Ji Jue's method was very simple. If it was too soft, too brittle, and too weak, why not just "freeze" it?

By using the basics learned in the practice of Dissociation Technique, he enabled his spiritual essence to assume a static state, then gradually disseminated it into the structure of the object he was manipulating.

Once the structure of the object was completely fixed, extracting it would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?

Unfortunately, he was completely wrong in his approach.

He was not a Chosen One of the Ruins, nor did he possess the blessing of the Ruins. If he continued this way, even if he spent his whole life on it, he might not comprehend the eternal significance within the essence of Static...

There was feasibility, but Ji Jue was destined to fail, or rather, he lacked the cost-benefit balance to continue grinding.

But at the very least, he had realized where the problem lay and had begun to experiment.

That was the most important thing.

The hardest part of a difficult task was never in the doing but in discovering where the issue lies. Once the crux of the problem is identified, even the crudest method of brute force could yield some benefit.

"Trying to deconstruct the basics of the Dissociation Technique and then apply them shows some inventive thinking, but you don't have the practical conditions yet," Professor Ye pointed out the flaws in his approach, "If I were you, I'd think of a solution from a Spirit First perspective."

When pointing out the problem, Professor Ye's words were unusually mellow.

After all, as a student, Ji Jue's ability to find a direction and make decisions and attempts without knowing the origin of the Static technique was no small feat.

Moreover, it was just one night...

"Let me guess, your current interference and control over Creation Spirit," she pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Is it because of the Non-attack effects?"

"Exactly."

Ji Jue nodded.

To be exact, it should be credited to the "Invisible Hand."

For the first time, Ji Jue felt this presence again outside of alchemy creation. When he concentrated on performing spiritual operations on his pocket watch, that illusion-like sense of control emerged once again in his mind.

According to his previous understanding, this should have been a delusion.

The Invisible Hand should be a sensation formed when one comprehends all changes and controls all developments during alchemy creation.

It symbolizes everything happening in the alchemy flames, as if being manipulated by an invisible hand.

It was merely a metaphor.

By all logic, it should have been so.

But Ji Jue seemed to really feel it.

A phantom-limb-like strange tactile sensation, even stronger than anything he had felt before.

Unlike the familiarity of his ten fingers, it was a more indistinct and elusive sense of control—within the range his spiritual essence covered, such a "hand" existed.

Shapeless and formless, but as the spiritual essence moved, it could replace him to perform all delicate operations, accomplishing various unbelievable tasks.

Including, as delicately as holding dew, grasping that fragile Spiritual Wisdom in his hands!

After dozens of trials, he was becoming adept.

The hardest step had been completed by such a simple means.

After the blessing of Spirit First arrived, the effect of Non-attack on spiritual operations had intensified again, and the Matrix, moving closer towards a complete state, and Ji Jue were increasingly in sync.

It was as if it was also adapting to Ji Jue, changing on its own to match his habits and usage.

So natural.

"Is this the heritage of a Saint?"

Professor Ye whispered softly.

To her knowledge, in this era, there were at least three Non-attack Matrices in circulation...

One was safely kept in the collection of the Taiyi Ring; one appeared at an auction in Thousand Islands decades ago, purchased by a mysterious buyer; and another should be in the custody of the Federation Desolate State Security Bureau.

But among these three, none could match the Non-attack in Ji Jue's hands.

There was nothing more intimately connected than the Matrix and the Chosen One, as it was inherently a creation accomplished through the Chosen One's own soul.

Similarly, after years of usage, the imprint and experience of the user would inevitably leave traces. Ultimately, this would lead to a clear distinction between them.

Not to mention the distinction in proficiency among the users.

For the Saints of old, reversing time was theoretically feasible; what high-level operation hadn't they attempted? At this moment, using "Reversed Heavenly Gang" in conjunction with Ji Jue's maneuvers was completely manageable.

Not to mention the astonishing affinity between Ji Jue and Non-attack.

It wasn't evident in everyday basic use, but when facing a target beyond one's limits, every additional bit of help became so obvious and clear.

Suddenly, Professor Ye couldn't help sighing softly, "It seems Mercury really likes you a lot."

"Mummy really likes big brother!"

The metallic hummingbird, having tired of the living room chandelier, flew down, rolled in his hair, flapping its wings excitedly as if to proclaim to the world:

"All mummies like you!"

Ji Jue's expression twitched as he pinched the bird's beak.

They were all good words; how did the praise suddenly take a weird turn?

Was it because he had been used by the Prophet and then discarded, making him seem like he was tricking old ladies?

It should be seen how he was set up to fail more often than not!

That was supposedly his allowance!

"Alright, now that you know you have an advantage in this respect, don't waste it. Go back and practice."

Ye Xian was tired of watching Ji Jue show off; if this continued, he might not be able to resist putting him in a few pairs of pretty pink shoes.

"Also, this has been checked too, you can take it back."

The last item Professor Ye pulled out and placed on the table was an antiquated-looking bell, emanating subtle spiritual fluctuations, profound and elusive.

Just looking at it, one could almost hear the crisp bell sound echoing in their ears.

It was mesmerizing.

This was the last intact thing Ji Jue found from the remains of Old Thunder on the battlefield after the battle—all else had turned to ash. Only this bell remained intact, not even a crack.

Who could not see it was a treasure?

However, according to the almost universally accepted unwritten rules among the craftsmen of the classical era—the better the item, the more likely the craftsman would subconsciously incorporate some more secretive backdoors or more sinister surprises, and the worse the outcome for the unaware user, consequently leading to the paradoxically worst quality of the best alchemy items.

Without Professor Ye's discerning eye, Ji Jue really dared not randomly use such found items.

Otherwise, while using it, he might unwittingly get used.

Upon hearing this, he was immediately delighted:

"Have you finished examining it?"

"Yes, to a certain extent, this is the most decent item you've brought back these days."

Professor Ye picked up the bell and gave it a slight shake, a crisp sound instantly emanating from within.

It was as if coming from the Netherworld.

An invisible chill spread instantly, more intense than when Old Thunder had used it, almost freezing Ji Jue, who was very close, rigid. Then, belatedly, he felt a silence like that of death.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look outside the window.

From beneath the dark clouds, in the drizzling rain, outside the workshop's big gates, in the blurred mist, one figure after another slowly emerged.

Like the lingering souls of the deceased.

With crimson eyes looking back, they gazed in this direction.

Hundreds, thousands...

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