"I'm so sorry to have dragged you into this. I didn't expect someone to be watching my every move, even going so far as to leave spies at the Spellcaster Association's observation station!" Madison said apologetically.
"Teacher, what are you saying? Fate is unpredictable. This is a calamity I was meant to suffer. How can I blame you? Even without this, other misfortunes would have come knocking. There's no way to escape them!" Logo seemed very calm, showing no resentment at being implicated, which made Madison feel much better.
After a pause, Logo tentatively asked, "Does Teacher have any major enemies in the Astral Realm?"
Madison smiled wryly, "If we're talking about enemies, then there are certainly some, but to specifically send people to keep an eye on things in Void City, it's definitely not just a simple matter of hatred."
Logo understood. Indeed, at their level, love, hate, and grudges were often just a fig leaf to cover up interests; there must be deeper reasons hidden beneath the hatred.
So what is there to remember about Madison?
Before Logo could speak, Madison frankly said, "I originally wanted to tell you when the time was right, but it seems I can't hide it from you anymore. Just in case, I'm telling you the situation in advance, so that if something happens to me, this opportunity won't go to someone else!"
"An opportunity?" Logo's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly realized why he was being watched as soon as he stepped out the door.
"As you know, I came from a poor family when I was young. Although I was fortunate enough to become a professional alchemist, I didn't have any good [auxiliary talent recipes]. Let alone being on the [Fire Ranking], even slightly better recipes were not available to me..." At this point, Madison sighed, as if recalling his difficult years.
(Note: The Fire of Birth has eight stages, Tier One awakening a secondary talent. To possess a good secondary talent, one must systematically learn a certain [Knowledge Recipe], and these recipes are generally held by powerful factions. The [Fire Ranking] is a list ranking the recipes; being listed on the Fire Ranking signifies that the secondary talent is extremely strong.)
Logo listened attentively without interrupting, giving the teacher time to vent his emotions.
After a moment of silence, Madison finally got to the point. "After I was fortunate enough to become a top alchemist (Legendary), I felt that my foundation was too shallow and my base too weak. To take it a step further would be extremely difficult. So, after giving up 90% of my assets, I rode in a senior's car into the Astral Realm."
"I first went to the Alchemist Association, full of hope that I could join, but I was hit hard by the cruel reality. With the quality of my Fire of Birth, I was far from enough to become a core member. I could only be a figurehead in the guild..." At this point, Madison clenched his fist. Although he was now one of the honorary elders of the Prado Universe System Alchemist Association, not being able to become a core member was still a thorn in his side. Whenever he thought of it, he would be speechless with emotion.
"Later, I traveled the Staphis Continent and made some friends..."
Madison emphasized the word "friend," Logo guessed that the teacher had probably been betrayed.
"We formed a small exchange and adventure group. Besides exchanging knowledge about alchemy, we also searched for treasures left by our predecessors. Young people, you know, always dream of getting rich overnight..." Madison chuckled self-deprecatingly, recalling his naive self from the past, feeling so young and immature.
"So, did you find the treasure?" Logo naturally took on the role of the perfect straight man.
Following his question, Madison nodded slightly. "By sheer luck, during one of my adventures, I stumbled upon a dangerous place and ended up in an ancient ruin. It was a palace that appeared dilapidated but actually contained a vast and mysterious interior. There were three magical characters on the door."
What script?
"The God-Hunting Society!" Madison said, emphasizing each word.
"What?" Logo's eyes widened. He really didn't expect that his teacher would actually encounter the ruins left behind by the infamous organization, the God-Hunting Society, which was famous throughout the entire Astral Realm.
What incredible luck!
Could it be that teachers are also chosen ones?
The [God-Hunting Society], as the name suggests, is an organization dedicated to hunting down gods. It was established in the First Era, initially to resist the tyrannical rule of the gods. The organization has few members, but all of them are super elites. It declined during the Second Era due to suppression by the Divine Realm, but it rose again in the Third Era and remains a powerful force renowned throughout the Astral Realm to this day.
If the relics left by such Legend forces truly contain valuable items, they could indeed transform a person completely.
No wonder the teacher was able to make up for his lack of basic knowledge and become an alchemy master, and even move towards becoming an alchemy grandmaster. On the one hand, Madison's alchemical talent is indeed quite outstanding, and on the other hand, it is probably due to the legacy of the God-Hunting Society!
"It seems you know the name of the God-Hunting Society."
