Mechanical Alchemist

The combined fleet in the vicinity of the Imperial Strait had annihilated eight ten-thousand-man Mage companies from the Celestial Realm, and word of the victory spread quickly throughout the Alchemy Realm like it had grown wings.

Not just Ruying, but also those teams fighting a guerrilla campaign within the Mafa region heard this news and were immensely exhilarated.

For the first time, such a magnificent victory gave everyone a glimpse of hope for a combat triumph.

And along with the victorious news, a piece of secret intelligence was also transmitted back.

Apart from Emperor Yekaterina, no one knew what was written in that confidential report.

But that very night, various pharmaceutical factories received instructions to prepare a large amount of specific materials and equipment.

Some military secret laboratories had already begun mass production tests of genetic potions.

The senior generals of the military and military supply departments also received secret orders to draft a special military merit exchange scheme, and some elite magic Magicians were dispatched to carry out a certain secret mission.

The higher-ups vaguely guessed that the royal family seemed to have a very special prize to bestow for military merits, which also seemed to concern the secret of winning the great victory.

This made everyone inexplicably anticipate it.

If a ten-thousand-man Mage company from the Celestial Realm was annihilated, this could be the crucial turning point in the inter-plane war!

...

However, while the nation celebrated, in a gloomy sewer of Lington City, several cloaked figures gathered together.

These were members of the "Heaven's Eye Sect."

Like sewer rats, they could only hide in the dark sewers.

"Is the news confirmed? At the Imperial Strait, the vanguard Mage company was really wiped out?"

"No news from Mafa yet, but... judging from all reactions, it seems to be true."

"Damn it, how could the combined fleet win?"

"It's said it was because of the support from that 'Dawn Group.'"

"I've heard of the Dawn Group too; it's just an adventure group, no stronger than some former Pirate King fleets. A small group like that, any ten-thousand-man Mage company could handle it, how could it possibly help the combined fleet annihilate the vanguard Mage company?"

"Don't know. But for now, Emperor Yekaterina's attitude also poses a big problem. It's clear she still has cards up her sleeve. Just like today's operation by our sect, it seems it had been under surveillance by military intelligence for a long time, leading to heavy losses. Even the legendary Hunter 'Thief King' Carlo Meldis we recruited with difficulty was executed in the street."

"..."

The cloaked figures felt a chill down their spines as they discussed this, as if every action they took was being watched.

At that moment, the leader spoke again.

"Can we get that secret battle report?"

"Not for the time being. Right now, only Emperor Yekaterina has seen that detailed battle report. Our people also don't dare to expose themselves too much."

"What about Merlin Gregory?"

"He hasn't given a clear response. However, when our people visited him, he didn't alert the guards and seemed not to refuse us."

"Hmpf! Greedy old fox, it seems the chips we offered were still not enough."

"..."

After discussing for a moment, the cloaked figures dispersed.

...

On the other hand.

15 Holy Light Boulevard, once the residence of a certain Duke.

Now it was the residence of Merlin Gregory.

As the top confidant of the United Empire, this ninth-order Master Merlin enjoyed a treatment on par with a prince.

Originally, after Yekaterina's accession and reform policies, the empire had abolished slavery and the hereditary rights of nobility, no longer ennobling anyone.

But this Master Merlin, relying on his ninth-order power and the support of the "Old Faction," those remnants of the old noble regime, still indulged in the decadent lifestyle of the old nobility.

In the midst of the plane war, nobody spoke openly, nor dared to.

After all, a ninth-order power held extraordinary significance.

Certainly, Master Merlin was also keenly aware of his own status. Utilizing his increasingly influential position, he gathered more power and had a line of direct followers in the court.

In the evening, after Master Merlin returned from the Frederick Palace,

inside the mansion, some old faction ministers had long been waiting.

These people convened to discuss today's sudden developments.

Unlike in Lingdun City, where the atmosphere was festive everywhere, Master Merlin and his group felt unease rather than joy about the great victory in the Imperial Strait.

The grand victory by the imperial legions posed some potential threat to him as a ninth-order.

In the secret meeting room, candlelight illuminated several gloomy, aged faces.

"Strange... the combined fleet's power, how could it possibly defeat eight ten-thousand-man Mage companies?"

