Alchemy Principles of Type-Moon World

"This barrier..." Xing Qingyu slowly withdrew his hand from the wooden door, and the weak magic circuit on his fingertips was disconnected with the movement. "It's just for blocking magic power. It's not a complicated warning mechanism. Just go in directly."

After saying that, he reached out and pushed open the wooden door without hesitation.

The scene behind the door startled everyone present.

Instead of the expected building interior, they found another tightly closed iron gate. The gate's surface was engraved with intricate magical patterns, flowing with a certain oppressive regularity and emitting a faint blue glow.

"It's also used to seal demons." Xing Qingfu's gaze narrowed as he leaned in closer, carefully observing the interlaced patterns. After a moment, he reached out and pushed tentatively, but there was no movement. "This structure... looks familiar. Could it be..."

He didn't give a direct answer, but turned to Patricia and said, "Wake up Guanyue Ringo first."

After everyone had squeezed into the narrow space between the two doors, Xing Qingfu turned and closed the first wooden door, reactivating the demon-sealing barrier above it. With the muffled thud of the wooden door closing, the other iron door, as if receiving a signal, glowed brightly with its lines, and then slowly opened.

A powerful, almost tyrannical storm of magical energy suddenly poured out from behind the iron gate. Like an invisible tide, the magic swept up the air in the room and rushed towards everyone, bringing a suffocating sense of oppression. Xing Qingqi frowned, blocking the oncoming airflow with his hand, muttering, "Damn, this environment has a low magic level... This old man is quite something, no wonder he set up such a standard access control system."

The concentration of magic power inside the building was several orders of magnitude higher than outside, as if trapped in a massive magical vortex. As Guanyue Ringo found her footing, her breathing became rapid, a look of pain crossing her face. The magic circuits on her body were instantly activated, and the fluorescent nerves on her body, like tattoos, appeared on her skin.

"If a magician with insufficient magic circuits were to come here, their circuits would probably explode," Kenneth said as he adjusted his own magic circuits to suit the environment. "The concentration of ambient magic is so high that it's already seeping into the magic circuits."

"It's a good thing I didn't bring Weber with me," Xing Qingfeng said jokingly. "It seems this old guy is better than most magicians I've seen. He even has some brains..."

However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Guanyue Ringo's exclamation: "Patty, why am I cheating?! Oh no, it's you who cheated?!"

Patricia was stunned, then looked down at her arms - under the strong effect of magic, her fair skin was covered with translucent green spots, like some kind of trace of photosynthesis.

"What the fxxk?!" Patricia widened her eyes, subconsciously took a step back, and rubbed her arms nervously.

"Did the high-magic environment cause your symbiote to react?" Xing Qingfeng quickly closed the iron door, trying to isolate the flow of magic inside. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

As the outer door reopened, the high concentration of magic power pouring into the room slowly diluted, and the green spots on Patricia's skin gradually faded. However, before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, Patricia suddenly began coughing violently. A moment later, blood oozed from the corner of her lips, and several clumps of blood, stained with algae, fell to the ground.

"Goodness," she panted, wiping the blood from her mouth with the back of her hand, and said weakly, "I think I know what's going on. The magic power difference in that environment just now is extremely similar to the ecological environment outside ORT."

"You mean," Xing Qing's eyes darkened slightly, "this laboratory is used to simulate the external environment of the ORT?"

"That's right." Guanyue Ringo helped the frail Patricia sit on the steps nearby, and said in a serious tone, "The algae symbiotically living on Patty's body are organisms that evolved in a high-magic environment."

Patricia raised her head and continued, "They are completely unable to adapt to the low-magic environment outside and refuse to consume normal nutrients. In their normal state, they barely maintain minimal function, releasing a small amount of magic power before entering a dormant state."

"Sounds like a pretty picky eater," Xing Qingfeng grumbled, "So that's how it's set up."

