"Haha, as expected, we all guessed it," Heipaste said with a smile, pulling out a map. At the center of the map, in a sun-shaped region, the words 'Green Kingdom' were already marked.
"Why have you come today? To take Tylus? He's been living quite comfortably here. If you're willing, you might as well let him stay here to continue studying alchemy. I can tell that boy has a real passion for it. That unexplainable dedication of his… reminds me of an old friend..."
Heipaste's voice was cheerful and relaxed at first, but as he spoke the last part, his tone shifted, becoming somber as if recalling an unpleasant memory.
At first, Rhett didn't overthink it, but suddenly, he connected the dots. Did Heipaste just mention an old friend? An old friend who loved alchemy? Rhett pondered for a moment, but outwardly, he maintained a calm demeanor and replied casually, "Are you talking about a former Tower Master or Deputy Tower Master? Or perhaps a fellow apprentice from your younger years? Those shared memories are indeed worth cherishing..."
"No, neither. He was just a friend from my youth, someone with average talent but a great love for alchemy. He had a deep admiration for the Ring Tower, and his family spared no effort, trying every way they could to get him into the tower. Unfortunately... they never succeeded." Heipaste sighed twice and continued, "His family ran a shop at the Ring Market. I met him by chance while working at the administrative office during one of my shifts."
Heipaste waved his hand, sighing, "But enough of that. It was nearly a thousand years ago…"
"Oh? Is that shop still around?" Rhett asked, feigning interest.
"By some stroke of luck, yes, it still stands, though it's now called Vina's House. He renamed it in memory of his mother," Heipaste explained with another sigh. "His mother made a great sacrifice."
Rhett fell silent, not pressing further.
At this point, he was almost certain that Heipaste's old friend was Vina's son—the very person Rhett had once helped during his simulation a thousand years ago.
Reflecting on that part of the simulation, when he had embodied Velas and experienced life as Vina's shopkeeper, Rhett couldn't help but marvel at the strange twists of fate.
In the simulation, he had been able to help them, but reality had been far crueler—Vina sacrificed herself and still didn't achieve her goal...
"Yes... for her descendants to remember her so fondly, she must have made some terrible sacrifices."
Clearing his thoughts, Rhett smiled and said, "Though the Ring Tower is a holy land for alchemy, my family misses Tylus dearly, so I'll be taking him back. Besides, I've been studying alchemy recently and have gained some insights. Another reason I've come today is to discuss with you some ideas regarding Blood Source Power."
"Oh? You've delved into alchemy as well?" Heipaste put away his melancholy and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Interesting. Let's talk somewhere quieter."
Although Heipaste said this, he didn't take Rhett's words too seriously. Despite their good relationship, Heipaste knew of Rhett's background—alchemy wasn't his forte, and he had no foundation in it.
How could anyone drastically improve their alchemical skills in just a few days?
If that were true, wouldn't all of Heipaste's years of effort and talent in alchemy amount to nothing?
Still, out of respect for Rhett's strength and their friendship, he was willing to humor the conversation.
——At the very least, it could be a relaxing break…
They moved to a room at the top of the Ring Tower, where Rhett had already activated Manu's sensory abilities.
Thus, the first words out of his mouth shocked Heipaste:
"Recently, I've been studying Blood Source Power and discovered that to condense it into a form that can be easily absorbed by the body, one could reference the structure of a transcendent's body."
"For example, using mental power to simultaneously control multiple processes, circulate the blood of beasts or magic beasts through a pattern resembling human circulation, and add specific materials to act as organs. Theoretically, this would have remarkable effects in filtering impurities and refining essence, but the frequency of mental control must be extremely high to succeed—at least at the level of a Grand Magus."
Heipaste had just sat down, reaching for a teapot to brew some tea, but upon hearing Rhett's bold idea, his hand jerked, nearly knocking over the teapot.
Barely managing to pour a stream of water into the pot, with wisps of tea fragrance rising, Heipaste coughed lightly and said, "Ahem, what a mind-blowing idea, King Rhett! Your thoughts just now truly opened my eyes!"
"But... did you really come up with this on your own?" Heipaste asked cautiously, quickly explaining, "Ahem, don't get me wrong! I mean, your talent is simply outstanding. For someone who's only recently started learning alchemy, your insights are astonishing!"
It's not me who's the genius; it's that old monster Manu... Rhett chuckled inwardly but kept a calm face, replying, "More or less. I've been reading some old alchemical works lately, and a few unconventional approaches gave me some inspiration."
Heipaste still couldn't quite believe it, but the facts were in front of him. Slowly nodding, he said, "Hmm... the wisdom of the past is indeed crucial. Alchemy has always been about both inheritance and innovation."
"That said, your proposal reminds me of a certain experiment from a thousand years ago. Wait… I think I've found a new path. I need to test this idea immediately!"
Perhaps inspired by Rhett's words, a flash of insight crossed Heipaste's mind.
With this new thought, his deeply ingrained research instincts took over, and he could hardly wait to start an experiment and verify his theory.
"Mind if I watch?" Rhett asked.
"Of course not! In fact, I might need your help during the process. An observer can sometimes offer valuable suggestions, and your earlier insights have already proven you have the skill. If you're willing, you can join me in the experiment," Heipaste said earnestly, looking directly at Rhett.
"Ahem, my alchemical studies are still mostly theoretical. My hands-on skills aren't worth mentioning," Rhett quickly waved his hands in refusal, thinking to himself that he was more of a "strong talker"... no, not even that—just a cheater!
Heipaste didn't press further and led Rhett into an adjacent alchemical laboratory.
