From Alchemy Apprentice to All-Powerful God King

Upon hearing Russell's words, Ma Xiu stopped making the demonic insects.

"They want to talk to me about group bugs? What did they say?"

He originally only wanted to buy some swarming bugs at the alchemy arena, but he didn't expect to directly open up the sales channels of the entire Moore City.

This situation can range from minor to major.

If it's just a transaction with the Chamber of Commerce, then we can simply supply them and let them peddle and spread the word.

There won't be too much risk; it's just a matter of whether it's a new or used product.

But if other powerful families are involved, then we need to be careful.

To become a powerful family within the empire, one must possess considerable cunning and ruthlessness; otherwise, it would be impossible to establish oneself in this world.

"They didn't say anything specific, but they asked me to take you to discuss it. They are very optimistic about the market for swarming insects."

Russell lowered his head, then secretly looked up and saw Matthew contemplating while simultaneously refining gold, managing to do both without neglecting either.

He held him in even higher esteem: he was definitely a big shot in the Knights.

So young, his strength is unknown yet, but he shouldn't be weak. Moreover, his alchemy skills and talent are so strong, he is likely to be a key figure in the Knights' Guild's training program.

In other words, if one contributes to the Angelic Church ruins and follows Matthew, one can even gain a foothold and develop within the Empire in the future.

"Let them choose a location, and let's set the time for two days from now. I'll be there then."

"Remember, don't reveal my identity. No matter what they ask, you won't be able to answer clearly."

After warning Russell, Matthew told him to leave first, as he would stay for two days to refine the magical insects. He wanted to give the ability users outside the gambling den a free publicity boost to increase their bets.

"I understand, I understand. You're so thoughtful, sir. I'll go stall for time with them."

Russell nodded in agreement, then quickly left the secret room.

A short while later, Luca was also called down by Matthew.

"A total of more than two hundred will be refined this week, and we have received more than five hundred deposits."

Luca reported on the orders that had just been received, and Matthew nodded; there were more than he had expected.

"Please work hard these next two days to refine it. I need to go into seclusion for two days to prepare for what's to come."

After instructing Luca to be careful and not to leave the casino, Matthew locked the secret room, forbidding anyone from entering.

On the first day, in order to reduce the burden on the demonic insects and also to adjust his own condition, Matthew frantically crafted more than fifty swarms of exploding insects.

The experience points for the Alchemy Maniac label have reached 4150/5000.

Since leaving Val Town, he has been refining magical insects every day, almost without stopping.

After arriving at the Alchemy Arena, their numbers surged even further.

"If I refine another second-tier magical insect, it shouldn't be long before I can advance to level 3."

Matthew calculated that he is now a level 2 alchemy fanatic, with a 15% success rate on each alchemy attempt. At the previous level, it was about 20%.

Then he can try his luck against the third-tier demonic insects.

Even if he can't refine a third-tier item, the three second-tier demonic insects within his body will make his magical power far surpass that of a second-tier ability user.

Combined with the abilities associated with his entire arsenal, he's not someone who can't defeat a third-tier ability user.

Matthew poured out all the magic crystals from the Ring, and the magic instantly filled the entire chamber, so dense it was almost suffocating.

Then, from the three different versions of the exploding bug, three of the best quality bugs were selected.

Summon the Gray Mist Alchemy Platform from the Otherworld Chronicles.

With everything prepared and after adjusting himself to his best condition, he began the next step.

Matthew manipulated his magic with a pained expression, slowly drawing out the exploding worm deep within his heart.

With each wriggling motion, the expression of pain on its face deepened.

Matthew's aura plummeted and he instantly weakened after a mouthful of blood mixed with exploding insects fell onto the alchemy platform.

Fortunately, with the replenishment of this magic, he immediately recovered.

"If it works, we won't have to eat beef anymore."

Matthew controlled the exploding bug to begin devouring the other three exploding bugs.

As the core of his demonic insects, the Exploding Insect is undoubtedly the demonic insect he controls most easily.

Once it advances to the second tier, its quality will far surpass that of a second-tier magical insect refined using a normal formula.

It's important to know that both the swarm of exploding bugs and the swarm of exploding bugs 3.0, when released in a concentrated manner, can threaten a third-tier ability user.

If they inherit their power, the Exploding Bugs can even achieve a qualitative leap, becoming no weaker than third-tier demonic bugs.

[Exploding Bug lv.2: Crafting progress 10/100]

[Do a good deed every day, level 1: Luck +10]

[Alchemy Maniac Lv.2: Success Rate +15]

As the labels in the Otherworld Chronicles appeared one by one, Matthew became increasingly adept at refining second-tier explosive insects.

As time passed, the magic crystals in the secret chamber were being consumed rapidly.

The exploding bug had finished devouring the insects and, now aided by the gray mist, was continuously forming a cocoon, eventually turning into a white sphere the size of a thumb.

Matthew picked up the magic potion that had been prepared beforehand.

He bit his finger and dripped the blood into the bottle. After shaking it well, he poured it all into the alchemy workshop, submerging the white cocoon.

The next instant, the white cocoon began to wriggle, continuously absorbing the magic potions around it.

It was faster than Matthew absorbed the magic potion; almost instantly, it absorbed all the potion.

Even so, the exploding bug still showed no signs of emerging from its cocoon.

[Exploding Bug lv.2: Crafting progress 99/100]

The progress on the label is also stuck at the very last minute.

"What's going on?"

Matthew was puzzled; he had never seen anything like this before, and moreover, he had done everything he could.

The surrounding magic crystals had long since run out, and there was no magic power left to provide to the Gray Mist Alchemy Platform.

Just as he was scratching his head in frustration, the white cocoon suddenly moved.

The next moment, a strong magical power was released from it.

In just a moment, the entire chamber dried out, and countless sparks appeared out of thin air, forming a pattern of a burst of flames in the air.

Before Matthew could even react in surprise, the pattern formed by the magic struck him directly in the chest.

[Exploding Bug lv.2: Crafting progress 100/100]

[Refining complete!]

[Exploding Bug Lv.2: While retaining its own abilities, it possesses three advanced abilities of exploding bugs.]

Wherever magic touches, explosions continue unabated!

Immediately afterwards, the sound of a shell breaking rang out, and a second-tier explosive insect crawled out, lazily stretching its limbs, emanating a terrifying magical power from its body.

At the same time, Matthew discovered that he could use the second-tier exploding bug's abilities even without consuming it.

"Is it because of that pattern we just saw?"

Before he could even touch it, the second-tier explosive insect flew to his chest and instantly merged into Matthew's body as magic.

"Is this... a fusion of human and insect?"

Feeling the ever-increasing magical power within him, Matthew could hardly suppress the smile on his face.