"That's why I was able to use magic even when my body was nearly broken," Patricia said. "Even though Xiaoyuan can't be used, I still have these algae to provide magic—"

"—Once the magic power homeostasis in my body is disrupted, these algae will enter a period of rampage. During this time, my body will also have a strong rejection reaction. However, once they start to absorb normal nutrients and start producing magic, the rejection reaction will disappear."

"Oh, I see," Xing Qingyu said after thinking for a moment, "A bunch of starving people suddenly saw a Manchu Han banquet and went crazy?"

"That's about it," Patricia smiled, but her tone was filled with helplessness. "They riot in a high-magic environment, and once they're out of that environment, their energy homeostasis is disrupted, triggering a rejection reaction from me. As long as they survive the rejection period, they'll start producing magic again, and once they go dormant again, everything will be fine."

"Not bad." Xing Qingfeng glanced at Patricia, confirmed her physical condition and nodded, "Are you still going in?"

Patricia took a deep breath and gently pressed her hand against her chest, as if sensing the flow of magic within her. "I... should be fine," she said slowly, then raised her head, her expression growing more resolute. "Besides, going deeper into the jungle is unavoidable anyway. It's better to discover problems here beforehand than to be forced to deal with them deep in the jungle."

After confirming that Patricia had recovered, they pushed open the inner door of the laboratory again and walked into the central building. As they entered the depths of the building, the air suddenly became thicker, carrying the damp smell of humus.

What came into view was a spacious hall, surrounded by neatly arranged pool-like structures. The flow of magic was smooth yet oppressive, as if entering a closed ecosystem. A damp, fishy, sweet smell lingered in the air, making one feel a little uneasy.

Xing Qingyu's eyes quickly scanned the room, trying to determine its purpose. But when he noticed the long rows of sinks lining the walls, his expression froze, and his stomach churned.

"Well," he frowned and quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth, his voice filled with a hint of uncontrollable disgust, "This is actually a fucking breeding farm?"

Inside the building, bright lights cast a cold glow throughout every corner. More than ten rectangular aquaculture ponds were neatly arranged along the walls. The bottoms of the ponds were inlaid with transparent quartz glass, allowing for a clear view of the interior. Most of the ponds were crammed with densely packed insects. Their forms varied, but they all had one thing in common:

——The back of the insect is completely transparent, and through the crystal shell you can see the bright red liquid flowing inside.

What is even more disturbing is that these insects are not still, but are wriggling slowly, and some are even lying on the wall of the pool, as if they are sensitive to the movements outside the pool.

"These bugs..." Xing Qingqi frowned, his expression clearly unhappy. "Damn, they make me uncomfortable no matter how I look at them."

"These... seem to be the creatures from the outer reaches of the ORT." Guanyue Ringo walked to a pond and carefully observed the insects. She extended a finger and gently touched the wall. The insects seemed to be stimulated and crawled towards her. The red substance under their transparent shells was particularly bright.

"It seems they're categorized and bred according to their different forms at different stages," Patricia whispered. She walked to the first pool near the entrance and pointed at some insects that were clearly younger than the others. "These look like first-instar nymphs, probably newly hatched."

Xing Qingfeng followed Patricia's instructions, his gaze sliding over each of the breeding pools. He slowly moved deeper, trying to get a clearer view of each one. Sure enough, the insects within each pool displayed subtle differences. The pools near the entrance were packed with tiny larvae, their transparent carapaces barely developed, and the red substance within them was merely a thin line, like an unfilled blood vessel. Meanwhile, in the pools near the center, the insects gradually grew in size, and the red substance grew richer.

In the deeper pools, each one was much larger than the previous ones. Their shells were crystal clear, and their backs were as transparent as amber, allowing the red substance inside to flow slowly.

"Wait, those pools aren't filled with bugs, they're filled with... algae?" Okita Souji approached a distinctive pool and bent down to examine it closely. A large number of algae floated on the surface, swaying gently with the current, occasionally emitting a faint fluorescent glow. The light was extremely faint, but it stood out against the cold light of the laboratory. "These algae look very similar to the ones that live symbiotically within the Master. Could they be feeding these bugs?"

