New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 205 I'm going to get into [Classical Chemical Pharmaceuticals]!
The three people on the beach enjoyed their breakfast while admiring the scenery and chatting, mainly about the collaboration between [Happy Home] and [Foam World].

Meng Xiyue and Yuan Zhu had long ago established a strategic partnership, working together to plot how to exploit the potential of the [Shadow Domain]. Their cooperation was very pleasant.

Now, Zhou Chu hopes to inspire the two with 'spirit and faith' and work together to change the terrible environment and rules of the 'underground world'.

In other words, Zhou Chu hoped that the two of them could contribute their time, money, and resources to help her build a [Law-based Child Labor Knights], starting from [Firefly City], using the stronger backing of the [Law] to violently overthrow the corrupt insect cultivators' rule... and create a [New Era Law-based Dungeon] that aligns with her values.

In return, Zhou Chu was willing to share the [Child Labor Knights] to serve Yuan Zhu and others in the form of 'hiring child scouts'. After all, although she had a bit of a saintly mentality, she wasn't a naive and foolish saint who would risk everything to save others.

Besides his tendency to help the weak and oppressed, and his habit of using the "laws" to mentally bully and brainwash them, Zhou Chu also deeply respects the fate of others and only helps those who help themselves.

The child laborers under her command were all forced to convert to the "laws" and bind the seeds of the Tao within their bodies after a great deal of internal struggle, under the pressure of hunger, disease, and death.

Therefore, once the [Child Labor Knights] have reached a certain size, she will not hesitate to let go. She will allow them to grow, expand spontaneously, and transform this bubble world.

But she couldn't just let them fend for themselves, after all, they were 'exotic talents' she had painstakingly nurtured. So she planned to find a job for the [Child Labor Knights], to work for the wicked Yuan Zhu and Meng Xiyue, one side contributing money and the other contributing labor, which could be considered his last act of kindness.

After discussing it, Yuan Zhu and Meng Xiyue nodded in agreement.

"For the sake of our teammates, we agreed. However, our resources and capabilities are limited, and we cannot fully support you. We can only cooperate step by step."

Zhou Chu nodded: "It's alright, just give them a chance. I don't want these 'Insect City children' to have to return to the backward and ignorant [Insect City system] and repeat the old cycle because they lack ways to make a living and job opportunities."

Yuan Zhu: "Well, you're quite responsible. Do you have a longer-term, deeper purpose or goal in spreading the [Laws] in the underworld?"

Zhou Chu nodded: "Of course there is. If the [Laws] can spread as these children grow up, then one day in the future, the entire extraordinary system of the [Bubble World] may be contained by the [Pale Laws], completely transforming and saving this world. Once the power of the [Pale Laws]' rules can intervene in this Bubble World, then its doomsday collapse will be reversed. This is the way to save the world! By helping me, you are saving the world."

Yuan Zhu retorted, "That's not right. I can also spread the 'Way of Holy Light' in [Cicada City]. As long as the power of the Holy Light spreads widely enough and takes deep root enough, it can also attract the attention of the [Source of Holy Light]. Isn't that also a path to salvation?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu immediately warned, "Your thinking is extremely dangerous. You must be vigilant in the future. The essence of [Holy Light] is 'recklessly burning life and soul,' and that has never changed. [Sanctuary] is hailed as the 'righteous path' on Duling Star because its behavior conforms to the narrow definition of 'goodness and justice.' It is the entire [Sanctuary] that restrains all its members, controls their instincts, and abides by morality and law. It is because the [Pale Law] covers the entire planet, monitoring all actions and behaviors."

"But outside of the planet Duling, in the Nightmare Bubble Layer where time is disordered and cause and effect are confused, the Holy Light is not necessarily sacred. I found some data in the Security Bureau's archives. Among them are bubble worlds that have the 'Path of Holy Light', representing the righteous side in fighting against other sources of world-destroying pollution. But the Holy Light that ultimately defeated the 'world-destroying catastrophe' did not save the world. Instead, it burned the entire world as 'fuel'."

Yuan Zhu retorted, "Don't the [Law and Ordinances] department know that?"

"I do not deny that there are also corrupt individuals within the [Law and Decree System], but the essence of the [Law and Decree System] is to create an all-encompassing [Man-made Great Heavenly Way]. Its essence and underlying logic far surpass other 'polluted systems'. At least it can guarantee the bottom line, so supporting me is saving the world."

Yuan Zhu reluctantly conceded: "Fine, I'll vote for the Child Labor Knights!"

Zhou Chu reiterated: "They are not child laborers, but the 'New Hope Knights'."

At this moment, Meng Xiyue, having finished the cake in front of her, wiped her mouth clean, then took out a pumpkin pendant from her pocket, played with it in her palm for a moment, then took out a document from it, threw it in front of Yuan Zhu, and said smugly:

"Here, I've collected all the information you wanted. But I still want to give you a friendly reminder: 'Classical chemistry, keep it simple.' It's fine to invest a small amount and dabble in it, but remember to know when to stop and don't get too addicted. It's a waste of money and time, and you won't achieve any results or get any substantial returns. It's definitely a niche field that will only waste your wealth and life."

