Chapter 644: Reappearance

"This is what it means to hit the nail on the head."

Many players, resting their chins on their hands, felt it perfectly captured the essence. Although it could delay the soul's aging and replenish its "essence," its effectiveness waned with each use. Ever-increasing quantities were needed to compensate, and the amount of essence required would become astronomical over time. This was not a true elixir of immortality, but rather one for longevity. Moreover, stopping its use for even a day could lead to addiction, similar to the ancient 'Five-Stone Powder.' Consuming it regularly every day would surely lead to one's downfall sooner or later.

"That seems reasonable."

Clearly, the Alchemy Emperor was also enthusiastically convinced by them. He lay in his glass bottle, deep in thought. "It does seem to be that way," he mused. "In that case, let's call it 'Sooner or Later, You're Done For.'"

The group of excited players beside him looked completely serious.

"Precisely!"

"Fellow Daoist, you truly listen to advice with an open mind."

The surrounding players spoke utter nonsense with straight faces. "This primordial essence, the very point of life's chaotic origin, which causes all touched things to perish, truly deserves a down-to-earth name! 'Sooner or Later, You're Done For' is indeed fitting, because from the moment a person is born, they are destined to die—sooner or later, they're done for!"

"These four characters perfectly encapsulate the essence of life."

Suddenly, a message rang out. Everyone's breathing quickened!

Was the big shot finally making his move? They all sensed something unusual; this creature, and the big shot's intentions, seemed to herald an earth-shattering event.

Li Shengjiang himself took a deep breath, looking around. "Everyone, I'm leaving. Take your time evolving the species, and don't slack off every other day. This game offers greater rewards than we imagined."

Having said this, he looked around again, signaling them to lead him directly to the world tunnel gate that led to the other world.

Xu Zhi smiled upon seeing this. "'Gate of Alchemy, the 'essence' of life? This extracted essence indeed seems to have countless uses. It could serve as leverage, a chip to exchange, please, or trade for many things in the world. On the other side, in the Six Realms, is the ancient wizard civilization reviving, and alchemists rising once more?'"

"'The Alchemy Emperor, the man who founded the alchemy civilization, has the Underworld Emperor's disciple as his backing, Mengmei supporting him, and the System Terminator of the Female Martial Arts Palace also helping... With influential friends in the Immortal Realm, Underworld, and Demon Realm, this time, the protagonist of heaven and earth truly returns... It's really going to stir things up again.'"

Xu Zhi pondered. The Alchemy Emperor was, in fact, the most capable leader. It wasn't that others like Akina Mountain Speed or Mengmei weren't capable, but they were too slippery. They were as devious as loaches, lacking the necessary charisma or assertiveness to be a true leader, unable to set the standard for the era. They didn't possess the imperial grandeur of a generation's hero-king, nor the powerful leadership aura that would inspire countless people to follow them.

Therefore, among the group of top players and big shots across the myriad worlds, the Alchemy Emperor Li Shengjiang remained the group administrator. No one else objected, because he possessed the grandeur and was the most convincing, the most serious, and acted impartially, making him truly fair.

"'This fellow had been stagnant outside for a long time, trying to establish cultivation and martial arts systems for people in reality, and it truly hadn't quite gotten on track... But he's finally slowed down and really returned here,' Xu Zhi smiled. He naturally saw the small activities of those research institutes."

He had also previously discovered that they were researching cultivation systems in reality. They had indeed made some progress, but Xu Zhi didn't pay it any mind. Given the speed of reality, it would take at least a decade of cultivation to see any results, like low-level martial artists; it was far too slow.

"'However, since you've returned, perhaps this side's grand era has truly begun? Are we venturing into the era of myriad worlds?' Xu Zhi took a sip of tea."

The new wizard civilization truly ought to be revived. Wizards didn't necessarily have to cultivate mental power through evil eyes; they could use any gene that fostered mental power. Wizardry represented a pure path, and alchemy was also an exceptionally vast occult profession.

