Chapter Thirty-Six: The Elixir Technique

As they entered once more, the car’s suspension compressed again. Faeton returned to his original seat, still holding the Spear of the Sun God, while the white lion settled back down on the floor to sleep, yawning just before closing its eyes.

“What did you do to them?” Shang Luo asked.

“Do you think I would have killed them?” Faeton replied with a question.

“I feel as though you lack empathy toward humans,” Shang Luo said.

“No, no, Mr. Shang,” Faeton smiled. “You underestimate the Lan Fang Corporation. Their threat is even greater than the radish fields of old San Francisco. They show little interest in the native immortals of Zhendan, but their research into the sun itself has reached a point where intervention is necessary—they might destroy Earth with the power of an artificial sun within decades.”

“You mean those ‘bananas’?”

“It’s not just those ‘bananas.’ We can still reach some understanding with the native Zhendan, but with Lan Fang from the Southern Seas, war is the only path. I simply have not yet been granted permission to strike.”

“You’re far too rash, Faeton,” Helios’s voice appeared again.

Shang Luo noticed that Helios only spoke so much when Faeton was involved; at other times, he hardly said a word.

“They came at me with the spear themselves; I did not strike first,” Faeton retorted to the empty air.

“Manipulating rules carries a price—karma. Your karmic burden grows heavier, and disaster will come. Do what you must, and no more, or I will reclaim the spear.”

“Yes...” Faeton bowed his head. “I understand.”

“I have other matters to attend. The rest is yours to handle. Once this is resolved, come to Alexandria to join me. After Zhendan and Rome’s alliance, the great lighthouse is nearing completion; time is short.”

“Yes, Father. I will return as soon as possible.” Faeton rose and saluted the air.

Suddenly, Shang Luo felt the invisible pressure lift; even the car’s suspension seemed to rise slightly. The air began to stir, and everything felt lighter.

“Phew...” Faeton exhaled, “Finally gone. His attention span is enormous—he spent one hour, two minutes, and twenty-nine seconds focusing on you. He’s never paid such attention to me.”

“Ha! I’m honored! Miss Faeton, should I be moved to tears?” Shang Luo joked.

“No need for tears. He wishes for things to run as they always have—the sun and moon rising and setting, the seasons flowing, not stars arranged in strange formations. If one day you truly understand all of Helios, the Sun God, then you might weep.”

“Did he leave me something?” Shang Luo suddenly recalled. “Did he say he would grant me a wish?”

“A promise of that level could be fulfilled by the Spear of the Sun God alone, no need for his personal intervention. Have you already decided your wish?”

“Can I wish for you all to turn to dust and return to earth immediately?”

“No,” Faeton answered. “I’m not a wish-granting machine; I must consider before deciding what to give you in return. Besides, meddling with the rules accumulates karmic debt—didn’t you hear?”

“Alright, then, Miss Learn-As-You-Go, can I make a simple wish? Like helping me cultivate?”

“Do you want me, who opposes defying heaven, to help you defy heaven and practice immortality? Isn’t that too much?”

“Who’s being unreasonable now? Wasn’t it you who came knocking first?”

“Fine, fine,” Faeton waved her hand. “It’s settled then. I will assist your cultivation as best I can. The oath cannot be broken; though unwilling, I must help. But how I assist depends on my study of your alchemy—by the way, are your pills alright?”

“I don’t know.” Shang Luo turned his head away. “I haven’t taken them yet, and you came knocking on my door already.”

“Then what do those pills look like? Are they like the legends say?”

“You’ll see once you look.”

...

Las Vegas, beneath the Queen Hotel.

In a small office, Faeton stared in disbelief at the bronze cauldron before her. Inside, the pills had cooled into a dark red ash, beneath which a moist liquid seemed to flow. There were glowing mercury droplets, solidified sulfur, and a mass of substances she could not even begin to understand.

“Is this really the pill?” The spotlight illuminated it clearly, yet Faeton could hardly believe this was what her father sought. She looked to the air—being a demigod, she could still contact the divine machine: “Apollonia, can you hear me?”

“What?” Apollonia’s lazy voice came from the air, uninterested in Faeton.

“Is this truly the formula you calculated?”

“Tsk, if you don’t believe it, then don’t come snatch it. This stuff only works when humans eat it—what use is it to you?”

Having gotten a bit of ash from Apollonia, Faeton turned to Shang Luo. “Is this really a pill? I remind you, the Spear of the Sun God witnessed our agreement. If you deceive me, my promise will be void.”

“Hmm, Mediterranean grape juice tastes pretty good. As long as you help me cultivate afterward, I don’t care,” Shang Luo leaned back on the sofa, swirling the grape juice in his hand. He didn’t bother much; the pills looked nothing like traditional alchemy, and it was fortunate someone else would test them. Plus, having a more stable breakthrough plan was much more convenient.

“Stop drinking. When we’re done, you can drink as much as you want.”

“Your affairs aren’t mine,” Shang Luo said, crossing his legs. “You said I only need to cooperate; what happens next is not my concern. Meaning, whether or not you succeed, it’s not on me. Also, before you start, I want to meet someone. I won’t agree otherwise.”

Faeton gave a glance toward the door, and a man in a suit stepped out. Soon, he returned leading Wen Yuan inside.

“Come, have a drink,” Shang Luo offered, pouring from the bottle.

“Uh… sorry, I can’t drink. Alcohol harms the body and diminishes cultivation,” Wen Yuan politely declined, then glanced at the label. “Ah, grape juice—well then, I’ll have a bit.”

He moved close to Shang Luo, lowering his voice. “I know everything—no need for thanks. If you abandon me now, I doubt I’ll ever get back.”

“Let’s not talk about that now. What about the formula?” Shang Luo asked, pouring the drink. “If they analyze your alchemy, won’t that harm the court?”

“No, let them study it as much as they want.” Wen Yuan smiled wryly. “With their strength, they’d be dreaming to break the Dao Ancestor’s secrets. If they truly cracked the heavenly scheme laid by the Dao Ancestor, I’d want a share myself—and the court would be grateful to them for generations.”