Xing Qingqi crouched down to examine it carefully, then reached out and plucked up a small piece of floating algae, feeling its smooth, soft texture. Frowning slightly, he took a glass rod from the tool rack and tossed the scooped algae directly into a nearby pool teeming with insects. The insects, previously quietly clinging to the pool's walls and bottom, instantly became active, scrambling to squeeze through the algae, creating a chaotic scene. The squirm of the insects echoed incessantly, some even leaping a short distance to devour the algae at breakneck speed.

"Looks like they're starving," Xing Qingfeng straightened up and clapped his hands gently, his gaze still fixed on the pool where only the rippling water remained. "These algae are indeed their main food. It seems the purpose of cultivating these algae is to feed these insects."

"Not necessarily," Guanyue Ringo suddenly said, standing next to a pool of algae. He reached out and stirred the water, causing the translucent algae to gently disperse with the ripples. "In the high-magic environment outside ORT, this kind of algae can be found almost everywhere. There's no need to bother growing it."

"Then why does he want so many corpses?" Xing Qingyu pondered for a moment, then looked at the others, "Never mind, let's take a look around. Since this old man can make this place so serious--"

"—He should have left behind experimental logs, research reports, and the like."

Xing Qingfeng and several others searched nearly every corner of the aquaculture facility, from the workbench where the lab instruments were placed to the piles of debris behind the aquaculture ponds. They left no space untouched. However, most of the records in the aquaculture facility were either incomplete or consisted of seemingly insignificant data tables, as if something was deliberately hidden.

When they reached the deepest part of the breeding facility, an inconspicuous corner caught Kenneth's attention.

Several people immediately gathered around. The barrels were surprisingly clean, without any dust or odor, as if they had been cleaned regularly.

"This place is covered in residual stains, but these buckets are spotless." Okita Souji tapped the bucket wall with his scabbard, making a crisp echo. "Either this thing is too important, or its owner has an obsessive-compulsive disorder."

Xing Qingfeng raised an eyebrow, put on a pair of thin gloves, and gently lifted the lid of the bucket. The lid made a slight sound, and several people gathered around involuntarily, holding their breath and peering into the bucket.

The barrel was filled with finely shattered blue crystals, like crushed sapphire powder, shimmering faintly within. The crystals glowed faintly in the light, each one seemingly imbued with a tiny light source. The bluish glow reflected off the barrel's walls, creating a dreamy and eerie effect.

"Looks familiar." Xing Qingfeng crouched down, his fingertips lightly brushing over the crystals. He carefully plucked a handful from the bucket, placed it in his palm, and examined it closely. "I've seen this before, in that old man's base in the city."

Kenneth pulled out a portable flashlight and focused the beam onto a larger crystal fragment. The crystal instantly reflected a brighter blue light, as if activated. He pulled a small test tube containing a previously collected crystal sample from his pocket and compared the two.

"Whether it's the refractive index or the magic power content," Kenneth said as he observed, "primarily it seems they are the same substance."

Just as Xing Qingjiu was about to open another bucket, a sudden green shadow passed by. He turned his head sharply and saw Patricia's hand reaching into the bucket as if driven by something, grabbing a handful of crystals and trying to stuff them into her mouth.

　"Don't move so quickly!" Xing Qingyu was about to remind him, but the next second, his voice stopped abruptly and turned into a cry of astonishment, "Fuck! Brother... sister, just eat it directly?!"

Patricia had already placed the crystals in her mouth, a hint of satisfaction crossing her face. She chewed them, making a soft crunching sound, as if she were chewing rock candy. Guanyue Ringo, standing nearby, reached out to pull her back, but couldn't interfere with her movements at all, as if Patricia were being driven by some instinct.

"I can't help it!" Patricia mumbled as she chewed, her tone filled with helplessness, her eyes still fixed on the crystals in the bucket.

"That's enough!" Okita Souji couldn't stand it any longer. He stepped forward, lifted up Patricia, and dragged her away from the bucket. "Master, if you eat any more of this, you'll turn into a glowing being!"

