"Sudah hampir waktunya," Wei Wuyin berdiri tegak di atas komet bercahaya yang memancarkan hawa dingin yang menusuk saat melesat melintasi Dark Void. Wibawa seorang penguasa fana terpancar dari setiap pori-porinya, mengawasi wilayah kekuasaannya yang luas, memerintah dengan dominasi mutlak atas waktu dan ruang. Di sampingnya berdiri Ming Shufeng yang cantik dan surgawi, serta Han Hyo-joo yang tampak tenang dan bermartabat meski usianya paruh baya.
Ming Shufeng tenggelam dalam kenangan masa lalu. Hanya dalam beberapa dekade, pemuda bermata perak yang dulu berteriak histeris itu kini telah menjungkirbalikkan langit dan meraih supremasi tak tertandingi di seluruh negeri.
Han Hyo-joo justru memikirkan masa depan. Ia tidak mencoba mencari cara untuk melarikan diri atau bersembunyi. Mengingat pengaruh dan kemampuan Wei Wuyin yang mengguncang jiwanya, ia tahu itu hanya akan memperburuk keadaannya. Sebaliknya, ingatan saat Wei Wuyin dengan santai 'membelinya' seharga produk alkimia tingkat Mystic-World terus berputar di benaknya.
Ia sudah memikirkan cara untuk mendapatkan hati pria itu. Usianya yang lanjut memberinya perspektif unik tentang peluang, dan ia tahu tidak semua situasi muncul sebagai pertemuan keberuntungan atau malapetaka mematikan. Yang terpenting adalah memanfaatkan situasi dan mengambil keuntungan sebanyak mungkin.
Menjadi Yin Cauldron untuk kultivasi ganda seorang Santo Alkimia Duniawi adalah takdir yang akan membuat orang-orang di Zona Galaksi Azure-Prime rela membunuh. Tidak, bahkan sudah ada catatan kejadian seperti itu!
Ia teringat sebuah peristiwa khusus. Konon, itu bukanlah tradisi sosial alami, melainkan tradisi kultivasi umum yang diramalkan oleh para Peramal dan Orakel sejak zaman kuno, di mana para wanita cantik, pahlawan, dan talenta papan atas memperebutkan perhatian para alkemis atau ahli, hanya demi dipilih sebagai pasangan. Idenya tentang banyak orang yang memperebutkan satu alkemis bukanlah hal yang aneh.
Menurut kenalannya dari luar, Adipati Kerajaan Northfrost dari Republik Exalted pernah memenangkan hati seorang Santo Alkimia Bumi puncak dalam kompetisi serupa. Sosok mempesona yang kini menjadi Santo Alkimia Duniawi sejati yang terkenal di seluruh Zona Galaksi Azure-Prime. Meskipun bukan hasil langsung dari kompetisi tersebut, faktanya memamerkan bakat dalam acara seperti ini bisa membawa hasil dan prospek yang tak terbayangkan bagi masa depan seseorang. Pikirannya penuh dengan kegembiraan dan niat penuh nafsu.
Ia kini memiliki potensi untuk mendapatkan keberuntungan besar. Ia harus meraihnya!
Wei Wuyin mengemudikan komet sambil merenungkan beberapa topik, mengarahkannya menuju Starfield Neo-Dawn.
"Adipati Kerajaan Northfrost lagi..." gumamnya.
-----
"Wah, dia sama sekali tidak terganggu membuat kita menunggu." Tuan Muda Shang bersantai dengan malas di kursi rotan, memakan sepotong kue beludru dengan krim kocok. Di dalam kue itu sendiri terdapat bintang-bintang kecil berkilauan dengan berbagai warna. Di sela-sela setiap gigitan yang lezat, pemuda berjubah putih itu mengerang puas.
