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Chapter 375: Blood Essence Stone
🕑 Added 2024-10-21 05:45:36 +0000 UTC"Unfortunately, it cannot. Not all Dark Root Grass can be successfully cultivated into Dark Blade Grass. Even when successful, the efficacy of Dark Blade Grass is unstable, and its offspring cannot inherit all of its traits, making them nearly indistinguishable from regular Dark Root Grass."
"However, there are still subtle changes with each improvement. Every time we modify the plant, we may see a slight variation. Therefore, I suspect that magic plants contain a unique evolutionary pattern—if we continue to use the seeds from each new generation of Dark Blade Grass, then over time, I believe we can stabilize Dark Blade Grass as a new species. It’s just a matter of time," Heipaste explained seriously.
Upon hearing this, Rhett’s eyes narrowed, surprised by the revelation and gaining a deeper respect for Heipaste.
—To share such confidential information so openly with him—it truly moved Rhett.
"Such important information, and you’re just telling me like this? Isn’t that a bit too generous..." Rhett thought for a moment and couldn’t help but say.
"Haha, do you still think of yourself as an ordinary person?" Heipaste laughed and shook his head, responding, "Your talent in alchemy makes me think you’re practically a monster. So, I figured if the technique for improving magic plants flourishes in your hands, it would only benefit us all. After all, the Ring Tower has spent countless years and endured endless hardships researching this technology. If someone can help, why not?"
So that’s what you’re after... Rhett paused for a moment, finding the situation amusing but also feeling a bit conflicted.
He first consulted with Manu in the simulated space, asking, "Do you think it’s possible?"
Receiving a confident response, Rhett shrugged and replied to Heipaste, "Alright, since you’re offering such a great benefit, it would be wrong not to give something in return. When I get back, I’ll study this thoroughly, and if I make any breakthroughs, I’ll be sure to share them with you."
"I look forward to that day," Heipaste smiled warmly and continued with the blood purification process.
As the blood thickened, Heipaste’s expression grew extremely serious, and he said, "Rhett, forgive me, but I can’t continue our conversation. The next steps are critical, and I need to focus."
With that, Heipaste's mental power spread out like a tidal wave. Upon closer observation, it was clear that his mental power was not just a simple release—it was made up of countless threads, finer than strands of hair, extending into the blood and manipulating it with precision. This required an extraordinary amount of mental strength and control.
Rhett remained silent, observing intently. After watching Heipaste’s subsequent actions, Rhett estimated that he could divide his mental power to this degree, but achieving the same level of meticulous control and smoothly handling each alchemical step as Heipaste did would require countless hours of practice and innate alchemical talent.
He watched carefully, noticing the changes in the cauldron’s blood. As time passed, the amount of blood decreased, but the concentration of Blood Source Power remained undiminished.
Rhett squinted, watching as everything seemed to progress positively.
If this continued, there was no doubt that they would successfully refine a Blood Source Crystal far sooner than expected—in fact, a full year ahead of the simulation!
A little later, the dormant alchemical vats resumed pouring thin streams of crimson liquid into the cauldron, replenishing much of what had been lost.
Heipaste then added another series of materials, similar to the first batch, with only minor adjustments in quantity.
In Rhett’s perception, Heipaste’s mental power shifted again, transforming from threads into multiple invisible hands. These hands carefully separated impurities from the blood, incinerating them in the flames, leaving only the purer Blood Source Power behind.
During this process, Rhett noticed a similarity to a circulatory system.
As the blood rotated and flowed under the multi-line control of mental power, it resembled the circulation of blood within a human body. This technique significantly increased the efficiency of concentrating Blood Source Power.
Time passed.
Four hours later.
The alchemical vats were completely empty, their contents fully consumed.
Only half a cauldron of crimson liquid remained, its color strikingly similar to the red hue of Blood Source Orbs.
Heipaste’s forehead was covered in large beads of sweat—clearly, the pressure of this first attempt had been immense.
Especially now, at the final step, the anticipation of success was within reach, yet the possibility of failure still loomed. His feelings were a mix of elation and anxiety, like the contrast between fire and ice.
The flames beneath the cauldron fluctuated constantly, and the overall temperature had risen significantly since the beginning.
Even Heipaste’s mental output had changed, adjusting frequently and far more intensely than at the start.
Finally, after another half hour, the crimson liquid in the cauldron condensed into a solid crystal the size of a fist. It was hardened and unyielding, no longer changing shape under the flames' heat.
From the crystal emanated a pure, concentrated Blood Source Power aura, so potent that any transcendent nearby could sense it.
At this point, Heipaste finally breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his brow as he deactivated the alchemical apparatus.
"Huff... huff..."
Panting heavily, Heipaste stared at the blood crystal in the cauldron, his gaze complex and words stuck in his throat.
Rhett swallowed and licked his lips, asking with anticipation, "Did it work?"
At that moment, Rhett could feel the dense Blood Source Power radiating from the crystal, and there were almost no impurities detectable. If there were no surprises, this must be the Blood Essence Stone described in the simulation, which was supposed to take another year to refine!
Heipaste picked up the blood crystal, examining it closely. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded but then shook his head, saying:
"Well... it’s a success, I suppose. For a first experiment, this result is quite successful."
"But it’s still far from my ideal. In my vision, the concentration of Blood Source Power should have no limit—one could add as much as they wanted, with no impurities."
"However, during the actual refining process, many issues arose, affecting the formation of the Blood Source Crystal. I used the blood of 500 wind wolves for this experiment, but this crystal only contains the Blood Source Power of about 100, indicating inefficiencies."
"Moreover, each purification cycle may appear to remove all impurities, but in reality, there are still minute, stubborn remnants—the hardest to eliminate. These accumulate in the crystal, which means the amount a person can safely consume will always be limited by their body’s tolerance for impurities. How long it takes for their body to process those impurities will vary."