After being lifted up, Patricia licked her lips, a trace of calmness appearing on her face. "But I think that after eating a handful, the agitation of algae in my body has indeed eased a lot." Her voice softened, as if with a hint of relief.

"...Don't tell me this is actually algae feed?" Xing Qingfeng's eyes widened, his tone tinged with disbelief. "Organic crystals similar to sugars...it's certainly possible."

He hesitated for a moment, then picked up a little crystal from the bucket, put it in his mouth and took a tentative bite. The crystal broke between his teeth, not as cold as he had imagined, but with a hint of warmth.

"It just doesn't have much flavor." He smacked his lips, his evaluation brief.

————————————————————

The next chapter will start with the diary left by this old man, and use the differences between the information provided by the clock tower and the old man’s diary and subsequent explorations to explain the changes in the periphery of ORT over the past few hundred years. That’s about it.

The above is a new book by a new author. Please vote and give me feedback. Thank you!

Volume 43: Symbiosis: . Cinderella

Several old journals were piled haphazardly on a corner of the square table, their covers yellowed and brittle by time, their edges curled. Some heavier books were piled haphazardly under the table.

Xing Qingqiu stood by the table, quickly flipping through the last diary in his hand before chuckling softly. "That's pretty much all the valuable records." He shook the diary disapprovingly and tossed it onto the pile of books under the table with a muffled thud. After gathering his thoughts, he said, "There's quite a bit of information. I've arranged it chronologically. We can sort it out slowly."

"But before that," Xing Qingfeng said with a smile, "let me show you some fun first."

He picked up a journal and turned to the first page, showing the words to the others.

"I'm leaving for Europe to study today. This is my first time traveling far away. My tribesmen, who usually treat me very strictly, unexpectedly allowed me to stay in Cusco for a week."

"This can be considered the beginning of a new life, so I specially changed to a new notebook to record it. I'm really looking forward to it."

"The first few diaries didn't contain much content, nor did they contain any substantial information," Xing Qingqi said, pointing to the one in his hand. "But starting from this one, some valuable information is finally mentioned."

As he spoke, he continued to read

"The Clock Tower is said to be a sacred place for magicians. As expected, there are many magicians my age here."

"But these magicians are divided into two factions—the aristocracy and the commoners. The aristocracy looks down on me, calling me a worthless piece of trash from a poor, rural family. The commoners think I'm from a noble family and can't be associated with them. So, both sides isolate me."

"But compared to the monotonous life in my family, this place is much better. It's really nice, Clock Tower."

"This old man doesn't seem to have had a normal childhood." Xing Qingqiu closed the book and looked at everyone meaningfully. "Looking at the previous diary entries, he was practically being trained as a tool to become the next clan leader."

"Most magicians' childhoods are like this." Kayneth sighed. "From a young age, we're given expectations and are burdened with the responsibilities of being a magician. We're instilled with family honor and responsibility, and lack the freedom of ordinary people."

"Are you still trying to empathize with me?" Xing Qingqi raised an eyebrow and said sarcastically, "Then tell me, what kind of bullshit responsibility have you all shouldered?"

"Hmm...revitalizing the family?" Kenneth paused, his tone tinged with disapproval. "To be honest, it seems pretty boring now. It feels like the past twenty years have been wasted."

"Even though I wasn't accepted by either faction, I finally made some 'friends'. But while we're friends, it's more like we're just pitiful idiots huddled together for warmth."

"But after spending more time with them, I don't think keeping a diary is necessary anymore. My friend told me that a diary is something you only write when you're feeling down and have no one to confide in. No serious person would write a diary, and I think that makes sense."

"My family always says European magicians are cold and heartless, but I think they're actually quite nice. Especially Miss Cinderella, she's both beautiful and kind to me..."

"I have a feeling..." Guanyue Ringo sat at the corner of the table, arms folded, and suddenly said, "He's probably going to be cheated."

"Don't be impatient," Xing Qingqi chuckled and continued to turn to the next page, "Read on."