Mereka masih ditempatkan di istana yang indah di Soul-Saint Domain di Ninestar Starfield. Cao Cao sesekali muncul, bertindak sebagai tuan rumah untuk memenuhi kebutuhan mereka, dan Tuan Muda Shang tidak sungkan mencoba dua ratus dua puluh tiga jenis minuman beralkohol dan berbagai hidangan budaya Ninestar Starfield.
Berdiri di tepi jendela terbuka, seorang pria tua mengamati langit berbintang. Mengejutkan, tidak seperti sebelumnya, tubuhnya tidak lagi utuh. Lengan kiri bajunya yang longgar menjuntai dengan sedih di sisinya, ujungnya terlipat rapi. Ia kehilangan lengan kirinya!
"Sebuah kekaisaran tidak dibangun dalam sehari, dan ikatan karma tidak mudah diselesaikan. Kau ingin aku mengingatkannya?" Suara pria tua itu serak, seolah tenggorokannya baru saja tegang.
Tuan Muda Shang mengambil gigitan lagi, baru berbicara setelah menyesap teh yang dicampur sedikit anggurnya. "Untuk apa repot-repot?" Ia benar-benar santai, kata-katanya diucapkan dengan nada ringan dan tenang. Sulit membayangkan ini adalah pria yang sama yang melintasi galaksi demi mencari satu orang dengan tekad bulat atau pria yang hampir hancur oleh satu tendangan.
Pria tua itu mengangguk.
Tuan Muda Shang menghabiskan kuenya. Kemudian, ia mengalihkan pandangan ke arah pria tua itu, kilatan kekhawatiran yang jarang terlihat melintas di matanya. "Kau tidak membunuh siapa pun, kan?" Meskipun telah kembali beberapa hari yang lalu, pria tua itu tidak menceritakan apa yang terjadi setelah keluar dari Alam Rahasia Tersegel Kuno, dan Tuan Muda Shang juga tidak menanyakan detailnya.
Pria tua itu menatap langit berbintang dengan mata menyipit. "Ada seorang Santo Alkimia Surgawi di sini," katanya tanpa menjawab.
"Apa?!" Ekspresi Tuan Muda Shang berubah drastis saat ia berdiri tegak, tatapannya fokus untuk pertama kalinya dalam waktu yang lama, dan seluruh tubuhnya memancarkan aura kehati-hatian dan kekhawatiran. Ia terlihat tegang.
Tingkat Mistis dari Dao Alkimia dibagi menjadi empat gelar kategoris yang mendalam: Santo Alkimia Bumi, Santo Alkimia Duniawi, Santo Alkimia Surgawi, dan Santo Alkimia Ascendant. Mereka tidak memiliki arti yang sama dengan rekan kultivasi mereka dalam hal peringkat produk, karena domain yang mereka wakili jauh melampaui itu.
Santo Alkimia Bumi meracik produk tingkat Mystic-Bumi, yang mengatur fase mendalam Jiwa Mistisisme, Tuan Demi-Fana, dan Santo Bumi; Santo Alkimia Duniawi meracik produk tingkat Mystic-Dunia, yang mengatur misteri Fase Santo Duniawi, Fase Santo Surgawi, Fase Santo Ascendant, dan Fase Sage Sejati; Santo Alkimia Surgawi meracik produk tingkat Mystic-Surga, yang mengatur kebenaran Alam Jiwa Resonan!
Reaksi Tuan Muda Shang saat mengetahui keberadaan Santo Alkimia Surgawi di Zona Galaksi Azure-Prime sangat beralasan! Setelah hening sejenak, ekspresi Tuan Muda Shang berubah lagi. Pria tua itu pergi jauh lebih lama dari yang diperkirakan. "Apakah kau... melakukan kontak?"
Apakah pria tua itu mencoba merekrut sosok seperti itu?
Pria tua itu menghela napas, "Salah satu Ksatria Alkimianya muncul." Setelah mengatakan ini, ia mengeluarkan kotak giok kecil yang terukir rune indah, dan tutupnya memiliki gambaran gunung dan sungai. Itu adalah kotak yang luar biasa.