"Indeed. Logically, even with the advantage of ships and numbers, the fleet could at most confront four or five ten-thousand-man Mage companies head-on. And the eight companies were forewarned; how could they have been defeated?"

"Hey, you mentioned the 'Dawn Group' in the report... could it be that Mr. Jing, the leader of Dawn Order, went there?"

"Impossible! The previous leader of Dawn Order, 'Mr. Jing,' was severely injured by a master from Celestial Realm. I got reliable information; it's impossible for him to recover in less than ten or eight years."

"Then it's strange, could it be that Her Imperial Majesty has other ninth-order trump cards up her sleeve?"

"Unlikely. If advancing to ninth-order was so easy, there wouldn't be so few in the Alchemy Realm. Not to mention whether there are any eighth-order-complete professionals, that 'Cosmic Essence' is also elusive. Moreover, even if there are ninth-order beings who can withstand a ten-thousand-man Mage company, that was a total of eight..."

"Could it be about the 'Dawn Group' mentioned in the report?"

"Absolutely impossible! How could a mere adventure group sway the battle on the frontal battlefield? This must be a maneuver by Her Majesty to consolidate power. The common folks naively believed it, but how could we possibly believe such a flawed report?"

"Indeed. It might have been a severe storm that scattered the Celestial Realm's Mage companies, then the combined fleet opportunistically claimed a large victory. After all, those from the Celestial Realm lack decent ships, so it's possible..."

"It's regrettable that we couldn't see the detailed battle report."

"..."

Several old nobles were discussing fervently.

Master Merlin's face was grim.

Whether there were other Tier 9s or something else, it wasn't good news for him.

It now seemed that the royal family indeed had a means to deal with a mage group of ten thousand.

This meant that the United Empire's reliance on him as a Tier 9 would be greatly reduced.

This was not good news.

At this moment, an old noble asked, "Master Merlin, about the Heavenly Eye Sect... what should we do?"

Master Merlin said, "Leave them be for now."

The old noble asked, "You mean, reject them?"

Master Merlin chuckled meaningfully, "No. How can we reject them? We can't possibly win this war. You do not understand the power beyond Tier 9, so you have no idea how the dimensional war will unfold. Right now, the tension is merely because the dimensional passage has just connected, and it still can't bring down beings beyond Tier 9."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room displayed expressions of eager anticipation for what was to come.

Since they were destined to lose, the natural course was to preserve themselves as much as possible.

As for lofty ideals of civilization, in the eyes of these selfish old nobles, what could be more important than their lives and properties?

Master Merlin continued, "So we need to prepare for several eventualities. Even if the Alchemy civilization does collapse, we need to ensure that our surnames, flowing with our noble blood, will continue to exist."

At his words, everyone nodded in agreement, saying, "Master, what should we do?"

Master Merlin said, "Right now, the gods of the heavenly dimension lack top-tier warriors and warships. They cannot breach Lord Ruying's several coastal defense lines anytime soon. We need to hold as much power in the United Empire as possible. The more speaking rights we hold, the more bargaining chips we'll have when the time comes. So it doesn't matter whether this 'Battle of the Imperial Strait' is real or not, we can't win anyway. Instead, it's good to let those heavenly dimension folks face setbacks, as they will then recognize our value more. If they want to quickly break through our sea defense, they must rely on us!"

This group, which had intended to surrender from the start, started boasting and flattering as soon as they heard these words.

"Right! Master Merlin has the long view."

"Indeed so. If we agree to the people from the Heavenly Eye Sect now, they definitely wouldn't value us. But the more control we have later, the more they will take us seriously."

"..."

Listening to everyone's praise, a self-satisfied look appeared on Master Merlin's face.

From once being a prince's offering to now the empire's chief offering, power represented rights, and this surge in authority made him feel increasingly pleased.

He thought for a moment and then said, "Prepare a proposal for tomorrow to let the council agree that we control part of the sea defense rights."

At this, someone uncertainly said, "But… the Empress has already legislated that sea defense is in the hands of the military alone, strictly prohibiting any interference. Wouldn't our interference cause backlash from all parties?"

