Chapter Nineteen: Refinement

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Portland was always drenched in incessant rain; at least for the past week, Xia Xiu had rarely seen a sunny day. Yet, he did not feel particularly uncomfortable about it.

In fact, he quite liked rainy days.

Raindrops fell against the transparent umbrella in Xia Xiu’s hand. In his left hand, he carried a bag, from which the neck of a bottle of red wine peeked out. Don’t misunderstand—this was the material he intended to use for a ritual today.

The DNA template of the Pedrosapin species had arrived several days ago, and Xia Xiu had been preparing the inhibitor materials all this time. Today, everything was finally complete.

Coincidentally, today marked the end of the foundational week of education, and Xia Xiu planned to perform the bloodline containment ritual.

In three weeks, Portland would leave the Mist City and head to Fran, where one of his “old friends” awaited him. He intended to retrieve it early, but to do so, he needed to accumulate strength—after all, a vicious dog guarded that place.

The Portland Observatory.

This place was Portland’s shadow, the only spot not under the influence of the Lu Institute’s think tank. It was also the best location to observe the Ocean of Aether.

In previous years, when Portland was open to the public, this was the most popular sightseeing spot and a must-visit destination.

It’s worth noting that this place was free of charge for students of the Lu Institute.

Xia Xiu arrived at a uniquely signed café.

“This is not some crappy Starbuck’s!” he thought.

He casually placed his umbrella on a wooden cylindrical stand near the entrance, then stepped onto a soft, red carpet.

“Hello, I need an alchemy and observation room,” Xia Xiu politely said to the elderly gentleman performing latte art in front of him.

The old man before Xia Xiu had meticulously slicked-back hair and wore a black long shirt with an orange barista apron over it.

What caught the eye most was the rolled-up sleeve on his right arm, revealing an alchemical prosthetic limb. From Xia Xiu’s vantage point, he could clearly see the gears turning on the arm.

This was a very handsome old gentleman.

“New students show your student ID; first rental is free,” Philip looked up and said to the blond youth.

“Jarvis,” Xia Xiu whispered.

[Student ID: BK-20241111]

A blue pop-up window appeared before Philip’s eyes. After a brief glance, the old man opened a drawer and retrieved a key.

“Room number six.”

“Thank you,” Xia Xiu took the key handed to him.

“Would you like a drink?”

Philip casually offered.

“Is that free too?”

“Of course not,” Philip shot him a glance.

Xia Xiu recalled the sign at the door and glanced at the menu, then said to the old man:

“I’ll have a large latte.”

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“Just a moment.”

Philip really pulled out a large cup and began preparing the drink.

Espresso plus milk plus a scoop of milk foam.

The old man worked swiftly and soon placed the large latte with a straw in front of Xia Xiu.

“Tastes good,” Xia Xiu took a sip, his eyes brightening involuntarily.

Xia Xiu let Jarvis handle the payment. Carrying the alchemy materials, he sipped his latte as he made his way toward the innermost door of the café.

Opening the door revealed rows of neatly arranged room doors.

Don’t find it strange; Portland’s exclusive spatial folding technology made it normal for a café to appear as spacious as a hotel inside.

...

[Room 6]

Xia Xiu closed the door with the heel of his foot, then entered carrying the materials.

The room was spacious, with various alchemical devices neatly placed in the wall cabinets.

At the center was a circular recessed area. A celestial globe more than a meter tall stood in the middle, its instrument tracks rotating steadily.

[Reality Extraction Reality Stabilization Anchor]

Xia Xiu immediately recognized the celestial globe’s purpose. After all, this item was expensive, and he had made several when he was short on money in his previous life.

It was a special instrument used to stabilize distortion values at a certain level. Such reality stabilization anchors imposed some restrictions on arcane spellcasting but did not eliminate it entirely. They were typically used to stabilize spiritual entities during observation.

This device was quite costly and generally placed on Terra’s surface, affordable only to the affluent mage class.

But in Portland, it was just standard equipment in a meditation room.

Xia Xiu approached the alchemy table, arranged his materials, then took out the complete set of [Mercury] alchemy tools placed beside him.

——————

[Desire Flesh - Blood and Flesh Shaping Art - Divine Meal Potion]

Prerequisites: Infuse with the corresponding supernatural DNA template.

Divine Meal Potion Brewing Conditions:

① Materials: One and a quarter ounces of [Garisdo Naked Cap Mushroom] + ten quarts of [Mercury Water] + one drop of sacred red wine.

② Magic Circle: [Energy Convergence Structure - Star of David]

③ Alchemy Technique: “Joseph Quersetanus’ Twelve Procedures”

Effect: Upon drinking the Divine Meal Potion, enter a sixty-second spiritual vision state: [Sacredly consuming the divine].

Listen to “The Last Song of Yann,” a blessing from Yann.

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(Spiritual vision phase can suppress any flesh rejection reaction.)

(Sacredly consuming the divine — “The Boundless Covered by It” is regarded by the Desire Flesh Cult as the supreme power in the universe. Although respected, It is not worshiped by the cultists and is even considered a servant of Yann to some extent.)

——————————

The above is the recipe for the Divine Meal Potion, which also serves as an inhibitor for mutations.

Xia Xiu began drawing the Energy Convergence Structure - Star of David with alchemical powder.

[Material: Lead] — [Color: Blue-gray] — [Magic Circle Conductivity Efficiency: 5.40]

After completing the magic circle, he moved on to the balance of the four properties.

The four properties were: heat, cold, dryness, and moisture.

This was one of the most crucial steps in the alchemy ritual; only with balanced four states could one construct the “Unity of All.”

Xia Xiu raised his right hand and summoned the Red Book, then began adjusting his own frequency and amplitude.

As an experienced alchemist, Xia Xiu naturally knew how to quickly stabilize the four states. He possessed a sort of “secret manual” akin to those of dragon protagonists—a cheat code that would take effect simply by speaking it aloud.

“τɛτραμɛρɛῖυτὴνφιλoσoφίαν”

Xia Xiu’s expression was solemn, his voice deep.

This was—the [Philosopher’s Quadripartition].

[Philosopher’s Quadripartition]

Spell: τɛτραμɛρɛῖυτὴνφιλoσoφίαν

++ Amplitude: 4dB

++ Frequency: 0.08051 cph (cycles per hour) — tidal frequency — M2 semi-diurnal tide

Effect: Balances the four states.

Once the four states stabilized, he began the brewing process;

Added one and a quarter ounces of [Garisdo Naked Cap Mushroom]

Added ten quarts of [Mercury Water]

Added one drop of sacred red wine.

Then entered Joseph Quersetanus’ Twelve Procedures: burning, dissolving, elemental separation, combining, decay, condensation, nourishing, sublimation, fermentation, elevation, growth, projection.

After the twelve procedures’ refinement, a vial of liquid glowing with a blood-red luster appeared in Xia Xiu’s hand.