Hati Tuan Muda Shang menegang sekaligus perlahan rileks pada saat yang sama, menciptakan perasaan yang sangat aneh. Ia merasa tegang karena kemungkinan pria tua itu mungkin dibujuk untuk meninggalkannya demi mengejar prospek yang lebih besar mengingat potensinya yang telah habis dan usianya yang lanjut. Harapan itu berbahaya. Tapi peluang itu cepat berlalu. Jika seseorang tidak meraih kesempatan yang muncul, mereka mungkin akan menyesal seumur hidup.
"Apa isi kotak itu?" tanyanya dengan hati-hati.
"Seluruh kejadian itu aneh," kata pria tua itu sambil menggelengkan kepala sedikit seolah ia masih tidak percaya dengan apa yang terjadi atau mengerti bagaimana ia mendapatkan berkah seperti itu. "Setelah para Sage itu tidak mempercayaiku, Titan Gelap itu menyerangku. Kami bertukar tiga puluh dua bentrokan Niat sebelum aku menekannya. Yah, itu hanya Inkarnasi. Kemudian, salah satu dari mereka melancarkan serangan yang aku hancurkan dengan dua pukulan. Pukulan ketigaku memaksa array regional mereka aktif."
"Sebelum aku bisa meluncurkan pukulan keempat, yang lain campur tangan dan mencoba bertindak sebagai mediator serta memamerkan sedikit kekuatan mereka. Itu adalah upaya yang mengagumkan namun gagal. Pukulan keempatku menghancurkan Inkarnasi mereka secara 'tidak sengaja'." Bibir pria tua itu tertarik ke samping dengan sedikit ejekan. "Mereka hanya tidak mempercayaiku. Bukan salahku."
"Namun, tinju kelimaku diblokir oleh Ksatria Alkimia itu. Kultivasi orang itu hanya pada Fase Santo Ascendant, namun mereka menahan tinju kelimaku." Pria tua itu sangat menghargai kultivator yang menentang surga itu. Bahkan Tuan Muda Shang terkejut, mengetahui bahwa Seni Tujuh Tinju Asura milik pria tua itu adalah Seni Kenaikan berbasis momentum yang kekuatannya tumbuh dengan setiap tinju. Bahkan Inkarnasi seorang Sage tidak bisa memblokir tinju kelimanya, tetapi Ksatria Alkimia itu bisa!
"Mereka selamat?" Tuan Muda Shang terguncang.
"Hampir tidak. Tapi mereka selamat," ujar pria tua itu dengan menyesal. Jelas bahwa bagi seseorang dengan basis kultivasi seperti itu untuk selamat dari serangannya adalah tanda yang melukai harga dirinya. "Ngomong-ngomong," ia melihat kotak yang dipegang di tangan kanannya, "Ksatria Alkimia itu menunjukkan ketabahan mental yang luar biasa saat mereka menyampaikan pesan kepadaku dari Santo Alkimia Surgawi. Mereka memintaku... untuk sebuah lengan."
Lengan bajunya yang kosong dan sepi berkibar tanpa angin. Tuan Muda Shang sekali lagi terguncang. Tidak berlebihan untuk mengatakan bahwa lengan pria tua itu adalah harta tak ternilai yang akan diperebutkan oleh para kultivator. Bagaimanapun, seluruh tubuhnya telah dikultivasi, dipelihara, dan dimurnikan oleh energi dan esensi yang tak terlukiskan selama lebih dari seratus ribu tahun. Tapi itu juga berarti kehilangannya adalah kerugian yang luar biasa!
"Sebuah lengan?" Tuan Muda Shang awalnya mengira itu hilang dalam pertempuran. Memikirkan itu... ia melihat ke kotak, "Dibeli?"
Pria tua itu terkekeh, "Mereka menawarkan ini." Ia menggunakan mana di sekitarnya untuk mengangkat tutupnya dengan lembut.
