Menyaksikan upacara penyambutan megah yang dilakukan Asosiasi Alkemis membuat Wei Wuyin mendecak kagum dan hormat. Ia tahu ini bukan sekadar karena penggabungan ke faksinya, tapi penghormatan dan rasa hormat tulus yang mereka miliki terhadapnya dan identitasnya sebagai alkemis.
Gerbang Void di belakangnya mulai meredup, tabir warna-warni menghilang seperti asap melawan angin kencang. Nonaktifnya menandakan tak akan ada pendatang baru.
Ini mengejutkan Qingye Yun dalam hati. Ia menatap sosok tinggi dan berwibawa Wei Wuyin. 'Dia tidak membawa Sage Agung Tuo?' Ekspresinya membocorkan keraguan meski sikap tenangnya biasa. Wei Wuyin adalah bakat luar biasa, dan dalam alam kultivasinya, fondasinya tak terbayangkan dalam dan tak tertandingi di era ini, tapi ia tetap datang ke sini sendirian. Jika mereka punya niat buruk...
Wei Wuyin mengabaikan pikiran melayang Qingye Yun, mengamati menara perak megah di depannya. Ia pernah membaca tentang menara ini yang mewakili salah satu alkemis terbesar dalam sejarah starfield, All-Alchemist Myriad Transformations. Meski dikabarkan basis kultivasinya agak kurang, keahlian, inovasi, pandangan jauh, kecerdasan, dan keberaniannya tidak.
Ia telah melihat potensi kehancuran yang bisa menimpa para alkemis dan menempa sebuah kekuatan yang bisa menjaga dan mewakili hak-hak alkemis. Kekuatan ini kemudian menjadi otoritas terdepan Dao Alkimia di luar era Raja Everlore. Meski ada Kultivator Jahat yang mencari cara jahat untuk mendapat kekuatan, tak ada kekuatan di dunia ini yang berani berencana memperbudak alkemis secara paksa karena kehadirannya.
Adapun menara itu, ia tak sekadar mewakili All-Alchemist Myriad Transformations; ia menandakan kebebasan mengejar Dao Alkimia. Meski Wei Wuyin mengagumi Raja Everlore karena bakatnya dan pengaruh revolusionernya yang melampaui era, ia sangat menghormati All-Alchemist Myriad Transformations jauh lebih tinggi.
Dalam sejarah, Raja Everlore terkenal egois, hanya mendukung kekuatan dan individu yang ia sukai. Ini fakta terkenal dan praktik yang masih digunakan alkemis hari ini. Meski tokoh-tokoh ini kemudian mendefinisikan era-era berikutnya, All-Alchemist Myriad Transformations tidak mementingkan diri dan mengekspresikan persatuan dan kebersamaan untuk semua alkemis. Asosiasi Alkemis adalah buktinya dan perbedaan mendasar antara dua tokoh luar biasa ini.
Budaya alkemis hari ini hanya ada karena keberadaan All-Alchemist Myriad Transformations. Karena itu, ia diam-diam memberi hormat pada menara itu saat mengamatinya dengan mata berbinar.
Hanya setelah beberapa saat ia mengalihkan pandangan ke para alkemis yang berlutut. Dengan senyum tipis, ia berkata: "Kalian semua boleh bangun. Aku, Wei Wuyin, berterima kasih atas penyambutan ramah kalian. Izinkan aku memberikan salamku sendiri." Ia menggenggam tangan, membungkuk sedikit pada para alkemis dan menara di depannya.
Saat ia melakukannya, para alkemis yang berlutut awalnya terkejut oleh gesturnya, tapi secercah hormat dan penghargaan muncul di mata mereka yang berbinar dan kaget. Mereka tidak menyangka Kaisar Ascendant Neo-Dawn menunjukkan sisi rendah hati seperti itu. Beberapa yang memuja citra dan gagasan Wei Wuyin merasakan mata mereka membengkak oleh air mata panas, merasa seolah pepatah yang sering diwariskan orang bijak bahwa idola tak pernah sesuai harapan kadang dan memang keliru.
Itu gestur kecil, tapi satu yang tak akan dilupakan.
