Mechanical Alchemist

Months passed in a flash.

After the last battle at the Imperial Strait, the mages of the Heavenly Plane had completely quieted down.

In the southern part of Mapha, in the Zambra Ironfall Province, the magic camp at the planar gateway had gradually assembled a million-strong army, but no magic legion dared to leave the camp at will. They holed up near the entrance of the planar gateway, reinforcing and expanding their defenses in a strict and vigilant manner.

The reason was largely because Su Lun's incredible feat of controlling a puppet army to break through the million-strong magic legion was too astonishing, letting the mages know that the Alchemy Plane also had the capability to defeat over a million troops. Moreover, capable of both fighting and fleeing, they couldn't be restrained without Magic God-level power. Therefore, they no longer dared to send out forces of ten thousand or more, fearing ambushes.

Correspondingly, the allied empire was also incapable of attacking the magic camp at the planar gateway. The military could only increase the number of guerrilla members, setting traps around Mapha and ambushing small groups of exploratory magic mages, also preparing for future wars.

The two sides thus fell into a stalemate.

This period of time also provided the Alchemy Plane with a rare chance to catch its breath and develop.

With the planar gateway open and the upper limit of laws elevated, the adverse conditions of war also became a driving force for breakthroughs by professionals. Additionally, due to Su Lun and others previously providing a large batch of "Cosmic Essences" to the official authorities of the empire, inside the united empire, more than ten seasoned 8th-tier powerhouses had broken through to the 9th-tier. This had greatly inspired the Alchemy Plane.

The new policies of Empress Yekaterina had also brought sustained and visible effects to the alchemy civilization. Even in times of peril, the nation was strong and the people wealthy. The universal implementation of the alchemy academy had allowed numerous geniuses to emerge, as various 10,000-person magicians' groups gradually took shape and mechanical warfare equipment was mass-produced from factories...

Whether from the number of professionals, combat power, or the number of top-tier professionals, the united empire was unprecedentedly powerful, perhaps even the strongest era in the ten-thousand-year history of the Alchemy Plane.

The newspapers also dubbed this era as the "Golden Age" belonging to the alchemy civilization.

But the bad news was that Mapha's intelligence operatives had observed that not one but several Magic Gods had descended upon the three great magic empires of the Ascieden Empire, the Golden Gryphon Empire, and the Holy Crown Empire from the Heavenly Plane.

The fuse for an all-out war had already been quietly lit.

...

On another note.

During these months without war, the Dawn Group had entered a state of recuperation and growth.

They had collectively gone to the God Burial Ground.

This place of the fallen gods, despite its chaotic laws and some indescribable monsters, offered unmatched conditions for training. The twisted space had chaotic, yet extremely high, law limits and numerous "treasures" left behind by ancient gods. As long as one could withstand distortion and glean even a little insight, it was tremendously beneficial for any professional.

The Dawn Group had turned this place into their training ground.

Hunting those terrifying mutant monsters was part of their daily routine.

Armed with the best genetic potions and resources, many had made breakthroughs in these months, and their collective strength had soared greatly once again.

This day, near the second layer's seal where a black stele stood.

A large mechanized town capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people had been established here.

In the town, various steam boilers billowed white smoke, and mechanics operated mining carts to transport tons of ore from the Blood Sea into the smeltery.

On closer inspection, the entire town was actually one massive ore mining field.

This period had continually involved the mining of a precious divine metal ore known as "Activating Silver."

With a steady supply of materials, in Su Lun's small void realm, the War Workshop continued to produce high-quality alchemical golems and various latest-technology mechanical octopuses.

In the camp, the Eternal Night was docked in the port.

In the sky, a super-large Nonagram Alchemy Formation was continuously bright, with a red gemstone at the center of the formation, the alchemical holy relic "Philosopher's Stone."

With the Philosopher's Stone bolstering the Nonagram Alchemy Formation, it could continuously extract threads of chaotic laws from the space, refining "Cosmic Essence." It also filtered out hazardous elements from the twisted space, allowing the area near the Eternal Night to be habitable for long periods.

At this moment, in the captain's cabin.

Sabina, wearing only a thin silk nightgown, poked her head out from the washroom and playfully asked, "Master, with work reports completed, your servant must return to Lington... I mean, if you allow, may I stay a few more days?"

Upon the disheveled bed, Su Lun, having a rare night of rest, felt exhilarated.

He clearly understood the double entendre in his succubus maid's words and responded, "The training environment here is ten times better than outside. You can stay a few more days if you like. You've just advanced to the 8th-tier, and your rank isn't stable yet, so it's a good idea to consolidate it a bit."

