The Alchemist's Guide to Flesh and Blood Ascension

After finally making contact with the elusive teaching assistant, Tedes quickly set off to visit the "Heisenberg" laboratory.

When he knocked on the door, Yunevo was holding a colorless solvent in test tube forceps and shaking it on the outer flame of the Magic Source Firestone.

"Two minutes, find a seat first."

Tedes nodded, casually pulled out a stool and sat down, taking in the room, which was completely different from the magic laboratory, while waiting.

All sorts of glassware, miniature machines whose names I don't know... there isn't a single magical instrument to be seen here.

"Surprised?" Yunevo finished what he was doing and turned around.

"I just find it very special. I thought that an alchemist's laboratory like yours would be filled with a lot of magical traces."

Tedes carefully chose his words. For this family genius, who had a broad range of knowledge, everything today had been an eye-opener.

"Magic is just another form of tool; I only need this one that I can trust."

The black-robed alchemist's words were exactly what Tedes had come for. He took a deep breath: "Assistant, that is exactly what I've come for."

"Does your simple dragon's breath device... mean that the monk's decades of ascetic practice are no longer necessary?"

"If everyone used such external tools..."

Eunice placed a nail and a glowing crystal on the table and asked, "If you had a plank of wood that needed to be nailed to the wall, what would you choose?"

"Nail, no doubt, Mr. Teaching Assistant."

Yonivore nodded, answering his own question: "And what about lighting? Naturally, we'll need crystal."

"The only difference between tools is whether they are suitable or not. The issue is not whether to use them or not, but how to use them appropriately."

"What makes us human is our ability to understand, create, and even transcend tools—all paths lead to the same goal, and everyone is using their own way to understand and change the world."

The black-robed alchemist rose, his fingertips brushing against the glass vessel behind him, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"These devices are not sustained by magic, yet they can perform functions that surpass those of magical instruments..."

"And magic, such as the simple [Spirit Vision], allows me to better observe the flow of magical energy, while [Perception] allows me to see the degree of affinity between different medicinal herbs."

"What we should become is... thoughtful craftsmen who always pursue 'why' and 'how to do it better' when using tools."

Tedes stared at the two items on the table, the blinding white light of the lesson and the hissing of molten metal echoing in his mind.

The laboratory fell into an inexplicable silence, with only the equipment still in operation.

The once "slightly stubborn" prodigy felt a sense of relief wash over him, and he gave a relieved smile: "I understand, thank you, this is more helpful than any tutoring..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the laboratory door was suddenly pushed open again!

Professor Marcus, carrying a scroll of parchment, strode in with a ruddy complexion, his purple-gold robes stirring a gentle breeze.

"Look, I specifically recommended you for the lecturer assessment! It's next Wednesday, and the review committee will be personally supervising the exam. If you pass... your privileges will definitely be elevated!"

"Professor Marcus, I don't recall agreeing to anything in that regard."

The old professor chuckled, knowing he was in the wrong, and shrank back, spreading the parchment on the table and stepping aside to let Tedes, who knew he was leaving, pass.

"Act first, report later! The council has personally given you the green light... All you need to do is pass the final battle! Any means are acceptable!"

"At the same time, I deeply apologize for my abrupt decision. I just felt that you shouldn't have been overshadowed by your role as a teaching assistant."

It's impossible for a person to be completely selfless.

Marcus's idea was simple: to use this "extremely simple" test to further bind the legendary alchemist to Tus's camp.

"I apologize again. Tus's resource library will be fully open to you... Please forgive my abruptness."

Tsk... This old man has played both the good guy and the bad guy.

Yunevo clicked his tongue, his refusal seeming to be a slap in the face to Tus Academy...

Whether it was Iserlia's enrollment or the perks she was receiving these days, he couldn't find any excuse to refuse.

The alchemist sighed and dismissed the old professor, saying, "I understand, I will participate."

But perhaps no one would have guessed that this man, once hailed as the most talented mage... had long since lost the opportunity to advance his magical abilities.

His magic power is restricted to the second tier, and it only decreases and never increases... Sooner or later, he won't even be able to activate the [Perception] spell.

Yonivore opened a notebook protected by three layers of restrictions. It was filled with densely packed text that did not belong to this world.

He, who was "far ahead" on the path of alchemy, would occasionally ask himself, was it all really worth it?

He traded his entire life's magical talent for the complete preservation of those memories...

Every formula, every theorem, and even the data in experiments, accurate to several decimal places.

The wisdom of an entire civilization is imprinted deep within his soul, indelible and clearly visible.

Anyway, he had considered becoming a teacher, especially now...

It's just a different world, and he continues to "teach"?

It started raining in Starmoke at some point.

Yonivore closed the "forbidden" notebook and just then saw Iseria peeking in from the doorway.

The girl's off-white hair was still damp with moisture. She had rushed to the laboratory as soon as get out of class was over, then took out freshly made honey tea bags and brewed a cup for herself.

"Professor Marcus 'inadvertently' told me that there will be an assessment about you next Wednesday."

"Yonev... I can barely see any magical energy emanating from you."

She pursed her lips and continued, "If those who are still against you find out this, they might try every means to get you out of the academy."

Iseria's expression gradually hardened. She raised her head, looked at the composed Yunevo, and smiled.

"Yonev will always find a way, right? Even if he doesn't, even if I'm expelled from the academy... I will leave with you, no matter where we are."

The black-robed alchemist also laughed out loud, gazing at the starry sky above Starmok through the laboratory's glass.

"I had a dream where the people there didn't have magic, but they could touch the stars."

"Unable to sing, yet its voice can travel thousands of miles to be heard."

"They told me that true power is never a gift of talent, but something that humanity seizes from chaos through wisdom and courage..."

"The spark."

His tone carried a hint of nostalgia and regret; perhaps for this alchemist, it was all just a dream.

But it was also the most real and beautiful dream.