arcane Festival officially started for 2-3 days, he would begin making arrangements. Being neighbors naturally made it easier to act.
When the ferry stopped, it was already past nine in the evening. Under the moonlight, the island wasn't dark. Silver-blue light particles drifted like fireflies.
Under the starry night, Su Xiao stepped onto the island's soft ground covered with mossy plants. The surrounding frog calls were incessant, and the air was exceptionally fresh. Looking ahead, the dozen-meter-tall stone tablet emitting a faint blue glow was particularly conspicuous, as were the several Moonlight Greatswords inserted at its base.
Stopping beneath the towering stone tablet, Su Xiao didn't reach out to grasp any of the Moonlight Greatsword hilts. Although he sensed that even without being a Sword Grandmaster, he could still use these Moonlight Greatswords—just as the Moon Wolves could crystallize energy and master abilities similar to the Devouring Core—grasping a Moonlight Greatsword would likely expose his identity. Naturally, he wouldn't do that. He bypassed the stone tablet and arrived at a building a kilometer behind it.
The building was entirely rock-structured. Judging by the wind erosion marks, it was probably built decades ago. Entering, Su Xiao found it was a warehouse-like place with one floor above ground and two below. Currently, the two underground floors had been connected, creating an underground space with a ceiling height of over ten meters and an area of over a thousand square meters.
Inside the underground space, various large machines were already placed. Su Xiao's earlier claim about using solar energy for resonant compression to concoct the [Enlightenment] secret medicine wasn't a bluff. Specifically, it was one of the methods for concocting [Enlightenment], albeit slightly modified. No one could find any fault with it.
A lie requires more lies to cover up, and eventually, the falsehood presented by too many lies is seen through by the enemy.
Su Xiao hadn't fabricated a lie. Concocting the [Enlightenment] secret medicine indeed required this step. However, after the concoction was complete, slightly processing the solution inside the resonant compression device would transform it into liquid Apollo.
To be precise, Su Xiao was using the production of semi-finished liquid Apollo to provide powerful resonant compression kinetic energy. In terms of liquid Apollo, he had invested a lot of time and effort long ago, and now it finally came in handy.
By just before midnight, the alchemy laboratory sufficient for concocting the [Enlightenment] secret medicine was finally set up. Looking around, the indicator lights on various machines and their displayed working states were dazzling.
Since Green Gillian was studying alchemy with Su Xiao, she naturally followed along. She was currently sitting on a particle transfer machine, deciphering patterns in a book. Her focused expression made one wonder if she truly had talent in alchemy.
Not only Green Gillian was there, but two others were also sent—old acquaintances, Hugh and Rune.
Their task here was ostensibly as assistants and errand runners, but in reality, they were responsible for monitoring Su Xiao's every move.
Although Hugh seemed as lazy as if afflicted by a laziness curse, he was one of the two people Soul Lord trusted most. He was currently the highest authority of Arcane Eternal Star's underground prison, i.e., the warden. To some extent, the lives of Crow Woman, Elementalist Heros, and others were in Hugh's hands.
This lazy guy appeared to sit on the shoulder of a giant magical energy guard, wandering around daily. In reality, over 40% of the prisoners in the underground prison were sent there by him personally. Soul Warden Hugh didn't have a good reputation outside. Or rather, not only was Su Xiao himself on the path of becoming stronger, but Hugh, who had once fought him to a draw, was also continuously advancing.
Besides Hugh, Rune was there to constantly observe changes in solar energy. As a former energy department top student at "Midday Academy," no one doubted his observational and judgment abilities in this area.
"Mr. Holy Flame, if you have any instructions, don't hesitate. Just tell us."
Rune spoke. Hearing this, Su Xiao nodded and said, "Alright, you two go bring in all the sun-attribute materials. Melt the fire essence here, soak the sun fragments in..."
Su Xiao arranged a series of tasks. Hearing this, the lazy Hugh wished he could give Rune a friendly slap across the face.
Upon hearing Su Xiao's instructions, Rune was taken aback. He was just being polite, but since it had come to this, he could only go with the lazy Hugh to bring in the materials from upstairs.
At two in the morning, three-meter-thick glass columns stood in a semi-circular arrangement inside the laboratory. A warm yellow glow emanated from within, and numerous bubbles rose in the warm yellow liquid.