Master Merlin heard this, yet laughed unconcernedly, "Don't worry, the Empress dares not confront me openly."

With that, a sinister gleam flashed quickly in his eyes: "Only I can stop a mage group of ten thousand. Even if they are dissatisfied, they must agree. If they really want to oppose me, they shouldn't blame me for being ruthless. At that time, her position as empress might not be secure!"

Hearing this, rather than finding it treacherous, everyone in the room secretly felt some anticipation.

These remnants of the old era hadn't forgotten who had stripped them of their supreme noble rights.

...

Su Lun knew that after the battle at the Imperial Strait, it would inevitably have a massive influence on the situation of the dimensional war.

But, he left it unattended.

After dealing with those eight mage groups of ten thousand, he followed Mr. Jing's spatial coordinates by teleporting.

After several teleports, he arrived in Zambula Ironfalls Province in the southern part of Mafa.

"Eh..."

Upon closer inspection, Su Lun was surprised to find that Mr. Jing's coordinates were still in that same forest as before.

He teleported again, and in a changed scenery, he appeared in a pine forest.

Looking around, Mr. Jing was indeed there.

Perhaps because there was a natural hot spring?

Last time he came here, she and Qian Zhao were soaking in the hot springs.

This time, only Mr. Jing was here by herself.

Last time he came it was winter, snowflakes covered the sky, and the pine forest was a winter landscape clad in silver.

Now it was late autumn, with fallen leaves everywhere, the forest replete with ripe, heavy, orange hues.

When Su Lun sensed the coordinate location, he guessed that Mr. Jing was soaking in the hot springs.

He looked intently, and saw in the misty vapors of the hot spring pool, a stunning figure soaking in the water.

It was none other than his own senior sister.

She was wearing that kind of gauzy robe from the "Akun Family Bathhouse" back in Old Lington.

Su Lun himself felt that among the robes for soaking, this was the most comfortable.

But such gauzy robes became semi-translucent and clung tight to the body upon being soaked, revealing her graceful figure completely.

Yet Su Lun hadn't expected, upon teleporting here, to be instantly chilled to the bone.

The hot spring water hadn't frozen, but the chill was emanating from Mr. Jing's body.

As she had been forewarned, Mr. Jing wasn't surprised by someone's arrival; she opened her eyes and smiled faintly, "Su Lun, you have come."

Su Lun walked over and observing the chilly mist dissipating from her body, he asked, "Sister, your injury?"

Before Mr. Jing could speak, a ghostly figure drifted from a rune-sealed umbrella.

Pestoya looked at her elder sister wounded and expressed her concern, "Sister, your injuries seem very severe."

Mr. Jing smiled gently at Pestoya. She seemed unconcerned about her injuries, saying, "I might need a few months to recuperate, but it's nothing serious."

Hearing this, Su Lun furrowed his brow.

His eyes suddenly became emotionless, a flicker passing through, and the secrets of the whitish glow seeping from Mr. Jing's wounds were layer by layer peeled back and revealed.

Strangely, despite the wound being of holy damage, there was also an overwhelmingly domineering chill.

Mr. Jing, being of the vampire clan, suffered particularly deep wounds from this holy damage.

The injury was far more serious than she let on.

She was soaking in the hot springs here, largely to lessen the piercing chill deep in her bones.

Mr. Jing looked at him with a touch of surprise in his focused observation.

With his calm demeanor, she felt that Su Lun seemed to have pinpointed the root of her injury.

But, how could that be?

This was a high-level holy law injury, something she found very troublesome; how could Su Lun understand it?

Yet, Mr. Jing remained silent, watching the serious-faced Su Lun thoughtfully.

Pestoya beside him looked on nervously too, not daring to make a sound.

It was only after a long while that Su Lun finally emerged from that utterly rational state, blinked his eyes to ease the fatigue, and said, "Senior sister, your injury is quite dangerous. Even several years of recuperation won't heal it. If it isn't thoroughly dealt with, that high-level holy power will damage your essence for many years to come."

"Eh..."

Hearing this, Mr. Jing couldn't hide her astonishment, "You noticed?"

"Yes."

Su Lun nodded, thought for a moment, then added, "I think I can fix it, but it might take some time."

"You can fix it?"

