Chapter 75

Chapter 75

"So you're saying you were just sitting there, minding your own business, waiting for someone, when you suddenly caught sight of a shifty character through the window, felt a surge of righteous indignation, and immediately gave chase?"

When Eve returned to the bar, an unexpected figure occupied the seat she had vacated.

Ankle-length green hair, half her face obscured by a mask, the other half exquisitely beautiful, always wearing a faintly amused expression—who else could it be but Gu Zhaoxi?

After listening to Eve's explanation, Gu Zhaoxi tapped the table with her fingers, finding her story quite amusing: "Since when did I know you were such a zealous do-gooder?"

"......" Eve thought expressionlessly, *Are we that close? Why does she talk as if she knows me so intimately?*

Still, Eve felt a flicker of gratitude that Gu Zhaoxi had come all this way just for one of her questions. So she swallowed her retort and patiently endured Gu Zhaoxi's sarcasm.

It was understandable—a prestigious Senior Alchemist, revered wherever she went, had traveled a long distance just for Eve's query. Not only had she missed Eve, but she’d also been forced to wait here for hours. When had she ever suffered such indignity?

Eve wasn’t so conceited as to believe Gu Zhaoxi’s eagerness was purely for her sake. Most likely, it was because the question Eve wanted to ask was too sensitive, prompting Gu Zhaoxi to deem a personal visit necessary.

Once Gu Zhaoxi finally finished her complaints, Eve turned her face slightly and asked, "Senior, did you see the message I sent you?"

"Yes, that’s precisely why I’m here," Gu Zhaoxi rolled her eyes. "I didn’t trust anyone else to relay the message, so I came myself."

She reached out and triggered some mechanism on the table. Instantly, a pale blue light rose from the deep brown surface, tracing intricate patterns as they lit up sequentially—a sound-proofing alchemy array had been activated.

Once the array was active, Gu Zhaoxi still wore her half-smiling expression, but Eve sensed a distinct shift in her aura:

"If I told you that the poison affecting the Oliver mother and son was indeed concocted by Louis, what would you plan to do?"

Her slightly narrowed green eyes fixed on Eve. Though both possessed green eyes, the Oliver Family’s greens were like sweet green apples, inviting goodwill and effortlessly lowering one's guard. Gu Zhaoxi’s green eyes, however, resembled ancient deep forests—a profound emerald that felt heavy when they rested on someone, like a stern mother with a hint of divine presence.

Being stared down by such eyes was undoubtedly intense. Eve remained silent for a long while before responding vaguely, "How to handle it is for the Oliver Family to decide; it’s none of my business. What I’m more curious about is the answer to my other question."

On the paper she’d handed to Gu Zhaoxi, Eve had written only two things: one was to confirm that the poison affecting Lorca was indeed crafted by Louis himself; the other was her suspicion that spiritual power and spiritual state could change under external stimulation.

She cared about the latter because during the interrogation, she’d discovered mention of something that absolutely shouldn’t have been there—Zerg extract.

Her hand under the table tightened surreptitiously.

What were the Zerg?

They were the oldest and most dominant inhabitants of this universe, comprising countless distinct races. These bizarre, grotesque creatures possessed incredibly tenacious vitality and powerful bodies. Advanced Zerg even had innate mystical abilities.

Fortunately, most of the time, the majority of Zerg remained dormant with their queen deep in cosmic nests. Only a small fraction roamed outside. Every few centuries, when the nest-dwelling Zerg collectively awoke, it spelled catastrophe for the universe.

The effectiveness of the Oliver Family’s poisons came from their daring to incorporate various bizarre ingredients. But Eve never imagined that the toxin that stumped countless alchemists was actually made from Zerg extract.

How dare they add Zerg extract to poison... The Zerg’s life hierarchy was unknown levels higher than humans. If such a thing entered a human body, the consequences were unimaginably terrifying.

For someone like Lorca to only suffer mental disorder was already a relatively good outcome. In past Zerg wars, there were soldiers contaminated by Zerg blood, their genes polluted until they mutated into chaotic, senseless creatures that had to be executed en masse.

Just recalling the novel’s descriptions of the Zerg made Eve shudder... These lunatics!

Because of Louis, her wariness toward other Senior Alchemists had suddenly heightened. Gu Zhaoxi’s subtle probing didn’t put Eve at ease; instead, it made her somewhat resistant.

Beyond the direct harm of using Zerg extract, she harbored deeper concerns.

Spiritual power and spiritual state were almost always determined at birth. But if a poison made from Zerg extract could alter even the shape of one’s spiritual state, then conversely, couldn’t Zerg extract also be used to enhance such innate talent if applied correctly?

