"Did you really make this?"
An incredulous voice rang out.
Madison's eyes gleamed, but more than anything, they were filled with astonishment. He couldn't understand how someone who had only recently become a high-level alchemist could use such ordinary materials to forge a Legend- quality piece of equipment.
At this moment, what lay before him was a set of throwing knives.
The blades were gleaming, sharp, and their tips gleamed with a cold light. There were nine blades in total, each engraved with mysterious runes. These runes were interconnected, forming a Rune Array that made the nine throwing knives appear as one.
"You jest. Of course, I made this set of Dark Night Throwing Knives. Weren't you watching the whole process?" Logo smiled faintly.
Madison's expression returned to calm, though the turmoil within him was still palpable on his face.
"I just didn't expect that you could forge eight Rare- quality one-star equipment pieces and one Legend- quality one-star equipment piece using these common materials. Although the throwing knives are relatively small, it's possible that you could complete it in just one day..."
At this point, Madison sighed softly, four words flashing through his mind. "A prodigy."
"That old bastard Mokelan finally did something right this time," Madison muttered to himself.
Turning around, he saw Logo with a slightly smug expression. His face immediately hardened, and he said coldly, "Don't think you can be arrogant just because you've crafted a few one-star throwing knives. Even a thousand or ten thousand one-star equipment pieces can't compare to a single Legendary piece of equipment."
"Uh, what if it's a one-star equipment of Miracle quality?" Logo raised his hand slightly and said in a soft tone.
Upon hearing this, Madison's words faltered, and he stammered, unable to utter a single sentence. In the end, he could only glare fiercely at Logo, "Miracle quality is generally not included in the normal equipment grade and cannot be used as an assumption."
"Alright!" Logo obediently lowered his head, though a slight smile played on his lips.
I've disliked this old man for a long time. He uses the same old teaching methods all the time. He doesn't even need to listen; he already knows what to say next.
Of course, Logo certainly wouldn't have been so presumptuous when they first met.
But having already passed two hurdles, Logo, who is adept at reading people, had long noticed the subtle change in Madison's attitude towards him.
This is precisely what gives him the confidence to joke.
The saying "to become arrogant because of favor" perfectly illustrates this point.
As expected, Madison was gently rebuffed, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he gave a rather arrogant snort and began to describe the third challenge.
He paced back and forth, speaking slowly and deliberately, "In my opinion, to become an excellent alchemist, aside from external conditions, one must meet four requirements."
Logo remained silent this time, listening respectfully with curiosity in his eyes. Madison cleared his throat and puffed out his chest. "These four conditions are: computing power, spirituality, resilience, and Fate!"
"The test you face this time is a test of resilience. This is the final test. If you pass it, I will accept you as my apprentice."
"The final test?" Logo scratched his head, looking puzzled. "But didn't you say there were four conditions? Why are there only three trials? What about Fate? Are there no more tests?"
Upon hearing this, Madison gave a knowing look, as if to say, "I knew you were going to ask that," and replied with feigned profundity, "So-called Fate is elusive and unpredictable; even the gods cannot touch it, let alone us insignificant mortals. Therefore, Fate doesn't need testing, and I have no ability to set tests for you."
"A nobody mortal? I might as well, but you, as an alchemy master and Demigod, can't be called nobody by any standard." Logo chuckled.
Madison shook his head with a wry smile, looking up at the dome. His gaze seemed to pierce through the thick layers of buildings, reaching straight to the heavens, his weathered pupils reflecting the starry sky.
Compared to gods, Demigod are nothing more than slightly larger ants, a drop in the ocean, a wisp of dust, nothing more.
"A drop in the ocean..." Logo murmured. For a Demigod to utter such words, one can only imagine the immense power possessed by a true god.
I'd really like to see it.
Not to mention this life, even in his past life, he had only witnessed the war of gods from a very far distance. He could only see the aftershocks of the mighty, surging torrent that was like a world-destroying flood. He dared not get close and did not even see a shadow of it.
