Endless Debt

Hill walked through the deep corridor and passed through the arches. As the bright light gradually fell from the top of his head, the darkness and coldness around him dissipated.

Looking up, Hill is now in a huge atrium. This is a typical highly symmetrical courtyard, surrounded by four cloisters, each of which supports high vaults and protruding balconies.

The style of the building shows its characteristic slender, curved and embellished features. The cloister is covered with rows of raised arch brackets, forming an intertwined arcade. Below is a row of long windows covered with cloth. It is full of iron flowers, glass and decoration, showing a very unique artistic style.

More footsteps came from all directions. Many apprentices like Hill were walking into the atrium. Under the special structure of the cloister, they were gradually amplified and echoed repeatedly.

Many young apprentices will stop in the corner, which is always unfamiliar to them due to the complex structure of the building. The same was true for Hill at first. He would set out well early every day to avoid getting lost.

Hill continued to move forward. Here, in addition to the scholars, there were also many workers busy. They were changing the buildings according to the drawings given by the scholars.

No one knows what kind of building the Grand Master wants to create. Ever since Hill became his apprentice and came to this building a few years ago, this building has been under constant construction, and its scale has continued to grow over the years. As it expands, complex corridors intersect with each other, and densely packed houses are arranged in invisible places.

Every day when he wakes up, this building will change to a certain extent. Sometimes, Hill even feels that this building is alive and some kind of weird alchemical creation.

Hmm... This does sound weird, but with the Grand Master's ability, it's not impossible.

Hill still remembered that the Grand Master said that no matter how much he optimized the structure of the building, it would eventually be constrained by space. He planned to add many winding doors to the building in the coming days. A building will be completely transformed into a living maze.

This is not the end yet. According to the Grand Master's ideas, this building will continue to expand until it becomes a great city-state that accommodates all scholars.

It sounds crazy, but Hill is used to this.

after all……

Hill passed through the last gate, and the bright golden light came into his eyes. He seemed to have entered a world made of gold, and his eyes were filled with golden light.

After a brief dizziness, Hill's vision gradually became clearer. Apprentices often called this place the Golden Palace, but in fact it was not entirely made of gold, but was covered with layers of shining gold. The alchemical matrix, when the whole building is running, the bright golden light seems to be burning.

The light in the Golden Palace dimmed. The hall was filled with books, manuscripts and experimental equipment. A group of scholars were busy working. Some were reading manuscripts, some were instructing students, and others were conducting experiments.

The air was filled with the smell of various chemicals. At a long table, several scholars were manipulating gases with strange colors and igniting them with burners to explore the composition and properties of the gases.

On another table, a scholar was conducting anatomy experiments, carefully taking out organs for observation and research, and a student next to him was carefully recording the results of the experiments, mastering how to apply this knowledge to the fields of medicine and biology.

Maps and diagrams hanging on the walls provided scholars with an introduction to modern subjects including astronomy, mathematics, and anthropology. Each subject studied symbolizes the edges and realms of knowledge, encouraging scholars to realize the importance and complexity of the areas they investigate.

Hill continued to move forward, passed through layers of strict inspections, turned into the deep spiral corridor, and arrived deep underground in the Golden Palace. In a faint blue light, he saw his great mentor.

"Great Master."

Hill saluted the busy figure, but the other person did not respond, as if he was obsessed with his own research. Hill was accustomed to this. He came directly to his seat and continued his previous research.

A few minutes later, two figures entered the room one after another. They were also apprentices of the great mentor and friends of Hill.

"You're so early, Hill."

The man came to Hill and patted him on the shoulder, with a cheerful smile on his slightly dark face, "Why, you didn't get lost this time?"

Hill stopped what he was busy doing, and a helpless emotion appeared on his face.

At this time, another figure also came over, pinched Hill's cheeks with soft hands from behind, moved them up and down, and made strange faces.

