Whispering Poems

Chapter 4085 The Ancient God's Lesson

Considering that the Jade Alchemy Guild does not have any 13th-ring sorcerers, the two 12th-ring sorcerers who have appeared at this time are probably the true high-ranking members of the Alchemy Guild.

Upon seeing Xia De and his two companions enter, the man from the Twelfth Ring stood up from the sofa, hesitated for a moment, and asked:
"May I ask, who is Lady 'Redstone''s' successor?"

"It's me. I am the Redstone of this generation."

Xia De took the initiative to speak, something they had discussed on the way. Although Vige had always appeared as a woman in their previous contacts with the Alchemy Association, the Alchemy Association couldn't be sure of her gender, since the alchemist codenamed "Redstone" often appeared in different genders.

The man from the twelfth ring sized up Xia De, nodded slightly, and did not reveal his thoughts:

"Good afternoon, Mr. Redstone. It's a pleasure that you've finally agreed to show up in person after so many years of our little game."

You can call me 'Mr. Mercury.' I am the current vice president of the Jade Alchemy Association. The previous 'Redstone' almost took my position. I knew her back then; her talent far surpassed mine."

Xia De ignored such flattery. Since the other party did not introduce the two people behind them, he naturally would not take the initiative to mention the identities of Vigo and Miss Rowling.

The two did not exchange any more pleasantries, but sat down and began to talk.

Although this room is often used for secret meetings, it is also provided for local dignitaries to meet their lovers, hence its extravagant decor. The suite's living room features an indoor bathtub, while the bedroom contains a heart-shaped bed.

Shad and the 12th-circle warlock who called himself "Mr. Mercury" sat and talked on the sofa next to the indoor bathtub, while the other four stood. Of course, Vige had drunk a lot of blood wine on the way here, which would ensure that she wouldn't cough frequently this afternoon, while Shad coughed intermittently, and he had "her" remind him to do so from time to time.

The meeting with the alchemists was to obtain more information about Vige's mother, while the alchemists were after information about the "Jade Record".

Both sides had their own objectives, so the atmosphere of the conversation was fairly pleasant. Shad could sense that the three alchemists possessed numerous tools to record and probe his various circumstances, but even the Church and the Prophet's Association couldn't uncover his true identity, so he wasn't afraid of these alchemists.

After briefly exchanging views on the current situation in Arcadia and jointly criticizing the unruly outsiders, Shad and Mr. Mercury negotiated an exchange of information.

Before arriving, Vige had already told Xia De her bottom line, so she remained silent throughout the afternoon's negotiations. While the negotiations sometimes became heated, an agreement was ultimately reached.

Shad told the three alchemists that he really didn't know where the Emerald Book was, but a sentence from the Emerald Book echoed in his soul, and the Church of Creation had also known a sentence from the Emerald Book many years ago.

Miss Feliciano's statement that "the phrases in the Emerald Book are themselves part of the relic" is certainly known to the alchemists who have been searching for this relic for many years, which is why "Mr. Mercury" asked this question:
"Can I understand this to mean that one-third of the Jade Record is now hidden in your soul?"

Shad coughed a few times:
"I can't be sure whether what's in my soul is just a sentence or that unknowable relic itself. I don't know much about the soul, and of course I don't want anyone to touch the essence of my soul."

To answer this question, we must find the previous generation's 'Redstone'. I've recently discovered some clues, and I suspect she didn't die after all; I'm also searching for her.

Mr. Mercury was not at all surprised by Shad's point of view; he nodded slightly.
"Yes, we also doubted whether she was really dead. The previous generation of 'Redstone' was unparalleled in human transmutation, and if she wanted to fake her death, it would be easier for her than anyone else."

He then handed over a batch of "Redstone's" alchemy manuscripts to Xia De on behalf of the Jade Alchemy Association. However, these manuscripts were not of great value and were only meant to be carefully preserved by Wei Ge as her mother's keepsake.

The most valuable information the alchemists provided was the female alchemist's secrets. Besides inquiring about "Redstone's" life after joining the Alchemist Guild, Shad also produced the photograph of the leather item "Nicolas Flamel," a figure Mr. Mercury naturally recognized.

"Yes, Lady Redstone occasionally appears in this form. No one knows how she disguises herself in this way. Some even suspect that this is her true appearance. This is probably due to her achievements in human transmutation."