"Knowledge? Then study hard. If you become a master alchemist one day, not only will you be able to meet the gods, but you can even get them to do things for you." Madison patted Logo on the shoulder and said.
After saying this, he took out a pendant and handed it to Logo.
"Put this around your neck."
"A pendant?" Logo asked, reaching out to take it with a puzzled expression.
Its blue light is deep and its gemstone is profound. When held in the palm of your hand, it gives you a cool sensation that penetrates to the depths of your soul.
After putting it on as instructed, as Madison pointed, Logo felt a strange fluctuation emanating from the sapphire pendant. Immediately afterwards, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and after his body swayed a few times, the discomfort subsided, and he found himself in a strange world, where his memories were gradually obscured.
"Heh, the same old test method: seal your memories, leave only the personality traits contained in your true self, follow your feelings, and thus verify whether a certain character trait is sufficient. But... the prerequisite is that you can deceive me."
With a slight tremor of his Eye of Insight, Logo returned to normal, and the illusory spiritual world before him suddenly became riddled with flaws.
The Soul Informatization endowed him with a relatively indifferent personality. Coupled with the protection of the soul level provided by the Miracle Creation itself, Logo was least afraid of illusions. Not to mention those of a higher level, even Demigod might not be able to deceive him. To make Logo unable to distinguish between reality and illusion, it would probably take a true god.
"Alright, let's play along with the old folks. It's normal for them to be out of touch with the times at their age. It's quite remarkable that they could come up with these kinds of tests." Muttering to himself, Logo began his journey through life in a lucid state.
The amazing thing is that, throughout this process, because he retained his memories, he had to keep acting to avoid being discovered by Madison. He didn't learn anything else, but he honed his facial expression management to a high level, able to express all kinds of emotions at will, crying when he wanted to cry and laughing when he wanted to laugh, and it all looked incredibly natural.
Logo passed the third test with a series of performances.
"You lad, your computing power, intuition, and resilience have all passed my tests. According to my rules, would you be willing to become my student?" Madison gazed at the boy before him, his tone more serious than ever before.
Logo slowly bowed, his expression one of deep respect, "Student Logo Campbell greets his teacher!"
"Very well, now that you've become my student, consider these three items my gift to you as our first meeting gift." Madison smiled faintly, extending his hand, a bright green leaf between his fingertips.
"This is..." Logo reached out in surprise and took it. It felt a little rough to the touch, but when he brought it to his nose and took a sniff, he smelled a fresh, pleasant scent of grass and trees. More importantly, Logo sensed a strong spatial power in the veins of the leaf.
"It's just a paulownia leaf, consider it storage equipment. Inside, there's also a set of Morning Star Chess. You can practice it more often when you have free time to improve your calculation ability. Also, that necklace is called Sea God's Attachment, a five-star equipment in the mental domain. It can strengthen your mental defense, and in a critical moment, it can explode and transform into a temporary spatial teleportation array to save your life."
As Madison explained, Logo slowly opened his mouth, looking extremely shocked.
This wasn't an act; he was genuinely surprised.
Each of the three items would be extremely valuable in the outside world. Take the Sea God's Attachment, for example; it's a five-star Rare item, far more precious than the Dawnlight Staff won in the Martial Arts Tournament.
Not to mention the other two treasures.
Just as I expected, the teacher I recently became his student is indeed incredibly wealthy. Putting everything else aside, his financial resources are terrifying.
"Thank you so much for this gift, teacher." Logo accepted the gift with a grin and began to play with it with great joy.
Seeing his expression, Madison smiled slightly. "Alright, you've accepted the apprenticeship. In a while, you'll come with me to the Tia Empire."
"Huh? Heading to the Tia Empire?" Logo looked up and asked in surprise.
"What, you don't want to?" Madison frowned.
Logo immediately shook his head and explained, "That's not it. It's just that I still have a considerable base of operations in Sunset Jungle, and besides, the Royal Court probably won't let me leave easily."
