Nightless Sky Huo Ming's secret

The canteen at the Great Wilderness Main Outpost of the Truth Company.

At this moment, the restaurant, which was originally just a place for the many armed logistics personnel living here to have their daily meals, has been decorated and arranged in a grand and festive manner, like a holiday. There are colorful lights and decorative ribbons everywhere, and the original tables have been combined into long strips, piled with a sumptuous meal.

A variety of freshly roasted poultry, game, and wild game; generous portions of stews and stir-fries; soft, freshly baked bread and large cakes; and bottles of alcoholic beverages piled high...

This meal, which would be considered "luxurious" even in the Inner City the City That City That Never Sleeps, was like the last meal of their lives for many company employees who worked and served in the Great Wilderness where resources were relatively scarce!

Even Lin Yu, who had tasted many delicacies, could feel the immense passion that the Nightless Sky Huo Ming contained within the food.

At the same time, Lin Yu could also sense...

The "Hand of Alchemy" ritual may have been more significant to Nightless Sky Huo Ming than he imagined.

Sitting next to Nightless Sky Huo Ming in the main seat, he could feel the admiration, gratitude, and even... affection in Nightless Sky Huo Ming's gaze.

Inside the Banquet Hall, the personnel stationed at the outpost who had benefited from the event were indulging in revelry.

The cacophony of shouts and upbeat music blended together, making the once tranquil Great Wilderness even noisier.

Excitement and joyful noise.

And as the owner of this base...

The feelings of the Nightless Sky Huo Ming are naturally in complete agreement with those of this stronghold.

Noticing Lin Yu's gaze also directed at him, Nightless Sky Huo Ming smiled and raised his wine glass.

"Supervisor Arthur... Sir John H. Arthur, please allow me to offer you a toast."

As a Royal Nobles, facing "Supervisor Arthur" played by Lin Yu... Nightless Sky Huo Ming even took the initiative to use "polite honorifics".

Although Arthur's status within the City of Never Sleeps is considered quite high—after all, he's a company executive, a confidant of the Nightless City's Fire Music family, and even a close associate of the Nightless City's patriarch...

But in the end, "John H. Arthur" was just an "Commoner".

Even ordinary Noble wouldn't have the right to make Nightless Sky Huo Ming use honorifics, let alone a Commoner.

If this were said by Nightless Sky Huo Ming decades ago, before the Equality Act was introduced, legally speaking, Lin Yu could have been detained by the Security Bureau for several days!

Of course... Nightless Sky Huo Ming also needs to pay the fine.

Given that the laws of the entire City That Never Sleeps are so biased towards the Noble, especially the Royal Nobles, the existence of a clause that even punishes the Royal Nobles demonstrates how incredible it is that Noble would express respect to Commoner and use proper honorifics.

But...

For Lin Yu, this was something he could accept without hesitation.

It's not just because the City That Never Sleeps has indeed changed a lot since the Equality Act was enacted, nor is it just because he himself is a person from the outside world with an awareness of equality...

It was because Lin Yu also knew that he truly deserved the respect and gratitude of Nightless Sky Huo Ming.

So Lin Yu didn't stand on ceremony, and gently clinked his glass against that of Nightless Sky Huo Ming.

"Not at all, Your Excellency Nightless Sky Huo Ming City. It is my honor to be of assistance."

As Lin Yu spoke, the two of them held their wine glasses and took a small sip each.

Looking at Lin Yu, then at Nightless Sky Huo Ming sitting on his other side, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot lowered his voice and said, "Honestly... I never imagined that I could complete this ritual that I've been pursuing for nearly ten years so easily—everything that's happening now is simply what I've been dreaming of..."

"You two probably can't understand what all this means to me, because in the past, in order to complete this ritual and to prevent others from noticing my desire, I've always deliberately shown an attitude of 'taking it seriously,' but not 'taking it that seriously.'"

"Now that it's complete... I can finally tell you both how important this ceremony was; it was practically the culmination of my entire life!"

Hearing Nightless Sky Huo Ming, Lin Yu sensed her genuine happiness and understood...

The profound weight contained in these words is not an exaggeration.

But this also made Lin Yu a little curious.

Although he did hope to gain her trust by assisting Nightless Sky Huo Ming in completing the "Hand of Alchemy" ritual, but...

The results were much better than expected.

To draw an analogy, he originally expected that his move would at most increase Nightless Sky Huo Ming by about 20 points, bringing their cooperative relationship one or two levels closer.

But now it seems...

This move seems to have instantly raised Nightless Sky Huo Ming to the maximum!

So, Lin Yu couldn't help but ask to find out the reason, "Really... To be honest, although I knew this ceremony was important, I really didn't expect... it to be so important to you."