Yesterday, Sabina had come all the way from Lington, claiming it was to report on work, but another reason was to seek acknowledgment from Su Lun, her master, for her advancement to the 8th tier.

In the entire alchemy plane, she was considered among the top combatants.

Su Lun had not expected Sabina to advance so quickly.

So quickly that it seemed incredible to anyone.

This absurd advancement rate was due primarily to her dual-succubus talent, but the most important reason was Su Lun.

Sabina had come this time not only to ease her master's worries but also to ask for some small rewards.

Having tasted the sweetness, she became even more greedy for that rapid advancement feeling.

Su Lun also felt it was good.

Sabina's capability in running an intelligence organization was evident to all, and although she appeared very meek in front of her master, her skills as the former intelligence leader of the Umbrella Organization were nothing ordinary. Being stronger was also of great benefit to him.

Hearing her master's permission, Sabina's seductive eyes shimmered, and she smiled brilliantly, "Thank you, master."

As soon as she finished speaking, her body dissolved into a pink mist, and in a blink, she had teleported several meters and was clinging to Su Lun, "Master, shall I help you get dressed?"

Although it was phrased as a question, she had already begun carefully arranging his clothes.

Su Lun did not mind it at all.

Sabina was very smart; like a qualified maid, she always thoughtfully considered everything, making her company extremely comfortable.

...

Before long, Su Lun left the room and walked onto the deck of the Eternal Night.

The atmosphere of cultivation on the ship was excellent; these days, everyone was either cultivating or intensely training.

The deck was filled with members sparring.

At dawn, the people greeted him as he stepped onto the deck, "Mr. Su Lun is here!"

The battle at the Imperial Strait had left an indelible impression on everyone, especially the new members, who regarded him almost like a god.

Abel, upon seeing his teacher approaching, stopped manipulating the Thousand Machineries and greeted him respectfully, "Teacher."

Su Lun nodded, "Hmm."

Just then, a figure dashed by, and Lulota jumped down from the mast, landing lightly on the deck. She blinked and asked, "Mr. Su Lun, did you rest well?"

Though not many knew that Sabina had come aboard, Lulota, who often visited the captain's chamber, was aware.

Su Lun could not help but notice the playfulness in the girl's tone.

He was used to it, though.

He flicked her forehead and asked, "Where's your teacher?"

That flick made Lulota feel a buzzing in her head, and she yelped, holding her forehead.

She puffed her cheeks and complained pitifully, "Ah... even though I've already mastered dominance, and bullets can't penetrate it. Why does it still hurt so much when Mr. Su Lun flicks me?"

Su Lun smiled, "You've only just started understanding dominance. Once you stabilize in the Sword Saint Realm, you'll know why."

It had been years since their first meeting in Blizzard City, where she was just a little girl holding a sword; now, she had grown up.

"Oh."

Lulota pouted, looking resigned.

Even though she was already very strong, in Mr. Su Lun's eyes, she was always just a beginner.

She replied, "Teacher has gone to the island."

"Hmm."

Su Lun smiled.

With another look, he had already vanished from the deck.

...

A nameless island, here lay a black stele left by Sir Isaac.

The stele held some ultimate secrets of alchemic origins from the "Emerald Record".

However, peering into this secret required a high threshold, usually at least a tier-nine profession level of cognition to be qualified to glimpse into its mysteries.

When Su Lun arrived, there were several people sitting in front of the stele, engaged in meditation.

Mr. Jing, Senjo, Pandora, Pestroya, along with Mr. Hei, who had recently advanced to the ninth tier, and Old Sword God Bartolo.

As they saw Su Lun approaching, they all opened their eyes from their focused state of meditation.

Senjo, as always unabashed, directly joked, "Yo~ Su Lun, how's that succubus maid of yours reporting her work?"

The monotony of day-to-day cultivation rarely brought any amusement, so everyone chuckled knowingly.

Being familiar with everyone present, Su Lun felt no embarrassment and simply raised his eyebrow, "Pretty well."

Mr. Hei, rarely speaking, also smiled and said, "Miss Sabina's advancement to the eighth tier so quickly is indeed astonishing to this old man as well."

Half teasing, half genuinely amazed.

Sabina's advancement rate, throughout the entire alchemy dimension apart from pioneers like Su Lun and Senjo, was indeed unique, a speed that even this old man envied.

"..."

Su Lun could only smile wryly, knowing that others might be unaware of the hidden talent abilities of a dual-succubus, but Mr. Hei, the scholar, certainly knew.

Mr. Jing's eyes also rippled gently with laughter but did not dwell further on the topic, changing the subject to ask, "Su Lun, when do you plan to advance to the ninth tier?"

