Chapter 004: The Useless Artifact

Ge Zheng was somewhat surprised. He looked up and noticed that while he was speaking with this guard, the other guards all coincidentally looked elsewhere, indicating that they had clearly established a tacit understanding.

Bomos was taken aback, his hands hanging limply at his sides, head lowered, stammering and unwilling to move. Aquinas chuckled lightly, stood up, and patted him on the shoulder, saying: "There is no need to panic. Go find the person who forged this longsword for you. Although your aptitude is not suitable for becoming an alchemist, I can recommend you to study in other departments at the Dongsheng Academy."

Ge Zheng was somewhat dejected; regardless of whether these materials could be purchased, even if they could, he could not afford them at the moment

Ge Zheng was left with a face full of dust, yet he remained undeterred and turned to ask, "Excuse me, how much do these materials cost?" Upon hearing his question, the old man immediately understood that this person had quite the audacity, but in reality, he was just a novice in alchemy. He couldn't help but cast a disdainful glance at him and replied, "How much? Hmph, any one of these materials costs at least ten thousand magic crystal coins per gram!"

The Felkinson family has ruled Wangshan City for a century, and the entrance tax collected from passing adventurers alone has made them exceedingly wealthy. Despite being under the protection of Duke Selkin and having to pay an annual "Alliance Tax" of one million gold coins, the Felkinson family has still accumulated a vast fortune over the century. This small, obscure border town, home to the Felkinson family, possesses wealth sufficient to rank among the top one hundred in the continent

Ge Zheng's alchemy, although it employs the techniques of alchemy, fundamentally remains rooted in the ancient Chinese practice of Daoist elixir refinement. The practitioners possess the philosophies of Taiji, Yin-Yang, and the Five Elements, embodying thousands of years of Eastern wisdom, with theories that are profoundly intricate. On the other hand, alchemists utilize a variety of instruments and meticulous operations, each possessing its own merits. For instance, a furnace used solely for heating is subdivided into seven types: roasting furnace, sublimation furnace, distillation furnace, fusion furnace, dissolution furnace, solidification furnace, along with the crucible. Alchemists, with their diverse instruments and precise techniques, also have their own advantages. For example, a furnace designated for heating is categorized into seven distinct types: roasting furnace, sublimation furnace, distillation furnace, fusion furnace, dissolution furnace, solidification furnace, and the crucible.

Aquinas nodded: "Kunta's insight has improved. It is indeed true that this sword is quite ordinary." Esger interjected from the side: "However, it integrates both water and fire elements, allowing it to unleash magic from both systems. The compatibility of these two completely opposing elements can only be achieved by divine artifacts in the world of Star Refinement"

Ge Zheng was taken aback: "Sir..." Paracelsus waved his hand and smiled: "I can see that although you are quite happy here with me, there is always an inescapable sorrow. I do not know why, but I believe you will always find your own answers. This ring is no longer of use to me; I am already thoroughly familiar with the information inside, so I will give it to you. Consider it a parting gift from us. Furthermore..." He rummaged in his pocket: "This alchemist's badge was used by me in my early years. Although it is merely a badge of a Level 6 alchemist, it is recognized by the Alchemist Guild, so you will not need to go to the Alchemist Association for authentication with it." This ring is no longer of use to me; I am already thoroughly familiar with the information inside, so I will give it to you. Consider it a parting gift from us. Furthermore..." He rummaged in his pocket: "This alchemist's badge was used by me in my early years. Although it is merely a badge of a Level 6 alchemist, it is recognized by the Alchemist Guild, so you will not need to go to the Alchemist Association for authentication with it.

Even so, when young Master Bomos saw a sphere of water and a sphere of fire emerge from the knight's sword, he was still so excited that his whole body trembled, and without a word, he handed a bag of gold coins to Ge Zheng.

Paracelsus remained in the Liusu Mountains solely to find a successor for his alchemy. Now that his wish has been fulfilled, he naturally would not continue to stay here. He took with him those works of Ge Zheng to aid his understanding, and Ge Zheng would have no objections, as they were all hastily made pieces, each with its own flaws. Moreover, all these works were crafted using materials expended by Paracelsus. He kept the flying sword for self-defense and entrusted everything else to Paracelsus.

At a glance, Ge Zheng's profile revealed a remarkable sight: the box was at least as tall as a person and over two people long, resting on a sturdy flatbed cart, with two beasts of burden as robust as rhinoceroses tethered beside it. Ge Zheng did not expect that the entrance tax for Wangshan City would require such a large box for storage; it seemed that there were indeed many adventurers coming here in search of fortune.

