Stepping on the rusty staircase, the building shrouded in mist gradually beca clear. Like many structures suspended over cliffs, it also resembled a grotesque tumor. However, unlike others, its surface glimred with a dim light that distorted onlookers’ vision. Without Belli’s note, Bologue would find it challenging to see through the illusion and discover this place.
Palr followed closely behind Bologue, currently affected by the Void Realm’s influence, unable to perceive the building and resorting to Bologue for guidance.
At the end of the staircase, Bologue felt like he was standing in front of a giant bird’s nest, its shell covered with iron plates corroded by the mist, so even showing a state of collapse.
Knocking on the iron door, Bologue felt slightly nervous. He hadn’t inford Teda beforehand and didn’t know if he’d be mistaken for an intruder. Recalling Teda’s fully unleashed Secret Energy during the implant ceremony, Bologue’s nerves were taut.
Footsteps sounded from behind the door. Without a password or identity verification, the iron door opened, revealing Teda’s face, muttering as he appeared.
"I don’t rember having an appointnt today?"
He was about to voice so complaint but was surprised when he saw the visitor’s face.
"Bologue Lazarus."
He rembered Bologue’s na well, couldn’t forget it as Bologue bore the Alchemy Matrix of Overlord Xilin.
"Hello..."
Bologue was montarily at a loss on how to address Teda—forr departnt head? Teacher Teda?
Among so many acquaintances, Bologue had special respect for this forr head of the Sublimation Furnace Core, albeit he’d had little contact with him. Perhaps, it was under Teda’s craftsmanship that Bologue rose on the Path of Transcendence.
As for the other person? From the first mont they t, Bologue felt he would never hold Belli in esteem again.
"Teda, just call Teda."
Teda glanced at Bologue and then at Palr behind him, his voice more surprised.
"Palr?"
"You know each other?" It surprised Bologue that Teda could call out Palr’s na.
"The unlucky one from the Clarks family, he’s quite famous," Teda explained.
"What?"
Palr hadn’t caught their conversation, his attention wholly on the building.
A low humming emanated from inside, with Ether swirling along fixed paths. As Teda opened the door, a gap appeared in the previously enclosed ring. The sealed Silence of power began to seep out slightly, continuously pricking Palr’s senses.
"Is this your Alchemy Workshop?" Palr asked.
"Yes, hmm?"
Teda stared at Palr. Bologue sensed a hint of hostility in Teda’s eyes, but it didn’t last long. Teda sighed.
"Oh well, both of you can co in."
"Oh, thank you."
Palr was oblivious to Teda’s reasoning. Bologue, however, understood and looked sowhat helpless.
"Please don’t let it collapse," Bologue quietly prayed.
...
"I didn’t expect the Order Bureau to actually plan on intervening in the Great Rift."
Teda frowned after hearing their intentions, "So, you need a safe place as a base?"
"Yes."
Bologue nodded in affirmation, withholding too much information from Teda.
He had previously discussed Teda’s stance with Palr, but Bologue was cautious. Since Teda had left the Order Bureau, regardless of any private agreents or previous assistance from Teda, Bologue decided to conceal so information.
He still rembered why Teda left the Order Bureau—his research violated ethical regulations. Whatever Teda studied, he undoubtedly crossed the line.
"Belli suggested... we could stay here temporarily as a base," Bologue relayed Belli’s words, observing Teda’s reaction.
"If you guarantee not to wreck the place, you’re welco to stay."
Teda gave an unexpected answer that left Bologue montarily speechless. He hadn’t expected Teda to agree.
If he and Palr stayed here permanently, they would act like the Order Bureau’s surveillance, observing Teda’s every move. Yet, Teda didn’t seem to mind being watched; he was more concerned about Palr’s "Blessing" possibly ruining his Alchemy Workshop.
"Palr, I rember you, the heir of the Clarks."Teda conversed further with Palr.
"Rather than an heir, I’m better known as the unlucky one,"Palr unexpectedly admitted self-awareness, standing at the doorway, refraining from entering.
"If necessary, I can leave,"Palr looked at the complex equipnt and pipelines inside with curiosity yet restrained himself, "Since becoming a Debtor, I’m no longer allowed into Alchemy Workshops."
"It’s fine. You can have a look around, but rember not to touch the Alchemy Equipnt in the center of the building. It’s the core that maintains the Void Realm."