Suddenly, a sound came from nearby. Medusa, curled up on a nearby chair, slowly opened her eyes, her legs hugged to her chest. Still hazy, she was startled. Looking up, she sensed someone in the adjacent chair, quickly stood up in fright, and stumbled back a few steps. "Great Truth..."

Xu Zhi wasn't surprised by her swift awakening. Due to her accelerated lifespan, this process of waking and sleeping was iterating and updating rapidly.

"Don't be nervous, have some tea." Xu Zhi extended his hand, and a steaming cup of tea appeared out of thin air, floating before Medusa.

She was slightly startled, then silently picked up the tea and drank. In an instant, an inexpressible warmth of bliss and a rich, mellow taste filled her throat, permeating and nourishing her entire body. It was too blissful, too perfect; how could such a miraculous creation exist in this world? And it felt vaguely familiar...

She felt she hadn't had enough but dared not say more. She quickly took a step back and continued to evolve species. She clearly knew that she was merely one of the myriad evolving species in this land of origin, holding the same status as the beasts, trees, and every other living being in this wondrous place.

"What's that?" She suddenly noticed something and looked to the side.

A group of oddly shaped creatures dragged a special glass bottle, crawling into the distance. What was inside the glass bottle made her heart tremble slightly. The translucent worms inside contained a terrifying energy and vibrant vitality, as if they were the primordial sprouts of every life. Only a tiny bit, after countless extractions, could fill such a bottle.

"That?!... Essence?!" She was almost enraptured.

She also recalled Hermes, Mercury, the God of Wisdom's description of alchemy: that mysterious and great Gate of Alchemy, the supreme mystical "primordial essence" sought by all alchemists, which could unlock the ultimate portal of alchemy.

"In this source land of truth, I actually saw the essence..." she couldn't help but murmur.

She remembered Mercury's initial words, spoken to the mortals on the ground: "'Alchemy is the occult study of creating life's unknowns, a path to pry open the door of truth. If one can master this knowledge, they will gain the true glory of the world, and all obscurity and confusion will vanish from their side.'"

The more she thought, the more excited she became. But soon she sighed, realizing she wasn't the most excited. As she wasn't keen on the path of alchemy, her thoughts turned instead to the man who had pursued alchemy his entire life, her former opponent, hailed as the strongest alchemist god in history, the man who dared to challenge the heavens.

She gave a faint smile and sighed, "Grancem, if you could see the essence you pursued, the great and sacred Gate of Alchemy, that would surely bring you the greatest joy."

Swish!

The passage was pitch black. The white PVC pipe that Xu Zhi had buried still served as the world passage.

Li Shengjiang continued forward, the small glass bottle rolling and tumbling inside the passage as if on wheels. Its square design allowed it to rotate as it moved. He felt a little nervous. He didn't know which world he would arrive in. He naturally wanted to go to the Wizard World for Ermin, otherwise all his efforts would be in vain. However, he wasn't certain which world he would actually descend into. He could only hope that Medusa's recent arrival here had opened a tunnel to the Wizard World, and that he would land there.

Swish! He moved forward step by step.

"'And this time, with my return, I must investigate what truly happened at the Land of the Gods, Achilles, which stopped at the 'Gigantes' Eye of the Storm, and the fall of Hermes and the gods... Hermes, the deity who entrusted the Gate of Alchemy to me back then, is this the truth of history? An even more terrifying enemy beyond this world? A greater fear?'"

In the darkness ahead, after an unknown period, a faint white light gradually appeared. As he slowly advanced, the light, like a door opening in the darkness, suddenly intensified. After a blinding flash, a lush green mountain range and forest came into view. Birds flew in the sky, and the woods teemed with various beetles. Yet, the land felt cold and desolate, as if plunged into deep winter.

"'This is... the Wizard World, no! It's already the Demon Realm!' Li Shengjiang trembled all over, ecstatic. 'I can feel the demonic energy here, the aura of Cthulhuian evil gods, pervasive and permeating every creature... Those living on this land must be potion professionals.'"

Li Shengjiang immediately used the in-game message system, which didn't require him to log off, and quietly sent a message to Mengmei: "Come pick me up, I've arrived."