# Chapter 2: Ancient Alchemist
What Su Xiao had previously attempted to achieve was the path of an Alchemy Pharmacist. Unfortunately, this path had completely disappeared along with the "Causal Rune" no longer enhancing Alchemy. The problem was, such Alchemy Pharmacists had indeed existed in the past, and they had left behind various records about how to take this step.
What Su Xiao was now trying to achieve was the Ancient Alchemist, the only current path to reach Alchemy Lv.100.
With all materials properly prepared, he began concocting the secret medicine. The technique was the same as before, but the feeling was completely different. With the assistance of the formation, those blockages and difficult-to-flow catalysts now spread smoothly like liquid, following the guidance of the formation.
When the concoction was complete, a bottle of golden secret medicine sat on the preparation table.
[Your Alchemy has been raised to X.]
[Extreme Body Shell (Peak)]
Origin: Reincarnation Paradise · Holy Flame Alchemist.
Quality: Reincarnation Grade · Rare.
Type: Permanent Enhancement Potion.
Effect: Permanently increases all Supreme Main Attributes by 6 points.
Peak Grade Bonus: After consumption, additionally increases all Supreme Main Attributes by 6 points.
Note: This potion is ineffective when Supreme Attributes reach 1500 points or above.
Warning: Do not consume this potion repeatedly. This will cause immeasurable physical damage, and repeated consumption provides no enhancement effect.
Rating: 28500 points (Reincarnation Grade item ratings range from 15000 to 30000 points).
Description: To be determined.
Price: To be determined.
...
A total increase of 12 points to all Supreme Main Attributes. Those who reach the Supreme Peak generally develop in four or even five attributes. If not for Su Xiao's Charm attribute being so ridiculously low, he might have developed in five attributes back then.
Compromising, based on 4.5 attribute development, that's 12×4.5=54. One bottle immediately provides 54 Supreme Attribute points. The combat strength enhancement this brings is definitely higher than a Reincarnation Grade equipment piece with a rating of 21000~23000 points (excluding weapon slots).
A Reincarnation Grade equipment piece with a 21000~23000 point rating that suits oneself costs around 9~10 wan ounces of Space-Time Power. Of course, this excludes those Reincarnation Grade equipment pieces that require "XXX recognition before use."
Furthermore, this is a permanent self-enhancement, so the price would increase by another 50%~60%, reaching approximately 15 wan ounces.
Considering that, except for Extreme Realm practitioners, other Peak powerhouses generally find it very difficult to improve their physiques, the value increases by another 30%, reaching about 20 wan ounces of Space-Time Power.
At this price range, it becomes a matter of cost-effectiveness. Saving up to over 30 wan ounces to exchange for a powerful legendary weapon would provide combat power enhancement that 54 Supreme Attribute points simply cannot match.
10 wan ounces per bottle! The cost-effectiveness is maxed out. And the material cost is only 1560 ounces, a profit of 64 times.
Don't think this is a heartless price. Among the current six major Paradise factions, how many Supreme Peaks are there? Moreover, when two Peak Contractors enter the same world at this rank, the one with the lower combat evaluation receives numerous warning prompts and a clear combat power ratio difference.
Under these circumstances, as long as the two parties don't have a death grudge, the weaker side will definitely leave. Because under such conditions, that side's Paradise faction won't even issue main quests, naturally making it impossible to talk about the cost of leaving the current world.
This results in the fact that once someone reaches Supreme Peak in a Paradise faction, it's actually very difficult to encounter each other in mission worlds. Su Xiao has been a lone wolf all along, and with his rapid advancement, aside from the exceptional case of Tuanzhang, he naturally hasn't gotten to know any other Paradise faction Supreme Peaks.
This is also why, in the World of Gods, Su Xiao could still encounter Soul Master, Aurora, and other Paradise faction powerhouses. But when he reached Doom Star, aside from Shenfu, who, though not at the peak, was still dangerous, he didn't encounter any other Contractors of the same rank.
The remaining Paradise faction powerhouses of the same rank are all doing long-term missions. Also, Void Tree's world matching mechanism wouldn't easily match two Supreme Peaks into the same world.