As the younger sister, Nightless Sky Fire Apricot is even more direct.

"Why do you attach so much importance to your 'Hand of Alchemy' ritual... To be honest, while this ritual is indeed very important, and as a 'Forbidden Alchemy,' it can indeed increase one's affinity for Alchemy Energy and enhance Alchemy Talent... But are these improvements in personal strength really that important to you?"

"Honestly, Sister Huo Ming, with you in the Great Wilderness, your Alchemy Talent and affinity... probably aren't that useful for you, are they?"

"After all, you don't have the environment to conduct alchemical research here."

"Nightless Sky Fire Apricot asked curiously."

While the increased "Alchemy Energy Affinity" will certainly benefit the implanted Alchemy Component and enhance their combat capabilities, the improvements brought about by this "Hand of Alchemy" ritual are undoubtedly most important for the field of "alchemical research."

Secondly, learning Alchemy might also be of great help.

But...

The Nightless Sky Huo Ming in the Great Wilderness, but clearly there is no environment for conducting alchemical research or studying Alchemy.

Hearing the somewhat offensive question from Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, Nightless Sky Huo Ming, who was clearly in a good mood at the moment, didn't mind and answered her question directly.

"Little sister Fire Apricot... Alchemy Talent is actually more important in Royal Nobles families than you think."

"The reason you were chosen by your mother as a candidate for the 'Chosen of Wisdom' is precisely because she recently discovered your talent in Alchemy, isn't it?"

"Although no matter how much I improve my Alchemy Talent, I can never reach your level, nor can I ever secure a position as a candidate for Chosen of God like you, but... if I had Alchemy Talent, I might not have even been banished to this Great Wilderness back then."

"While it's not only young people with exceptional Alchemy Talent who gain influence within the family, having Alchemy Talent at least ensures you won't be looked down upon."

Nightless Sky Huo Ming spoke softly, explaining his point of view.

Lin Yu understood the unspoken meaning behind Nightless Sky Huo Ming...

Although she thrived in the Great Wilderness, ultimately...

Even though he was not entirely willing or resentful about being assigned to the Great Wilderness, Nightless Sky Huo Ming was actually quite unwilling and reluctant.

The fact that she still has such thoughts today is enough to prove that her "resentment" back then must have been quite "intense".

This sense of injustice has persisted to this day, still resonating and echoing.

It makes the Nightless Sky Huo Ming still think this way...

"If I had had Alchemy Talent back then, would I have ended up in this situation?"

Only now did Lin Yu understand why Nightless Sky Huo Ming pursued the forbidden ritual of "Hand of Alchemy".

Aside from the tangible benefits the "Hand of Alchemy" ritual would bring her...

This ritual has become an integral part of the "obsession" of the Nightless Sky Huo Ming.

Or rather... this is part of breaking free from her own obsessions and inner demons.

Although Nightless Sky Fire Apricot didn't think as clearly as Lin Yu, she could still vaguely sense this point.

"Well... congratulations, Sister Huo Ming."

Congratulations, you're even more talented than before.

Nightless Sky Fire Apricot also raised her glass and spoke.

Nightless Sky Huo Ming and Nightless Sky Fire Apricot gently clinked glasses again.

Then, she put down the cup in her hand and let out a long breath.

"Phew... Fire Apricot, you probably still don't understand."

"I'm not 'more' talented than before... You know, there's another reason why I'm so obsessed with the 'Hand of Alchemy' ritual..."

"It's because I actually have absolutely no 'Alchemy Talent'!"

At this point, Nightless Sky Huo Ming seemed to finally feel relieved, slamming his hand on the table and saying, "Now I can finally say it... Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, my dear sister, do you know? My Alchemy Energy Affinity isn't below 50, not below 20, not below 10... it's zero! Infinitely close to zero!"

"Without external Alchemy Component, I cannot use any Alchemy... and I cannot even activate any implanted Alchemy Component without taking alchemical potions."

"This 'Hand of Alchemy' didn't turn me from an ordinary person into a somewhat talented genius; it turned me from a cripple back into an ordinary person—well, although judging from the results, I'm actually stronger than an ordinary person now."

Nightless Sky Huo Ming spoke, a smile appeared on his face, "I've kept this secret and flaw hidden for over twenty years... Now, I can finally speak of it—after getting rid of it, I can finally speak of it openly."

"This feels... so good."

Nightless Sky Huo Ming spoke, he revealed something that Nightless Sky Fire Apricot and Lin Yu hadn't expected, even at this moment.

"I see, I see... So that's why you were so eager for this ritual."

Lin Yu sighed, then quickly realized something was wrong.

"But... wait a minute, how could this be?"

"From a genetic point of view, this seems a bit... illogical, doesn't it?"