IWYTBW - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

People Say the More You Know, the More You Resemble an Orphan of the World.

Yi Zhen was momentarily stunned before shaking his head, “He’s truly... peculiar.”

His curiosity quickly overcame his doubts about Rong Hongxue’s actions. Setting aside the recent incident, he continued to peruse the materials, enthusiastically telling Tai’a, “In ancient China, alchemy was also known as the art of transforming the base into the noble. The ‘Huainanzi’[e/n:The “Huainanzi” is a 2nd-century BCE Chinese text, compiled under Prince Liu An of Huainan, that encompasses a broad range of subjects including philosophy, politics, and natural sciences. Known for its Daoist leanings, the work combines differing schools of thought like Confucianism and Legalism to promote harmony between humans and the natural world.] mentions that once the divine elixir is completed, not only does it grant immortality, but it can also be used to create gold... Alchemists from both the East and the West believed that consuming gold, processed through special techniques, could grant eternal life.”

Tai’a: [That’s right.]

“But we both know that gold does not possess such effects. Even if I were to conceptually extract the gold element right now, it wouldn’t grant immortality or even heal illnesses,” Yi Zhen casually picked up a gold pendant he had previously asked the old butler for — presumably a gift from his late husband. “Look,” he said, presenting it.

His spiritual force delved into the gold nugget, cautiously peeling it outward. Unlike toxins, where the concept of poison could be likened to a spine that merely needs a gentle tug, the extraction of enriched metal elements for Yi Zhen resembled peeling a peach. He meticulously removed the unnecessary impurities, the skin, leaving behind the plump, clean, pure flesh.

Due to the workload far exceeding the extraction of toxins, Yi Zhen concentrated with all his might. By the end, he was drenched in sweat, his eyes sore from intense focus.

Fragments of wasted gold fluttered to the ground, resembling the crisp ashes of burnt incense, so fragile that they crumbled at the slightest touch. Yi Zhen manipulated his mental power to lift the dense and dazzling mass of gold. The concept of metal he had extracted was extremely unstable, to the point where it would spontaneously form a layer of vacuum around itself, isolating it from external elements, necessitating the use of mental power for its manipulation.

[Yes, I have observed it—pure gold, emitting extremely intense elemental fluctuations.]

“How does it become an elixir of immortality?” Yi Zhen inquired, “It neither promotes cell regeneration nor slows down aging, much less accelerates human growth...”

A thought flashed through his mind, swift as a white steed fleeting across a gap, gone in the blink of an eye.

“Wait, wait.” Yi Zhen stiffened. “Accelerate human growth... accelerate... growth, yes, growth...”

He stared intently at the gold element before him, a spectacle that had never appeared in the annals of human history.

This is genuinely pure gold. Theoretically, it’s said that perfectly pure gold cannot be smelted. From the moment of extraction to the process of refinement, the impurities within the metal cannot be fully eliminated. Even today, in the year 3680 of the Interstellar Era, there exists no technique capable of purifying any element to an absolute 100%. Even the concept of “absolute” is a fallacious notion absent from philosophy.

From another perspective, gold atoms represent pure gold in human cognition. However, Yi Zhen managed to obtain theoretically pure gold, achieving what was nearly impossible.

It hovered in the air before him, spinning rhythmically clockwise. Dazzling, brilliant, and a beautiful golden yellow, it resembled a miniature sun.

……sun.

“’Upon seeing this gold, people thought it was sunlight that had descended to the mortal world’...” Yi Zhen slowly said, “The sun, in ancient times, alchemists—no, it should be said that humanity, for a long period of time, due to the color of gold, regarded it as the symbol of the sun, upon which all things depend, and viewed silver as the symbol of the moon.”

That secret lay before him, awaiting Yi Zhen to lift the veil and bring it back to light.

