Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 666: Alex’s Rune-Tech Alchemy II

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The [Zaxan's Transmutation] formations successfully transmuted the substitute essences into the desired ones. However, the purity of these resulting essences left Alex feeling rather unsatisfied.

Their purity had diminished from an approximate 99% down to around 93%.

For the majority of alchemists, such a purity level would have been more than acceptable—even outstanding. Yet, for Alex, who had spent a significant portion of his crafting career utilizing AetherKindle and had become accustomed to an almost absolute, near-perfect purity, this was simply not good enough.

Acting in accordance with its master's will, the AetherKindle splinter within the cauldron surged into the containment formations, resembling a furious dragon.

Its potent flames incinerated the contained essences, reducing any impurity foolish enough to remain to mere ashes.

AetherKindle moved from one containment formation chamber to another, like a divine judgment sweeping through, leaving only purity and refinement in its wake.

Although this particular step consumed an additional hour or so of Alex's time, he did not mind in the slightest.

Only when the purity percentage in even the lowest performing formation chambers had been elevated to 99% did he proceed to the subsequent stage.

Adhering to the exact sequence and proportions detailed in the modified formula created by Eleanore, Alex initiated the process of coalescing the refined essences into a pill.

At this juncture, the intense struggle occurring within the cauldron finally became discernible to those observing from the outside.

The cauldron vibrated intensely as Alex forcefully merged the various ingredient essences, generating a perilous surge of pressure and energy inside.

The tremors were so severe that anyone might have reasonably expected the cauldron to explode, or at the very least, for its lid to be blown off.

However, at that precise moment, enigmatic glyphs, previously unknown to both Lady Rosa Mercier and Dalton Asheton, illuminated the cauldron's surface.

These glyphs flowed across the vessel like living chains, encircling it as if physically restraining the lid from coming loose.

Indeed, they became so densely packed that they appeared to be the sole force preventing the cauldron from disintegrating entirely.

Subsequently, vents materialized along the cauldron's sides, releasing high-pressure jets of steam that carried away the residual impurities and their remnants, which had somehow evaded even the flames of AetherKindle.

Surprisingly, however, the escaping vapor lacked any discernible medicinal aroma.

Lady Rosa's eyes narrowed sharply.

This could only signify one thing: none of the medicinal efficacy of the substance being crafted within had escaped with the steam.

'Could he be attempting to create a perfect potion?'

Her eyes widened slightly upon this realization.

Even Dalton, who possessed minimal knowledge of crafting, let alone alchemy, could sense that something extraordinary was unfolding.

Beads of sweat began to appear with increasing frequency on Alex's temples.

It was evident even to the onlookers that he was facing a significant challenge. Yet, the young man persevered, employing his formidable Spiritual Force to maintain absolute control.

Then, abruptly—

Dark clouds began to gather overhead in the garden.

Alex's eyes flew open as he gazed upward towards the sky.

While Dalton and Rosa watched in stunned silence, Alex—and surprisingly, Zora—remained composed. By this point, Alex was hardly a stranger to tribulation clouds.

Alas, it seemed that just as he had grown familiar with tribulation clouds, they too were acquainted with him.

Lightning flickered ominously within the clouds for a brief moment. However, just as it was poised to strike—as if it had momentarily peered below to ascertain the cause of the disturbance—the lightning abruptly receded, and the clouds started to disperse.

'What is happening? This is not how the sequence is supposed to unfold,' Alex blinked several times, a look of confusion on his face.

'Hey, come back! How is my pill supposed to achieve its zenith if it doesn't undergo rebirth through your lightning?!'

Regardless of Alex's internal protests, the natural order paid him no heed. The clouds simply retreated, vanishing like a fleeting mirage.

Eventually, the final product materialized silently within the cauldron.

Alex shook his head, a sigh of disappointment escaping him.

Only then did he turn around, finally acknowledging the presence of his previously unnoticed guests.

"Did the refinement fail?" Lady Rosa inquired, a note of concern evident in her voice as she observed his expression.

"Oh, no." Alex swiftly shook his head. "It was just that..."

He was about to explain that the source of his disappointment was actually the tribulation clouds' refusal to strike. However, a deadly glare from Zora—unseen by their guests—immediately silenced him.

"You know what? Never mind. The refinement was a success," he amended his statement instantly.

The withering stare vanished, and Zora's impeccably professional smile reappeared.

Alex inwardly let out a breath of relief.

Truthfully, so did Zora.

The phenomenon known as the Heavenly Tribulation was widely feared across all realms, a terrifying event that commanded both awe and dread from most cultivators. However, Alex, an exceptionally unreasonable craftsman, had weathered this ordeal more times in his young life than even the most legendary or epic figures would in their entire existence.

He had, over time, grown both accustomed to and desensitized by the terror and reverence it inspired. This was especially true after he had successfully endured the tribulation of the Trial of Elements and reaped the considerable boons that followed.

Alex's perspective had undergone a significant transformation.

Instead of dwelling on the torment of tribulation lightning, his thoughts now naturally gravitated towards the rewards that awaited him after survival—a reaction that was, by any conventional measure, quite abnormal.

Even though his wives and companions had become somewhat desensitized to Alex’s distinctive brand of unwavering resolve, often termed 'Calm Madness,' he understood the importance of not openly displaying such eccentricities in front of strangers.

"Did you bring the statues?" Alex inquired.

"Yes, we did," Lady Rosa confirmed with a nod. "Three of them," she added.

The BattleBanes could only ascertain that the statues contained a form of divine energy affiliated with the deity venerated by the monster groups. They lacked the means to precisely quantify the amount of divine power held within each artifact.

Given that the monster tribes themselves were not particularly massive, they did not anticipate the statues to hold an overwhelming concentration of divine energy.

To ensure they had sufficient, they opted to bring more than a single statue.

After all, their assumption was that these statues would serve a purpose in their own healing, as divine statues were generally considered ineffective for anyone other than the deity to whom they were consecrated.

"Excellent. We shall require them for the subsequent phase of refinement," Alex stated.

Zora beckoned to a nearby Fury Knight.

"Kindly bring forth the statues our guests have provided," Alex directed. "Additionally, arrange for the tub and the barrels I set aside to be fetched."

The Fury Knight offered a salute and promptly departed to fulfill the instructions.

Within a few minutes, the necessary arrangements were complete.

The wooden tub was significantly larger than Dalton Asheton and Lady Rosa Mercier had anticipated.

Its dimensions were such that even the colossal forms of Mogal or Kavakan could have comfortably bathed within it.

As for the divine statues themselves, they were, as expected, aesthetically unappealing.

In truth, describing them as merely 'ugly' would be an understatement; they were outright grotesque. Their contorted shapes appeared unsettling on their own, but the divine energy emanating from them intensified the sense of repulsion, making it almost instinctual.

It served as a stark reminder of the profound differences in aesthetic preferences between humans and monsters.

Alex arranged the statues around the tub, forming a triangular formation.

Subsequently, barrel after barrel of a pale golden liquid was poured into the tub until it was completely filled.

Alex stood before it, his gaze fixed intently on the golden liquid within.

His eyes blazed with an intensity so fierce that Lady Rosa involuntarily took a step back.

Alex's hands moved with remarkable speed, executing a series of intricate hand seals while murmuring what sounded like unintelligible sounds.

Well, to be precise, it wasn't gibberish.

He was actually reciting a song in the English language.

Unfortunately for every individual present, not a single person among them could comprehend a single word of his song.

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