"Finally done. I'll take a nap."
Hugh leaned back in a recliner. Before Rune could respond, Hugh had already fallen into a light sleep. Seeing this, Rune silently cursed.
Ignoring the two, Su Xiao approached a machine resembling a furnace and began the initial process of alchemical concoction. Even if everything went smoothly, it would take two days.
Su Xiao opened the start valve. The next second, the warm yellow solution in all 15 glass columns became filled with numerous bubbles, as if about to boil. Almost simultaneously, an extremely terrifying fluctuation spread out.
Hugh and Rune immediately stood up, their hair standing on end. In an instant, this gut-wrenching sense of crisis made cold sweat break out on their backs.
"What's going on?"
Hugh looked at Rune beside him. Rune smiled bitterly and said, "Probably... normal."
Just as the two were discussing how to handle the situation, an even stronger sense of danger suddenly struck. It felt like facing a sun about to explode. They were so small and insignificant, as if the next moment, they would be turned to ash by the sun, the ash evaporated into gas by the high temperature.
For some reason, amidst this danger, Hugh recalled when he was young, climbing the "Great Bell Tower" with his friends Rune and Crow Woman, getting caught, and then their days at "Midday Academy," along with subsequent events.
Suddenly, Hugh's eyes widened a bit. He felt that this damn well seemed like seeing his life flash before his eyes.
"Stay calm, don't panic."
Rune's words had just fallen when he found Su Xiao already carrying Beini, rushing toward the upward stairs, with Green Gillian holding an oversized book beside him.
Rune and Hugh exchanged glances. Then Rune exclaimed "Oh crap" and disappeared using spatial abilities.
"Take me with you..."
Hugh had only said half a sentence when he found his unreliable friend had vanished without a trace. Hugh transformed into a black flame figure, and the next moment, he passed through solid matter, appearing a hundred meters above the building.
A moment later, Su Xiao, Beini, Green Gillian, Hugh, and Rune were behind the moon stone tablet. Green Gillian peeked at the distant building and said, "It didn't explode."
"Mr. Holy Flame, be honest. If those sun solutions exploded, how powerful would it be?"
Rune spoke in a deep voice, clearly not wanting to bid farewell to this beautiful world.
"Don't worry. Theoretically, it won't explode."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, both Rune and Hugh had expressions that were hard to describe.
"Since it won't explode, Mr. Holy Flame, why were you the first to run..."
"It won't explode, but it will burn. Stop wasting time. Let's go back."
Su Xiao walked toward the laboratory. Hugh and Rune reluctantly followed, and Green Gillian behind them was even more unwilling. As for Beini, it lay on top of the stone tablet, planning to stay there for the night.
During the alchemical concoction, Su Xiao felt time passed quickly, but Hugh and Rune felt each day was like a year. From the start of this damn concoction and the operation of the energy compressor, Hugh, with his terrifyingly strong perception, had seen his life flash before his eyes over a dozen times. By noon the next day, Hugh looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes.
Two days later, at the Dawn Manor, in the winery.
Seraphilia tasted the fruit wine in her glass. Seeming dissatisfied, her delicate brows furrowed slightly. Extremely picky about wine, she was very unhappy with her new creation. Indeed, brewing fine wine was one of Seraphilia's hobbies.
Just then, the elemental ring on her finger glowed faintly. Seeing this, she put down the crystal glass. The next moment, she had arrived from the Dawn Manor winery to the island in Silver Moon Lake.
Upon arriving, Seraphilia saw a small tent set up ahead. What surprised her more was that her disciple, Green, was sound asleep inside the tent.
Seraphilia didn't wake her disciple. She walked into the building ahead. Upon arriving, she inexplicably felt a palpitation. The further she went down the stairs toward the underground laboratory, the more pronounced this feeling became.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Seraphilia opened a half-meter-thick giant door, reinforced by Rune with golden solidity, eternal sealing array, solid ice, and other formations. Moreover, the inside of this door was covered with numerous soul runes created by Hugh, further strengthening it.
