Huang Di was welcomed by Merlin, who invited him inside. They sat facing each other, and Huang Di began to voice his doubts:
“Merlin, actually, I need your help. I require a suitable place to meditate for a while on a personal matter, and the concealment formation I’ve been using is currently active. I need to create another one… or perhaps borrow one. Can you help me?”
Merlin, with a smile, replied:
“It seems your ‘pet’ needs more help than you do. Clever of you.”
Upon hearing this, Huang Di nearly spat out the tea Merlin had offered him. Not wanting to appear rude, he swallowed the remainder. Merlin, noticing the reaction, chuckled and took a sip of his own tea.
“Boy, do not be naive. Nothing happens in this small land that I and my comrades do not know. When you reach our level of power, you will realize that we can observe everything happening here in real time. There was only one moment when I could not see your battle with the Aracne”, a generic name given to that species of beast, “and do not worry about that; it was precisely when you fainted. Apparently, a force interfered with my perception, preventing me from seeing what came afterward. But as soon as you awoke, I could see again. Strange, isn’t it?”
Huang Di was surprised by so many revelations. He concluded that Sai Hu must be far more powerful than the other elders of the city, who were already extremely formidable. This indicated her power was on an entirely different level. If they were among the strongest in the mortal realm…, what level would she be at? Or better yet, from which realm had she come? And if she was connected to his mother, which realm would his mother hail?
Just one sentence from Merlin sparked many questions and theories within Huang Di.
After a long silence, Merlin continued:
“No need to answer. These are but the ramblings of an old fool. Do not concern yourself with my theories; I am merely thinking aloud, hahaha.”
Snapping out of his reverie, Huang Di replied:
“Yes… I do not know what happened when I fainted either. I woke with my wounds healed. I believe something miraculous occurred at that moment. As for the formations… can you help me with something?”
Merlin listened attentively, clearly a little disappointed at the lack of a concrete answer, but understanding, nonetheless.
“Do not worry. Actually, I can help in both ways. For I believe in the fisherman’s parable: if you give a man the ability to fish for his own catch, he will never ask for fish again. So, tell me… what do you know about runes?”
Huang Di, listening carefully, answered:
“Very little, actually. Only that they are an ancient magical language, widely used in the creation of treasures, items, and equipment with special properties, ranging from power amplification to elemental control and other functions.”
Merlin nodded.
“Yes, runes may be used in those ways, but they also have applications in alchemy, zoology… the uses are vast. For example, you must use skills that strengthen your body, right? The marks that appear are basic runes written in a language that blends ancient and modern elements. It is said that the universe is constructed of runes. You likely do not yet understand what a universe is, but to summarize: it is broad, diverse, rich, and wondrous knowledge applied to reality. Have you heard the saying, ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’? Well, it originated from a rune master who, with the power of his calligraphy, subdued entire armies.”
Merlin then smiled.
“Runes are words materialized into power. They are everywhere, including in formations, which is precisely what you need now, isn’t it?”
Huang Di was impressed by all the possible applications. Then he asked:
“I suppose, since the knowledge is so vast, no one can specialize in everything, right? Each person delves deeply into one application of runes?”
Merlin smiled once more.
“Just as I thought, young Huang Di, you are truly clever. Indeed, the knowledge is vast. Even I, with access to the library, have studied this subject for many years… and yet I have only scratched the surface. And it is not only a matter of time. To obtain greater knowledge on this topic, greater access to this relic is necessary. I, like many here, have reached only the third stage of the relic. You, now, will pass through the first stage… or perhaps not, hahaha.”
After a pause, he continued:
“I wanted to do this more slowly, but it seems everyone is in a hurry to impart their knowledge to you. It almost seems like a competition among us old men, hahaha. So, allow this fool to share a bit of what I have discovered. I only ask that, in the future, if you surpass us, you grant me access to the knowledge you acquire.”
Saying this, Merlin began to make firm, fast, and precise hand movements. A great amount of energy radiated through the room. The environment seemed to flicker; for a brief moment, time appeared to stand still.
When Huang Di blinked, he felt as if lightning surged through his body. A torrent of information flooded his mind: memories, understandings, patterns, and theories about runes, especially their application in formations. From construction and design, through complex arrangements, to the use of smaller, larger, and even ancestral runes.
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It was a solid foundation, a true cornerstone, that would allow Huang Di to seek on his own, even deeper knowledge in the future.
In the end, he noticed the name of that set of information: The Fool King of Runes, a title which, for some reason, awakened a distorted sense of humor within him.
Now, with this new knowledge, Huang Di had one more weapon to strengthen his path.
Advancement in Alchemy
Huang Di returned to his base at five in the afternoon, a cavern where he had recently attained the Earth Rank. Upon arrival, he gathered some stones that had not been fully utilized and, using his newfound knowledge of runes, created a temporary formation. This formation aimed to conceal the location from beast attacks while he dedicated himself to meditation.
Mentally preparing himself, Huang Di sat in the proper position to begin absorbing the pills containing the accumulated knowledge of alchemy and medicine, gifted by the Director. It was a set of twelve pills, each representing ten years’ worth of alchemical study. Huang Di braced himself to absorb this vast amount of information, placing himself in his best physical and mental condition, spending about an hour on this preparation.
The pills were numerically marked in ascending order, clearly indicating the sequence in which they should be ingested. When ready, Huang Di took the first pill. As with the pill-sphere the gnome had given him previously, this one melted in his mouth, releasing a torrent of information flowing into his mind. However, the effect was not instantaneous, but prolonged.