Moreover, since he killed the Underworld God this time, if any Supreme Peaks from Apocalypse, Holy Light, or Sanctuary Paradise were matched into the same mission world as Su Xiao, they would definitely immediately apply for evacuation. The Death Paradise brother might still confront him head-on. As for Dawn Paradise, it's temporarily unlikely, since it just revived. Even if it truly has a Peak Realm powerhouse, it definitely wouldn't let them confront Su Xiao head-on.
Simply put, every Supreme Peak in each Paradise faction has reached their position through their own efforts plus massive Paradise resources. Regardless of what the ultimate goals of the various Paradise factions are, they definitely won't let their Supreme Peaks easily lose their lives before the final battle.
Of course, this doesn't mean that becoming a Supreme Peak grants protection from the Paradise faction. If one seeks death, they will still die. The initial regulations dictate that Paradise factions won't provide active protection to Supreme Peaks, at most issuing warning prompts.
Su Xiao opened his communication list and contacted Tuanzhang:
Bai Ye: "[Extreme Body Shell (Peak)]."
A few minutes later, Tuanzhang replied:
Tuanzhang: "Good stuff, price?"
Bai Ye: "1560 ounces of Space-Time Power."
Tuanzhang: "Did you receive a special mission?"
Bai Ye: "No."
Tuanzhang: "Then why are you doing charity?"
Bai Ye: "Material cost."
Tuanzhang: "Oh, how much are you planning to sell it for?"
Bai Ye: "10 wan~12 wan ounces."
Tuanzhang: "Bai Ye, do you think it's still too late for me to study Alchemy now?"
...
Ignoring Tuanzhang's last question, Su Xiao sent this bottle of potion to Tuanzhang via mail. After a while, Tuanzhang replied:
Tuanzhang: "Why didn't you post it on the Peak Contact Platform?"
Bai Ye: "What?"
Tuanzhang: "After you advanced to the Peak, didn't you receive Void Tree's Peak Contact Platform invitation?"
Bai Ye: "[Void Tree Reputation: 1 point.]"
Tuanzhang: "Wait."
Tuanzhang: "Oh, by the way, [Void Tree Reputation: 9982 wan points.]"
...
Does this number look very exaggerated? Not at all. Don't forget what Tuanzhang did. If he hadn't charged into the Abyss and fought the previous Lord of the Abyss to a decisive battle, the Star Realm would have already entered the Abyss Era.
Tuanzhang's current [Void Tree Reputation] makes one wonder if the maximum value is 100 million. Tuanzhang dropped from 100 million to 9982 wan.
[Prompt: You have received the proxy application result. You will successfully join the Peak Contact Platform.]
[Peak Contact Platform Entry Requirements: Comprehensive combat power reaching "Supreme Peak," and Void Tree Reputation of 100 points or above.]
...
It can be seen that Void Tree set this "Reputation Threshold" low enough, but unforeseen circumstances still managed to block a certain Hunter.
[Prompt: Because you joined the "Peak Contact Platform" through a proxy application, and your current Void Tree Reputation is relatively low, with a shocking precedent of reaching -????.]
[Given your various dangerous behaviors in the past, and your current combat power sufficient to kill the strongest Ancient God, your platform permissions are temporarily locked. You will be able to see Peak Contact Platform posts after 12 hours, and can post without restrictions after 24 hours. You can open the branch list of this prompt to view the Peak Contact Platform's posting rules. Within 24 hours, all your permissions on the Peak Contact Platform will be normally unlocked.]
...
A contact platform list appeared before him, with a simpler style than the World Contact Platform but more pleasing to the eye.
Regarding the above prompt, Su Xiao was very calm. You have to pay for what you get. His past Void Tree Reputation of -???? was obtained through "slightly" unreasonable operations to acquire massive resources, so of course he had to be prepared to face the corresponding consequences.
Closing the contact platform, Su Xiao came to the innermost part of the Alchemy Laboratory. Amu, who had been waiting here for a few minutes, let out a "moo" and stepped onto the pitch-black Law-Destroying Teleportation Array. This was the trial he was about to undergo—going to the Abyss Near Zone. If possible, he would continue deeper to complete this trial.
