Unable to repay my student loans, I had no choice but to work part-time as a demon hunter.

Earl Montfort clapped, his expression calm and his clapping earnest.

Only this time, on this day, at this very moment, did he truly respect and support Gordon.

The applause from the other guests was barely acceptable.

It was a moderate move, neither offending the Monford family nor being misunderstood as being favored.

In the private rooms on the second floor, people were looking into the distance with monoculars.

"Gordon Vick? Have you heard of him?"

"It seems to be one of my son's classmates."

"It's said he doesn't have formal alchemist qualifications..."

"The young man's courage is commendable."

"I think they've lost their minds..."

Then, the ceremony officer made the announcement.

"In accordance with the tradition of the exchange, the three candidates will choose the source that will influence the future path in the presence of the guests."

The hall became completely silent.

Charlotte took a deep breath and displayed perfect poise.

Countless eyes fell on her.

Everyone was looking at her...

Charlotte did not stop after experiencing "the myriad forms of the universe".

Next, she walked past the dark gold "Command Will".

Finally, Charlotte stopped in front of the "pure and perfect being" that was as transparent as a diamond.

Charlotte could feel the gaze of thousands of people in the arena. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I choose this one." Charlotte placed her hand gently on the cabinet, stating her decision.

People took a deep breath and watched the scene intently.

And so, Charlotte embarked on the path to perfection.

Vidore was the second to step forward.

She paused before the dark gold "Command Will".

The Cavendish family's advisors once provided a 30-page assessment report, believing that it possessed a certain degree of "crown" qualities and could enhance mental stability and provide a certain degree of leadership qualities.

No one knows whether this judgment is right or wrong, but Vidoly has accepted the risk.

"I choose it."

Gordon looked at the fine golden lines radiating outward from the dark golden crystal and nodded secretly.

Luanna was the last to step forward.

She stood before "the myriad forms without fixed shape" for longer than the other two.

Judging from the Ravenhurst family's sources, this source material has high activity and excellent adaptability. It carries certain risks, but it may also bring good potential and adaptability.

"Then, I'll keep this one," Luanna said softly.

Gordon looked at the ever-changing shape of the light, then at Luanna, whose skin was pale, her black hair curly, and her eyes held a kind of eager enthusiasm.

The fates of three people, represented by three Source Essences, were thus settled.

The master of ceremonies raised his cane and struck the stage.

thump—

The doors to the three refining rooms opened simultaneously.

Master Bradshaw of Midas Industries greeted Luanna and entered Refinery Room Number Three with two assistants.

"Mercury Sage" Herman approached Vidori, whispered a few words to her, and then walked into the second refining room with several disciples.

"Gordon." Charlotte looked at him.

"Okay." Gordon nodded. "Time to get to work."

The guards opened the central storage cabinet, escorted the "Pure Perfect Being" into Refinement Room One, placed the cabinet in the location designated by Gordon, and then turned and left.

Gordon walked into the refining room.

"Trust me." He turned and smiled at Charlotte.

Charlotte returned the same gentle smile.

"I know. I've always believed in you."

The brass isolation door slowly closed.

Before the last crack in the door disappeared, the clearest impression left in Gordon's mind was still Charlotte's beautiful, azure eyes.

Inside the refining room, only the low hum of machinery could be heard.

He turned around, and the entire stainless steel reactor was waiting, with pressure gauges, thermometers, drip racks, sedimentation chambers, and separation chambers arranged in sequence.

On the other side is the invaluable medium-sized source material, "Pure Perfect Existence," which resembles a jewel and is protected by a crystal frame, with no flaws on any of its facets.

Gordon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He took out "The Rhythm of a Shallow Dream," pressed the button, and then held it to his ear to listen.

Clatter, clatter.

60 seconds later.

When he opened his eyes again, Gordon's smile had faded, leaving only a pure focus.

The other two masters have legendary resumes and many years of professional experience.

Gordon has a pair of unique eyes, and a client he must never let down.

Refining begins.

He opened the preheating valve of the reactor, and steam surged from deep within the brass pipes.

The temperature inside the reactor rose rapidly.

Gordon checked the seal and insulation, then put on gloves, opened the crystal case, and took out "Pure Perfect Existence".