Qingye Yun tersenyum tulus. Ia menyadari Wei Wuyin hanya mengatakan bahwa ia mempercayai mereka dengan datang ke sini sendirian, dan itu membuatnya sedikit menyesali pikirannya sendiri. Niat buruk apa yang mungkin mereka miliki? Di starfield ini, alkemis mungkin bersaing tapi mereka terikat oleh rasa persatuan dan pengejaran Dao agung.
Qingye Yun memberi isyarat sambil berkata, "Kaisar Ascendant Wei, silakan lewat sini." Tangannya bergerak dan kumpulan alkemis membuka jalan menuju pintu masuk menara. Wei Wuyin melangkah maju dan berjalan di jalan yang terbuka ini. Qingye Yun dan Qingye Ying mengikuti, mata mereka membocorkan secercah emosi langka dan mentah.
Beberapa alkemis yang lebih tua dan lebih terlibat juga sama emosionalnya. Wei Wuyin bahkan bisa menangkap secercah harapan dalam mata mereka, memancing rasa penasarannya. Tak butuh lama sebelum ia memasuki menara dan disambut pemandangan sangat mewah.
Ia tak menyadarinya dari jauh, tapi saat melihat kilau samar cahaya tujuh warna dari lantai, ia sadar lantai itu ditempa dari batu astral yang dimurnikan energi alkimia dan dicampur batu kaya bumi unik. Hanya sensasi berjalan saja menyegarkan indra, merangsang kultivasi seseorang.
Bagi seorang alkemis, mereka akan merasa seperti di rumah. Ia menyapu pandangan dan mengamati dinding, mencatat dindingnya juga dimurnikan tapi dengan berbagai energi elemen berbeda. Tempat ini tak hanya cocok untuk Dao Alkimia tapi untuk kultivasi secara keseluruhan. Harga untuk membangun fondasi berkualitas tinggi seperti itu kemungkinan luar biasa.
Ia melihat pilar-pilar dekoratif tebal dengan karakter terukir di keempat sisinya yang memancarkan cahaya samar. Ia mencatat ada tujuh pilar dan mereka menembus lantai bawah sampai ke atas, mungkin sampai lantai terakhir, berperan sebagai balok penyangga menara.
Saat mengamati karakter-karakter ini, ia sadar setiap pilar punya karakter yang menandakan salah satu aspek proses alkimia. Takjub, ia menggunakan Mata Surgawi untuk memeriksanya.
Ia sadar pilar-pilar ini saling terhubung lebih jauh ke bawah, kemungkinan mencapai inti planet. Baru saat itu ia tercerahkan bahwa ini kemungkinan inti formasi pusat untuk Formasi Planet. Dengan itu dalam pikiran, ia menaruh lebih banyak kekaguman di hatinya.
Ada item dekoratif lain di lantai pertama, termasuk patung-patung yang menggambarkan Kaisar Alkimia dari masa lalu dan sekarang. Ia bahkan melihat kemiripan Tuo Bihan di salah satu patung ini. Tampaknya membuatnya lebih muda sekitar dua puluh sampai tiga puluh tahun, memperlihatkan pria atletis dan berotot. Ini sama sekali berbeda dari penampilannya yang kurus dan tua hari ini.
Qingye Ying tiba di samping Wei Wuyin, nadanya netral, tak tunduk maupun angkuh. "Menara Myriad Tujuh Jalan adalah markas sejati Asosiasi Alkemis. Selama ia berdiri, begitu juga Asosiasi Alkemis." Secercah kebanggaan bocor dari suaranya, membocorkan senyum di balik cadarnya.
"Mengesankan," komentar Wei Wuyin singkat.
Qingye Ying sedikit mengerut, tapi tetap diam. Ada secercah ketidakpuasan terhadap Wei Wuyin, seolah mencari reaksi lebih kagum. Sayangnya, Wei Wuyin terlalu terpesona memeriksa isi dan kedalaman menara, menjelajahi misterinya yang terungkap oleh Mata Surgawinya.