They passed through a bubble-like door and entered a room filled with alchemical instruments, with a massive cauldron about three meters in diameter at the center. Nearby, several barrel-sized alchemical vats stood in place.
Seeing the unique, slightly familiar alchemical setup, Rhett raised an eyebrow. But then, recalling that a fist-sized Blood Source Crystal could condense the essence of 300 wind wolves, he quickly understood.
He could smell the thick, metallic scent of blood coming from the vats nearby. The scent was stronger and purer than that of regular blood.
Under the watchful eyes of Rhett and Manu, Heipaste activated the alchemical apparatus. Flames burst to life beneath the cauldron, filling the room with waves of heat.
All around the room, the lids of the alchemical vats popped open one by one, releasing streams of crimson liquid that flowed automatically toward the cauldron.
"These blood samples have been processed, making them purer than normal wind wolf blood. The Blood Source Power density is quite high. I estimate these vats contain the essence of hundreds of low-level magical beasts," Manu transmitted to Rhett as he recorded the scene in the simulated space.
Rhett's eyes gleamed with intrigue as he listened to Manu's analysis and watched Heipaste work. Calmly, he asked, "Heipaste, how did you make these alchemical vats? They can purify Blood Source Power to some extent. Though there are still many impurities, this method is much faster than directly purifying blood."
Heipaste's back stiffened as he worked, but without turning around, he replied, "Incredible. Your ability to detect that is truly impressive—this is far beyond what I'd expect from an alchemical novice. To be honest, these blood purification devices are quite advanced, inspired by an experiment from a thousand years ago."
"Have you ever heard of the Golden Blood Academy? The headmaster at the time had deep knowledge of human organs and blood. But after a tragedy, the academy collapsed, and the headmaster died. Some of the blueprints for these alchemical devices were acquired by the Ring Tower, including this one."
Rhett raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Such a thing happened a thousand years ago? But what were they studying human anatomy for? That sounds..."
"Evil, right?" Heipaste shrugged.
"Well, I was just curious, no offense meant," Rhett replied with a casual smile.
"It's fine. Your intuition is spot on. That experiment was wrong—horribly wrong! It almost led our entire world into a terrifying cycle of internal strife and destruction! Fortunately, it was stopped before it could take root, thanks to the united efforts of the kings," Heipaste said with a hint of lingering fear. "By the time I joined the Ring Tower, that disaster was nearly over. I only learned the details later from my mentor, Heidis."
"Oh, and I might as well tell you now, my curiosity about the Blood Source Orb was sparked by this connection to the Golden Blood Academy. There was something familiar about it, which made me suspect a link to that old academy. Have you uncovered any new information on that front?" Heipaste asked, suddenly recalling the Blood Source Orb.
"Fascinating history…" Rhett muttered thoughtfully before collecting himself and replying, "Are you asking about those orbs? You know, if you hadn't brought it up, I'd almost have forgotten. It's like they vanished from the face of the earth. My people have found no traces of them along the southwestern border. Perhaps... those who deal in wicked deeds meet their just end."
"Yes... that's a good point. Those who sow evil will reap their downfall." Heipaste seemed lost in thought as he nodded.
At that moment, the flow of blood from the surrounding vats suddenly ceased.
It wasn't that more blood wasn't needed; the cauldron was simply full, almost to the point of overflowing.
A roaring fire flared beneath the cauldron, causing the blood within to bubble and burn. Heipaste's hands moved like a blur as he retrieved over a dozen colorful materials from his spatial ring and tossed them into the cauldron one by one.
In an instant, the vibrant red color of the blood began to change, gradually darkening.
"Did you recognize what he threw in?"
Rhett didn't recognize most of the materials Heipaste had used, but since Manu had absorbed much of the alchemical knowledge of the past, Rhett turned to him for answers.
In the simulated space, Manu pondered for a moment, and the names of over ten materials appeared on the light screen beside him. He said solemnly, "I've identified most of them, but two are unfamiliar. One is a white, heart-shaped object, and the other is a black, blade-like leaf."
"Don't worry, I'll ask and find out."
Rhett watched the cauldron, his voice calm as he asked, "Heipaste, are you confident about this experiment?"
"Thanks to you, I've been given a fresh perspective. The results of this experiment could be beyond my expectations!" Heipaste's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Really? Best of luck to you! I noticed you added several ingredients just now. Could you explain what they are?" Rhett asked, playing the role of an eager novice curious about everything.
"Sure, I added the root of a Flame Blossom, some Dark Blade Grass, and the heart of a Gale Wolf..."
Heipaste rattled off a list of ingredients, some of which Rhett had heard of but never seen, while others were completely unfamiliar.
With a process of elimination, Manu quickly identified the two materials they hadn't recognized earlier—the heart of a Death Gale Wolf and a specially cultivated magic plant known as Dark Blade Grass.
"Dark Blade Grass?" Rhett stroked his chin. "What kind of magic plant is that? I've never heard of it before."
"It's a magic plant developed within the Ring Tower. It's a modified version of Dark Root Grass, altered over many generations. It contains properties that don't affect the purity of the blood but can help filter out impurities," Heipaste explained. "The concept was actually proposed by the previous Tower Master—altering magic plants through artificial intervention to change their growth direction and effects, evolving them to suit specific needs. The previous Tower Master had already made significant progress, but his mysterious disappearance caused the project to halt entirely. No one in the tower had the skill to continue it. Only in the last hundred years have we begun to see results—Dark Blade Grass is the first successfully modified magic plant."
Rhett nodded in understanding, giving a thumbs-up. "The Ring Tower is truly impressive. That spirit of exploration is commendable! But I do have one more question: Can this improved Dark Blade Grass produce seeds? And if so, will its offspring retain the characteristics of the modified variety?"