The world moves for profit; the world hustles for gain.

Would someone risk taking this path? She couldn’t say for sure, but in Eve’s eyes, it was extremely dangerous.

When she saw that cipher, Gu Zhaoxi had guessed that Eve probably already knew everything—both what she should and shouldn’t know. She mentally cursed Louis a hundred times but maintained a calm facade: "Haven’t you already seen cases of altered spiritual states? And not just one, either."

"You mean... Luo Lin as well?" After a moment’s thought, Eve recalled another person whose spiritual state had mutated, asking in surprise.

"Mhm," Gu Zhaoxi hummed. "Also from the Oliver Family, though it was just in incense—not severe bodily erosion. I’ve already removed it. As for someone like Lorca, who’s beyond saving, let fate decide."

After a long silence, Eve asked, "Then what you said earlier about there being more to Lorca’s poisoning, which made you unwilling to intervene—was that 'more' referring to Louis’s interference?"

"You could put it that way," Gu Zhaoxi curled her lips into a cryptic smile. She combed her hair with her fingers casually. "But he doesn’t have that much influence. He’s just a puppet of the Oliver Family himself; he can’t control us. It’s only because—"

"—because alchemists can’t afford to lose a Five-Star Alchemist," Eve cut in directly. "He’s still alive now because Lorca’s condition requires Louis to sustain it, right? Once Lorca is fully cured, the Oliver Family won’t need to keep Louis alive anymore, will they?"

Gu Zhaoxi’s words halted abruptly. She pressed her lips together slowly, withdrew her hand from her hair, and examined it for a moment before stating flatly, "You made me so anxious I pulled out two strands of hair."

She extended her hand— nestled between her pale fingers were two dark green strands. When she looked up, those deep green eyes fixed intently on Eve.

"......"

Eve’s throat moved slightly as she slowly raised her eyes to meet those unblinking green eyes.

Why did she suddenly feel that Gu Zhaoxi looked... not quite human?

Cionanado had said that the higher the alchemist, the more incomplete they were. Agnes was not human, Louis Oliver was blind, and Gu Zhaoxi was so domineering—even if not Five-Star, she was a veteran Four-Star Alchemist extremely close to it. If she too had an imperfection, what would it be?

She always wore a mask—was it for fun, for appearance, or... was there a reason she had to wear it?

Cold sweat beaded on Eve’s forehead. Finally, she noticed that the cipher on the table might not be just for soundproofing.

People moved around them, yet no sound reached them. None seemed to notice the eerie atmosphere or cast curious glances their way. It was as if they were separated by frosted glass—two worlds coexisting in the same dimension yet unable to interact.

The pressure intensified, the air so thick it was almost suffocating.

Just then, Gu Zhaoxi leaned closer and asked in a flat tone, "Why are you staring at my mask... Are you curious?"

Her hand slowly rose to the mask, then began to lower it. Eve’s heart raced inexplicably from the moment Gu Zhaoxi touched the mask, almost wanting to shout "Don’t!" But just as the mask was about to leave her face, Gu Zhaoxi giggled and pressed it back into place, laughing, "Sorry, too ugly. On second thought, better not remove it."

The eerie, sticky atmosphere vanished instantly. The invisible frosted glass shattered, and the surrounding people suddenly became clear. A passing waiter noticed the guest’s stiff posture and bent down concernedly, "Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

Eve didn’t answer, seemingly stunned, just staring blankly at Gu Zhaoxi. Eventually, Gu Zhaoxi dismissed the waiter for her, smiling, "She’s fine, just a bit stiff from sitting too long."

"Alright. If you need any assistance, feel free to call me."

"Mm, you may go."

Once the unrelated party left, Gu Zhaoxi waved a hand in front of Eve’s face, joking, "What’s wrong? Did two strands of hair scare you that much?"

Eve lifted her head, dark eyes meeting Gu Zhaoxi’s, well aware that the other had been intentionally intimidating her moments ago.

After a pause, she continued from earlier, "So, if Louis dies, what does it symbolize for Senior Alchemists besides losing a Five-Star Alchemist they have no connection to?"

After several interactions, Eve had gauged Gu Zhaoxi’s callous and capricious nature.

Losing one unrelated alchemist, even a Five-Star one, wouldn’t warrant her waiting hours in frustration, then going to such lengths to threaten Eve.

Louis’s life or death must have deeper implications for Gu Zhaoxi.

Hearing this, the smile vanished from Gu Zhaoxi’s face as she said coolly, "You really have no fear of death, do you?"