In the world of Star Refinement, every individual, whether a magician or a warrior, possesses their own physical attributes, which are generally singular in nature. It is only when a person's abilities reach their limits that they begin to integrate external elements, gradually developing their secondary attributes, and even tertiary and quaternary attributes.

It was merely because he felt that the remuneration offered by Bormos was too low, so he did not put much effort into it, only meeting the basic requirement of the difficult task: dual attributes. As for whether the sword was sharp, whether it was convenient for the knight to use, and other practical factors, Ge Zheng could not be bothered to consider. You get what you pay for

Master Aquinas quietly arrived in Wangshan City, and the purpose of his visit was unknown to the public. However, alchemists are a respected profession in the Star Refining World, and being able to study under Master Aquinas would undoubtedly lead to a bright future. Although the master came to Wangshan City in secret, some influential families learned of this news and continuously sent gifts, earnestly requesting the master to teach their children.

Bomos smiled and said, "Lord Kunta, I am Bomos. I have already solved Master Aquinas's problem." The warrior named Kunta revealed a look of skepticism in his eyes behind the armor: "You solved it? Hand it over, and wait here."

Ge Zheng compared "two hundred" and "one million" in his mind, secretly sighing: it really is a small amount. However, even a mosquito's leg is still a piece of meat, which is better than having nothing at all

Bomos's father is a well-known merchant in the city and also holds a nominal position as a minor official under the lord of the city. With a large family and substantial business, he is far beyond comparison to a small shopkeeper like Old Hans.

Over the course of several hundred years, the town became increasingly prosperous. The leader of the merchant guild, Zuo Yuer Feierkinsen, grew ambitious and, a century ago, elevated the town to a city, naming it Wangshan City. He constructed massive stone walls, produced a large quantity of weapons and armor, purchased warhorses, formed an army, and established tax officials to collect various taxes. Additionally, he bribed the Duke of Selkin, one of the three major principalities outside the Fat Worm Desert, with a substantial amount of gold coins, securing a hereditary title of count from the duke.

Master Aquinas, though exasperated, found it difficult to directly refuse these individuals. Thus, he devised a question: whoever could solve this question would be considered his student and could return with him to the Eastern Victory Academy for further study.

Paracelsus retrieved the alchemical formula but did not take back the ring: "Ge, you should go out for a walk. Staying here, you can no longer make any progress. The most important aspect of alchemy is still practice. The outside world is vast, and there are hidden talents across the continent; they will be of help to you."

Aquinas picked up the sword and swung it a few times casually, then said to Kunta beside him: "Kunta, what do you think?" Kunta replied in a deep voice: "The blade is too light, the edge is too brittle, the spine lacks sufficient iron content, and the connection between the handle and the blade is weak—judging solely from the perspective of a sword, this sword is barely passable and should be an ordinary knight's sword that can be found in any blacksmith shop on the street"

"Here is a letter of mine, recommending you to teach at Dongsheng Academy, one of the five major academies on the mainland." The master took out a magical letter, and Ge Zheng silently accepted it along with the book. Although he did not wish to teach, he felt it was impolite to decline the master's kind offer. As for whether he would actually go to Dongsheng Academy, that would be decided later.

Ge Zheng's alchemy fundamentally reflects the essence of Chinese elixir-making. Therefore, it is only natural to believe that the harmonious blending of water and fire, along with the balance of hardness and softness, represents the true path of dual attributes. Coupled with the ancient Chinese philosophy of the two principles, where yin contains yang and yang harbors yin, creating a knight's sword that possesses both water and fire attributes is not a difficult task

As he looked up, he realized that he had unconsciously walked to the entrance of a shop. Looking up, he saw the sign that read: Uncle Hans's Alchemy Shop. Ge Zheng was overjoyed and hurried inside: "Boss, do you have Black Ze Nine Seed Grass, Split Tooth Fish Dragon Eyes, and Rhinoceros Head Mad Snake Gallbladder?"

At that moment, someone rushed into the store, exclaiming loudly: "Uncle Hans, please help me figure out how to solve this problem." A well-dressed young man with brown hair hurried in, holding a piece of paper. Upon seeing the paper, the shopkeeper Hans could only smile wryly and said: "Young Master Bomos, there's no need to look at it; you are not the first person to bring this problem to me. I can only tell you that I am powerless to help. If you could persuade the seventh-level alchemist from the lord's mansion to intervene, there might still be hope..."

