Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

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"How...how did you know this name?"

"It's really you."

Isaac threw his cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out, then looked at the terrified Edward in front of him.

"How did you get from Amestris to Munich? Fullmetal Alchemist - Edward Elric."

Edward finally realized that the person in front of him knew about his world, and was very likely someone he knew.

Corporal Isaac, do you have memories of that world?

“Corporal my foot, I’m not the Isaac you know,” Isaac said calmly. “There’s a difference between your Amestris and my Amestris. I’m a State Alchemist there, and a Lieutenant General at that.”

"Huh?"

"Hey my foot! Am I really that unlike someone who can achieve something great?"

"No, to put it another way... my mind is a bit muddled, let me calm down first."

Isaac's words threw Edward into confusion.

The man before him, Isaac, had come from Amestris just like him, but the Amestris he came from seemed to be from a completely different world than the Amestris he lived in.

"Then... how did you get here?" Edward suddenly asked. "Did you die in your own world too?"

"I'm perfectly fine. I just easily passed through the Gate of Truth and got here."

"The Gate of Truth!?" Edward exclaimed in horror, "You didn't... use human transmutation? That's forbidden!"

“I don’t think you’re the most qualified person to say that to me,” Isaac laughed. “I’m used to human transmutation, but not for resurrecting someone; it’s more about achieving a purpose.”

"..."

Upon hearing this, Edward sighed and sat down on the earthen ground, saying softly, "I also... used human transmutation to get here through the door, in order to resurrect Al."

"Did your brother come back to life?"

"I don't know, and I'm not sure if it succeeded or not, but it probably failed," Edward said with a wry smile. "Human transmutation has been a false proposition from the beginning; it's impossible to bring the dead back to life."

Do you want to go back?

"Of course I want to, but it's unlikely that I'll be able to open the door again. Alchemy is not usable in this world, neither my dad nor I can use it."

Chapter 963: This is how alchemy is used

"Can't we use alchemy... As far as I know, alchemy has no dimensional limitations. As long as there is crustal movement in the current world, we can obtain energy to transform the form of matter."

"Tectonic movement?"

Edward looked puzzled, as if he had heard something strange.

"Yes, the energy of alchemy is generated by the movement of the earth's crust. The world we live in now is 'Earth', right? As long as the earth is still there, the movement of the earth's crust will continue. How could we not be able to use alchemy?"

"The energy of alchemy...is it the movement of the earth's crust?"

"Yeah, what else did you think it was?"

“No, this is completely different from the alchemy I know,” Edward said excitedly. “Dad once said that the energy used in alchemy comes from the other side of the ‘door,’ which is this world. People who die in this world become the energy consumed by alchemy in our world.”

"Such a thing is true?"

Isaac frowned.

Although the two worlds are largely similar, I never expected that even the basic principles of alchemy are different.

If, as Edward said, the alchemists of Amestris in his land consume the energy generated by the deaths of people in this world when they use alchemy, then he indeed cannot use alchemy here.

Because the energy currently used by the world to power alchemy is flowing to the other side of the door.

"So how do you want to get back?"

"During my time in Germany, I've been working with Alphonse on rocket boosters. Maybe once we're in space, we can find our way back," Edward chuckled. "Isn't there ether in the universe?"

"Ether? The Michelson-Morley experiment to find a frame of reference for light?" Isaac immediately realized what Edward was talking about. "Have you read any of Einstein's books?"

"Why are you asking me this? My dad already asked me the same question. Einstein's theory is too fake."

"It just can't be proven. Do you know the two most mysterious things in physics today?"

“I know, blackbody radiation and the search for the ether as a frame of reference for light,” Edward replied. “But Michelson’s experiment didn’t find the ether, so I thought maybe we could find it in the universe.”

In the early 19th century, scientists recognized that light has wave-like properties. They believed that light, like other waves, needs a medium to propagate. Since light can travel from the universe to the earth, there must also be mediums in the universe for transmitting light.

This medium is also known as ether.

However, Michelson's experimental data showed that no matter how much interference occurred, the speed at which light reached the velocimeter was always the same, which contradicted the original understanding of the characteristics of waves.

At that time, people came to a new conclusion: light has both wave and particle characteristics. Since it has particle characteristics, it does not need a medium to propagate, which is equivalent to disproving the existence of ether.

This also aligns with the views expressed in Einstein's theory of relativity.

“But you have to understand that the disciplines developed after the Michelson experiment required people to rethink relativity, and it was Einstein who proposed relativity,” Isaac said. “Even if you build a rocket and go to space, you can’t directly find the ether, because it’s hard to even be sure if it exists.”

"...When did you start studying physics?" Edward asked in surprise. "Didn't you want to study finance when you were in England?"

"I must be desperate for money in this world. Besides, alchemists are all scientists, so they need to know a little bit about this kind of knowledge."

"...Hearing you say that makes me feel like the hope of going back is very slim."

"Don't be discouraged, I'm here for you."

Isaac put his arm around Edward's shoulder and laughed.

"Due to the different alchemy systems, I can still use alchemy in this world, but... locating your world requires a bit of luck."

What are the odds?

"Less than 0.0001%".

"That's the same as not saying anything at all."

Clang!

Just as the two were talking, a figure stumbled and ran towards them.

Looking around, they saw Nona, the fortune teller they had met once before.

Why did she come here?

"They probably failed in their divination and their enemies came after them."

Isaac, seeing Nona's flustered expression, remained indifferent.

Nona seemed to spot Edward and Isaac, and ran towards them, then crawled into the carriage behind them and covered herself with a cloth.

"Hey! Don't get yourself into trouble, you jerk."

"That's too brutal."

Edward quickly grabbed Isaac, who was trying to drag Nona out of there.

At the same time, three men in plain clothes also arrived. They immediately spotted Isaac and his group, as well as the carriage behind them.

Ignoring the two bystanders, they walked straight to the carriage and pulled back the cloth covering it, revealing Nona hiding inside with her head in her hands.

"come over!"

Ignoring Nona's struggles, the man roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the carriage.

"No! Help me!"

She struggled to break free from the man's grasp and pleaded with Isaac and Edward for help.

Aisa still didn't intend to make a move, but Edward couldn't sit still any longer.

Hey! What are you two doing?! Let her go!

The man merely glared at Edward and said, "Mind your own business. This Gypsy has broken the contract."

“Did you hear that? They’ve already broken the contract.” Isaac shrugged. “This isn’t our fault…”

Before he could finish speaking, Edward rushed forward, shoving aside the man who was trying to take Nona away, and shielded Nona behind him.

"...You really are a busybody."

“There’s nothing I can do about it.” Edward was sweating profusely, but he still maintained a smile. “I can’t just ignore someone who’s calling for help.”

"Really……"

Isaac smiled slightly.

Regardless of which world Edward is from, his selfless dedication to others will never change.

He always manages to do things that Isaac could never do.

"You bastard!"

The three men glared angrily at Edward, pulling out pistols from their pockets and pointing them at them.

"That woman is someone we bought, get out of my way."

Seeing that the other party had already drawn his gun, Edward took a deep breath.

"I haven't used that in a long time."

He stretched out his hands and clasped them together instantly.

"..."

Nothing happened.