She left the association with many valuable results, and her research on the Philosopher's Stone further promoted the association's understanding of this versatile alchemical material.

She joined the guild in 1822, and within a few short years, she not only rose through the ranks rapidly but also became a senior alchemist based on her research. Beginning in 1827, she devoted herself entirely to the study of the Emerald Catalogue. Although she encountered some difficulties in the early stages, she later achieved many research results.

Rumors then circulated within the organization that she had found traces of the relic. Subsequently, her research team suffered a major accident in 1829, resulting in the deaths of everyone except her. She disappeared afterward, completely severing her ties with the organization.

When Mr. Mercury recounted these events, he clearly omitted the part about the Alchemist Guild forcing "Redstone" to hand over his research results, but Shad did not pursue the matter further.
"I want to know, doesn't she have any relatives, friends, or even family and descendants?"

"As far as we know, the previous generation of Redstone was all alone, and her only passion was her research."

“I also have some of her alchemical manuscripts, which show that she was researching the so-called ‘Perfect Child.’ Do you know what that is?”

Shad asked again, and Mr. Mercury was not surprised that Shad had mentioned this:

"The oldest knowledge recorded by the association mentions that all life known in the material world is flawed. The existence of these flaws is not because the creator god who created so many lives was incapable of creating perfect life, but because that ancient god hoped that mortal life could evolve in the process of adapting to the world until it reaches perfection."

One theory holds that the gods' act of infusing life into the world is a natural alchemical ritual based on the world itself. This is the oldest and grandest ritual involving the gods and relating to time, fate, life, and death.

But the merciful creator also gave mortals another opportunity. Besides natural evolution, He recorded the secret to perfection in the Emerald Book, and the 'Child of Perfection' is the life form that the ancient and great being hoped mortals would ultimately reach.

Mr. Mercury was very serious:

"We have always believed that whether it is the golden bloodline pursued by the Blood Spirit School or other evolutionary directions pursued by other similar organizations, they are essentially just another way of saying 'the perfect child'."

This is a challenge left to mortals by the ancient gods. In the Second, Third, and Fourth Ages, countless great alchemists attempted this problem, but all failed. Now, in the Fifth and Sixth Ages, alchemists have forgotten this challenge, instead devoting themselves to the creation of the Philosopher's Stone for wealth and immortality, which is actually wrong.

The completion of the creation of the 'Perfect Child' signifies the attainment of the final form originally conceived by the [Twilight Creator] for mortals. This means opening the door to the final evolution of life in the material world—a great and sacred undertaking.

"Research topics left behind by the ancient gods?"

This was the first time Shad had heard this statement:
“During my investigation of the previous generation of ‘Redstone,’ I also came across many things related to that ancient god. So, does that mean the purpose of the [Emerald Alchemy Association] in searching for the [Emerald Record], besides obtaining the knowledge recorded within, is also to complete the project of the ‘Perfect Child’ and thus open up a new direction for human evolution?”

Although this argument sounded noble, Mr. Mercury still shook his head:
"No, no, that's not what we're after. We're fighting against 'Twilight.' This purpose is only known among the organization's upper echelons. Apart from the Church of Creation, you and your two friends are probably the first outsiders to know this."

Rumors about the Chosen Ones soon appearing locally are circulating wildly, and I think it's time to let some people know this. Knowing this will help you better understand why we've been so eager to find the previous generation of Redstone all these years.

"Resisting the twilight?"

Shad thought of the dim, yellowish sky of the apocalyptic era:
Do you mean the end of the world?

But Mr. Mercury continued to shake his head:
"We have no power to stop the inevitable calamity; this is not the work of alchemists."

The ancient Creator, at the very beginning of creation, foresaw that all things would eventually wither and fade in the twilight, yet even so, He still chose to sow life throughout the world. The first children were with the forefathers.”

"Wait a moment!"

Shad's eyes widened in surprise:

"Early people?"

Shad, who had been waiting for the other party to tell the myth, showed a shocked expression.

When “Suppose” answered Shad’s question about the “Myriad Impermanence Token” at the Tower of All Things, he said that “the “Myriad Impermanence Token” is an item that is older than the “Ancestors”. Shad had asked many people, but he had never gotten an answer as to what the “Ancestors” were.