One-Eyed Monster

Kuyi Tulan held the small golden sphere in his hand, admiring it as if it were an exquisite piece of art.

”This is the meaning of eternity!” Kuyi Tulan exclaimed, his tone filled with pride. It seemed as though this small golden sphere was the treasure he had pursued all along, and he was now displaying it.

”What’s the use of showing this thing? And what does it have to do with Dastan?” Igor pressed again, determined to wrench the answer from Kuyi Tulan.

Kuyi Tulan turned his head and looked at Igor calmly, his expression seeming to ask, How can you be so unmoved by such an astonishing object? Don’t you feel even the slightest tremor of excitement?

This golden sphere has nothing to do with me, Igor thought. What he wanted was news of Dastan. After so much vague talk, Kuyi Tulan now produced a golden sphere. Is he trying to make a fool of me?

Igor observed the others’ reactions and saw that they were all staring at the small golden sphere in astonishment, as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.

Igor couldn’t help but become curious about the small golden sphere, yet he was still more desperate to learn Dastan’s whereabouts.

Kuyi Tulan seemed a little surprised by Igor’s reaction, but he faced Igor directly and said, ”You’ve always wanted to know Dastan’s whereabouts here, haven’t you? Now I’ll tell you—Dastan is right here!”

The answer was quite direct, and delivered with considerable assertiveness!

Igor scratched his head. He couldn’t understand this answer at all. What kind of answer is that? He couldn’t see any sign of Dastan, so how could Dastan be here?

However, before Igor could refute Kuyi Tulan, a Flame Arrow suddenly WHOOSHED towards Kuyi Tulan.

The Flame Arrow arrived so suddenly that no one had time to react. Igor had barely registered the heat searing past his face before his mouth fell open...

This shocked Igor, but before he could recover, another sight made a cold sweat break out across his skin.

Kuyi Tulan’s instantaneous reaction left Igor dumbfounded.

He had actually reached out and caught the Flame Arrow with his bare hand!

What incredible power! What astonishingly fast reflexes! And how could fire possibly be caught?!

But it had happened right before his eyes. Kuyi Tulan had shown him the impossible.

”Protect the Chief!” The Alchemists from the Alchemy Workshop moved at once, their actions astonishingly coordinated. They were like well-trained soldiers, not the researchers they usually were. They formed a tight circle around Kuyi Tulan, leaving no openings.

The Great Mentor watched these developments and silently shook his head, a chill settling in his heart.

The nature of the Alchemy Workshop had completely changed under Kuyi Tulan’s leadership. They were no longer the pure alchemists who painstakingly studied techniques like the Exchange Spell; they were becoming tools for others, pawns in power struggles.

Has it not always been so, throughout history? The Great Mentor gave a bitter smile. He looked at Kuyi Tulan, who was protected by the alchemists, the Flame Arrow now a lively fire dancing in his hand. He knew Kuyi Tulan had used the Exchange Spell to conjure a vessel for the raging fire. To cast a spell in such a short instant, without even enough time to write out the equation—this was an incredible feat.

Kuyi Tulan and his followers had decomposed the Alchemy Equations and imprinted all the Symbols onto their bodies. This allowed him to control these Symbols at will, combining them into new equations, which greatly increased their efficiency. This was Kuyi Tulan’s contribution.

Each Alchemist’s body was covered in markings, like tattoos, giving them a formidable appearance...

Igor still hadn’t recovered from his shock when Stan Sol, beside him, began to prepare another burst of flame, naturally aimed straight at Kuyi Tulan. This time, however, before Stan Sol could unleash it, the Great Mentor shot out a hand with lightning speed and pressed Stan Sol’s hands down.

”Mentor, what are you doing?” Kuren, who was nearby, could no longer remain silent. He didn’t understand why the Great Mentor was acting this way.

They were all seething with anger. They had planned to join in after Stan Sol’s attack and give Kuyi Tulan a thorough beating—no, it was beyond a simple beating now!

”Anger solves nothing. The continuation of the Sol Family still requires your efforts. Do not be swayed by your emotions!” the Great Mentor, Guzan, whispered in Stan Sol’s ear.

Many people were baffled by this sudden turn of events, Kadi especially. He looked left, then right, and then decided he needed Igor to explain.

Kadi nudged Igor. ”What just happened?”

”I don’t know either!” Igor answered honestly. He had only observed that this sudden development seemed to be related to the small golden sphere.

The small golden sphere was still spinning in Kuyi Tulan’s hand. What exactly is this thing? Igor wondered. Why would it make these people so agitated?

This was a question Igor needed to think about, one that required careful consideration.

Persuaded by the Great Mentor, Stan Sol abandoned his attempt to attack Kuyi Tulan again. Only Stan Sol himself knew the true reason. The Sol Family needed members to ensure its continuation; the consequences of impulsive actions would be grave. Not everyone could understand his grief.

Kuren and the others felt uneasy. The Great Mentor is being far too protective of his own! How can he act like this?

The Great Mentor gazed at the enraged group and sighed softly. ”Anger cannot solve problems. I know you are all very upset, but being upset won’t bring Dastan back.”

The Great Mentor’s words seemed to trigger a realization in Igor.

Recalling what Kuyi Tulan had said earlier about ”eternity” and ”omnipresence,” Igor gradually began to understand Dastan’s situation. Dastan… he’s no longer in this world…

But then, what is that golden thing, the one that looks like a peach pit?

”Is this your achievement, Tulan?” The Great Mentor turned to Kuyi Tulan and asked, his voice stern.

”Yes. This Spirit Core is all that remains of Dastan. You could say Dastan’s entire existence was for the sole purpose of creating this Spirit Core!” Kuyi Tulan stepped out from the protective circle of the Alchemy Workshop’s Alchemists. He was immensely proud, his face beaming with the smile of one presenting a great accomplishment to his mentor.

Spirit Core! Igor registered the term. So that small golden sphere is called a Spirit Core. But what exactly is it? He still needed to observe it more closely. However, before Igor could get a better look, a harsh voice shattered Kuyi Tulan’s smug expression.

”Bullshit! You’re spouting utter nonsense!”