Teda’s unexpected leniency stunned not only Bologue but also Palr, who even doubted his own ears.
"Are you serious?" Bologue asked. If Palr had any bad luck, the precise Alchemy Workshop might explode into a fireball.
"It’s nothing," Teda replied with an indifferent attitude.
"Oh, oh, oh!"
Palr crowed like a rooster, babbling incoherently, then slipped inside.
With Palr’s departure, Bologue’s expression turned cold, and he whispered.
"Palr is a jinx. Aren’t you afraid he’ll blow this place up just to get rid of him?"
"You’ll be coming here often anyway, better to get used to it early."
Teda showed the cunning look of an old fox.
"I have one condition. If you agree, I’d be happy to provide any support for your operations within the Great Rift."
Teda’s words were full of allure, truly a master-apprentice dynamic, Bologue realized from whom Belli had learned those damned negotiation skills.
"Aren’t you afraid we’ll be watching you if you keep us here?" Bologue admitted frankly.
"What’s there to fear?" Teda replied dismissively. "The Order Bureau letting go is proof I pose no threat, right?"
Bologue remained silent, his teal eyes fixed on Teda. Perhaps due to his aura, whenever Bologue looked at soone in silence, they always felt imnse pressure and a chilling sensation, as if they were facing a spirit monster wearing human skin.
Teda was no exception. He avoided Bologue’s gaze and said.
"You’re really vigilant, Bologue."
His deanor was relaxed; privately, Teda was not as imposing as he once was, and his aging eyes glimred with wisdom.
"What is your condition?" Bologue asked.
"Let study you, study your Secret Energy, your Alchemy Matrix, study the Power of Dominator Xilin... In a way, you’re practically a walking masterpiece."
The wisdom in his eyes was partially replaced by fervor, as Teda continued to speak to Bologue.
"I’ve been researching this power for many years. I might even help you master it better."
"It seems there’s no reason for to refuse."
After a few monts of contemplation, Bologue accepted Teda’s proposal.
As Teda ntioned, at least from the upper echelons of the Order Bureau’s perspective, they still trusted Teda. Not only did they let him leave, but they also involved him in the takeover of the Power of Dominator. Yet even so, Bologue found it hard to fully trust him.
After the Kedening incident, Bologue was reluctant to trust his first impressions of people; everyone wore masks, and all he could do was maintain absolute vigilance.
Apart from these, Teda’s conditions were indeed hard for Bologue to refuse. An Alchemy Master providing backup, a base protected by the Void Realm, and many more potential benefits...
"Can I ask you sothing?" Bologue suddenly inquired.
"What?"
"What initially caused you to violate the ethical regulations," Bologue asked curiously, "I want to know the reason why you left the Order Bureau."
"You’ve really hit the nail on the head," Teda fell silent for a mont or two, then showed a helpless smile, "Have you read the ’Golden Thesis’?"
"I have. That book is fundantal knowledge, understandable even without knowing Alchemy," Bologue said.
"Then you should know the three main schools in Alchemy: the transformation of tal sublimation, the exploration and pursuit of the Alchemy Matrix, and the creation of new life."
Teda began explaining these basic concepts, then shifted the topic.
"But research always needs to break taboos; only by throwing away all rules and constraints can we progress further."
"That sounds very much like the style of the Order of Truth," Bologue comnted coldly.
"Haha, indeed, once you abandon your bottom line, all that remains is fervor," Teda put away his smile, speaking seriously, "The school I researched was the third one."
"Creating new life..."
Bologue murmured softly. In ’Golden Thesis,’ the creation of life was viewed by Alchemists as the research for usurping divine power—the most mysterious and maddening study.
"Creating life is absolute taboo within the Order Bureau. They handled many such crises. Under the Alchemists’ madness, they created one deford monster after another, bringing endless calamity," Teda said.
"But you violated all that... What did you create? Were you successful?"
Bologue’s tone also carried curiosity. The creation of life was indeed utterly fascinating.
"I still have so bottom lines, not performing inhumane experints or concocting Philosopher’s Stones-like atrocities, so the Order Bureau’s treatnt of was relatively lenient. Naturally, the main reason they let off so easily was that I did indeed achieve results."
With that, Teda smiled confidently, though his smile carried a hint of madness, completely at odds with his previous authority.
"As for my results... She should be back."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Bologue turned his head, looking at the dark iron door.
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