Amid bursts of laughter, Hill raised his head and saw a pair of beautiful eyes looking down at him from top to bottom.

Hill's mind paused for a moment, and then he broke free from the woman's restraints, and his expression once again changed to the previous helplessness and indifference.

"I really envy you two..." Hill turned sideways and looked back at his two friends, "You are really inseparable."

"You are too withdrawn, junior brother." Susie raised her hand and ruffled Hill's hair.

Sa Qin looked at his junior brother with a smile. Everyone liked Hill very much. From the first day he was brought back by the Grand Instructor, he showed extremely powerful talents. The Grand Instructor even said that Hill His achievements may surpass everyone...including himself.

Hill rarely cares about other people's praise of himself. More often, he just likes to stay in a corner alone and study what he likes.

He is indeed a lonely guy, with almost no friends, except for Susie and Sachin... These two people are surprisingly familiar with each other, and no matter how much Hill expresses resistance, they ignore him.

Hill sighed, like a desensitization reaction. He felt that he was used to this, and then he asked.

"So when are you two going to get married? Do you want to keep delaying it?"

At the moment of the threat, Sa Qin and Su Xi froze on the spot, their smiles froze, with an inexplicable sense of embarrassment.

This time, Hill looked triumphant. He knew the thoughts of these two people very well.

Susie suppressed her blush, while Sa Qin hesitated. He wanted to say something to explain, but the words reached his throat and his words became stuttered.

Just when the awkward atmosphere was about to explode, the busy master at the side finally spoke.

He stopped what he was doing, turned around, and asked the three of them, "Has there been any progress in the research?"

The Grand Master is a workaholic and rarely cares about things other than work.

"Yes, yes."

Sa Qin said repeatedly, feeling relieved. Susie also nodded repeatedly and picked up the thick stack of documents she had prepared.

Hill's lips raised slightly, and he also stood up. This research material was completed by the three of them. Of course, the main research was led by Hill.

Scholars always use these words to praise Hill, the genius Hill and the next great mentor.

In this golden palace, the great master is the supreme scholar. As his apprentices, the three of them have long been able to assume the position of master, but they are still practicing as apprentices.

“The research project this time is a bit too scattered, so the results we obtained are also a bit loose,” Hill reported to the Grand Tutor. “But I feel that as long as we continue to research, all this information can be connected together and revealed. the truth."

The Grand Master nodded and motioned for Hill to continue.

"The first is the study of the contamination of matter by ether..."

When mentioning this, Hill felt his breathing quicken.

Research in the Golden Palace is absolutely confidential, and every piece of knowledge studied here is enough to subvert scholars' understanding of the world.

Like what Hill is going to say next.

"After exploring deep underground and drilling for several months, we drilled through the earth's crust and took out many samples of solid and molten materials."

It was a big project. With the support of the etheric and alchemical matrix, drilling continued day and night, constantly digging deep into the earth's core.

"From these samples, we extracted a material that was not contaminated by ether, which confirmed our idea that ether is alien energy, and it also broke the cornerstone of our knowledge based on ether."

Hill's expression became serious, and his eyes swept over Susie and Saqin, "After the three of us decided, we call this substance the original thing."

"Original thing?" The Grand Master nodded gently, "It's a good name."

He looked through the document and read the text on it. If other scholars read the contents, the scholars' cognition will be subverted, and they may fall into complete madness.

"Your guess is correct. According to the samples we collected during the excavation, the material excavated at first still contained the soul of cold iron. However, as the excavation deepened, the content of the soul of cold iron in the material became It becomes less and less, or even completely loses its soul."

Hill continued, "But it did not annihilate into a pile of dust after losing its soul according to the rules we know. It still maintained its material form."

Susie said, "The soul is not necessary for matter...at least for the original thing."

The Grand Master said, "Go on."