This made Seraphilia's steps unconsciously slow down. When she entered the laboratory, the first thing that caught her eye was Rune, who had dark circles and disheveled hair, and Hugh beside him, with slightly sunken eye sockets, looking like he had been drained of yang energy by a demon.
"What happened to you two..."
Seraphilia had just spoken when she was met with the resentful gazes of the two younger ones.
"Lady Seraphilia, I'm a bit tired. I'll go back and rest first."
Rune spoke in a somewhat weak voice. It was no wonder. Over these two days, the sun solutions had seemed on the verge of exploding hundreds of times, as if they were unhappy and wanted to blow up.
Rune estimated that if those sun solutions exploded, most of Silver Moon Lake would evaporate. That wasn't the main issue. The key was that he had a high probability of being taken out by the sudden explosion.
Compared to him, Hugh, with his abnormally strong perception, suffered even more. Over these two days, he had practically reviewed his entire life. The life-flashing-before-his-eyes was like watching a TV series—he could even connect the episodes.
"You two go back first," Seraphilia said. Before Hugh and Rune could get up, she added, "On the way back, stop by the winery and get some maple gum infusion."
"Thank you, Lady Seraphilia."
"Thank you, Madam Seraphilia."
Rune and Hugh spoke in turn. Their addresses to Seraphilia differed. The former called her "Lady" because Rune had no official position, while Hugh was Soul Lord's most trusted confidant.
After the two left, Seraphilia approached the scorching energy compressor. Su Xiao sat in the main seat of the compressor, wearing a metal headgear. External neural tendrils climbed up his arms, allowing him to control mechanical tentacles to stabilize the energy inside the compressor. In the blazing, golden-yellow solar energy, a walnut-sized medicinal liquid occasionally took irregular shapes.
The solar energy gradually converged. The floating translucent medicinal liquid was collected by Su Xiao in a crystal vial. When the temperature cooled, the liquid in the crystal vial showed a faint fluorescent green, as if countless vibrant life forces were condensed within.
Su Xiao pinched both ends of the crystal vial with his middle finger and thumb. He had to admit that without Arcane Eternal Star's materials and access to various machines, concocting this would be extremely difficult.
"Pretty smooth. Your disciple Green needs two bottles of Enlightenment secret medicine. This is the first."
Su Xiao tossed the [Enlightenment] secret medicine in his hand to Seraphilia. Hearing that this risky concoction had to be done once more displeased Seraphilia, but she spoke calmly, "Couldn't you have concocted both bottles together?"
"Why don't you give it a try?"
Su Xiao made a "please" gesture toward the main seat of the energy compressor, trying to deliberately provoke her.
Seraphilia narrowed her eyes slightly but then said, "I was too impatient."
Hearing this, Su Xiao glanced at Seraphilia. He hadn't expected her to back down. But thinking about it, it was only because this concerned Green that she would yield. Realizing this, he knew how to make her lose composure.
"I only concocted one bottle's worth. Hugh and Rune, who were monitoring me, looked like ghosts from the ordeal. If I increased the power and concocted two bottles at once, not only would the Midday Academy near Silver Moon Lake be affected, but even the Void Library would send people to the island to cause trouble for me."
"That's true. I was rash earlier."
Seraphilia backed down again. Su Xiao felt the opportunity had come. He said casually, as if chatting, "Oh? Is Green that important to you? Whose cells did you use to cultivate her?"
"An... old acquaintance."
"Old acquaintance? I think it's an old flame."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Seraphilia stared at him with a gaze that seemed calm but was actually chilling to the bone.
Su Xiao did this deliberately. Seraphilia in her normal, calm state was harder to deal with.
Seeming to realize he had touched on something Seraphilia didn't want to mention, Su Xiao changed the subject. "The other bottle of Enlightenment secret medicine Green needs, I'll start concocting after the Arcane Festival ends."
"Not now?"
As soon as Seraphilia said this, she realized she had lost composure. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't ask such an obvious question.
"Of course I can, but the prerequisite is that you have to convince King Frostwind, Dean Guya, and Soul Lord to allow me to start these solar energy devices during the Arcane Festival."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Seraphilia said, "Then let's continue after the Arcane Festival ends."
Just as Su Xiao and Seraphilia finished talking, Green Gillian, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, walked in.
"Mr. Holy Flame! You can't do this to me!"