Qingye Yun dan Qingye Ying mengantarnya ke aula, menuju apa yang tampak seperti kotak terisolasi tertanam di dinding. Mereka berjalan ke kotak ini, membuatnya mengikuti. Dengan rasa penasaran, ia mengikuti.
Thun!
Suara tiba-tiba meletus, dengan gerakan bergeser samar dari kotak. Lalu, terkejut oleh perkembangan ini, bagian dinding yang terbuka tampak menutup, menyegel ketiganya di dalam. Tapi Wei Wuyin tidak panik, hanya memeriksa keduanya. Melihat mereka tenang, dengan Qingye Ying mencuri pandang pada reaksinya, ia tidak bertanya. Ia belum menunggu lama ketika merasakan sensasi bergerak.
Ia bergerak ke atas. Ini berlangsung beberapa detik sebelum dinding terbelah dua, memperlihatkan pemandangan baru. Dengan Mata Surgawinya, ia sadar area tempat mereka berada berongga, dan ada berbagai formasi mengangkat kotak tempat mereka berada.
"Kreatif," komentarnya. Ini bukan pertama kali ia terkejut oleh perkembangan cerdik. Saat tiba di Kota Golden Milk, ia sangat terkejut oleh Emporium mereka. Ia punya lantai berlapis dan tangga bergerak yang ditenagai formasi beratribut bumi.
Qingye Yun dan Qingye Ying meninggalkan kotak, dengan Qingye Ying berkata: "Ini Shuttle Gerak Vertikal. Cukup cocok untuk bergerak melalui menara, mengingat jangkauannya melampaui Lapisan Langit. Ia menawarkan gerakan cepat dan nyaman di seluruh menara, dengan beberapa dipasang di berbagai area menara."
Wei Wuyin kagum. Ia mengangguk, bertanya-tanya apakah shuttle unik ini bisa dipasang di pegunungan. Betapa nyamannya perjalanan enam tingkat Pegunungan Penta Dao Extreme bagi para murid kalau begitu?
Qingye Yun akhirnya membawanya melalui aula penuh potret dan gulungan yang merinci peristiwa penting dalam sejarah Asosiasi Alkemis. Saat ia melihat beberapa peristiwa yang ia ingat dalam sejarah, ada beberapa yang belum.
Ada gambar kapal mirip perahu terbang di udara, tiba di depan menara. Ini menarik minatnya, karena mengandung objek yang belum pernah ia lihat. Meski ia tahu kapal pelayaran laut, ia tak pernah melihat yang bisa terbang di langit, turun ke planet. Jika ada, ia benar-benar tak tahu. Ini memicu rasa penasarannya.
Seolah menyadari fokusnya, Qingye Ying menjelaskan: "Lukisan itu berjudul 'Void Voyager Turun Takdir Baru'. Bertanggal beberapa tahun setelah Asosiasi Alkemis sepenuhnya berdiri."
"Void Voyager? Itu kapalnya?" Wei Wuyin bertanya, minatnya terpancing.
Mengangguk untuk mengonfirmasi, Qingye Ying menambahkan: "Dikatakan kapal itu membawa Utusan Raja Everlore."
Kata-katanya membuat Wei Wuyin terkejut. Utusan Raja Everlore? Memikirkan garis waktu, Asosiasi Alkemis lahir tak lama setelah finalisasi Era Starfield Imperial Heaven, saat Grand Monarch Wu Yu mengklaim seluruh starfield setelah kepergian Raja Everlore.
Seharusnya sekitar tiga ratus tahun sejak kepergian Raja Everlore. Tapi kenapa Wu Yu bilang ia tak pernah mendengar kabar Raja Everlore setelah kepergiannya? Terkejut, ia tetap penasaran. Ia menunggu Qingye Ying menjelaskan, tapi ia tetap diam, membuatnya memutar bibir tak puas.
Segera, ketiganya tiba di pintu besar setinggi sepuluh meter dengan banyak ukiran esoterik di permukaannya. Bahkan Wei Wuyin tak bisa memahami makna atau tujuannya.