Although this warrior was quite rude, Bomos did not dare to retaliate. The gentleman inside was one of the top ten alchemists in the entire continent, a mentor in the Alchemy Department of the Eastern Victory Academy, one of the five major academies on the continent, and a twelfth-level alchemist, Thomas Aquinas. He was only a step away from the inhuman craftsman Paracelsus.

Aquinas did not wish to attract attention during this visit, so the residence was quite simple both inside and out. Kunta had brought Bomos inside, where Master Aquinas, dressed in plain clothes, was waiting for him. Beside the master sat his student, who was also one of his attendants, the level 8 alchemist Esge. On the table in front of the master lay the knight's sword, which possessed both water and fire attributes.

When he left, Paracelsus gave him a bag of gold coins. Although it was only one bag, it contained more than two hundred coins. This would be enough for him to spend for a while

Bomos's carriage stopped in front of an inconspicuous building within the city. He stepped down from the carriage holding a box, and at the entrance stood a warrior clad in black armor. As the warrior lowered his spear, he blocked Bomos's path.

Ge Zheng had already donned a loose alchemical robe resembling a cloak, with a badge hanging from it, making him appear less out of place in this world. Therefore, the soldiers at the city gate did not make things difficult for him; they merely pointed to a nearby magical box and said, "The entry tax is two gold coins"

Merging two completely different attributes into a single weapon is undoubtedly rare

The magic box can only be opened by the count himself. If anyone else attempts to forcibly open the box and take the gold inside, the self-destruction magic will be activated, shattering both the box and the violent intruder.

Ge Zheng watched from the side and finally spoke up, "If I help you solve this problem, what reward can I expect?" Bomos was delighted and looked at Ge Zheng, who was standing nearby. Ge Zheng appropriately wiped his Level 6 Alchemist badge. Bomos looked on with envy; a Level 6 Alchemist was only one rank lower than the esteemed individual in the lord's mansion. Hope reignited in his heart, and he quickly performed a standard noble bow: "Esteemed Alchemist, if you can assist me in solving this problem, I am willing to pay you 200 gold coins as a reward." Bomos looked on with envy; a Level 6 Alchemist was only one rank lower than the esteemed individual in the lord's mansion. Hope reignited in his heart, and he quickly performed a standard noble bow: "Esteemed Alchemist, if you can assist me in solving this problem, I am willing to pay you 200 gold coins as a reward."

As soon as Ge Zheng left, a group of soldiers surrounded him. "Hehe, I knew the alchemist was wealthy. You're really clever, Little Dick. The entrance tax was originally one silver coin, but you immediately raised it to two gold coins. That fool actually obediently took out a gold coin..."

To the south are monsters, and to the north are fat insects. The Liusu Mountain Range has immediately become a paradise for adventurers. At the northern foothills of the Liusu Mountain Range, a small town gradually formed. Due to the large number of adventurers, conflicts often arose over the spoils from the mountains. Consequently, the merchants in the town formed an alliance and elected a president to arbitrate various disputes

During these three years, it was not solely Professor Paracelsus who taught Ge Zheng alchemy; Ge Zheng also imparted some techniques of other sects' alchemical arts to Paracelsus. With his profound expertise, Paracelsus naturally grasped the concepts with ease. Over these three years, he has greatly benefited, yet he has not yet had the opportunity to fully digest the new knowledge acquired. Once he calms his mind and diligently researches and summarizes his findings, surpassing the Dragon Alchemist will be within reach.

Bomos has already started to sweat on his forehead: "I will go back to prepare..." "No need, I have all the materials here, you can forge it right here."

The Cloak of the Goddess of Wisdom possesses a life-like intelligence, just as its name suggests. Ge Zheng stepped out of the blue membrane, feeling a noticeable stickiness on his body. He turned back with a chuckle and patted the light blue membrane, saying, "You can't bear to part with me either? Don't worry, I will definitely come back to see you all."

Kunta's strength had reached the level of a ninth-tier warrior. Coupled with his tall stature, he effortlessly lifted Bomos as if an eagle were catching a chick. Bomos, pale with fear, managed to remain relatively calm and quickly said to his attendant: "There is no need to worry; it must be Teacher Aquina looking for me regarding something. You wait for me here..." As Kunta turned a corner, the attendant could no longer see the young master.

