Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

Steelmind took a bit of time as he thought through the various things that he was told and that he could discern all on his own.

“Okay, it is no secret that you wish for me to make an artifact using this metal at this point,” he said. “What exactly is it that you want me to make?”

“A weapon,” the Death God said. “Something I can use to destroy my own physique.”

“What?” Steelmind blurted out the moment he heard her, a look of clear surprise flashing across his face. After a few seconds passed and he was sure he hadn’t misheard her, he repeated her words.

“You want an artifact that can destroy your own physique? That’s… I don’t know if such a thing is possible at all,” he said. “I don’t think a physique can be removed from a person without harming their physical self. It is different from a spirit root or their essence, you know. They can be stolen; the physique cannot.”

The Death God nodded. “I understand what you mean,” she said. “But… I may have found a way.”

Steelmind waited for her to speak, but it was the Alchemy God who continued.

“Death aura contains a fascinating property of being able to mask a body’s connection. It usually stops a being from healing, but if we focus on that aspect of its power and improve it a bit further, we may have a way to stop the body’s connection with its physique. If we are able to sever that connection, we might very well be able to stop the physique from ever interacting with the body, essentially destroying it.”

Duskcorpse nodded. “That was what I tried to do previously, but I ended up failing. Thankfully, Littleflower has knowledge of the Death aura that I don’t, despite gaining the Dao. But I have an instinctual

understanding of it and a control that he doesn’t possess, so together we were able to create something that we think does work.”

“A technique?” Steelmind asked.

“Sort of,” the Alchemy God said. “It’s more so an idea for now, an idea of how we plan to use the Death aura. And using a weapon made of this particular metal that has the property to fully copy any aura, we think we will succeed.”

Steelmind waited for a long moment, trying to take in all that they were talking about. Duskcorpse had moved back by now, the metal losing its dark color as its diamond-like color returned to its body. “I will need some time,” he said after a long minute.

“Please, take as much time as you need before you decide,” the Alchemy God said.

“No, I’ve decided I’m going to help you,” Steelmind said. “I won’t stand by and watch as one of my fellow gods dies. I simply need the time to understand the metal better.”

The Alchemy God’s expression brightened upon hearing that. “Thank you, Brother Steelmind.”

Steelmind grinned. “If you wish, you can wait around in my workshop while I work on this metal, try to understand as much as I can. I might need to ruin parts of the metal in order to create what you want me

to.”

Duskcorpse looked down at the metal for a second. “How much metal would you say you will need?” she asked.

“Well, that depends on what you want from the weapon,” he said. “Aside from what it does already, and if you want metal compounding or not. But most importantly, I think it depends on what weapon you want itself.”

“The metal is heavy by itself, and undeniably tough. So I do not need much in the way of any more enhancement there. As for the weapon,

I don’t use any weapon, so…” She turned toward the Alchemy God, looking for his input.

The Alchemy God scratched his chin. “I was thinking of some simple sword, but since any weapon can work, how about one that is symbolic?”

“What would that be?” Duskcorpse asked.

“A scythe,” the Alchemy God said. “It fits a Death God.”

Duskcorpse thought for a moment. “No one else uses a scythe, so I suppose it works.”

“It also gives the feeling of killing with a single strike,” the Alchemy God said. “A clean severing.”

Duskcorpse smiled and turned toward Steelmind. “A scythe it is. How much of this metal would be needed for a simple scythe?”

Steelmind looked down at the dimensions of the metal, quickly calculating. “Let us say half, just to be safe,” he said. “Would you like anything else with the other half?”

He turned toward the Alchemy God. “It’s not enough for a cauldron, but if there’s anything else you want, just let me know.”

The Alchemy God shook his head. “I need nothing else,” he said. “Besides, with the task you are taking on, we need to speak of payments as well.”

“No need to speak of payments,” Steelmind said. “If you can regain your strength and help with the war, it will be payment enough.” “That can’t work,” Duskcorpse said. “You need to be paid if you are going to work, Brother Steelmind.”

“But…” Steelmind paused. He thought for a bit. “In that case, how about some pills? I wouldn’t mind getting some pills in exchange.”

“I would be happy to,” the Alchemy God said.

“Not me!” the Death God said. “It’s my weapon that is being made. You

don’t have to do anything on my behalf, Littleflower.”

The Alchemy God lifted his hand, letting her take the lead.

Duskcorpse thought for a moment and gestured to the metal down

below. “You said you will only need half of the metal to make the scythe, right? In that case, would you accept the rest of the metal as

your reward?”

Steelmind froze for a long moment, taking in what Duskcorpse had just offered.

“Are you… serious?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” she said. “You will have to use some portions of it for

your own testing, but whatever remains there, I am willing to give you all of it as a reward. Will you accept it?”