Madison glanced at Logo, then remarked, "That's true, the God-Hunting Society is indeed famous and quite Legendary."
Logo picked up the conversation, saying, "So, because of the ruins of the God-Hunting Society, your friend betrayed you?"
"It wouldn't really be considered a backstabbing!"
Madison's expression was complicated. "First of all, they had no idea that I had obtained the relics of the God-Hunting Society. After receiving the inheritance, I have been carefully hiding it and haven't let anyone find out."
"So that's how it is," Logo, giving his teacher a strange look.
That's why they say we're destined to be master and disciple!
Just as robust and reliable!
What do you call that? That's what you call being kindred spirits!
This teacher is like me!
"Heh, without this caution, I would have died eight hundred times over." Madison shook his head; in his entire life, forbearance and patience had been ingrained in his very bones.
"Since it wasn't discovered, then how..." Logo paused, stopping short of saying more.
Madison said, "The tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Besides, others aren't fools. After witnessing my rapid rise to power, they gradually guessed the reason and connected it to our adventure. Some friends didn't care, thinking it was my destiny, and our relationship remained unchanged."
"But there were a few others who believed that since an adventure group had been formed, all the benefits should be shared equally, so they came to me asking me to share the opportunity."
"Of course I couldn't agree, but I did offer some material compensation. However, it was clear that my friends weren't going to let it go, and they ultimately chose to use force..."
At this point, Madison let out a long sigh.
Friends turning against each other because of interests is a common occurrence, but when it happens to you, the feeling is absolutely unpleasant.
Logo didn't reply, Madison continued, "After a fierce battle, I killed several people who coveted my opportunity, leaving only one alive. But I can't touch that last one."
"Is this person of high status?" Logo asked, a thought striking him.
"Hmm!" Madison nodded, gazing at the boundless dark Void outside, and sighed, "His Ya Er Dun, from the Reynolds Civilization, born into a collateral branch of the royal family, with extremely high talent, and later became a core member of the Alchemist Association."
"The Reynolds Civilization? Astral Realm- level civilization... No wonder you couldn't do anything about it." Logo suddenly understood everything.
"So, this is the guy named Ya Er Dun who planted the spy in the Spellcaster Association?"
Madison scoffed. "Besides him, I can't think of anyone else who would still be thinking about me."
Hearing this, Logo raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, hatred, obsession, and self-interest—the negative effects are stacked up to the max. In this Ya Er Dun's eyes, you're probably a sworn enemy."
"Perhaps. All these years, Ya Er Dun has believed that I stole his opportunities. How laughable! I narrowly escaped death several times in those dangerous places. These people have no idea. They're just making excuses for their own greed," Madison said coldly.
Logo did not comment on this.
He didn't want to get involved in the grudges and feuds of the older generation.
The key lies in one's stance.
Perhaps Madison, the teacher, is hiding his less-than-honorable side, but that doesn't matter. Whatever conflicts Madison and that Ya Er Dun might have, Logo can only and will only stand on his teacher's side.
This is what they mean by closeness and distance!
As for the God-Hunting Society's legacy, cough cough... that thing is just a side effect, definitely not the main reason, um, absolutely not!!
After understanding the whole story, Logo had a general idea of what had happened.
It's always easier to deal with an enemy in the open than one in the shadows.
"Now, we're just waiting to see when this Ya Er Dun will show his face..."
After leaving the Void City, the pyramid immediately activated long-distance teleportation.
In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.
After the initial novelty wore off, the monotonous and tedious dark Void led everyone to retreat to their respective rooms for seclusion.
Logo, meanwhile, continued to ramp up production and troop deployment.
Before leaving, he stored a large amount of supplies in the Nirvana Tower; the only thing he lacked was time.
This day.
With a thunderous tremor, Logo and the others finally arrived at their destination.
Through the porthole, a vast landmass stretching across endless space came into view. It floated in the Void Torrent, surrounded by a hazy, chaotic aura. It was not afraid of the Void monsters it attracted, possessing an all-encompassing and all-embracing atmosphere.
Without a doubt, this continent is a Void celestial body.
In each of the four directions of this land, a giant sun hangs high, radiating Endless light and heat, illuminating billions of living beings.
Four suns revolve in a mysterious orbit, maintaining the distinction between day and night on this continent.
Above the sun was a terrifyingly large floating island.
Its shape closely resembles a slightly clenched hand, the difference being that this hand has six fingers.
"Staphis Continent, Six-Horned Floating Island, we've finally arrived!"