Mr. Jing was genuinely surprised upon hearing this.

She knew all too well that her injury was so complex that even a ninth-level wouldn't find it easy to handle, let alone Su Lun... an eighth-level?

Mr. Jing smiled faintly, "So you've advanced."

"Yes."

Su Lun, having fully understood the bizarre injury, also sighed in relief.

Though tricky, it was fortunate that he could manage it.

Especially since among those Holy Light mages he had dealt with before, there were similar experiences.

But now he was only eighth-level, and handling such high-level laws required extra caution and considerable effort and time.

However, he had nothing to hold back for his own senior sister.

Su Lun continued, "Didn't I go to the Dragon Country Waters that time? It was the sea map you helped me translate... and later we encountered some things..."

The Dawn group had encountered too many things in the Dragon Country Waters, and previously, it was impossible to explain clearly over the communicator; now, while they were idle, it was a good topic to chat about.

He began to speak, then changed the subject, "Senior sister, I'm going to begin treating your injury now."

"Okay."

Mr. Jing's brow twitched slightly, she didn't refuse, but instead playfully suggested with a smirk, "If you're not afraid of the cold, why don't you come in too?"

Su Lun didn't mind, feeling already that crouching by the water's edge was inconvenient.

Changing outfits as if by magic, he donned an appropriate bathing garment and immersed himself in the water.

The spring water was warm, but oddly, it felt bone-chillingly cold near Mr. Jing.

Su Lun moved closer and sat next to Mr. Jing, from this angle, he could perfectly view her stunning figure.

The soaked sheer gown did little to obscure the view.

Mr. Jing's figure didn't tower like Sabina's and Qianyu's, but her proportions were always just right.

With the autumn breeze in their ears and the murmuring of the pool water, the scene was enchantingly beautiful.

Watching, Su Lun unabashedly complimented, "Wow... Senior sister, you have a great figure."

Mr. Jing gave him a look, her eyebrows slightly bent, with a hint of reproach, "Flatterer."

She didn't say much more, diverting her gaze and lying there with her eyes closed, contented.

Su Lun chuckled softly, a healing green light curling around his hands as he delved deeper, explaining, "We went to the Dragon Country, right? And then we found that Giant Island on the map, discovered the legendary 'Mimir's Spring'..."

While attempting to coax out the burning holy power within Mr. Jing's wound, he recounted their previous adventures.

Mr. Jing listened intently, interjecting occasionally with exclamations of amazement.

However, the injury was indeed a bit beyond what Su Lun could handle at his level; if he hadn't understood the secret of the laws within the wound, even a ninth-level would hardly be able to manage it.

Even though he was being extremely cautious, drawing out this holy power felt like tearing a piece of flesh from a person.

From Mr. Jing's occasional slight frown, it was apparent she was enduring quite some pain.

Su Lun could only handle the injury more delicately, bit by bit.

Fortunately, the adventure story in the Dragon Country was long, allowing for a slow narration and treatment.

"Ah... Senior sister, your wound extends to below your ribs, I need to open your clothing."

"Okay."

The thin layer of fabric easily unraveled, floating like cicada wings in the water, and in no time, her proud and snowy peaks were completely in view.

Mr. Jing's demeanor remained cool and composed, even in bare skin, she didn't show the slightest discomfort.

Su Lun, too, kept his gaze straightforward, meticulously tending to his senior sister's wound.

But, there was a third person present.

Now with Mr. Jing's upper body mostly exposed and clearly visible in the water, the somewhat bored specter lady imitated Su Lun's earlier remark with a playful laugh, "Wow... Sister, you really do have a great figure."

Su Lun had genuinely admired the beauty.

And clearly, Pestoya was just teasing.

With that remark, the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

Mr. Jing was both amused and exasperated.

Luckily, both of them ignored her, and the ghost lady also felt bored. However, she suddenly became intensely interested in soaking and drifted into the water, sitting next to Su Lun, "Wow... I always see you guys soaking in hot springs. Is it really that comfortable? I've never tried it either."

She hadn't tried it a thousand years ago, and she hadn't tried it now either.

As they were quite familiar with each other, Su Lun casually teased, "You're a ghost, what hot spring are you going to soak in?"