It looks like a diamond composed of countless perfectly cut facets. When illuminated, the intense light spreads out in layers on the inside, forming a symmetrical internal structure like a palace.

As he watched, Gordon suddenly noticed something was amiss.

No, the light comes from something deeper.

This diamond-like outer shell is not the source substance at all; it can only be described as a spiritual shell that has been encasing the source substance for many years. Due to the influence of "perfection," the shell also appears flawless, conforming to human imagination of treasures.

If it is refined together with the source substance, the spirituality within the outer shell will become an unfilterable impurity, contaminating the entire bottle of potion.

He first needs to "rescue" the source from within.

Gordon secured it, aimed with the Divine Line, first gently tapped the crystal surface to listen to the main structure, then polished and salvaged it, constantly breaking the outer spiritual crystal through cutting and vibration.

As the fine wire moves at high speed, tiny cracks first appear on the surface of the crystal, eventually forming a network, and then turning into layers of fish-scale-like fragments.

He initiated synchronous transmission, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

This action must not be too fast or too rough, and must not damage the source substance itself.

After polishing away the outermost crystalline shell, Gordon placed the source material into the sedimentation chamber and added sedimentation salt to crystallize it.

When the two collide, the last hard fragments are completely separated from the source material.

The source substance finally revealed its true form.

Like a pure white pearl.

Any alchemist who ignores this fact will treat the diamond-like outer layer as the source material and process it.

[A perfectly pure existence. A sphere in a vacuum.]

Gordon rescued the source.

He took a deep breath, then put all his effort into scraping off the tiny bits of debris from the "pearl," one by one.

The milky white light became even purer.

Then, Gordon put it into the heating chamber to begin activating its extraordinary properties.

He fine-tuned the temperature to find the most suitable temperature for it.

-100 degrees Celsius, 0 degrees Celsius, 50 degrees Celsius, 100 degrees Celsius...

I can't find it no matter what I do.

The source light maintained a dim brightness, only flickering occasionally when the temperature rose.

Does it require a higher temperature?

It is not content with mediocrity; it is pursuing the perfect amount of heat.

Gordon took a deep breath and looked at the temperature control device.

The temperature inside the reactor is currently 300 degrees Celsius; anything higher would be considered experimental.

"..." Gordon gritted his teeth.

He wouldn't stop trying until he saw it radiate its dazzling brilliance.

He wanted to see that moment!

Gordon opened the material preparation cabinet.

[The furnace is a crystallization of spiritual essence. The furnace resides at the zenith, where even the sun is but raw material awaiting molten metal.]

He poured the scarlet crystals into the combustion tank and pushed them into the reaction vessel.

burn!

Orange-red flames rose in the reactor, and a spiritual fire suddenly blazed brightly.

No one would risk processing the source material to that temperature.

But Gordon was determined to find the most suitable range.

The temperature was probably over a thousand degrees, Gordon stared intently.

In an instant—

The light of the source suddenly shone brightly!

Gordon's vision was scorching white, the pain brought tears to his eyes, and his vision was distorted by the bright light. The glare had definitely damaged his eyes.

He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and pounded the ground with his Blackthorn Plum cane.

Gordon no longer relies on vision to confirm the status, but only senses the presence of every tiny substance inside the reactor through the information transmitted by his cane.

Is the temperature... right?

Gordon desperately opened his eyes a crack.

[A state of pure, perfect existence. Awaiting the temperature of true perfection.]

Why isn't it perfect yet?

These words are imprinted on Gordon's retina.

We've reached our limit!

It can't get any warmer unless...

Gordon gritted his teeth and plunged the divine thread deep into the vent, allowing the manifested thread to penetrate into the ultra-high-temperature furnace.

It neither breaks nor burns, but under Gordon's will, it entangles the source matter suspended on the support.

Then, it removed the source matter from the support and moved it downwards, allowing it to approach the blazing spiritual fire below.

Get close to the flames!

The temperature is getting higher and higher...

The sounds outside became muffled, but Gordon was drenched in sweat and completely unaware of it.

His entire attention was focused on the source matter.

He even forgot that this was a ceremony that the whole city was watching, forgot how many people were waiting outside, and forgot how many gold pounds this source material was worth.

He felt like he was about to fly.

Now, its light is really, really bright.