"I'm in love. This is what it feels like to be in love. I mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to Miss Cinderella, and she actually agreed! That's wonderful, Clock Tower."

"I'm not going home this summer. I'll stay in the Clock Tower with her."

Patricia also 2 Ling San Wo Zero Qi (4) Dad Yayi slammed the table and said in an exaggerated tone: "Why didn't I have this kind of life when I was studying in the Clock Tower?"

"What kind of life do you live?" Xing Qingwu asked casually.

"Eating, sleeping, skipping classes, and slacking off." Patricia grinned and added, "Do whatever it takes to not fail the final exam."

"You're amazing." Xing Qingwu shook his head.

Kenneth frowned and interrupted, "Eighty percent of my students are idiots like you."

"Shit Clock Tower, I got tricked."

"That girl named Cinderella stole all my money and magic materials! And then she ran away!"

"Fuck love! There really isn't a single trustworthy magician in Europe!"

Before Xing Qingqi finished speaking, the other four people couldn't help laughing. Only he maintained a calm expression, obviously he had already read this passage.

Patricia laughed heartily and said, "Fortunately, I didn't have such troubles when I was in school."

"This is just the retribution for young people who are blinded by desire." Kenneth commented, with a hint of gloating in his tone.

"You have no right to criticize others." Xing Qingxue glanced at him. "You are the Lord of the Minerals Department, but you are secretly a henpecked man. If this gets out, you will become the laughing stock of the Clock Tower."

"Shut up!" Kenneth frowned sharply, his face etched with embarrassment. He waved his hand in the air, as if to dispel the teasing. "Hurry up and turn the pages. Stop staring at me." His tone was quick and short, with a subtle hint of irritation at the end.

Xing Qingfu raised his eyebrows, a smug smile appearing at the corners of his mouth, but he said nothing more and just continued flipping through the diary.

"[?1?陾靈删鸸靈] Miss Cinderella didn't lie to me. She returned every penny of the money and magic materials she took from me!"

"She told me that because I seemed so unguarded in my interactions with others and liked to show off my belongings, she was worried about me and was afraid I would be cheated by others."

"She felt that mere verbal warnings were useless, so she arranged a 'surprise' for me to experience firsthand..."

"My God, Miss Cinderella is so smart and thoughtful. I am so lucky to be her lover."

"I feel this is called playing the long game to catch a big fish." Guanyue Lingqin leaned against the table, flipping through another book in his hand, but his eyes swept over the page shown by Xing Qingqiu, and there was undisguised suspicion in his tone.

"Hmm...lure the enemy deep into our territory." Upon hearing this, Okita Souji crossed his arms and commented thoughtfully.

Xing Qingyu sneered after hearing this: "That's right. But..." As he spoke, he quickly flipped through a few pages and then stopped.

"——The rest is just some melodramatic love stories, don't waste your time, just watch the most exciting part."

"Miss Cinderella found another opportunity to take all my money! Not only that, but she also cleared out all the magic costumes I had saved in my dorm room! I think this was another well-intentioned lesson for me, reminding me not to give my keys and room restrictions to others without permission..."

"But Miss Cinderella isn't someone else. She's so trustworthy, so it's okay to leave it to her. It's a blessing to be cared for like this."

"I hope she comes back soon, otherwise I won't even have enough money for tomorrow's meal."

"I think I understand her tactics." Kenneth's eyes were calm, but his tone was a little disdainful. "First, retreat in order to advance. Return the things to lower his guard. Then, wait until he is completely relaxed before taking action, delaying his reaction time."

"That's right!" Xing Qingwu smiled and nodded, then changed the subject, "But let me ask you, how long do you think it took this old man to realize he'd been tricked?"

"Three days." Okita Souji was the first to speak. "No matter how innocent it is, three days should be enough to notice."

"I bet it'll take a week." Patricia raised her hand with a determined smile on her face. "It'll take a week for someone who's been blinded by love to wake up."

"I'll choose a week too." Guanyue Ringo followed suit.

"What about you?" Xing Qingyu turned and looked at Kenneth beside him.