Above Destiny

Chapter 811 Not Harmonious, Not Simple

Beneath the Celestial Pivot, beneath layers of sealing off, lies a region isolated and strictly guarded by countless creations, a vast library revered as a place of mystery and taboo.

The association has collected the vast majority of precious books, traditions and theories over the centuries, the once priceless formulas and many cultural relics that laid the foundation for the history of modern alchemy, as well as the techniques left behind by many extinct schools, the published and unpublished achievements of craftsmen and masters throughout the ages... and even the latest research and breakthroughs from the deepest depths.

Countless, endless to behold!
For any craftsman, it is an absolute treasure trove, a treasure trove so vast that it makes any craftsman despair of their own talent.

It is said that even if one were to begin learning from these things as soon as they could speak, even a genius might not be able to master even a tenth or a twelfth of them in their entire life.

When the gate opened before Ji Jue's eyes, the magnificent scene took his breath away.

As part of the advance payment he received, Jiang Tongguang promised that he or someone he designated would be able to study freely in the Great Library for a week.

Except for a very few "ultimate" level taboo assessment theories that are off-limits, all others can be viewed and studied at will.

Letting mice into the rice bin is an example of this.

After getting through the initial ten minutes or so of being overwhelmed by the choices, Ji Jue began to select items more selectively and then started memorizing them.

Revered as one of the origins of the Embers, and the oldest surviving alchemical text, the sixteen editions of the Emerald Catalogue, compiled and preserved by various parties, were examined. They explored every medium, including but not limited to stone tablets, papyrus, ethereal reflections, and fragmentary spirit imprints, before setting them aside.

The origins of things that are too lofty and ancient are only worth looking at occasionally. I've read countless analyses related to Ji Jue, and I've basically mastered what I need to know and understand. Even if I really wanted to trace back to the source, now is not the time; it's too unrealistic.

Then there's the lost legacy of "The Theory of Metal Transformation," which discusses the changes and influences between metal and soul; "The Six Interpretations of the Red Liquid Transformation," which recounts the transformation and sacrifice of life; "The Scroll of White Frost," which describes the end of the entropy system; "The Seventy-Seven Treatises," a heretical text that records numerous conflicting theories; and "The Secret of Yellow Sprout Purple Gold," which elevates the soul and life of craftsmen through rebirth and spheres...

In the past, countless masters would spend their life savings to wait in line for approval and to study the secret documents they wanted to examine. Now, they were laid out in front of Ji Jue like cabbages, for him to devour and ravenously devour.

It is the core of many schools of thought and traditions. The profoundness of its conception goes without saying, and the depth of its insights is admirable. In just a few words, it succinctly outlines the direction and essence.

After watching for just one hour, Ji Jue's forehead began to throb and his vision blurred.

There's no time to think it through carefully, so memorize it first and try to understand it later.

It's only a week, not a time to use it all at once. He can just break it down and memorize a bunch at a time, and then come back to memorize it again after he understands it thoroughly.

Ji Jue didn't hide his little scheme from anyone, and the association didn't hold him back on this point. Anyway, they had already given him the benefits, so he could use them however he wanted.

As long as it's ensured that Ji Jue won't spread the information indiscriminately after going out, all insights, understandings, and theories gained from this are not subject to restrictions.

The Great Archives are indeed valuable, but not that valuable.

For craftsmen, this represents a rare accumulation of knowledge and experience. But even if one immerses themselves in old books for a long time, will they necessarily become a master craftsman? And which of the three masters was cultivated through a large library?

The Grand Archives' strict secrecy serves not only to ensure its rarity as an association reward but also to prevent the proliferation of overly lofty or even contradictory traditions that could cause problems.

The artisan's amazing wisdom combined with their creative thinking, plus a few random gadgets, who knows what they might end up with.

Regardless of what others are like, for Ji Jue now, these theories and traditions are of no use other than serving as references and accumulations.

Human energy is finite and must be prioritized for the most important things.

Each school of thought, and even each craftsman, has its own established path, preferred techniques, and research direction.

Ji Jue has already gone too far down the path of three-phase circulation, so there's no need for him to lose sight of the bigger picture and neglect his own projects.

The foundation laid by his teacher was so solid that it has enabled him to maintain his direction and avoid getting lost in the temptations of various theories.

After superficially understanding and memorizing many traditions, Ji Jue focused his main energy on the category of "Changes Between Heaven and Man".

The association's records contain countless examples of celestial achievements. From the Federation to the Empire, from the chaotic era to the present, both normal and abnormal, they are numerous and impressive.

After skimming through a few books, I gained a lot of new insights into Ji Jue himself.

Although the paths to achievement differ and the final results vary, the general direction from the initial brilliance of the raw stone to reaching the level of a celestial being, then breaking through to become a sage, and even pointing towards the realm of total control, is already roughly visible before our eyes.

Inspiration, transformation, rebirth, transcendence.