Rhett remained silent, not out of pretense, but because he genuinely didn’t understand the intricacies...
However, in the simulated space, Manu had also witnessed the entire process. After pondering for a moment, he said:
"I can sense that the Dark Blade Grass played a crucial role in this experiment. As an improved version of the advanced magic plant Dark Root Grass, it acted as a mediator during the separation of Blood Source Power from the impurities, allowing mental power to work effectively. Without it, not even a Saint Realm mental power user could touch Blood Source Power directly—it requires specific alchemical materials to make contact. The addition of Dark Blade Grass was quite ingenious. If more of it were used, efficiency could likely improve."
"As for the stubborn impurities, that’s indeed a major challenge. Blood is inherently impure, and removing every last impurity perfectly is nearly impossible—what we think is perfect purification may only be perfect under our current standards, which are far from flawless. There may still be impurities that our current methods can’t detect. Overcoming this will require painstaking, incremental improvements in purification standards."
"In summary, while this Blood Essence Stone may not be flawless, it meets the consumption standards for ordinary people, so it’s definitely a significant first step—and a huge one at that!"
Manu’s words were insightful. Despite losing much of his memory, his instinctive analytical skills as a former researcher remained sharp.
After mulling it over, Rhett relayed the key points to Heipaste.
Heipaste stretched his back and then looked at Rhett with a surprised expression before smiling wryly and saying, "I didn’t expect you to spot so many issues just from observing!"
"Actually, I noticed the same thing about the amount of Dark Blade Grass. Adding more would improve efficiency by about 20%, but that’s still not enough—we’ll need to come up with other methods."
"And Dark Blade Grass alone can’t solve the problem of residual impurities. That will require more research as well, sigh."
Rhett pretended to be deep in thought. "You’ve worked hard. I’ll study this more when I return..."
Heipaste, clearly tired, nodded appreciatively. "Thank you. I hope you can surprise us again."
"This alchemical apparatus—would you be willing to sell me the blueprints?" Rhett pointed to the vats. "I’ll need them to conduct experiments and test my other ideas."
"Hmm, this apparatus is indeed quite valuable. It was designed by the last headmaster of the Golden Blood Academy, one of the top Saint Realm alchemists on the continent at the time," Heipaste said after a brief silence.
"I understand. Name your price," Rhett replied with a shrug.
"Forget it, talking about money ruins friendships. I’ve been thinking that a gift is in order for an alchemical prodigy like yourself starting his journey. I’ve decided—the blueprints, along with some finished devices, are my gift to you. May the Blood Source Crystal soon be perfected," Heipaste said with a sudden smile.
"Really? I wasn’t expecting such a gift, but... I’m pleasantly surprised!" Rhett exclaimed, spreading his hands in astonishment.
"Take it. I hope it brings you good fortune and inspiration." Heipaste conjured an ancient, yellowed blueprint from thin air and handed it to Rhett.
"Thank you." Rhett accepted the gift with gratitude, giving it a quick glance before storing it in his spatial equipment.
After tidying up the workspace a bit, Heipaste invited Rhett to the adjacent room for some tea and relaxation.
As they chatted about alchemical experiments, Rhett casually asked, "By the way, I haven’t heard anything about Black Star recently. How’s he doing?"
"Black Star? After the battle with the orcs, the nations have been cracking down hard on evil forces, so there haven’t been many villains willing to show themselves. Bored, Black Star and Jinsha went off to Boulder Mountain, saying they wanted to train," Heipaste replied leisurely, now fully relaxed. "I heard Black Star even got injured, but he refuses to return. That kid is too stubborn, always acting like an eternal child..."
"And how old is he really?" Rhett asked with interest.
"He’s not even thirty yet, so he’s still quite young," Heipaste replied. "Oh, by the way, I’ve selected the alchemical team you requested for your construction project. Do you want to meet them?"
After a moment of thought, Rhett said, "No need. I trust whoever you send. When will they arrive?"
"Within a week. They’re not only alchemists but also powerful Grand Magi and Sky Knights, so they won’t take long."
Rhett nodded, taking a sip of tea.
After another half hour of casual conversation, Rhett found an excuse to take his leave.
Alone, he made his way down several flights of stairs to the first-floor hall, where he spotted his youngest son, Tylus.
"Hey, Father, over here!"
Tylus was sitting on a triangular chair by the window. Upon seeing his father, his eyes lit up, and he waved excitedly.
"Long time no see, Tylus. How are you settling in here?" Rhett asked, walking over and ruffling Tylus’s hair with a smile.
"Great! The alchemical atmosphere here is incredible. Everyone is so welcoming, and almost every question I have can be answered here," Tylus replied enthusiastically, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Oh? Sounds like you really enjoy it here. How about staying longer?" Rhett raised an eyebrow, teasingly.
"What? No, I’d rather not," Tylus’s excitement deflated. "I’d much prefer to go home. I can study alchemy at home and still be with my family. I haven’t seen Mina and Abel in a long time, and I really hope we can reunite soon."
"That’s an easy wish to grant. It will happen soon," Rhett said, patting Tylus’s shoulder as they walked out the front doors of the Ring Tower.
Tylus’s eyes brightened, and after bidding a quick farewell to his companions, he eagerly followed his father.
Standing outside the tower, Tylus looked energized, ready for his father to wrap him in elemental magic and whisk them away.
However, to his surprise, his father simply walked forward, heading toward the edge of the forest.
Confused, Tylus quickly followed and asked, "Father, where are we going?"
"We’ll take a slight detour—to the Ring Market," Rhett replied without looking back, his mind wandering to the thought of Vina’s House...
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