Chapter 237: Study Time (Part 1)
Chapter 237: Study Time (Part 1)
The following days were some of Liam's most intense in terms of studying. Although he couldn't for the life of him remember who Rogen was, it was clear from the moment Rogen saw him that he recognized Liam as a visitor from another world. This made Rogen one of the most powerful individuals Liam had encountered who was willing to communicate with him after all the worlds he had traversed.
So Liam took the opportunity to ask Rogen about the problems he faced in his studies and cultivation, despite the differences in their cultivation systems. Rogen, with his immense strength and wealth of experience, was more than capable of answering Liam's questions. Once Liam realized that Rogen was genuinely trying to help, he shared all his knowledge, except for the information he was forbidden to disclose.
As the saying goes, "A stone from another mountain can polish the jade." Indeed, the different power systems from different worlds provided Rogen, who had already reached a pinnacle in Alchemy, with new insights.
On this mutually beneficial foundation, the two of them became quite close over the course of a week. During this time, Liam also found time to tell Rogen about his daughter Alice's love and resentment towards him. Rogen was shocked to hear this, as he had never raised a child before and thought that providing Alice with material comforts was enough. Combined with his busy schedule and the exhaustion he felt when he returned home, he had neglected Alice's well-being, nearly leading to her serious illness.
After Liam laid everything out, Rogen began to reflect seriously and tried to communicate with his daughter. Although Liam didn't know the specifics, he could see from Rogen's increasingly cheerful demeanor that things were improving.
Alice, too, seemed to harbor less resentment towards her father and interacted with him more during meals.
On the weekend, after discussing the knowledge Liam had gained from dissecting a Dementor, Rogen suddenly asked, "Hey, kid. Would you like to learn some Alchemy from me? I think you have the character and intellect to be a suitable student."
"Of course, I would love to", Liam replied. After all, his adventures in so many worlds were driven by his desire to learn more. Through their long conversations, he had come to recognize Rogen's formidable power and extensive knowledge. In Liam's eyes, Rogen was indeed a good person.
Soon, Liam began learning Alchemy, and Rogen's first lesson proved to be incredibly beneficial.
After breakfast, Rogen led Liam to his Alchemy Laboratory, which was located in the basement of a storage room behind the house. As they descended the stairs into the laboratory, Liam was captivated by the various wondrous items inside.
"These things you can make too, once you learn from me. It's not complicated", Rogen encouraged, looking into Liam's eyes.
After finding a place to sit, Rogen began his lecture.
"To learn Alchemy, you must first understand what it is. Some define it as the art of transmuting base metals into gold or creating immortality. But this definition is both shallow and incomplete. Others define it as a sacred technique that elevates humans to the level of gods. While this definition touches on the essence, it fails to highlight the unique aspects of Alchemy."
Seeing that Liam was completely engrossed, Rogen cleared his throat and continued.
"So, what is true Alchemy? I believe it is a means to analyze and understand all things in the world, and to change all things in the world."
After explaining what Alchemy is, Rogen shifted his focus to Liam. "From your previous descriptions, it seems you have some concerns about the complexity of what you are learning?"
"Indeed, that's the case", Liam nodded. "The power systems I now command come from different worlds and civilizations. I really worry that one day they will conflict with each other."
"But let me tell you, you don't need to worry. From my understanding of Alchemy, the powers within you simply cannot conflict", Rogen said with great certainty.
"Just as I mentioned, Alchemy is a means to analyze and understand all things in the world and to change all things in the world. The powers you command, regardless of their origin, fall within this scope. Therefore, I believe the powers you possess are not inherently conflicting. Or, to put it simply, they are essentially the same."
"This—", Liam fell into deep thought. He had never considered the problem from this angle before, so he couldn't immediately grasp what Rogen meant by the powers being essentially the same. After all, in his view, these powers were both Eastern and Western, some enhancing magical power and others strengthening the body. Their origins were entirely different. How could they be considered the same?
Seeing Liam lost in thought, Rogen said, "Let me show you a demonstration, and you'll understand what I mean."
Rogen then took a piece of lead and placed it on the ground, making a few gestures. A circle of red light appeared on the ground, forming an Alchemy Circle. The Alchemy Circle was a simple hexagram with a circle connecting its six points. Streams of light flowed along the lines of the ritual array.
It looked no different from a typical ritual array, perhaps even more rudimentary. Apart from the hexagram and the outer ring, there were no runes. But when Liam moved closer, he was surprised to see that the entire pattern of the ritual array was composed of tiny runes.
Upon closer inspection, Liam noticed that the runes forming the ritual array were diverse, including ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, cuneiform script, Linear A, Latin, and even Eastern cloud-water script and bird-worm script.
As the alchemy process concluded, the ritual array disappeared. The piece of lead that had been placed at the center of the array had transformed into a silver unicorn figurine.
"This, how did this happen?" Liam was shocked by the demonstration. He wasn't surprised that the lead had been turned into a silver statue, but rather that the ritual array had used runes from various cultures and civilizations, which in his mind should never be mixed.
"This is what I mean when I say that the powers you command are essentially the same in my eyes", Rogen said, bending down to pick up the figurine. "Whether it's Eastern Taoist Techniques, Western Magic, or even certain physical cultivation methods, they are all means by which you have learned to understand the world and enhance your abilities."
Rogen handed the figurine to Liam. "Consider this a gift. I'll go do some experiments over there. When you figure out this concept, come find me."
Liam held the figurine and fell into deep thought. After a long while, his eyes lit up. "Yes, it must be this way. I understand!"
(End of Chapter)
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