The four realms are merely the foundation for creating raw stones.

The chosen ones seek blessings through divine connection with the highest good to which they belong, starting by perfecting themselves, then correcting reality, changing the world, and even altering the past and the future.

Before the celestial beings, the single supreme good serves as a guide, enabling them to achieve their original state as the raw stone. After the celestial beings, based on the time wedge, they weave together multiple supreme goods, gradually exploring the origin or end they pursue.

In this process, from a tiny point, intricate patterns are formed; from a single hue, a vibrant array of colors is created. Even through the weaving of brocade, it extends to the beginning and end of all things.

Past and future, beginning and end, origin and doom... everything is contained within this magnificent tapestry of phenomena.

In this way, the highest good and the chosen ones complement each other, verify each other, and contrast each other, merging into one in near-infinite proximity.

Compared to the patterns of the celestial beings, Ji Jue is now nothing more than a tiny pixel in an endless tapestry, a node formed by the overlapping and interwoven warp and weft threads.

No matter how much it expands, how much it spreads, or how much power it wields, it will still be confined to this point.

This is an absolute difference in size and quality. No matter how dazzling the moon in the mirror is, it can never compare to the moon. And no matter how brilliant the firefly is, it can never match the brilliance of the sun.

Simply put, the celestial beings beat him as easily as beating a dog.

The existence of the Time Wedge has allowed the Celestials to anchor themselves within the brocade, elevating them to a higher level of form.

Ji Jue, on the other hand, hadn't even finished the prototype of the Time Wedge—the Circle Realm.

The realm of transcendent status is itself the foundation and origin of the time wedge between heaven and man, just like pulling the warp and weft of a brocade, overlapping each other, and tying a 'knot' called Ji Jue.

With so many traditions in his possession, including the legacy of sages who advocated non-aggression and the subtle influence of the sharp edge of change, Ji Jue was fully capable of untangling the knot.

But now, it's just a little bit short...

He was still outside the door.

It's been so long, and there hasn't been a single sound from this broken door!

Or rather, it exists, and compared to others it's already ridiculously fast, but for Ji Jue who urgently needs a qualitative change, it's still too slow.

Can't this kind of breakthrough be like rebirth, where you just take a nap and it's all over?
He started to panic.

Seeing his eyes turn black and his head throbbed with pain, Ji Jue sighed weakly and walked out of the large library. After passing through many checkpoints, he wondered where to get something to eat, and then, once again, he saw Jiang Tongguang.

"I thought you were going to stay inside for seven days."

Jiang Tongguang joked, "Looks like you've had quite a haul."

"Yes."

Ji Jue nodded, took the wine glass handed to him, and drank it all in one gulp. He immediately felt a chill slide down his throat, explode in his stomach, and spread throughout his body. He shivered involuntarily, his fatigue vanished, and he felt refreshed.

nice one!
"By the way, doesn't the association have any other receptionists?" Ji Jue asked in confusion, "Why is it that you, as a director, are running around doing everything?"

"..."

Jiang Tongguang's expression twitched, and he hesitated before speaking: "You don't even look at how much trouble you've caused. If someone else were in your shoes, could they handle it?"
"Since the association has given you face, you shouldn't take it for granted, okay?"

"Okay, okay, okay." Ji Jue nodded.

That is, Jiang Tongguang, also known as Ji Jue. Neither of them took the position of director seriously, and they talked without any restraint, just like drinking buddies who had arranged a meal together. If it were either of these two or anyone else, the two sides would have to maintain a social distance of 100,000 meters and have 8 million thoughts when they talked.

"What is it that has troubled you to come all this way?" Ji Jue asked. "Is it about to begin now?"

"Not now, but not too late either. Just be prepared at any time."

In the deathly silent hall, Jiang Tongguang didn't explain in detail, but simply turned around and led the way: "Come with me, the benefits you received in advance have arrived."

He said, "Someone wants to see you."

"Who?"

Seeing his serious and earnest expression, Ji Jue was slightly taken aback, then realized what he meant, and then... couldn't help but feel disgusted, making no attempt to hide it: "Old dog, you finally can't help but bark again?"

Why do I always put pressure on myself?
Can't they find someone else to take advantage of them?

"Be serious, it's not what you think!"

Jiang Tongguang turned around and earnestly reminded him: "Stay respectful, stay humble, and never be negligent or offensive in any way, understand?"
Otherwise, even if that person is magnanimous and doesn't pursue the matter, the association won't side with you. If you speak arrogantly, eighty percent of the craftsmen will consider you their enemy.

He said, "The one who wants to see you is Your Excellency the Carrion Eater."

In an instant, Ji Jue's expression changed drastically, and his frivolous and nonchalant demeanor vanished.

He ran his hands through his hair, combed it thoroughly, shook the dust off his clothes, and solemnly removed the master badge from his chest, replacing it with the emblem of Chaosheng Workshop.