*Whoosh!* Angin kencang menyapu ruangan. Tuan Muda Shang merasa kewalahan seketika saat aroma yang memperkaya jiwa menyerang lubang hidungnya. Cahaya terang membanjiri ruangan sepenuhnya, dan ia merasa bermandikan kehangatan yang memurnikan jiwa. Itu sangat nyaman sehingga ia merasa tertidur selamanya saat ini pun tidak akan buruk.
Kotak itu hanya dibuka sepersepuluh bagian, namun aura bercahaya dari produk itu luar biasa! Terlalu luar biasa! Seolah-olah secercah hukum surgawi terkandung di dalamnya.
Setelah pria tua itu melihat reaksi Tuan Muda Shang, ia buru-buru menutup tutupnya. Butuh beberapa menit bagi Tuan Muda Shang untuk keluar dari keterpakuannya, menyeka air liur dari sudut bibirnya, saat cahaya keserakahan yang berdenyut menyala di matanya tanpa henti.
"Apa itu?" Ia tidak tahu banyak produk tingkat Mystic-Surga meskipun asal-usulnya. Itu jauh melampaui basis kultivasinya saat ini untuk dipelajari dengan benar, dan dari paparan singkat itu, ia tidak dapat menentukan asalnya.
"Pil Jiwa," pria tua itu berseri-seri. Sesaat, ia tampak sepuluh tahun lebih muda.
"Pil Jiwa?!?!
"It's almost time," Wei Wuyin stood ramrod straight atop a luminescent comet emitting a distinct icy chill as it soared across the Dark Void. The demeanor of a mortal sovereign exuded from every pore, overlooking his expansive domain, and ruling with total dominion of time and space. Beside him were the beautiful and heavenly Ming Shufeng and the calm, dignified middle-aged-looking Han Hyo-joo.
The former had thoughts of the past. Just a several decades later, the silver-eyed youth that shouted manically that day had overturned the heavens and obtained peerless supremacy throughout his lands.
The latter had thoughts of the future. She didn't try to conceive of a way to escape or hide away. Given Wei Wuyin's current influence and means that shook her very soul, she knew that doing so would only worsen her circumstances. Instead, the scene of Wei Wuyin casually 'purchasing' her for a Mystic-World alchemical product kept repeating in her mind.
She was already thinking of ways to earn his favor. Her advanced age gave her a unique perspective on opportunities, and she knew that not all situations presented themselves initially as a fortuitous encounter or a lethal calamity. What mattered was seizing the situation and extracting as much as one could.
Being the dual cultivation Yin Cauldron of a Worldly Saint Alchemist was a fate that those in the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone would genuinely kill for. No, there have been recorded incidents of that happening!
She recalled a specific event that occurred. Supposedly, it was not a natural societal tradition, but an overall cultivation tradition that the Seers and Oracles of the world divined from ancient times, and that was an event where top-tier beauties, heroes, and talents fought for the attention of alchemists or experts, all for the sake of either being selected as a partner or companion. It varied, but the idea of countless beauties and heroes fighting for a single alchemist's favor, male and female, was not unheard of.
According to her contact from beyond, the Northfrost Royal Duke of the Exalted Republic had once won the extraordinary favor of a peak Earthly Saint Alchemist long ago during one of these competitions. A dazzling figure that was now a genuine Worldly Saint Alchemist renowned throughout the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone and an astonishing, galaxy-stunning beauty renowned across the entire zone. While it wasn't a direct result of the competition, the fact remained that showcasing one's talents during these events could bring about unimaginable results and prospects for one's future. Her thoughts were gleeful and explosive, dyed with lustful intentions.
She now had the potential for a great fortune. She needed to seize it!
Wei Wuyin piloted the comet while musing on several topics, directing it toward the Neo-Dawn Starfield.
"The Northfrost Royal Duke again..." He muttered.
-----
"Boy, he sure isn't bothered by having us wait." Young Master Shang lounged lazily on a wicker chair, eating a piece of velvet cake with whipped cream. Within the cake itself were glittering tiny stars of various colors. Between each scrumptious bite, the white-robed young man would moan delightfully with satisfaction.