Yuan Zhu picked up the thick stack of cobbled-together documents, his face showing surprise: "Is it really that exaggerated?"

Meng Xiyue rolled her eyes: "Otherwise what? Classical chemistry is a dead end. The mainstream today is alchemy and alchemy."

Zhou Chu sensed something in the conversation, then observed Yuan Zhu with a curious and inquisitive expression, asking, "Why are you interested in [classical chemistry]?"

As if she had thought of something, her eyes instantly sharpened: "You wouldn't be secretly researching and developing some kind of evil, forbidden drug, would you?"

Yuan Zhu's expression immediately turned pained, and he complained, "Jie Jie, can't I have some personal hobbies? Besides, the path of cultivation requires a lot of resources and wealth, and I also need to earn money to support myself, okay?"

Mengxi chimed in, "You want to make money? Don't we have a partnership in the [Bubble World]? Once we open up trade channels between the underground world and Duling Star... no! As long as we can stabilize the resource production of [Pastoral Village], we can get a steady stream of returns from the [Gods' Space]. Isn't that enough to support yourself? You must have some ulterior motive, right?"

Yuan Zhu angrily rebuked his teammates: "What the hell?! Who would complain about having too much income? Besides, Zhou Chu warned us long ago that the [Gods' Space] is no benevolent place, and even [Happy Home] might have its own schemes orchestrated by [King Mao Mao]. Therefore, we must not pin our future on the profits of [Happy Home]. Moreover, as a 'Holy Light Cultivator,' I naturally need to engage in some positive, healthy, and socially meaningful endeavors in the main world, in my hometown of Running. That's why I chose the niche field of [Classical Chemical Pharmaceuticals]."

Upon learning of Yuan Zhu's high level of awareness, deeply influenced by his own teachings, Zhou Chu acknowledged whether Yuan Zhu's actions were genuine or feigned: "He's right! To achieve stable growth, one cannot overly rely on [Happy Home]. Earning a foothold in the main world through one's own strength is a good idea. However, is your [Classical Chemical Pharmaceuticals] legitimate?"

Zhou Chu merely agreed with Yuan Zhu's idea, but still harbored doubts about his 'behavior'.

Yuan Zhu was not afraid at all. He truly possessed the pharmaceutical heritage of Earth and had personally helped his employer produce substandard veterinary drugs in a backward workshop in a small border country.

So, without any hesitation, he met her gaze and said, "What a coincidence! I do have a few ancient prescriptions. However, I lack the relevant technology and knowledge, and they are based on ancient classical chemistry concepts, which are quite different from alchemy. I can only ask Mengxi for help."

Zhou Chu's focus wasn't on business or making money; he pressed on, "Is it a medicine to cure diseases and save lives? Are the side effects serious? Is it addictive?"

Yuan Zhu remained calm: "Don't worry, it's absolutely safe and harmless. It's an antibiotic, you know?"

Zhou Chu relaxed: "I've heard of it. Once you've completed your research, you can give me a sample, and I'll send it to the [Security Bureau] for free testing and identification, and issue an authoritative certificate."

Yuan Zhu wasn't intimidated at all; on the contrary, he sincerely replied, "Thank you very much!" He had nothing to fear; the price of such official testing and authentication was very high, and there was a waiting list. In the future, if he were to truly replicate the 'Earth Medicine' from his memory, he would really need Zhou Chu's connections to vouch for and verify it.

...

During the conversation, Yuan Zhu had already briefly browsed through the 'materials' and 'classical chemistry textbooks' that Meng Xiyue had collected for him.

In the memories of the predecessor, there were subjects called "Physics" and "Chemistry". Even the high school textbooks of the New Federation included courses in physics and chemistry, but they were courses with some magical elements, such as "Mechanics", "Steam Science", and "Basic Alchemy".

The mathematics, physics, and chemistry that Yuan Zhu studied on Earth are called "Classical Physics" and "Classical Chemistry" in the Spirit Realm. This is because the foundation of contemporary physics has long since become the "Mechanical Magic Net," and contemporary chemistry has had its discourse hijacked by "Alchemy" and "Golden Alchemy," leaving no chance for "Classical Chemistry" to emerge.

Therefore, from ancient times to the present, a 'chemical system' based on the periodic table is fundamentally flawed. Thus, Yuan Zhukong's 'pharmaceutical experience' from his previous life is utterly useless.

Because long before he went to Taixi, he had secretly conducted some simple experiments to produce 'chemical elements' in Running, and all of them failed.

My prior knowledge of classical physics and classical chemistry came from the book "History".

In ancient times, 400 years ago, chemistry and physics were not very popular.

