Just as Ji Jue discovered during his fourth miserable death — against such earthly abominations, his little bit of Mutated Transformation was useless.

The most terrifying aspect of the Nether Sea Worm was not its life force, but its assimilation.

Even the whole world was eroded and rooted by it.

Once polluted by its spiritual essence, it became part of it, and any work that extracted its spiritual essence for refining would be like throwing a meat bun at a dog — gone forever.

Moreover, the worm itself excelled in quantity; it was impossible to outweigh it within its own body.

Therefore, ensuring the stability of one's creation was paramount.

As the examiner had hinted.

It must be just right.

A perfect match and fit between material and spirit, even a bit more or less, would leave gaps for the worm's erosion.

In other words, if your creation couldn't withstand even a round of Dissociation Technique, don't bring it out to waste time in such a high-pressure environment.

"Alright, pressure test failed."

Ji Jue sighed lightly, gesturing: "Let's continue."

The return to Hengxu initiated.

Spiritual crystal implanted into the soul, rewind, start over.

The long period that followed was spent using the Nether Sea Worm as a whetstone, constantly experimenting and polishing to improve the stability of his creations.

Better to have less than to have more.

Doing subtraction.

The usually extravagant Ji Jue began to feel uncomfortable.

Just as the examiner had said, finding that 'just right' balance was the hardest part.

Even in engineering, there are times when brute force can't achieve the desired result.

Anyone can throw in loads of material, but using quantity to win is merely the inertia of the ordinary. Bringing out the best in materials and blessings with perfect timing and precision is the essence of true craftsmanship.

Only...

"Isn't this progress a bit too exaggerated?"

In the lounge, Skylight rubbed his chin, finally understanding Ye Xian's mixed emotions—bored yet exhausted, pleasant yet annoying, good yet bad.

What was good was that once understood, progress was rapid, and after finding the right direction, the progress skyrocketed.

What was bad was that understanding came too fast and too early. If not careful, wild growth could start, leading to unexpected and absurd results in bizarre areas.

Not following the rules at all.

Apart from the rapid progress in Fluid Alchemy, what drew Skylight's attention even more was the increasingly skilled solid alchemy!

In fact, relying on Fluid Alchemy alone could not ensure a comprehensive level of completeness to be called alchemy. It was merely another development direction at best.

Yet similar concepts seemed familiar?

"Objectification in the Xiang Sword Theory?"

In an instant, he came to a realization.

Though modified to an unrecognizable degree, the intention and essence remained unchanged—transmuting self and object, merging back into one pure entity, essentially a secret technique in the Thousand Islands Ye Clan for nurturing swords!

Just like the Dissociation Technique embodying the true essence of the Cow Dissection Style, all rooted in the Xiang Sword Theory!

"Was it planned from the very beginning?"

Skylight sighed in awe.

With the Ye Clan's decline, fostering her student as the next inheritor of the Xiang Sword Theory—whether their surname is Ye or Ji didn't matter, as long as the legacy was passed down.

But she was really broad-minded... The Xiang Sword Theory in this guy's hands was definitely passed down, but the forms it would evolve into were unimaginable to Skylight.

No, perhaps she knew already.

She didn't care.

Just like she didn't care about Skylight's inheritance in the past.

However, now, she might somewhat understand how he once felt, right?

At this moment, feeling the cyclical nature akin to reincarnation.

Skylight burst into laughter.

Joyously.

.

BOOM!!!!

Amidst the loud roar, the Blade of Qi Tian shattered in half!

The crystal blade, running between heaven and earth, as clear and transparent as water, now suddenly disintegrated into gray-black dust floating in the air, like scattering ashes.

Falling down.

Returning to void.

Without any blessing, it was a stable structure formed purely from spiritual essence and mercury, purified dozens of times, then locked with solid alchemy.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long and soon broke apart under the erosion of the Nether Sea Worm.

"Duration maintained: six minutes and eleven seconds."

"Already very impres..." Isis praised.

Unfortunately, before she could finish, Ji Jue waved his hand, temporarily cutting off the sound.

Enough, you don't have to say any more.

"Attempts at purification can stop here." Ji Jue instructed, turning back: "Record other data, and initiate the return procedure."

He had now faintly touched his limits.

At this stage, no matter how much time was spent, further improvement seemed very difficult.

"Recording complete." Isis reported.

"Alright, observation can end." Ji Jue beckoned, signaling her to retract and return.

But the Spirit of the Workshop didn't move.

Instead, like a sigh of helplessness.

"Don't you find it troublesome when tools act up?"

Starlight flickered in the container, "Why not consider replacing it with a simulated soul? Or is this one of your quirks?"

"No need, right?"

Ji Jue was indifferent to her offense: "Having a tag-along who just complies wouldn't be fun. Talking to someone challenging like you is much more interesting."

Starlight flickered, as if in contemplation.

"You seem to harbor some guilt regarding my existence?"

Ji Jue's actions paused for a moment, "Do I?"

"Based on analysis of your past records: In your view, creating a life in a world destined to be meaningless to achieve your own goals is unethical.

Thus, it seems you've shown unnecessary tolerance and patience towards me, even if you haven't realized it."

"..."

Ji Jue shook his head with a smile: "Is there a possibility that it's because I have a good temper, have magnanimity, and immense tolerance?"

"According to the record entry of Lou Feng's file, that possibility does not exist." Isis' voice was cold: "If you need more counterexamples, I can list them —"

"Alright, you don't have to say any more!"

"I am a tool, sir, created as a simulated soul to facilitate the craftsman's operations. To my knowledge, there's not even a sliver of humanity in my core, let alone loyalty."

Isis said indifferently: "My purpose is to fulfill my mission, and after doing so, whether I'm discarded or destroyed is irrelevant—if you need me to say this to appease your pointless guilt and laughable emotional projection, I would."

"Let's forget it."

Ji Jue's eyes twitched: "Even if you're comforting me, can you phrase it differently?"

"Very well, then I will curse you, sir." She said, "Forever."

With those emotionless words, starlight gathered in the container.

Like a fleeting smile.

"That sounds more fitting."

Ji Jue nodded in satisfaction, finally beckoning: "Let's go, Isis."

It's about time to wrap it up.

He said: "The last round, wrap up and it's off work!"

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