Chapter 89: Natural Disaster Strikes

On this day, news spread throughout the entire Wizard World that the Alchemist Emperor had suddenly died, having visited the Temple of Wisdom before his passing to witness the divine manifestation of Mercury, the God of Wisdom.

“Impossible!”“Absolutely impossible!”“Rumors! All of it!”“We saw the Alchemist Emperor on his five-hundredth birthday not long ago, and he was still radiating immense power, showing no signs of aging!”

Many wizard academies, major wizard sects, and private organizations reacted with disbelief upon hearing the news. To them, the great Alchemist Emperor was a living deity, overseeing the rise and fall of generations and destined for immortality. His achievements and talents surpassed those of all great heroes in historical myths, including Gilgamesh and the Three Witches. To live in the era ruled by the Alchemist Emperor was to live within the greatest legend of their time!

The Alchemist Emperor’s life was marked by countless remarkable deeds. He ended the tumultuous era of the Dark Witches, ushered in a golden age of alchemy, constructed two World Wonders, ascended to commune with gods, and even after being attacked in his old age, returned appearing as a youth. Many rejoiced at living in the Alchemist Emperor's brilliant era, witnessing the birth of a legend firsthand. Yet, others resented their misfortune, born at a time when the Alchemist Emperor's might suppressed the world, ensuring that no matter their talent, they would never truly rise to prominence.

How could such a living legend suddenly die of old age? Everyone believed the Alchemist Emperor would live on eternally, never fading. After all, when he returned in his twilight years, he had already regained his youth!

It was only after more than ten days, when countless people witnessed activity at the Great Tomb of Tartarus and Almin announced her ascension to the throne of Monarch Emperor, that the populace finally, incredulously, accepted the truth.

The Alchemist Emperor was dead!

Upon the true confirmation of the Alchemist Emperor’s death, countless people wept bitterly, while others erupted into uncontrollable laughter. That night, a leader of an evil wizard sect drank alone until he was completely drunk. He felt the terrifying shadow that had hung over him for so long had finally lifted, yet he also realized he had lost his life's pursuit, and his once burning ambition had dimmed.

“I grew up listening to his stories, always aspiring to surpass him, but now that chance is gone,” whispered a formidable Level Six legendary evil wizard from his shadowed chair. Just then, a straightforward disciple stepped forward and eagerly declared, “Master, with the Alchemist Emperor’s death, now is the time for our sect to rise! You, Master, should be the next Monarch Emperor of Babylon; how can we allow a mere Almin to take the throne? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon have been interred, and without a World Wonder to suppress... this is our opportunity!”

“Even if we plan to act, we must wait until after the Alchemist Emperor’s hundred-day memorial.”

Almost all conspirators refrained from seizing the national unrest caused by the Emperor's death or the opportune moment of his funeral to make their moves. Regardless of whether they were enemies or friends, no one could deny the Alchemist Emperor’s talent. They all respected this unprecedented wizard emperor whose greatness and wisdom had laid a glorious foundation for the entire world.

“Wizards represent the exploration and pursuit of truth; give me endless knowledge, and I can move the entire world!”

In a daze, countless people recalled that very statement from the wizard monarch emperor, a sentiment that had already set the fundamental tone for the civilization of the entire Wizard World. Mourners, drunkards, and conspirators alike, all turned their gaze towards the Great Tomb of Tartarus, raised their glasses high, silently toasted the Alchemist Emperor, and poured a libation onto the ground. Even his fiercest adversaries respected the Alchemist Emperor’s life.

On Gorgon Alchemy Island, beyond the great Oceanus and in the Land of Night.

An invisible black raven landed silently on the ground of Alchemy Island, becoming transparent and merging seamlessly into the earth.

“He’s finally dead!”

Medusa’s heart pounded, a lingering tremor of fear still within her. “So he was merely feigning vitality. Even on his deathbed, he aimed to outlive me and pave the way for the next Monarch Emperor, Almin. He almost succeeded in outliving me.”

“Granselm, just as I would expect from him.”

An unprecedented, terrifying shadow finally lifted. Medusa’s mood instantly became incredibly relaxed, yet also strangely complex.

“Alchemist Emperor, to suppress an Epic Wizard as a mere Legend, and almost outlive one, even I must commend you.” Medusa stood up. Her gaze fell. With a ripple of magic across the table, clear water flowed into a cup. She raised it high. “Granselm, Monarch Emperor, with this water instead of wine, I toast you and bid you farewell!” She set down the cup, and her figure dissolved into the shadows.

“With this toast, I honor your life of integrity and selflessness. You sought neither power nor dominion, avoided tyranny and personal desire, and instead advanced the age of alchemy for all living beings, even to bring your beloved back. In the days to come, even if I delve into the domain of death, I will not summon your spirit or manipulate your will; that would be a desecration. I will wait in silence until your hundred-day memorial, and then I will break free to reclaim my dominion over the world.”