The first hours were exhausting, but over time Huang Di adapted and managed to absorb the entire content, though it consumed a considerable amount of his mental energy. It took twelve hours to fully assimilate the knowledge from the first pill. Each experience was unique. The transmitted knowledge was intensely vivid, as if Huang Di were reliving the experiences of the pill’s creator.
In practice, he lived, within his mind, the life of an alchemical apprentice, experiencing the memories, emotions, and challenges of a decade of study. He felt both the highs and the lows, although the memories were concentrated solely on the practice of alchemy. This experience was remarkable: a whole decade inside his mind, while his body remained motionless, meditating in the cavern.
After this intense immersion, Huang Di recovered and returned to his optimal state. He took the second pill, repeating the process. Twelve hours were spent absorbing its content and effects. From that point onward, he officially became a Rank 1 alchemist, capable of successfully producing pills and recognizing herbs by their scent, thanks to the technique acquired from this pill.
Over the course of a week, Huang Di greatly refined his theoretical and practical knowledge of alchemy, elevating his status as an alchemist. During the first five days, he managed to refine two pills per day. However, his mind began to show signs of exhaustion, so he reduced the pace to one pill per day. On the sixth day, he absorbed the 11th pill; on the seventh, the 12th.
With this, his knowledge evolved from apprentice to true alchemist, a King Alchemist, capable of producing highly effective pills, even Rank 7. He approached the level of a Rank 8 alchemist. In just one week, he added 120 years of alchemical experience to his mind, although this experience was the inheritance of another’s effort and dedication.
Now, Huang Di understands the Director’s obsession with the subject. This experience allowed him to place himself in the Director’s shoes and better grasp his motivations.
With less than four weeks remaining until the final test, time seemed to fly. Huang Di had attained mastery of Rank 7 alchemy, becoming one of the most capable figures in the Blue Waters Continent, his native world, where the nearest Rank 8 alchemist resided in the distant Central Continent.
Though he possessed only theoretical knowledge in other fields, in alchemy he now held both theoretical foundation and practical experience, having relived all the memories as if they were his own. In other fields, where he had acquired legacies, he would still need to test the knowledge gained. Nevertheless, this experience proved to be an extraordinarily more effective and profound learning method.
Reflections on Life and the Path of Cultivation
After an intense event that considerably drained his Qi reserves, Huang Di decided to take a break to eat. He prepared nutritious soup, using meats and herbs he had gathered during his expeditions for the Director. On that occasion, he had been granted permission to carry everything he could, and now, with his newly acquired knowledge, he knew exactly which herbs were useful and how they could be prepared.
Cultivators, unlike ordinary people, seek personal perfection through the path of power. This makes them different in many aspects, including their basic needs. While an ordinary individual depends on water, food, and hygiene, cultivators can fulfill these needs more efficiently. They are able to extract energy directly from the environment, just as plants do from sunlight, allowing them to go long periods without relying on external resources.
Of course, cultivators still eat, but they generally consume energy-rich foods, such as beast meat and special herbs, which help in the rapid restoration of their internal reserves. Common food does not provide the same benefits. Moreover, as their rank increases, a cultivator can go even longer without eating, without adversely affecting their body due to nutrient deficiency. Still, although there are means to supplement energy, they do not completely replace essential nutrients lost over time.
A cultivator of the Foundation Rank can go several weeks without eating. Those of Profound Rank, months. Earth Rank cultivators can remain over a year without food. Those who reach even higher ranks can survive for even longer periods. However, it is important to remember that despite their abilities, cultivators are still mortal, subject to aging and, eventually, death.
Another factor deeply influenced by the path of cultivation is vitality, and with it, longevity. An ordinary mortal life, at most, up to 120 years. A cultivator, as they advance, significantly extends their lifespan:
- Foundation Rank: +20 years per level (total +200 years)
- Profound Rank: +50 years per level (total +350 years)
- Earth Rank: +100 years per level (total +500 years)
- Sky Rank: +1000 years per stage (total +3000 years)
- King Rank: +1500 years per stage (total +4500 years)
- Emperor Rank: +3000 years per stage (total +9000 years)
Most cultivators who reach Emperor Rank seek to ascend to the Celestial Realm. The few who attain the absolute realm can increase their lifespan even further, gaining an additional +10,000 years of longevity. Thus, a mortal cultivator can live on average, up to 27,670 years, with the possibility to extend that limit even more through the use of longevity pills.
Reflecting on this, Huang Di realized he now had the knowledge to produce such pills, something that could solve his financial problems definitively. However, this discovery would also attract both benefits and dangers. Still, he considered the risk worthwhile, as the profit potential was immense. At all ranks of power, there were cultivators willing to pay fortunes for pills that enhanced or restored lost vitality.
With his new experience, Huang Di concluded that the best place to sell these pills would be at auctions, through commercial houses, ensuring anonymity and the possibility of good profits. He could already imagine the fortunes he might accumulate, after all, one of his dreams had always been to be rich enough to have everything he desired.
When he was young, even before beginning cultivation, he had sworn to himself that he would be so wealthy that he could “buy the whole world.” Although it was a childish dream, he still felt excited by the idea of conquering everything he wanted. If wealth and power were the means to that end, he would pursue them, but not as a slave to money. He would be its master.