They were still housed in the gorgeous palace of the Soul-Saint Domain of the Ninestar Starfield. Cao Cao would periodically appear, acting as a host to tend to any of their needs, and Young Master Shang did not stand on ceremony as he tried two hundred and twenty-three types of alcoholic beverages and numerous cultural delicacies of the Ninestar Starfield.
Standing at the edge of an open window, an elderly man stood while observing the starry skies. Shockingly, unlike before, he was not completely whole. A loose left sleeve dangled desolately by his side, the end folded neatly. He was missing his left arm!
"An empire isn't built in a day, and karmic ties aren't easily resolved. You want me to remind him?" The elderly man's voice was hoarse as if his throat had been strained recently.
Young Master Shang took another bite, only speaking after taking a sip of tea that had been spiked with a little bit of his wine. "Why bother?" He was completely carefree, his words spoken with a light, airy, and relaxed tone. It was hard to imagine that this was the same man who traversed galaxies in search of a single person with sheer determination or one who was nearly shattered by a single kick.
The elderly man nodded.
Young Master Shang finished the cake. Then, he turned his gaze toward the elderly man, a glint of rarely shown concern flashed across his eyes. "You didn't kill anyone, did you?" Despite having come back several days ago, the elderly man hadn't spoken of what happened after exiting the Ancient Sealed Region, and neither had Young Master Shang asked for any details.
The elderly man stared at the starry skies with narrowed eyes. "There's a Heavenly Saint Alchemist here," he said without answering.
"What?!" Young Master Shang's expression dramatically shifted as he stood upright, his gaze focused for the first time in a long while, and his entire body emanated a swirling aura of caution and concern. He visibly tensed.
The Mystic-tier of the Alchemic Dao was divided into four profound categorical titles: Earthly Saint Alchemist, Worldly Saint Alchemist, Heavenly Saint Alchemist, and Ascended Saint Alchemist. They didn't exactly have the same meaning as their cultivation counterparts in regards to their product ranks, as their representing domains far exceeded them.
Earthly Saint Alchemist concocted Mystic-Earth grade products, which govern the profound phases of the Soul of Mysticism, Demi-Mortal Lord, and Earthly Saint; Worldly Saint Alchemists concocted Mystic-World grade products, which govern the mysteries of the Worldly Saint Phase, Heavenly Saint Phase, Ascended Saint Phase, and True Sage Phase; Heavenly Saint Alchemist concocted Mystic-Heaven grade products, which governs the truths of the Resonant Soul Realm!
The first and ninth phases, Mystic Star and True Soul respectively, were excluded due to their unique states, but they too were within the Mystic-Earth and Mystic-World domains of influence.
Typically, if a cultivator came across a Mystic-Heaven grade alchemical product, they were the result of dozens or hundreds of Worldly Saint Alchemists working in conjunction with the aid of powerful experts at the True Sage or True Soul Phases and hundreds or even thousands of Earthly Saint Alchemists as assistances. As for those made with the assistance of those at the legendary Resonant Soul Realm, they were likely concocted for them! When could one possibly come across them?
Young Master Shang's reaction to learning that a Heavenly Alchemic Saint existed in the Azure-Prime Galactic Zone was appropriate! After a brief silence, Young Master Shang's expression changed again. The elderly man had been gone for a lot longer than expected. "Did you...make contact?"
Had the elderly man tried to recruit such a figure?
The elderly man sighed, "One of his Alchemic Knights appeared." After saying this, he brought out a small jade box that was etched with gorgeous runes, and its lid had depictions of mountains and rivers. It was an extraordinary box.
Young Master Shang's heart both grew tense and slowly relaxed at the same time, creating a deeply strange feeling. He felt tense at the possibility that the elderly man might be persuaded to abandon him in pursuit of greater prospects given his spent potential and great age. Hope was dangerous. But opportunities were fleeting. If one didn't seize a chance that showed up, they might regret it for a lifetime.