"Establishment? What kind of establishment do you have?" Madison raised an eyebrow and asked jokingly. In his opinion, Logo was just a newborn kid, how much of an establishment could he possibly have?
A few minutes later.
Madison slowly put down the communicator, a lingering look of shock still on his face. He turned to the rather obedient student in front of him. "These things displayed on the communicator... are they all your businesses?"
"Yes!" Logo nodded.
"Ruibeite Company is currently riding high, also yours?" Madison asked again.
"Not bad, you have real power." Logo nodded again.
"Hoo..." Madison let out a deep breath, and for the first time seriously looked at his student several times. His eyes showed a hint of caution, and he no longer looked at Logo as if he were a child.
Even in a master-disciple relationship, one must earn what one deserves through one's own efforts.
Logo understood this very well: in this world, no one will be kind to you or respect you for no reason; you have to earn all of this yourself.
"Alright, since you have something to worry about, I won't force you anymore. Anyway, it's pretty much the same thing to have a clone. This clone of mine is just sitting around doing nothing anyway, so I'll just follow you from now on," Madison said with a sigh.
Logo bowed deeply. "Thank you for your understanding, teacher. I am deeply grateful. I will certainly follow your teachings and strive to carry forward what you have taught."
"Heh, I hope you remember these words and don't disappoint your teacher." After saying this, Madison waved his hand, and the previously closed door slowly opened, allowing several people who had been waiting outside to enter.
The Grand Elder, Mokelan, Qiya, the Old Earl, and others.
"How did it go? Did you pass the test?" Mokelan asked first.
Madison nodded slowly. "Mokelan, this time, I owe you a favor."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mokelan's expression shifted slightly. He knew Madison's personality all too well—proud, eccentric, and obsessed with saving face. It was no easy feat to get him to say something like that.
"It seems you're quite satisfied with this child," Mokelan asked tentatively.
Madison turned his head away without saying a word.
Mokelan smiled knowingly and said nothing more, but his gaze remained fixed on Logo, sizing him up. He had thought he had overestimated the kid, but now it seemed he hadn't.
Logo becoming Madison's student shocked Mokelan, pleased the Grand Elder, and delighted Qiya, the Earl, and others.
After a brief chat, only Logo, Madison, and the Grand Elder remained in the hall.
At the table, the Grand Elder took a sip of wine from a horn cup, then looked at Logo and said, "Boy, do you know what it takes to become king?"
Upon hearing this, Logo's body trembled, and Madison also turned his gaze to look at the Grand Elder's face, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Without giving Logo a chance to speak, the Grand Elder continued, "Support!"
You need the support of all the factions in the Royal Court!
You mean...?
"Now there is an opportunity for you to make a great contribution to the Royal Court, but there may be dangers involved. Are you willing to take it?" The elder spoke frankly. At this moment, this wise old man had long understood that it was best not to hide anything from Logo. Speaking frankly was a more effective way to communicate.
"Danger? Compared to the rewards?" Logo asked quietly, twirling the glass in his hand.
"Once you succeed, I guarantee that it's only a matter of time before you become the King of Gendaya," the Grand Elder said with a smile.
"Can I take this as a test from you? If I pass the test, you will fully support me, and then the throne will naturally be within my grasp, after all, you are the pillar of the Royal Court now." Logo turned his gaze to meet the Grand Elder's eyes. In that instant, the aura he displayed made the other two important figures present pause for a moment.
The Grand Elder, however, was not surprised but delighted. Wasn't this the new king he had been searching for?
Then, meeting Logo's gaze, he nodded slightly. "Once this matter is over, I will unconditionally support you."
"Fine!" Logo slammed his glass on the table. "What is it?"
"Lue the snake out of its hole!"
The Grand Elder spoke slowly and deliberately.
"You're asking me to get involved," Logo said, instantly understanding the Elder's intention.
"How about it? Do you dare to do it?"
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"