Pestoia said with a melancholic face, "What's wrong with a ghost? Can't ghosts soak in hot springs?"

Although she said that, she tilted her head and thought about it, and seemed to agree with the reasoning.

She gave it a try, but even though she could materialize a body, the pleasure of soaking was hardly felt.

It suddenly seemed very dull.

Just then, Pestoia's quirky eyes lit up, and she suddenly had an idea, urgently saying, "Su Lun, quickly open the little void. I want to go in."

"What?"

Listening, Su Lun, driven by curiosity, yet without much thought, raised his hand, and took the ghost lady into the little void realm.

He thought that without this chatty lady, the treatment would be much quieter.

But unexpectedly, not long after Pestoia went in, she suddenly said, "Su Lun, let me out quickly!"

Su Lun could control everything inside the little void realm, but he noticed nothing amiss.

Although he sensed something unusual, he still raised his hand and let her out.

At that moment, Pandora, dressed in a divine mage robe, walked out.

Not!

To be exact, it was Pestoia's spirit that had attached to Pandora's body.

Just like the previous two times when she had attached to Su Lun's body.

But differently, the spirit attached to this alchemical body seemed to be a perfect fit.

In Su Lun's perception, she was entirely like a living person, with no abnormalities.

...

Su Lun looked at Pestoia attached to Pandora's body, his expression also quite strange.

A little girl's spirit, yet possessing one of the most perfect and mature bodies under heaven, this contrast made it seem very... special.

Even Mr. Jing would look awestruck if he saw it.

Su Lun directly asked, "Pestoia, how did you attach to Miss Pandora's body?"

Though the face in front of him was alluring, she replied in a playful tone, "Sister Pandora said it was okay."

"..."

Su Lun stared with corner of his eyes full of dark lines.

Due to their previous battles together, he knew that in these days this ghost lady and Pandora had become very familiar.

From the tone of their conversation, their relationship seemed like that of real sisters, even to the extent of sharing bodies.

Pestoia seemed very pleased with Pandora's body, and with a "plop", she jumped into the water, excitedly exclaiming, "Wow... so this is what soaking feels like."

The warm spring water touched her skin, giving her a sensation of her pores relaxing all over her body.

This made the ghost lady feel very curious.

Su Lun was splashed in the face with water.

He glanced over at a vast expanse of magnificently curvy landscape, dizzyingly attractive.

"Pandora" was wearing a loose, inner-lining-free divine robe.

The moment she jumped into the water, the wet clothes revealed everything immediately.

There was no need to speak of Pandora's figure, flawlessly graceful and exuding a mature charm everywhere.

But after all, with a little girl's spirit, Su Lun felt something was off, and warned in a ghostly tone, "Pestoia, you are revealing too much."

Pestoia appeared startled, with a charming yet dumbfounded expression on her beautiful face.

It was her first time experiencing such a luscious body, and she was a bit perplexed.

But then, as if someone whispered something to her, she hesitated for a moment, then responded in a transmission-like manner, "Ah... Sister Pandora said it doesn't matter. Since you've seen it all, a little exposure doesn't matter."

"..."

Su Lun rolled his eyes upon hearing this.

This girl really dared to say anything.

Pandora's consciousness was also within the body, just not in charge.

Listening to their banter, Mr. Jing nearby couldn't help but laugh softly.

Su Lun always felt like some weird uncle in the mouth of this girl, and again said in a ghostly tone, "You don't quite suit this body."

Pestoia, like a duck out of water in the hot spring, splashed around and swam up to sit obediently next to Su Lun, asking, "Why?"

Su Lun glanced at the deep cleavage and the proud figure, then countered, "What do you think?"

At your young age, how could you shoulder such a weighty presence?

Pestoia seemed to realize something was off too, and muttered, "Ah… I also think, Sister Pandora's chest seems a bit too heavy."

While saying this, she poked it with her own finger, seeing a very bouncy feeling.

Su Lun watched, his eyelid twitching, utterly helpless.

Mr. Jing nearby chose to rest with closed eyes, smiling without a word.

Unexpectedly then, Pestoia added, "Su Lun, do you think the sister looks better this way too?"

Su Lun: "..."

Mr. Jing: "..."