On Amu's upper arm was a very unique follower brand (laoyin). This was something Su Xiao had just applied for using his Hunter permissions. This follower brand (laoyin) had enough storage space for Amu to carry various supplies.
"Moo."
Amu's expression was resolute. Seeing this, Su Xiao activated the Law-Destroying Teleportation Array.
Boom!
Amu disappeared from the teleportation array. Then, Bubu Wang, Baha, and Beini's little heads poked out from both sides of the door behind them. They had actually arrived long ago, but since Amu hated farewells, they hadn't shown themselves.
The communicator Baha was holding rang. Baha answered, and the voice of the Abyss Princess came through:
"Bai Ye, my mother has agreed to this transaction. That terrifying bull-headed man won't encounter ancient Abyss existences that he absolutely cannot confront (duikang), but he still has a high probability of dying in the Abyss. At least, that's what I think."
The communication ended. Su Xiao left the Alchemy Laboratory, and the next second, a prompt appeared.
[Because you have collected Iron-Blooded Dark Wolf (Fragments) 20/20, the Overlord Equipment · Iron-Blooded Dark Wolf has completed this fusion.]
The cooperation with the Iron-Blooded Hounds went smoothly. Not long after he returned, Omen sent a message via communicator, indicating that the fragments had been collected. The subsequent (huxu) transaction was handled by Baha and Black Leech. The Alchemy Laboratory had an Iron-Blooded Hound summoning formation that could be activated at any time.
[Iron-Blooded Dark Wolf]
Origin: Underworld · Overlord Creature · Iron-Blooded Mad Wolf.
Quality: Overlord Grade · Fourth Place.
Category: War Boots.
Durability: 1500/1500 points.
Equipment Requirements: Supreme Strength 500 points, Supreme Stamina 850 points.
Equipment Effect 1: Mad Wolf Devours Life (Passive), all your melee physical attacks will be imbued with "Causal Attack Characteristics."
Note: If already imbued with "Causal Attack Characteristics" and sufficient to temporarily shatter the enemy's "Causal Fate," then the Mad Wolf will devour the enemy's "Causal Fate."
Equipment Effect 2: Mad Wolf's Fury (Passive), one of your melee physical attack characteristics (currently default selected as kick attacks) will have its attack intensity increased by 0.5 times the current Life Core count.
That is: "Current Kick Total Attack Intensity" increased by 14.5 times.
Rating: 30000 points (Overlord Grade equipment ratings range from 1 to 30000 points).
Description: Hunt, kill, go mad.
Price: Cannot be sold.
...
Overlord Equipment · Fourth Place equipment was already outrageous, and being so compatible with Su Xiao brought his straight kick power to a new height.
Just then, the communicator on the table rang. It was White Bull:
"Bai Ye."
White Bull's voice was somewhat low and deep (dichen), even... somewhat deathly?
This made Su Xiao's brow furrow slightly as he waited for White Bull's next words.
"I need to go to Arcane Eternal Star. Is there a way?"
"Even if the Supreme Being doesn't act, this is still walking to your death."
"I'm already dead, hehehe."
"..."
Su Xiao was silent for a few seconds before continuing: "There is a way."
"I knew you'd have a way. It seems, just like Tuanzhang said, my fate has been exhausted. But even if I'm exiting the stage, it should be spectacular."
White Bull's tone held no fear of death. Perhaps he had long anticipated his end. After all, becoming the emperor of the underworld meant too many enemies. Plus, his subordinates' evil deeds would inevitably attract more hatred. With such an amount of hatred, having a good ending would be the strange thing.
After a moment, Su Xiao ended the communication. He had Beini deliver a Proud Song crystal to the Great Gathering Place, to be handed over to the person White Bull had entrusted. This thing was a super-enhanced version of the Law-Destroying Teleportation Array.
Three hours later.
Void, Arcane Eternal Star · Star Square.
Boom!
