Ding.
[System Alert] Congratulations! You have obtained a [Basic Book] & [Advanced Book] in Alchemy, and have unlocked the privilege to use the Alchemy Interface. Would you like to unlock the Alchemy Interface for 10 Undistributed Knowledge Points?
"Unlock it! New knowledge, new passion, hahahaha! Anyway… let's check the interface later, after we go back to the Tree House…" Aoyama muttered.
Suddenly, he remembered something.
"Oh yeah! I was supposed to build a home for them. But how big should it be… hmm… maybe like a foster home. That means lots of materials. Alright, I should head to the campsite first. It's almost noon; I don't want this journey lasting until midnight. Let's go!"
He leapt from tree to tree, moving as fast as he could without activating the previous skill that disrupts his nerves for an hour.
Sound of leaves rustlingBirds chirpingMonsters growling (ignored)
After an hour of acrobatic leaping, he finally arrived.
"Looks like they're still holding on. My puppy's keeping the monsters away, so no worries. Hi kids!"
The children cheered, their faces lighting up at his arrival.
"Aww, we'll go now! One by one, get into the carriage. Don't fall!" Eleanor instructed.
"I want to sit next to Big Brother Aoyama! I'm the cutest!" one shouted.
"No way, Eleanor! I'm the cutest! Sit next to me!"
The children bickered, each competing for the most coveted spot beside their beloved Big Brother.
"Ahem! Stop bickering!" Elena shouted, trying to assert authority.
"But I'm older! I should sit beside Big Brother Aoyama!" she added, blushing shyly.
The other kids booed their Big Sister, and chaos reigned for a few more moments before Aoyama intervened.
"Now, everyone calm down. Only two can sit beside me, one on the left, one on the right. But it's dangerous if you fall, so stay put in the carriage. Behave, and I'll give you a reward."
"Yaaay! Reward!" the kids cheered.
"Alright, buckle up! We're ready to go!"
Talisman Activated
The carriage began to soar, and the children's faces pressed against the windows in awe.
"Big Brother! We're flying! You're so cool!""Grip tightly! I don't want anyone falling!"
Eleanor peeked outside and screamed."Ahhhh! Big Brother! We're so high! Uwaahhh!"
"Stop crying, Eleanor. Come here!""No! I want Big Brother! Uwaahhh!"
Elena poked her head over to Aoyama."Big Brother Aoyama! Eleanor is crying, what do I do?"
Meanwhile, in Aoyama's subconscious:
"System, can you transfer the knowledge of this book instantly, like in other novels?"
Ding
[System Alert] Possibly yes, but it may cost 1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones :D
"…What? Again?!" Aoyama groaned."You scammer system! Always trying to rip me off!"
[System Alert] Only 1,000 Spirit Stones per book! Buy now or the offer ends hehehe.
"Fine… fine!" Aoyama muttered, pressing the buy button with a grimace.
[System Alert] Deducted 2,000 Spirit Stones from your credits.
[System Alert] Synchronizing database… Uploading [Basic] and [Advanced] Alchemy knowledge to the host.
Aoyama felt his mind overloaded, like a truck repeatedly ran over his brain.
"System, categorize this into sections! Ahhh!"
Ding
[System Alert] Categorizing…[System Alert] Categorization successful.[System Alert] Opening Alchemy Interface… Turning off somatic pain sensory.
"Phew… finally." Aoyama wiped his brow.
"Why does the basic book have 300 pages and the advanced one… a thousand? My head… feels like it just got hit by a cauldron. Thank the system it categorized everything. Looks like the basic book is just the cheat sheet version of the advanced one, while the advanced book… well, it's basically the final exam, every past quiz, the professor's lecture notes, and all the bonus readings dumped into a single volume. My brain just officially withdrew from school. Anyways...."
Alchemy Interface]
Basic Techniques:
Three Breaths Dragon Technique
Big Dipper Six Star Technique
Basic Cauldron Refining Method
Yin and Yang Element Refining
Advanced Techniques:
Lotus Flower Refining Technique
Three Paths Cauldron Method
Seven Steps Star Technique
Righteous Path of the Alchemy King
Herbs:
Low-Grade | Mid-Grade | High-Grade
More to be unlocked
"Well, this is actually organized… nice job, scammer system," Aoyama muttered.
Ding
[System Alert] Secret Detection Triggered via Nexus Skill
Aoyama paused, squinting at the Advanced Book entry. (Wait… why does the Righteous Path of the Alchemy King just appear here? Did the system detect a hidden code? And why am I suddenly getting a "Eureka!" feeling?)
[System Insight] The Advanced Alchemy Book contains an embedded cipher, initially undetectable. Nexus Skill automatically triggered on scanning, decoding the first layer via advanced alphabetical code. The secret fragment was encrypted beneath standard text on the main page. Remarkably, no one has ever discovered this cryptic code since the First Alchemy King created it 1,000 years ago.
Aoyama blinked. "Seriously… 1,000 years ago? How old is this freaking sect…? Do they hand out membership cards on stone tablets or something?"
Ding
[System Alert] [Righteous Path of the Alchemy King] is a technique passed down from the First Alchemy King, fragmented through time due to betrayal and destruction. Would you like to learn this fragment? Cost: Free
"Just a fragment… fine, let's do it."
Ding
[System Alert] Successfully learned [Righteous Path of the Alchemy King Fragment].
Knowledge surged into Aoyama's mind, dazzling colors of gold and purple flashing across his vision.
[System Alert] Knowledge +1[System Alert] Knowledge +1[System Alert] Knowledge +1[System Alert] Knowledge +1
"Righteousness and kindness… seven paths… mind prevails… truth entails… huh?" Aoyama muttered, piecing the fragment together.
(So it's about staying fearless when danger lurks and keeping focus, while understanding the truth… got it. But where are the other fragments? And seriously, who embeds an alchemy king's secret in a code disguised as regular text? Classic.)
Ding
[System Alert] Five fragments remain. Locations unknown. Journey beyond heaven and earth required, or speak to the Alchemy King for 100 Celestial Stones.
"Hehehe… no thanks, system. I have other things to do first…"
Smack!
Aoyama jolted awake with a backache.
"Who did that??"
"I am silly, hihihi!"