“——Ancient alchemists did not seek gold for its mere physical form, but for the essence of life it symbolized!” He suddenly stood up, scattering the pages of the book all around, “What they sought to extract was the power of human thought, for it is believed that gold can cure diseases, and thus it truly gained healing properties. People believed that gold was the sun in the heavens, and so it really could promote the growth of all things, just like the sun. Yes, this is it! This is why gold is the key ingredient in the elixir of eternal life!”

He paced back and forth restlessly, his voice laced with anxious curiosity. “Can it truly be done? To this extent, no less? To extract not only the essence of the material itself but also the second layer of meaning bestowed upon it by humanity...? It’s formidable, utterly formidable! Can you imagine, Tai’a, how they managed to achieve such a feat?”

A brand new door slowly swung open. Yi Zhen, filled with an overwhelming desire to share, found no outlet for his emotions, spinning faster and faster in his eagerness: “The ancient alchemists, before they had evolved spiritual power, when their understanding of the world was still vague and unformed, managed to leapfrog directly over the concept of extracting the essence of matter itself, reaching a higher stage. Even if it was merely a hypothesis, even if it was just a conjecture, even if they spent thousands of years in pursuit without achieving it, but...!”

Yi Zhen fell silent, his circling motions gradually ceasing.

He stood in a daze for quite some time before he suddenly let out a long sigh.

“But when I think about it... it truly is agony.”

He whispered, “These individuals’ thoughts have transcended the constraints of time and space, madly prophesying a realm that can only be accessed through mental powers that humans would evolve to possess thousands of years later. Yet, their bodies remained trapped in an era of dark ignorance, unable to escape. What must it feel like, I wonder, when they awaken from their ecstatic, self-forgetting visions?”

The training room was enveloped in silence for a long while before Tai’a finally spoke up, [Your answer is correct. Congratulations, player. You have completed the theoretical course much faster than I anticipated.]

Yi Zhen snapped back to reality, “Ah? But I still have several books left to study...”

[It is no longer required.] Tai’a said, [Alchemy theory class is an elective course for you. Ancient alchemists supposed that the first objective in alchemy was extracting concepts, and the second objective was extracting the meanings beyond these concepts. They had been stuck at the first step for nearly ten thousand years, but you, without hesitation, managed to do it with ease.]

Yi Zhen: “Then I...”

[You may begin the practical Alchemy studies now,] Tai’a said, [The remaining common knowledge of Alchemy can also be supplemented during the practical studies.]

Yi Zhen dumbly thought for a while before finally sitting down slowly.

“It’s rather... It’s rather peculiar, isn’t it?” he let out two dry laughs, “As the legends say, even though Khalid, the alchemist from the Umayyad Dynasty, was a prince, he couldn’t escape the fate of going insane in his later years. He gouged out his own eyes, and using his own scalding blood, he furiously wrote about the curses against fate on a sheepskin scroll. The writing was upside down and disorderly, and no one could tell what exactly it said...”

Yi Zhen said softly: “Now I understand. What he wrote about was a lifetime of grievance and humiliation. His innate talent let him see into the future, and so he became immersed in that magnificent scenery, unable to pull himself away. When he lowered his head, however, all he could see were the shackles of an unyielding mortal body, and the reflection in the mirror of his own appearance, which resembled the image of a madman… With nowhere to go in the world, there was no escape.”

“The more a person knows, the more powerless and agonized they become, gnashing their teeth in hatred for their own insignificance and fate’s fickleness.” Yi Zhen mumbled to himself, “Tai’a, I think I finally understand why I yearn for power so much.”

——Because I learned of my true identity, I learned this world was originally just a hilariously crude book, and I learned that I must fight countless bandits and thieves, that I must forge my own path alone in the world… Early on in the story, I already learned far, far too much.

Breaking news! Hidden Main Quest: World Evolution ② Revealed

Quest Content::

Like a dream

On the day when everything awakens, must I too open my eyes?

…Yi Zhen, how could I possibly be Yi Zhen?