"Quite soon," Su Lun replied, sitting cross-legged beside him on the spot, responding, "I have already felt the barriers of understanding, and without advancing to the ninth tier, many things cannot be truly mastered."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, a flash of sharp light appeared in their eyes, all eager to see just how powerful the ninth tier would make Su Lun.

After a brief chat, they all fell silent again, continuing to observe the stele and began their meditation, quickly immersing themselves in their cultivation.

Su Lun, too, took out his alchemy notes, focusing his gaze on the swirling vortex of knowledge in the stele.

Truly, at their level, there were few things in the world that could shake their spirits.

If there were others here, they would see a few people sitting beside the stele, appearing as though they were always meant to be there, seamlessly integrated with their surroundings.

...

Over these days, Su Lun had gradually grown accustomed to the exaggerated augmentation of abilities brought by the "God Profaner" parasite gear, and marveled more at the magic of the gear.

With the enhancement of the parasite gear, he now possessed a cognition far beyond the limits of humankind, nearing that of a deity.

This was akin to an elevation of life's tier.

Looking back at the original world, it seemed like gazing afar from a high summit, everything was different.

It was like an extremely complex top-tier magic cube in human thought, which now, in Su Lun's eyes, just a casual glance was enough to instantly know the solution.

Su Lun estimated that the enhancement in mental capacity was currently about... ten thousand times, perhaps.

Knowledge that would take ten thousand years to assimilate, he could see through in just one year.

Moreover, this parasite gear would continue to grow with cognition.

This was the most powerful.

The previously incomprehensible cosmic secrets on the stele gradually became clear to him.

Although he could still only understand the parts he was able to.

But even just that part made him feel he had glimpsed the extreme of power that humanity could touch.

It seemed that given enough time, he could uncover all the secrets of the universe and deduce a complete new cosmos.

This cognitive ability also had a high compatibility with the advancement material Su Lun planned to integrate as he advanced to the ninth rank.

Su Lun had always wanted to integrate the tome "Lethal Novel·Netherworld."

This was a supremely cursed item that still exceeded his current understanding.

Because the book contained a complete, unimaginably detailed Netherworld, with timelines, monsters, the deceased... everything.

Originally, Fujiwara Hayato, that great literary genius and adventurer, had compiled all the treasures he collected in his lifetime into this book, creating a Netherworld within the pages.

Among those treasures were the "Void Whale's Stomach" from Su Lun's miniature void realm and the Buddhist treasure "Bodhi Seed" that allowed the Senjo Rakshasa Woman to reach her third transformation.

That great literary genius must have had enormous fortune to enter the Netherworld and not die.

Heaven knows how many treasures he hid in the book.

Su Lun originally could have taken out the other treasures.

But he did not do so.

Instead, over the years, he continuously added more items to it.

Because he understood a part of it, the rules of the world within the book became more complete with the "feeding" of some law-bound treasures.

In recent years, Su Lun had cultivated it almost to the limit of its plane.

Currently, a very high level of world cognition is needed to integrate this novel as an advancement material.

After the integration of advancement materials, one can comprehend "World."

Previously, Su Lun did not understand what that was, but now he realized that Fujiwara Hayato had depicted some of the cosmic rules' fundamental mysteries with his writing.

This was something he confirmed after deciphering the "Emerald Record" using the stele.

Su Lun was also amazed that predecessors in the alchemical field indeed possessed extraordinary talents; those were realms only gods could touch, and it was unknown how that great literary genius came to understand them. Yet he did understand and even recorded them.

In some ways, the significance of this novel was even comparable to the alchemical manuscripts left by Sir Isaac.

...

Several days later, in the secret chamber of the Eternal Night.

In front of Su Lun was placed a dark amber crystal and a novel emitting black mists.

Advancing to the ninth rank required universal essence to help the practitioner gain a shortcut to touching the mysteries of the laws, and Su Lun had prepared this "Fourth Universal Essence·Death" well ahead.

Having prepared the materials, he began chanting the alchemical spell, "By the law of equivalent exchange of all things, praise be to the glory of the original creator, witness the miracle of creation through alchemy..."

Suddenly, the light in the Nonagram Alchemy Formation intensified.

The universal essence gradually melted within the alchemy formation, slowly merging into Su Lun's body.

On the other side, the "Netherworld" tome also began to turn its pages one by one, and Su Lun's eyes seemed to open a miraculous world within the book, instantly enveloped by the galaxy, endlessly deep in his view.

In a fleeting moment, he felt as if he were a god, having created a world and also controlling everything.

As he had hoped, the entire advancement process encountered almost no unexpected situations and was exceedingly smooth.

On this day, Su Lun successfully entered the ninth realm.