Around 1000 years ago, ancient scholars (time travelers) proposed the periodic table of elements. However, this 'invention' was not taken seriously.

On the one hand, productivity was low in that era, and only aristocratic families had the energy to play with this; on the other hand, the physical coefficients of 'Duling Planet' were not compatible with the world they came from (Earth).

This resulted in some fundamental physical and chemical theories remaining correct, while others were flawed due to cosmic differences. Consequently, the periodic table was disproven early on and subsequently adopted by the equally unscientific Taoist alchemy.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, we have arrived at the "First Era of Magical Revival," 400 years later.

Not only did magic descend, but numerous awakened "super pollution sources" also used traditional religious mythologies to resurrect themselves and achieve extraordinary resurrection.

The struggle for 'discourse power' in the realm of religious mythology is so fierce that concepts with similar attributes, such as 'physics' and 'chemistry,' have also been unable to escape the clutches of 'the root of pollution,' becoming the manifestation medium for pollution to invade reality (the planet Duling).

Thus, the knowledge of physics and chemistry, which was already unpopular in ancient times, was further distorted and elevated in modern times. Step by step, it has evolved into the 'supernatural science' that is in line with the contemporary natural environment.

The steam engine and generator recorded in classical physics were successively absorbed and covered by the steam totem and the industrial kingdom; electromagnetism was covered by thunder magic... and mechanics was even used to lay the foundation for the mechanics magic network.

Thus, classical physics was utterly dead, its foundations crumbling. When the Earth time travelers returned, they could only look on in vain; their limited knowledge was utterly useless, like food for dogs.

Classical chemistry is in the same predicament, having long been overtaken and divided up by alchemy and elixirs. Yuan Zhu is acutely aware of this; his meager reserves of chemical pharmaceuticals have already been largely wasted.

Fortunately, things took a turn for the better.

When supernatural powers spread and permeated every corner of the universe, classical physics became completely ineffective. Bored supernatural beings, instead of using their own power, were able to reverse-engineer a closed experimental environment that conformed to classical physics, replicating the manifestations described in classical physics.

This kind of behavior is just idle and pointless. But it also exists within the framework of "ancient chemistry".

That's why Mengxi Yue said that classical chemistry is an obscure and niche field, something only the wealthy can do.

In this day and age, there is only one way to synthesize ordinary compounds (drugs) within the framework of Earth's worldview: establish an ideal experimental environment with zero pollution and zero interference. Only by stripping away all extraordinary factors from the chemical raw materials can 'classical chemical synthesis' become possible.

This is inherently a thankless task, even if a 'finished compound' is created. Once it leaves the experimental environment and enters nature, it will be quickly corroded by various forms of pollution, destroying its original medicinal properties and randomly mutating into an ineffective substance or a highly toxic substance...

However, simulation and reconstruction, and attempts to explore and replicate phenomena from classical chemistry, remain a part of contemporary alchemy. Therefore, while it remains a niche field, it hasn't disappeared; in fact, related textbooks exist, which Mengxi Yue has specially compiled.

"[Classical Chemistry] has a few successful cases. The specific process can be simplified as follows: first, strip away the extraordinary elements, then conduct various simulation experiments to obtain 'compounds', and then artificially add 'contaminants' to stabilize its properties. Reintegrate it into the extraordinary environment of the planet Duling to obtain a valuable 'extraordinary drug'."

"I checked the records and found that this school of thought has existed for more than 200 years, but it has always been suppressed by alchemy and elixirs, and has even been gradually absorbed by these two schools."

Yuan Zhu: "Is it very difficult?"

Meng Xiyue nodded: "It's huge! There are many difficulties, difficult from beginning to end. First, we need to overcome the extraordinary stripping of the raw materials. Second, how to integrate the simple classical reactions in the chemical reaction process into the theoretical system of contemporary alchemy or elixir making. Finally, how to integrate the finished product with the 'pollution' without changing its own properties."

In the game, it is extremely difficult to reproduce the elements in the periodic table.

To take just one elemental gold as an example: on the planet Duling, including the [Astral Realm, Spirit Realm, and Foam Realm], all 'gold' is linked to the [Golden Rule], without exception.

Gold itself has long transcended the realm of chemical raw materials and is deeply intertwined with the "Golden Rule: The Root of Super Pollution".

To conduct the experiment, the influence of the "Golden Rule" must be removed, reducing it to its purest form—a purification process with extremely high costs and consequences. Once removed from the experimental environment, gold, and even gold compounds, instantly re-enter the "Golden Rule," causing the experiment to fail.

Similarly, while silver and copper are not monopolized or hijacked by the top-tier source like the Golden Rule, there are still numerous allotropic counterparts such as mithril and orogen, each linked to the 'transcendental system'.

As for other basic elements, they also bear the imprint of their own pollution systems. The same element can have dozens of forms of pollution—how can classical chemistry possibly compete with that?
(End of this chapter)