Qingye Yun mengeluarkan medali dengan kuali memancarkan bintang dari saku dadanya. Ia menempelkannya ke pintu, menyebabkan ledakan cahaya putih sporadis sesaat sebelum pintu mulai terbuka oleh kekuatan aneh yang tak bisa diuraikan. Mata Surgawinya tak mampu melihat kebenarannya, mengejutkannya.
Apa pun yang terjadi jauh melampaui basis kultivasinya, sampai Mata Surgawinya tak bisa merasakan kualitasnya. "Alam Mystic Ascendant..." Wei Wuyin bergumam pelan sebelum Qingye Yun memberi isyarat ke pintu masuk.
"Kaisar Ascendant Wei, kau pasti bertanya-tanya kenapa tindakan kami sejauh ini aneh, terutama dengan taruhan terus-menerus. Itu karena ini. Ini Gerbang Menara Myriad Excellence, menara yang dibangun oleh All-Alchemist Myriad Transformations dan Utusan Raja Everlore." Qingye Yun menjelaskan, tapi ia tak melangkah ke pintu.
Wei Wuyin sedikit mengerut, matanya tak mampu melihat ke dalam maupun menemukan bagaimana ia tetap tersembunyi begitu. Ia menoleh ke Qingye Yun dengan minat mendalam. "Gerbang Menara Myriad Excellence? Ia menuju menara lain? Seperti Gerbang Void?" Hanya setelah Kratos sedikit menggeliat ia sadar kekuatan ruang tersembunyi samar di dalamnya.
Ini mengejutkannya karena tingkat kekuatan spasial di dalam Gerbang Menara Myriad Excellence ini melampaui tanda energi spasial lain yang pernah ia temui. Bahkan kekuatan spasial Tuo Bihan sangat kurang.
Mata Qingye Yun berbinar, menyadari reputasi Wei Wuyin sebagai orang yang peka dan cerdas tidak salah. Dengan napas dalam, ia menoleh ke Wei Wuyin. Dengan nada bersemangat manik, "Ya, memang! Bahkan, ia menuju starfield lain sepenuhnya!"
Experiencing the grand welcome ceremony performed by the Alchemist Association left Wei Wuyin smacking his lips in awe and admiration. He knew this wasn’t simply due to the merger into his faction, but a wholehearted display of respect and reverence they held towards him and his identity as an alchemist.
The Void Gate behind him started to whine down, the colorful veil dissipating like smoke against a strong wind. Its deactivation signified that there would be no newcomers.
This surprised Qingye Yun deeply. He stared at Wei Wuyin’s tall and imposing figure. ’ Did he not bring Grand Sage Tuo?’ His expression betrayed his skepticism despite his usual calm demeanor. Wei Wuyin was a marvelous talent, and within his realm of cultivation, his foundation was unimaginably deep and unmatched in this era, but he still traveled here alone. If they had any ill-intent...
Wei Wuyin ignored Qingye Yun’s wandering thoughts, inspecting the magnificent silver tower before him. He had read about this tower that represented one of the greatest alchemists in the starfield’s history, the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist. While it was rumored his cultivation base was rather lacking, his skill, innovation, foresight, intelligence, and gumption was not.
He had seen the potential for ruin that might plague alchemists and forged a force that could safeguard and represent the rights of alchemists. This force would later become the foremost authority on the Alchemic Dao beyond the King of Everlore’s era. While there were Evil Cultivators that sought to use ill-means to gain strength, there wasn’t a force in this world that would conceive the notion of forcefully enslaving alchemists due to its presence.
As for the tower, it didn’t simply represent the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist; it signified the freedom to pursue the Alchemic Dao. While Wei Wuyin revered the King of Everlore for his talent and revolutionary influence surpassing eras, he deeply respected the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist in a far greater capacity.
In history, the King of Everlore was notoriously selfish, only supporting forces and individuals he’d taken a liking to. This was a well-known fact and practice still used by Alchemists today. While these figures later defined the next coming eras, the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist was selfless and expressed unity and togetherness for all alchemists. The Alchemist Association was proof of that and the inherent difference between these two extraordinary figures.
The very culture of alchemists today only existed due to the existence of the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist. Therefore, he silently paid his respects to the tower as he observed it with radiant eyes.