Even the equations commonly used on the mainland may have alternative solutions. Paracelsus said, "Ge, you must remember this." An equation is a riddle, and everyone arrives at a different answer.

After being labeled as foolish by others, Ge Zheng internally awarded the title of Best Fool of Wangshan City to the lord of the city: placing a box at the city gate that cannot be opened by others does not mean that it can prevent subordinates from embezzling. In fact, with a slight modification, by adding a monitoring spell and combining two types of magic into a single magical item, it would be easy to supervise subordinates, ensuring that the lord's gold coins do not end up in the soldiers' pockets

Young Master Bomos expressed his disappointment openly, forgetting to thank Uncle Hans, and left in a dejected manner

Ge Zheng smiled and placed a gold coin in the soldier's hand. The soldier waved his hand, allowing him to enter the city

Kunta entered with the box and soon came out. Bomos, with a smiling face, was about to speak when Kunta suddenly lifted him up and turned to walk back inside. Bomos's attendant shouted: "Young Master!"

The difficulty of this problem is extraordinary; even an eighth-level alchemist may not be able to solve it. Indeed, once this question was posed, it obstructed all those who were "seeking knowledge." Master Aquinas finally had the leisure to attend to the matters he had truly come to the mountain city for.

Aquino nodded: "Indeed, a divine artifact." He waved the knight's sword in his hand: "This fragile divine artifact—this sword is probably not even capable of withstanding the weight of a full strike from Kunta. Although it merges two opposing elements, it does not depict any magical formations and cannot unleash the powerful dual-element magic. However, it has indeed achieved the standard of a divine artifact by merging two opposing magical elements." Aquino smiled gently, weighing the longsword in his hand: "This is probably the most useless divine artifact in the entire Star Refining world..."

Esger withdrew his gaze from the disappearing figure of Bomos at the corner: "Teacher, I never expected that within the small city of Wangshan, there would truly be someone capable of answering this difficult question." Aquinas's expression was serious as he handed the sword to him: "Take another look."

"Uncle Hans, could you please take a look?" Young Master Bomos said politely. Old Hans took the paper, and indeed, it was the same question: "How to endow a knight's longsword with dual attributes—this is a profound alchemical problem. I apologize, Young Master Bomos, but I am truly powerless. As I mentioned earlier, unless you can persuade that esteemed individual from the city lord's mansion to intervene, no one in Mount Hope City can solve this problem."

Esge swung his sword, infusing it with a bit of magical power, and immediately a curtain of water flew out from the blade, followed by a firebird. Esge was taken aback: "Water and fire attributes! This is impossible..."

This desert initially had no name, but later, as the value of the fat worms increased exponentially, it came to be known as the Fat Worm Desert

Ge Zheng stuck out his tongue. One magic crystal coin could be exchanged for one hundred gold coins, one gold coin for one hundred silver coins, and one silver coin for one hundred copper coins. Ten thousand magic crystal coins were equivalent to one million gold coins, and that could only buy one gram. To gather enough for Dou Dou's daily consumption, it would probably take selling an entire small principality to cover it

The guard noticed his hesitation, beckoned with his finger, and said softly: "We can let you in privately for just one gold coin, but it doesn't need to be placed in the box."

A tall and thin elderly man stood behind the counter. Ge Zheng had a strong voice and spoke loudly. Upon hearing him, the old man Hans was immediately frightened and hurriedly stepped out from behind the counter, pushing Ge Zheng out: "Sir, you should go to the big cities on the mainland to have a look. This is just Wangshan City, and it is impossible for legendary alchemical materials to appear in such a small town."

Although I have not fully understood what the product derived from the other approach is, the successful work has already demonstrated that Ge Zheng's alternative method is also correct. Ge Zheng said: "Sir, I now understand the words you spoke to me three years ago: the joy of alchemy lies in this!"

Really?" Bomos was overjoyed, and Master Aquinas nodded with a smile. Given his status, he could not possibly deceive Bomos. Filled with great anticipation of entering the Eastern Victory Academy, Bomos happily went out to look for Ge Zheng, even forgetting the basic courtesy of bidding farewell to the master.

"Not bad, the impossible has actually been accomplished. Moreover, I cannot even discern how it was done," Master Aquinas said solemnly. Esger was even more astonished: "How is it that even you, Master, cannot see through the mystery of this sword?"

