Chapter 1608 - 827: The Future and the Present (2)

"Then I can give you a little red ball and laugh at the clown."

Ji Jue rolled his eyes and chose not to speak further.

Expecting ivory from this old dog, there's clearly something wrong with my brain.

He waved his hand and stood up to leave.

After reaching the doorway, he turned back again, snatched up the fruit platter on the table, and carried it away—he came here, how could he leave empty-handed?

Do you even understand the fruit you're eating?

After leaving a gesture of blessing, he turned around and departed.

Then, half an hour later at the Association's award ceremony, he once again saw that detestable face.

"Young one, keep it up."

The Heavenly Furnace extended a hand, patting the dog's head with a smile in front of everyone, "Keep striving, don't slack off."

Then, under everyone's witness, he placed a purple-gold crown of glory upon Ji Jue's head.

Ji Jue had to squeeze out a smile to show gratitude and modesty. As for accidentally stepping on the Great Grandmaster's foot during the photo session, it was purely accidental, the kid is still young, don't take it too hard.

Amid the snap of the shutter, a brand new record was born.

Within two years, he became a craftsman; within two years, he became a master; and within a month of becoming a master, he claimed the first crown of glory with undeniable results and achievements.

Like a rocket soaring high, Ji Jue has since become the representative of the new record in the Association, the dream of many contemporaries, and the target all apprentices and craftsmen look up to.

Unfortunately...

"It doesn't feel real."

Ji Jue fiddled with the crown of glory in his hand, weighing it for a moment, completely indifferent.

With this, Master Ji would henceforth be one of the notable figures in the present world, transforming from the hottest topic of Ember to a respected figure in a region, and a leading figure of the Association. From here on, he wouldn't need to bow in greeting even when meeting the Federation President or the Emperor; everyone must treat him with courtesy.

If Master Zhou were to see this thing, his eyes would surely be moist, with little pearls rolling down on the spot.

When seeing Lou Feng again, he'd observe the clear respect in his demeanor, calling out 'Master' across the thick barrier between good friends.

But alas, the salted fish lazy bug is not here, having preemptively blocked him... However, it doesn't matter, he can narrate to her personally, showing her the 4K recording of the on-site ceremony so she can learn frame by frame, understanding Master Ji's towering personality and noble spirit.

Yet ultimately, tossing the crown of glory back and forth, it still felt ordinary.

Upon regaining his senses, the ceremony had already ended, and he was once again strolling in Tianshu Square.

He lifted his head and saw the towering monument.

Compared to his own humble achievements, truly sublime results.

Even if once mocked by the Heavenly Furnace, he couldn't help but begin pondering how far his achievements were from such magnificent creations.

The gap is utterly vast and distant.

Surprisingly, he did not feel despondent.

Even in the long night, Tianshu remains bright, and when he raises his head, from the monument's reflection he can glimpse once more that ray of light descending from the heavens.

To this day, he still finds it hard to believe: despite meeting only once, someone can so firmly believe in his future and make guarantees for him...

And even now, the blessings and expectations from the forerunner still linger around him.

He lowered his head and gazed at the crown of glory in his hand.

In the reforging of Alchemy, that splendid crown silently dissolved, a stream of luminous light flowed and transformed, eventually taking the form of a flower, emitting a faint glow.

Lightly, he placed it in front of the monument.

Even now, he still couldn't predict the future, perhaps he will continue to struggle between presence and absence, perhaps this world would remain hard to favor...

But in life, one must make something of themselves, right?

"Moving forward, the future is too far-reaching, old lady."

He softly bade farewell, "Let's start from now."

.

The following day, the Taiyi Ring Association officially announced to all craftsmen.

The new theory proposed by the newly crowned Master of Glory Ji Jue—"Three-phase Alchemy" has been completed registration and verification. After the council vote, it was approved and is stored in the grand library.

From now on, Three Phases and One System will be recognized by the Association as the orthodox of Ember, to be handed down in the present world.

At the same time, under the request and permission of Master Ji Jue, the basic theory and introductory approach of Three-phase Alchemy have been thoroughly opened up for access.

All apprentices can spend a moderately priced amount of points to freely read and study, and any creations arising from it, as long as they meet the Association's demands and specifications, won't require payment of any related patent fees.

Once the news broke, it triggered severe upheaval, inevitably leading to unexpected chain reactions for Ji Jue himself: Many major factions and legacies were forced to start internally competing in the dogfight, gradually opening up their foundational theories, reluctantly accepting apprentices and vying for discourse rights...

There were those who disparaged, those who detested and resisted, and those who cheered for it.

Yet regardless of the facade, covert actions were uniformly aligned...

Secretly donning disguises, and on a dark and windy night, opening the Three-phase Alchemy page and clicking the pay-to-download button.

Forget about everything else, let's just taste it first!

.

.

"Ambitions high, achievements difficult."

In the Valley of Abyss pierced by immense cracks, the Craftsman Grandmaster glanced down at the book manuscript in his hand before the Melting Furnace: "Back when I was an apprentice, someone often told me—Argument is akin to raising a person, theory is like its spirit.

Well-seen and familiar, as long as one reads the manuscript and theories, they generally can discern most of it."

"Like this: Seemingly humble, actually arrogant; seemingly inclusive, actually solitary... Three Phases Flow and transition, outwardly serene and moderate, but actually dividing the main theme into three, fusing them into one, interchangeably reversing primary and secondary, advancing recklessly fierce.

To walk out of such a grand path with the same fierce and evil spirit as Zhi Fu, yet it bears the beauty of the Heavenly Furnace, a genius of Ember.

Regardless of future achievements, this single-minded persistence itself surpasses countless mediocrity."

Elder Anvil glanced down, after scanning past the manuscript in hand, he tossed the paper he held down, "You all should learn it, if you can acquire some of that 'who else but me' spirit, with time, you'll become a severe threat to the world."

Amid the silence, those listening with lowered heads looked at each other, finding it hard to discern whether the Craftsman Grandmaster's remarks were praise or criticism, commendation or disdain.

The leading student hesitated for a moment, still wanting to speak, when he saw Elder Anvil's gesture, dared not speak further, bowed and rose, leading the group to leave.

The hall returned to darkness.

Elder Anvil lowered his head, his gaze seemingly lost in the void, direction unknown.

Only the Flame Light from the Melting Furnace behind rose, casting a gigantic shadow on the ground.

And in the center of the shadow, a strikingly large gap appeared. Through that gap, the Flame Light from the Melting Furnace rose, flowing and changing, like an Invisible heart throbbing in waves.

A mixed and indistinct sound surged from the Flame Light.

The green flame shone through the gap in his chest, illuminating the hall, at some point, transforming into striking scarlet.

The thick blood-like color expanded constantly within the confines of the gap, colliding, as if eternally burning in pain and struggle, forcefully shouting, cursing and lamenting.

"...What's the rush? How long has it been?"

Elder Anvil shook his head, "If it doesn't succeed once, then just try again; having touched the realm of the immortal, why not wait a while?"

The blood fire rushed, amidst the muddled echo from the Melting Furnace emerging once more.

"Bei Gong's vessel has fallen, this time the deception is now impossible, so why cling to it?"

Unconcerned, Elder Anvil looked down at the scattered manuscripts on the ground, suddenly, chuckled lightly: "Moreover, isn't there a vessel superior to Bei Gong already near at hand?"

In the dead silence, no sound remained.

Only the blood-colored Flame Light within the Melting Furnace flowed silently.

Like a longing gaze cast into the earthly realm from the vast abyss.

Waiting for the day to return once more!