At Green Gillian's words, Seraphilia's gaze toward Su Xiao turned somewhat cold.
"How could I possibly remember over 500 patterns in three days? I did my best and only remembered 300. I don't want to sprout!"
Green Gillian looked both wronged and indignant. As she spoke, she touched her head. In her imagination, sprouting would definitely start from the top of the head.
"..."
Su Xiao frowned. He had previously tricked Green Gillian into thinking she had drunk a sprouting potion, but he hadn't taken it seriously and had almost forgotten.
The issue wasn't the fake sprouting potion—which was actually watermelon juice. The key was that Green had remembered 300 patterns in three days.
When Su Xiao had first systematically encountered this knowledge, he had also remembered about 390 patterns in three days. Only then did he officially begin his secondary profession as an alchemist.
Now, Green Gillian remembering 300 patterns in three days clearly showed she had real alchemical talent.
"Come here," Su Xiao said, picking up a piece of paper from the top of a nearby machine and throwing it on the table. "Draw 300 types of introductory imprint patterns. If you're missing even one, I'll stuff you in there."
Su Xiao pointed to a glass column containing sun solution. Seeing this, Green Gillian nervously stepped forward and began drawing the alchemical introductory imprint patterns she had memorized.
Half an hour later, 300 pieces of paper with alchemical introductory imprint patterns were placed on the table in front of Su Xiao. This was unexpected. He hadn't heard before that Green Gillian had talent in alchemy.
If Wood and Zuiyasi, his "good teammates," were present, they would be laughing their heads off. Wood would probably say, "Bai Ye, have you really considered developing prophecy abilities?"
"Holy Flame, did Green's alchemical talent not meet expectations?"
Seraphilia spoke.
"Not bad."
"Then let her continue learning from you?"
"Sure."
With that, Su Xiao walked to the nearby teleportation device and activated it. The next second, he returned to his residence on the third floor of the lakeside dormitory. Green Gillian also came back. Seraphilia went somewhere, probably to verify if the bottle of [Enlightenment] secret medicine had any issues.
After telling Green Gillian to continue studying alchemy diligently, Su Xiao leaned back on a single sofa. This concoction of [Enlightenment] secret medicine had allowed him to determine the limits of his alchemy. It was higher than expected, but he couldn't slack off afterward.
Su Xiao checked the time. It was already seven in the evening. Tomorrow morning was the start of the "Arcane Festival," so tonight, things were already getting lively outside.
Each Arcane Festival lasted 5-7 days. The first day was an appetizer. The morning opening ceremony was too solemn, so Su Xiao didn't plan to attend. The midday banquet in the great hall was acceptable—he could bring Beini to feast.
On the first night, the banquet in the great hall would be attended by the younger generation participating in the "Combat Competition."
Therefore, Su Xiao definitely had to attend this banquet in the great hall. It was crucial to whether his subsequent plans could continue.
On the second day, the auction at "Dawn Manor" in the evening interested Su Xiao, but unfortunately, his funds were tight, so he had no interest.
On the third day, when the "Combat Competition" officially began, that was the opportunity Su Xiao was truly waiting for.
Just as Su Xiao was thinking this, the door was suddenly knocked on. He had Green Gillian open it, and found a steward from "Dawn Manor." The steward's words surprised Su Xiao slightly. The steward said that a friend of his wanted to see him.
The only friends the Holy Flame Alchemist identity could publicly have were White Bull and his subordinates. As for Zuiyasi and Wood, if they forced a connection, it would inevitably arouse suspicion from Arcane Eternal Star.
Before long, under the steward's guidance, a fat, potbellied goblin walked in. He wore a round suit, a short hat, and a monocle on his nose.
This goblin claimed to be one of the shareholders of the Goblin Company. After verification through contact between Arcane Eternal Star and the Goblin Company, his identity was confirmed.
After the goblin shareholder entered the room, he showed a somewhat cunning smile and said happily, "My dear friend, I heard you were in Arcane Eternal Star. As soon as I finished my business there, I immediately came to catch up with you."
Hearing the "goblin shareholder's" words, Su Xiao gestured for him to sit down. He knew that the real show was about to begin.
The "good teammate" quartet had gathered in Arcane Eternal Star.