The resounding boom (zhenxiang) of a teleportation spread. The space interference tower several kilometers away flickered unsteadily and eventually went out without shattering. This was the first space interference tower to withstand the Law-Destroying Teleportation Array.
Under the stunned gazes of the surrounding Spellcasters, White Bull stood on Star Square. Looking at the young Spellcaster members beside him, his claw swept across, and these young Spellcasters instantly turned into fragments.
White Bull looked toward the Eternal Magic Energy Tower not far above. He leaped up fiercely, breaking through layers of barriers, and punched it. Numerous cracks appeared.
It had to be said, this thing representing Arcane Eternal Star's face was really sturdy. Even though its symbolic significance far exceeded its actual function, otherwise it wouldn't have stood here, appearing on the front page of newspapers every "Arcane Festival."
A breaking sound came from afar—it was the Frost Wind King. White Bull's gaze met him, and he grinned.
White Bull appearing here and immediately killing Spellcasters, then punching Arcane Eternal Star's face—this was no longer just a slap in the face for Arcane Eternal Star. In fact, White Bull had never thought that, in his current state of "Peak Ten Thousand Beasts Power Rampage," he could achieve a one-for-one trade with Arcane Eternal Star's Peak powerhouse. That would indeed be underestimating the Spellcaster system too much, and it would be too cheap for Arcane Eternal Star.
As always, once Arcane Eternal Star bleeds, the major Star Realm forces would consider pulling it off its pedestal. Ultimately, the culprit behind this impending Abyss Calamity was the Spellcasters of Arcane Eternal Star. If they hadn't recklessly devoured elements, causing the imbalance between Abyss and elements, the current Lord of the Abyss wouldn't have been able to take advantage (shunshi) to trigger (yinfan) the Abyss Calamity.
However, what White Bull was doing now was letting everyone in the Star Realm know that the god hadn't bled. This god of Arcane Eternal Star didn't care about Arcane Eternal Star. "Star Square" was below the [Elemental Superconducting Tower], and the Supreme Being was inside the [Elemental Superconducting Tower].
White Bull hadn't just randomly chosen a place to teleport to. He had explicitly stated that the closer to the [Elemental Superconducting Tower], the better. And Star Square, located below the [Elemental Superconducting Tower], was undoubtedly the best choice.
Under normal circumstances, this series of actions by White Bull would have resulted in instant annihilation by the Supreme Being. In the Void on the verge of being detonated (yinfan), only such deterrence could prevent all subsequent (huxu) events from happening.
And everyone knew this, including the Spellcasters of Arcane Eternal Star. They didn't immediately swarm White Bull to kill him; they were actually waiting.
However, the Supreme Being didn't act, not even bothering to glance at White Bull and the crowd of Spellcasters. This matched the speculations of other major Star Realm big shots (dalao), except that no one dared to bet on it.
"Hahaha!"
Amidst the sky-full (mantian) long-range spells, White Bull, bathing in blood and fighting fiercely (yuxuefenzhan) while being suppressed and surrounded, let out a wild laugh like a passionate and wild ghost (haoqingkuanggui). This made the faces of the Arcane Eternal Star high-level officials (gaoceng) turn extremely ugly.
Soon, the leaders of the major Star Realm forces learned of this through their respective intelligence channels. Such a matter couldn't be hidden. A force as large as Arcane Eternal Star couldn't possibly have no traitors, especially since the incident occurred at Arcane Eternal Star's Star Square, an area often open to visitors.
The leaders of the major Star Realm forces almost all had the same thought: immediately join forces to besiege Arcane Eternal Star. This concerned everyone's safety. If they killed all these Spellcasters, would the Abyss Doomsday Calamity come later? Facing such a matter of life and death (shengsicunwang), the big shots (dalao) of the Star Realm were willing to gamble.
And as for that god of Arcane Eternal Star, whom the major Star Realm forces couldn't confront (duikang), White Bull's actions had proven one thing.
The god doesn't care.
The strongest overlord force (bazhuli) that dominated this era (jiyuan) was about to face siege from the major Star Realm forces. Undoubtedly, Arcane Eternal Star's strongest enemy this time was named Shadow of Law Destruction · Kukulin Bai Ye.