The spirited young man stood at attention.

Meticulous!
"Even if you're serious, is it really necessary to be this serious?"

The old lady on the recliner looked at Ji Jue and sighed softly, "Xiao Jiang, have you scared the young man too much? When have I ever had such a bad temper?"

"...Before I came, I told him that if he offended you, the association would definitely hold him accountable, and eighty percent of the craftsmen would become his enemies."

Jiang Tongguang brought over two cups of tea and covered the old lady's knees with a thin blanket: "However, he doesn't care about these consequences at all."

He paused, looked at the bastard's solemn expression, and sighed helplessly: "Don't worry, sir, the reason he's so serious is definitely not because of me."

"It sounds like I still have some popularity."

The old lady smiled wryly, and after Jiang Tongguang left, she raised her hand and patted the chair next to her, saying to Ji Jue, "Sit down first. Standing all the time is uncomfortable for you and for me too."

"Yes."

Ji Jue sat upright and respectfully presented his numerous papers with both hands, including but not limited to those that had been published and those that had not, and even included his notes from his apprenticeship and his professional papers from the School of Mechanical Engineering.

These are all requests from the scavengers. Any theoretical work is acceptable, but try not to omit anything. If it is really inconvenient to show the details, just write a general overview.

After all, it was rare for the old lady to show interest in instructing the younger generation, so I couldn't be ungrateful.

In the entire world today, there is no one better than him when it comes to teaching, nurturing, and guiding people through difficulties!

The results are genuine and verifiable.

For four hundred years, she has tirelessly taught and nurtured countless talents. None of those she taught were mediocre. Even those who were ordinary but occasionally showed promise were able to gain some understanding after being guided by her.

It consumes all the rotten toxins and then expels the old and takes in the new.

It marks the transition between classical and modern alchemy, severing the ignorance and drawbacks of the ancient tradition, and lowering the threshold for alchemy to the greatest extent, allowing even mediocre people to enter the realm of the embers and achieve something.

Without her leadership and rallying call, without her four hundred years of perseverance, there would be no association today and no modern alchemy today.

Unlike Tianlu, the man before him, in terms of both his actions and moral character, deserves Ji Jue's utmost respect.

"Not bad, good, interesting... There was a bit of assumption here, um, it was changed later, it's good now."

The scavenger, wearing glasses, scanned the text like an old teacher reviewing homework, offering occasional comments: "The direction of the three-phase flow is correct, but this direction is too high and too far. It will probably take decades or even hundreds of years to gradually perfect it."

Compared to the fluid alchemy passed down by sages, the foundation of solid alchemy is too weak, while the development of gaseous alchemy is too extreme.

If you're not careful, it might limit your future development. As for how to do it, you'll have to figure it out yourself. Just take notes and find a few books in the main library...

The Yeh Enneagram has been modified quite a bit, and well, there is still a lot of potential for improvement, but the idea is very good.

Some things from the past... well, they're all in the past. It's better to have nothing of the past than to worship it. Ah-Xian did a good job in that respect, and you've learned well too."

As she spoke, she took out the paper that had sacrificed quantity for quality, set it aside, shook her head and sighed, repeating her usual comments:

"Although it's well-written, please don't write like that again."

"Ah? Okay, okay!"

Ji Jue nodded repeatedly in assurance.

"You're already a master, so be mindful of your image. There's no need to hold a grudge over trivial matters. If you're really dissatisfied, just fight back. Sometimes it's even okay to put on a show of authority, but there are some things you should always be mindful of."

She turned around, looking serious: "Many apprentices have accumulated points over several years, and they may only have one or two chances to turn their lives around in their lifetime."

This approach is indeed feasible, but ultimately unsuitable for them, and might even have the opposite effect. If they blindly follow you and become superstitious about it, even going astray because of it, wouldn't you regret it then?

"...You're right, I've learned a lot."

Ji Jue nodded, completely convinced.

The carrion eater laughed and continued reading.

From the beginning until now, apart from theoretical comments and communication, this is the only request made to Ji Jue.

There were no other words spoken.

He didn't care at all about moral character, personal qualities, or even Ji Jue's own contradictions.

It's possible that they were completely unaware.

But whenever her gaze fell upon him, Ji Jue always felt as if he were being pricked by thorns. Just like a craftsman scrutinizing raw materials, seeing through them perfectly.

It's as if, based solely on a few dry academic papers, the whole picture has been sketched out, and even more has been revealed...

But she didn't mention it at all, as if she didn't know anything about it.

Perhaps?
Perhaps, it's simply a matter of not caring.

"I haven't seen such a tricky situation in a long time." When she put down her paper, her expression suddenly became complicated, and she sighed with pity: "Being a teacher must be very tiring and hard."

"..."

Ji Jue hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

He felt that he got along well with his teacher, it was easy and simple, and he felt no burden on either side.

Wait, isn't that right?!
(End of this chapter)