"What's in the box?" He asked cautiously.
"The entire incident was strange," the elderly man said with a slight shaking of his head as if he still couldn't believe what had happened or understand how he came across such a blessing. After those Sages didn't believe me, that Dark Titan attacked me. We exchanged thirty-two casual clashes of Intent before I suppressed him. Well, it was only an Incarnation. Then, one of them launched an attack that I used two punches to shatter. My third forced their regional array to activate.
"Before I could launch a fourth, the other intervened and tried to act as a mediator and showcase a little of their strength. It was an admirable but unsuccessful attempt. My fourth punch shattered their Incarnation by 'accident'." The elderly man's lips tugged to the side with a tinge of ridicule. "They simply didn't believe me. Not my fault."
"However, my fifth fist was blocked by that Alchemic Knight. The person's cultivation was only at the Ascended Saint Phase, yet they took my fifth fist." The elderly man had a genuine appreciation for that heaven-defying cultivator. Even Young Master Shang was taken aback, knowing that the elderly man's Seven Asura Fists Art was a momentum-based Ascension Art that grew in strength with each fist. Not even a Sage's Incarnation could block his fifth fist, but that Alchemic Knight had!
Each subsequent stage of cultivation established a world-shattering chasm of power! This only increased as one progressed along the difficult path of cultivation and it was one of the most undeniable truths of the world! Of cultivation!
"They survived?" Young Master Shang was shaken.
"Barely. But they survived," the elderly man remarked ruefully. It was clear that for someone of such a cultivation base to survive his attack was a sign that hurt his sense of pride. "Anyways," he looked at the box held in his right hand, "the Alchemic Knight exhibited their extraordinary mental fortitude as they delivered a message to me from the Heavenly Alchemic Saint. They asked me...for an arm."
His lonely, empty sleeve fluttered without wind. Young Master Shang was once again shaken. It wasn't ignorant to say that the elderly man's arm was a priceless treasure that cultivators would kill for. After all, his entire body had been cultivated, nourished, and refined by indescribable amounts of energies and essences for over a hundred thousand years, containing remarkably potent physical energy. But that also meant losing it was an incredible loss!
"An arm?" Young Master Shang originally thought it was lost in battle. To think it was...he looked at the box, "Bought?"
The elderly man chuckled, "They offered this." He used the ambient mana to gently lift the lid.
Whoosh! A gushing wind swept the room. Young Master Shang felt overwhelmed instantly as he felt a soul-enriching fragrance assail his nostrils. A radiant light flooded the room entirely, and he felt bathed in soul-purifying warmth. It was so comfortable that he felt that entering eternal sleep at this moment wouldn't be so bad.
The box was only opened by a tenth, yet the luminous aura of the product was extraordinary! Far too extraordinary! It was as if a wisp of heavenly laws was contained within.
After the elderly man saw Young Master Shang's reaction, he hurriedly sealed the lid. It took Young Master Shang several minutes to break out of his stupor, wiping the saliva off the edges of his lips, as the pulsating light of greed blared within his eyes incessantly.
"What is it?" He didn't know many Mystic-Heaven grade products despite his origins. It was far beyond his current cultivation base to properly delve into, and from that brief exposure, he was unable to determine its origins.
"A Soul Pill," the elderly man beamed. For a moment, he seemed to have grown younger by ten years.
"A Soul Pill?!?!" Young Master Shang's spine straightened. It was a simply named product, but that did little to diminish its well-known reputation! Throughout the galaxies, the Soul Pill could be considered mundane by Mystic-Heaven standards, but it was anything but. It was the equivalent of an Essence Pill but for those at the Resonant Soul Realm! However, if given to those beneath the Resonant Soul Realm, it could potentially awaken the refiner's True Soul or improve one's Mystic Soul, and by extension, grant one an opportunity to ascend to the Resonant Soul Realm!
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