The southeastern side of the Liusu Mountain Range faces the sea, while the northwestern side is inland. The mountains are high and steep, firmly blocking the moist sea breeze at the southern foothills. This side of the slope is densely vegetated, and a narrow plain near the coast is particularly rich in resources, teeming with magical creatures. In contrast, the inland area, deprived of the nourishing sea breeze, remains arid throughout the year, forming a small desert region. Although the desert is dry, it produces a type of succulent sand worm known as the "Fat Worm," which can be sold for three gold coins per kilogram of fresh specimens on the continent, making it a delicacy on noble tables.

Bomos adjusted his clothing slightly and performed a standard noble greeting: "Greetings, Master." Aquinas nodded and smiled faintly, acknowledging the gesture, and pointed to the knight's sword on the table, asking, "Did you make this?" Bomos, feeling pressured, replied, "Indeed, I did." "Then please help me forge another longsword like this one."

... ...

Young Master Bomos thought to himself, if only I could persuade that person to take action, would I still need to come to you for assistance with the books

Bomos ordered someone to bring a beautifully decorated long box, in which he carefully wrapped the unsheathed knight's sword in silk cloth and set off in high spirits. Ge Zheng received his payment and also left on his own accord.

Bomos respectfully invited Ge Zheng back home, and according to Ge Zheng's instructions, prepared the materials and the laboratory. In just two hours, Ge Zheng handed a knight's one-handed sword with both water and fire attributes to Bomos.

The Star Refining World consists of three continents: the Southern Starry Field Continent, the Eastern Star River Continent, and the Northern Starry Sky Continent. Paracelsus's cabin is situated on the southeastern foothills of the Willow Mountain range in the southeastern part of the Starry Sky Continent, facing the Eastern Star River Continent across the sea

Paracelsus possesses a fire attribute constitution, which is most suitable for becoming an alchemist. It was only after he became a master with a title that he began to integrate external elements, developing his secondary attribute: metal

When Ge Zheng crossed the Liusu Mountain Range and arrived at the foot of the desert city known as "Wangshan City," the title of Count of Wangshan had already passed through two generations. The current Count of Wangshan is Sterka Felkinson, the grandson of the former president.

Parting is always poignant. Ge Zheng has lived under the cloak of the goddess of wisdom for three years, developing feelings for every blade of grass and tree here. Despite his deep reluctance, he bid farewell to Paracelsus and Dou Dou with red-rimmed eyes. He must seek a way back to Earth, where his beloved and children await; he cannot keep them waiting too long. The first step is to recreate Dou Dou's summoning magic circle, for which he must find the following materials: half a bag of Heize Nine Seed Grass, at least one eye of a Cracked Tooth Fish Dragon, and two kilograms of Rhinoceros Head Frenzied Snake Gallbladder. These materials are exceedingly rare; even Paracelsus has only a limited stock, all of which has been squandered by Dou Dou.

After you leave, I also plan to travel across the Three Continents for a while. It has been decades since I last ventured out, and it is time for me to explore and visit old friends. I have brought all your works with me; your theories are profound, and having them greatly aids me in contemplating your ideas.

However, a typical alchemist only understands how to inscribe a magic circle on a single item. To inscribe two or more magic circles, one must possess at least the level of an eighth-tier alchemist. Of course, a monster like Ge Zheng cannot be measured by common standards

"The deal is settled, but you will provide the materials," Ge Zheng said. "No problem!"

Paracelsus laughed heartily, his thick white beard dancing in the sound of his laughter: "Albert, you old fox, you actually managed to create a dual-variable equation. It seems I still have some distance to cover to catch up with you. No, I must surpass you!"

Making money! The top priority now is to make money! Ge Zheng has never worried about financial matters, but suddenly needing such a large sum of money leaves him at a loss. Paracelsus has already left the Liusu Mountains, and it is unknown where he has wandered off to. Moreover, even if he could find him, would he really have to ask him for money? Making money is merely a goal, yet he has no idea how to achieve it.

In the Star Refining World, dual-attribute magical weapons are exceedingly rare. This presents an alchemical challenge that, in reality, requires at least an eighth-tier strength to resolve. Generally, the dual-attribute magical weapons in the Star Refining World are formed by two complementary attributes, such as gold and fire, or water and wood.

Ge Zheng's abilities are quite complex. Given that he can be compared to Paracelsus, he is certainly worthy of the title of a Master Alchemist. However, strictly in terms of alchemy, his level only qualifies him as a Level 7 Alchemist