Sa Qin said, "According to your speculation, teacher, the ether came to this world in a certain period of time in the past. We suspect that after its arrival, it gradually infiltrated all the materials in the outside world and gradually moved towards the center of the earth. Going deeper, we can see the process of etheric contamination from the cold iron soul content of the sample, and we can even deduce based on the speed of etheric contamination when it came to this world."

The Grand Master pondered.

Hill flipped through the file and then said, "The ether affects the entire world from the outside, and as the concentration of ether gradually increases, it will completely infiltrate the entire world little by little. I don't know yet what will happen then. , but based on the available information..."

Hill paused as he spoke, becoming hesitant.

"Don't hide it, just say it directly if you have anything to say, Hill," the Grand Master said. "What we are studying is taboo knowledge. In the past, we would have been burned on the rack."

Hearing what the Grand Master said, Hill smiled bitterly. The knowledge they studied was simply a blasphemy to outside scholars. Every line of text could easily penetrate their understanding of the extraordinary system. .

"Obviously, from the study of original things, it can be found that matter does not have a soul. The so-called soul is just a derivative born after the reaction between ether and matter."

Hill said, "The original thing can actually be regarded as a kind of..."

He paused and found a new word to describe it.

"Soulless matter."

"The world composed of soulless matter is the original appearance of this world. If ether is regarded as an intruder, then the world today will be completely different.

Maybe pure human beings have become less pure under the influence. "

Is the soul really innate to humans?

Hearing what Hill said, the Grand Master frowned and pinched his forehead hard.

Hill's meaning is very clear. Human beings can survive even without souls, and they will not become demons or some kind of twisted monster.

Perhaps real human beings do not have souls.

These simple words directly penetrate the laws of body, mind, soul, and the Trinity.

The Grand Master murmured, "Then what is the connection between the soul, the secret source, and the devil?"

No one responded, and after a dead silence, Hill went on to tell his theory.

"I don't know the connection between the soul and them, but what is certain is that there must be a close connection between the ether, the devil, and the secret source. Maybe they came to this world together."

Hill said, "The secret source remains silent, unable to be explored, and has no response, but the devil is different. They must know something."

Sa Qin's expression became serious, and there was anger in his eyes, "Do you want to make a deal with the devil?"

"I just regard them as a tool, a tool to achieve a purpose." Hill's words were particularly cold.

"Hill!"

Sa Qin's voice became louder. For Sa Qin, this was a bottom line that could not be crossed.

"Sa Qin, calm down." The great mentor said.

Sa Qin fell silent. He took deep breaths repeatedly to adjust his emotions, "Sorry, I was still a little too impulsive."

"It's nothing. This shows that you are alert enough to the devil."

The Grand Master continued, "But I still hope you can be more sensible. I don't want my name to be inherited by an angry guy."

Sa Qin smiled helplessly, "Teacher, we all know that Hill will inherit your name in the end."

It is an ancient tradition among scholars that the apprentice will inherit the name of the master and act in his name, which is like immortality in another sense.

The Grand Master inherited this name from his teacher, and soon the name will be passed on to the next Grand Master.

"Are you jealous of him?"

"No, we just have a clear understanding of our own abilities." Sa Qin hugged Hill's shoulders, "I also thought I was a genius until I met Hill... I won't be jealous. He, on the contrary, would be doubly miserable if I were to acquire your holy name, which I know I do not have the qualifications for.”

Sa Qin smiled, but there was still caution in his eyes, "Tell me your plan, Hill."

Hill nodded solemnly, glanced at the eyes of several people, and said slightly nervously.

"Devils need value. As long as there is enough value, they will do anything for you. So the question is, what kind of thing can completely command the devil?"

Hill asked himself.

"A unique existence."

The Grand Master seemed to have guessed what Hill wanted to do. He said softly, "A pure human being without a soul."

This is most likely what human nature is like.

Hill said in a low voice, "The soulless one."

“How do you create?”

Hill paused and shook his head, "Sorry, this is just a guess, I can't do it."

