Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

Pearl had entered closed cultivation. With how close he was to breaking through to the next realm, he was certain he would do so in a few short weeks, if not days.

As such, he had moved to a room in the back of his place, away from everyone.

Alex had offered him the use of his Soul Space, but Pearl had refused it—rightfully so as well. Since his next breakthrough would be from the Immortal Origin Realm to the Immortal Transcendent Realm, he needed to remain outside, where the Heavens would create an Inner Demon for him to overcome.

If he broke through somewhere else, the Heavens might end up getting the wrong idea that he was hiding from them and deal a worse hand to him when he resurfaced.

He didn’t want to do anything that could jeopardize his upcoming trial, so he chose to remain outside.

That was perfectly fine with Alex and the others.

In fact, Alex was glad that Pearl was doing just that, because it would mean that Bai Jingshen would have another reason to stay at their place and protect them.

Other than just him, that was.

With Bai Jingshen standing guard in the other room, Alex finally felt safe to begin taking the first step toward his next Creation.

He reappeared in his Spiritual Sea, floating underneath the overcast sky and above the murky water that extended to a horizon so far away that Alex couldn’t easily determine the distance.

The water underneath also seemed to flow much more smoothly now that so many of the beasts in his Soul Space had left. With the newfound spiritual freedom he had gained, he felt safer doing what he was doing.

With a single thought, he sensed the direction in which Godslayer had submerged himself in Alex’s spiritual water. He dove down and found the small clear crystal orb with the black tongue of flame inside.

The black flame was so much weaker than the first time he had seen it all those years ago. He remembered those massive dark clouds that had covered his Spiritual Sea. He remembered the shape of a man that Godslayer had taken before the final day of the tournament.

He remembered Godslayer when he was still quite strong and alive.

And now, that Godslayer was no more.

He, or it, was now a feeble thing, just one breath away from being snuffed out.

Alex wouldn’t let that happen.

Next to Godslayer’s faintly burning black flame was the soft white speck of light that was Midnight. He was barely more than a white ember, only visible due to his contrast with Godslayer’s black body.

Alex grabbed the crystal, sensing a deep slumber from it. Now, it was time to wake from that slumber.

“Godslayer!” he called out to the crystal orb and waited.

The black flame flickered a little but didn’t respond.

“Godslayer?” he called out again, and when he still didn’t get a response, he started worrying.

“GODSLAYER!” He poured his Intent into the shout, hoping that would help in some way to wake up the sleeping sword spirit.

That seemed to have done the trick, as Godslayer stirred. “Hmm…?” He sounded drowsy, like a man still half-asleep, but he was awake.

Godslayer floated out of Alex’s palm and remained high in the air for some time. “Oh,” he finally said. “I’m not dead.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Were you expecting to be?” he asked.

“No, but I wouldn’t have been surprised,” Godslayer said, his voice still carrying that drowsy tone. It took Alex a moment to realize that the voice would remain.

Godslayer wasn’t half-asleep. He was half-dead. He didn’t have the energy to talk actively anymore.

“How are you feeling?” Alex asked.

“My feelings don’t matter,” Godslayer said resolutely, despite still sounding half-dead. “Where are you? Did you escape Hell?”

“Quite some time ago,” Alex said. “I wish I could tell you what I was up to, but I fear that would take too long. And I don’t know if you have that sort of time.”

“No… I don’t,” Godslayer said. “The last time I went to sleep, I remember telling you…”

“To not wake you up until I had my Origins ready? Yes, I’ve done that,” Alex said, gesturing to the eight Origins off to the side, each a healthy-sized Origin.

“Wow!” Godslayer said. “I truly never expected to see eight proper Origins floating inside someone. Eight Creations. That’s… powerful feels like an understatement. Overpowered is perhaps the right word.”

Alex smiled. “Well, you wanted one and I’ve got eight. Take your pick.”

“You’ve got seven from the looks of it,” Godslayer said, moving closer toward the eighth Origin that was covered with Yellow Fog.

Alex stopped him before he got too close, explaining what it was that covered the Origin. Hearing that it was the Yellow Fog scared Godslayer enough to move back.

He had seen the thing in action and knew more than enough that a single mistake with it could kill him right then and there. With him preparing to come out of his crystal, he didn’t want to take that chance.

Godslayer moved to the Origin furthest away from the one taken over by the Yellow Fog and stopped. “This should do,” he said.

Alex moved over. “Okay, that will be yours then,” he said. “But what exactly are you going to do? Or rather, how are you going to do that?”

“I… I have to make some preparations,” he said. “Since I will be splitting the Soul and Artifact Spirit part of me into two, both will be in danger of dying. So, I’ll need to individually force myself to merge the two parts into your Origin and into Midnight at the same time. Since I will not be myself in that moment, I will need your help.”

Alex nodded, ready to support Godslayer in whatever way was needed to complete this.

“Anything you need. What do you want me to do?”