The Alchemist's Guide to Flesh and Blood Ascension

Four figures stood before the three-layered sealing array. The air was heavy, like a burden pressing down on everyone. Several magic source lamps, which were used for emergencies, flickered on the wall, illuminating the kneeling gargoyle.

That thing was much tighter than the last one, like a bowstring that had reached its limit and could snap at any moment.

"Then... let's begin," Yunevo took a breath and took out another permit prepared by the dean. The edges of the parchment glowed with pure golden magical light as it floated away from his hands.

An ancient incantation was uttered from the mouth of the black-robed alchemist, and the outermost ley line guiding array began to slowly reverse, the embedded runes breaking free of their restraints and hovering in mid-air like dancing leaves.

The connection between the three elemental veins snapped instantly! It was like heavy chains slamming into the ground, producing a deafening roar.

The inner two layers of seals remained, but the transparent barrier gradually became blurred, eventually resembling a silver-white light curtain. Three luminous nodes appeared on the surface, much like the three grooves that Yunevo reinforced the nodes last time.

But at this moment, the illusory outlines of three objects suddenly appeared above the groove...

An antique balance scale, a mirror with a mercury-like sheen... and a heavy bronze lock.

"Sigh... I knew it wouldn't be that simple," the ratman Nehta said, still dressed in his ranger attire, as he slung his repeating crossbow back over his shoulder, his rat tail swaying impatiently. "The brain-related stuff... is up to you."

"Three puzzles? This is quite in line with the typical design of the Mathematical Seal I saw in my family's ancient books: test, verification, sacrifice." Tide Mage Tedes said softly, a bright blue light flashing in his palm as he touched the seal.

"These three items are often closely related to the sealed object; each time one is unlocked, its emotions intensify..."

“So…we will be in even more danger,” Yunevo continued, having already walked to the scales, bent down, and examined the inscriptions on them.

Creation and balance, life and foundation—what supports the body of stone? What gives stone its heart?

On either side of the scale's tray, twelve small stone platforms slowly rose up, each holding entirely different materials—mithril ingots, magic crystals… and even crystal bottles containing liquid magic.

"Dark once said that the initial gargoyle construction plan followed the 'law of balance,' but after the church took control, it pursued strength blindly... which ultimately backfired."

Yune knelt down, carefully selecting the materials in front of him. Beside him, Iseria closed her eyes, as if trying to achieve some kind of "communication and resonance".

"I...I see two completely different forces being forcibly bound together by the rules. The dark gold is like a chain...and the gray is the object being bound," the beige-haired girl said softly.

"Starstone powder, limestone core... and silver ore and earth essence!" Iseria suddenly opened her eyes and pointed to the various materials one by one.

Yonivore nodded; their understanding was beyond words. He carefully took out the four materials—they felt surprisingly light, almost like a phantom.

Starstone powder against the limestone core, silver ore against the earth's essence... Under the precise proportions set by Univo, the two ends of the tray slowly approached equilibrium.

"The right proportions..." the Tide Mage exclaimed. "One-quarter magical materials, three-quarters mineral matrix, that's the balance..."

The scales emitted a melodious chime, then vanished in a flash of light...

The gargoyle uttered a dreamlike murmur—a noise mixed with the friction of rocks and the lamentation of a soul—that resonated directly in everyone's minds!

Its head... lifted an inch, and its scarlet "eyes" suddenly lit up.

Fragments of memory surged forth like withered branches and fallen leaves swept up by the wind!

In a spacious, brightly lit laboratory… an arcane craftsman is enthusiastically explaining to a group of scholars: “We are creating entirely new life! Giving consciousness to inorganic matter! Making rocks learn to think! This… this is the ultimate combination of alchemy and arcane engineering!”

The Arcane Artisan's face may still be somewhat youthful, but one can already see some resemblance to Dark.

The image distorted again.

It was a corner of Uriel's crimson and gold-trimmed bishop's robe, and his cold voice rang out: "An interesting toy... but what we need are weapons of war, tools to suppress heresy, to strip away those useless 'emotions' and enhance their attack and armor."

The protesting Dark was escorted out of the laboratory by two paladins...

In the final scene, a glimpse of countless gargoyle incubation chambers is revealed.

"What about the others... gargoyles?" Yunevo frowned and walked toward the second object.

The mystery is then revealed: Why do creators create? Why do seekers of knowledge seek knowledge?

If we limit the scope to "gargoyles", the answer becomes obvious - what was the original purpose of setting up this experiment?

Tedes frowned and tentatively asked, "Exploring the boundaries between matter and magic?"

The mirror did not react.

Yonivore waved his hand, stepped forward slowly, and said softly, "Giving life to inorganic matter is not about creating tools... but rather about creating life itself."

The moment the words were finished, the mirror emitted a terrifying tremor and then shattered into pieces!

A rough, grayish-white gargoyle-like figure lay on the lab table, while Dalk, standing to one side, calmly said, "Come and see this world..."

The image shattered, and this time the wailing sound was almost enough to tear your eardrums apart!

The gargoyle's entire body was trembling, and the mithril was cracking with an unbearable sound!

The blood-red "eyes" flashed wildly, filled with resentment, pain, confusion... and even a longing for "existence" that had been buried for years!

Eunice turned and walked toward the third object.

The keyhole with the star symbol... is engraved with the last line of text.

What is purity?

Yunevo didn't speak, but simply took a blood sample from his pouch—his own blood... the pure blood of a non-magician.

The entire bronze lock emitted a dazzling red light! The lock cylinder began to rotate on its own, like a dormant heart starting to pump blood!

Thump... Thump...

The lock is open.

The three seals shattered simultaneously, and the runes dimmed one by one...

The mithril chains shattered! The colossal creature abruptly raised its head, which had been hanging for countless years!

The creature's head was almost touching the dome of the underground hall, and rubble and dust fell from its body!

"What a pity..." it murmured, looking at the purple light on its chest, its emotions began to fluctuate more intensely!

Anger... an anger that wants to destroy everything is the best answer it can give to the world at this moment...