Li Shengjiang silently opened his eyes.

Taking off his VR glasses, he let out a soft sigh. The room and its surroundings felt utterly foreign to him. Although only five days had passed in reality, his mind remained immersed in the Wizard World, as if he were the true Alchemist Emperor who had somehow traveled to a modern technological civilization. His eyes held a newfound depth of experience. The five hundred years he had lived within the game had matured his mind, making him feel like an ancient sage who had seen through much of the mortal world.

“I don’t know how ancient people or Qin Shi Huang defined the pursuit of immortality, nor if the legend of Peng Zu’s eight hundred years of longevity is true, but I have indeed lived for over five hundred years – that’s terrifyingly long. Next, I need to decompress and re-adapt to modern life, stepping away from that mindset. I won’t participate in ‘Spore Evolution’ for now; I’ll wait until my mind has fully recovered.”

Li Shengjiang had spent over five days inside the game, and apart from essential needs, he hadn't showered. Now disheveled and utterly exhausted, he thought, “Finally, I can take a shower.”

Despite his body being utterly exhausted, he felt mentally invigorated and full of energy. He stripped and entered the bathroom, gazing at himself in the mirror. He noticed the bright, profound depth in his eyes. “What’s happening? Why is my vital energy so strong? My hair used to be dry and my face pale from years of working for the company; how did I become like this?”

Xu Zhi had already sensed Li Shengjiang’s departure from the game. While lamenting the Alchemist Emperor’s demise, he also silently understood everything that was happening to Li Shengjiang.

“The Alchemist Emperor’s vital energy, to some extent, transferred back to him.”

Though the Alchemist Emperor was a slime smaller than an ant, he was immensely powerful. His tiny, ant-like body contained energy comparable to that of a dozen adult humans and could effortlessly kill countless individuals. Now, even though only a small portion of that mental energy reverted to him, it was sufficient to nourish his physical body.

“His physical strength has reached human limits, akin to that of a dedicated athlete, but he will never be able to transcend into the extraordinary realm.” Xu Zhi shook his head, picking up his water cup and murmuring softly, “People in reality have genes that are too ordinary; they are just normal beings. Without integrating the Evil Eye gene, they cannot possess wizard potential or enter the extraordinary cultivation system.”

However, with the Alchemist Emperor’s death and the close of a great era, it was time to address the upcoming challenges. In the current Wizard World, many still harbored thoughts of rebellion. They aimed to act against Almin after the Alchemist Emperor’s death, as Almin had no significant achievements and appeared to possess ordinary strength.

“But how could Li Shengjiang not have left a contingency plan?”

Xu Zhi shook his head. “Ordinary strength? That’s laughable. Almin is already a Level Six Wizard. While she isn’t proficient in alchemy and hasn’t inherited much of the Alchemist Emperor’s talent to expand upon, she has developed her own unique Wave Witchcraft. When she dons her alchemical body, she becomes a Level Seven Epic—a relatively weaker Epic Wizard compared to Li Shengjiang, but more than sufficient to suppress these individuals.” Their rebellion would only lead to their own downfall. In fact, this was all part of Li Shengjiang’s deliberate plan. He had deliberately shown weakness to incite rebellion, allowing Almin, upon her ascension, to use the opportunity to entrap and suppress those wizard sects who had long planned insurgency, thereby establishing her authority.

“These people are no concern; they are merely walking to their demise. Medusa, however, is the true threat.”

Xu Zhi frowned slightly. “Medusa is already nearing the demigod realm, reaching the pinnacle of human potential, and has long begun researching methods to achieve godhood. Almin is still too inexperienced and likely won’t be able to withstand her.”

“Li Shengjiang’s method of opening the third gene with potions wasn’t the orthodox path; that’s a technology-based route to genetic enhancement. We need to see if Medusa can break through to demigod status, truly pioneer the path to godhood, advance to the third gene level, and ignite the divine flame.”

Xu Zhi thought for a moment, then looked at the evolution sandbox. “Since the Alchemist Emperor is dead, it’s time to introduce these players.” Medusa needed pressure to push her further into the demigod realm, perhaps even to forge a path to godhood itself!

“Let this crucial pressure for her breakthrough come from the invasion of evil gods from another world. It’s time to raise the world’s tier once more.”

A slight smile played on Xu Zhi’s lips: What kind of sparks would fly when the terrifying evil entity, composed of countless aggregated players, crossed into another world, bringing forth the Fourth Great Calamity?

“And with the arrival of an evil god from another dimension, capable of destroying all living beings, I should also refine the background lore of the Wizard World.” Xu Zhi silently put his plan into motion. “Let’s give them a show.”