Chapter 51 The Great Alchemist’s Library

Chapter 51: 51 The Great Alchemist’s Library

51

The Great Alchemist’s Library

The library seemed to have no end.

The bookshelves stretched along both sides until they disappeared into the distant darkness. Ancient books occupied every available space, some protected by aged leather covers while others were sealed.

The books contained spiritual formations. There were also rolled-up scrolls, jade tablets, and volumes so ancient that they seemed ready to crumble at the slightest touch.

No one dared to advance too quickly.

After the first trial on the first floor, everyone had learned that the mausoleum did not reward recklessness.

The child walked calmly several meters ahead, his small footsteps echoing across the floor.

"Do not touch the books recklessly."

Zhao Ming looked at him.

"Why? Aren’t the books here to be read?"

The child turned his head.

"Some books bite. If you want to test them, go ahead at your own risk."

Zhao Ming fell silent, while Luo Xin’s eyes widened.

"Books that can bite? What kind of absurdity is that?"

The child nodded seriously.

"Some of them really do possess that ability."

She paused briefly before continuing to walk.

Luo Xin looked at Su Meilin.

"He’s joking, isn’t he?"

Su Meilin watched the child.

"I’m not sure."

Zhao Ming snorted.

"If a book tries to bite me, I’ll burn it."

The child stopped.

He slowly turned around.

"You can try."

The childish smile disappeared.

"But be prepared to face the consequences."

Zhao Ming did not answer.

That place possessed dangers that did not depend on cultivation strength.

Yun Che remained silent.

Ever since entering the library, he had felt a pressure different from killing intent, something subtler.

Every book seemed to contain a small amount of spiritual energy, as if countless pieces of knowledge were sleeping within the bookshelves.

Guo Han walked slowly, his eyes scanning the titles.

"A Treatise on the Essence of Spiritual Herbs..."

He advanced a few steps.

"The Theory of the Seven Purifications..."

Then he found another.

"Fundamentals of Medicinal Condensation..."

His expression became increasingly serious.

This was not an ordinary library.

Even the books on the first few shelves contained knowledge that would be valuable outside this place.

Su Meilin had noticed the same thing.

"This is truly better than several spiritual crystal mines. There is so much knowledge about alchemy. Can we read these books?"

Guo Han looked at her.

"This is truly impressive. Isn’t alchemical knowledge priceless?"

"Look."

She pointed toward a bookshelf.

The books were organized into categories, but some positions were empty.

"They’re separated."

Guo Han approached.

"Theory, identification, purification, fusion..."

Chen Ruyue completed the list:

"Herb processing."

Lian Yue looked around.

"Then are we supposed to find something specific?"

The child answered from a distance:

"Finally, someone with a functioning brain."

Lian Yue did not react to the provocation.

"What is the trial this time?"

The child turned around.

"Do you really want to know?"

Everyone became attentive when the child smiled.

"Find the answer yourselves. It’s no fun if I explain everything, don’t you think? If you truly consider yourselves alchemists, this should be the bare minimum."

Zhao Ming clenched his teeth.

"This damned child really likes making things difficult."

Guo Han ignored the comment and began searching. Everyone spread out among the bookshelves.

The first problem appeared when a jade tablet appeared on a table. It contained an incomplete description of a pill.

There was no name or formula, only the desired effects and three symptoms caused by incorrect preparation.

Guo Han was the first to examine it.

"Does this really count as a question? Or should we regard it as some kind of riddle?"

The child replied:

"Just a question. Do I look like I enjoy riddles? I’d rather get rid of something so boring."

Guo Han continued reading.

"The pill must increase the stability of spiritual energy during a cultivation breakthrough."

Chen Ruyue approached.

"Then it probably involves stabilizing herbs."

"Probably, yes, but..."

Guo Han touched his chin.

"But the symptoms indicate that there is another problem."

Su Meilin read the inscription.

"Excess medicinal energy."

Guo Han nodded.

"If the essence isn’t refined properly, the cultivator would suffer a reaction during the breakthrough."

Zhao Ming crossed his arms.

"Then just reduce the amount of the main herb."

Guo Han looked at him.

"Not exactly."

"Why not?"

"Because the problem isn’t necessarily the quantity."

Guo Han pointed at the inscription.

"It’s the relationship between the ingredients."

Zhao Ming fell silent.

Chen Ruyue began analyzing the effects.

"Perhaps we need to change the order of fusion."

Guo Han looked at her.

"It is possible, if you look at it through reversal."

Su Meilin continued reading.

"It won’t work."

Everyone looked at her as she pointed toward a sentence.

"It says here that the problem occurred even when the fusion order was correct. That presupposes that reversal was already applied."

Guo Han narrowed his eyes.

"Then the order isn’t the variable."

Su Meilin nodded.

"We need to find another method that can actually make sense of the resistant formula while solving its flaws."

Yun Che watched from a distance without interfering. They really knew what they were doing. They were not simply trying to guess the answers.

Each of them analyzed the problem differently. Guo Han searched for theoretical relationships, while Chen Ruyue observed the properties of the herbs.

Su Meilin searched for inconsistencies in the description itself. Zhao Ming tried to find a practical solution, while Lian Yue observed the others and only spoke when she was certain.

Yun Che turned his eyes toward the bookshelves. The information in the trial was incomplete.

The mausoleum wanted them to find the necessary knowledge within the books. He walked toward a nearby section and scanned the titles.

Dozens of books and basic descriptions were quickly analyzed by the system, consuming Lust Points.

"Theory of Stability..."

"Essence Purification..."

"Interaction Between Medicinal Properties..."

Then he stopped.

One small book was separated from the others.

Yun Che took it down.

End of Chapter 51 The Great Alchemist’s Library

Next Chapter later today.