Quest Reward:

Skill Points x3

Special Quest Reward:

Blueprint for a Hawkeye Bow x1

[Hidden Main Quest: World Evolution ② Completed]

[Hidden Main Quest: World Evolution ③ Triggered]

Quest Reward:

Skill Points x3

Blueprint for a Hawkeye Bow x1

[Please select one of the following attributes to enhance: strength, agility, or spirit. Remaining enhancement points: 3]

Yi Zhen was startled by the alert tone before quickly regaining his composure. “That’s right, I’m also a protagonist. It makes sense that I would have to contribute to the world’s evolution.”

After much pondering, a complex feeling arose in his heart, especially following the notification sound for completing the task. It seemed almost like a taunt saying, “I foresaw that you’d try to predict me.”

Tai’a was attentive to his mood and did not speak, giving him time to recover.

“...Go for agility,” he said. “Compared to the other two attributes, my dexterity is too low.”

[Very well.] Tai’a responded, [Should we continue with the next lesson?]

At this moment, the horizon had already lit with golden twilight, Yi Zhen adjusted his mindset, took a deep breath, and said, “Let’s do it! For the sake of pursuing knowledge, even if we have to work 996[e/n: “996” is a term referring to the grueling work schedule of 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, six days a week, commonly associated with the tech industry and criticized for its impact on workers’ health and work-life balance.], it’s not betraying the working class!”

[You’re overthinking.] Tai’a drawled. [I’m just asking out of politeness. In reality, your opinion won’t affect the outcome of the classes being added.]

Yi Zhen: “...”

In order to rid his psyche of the unpleasant and depressing emotions, Yi Zhen cleared his mind and put all of his remaining energy into monotonous handiwork.

He had just gotten a bow blueprint; while the bow was too complex to build right now, he could give a shot at making arrows for it.

Yi Zhen examined the design as he whittled away at a block of wood with a small knife. During the cold-steel era, a bow was genuinely a deadly weapon, but times had changed. What use did he have for a bow design now?

After much deliberation, he still couldn’t figure it out. In a moment of carelessness, the knife slipped and cut his finger, making a sound as it struck something hard.

Yi Zhen lowered his head to look, absentmindedly rubbing the cut area.

Ever since he had begun to cultivate the 《 Jade Alchemy of the Eastern Sea 》, every time he circulated his inner energy, his skin would transform into a smooth and hard jade texture, yet the joints of his limbs still moved flexibly, indistinguishable from before. It was really quite extraordinary.

For warm-ups, Yi Zhen symbolically carved ten arrows. The subsequent training was the core. He lifted a small wooden box, flipped it open, and retrieved a piece from within. It was a small wooden arm identical in length and thickness to a human forefinger. Despite the shoddy proportions and carvings, an extremely petite movement was installed into the joints and when he turned it, the intricate structure became apparent.

From the start of learning to practicing, Yi Zhen spent seven days to finally use a small knife to carve out a hand like the one in front of him.

In this class, Tai’a’s requirement for him was to carve a human statue no longer than the length of one’s forearm, and while it could appear ugly, the body structure and internal organs must be complete – even including movable finger and toe joints.

Yi Zhen spent three days committing the positions of human bones and the arrangements of each muscle bundle to rote memory, and on the fourth day, he began the carving process. Fortunately, his current self could be considered reborn; his comprehension and memory were significantly improved, and his hands were steady. Even as a beginner without any prior drawing foundation, he practiced for several days and carved out quite a presentable figure.

He gently channeled energy into the tip of the knife, shaving small pieces of wood into ball-and-sockets roughly the size of rice grains, which were to be used on his fingers.

Delicate wood shavings rained down, quickly accumulating into a fine layer on the table. Yi Zhen held his breath, concentrating fully on his sculpting until nightfall. Finally, he had managed to carve out a palm and five fragmentary fingers thinner than pencil lead.