Only after a long moment did he return his gaze to the kneeling alchemists. With a faint smile, he said: "You may all rise. I, Wei Wuyin, thank you for your gracious welcome. Allow me to offer my own greetings." He clasped his hands, bowing slightly to these alchemists and the tower before him.
As he did, the kneeling alchemists were initially startled by his gesture, but a faint glimmer of respect and appreciation emerged in their bright and shocked eyes. They hadn’t expected the Ascendant Emperor of Neo-Dawn to reveal such a humble side. A few who worshipped the image and idea of Wei Wuyin felt their eyes swell with hot tears, feeling as if the saying often passed from the wise that idols never matched one’s expectations were sometimes and rightly false.
It was a small gesture, but one that wouldn’t be forgotten.
Qingye Yun smiled with heart. He realized that Wei Wuyin was simply saying that he trusted them by coming here alone, and it caused him to feel a little reproach for his own thoughts. What ill-intent would they possibly have? In this starfield, alchemists might compete but they were bound by a sense of unity and a pursuit of a great Dao.
Qingye Yun gestured as he said, "Ascendant Emperor Wei, this way." His hands shifted and the gathering of alchemists parted a path leading to the entrance of the tower. Wei Wuyin stepped forward and walked this parted path. Qingye Yun and Qingye Ying followed along, their eyes revealing a hint of rare and raw emotions.
A few of the older, more involved, alchemists were similarly emotional. Wei Wuyin could even glean a wisp of hopefulness within their eyes, prodding his curiosity. It didn’t take long before he entered the tower and was met with an extremely luxurious sight.
He hadn’t noticed from afar, but when he saw the faint shimmer of seven-colored light from the floor, he realized the floor had been forged from astral stones refined by alchemic energies and intermixed with a unique earthly enriched stone. Just the feeling of walking invigorated the senses, stimulating one’s cultivation.
For an alchemist, they would feel at home. He swept his eyes and observed the walls, noting they were similarly refined but with a variety of different elemental energies. This place wasn’t just suitable for the Alchemic Dao but for overall cultivation. The price to construct such a high-quality foundation was likely incredible.
He saw thick, decorative pillars with characters etched on each of its four sides that released a faint glow. He noticed there were seven pillars and they pierced through the bottom floor all the way up, likely to the last, acting as the supporting beams of the tower.
When he observed these characters, he realized each pillar had a character that signified one of the aspects of the alchemical process. Amazed, he used his Celestial Gaze to inspect them.
He realized these pillars were interconnected further down, likely reaching the very core of the planet. Only then was he enlightened that this was likely the central formation core for the Planetary Formation. With that in mind, he held even more awe in his heart.
There were other decorative items on the first floor, including statues depicting Alchemic Emperors from past and present. He even saw Tuo Bihan’s likeness on one of these statues. It seemed to de-age him by roughly twenty to thirty years, revealing a sporty and muscular man. This was completely different from his slim and old appearance today.
Qingye Ying arrived beside Wei Wuyin, her tone was neutral, neither subservient nor overbearing. "The Myriad Tower of Seven Paths is the true headquarters of the Alchemist Associations. As long as it stands, so will the Alchemist Association." A hint of pride leaked from her voice, betraying a smile beneath her veil.
"Impressive," Wei Wuyin commented simply.
Qingye Ying frowned slightly, but she remained silent. There was a hint of discontent towards Wei Wuyin, seemingly seeking a more awed reaction. Unfortunately, Wei Wuyin was too enthralled with inspecting the contents and depth of the tower, exploring its mysteries revealed by his Celestial Eyes.
Qingye Yun and Qingye Ying escorted him to a hall, traveling to what seemed like an isolated box embedded into a wall. They walked into this box, prompting him to follow. With curiosity in his mind, he followed along.
Thun!
A sudden sound erupted, with a faint shifting movement of the box. Then, shocked by this development, the open portion of the wall seemingly closed, sealing the three inside. But Wei Wuyin wasn’t panicked by this, merely inspecting the two with him. Seeing how they were calm, with Qingye Ying stealing a glance at his reactions, he didn’t ask any questions. He hadn’t waited for long when he felt a feeling of being in motion.