"Ether has been permeating the human world for thousands of years. There are no absolutely pure humans in this world anymore. Even if we use the ether vacuum and other methods to isolate a pure land for reproduction, the mother body of reproduction will still have certain characteristics. The ether has a soul, and as long as there is the slightest interference, a soulless person cannot be born."

"Unless they have the devil's help, they can't do anything," Susie whispered.

"Then what are you going to do after you create the Soulless One?" the Grand Master asked, "What deal are you using the Soulless One to make with the devil?"

"Knowledge, more knowledge."

"What kind of knowledge?"

"The knowledge that could end it all."

The Grand Master was silent for a moment, and then asked with some confusion, "Do you want to seek the power to destroy them from the hands of the devil?"

Hill responded briefly, "The only thing that can kill a monster is another monster."

This time the Grand Master was silent for a longer time. He suddenly walked towards Hill and put his hand on Hill's shoulder.

"Maybe you can really inherit my name." The Grand Master said, "Wolfgang Gold, this is a sacred name."

"I know the story behind this name," Hill said with respect. "In the legend of scholars, he was the first person to make a deal with the devil, but he made a wish not for himself, but for all mankind. .”

Susie softly recounted the continuation of the story, "Wolfgang Gold gave his soul, gained the power to fight the devil from the devil's hands, and gave this power to people - this is regarded as The Origin of the Alchemical Matrix.”

"Thank you, teacher."

Hill thanked the Grand Master for his praise and looked carefully at the Grand Master's face. He remembered that when he first saw the Grand Master, he was still a young man wielding thunder. Now he has become old, and he He also changed from the child he was back then to what he is.

The Grand Master, or in other words, Wolfgang Gold, he just looked at Hill's eyes with a smile. In those cold eyes, he could see nothing but abyss-like darkness, just like Hill heart.

"Soulless? That sounds really good, Hill."

Weird sounds rang out in the Golden Palace. For a moment, everything froze, and everyone's expressions froze into a frozen scene. The man holding the cane sat in the position where the Grand Master had just been, smiling. Look at Hill.

"In exchange for the knowledge to fight against us...just the soulless ones may not be enough."

Hill was used to the elusiveness of this devil, and he said, "Of course I know that the soulless one is not enough, not to mention that it is impossible for this thing to be born."

He didn't lie. With the current knowledge system, Hill didn't know how to create a life outside the mother's body.

Pure humanity has become extinct.

"Hmm, I smell something interesting."

The devil suddenly disintegrated into black smoke, and then gathered behind Sa Qin. The two of them clung to each other, and after sniffing vigorously, the man smiled and said, "I smell jealousy on him, he is jealous of you." "

"It has nothing to do with me." Hill didn't care.

The man looked at Sa Qin playfully, as if he was planning something in his heart. He then walked towards Hill, but when he was about to approach Hill, Hill suddenly spoke.

"The ether must have descended through some channel, such as a 'door'."

Hill analyzed that he should have said these words to the Grand Master, but he pretended not to know anything.

"The world is like a pasture, and humans are the lambs living in the pasture. You need our furs, but these furs need to be processed by the ether..."

The man stopped where he was and listened to Hill's words.

"Since the door can be opened in this world, it must also be open in other worlds. Maybe in your long life, you have colonized countless such worlds."

The man became serious, "What do you want to say?"

"I want to say...Leviathan, do you want to get a new pasture?"

Hill asked as if he had seen through everything.

"Compared to being a soulless person, discovering another world and opening a new door is enough to satisfy your desires?"

Leviathan froze on the spot. After reacting for dozens of seconds, his expression changed. Leviathan was a little panicked. He never thought that Hill could vaguely guess the truth from just a few words. At the same time, He became extremely excited again.

There is nothing more tempting than a new pasture and a flock of lambs ready to be slaughtered.

Leviathan raised his cane with both hands and narrowed his eyes.

"what do you want?"