This task tested one’s eyesight and the extent of their control over their strength, just as a top-class chef could slice a block of tofu into a hundred pieces, fine as a hair, without breaking it apart. Similarly, a master could shatter every bone in a person’s body, yet keep the deceased’s appearance intact and lifelike.

That was another of his goals.

“Let’s end here for now,” Yi Zhen carefully set down the utility knife, used his fingers to stick together the small parts, and put them in a dust-free box. He stretched his body, and only when he felt all the tension release did he realize how hungry he was, “Break for dinner, then we can continue!”

He dashed out of the training room where he had spent the entire afternoon, throwing himself towards the Rong family’s dining table that seemed to stretch to the edges of the universe. The old butler, who had been watching over him, knew that he had arranged a heavy schedule for himself. Therefore, on this table, there were always steaming soups and high-nutritional meals kept warm and ready for him.

Yi Zhen rubbed his hands together hurriedly, wolfed his food down for a while, and then absent-mindedly looked up, suddenly realizing that there was a man standing next to the dining room’s pillar, staring intently at him while he ate.

Yi Zhen: “?”

Heaven knows, the creator of this trashy book didn’t know what it was like to be a servant in a rich family. All they wrote about were bootlickers who stayed idle all day, strolling back and forth before Yi Zhen, whispering “secretly”, assuming Yi Zhen wouldn’t hear them, gossiping loudly about his juicy relationship with Rong Hongxue. After Yi Zhen gave Ai Ling a beating, the loitering servants became fewer, but one time, as Yi Zhen was passing the garden, he heard a few people chatting.

One of them spoke, “Before this moon-dew rose is cut, I have one final question: Do you think, when the young master went to meet Mr. Rong, the pants he wore had a zipper on the back?”

Another responded: “Then before you make a move, I can responsibly tell you that the real young master’s trousers can all be unzipped from behind and they even have locks; it’s terrifying! Those who know, know; I won’t say much more to those who don’t.”

A third person joined the conversation, “Careful now, if you break this one, you won’t be able to afford to pay even with half a year’s wages, and I guarantee it. My cousin’s aunt’s god-sister saw it with her own eyes, really! Mr. Rong has the key.”

Yi Zhen: "...................."

From then on, he even avoided the Rong family’s servants when he walked.

It’s like a book that records the practitioner’s lifelong practice of deceiving men and dominating women, in this wretched book, the mission of the servants was to incessantly gossip about their master’s emotional entanglements and even their sex lives... What else could Yi Zhen do but to turn a blind eye and keep his peace of mind, lest he suffer frequent heart attacks.

As a result, it led to the current embarrassing situation. Yi Zhen rushed in, washed his hands, ate, and wolfed down food. Throughout the whole process, not a single person reminded him, “Look, there’s a person standing over there.”

Yi Zhen swallowed the rice in his mouth and asked dumbly, “Uh... May I ask who you are?”

The strange arrival was a handsome young man, wearing a tailored suit and bowing slightly to Yi Zhen, but with a small, antennae-like protrusion on his head.

“Greetings, I am Angelyse Torres Tydol[e/n: I rate this name translation an ‘I tried’ out of 10 |
安吉 Ānjí, 桃 瑞 丝 TáoRuìSī, 提多Tíduō], an aide dispatched by Mr. Rong.” The youth smiled and spoke. “Though I am a juvenile Helinarian, I would prefer it if Mr. Yi were to address me by Angelyse, or Anji, out of my two given names. Of course, if you wish to call me by Torres, that is perfectly acceptable as well.”

[The Helinarians reach maturity around the age of 50 in human years. Before reaching maturity, they have the freedom to choose their gender, which is why, during their underage years, the majority of Helinarians possess two names, each corresponding to a different gender.] Tai’a promptly provided a reminder, [I believe he has chosen the male gender, therefore, you should address him by his masculine name.]

Yi Zhen replied, “Alright, I understand, Anji.”

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