Chapter 317: Stranger Full of Expectations
Stranger was very happy.
She didn't know how her companions were doing now, but she was certainly happy.
Because the guest she was receiving at the moment was completely beyond her expectations——
"Yes, I also believe that the Philosopher's Stone is impossible to obtain. It violates one of the essences of the Path of Balance, 'equal exchange', so it is actually a wrong goal."
A girl with long curly ocean-blue hair and a gentle face was sitting in a private room, chatting incessantly to the young man in front of her.
The young man looked more like a boy than a man. Even though he looked no longer young, perhaps even approaching or reaching thirty, he still had a shy and timid temperament.
He had messy short black hair and wore black-framed glasses. His clean demeanor made him look more like a scholar than an aristocrat, a style that was completely out of tune with the extravagance and decadence of the place.
"I think you're right!"
The young man was overjoyed, filled with the joy and excitement of having found a like-minded person. "Have you also studied alchemy? What do you think of 'technification'?"
"Technification" is a term used in alchemy. In the past, it was usually used in a pejorative sense.
Because alchemy is actually a very complex doctrine—it encompasses a wide range of approaches to understanding the world, including various philosophical concepts and methodologies. Specific alchemical formulas are even more self-contained, and everyone's understanding varies slightly... In most cases, alchemists tend to re-derive from basic principles, or completely analyze and thoroughly study others' formulas and then make them their own.
"Technicalization" refers to the teaching methods of alchemy instructors who are impatient due to mistakes, and teach apprentices too many alchemical formulas without thoroughly mastering the basic theories of alchemy.
This resulted in the apprentices having the recipes but not knowing the principles behind them, and were unable to effectively debug and improve them.
Thus, alchemy changed from a "doctrine of exploring truth" to a "technology of producing alchemical products". Therefore, in the mainstream thinking of alchemists, this behavior is undoubtedly harmful and utilitarian, and will even destroy the inheritance.
If such behavior is taken to extremes, it will eventually lead to only those "useful" formulas, or even the "most useful" formulas, being passed down. However, a seemingly useless formula may actually contain more mysteries and keys to truth.
But the Stranger said without hesitation, "The core power of the Path of Balance comes from completely analyzing [mystical knowledge] and transforming it into [conventional knowledge]. This process is what we call 'disenchantment.' Reproducing the various techniques and potions that only exist in myths and legends in reality is alchemy. It is a great doctrine that consumes and integrates the power of other paths, unifying them.
"There's no doubt that if there can only be one path in this world in the future, it will ultimately be the path of balance. I believe that the essence of 'technification' is to further demystify alchemy, transforming it into 'alchemical technology,' or 'alchemy.'
"This is indeed utilitarian, but it's not harmful. This is because this is one of the core concepts of the Path of Balance: using knowledge and methods to understand and transform the world, unifying the disordered into order—"
There was an extremely bright light in the stranger's eyes.
That is the light of intellect and truth.
The young man sitting opposite her was also trembling with excitement: "You're right! Oh my God, hourglass above - I didn't expect that the first person who completely understood me would be in Huyue Manor... No, I have to find a way to take you away..."
As he spoke, he called out to the outside: "Pomponazzi!"
“Here I come…”
A handsome young man, shaking a wine glass filled with blood, walked over with a smile: "How is it, Bashir, my friend? Are you satisfied with the girl I ordered?"
After he saw the two men's neat clothes, he was a little disappointed: "You just drank for two hours like this, and nothing happened?"
"What are you talking about, you idiot," Bashir Valentine said somewhat dissatisfiedly, "This is a respectable lady! She can fully understand my ideas, and some of her views are even more advanced than mine.
"I say, Pomponazzi... How can I take her away? I think the Twelve Keys need her!"
"You like her so much?"
The Son of the Moon, known as Pomponazzi, was somewhat surprised.
He looked at the stranger and asked, "What's your number?"
"I'm number 23."
Stranger replied.
"23," Valentine exclaimed. "An odd number, a prime number. Just like your unique nature."
He looked at his noble friend eagerly, and Pomponazzi felt a little nauseous.
"Okay, the number 23 isn't expensive. I'll buy it for you as a birthday present. If you don't stay here tonight, just take her away."
Pomponazzi's eyes fixed on the stranger, and his pupils instantly turned bright red.
He sensed the emotions and thoughts in the stranger's heart, and raised the corner of his mouth in satisfaction - he did not sense any conspiracy or scheming in it, only strong respect and excitement.
So he casually said, "It's about time for you to get married and start a family - if you don't mind that she was once a blood servant."
"I've already said that I only treat her as a friend and confidant—"
Valentine blushed and yelled, "I just wanted to pull her into my 'Twelve Keys'!"
Stranger opened his eyes wide and looked at everything in front of him intently.
Compared to the promotion mission, being able to personally meet and chat with the young Valentine I face to face - she thought this was a more precious and rare experience.
There is no alchemist in the universe who does not revere Valentine I.
It was his "Twelve Keys" organization that selflessly transformed alchemy from a privileged aristocracy into something accessible to all—the so-called path to truth. It was also because of his advocacy of establishing a nation based on alchemy that the Star Antimony Kingdom, which had been granted only the smallest and least fertile piece of land after the Sundering War, was able to annex its once powerful and prosperous neighbors.
Time has proven that they were right, and the man before them is the great man who brought them truth and victory.
——As long as the method is right, any mortal can become a god.
This was the idea proposed by Valentine I.
Even the high and mighty Celestial Gods and Pillar Gods may not be irreplaceable.
There are no inevitable taboos or impossible things in this world. Everything is about taking a step forward. And then another step forward.
There is nothing in this world that humans cannot do. All humans are like stars. When night falls, the stars can illuminate the earth.
It was precisely because of this idea that the people of Xingti gathered under his banner.
It was undoubtedly a surprise to meet my idol, and it was even more surprising to complete the task so easily.
But at this moment, the stranger suddenly remembered something -
This mission requires two people to complete.
So she subconsciously said: "But, I..."
...I have a friend, can I take him or her with me?
As soon as this thought came into her mind, she felt hesitant.
Pomponazzi, with his crimson eyes, turned around and asked, "Hmm? What's going on?"
“…No, it’s okay.”
Stranger's mind raced, and he gave up the idea of convincing the financier to buy his companion as well.
This was a bit too much. Even if everything in front of her was just a lie, she didn't want her idol, Valentine I, to think she was greedy.
They can probably solve the problem themselves, Stranger thought.
——If I really lived in this era, how great it would be if I could really add the twelve keys of Valentine I. She thought.
Rather than that, she should exchange more alchemy experiences with the other party.
Even though the other party possesses alchemical concepts that are hundreds of years behind, and alchemical technology has been developing rapidly every year in recent years... but as smart as he is, he will surely be able to gain inspiration from these new technologies and find some inspiration.
As it happens, the armed gargoyles developed by Stranger still have one technical difficulty to overcome - these gargoyles, which can deflect spells but are relatively fragile, cannot cast spells themselves. So how can they cause effective damage from a safe enough distance?
It was to solve this problem that he took up the Path of Balance part-time and taught himself alchemy. But now, even though his alchemy skills were nearly reaching the third level, he still couldn't solve the problem. His best strategy at the moment was still to use various alchemical potions... but that was quite costly.
Perhaps this founding monarch of the Star Antimony Kingdom can bring some technological inspiration to today's Star Antimony.
The stranger was full of anticipation.
(End of this chapter)
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