Eve stubbornly pressed her lips together.

"But it wouldn’t hurt to tell you. You’re almost at the Four-Star level, aren’t you? If you can completely resolve the issue with that kid from the Oliver Family, then something as trivial as the Four-Star assessment’s point-to-gold transformation won’t be a problem for you."

Gu Zhaoxi let out a sigh. She reached out and poked Eve’s forehead, saying, "Let me make this clear upfront—you must guarantee that Louis cannot die, at least not because of you. Otherwise, you’ll be hunted to death by furious alchemists."

"Why?" Eve asked.

"Only alchemists at the Four-Star level or above can meet the Divine One. You know that, right?" Gu Zhaoxi raised a finger, pointing toward the sky, and said calmly, "The full rule is actually this: Four-Star alchemists can only enter the Divine Realm twice in their lifetime—once upon breakthrough, and once more at a time of their choice. But Five-Star Alchemists, aside from their promotion, can enter the Divine Realm once every year to have an audience with that one."

"Since sixteen years ago, the Empire hasn’t seen any new Four-Star alchemists. And that year was also the year of the youngest Five-Star Alchemist, Louis Oliver’s, promotion. Before him, the Empire only had three Five-Star Alchemists, one of whom inexplicably defied the one in the Divine Realm, vowing never to set foot there again."

Gu Zhaoxi let out a cold laugh, as if mocking the foolishness and arrogance of her colleagues. "What foolish heaven’s darlings. One, just two months after promotion, thought himself important enough to meddle in worldly power struggles, only to end up a caged canary strangled and imprisoned in the Black Iron Tower. The other was even more arrogant—a non-human being most blessed by the gods, fortunate enough to be taken as His only disciple, yet she chose to sever ties with her teacher and even refused to fulfill the responsibilities required of alchemists."

As she spoke, her expression grew strange, as if she were no longer in the bar meticulously designed to her taste but had crossed into another time and space.

Sixteen years ago, in the southwestern region of the capital planet, amidst vast, rolling mountains and forests, fire and molten gold flowed through a solitary, beautiful estate. The once spirited young alchemist, now covered in dust and terror, was escorted by black-robed colleagues wholly loyal to the Oliver Family into a tower with a cross-shaped spire.

Beyond the universe, above the dome, the two highest beings of this world faced each other, suspended in a quicksand-like vortex of stars. The golden-vertical-pupiled non-human shrieked hoarsely and sharply at her teacher: "—I hate you!"

That face, perfect to the point of sanctity, was completely twisted with hatred, so much so that Gu Zhaoxi, serving at the side, didn’t dare even glance at the expression of the one beside her. The entire star sea echoed with her shrill voice: "I hate you! Cionanado, how dare you—how dare you deceive me—I curse you!"

Cionanado let out an almost inaudible sigh and finally raised His right hand.

Under the influence of the law’s power, Gu Zhaoxi soon could no longer hear the words from the other side. No one knew what curse the supreme ruler of the Divine Realm suffered that day, nor why the usually close teacher and disciple had fallen into such a state.

But from that day on, only three Five-Star Alchemists remained to make the annual pilgrimage to the Divine Realm.

The memory abruptly snapped back.

"Fortunately, Louis still knows who’s keeping him alive," Gu Zhaoxi quickly masked her dazed expression and said cheerfully, "If he didn’t remember to fulfill his duties as a Five-Star Alchemist, Long Quan and I would surely be worked to death."

Eve still looked somewhat bewildered—or perhaps not so much bewildered as shaken.

Poor child, Gu Zhaoxi thought sympathetically. She must be terrified by the story I just told. Who could have guessed that beneath the glamorous exterior of Senior Alchemists lay such turbulent pasts?

Then, she heard the poor child speak up: "I have a question... I mean, aside from you, Louis, and the previously mentioned Senior Long Quan, there’s one more among the Empire’s four Five-Star Alchemists—the one who broke with the Divine Realm. What was her name?"

"Oh, her? She’s not very well-known. After all, she’s a traitor whose name was deliberately erased by alchemists," Gu Zhaoxi shrugged and directly revealed the last name. "It’s normal you haven’t heard of her. Her name is Agnes."

Eve: "......"

No, she had heard of her.

Her eyelids began to twitch ominously: "...Traitor?"

"Mmhmm, she openly broke ties with the one in the Divine Realm. You could say she’s the most daring traitor in the history of alchemy."

"......"

Unknowingly becoming the disciple of the number one traitor in the alchemy world, Eve thought to herself, such a life full of surprises is truly exciting.