He was traveling upwards. This lasted for a few seconds before the wall separated into two portions, revealing a new scenery. With his Celestial Eyes, he realized that the area they were in was hollow, and there were various formations uplifting the box they resided in.
"How creative," he remarked. This wasn’t the first time he was shocked by ingenious developments. When he arrived at Golden Milk City, he was thoroughly shocked by their Emporium. It had multi-layered floors and moving staircases powered by earth-attributed formations.
Qingye Yun and Qingye Ying left the box, with Qingye Ying saying: "This is a Vertical Motion Shuttle. Its quite suitable for movement through the tower, considering its reach beyond the Sky Layer. It offers quick and convenient movement throughout the tower, with several of them installed within the tower in various areas."
Wei Wuyin was awed. He nodded, wondering as if this unique shuttle could be installed in the mountains. How convenient would it be to travel the six levels of the Penta Dao Extreme Mountains for disciples then?
Qingye Yun finally brought him through a hall filled with portraits and scrolls detailing important events in the Alchemist Association’s history. As he spotted a few events he recalled in history, there were a few he hadn’t.
There was a picture of a ship-like vessel flying through the air, arriving before the tower. This intrigued him, as it contained an object he’d never seen. While he knew of sea voyage ships, he never saw one that could fly through the skies, descending to a planet. If they existed, he sure as hell never knew of it. This sparked his curiosity.
As if noticing his focus, Qingye Ying explained: "That painting is named ’Void Voyager Descends A New Destiny’. It’s dated a few years after the Alchemist Association was fully founded."
"Void Voyager? Is that the ship?" Wei Wuyin inquired, his interest piqued.
Nodding to confirm, Qingye Ying added: "It is said that it carried an Envoy of the King of Everlore."
Her words caused Wei Wuyin to be taken aback by surprise. An Envoy of the King of Everlore? Thinking of the timeline, the Alchemist Association was birthed shortly after the finalizing of the Imperial Heaven Starfield Era, the time Grand Monarch Wu Yu laid claim to the entire starfield after the King of Everlore’s departure.
It should’ve been roughly three hundred years since the King of Everlore’s departure. But how come Wu Yu said that he’d never heard from the King of Everlore after his departure? Surprised, he remained curious. He waited for Qingye Ying to clarify, but she remained silent, causing him to twist his lips with dissatisfaction.
Soon, the trio arrived at a great door that stood at ten meters in height and had numerous esoteric etchings on its surface. Even Wei Wuyin couldn’t comprehend their meanings or purpose.
Qingye Yun withdrew a medallion with a cauldron spewing out stars on it from his breast pocket. He held it to the door, causing a sporadic eruption of white light for a moment before the door started to push on by some strange, undecipherable power. His Celestial Eyes weren’t capable of seeing the truth, startling him.
Whatever was happening vastly exceeded his cultivation base, to the point where his Celestial Eyes were unable to perceive its qualities. "Mystic Ascendant Realm..." Wei Wuyin muttered under his breath before Qingye Yun gestured at the entrance.
"Ascendant Emperor Wei, you must be wondering why our actions thus far have been odd, especially with the continuous wagers. It is because of this. This is the Gate of the Myriad Excellence Tower, a tower structured by the Myriad Transformations All-Alchemist and the Envoy of the King of Everlore." Qingye Yun explained, but he didn’t step into the door.
Wei Wuyin frowned slightly, his eyes were unable to see within nor discover how it was remaining so concealed. He turned to Qingye Yun with deep interest. "Gate of the Myriad Excellence Tower? It leads to another tower? Like a Void Gate?" It was only after Kratos squirmed slightly did he realize the faint hidden power of space within.
This surprised him because the level of spatial power within this Gate of the Myriad Excellence Tower exceeded any other spatial energy signature he’d ever come across. Even Tuo Bihan’s spatial force was severely lacking.
Qingye Yun’s eyes brightened, realizing that Wei Wuyin’s reputation for being perceptive and intelligent was not false. With a deep breath, he turned to Wei Wuyin. With a tone of manic excitement, "Yes, it indeed does! In fact, it leads to another starfield entirely!"
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