Chapter 884 Immortality

Two hundred and ten years ago, Publius, who was born in Helios, and Garland, who came from this place, met.

This may be the intersection of their destinies.

It's a pity that there was no storm, nor did the two sides look at each other and know that the other is their destined enemy at the first glance. It was just a simple encounter.

The alchemists from the current world came to Helios. The alchemists of Helios entertained them cordially and bid farewell to the previous group of guests.

From now on, their seventy-year long time together began.

For Publius, Garland, an alchemist from this world, was too boring, unsmiling, and uninteresting.

For Garland, an existence like Publius who is too detached is the real alien species in the holy land of alchemists. He chatters endlessly and is extremely troublesome.

It can be said that the two hate each other.

However, in order to cooperate on research topics and the directions in which each other is good at, both parties had to maintain a peaceful and close relationship on the surface, and even secretly had some cooperation that crossed the line.

As the inheritor of the holy name of the Blessed Family, Garland violated the previous chief's prohibition and secretly shared the present book he carried with Publius.

Publius, on the other hand, returned the mystery of Helios.

Each side gets what it needs.

A good deal.

But at the same time, it seems more and more like a mockery from fate.

Although he was born in a holy place like Helios, inherited the bloodline of the Olympus gods, and had talents that ordinary people could not match, Publius did not want to stay in a boring and monotonous place like Helios and dream. They all yearn for the prosperity of the current situation.

However, the alchemist who came from the current situation was limited by his short time, his own identity, and strict prohibitions, and was unable to spy on the true inheritance of Helios...

It's like two frogs meeting in the dark. The frog at the bottom of the well wants to go to the outside world, but the frog in the outside world dreams of staying in the well.

They all live simultaneously in their own hell and in someone else's paradise.

So, they made a pact.

One last deal struck...

"——We performed the [Eleusis Mysteries]."

Garland explained calmly: "Although it is the authority stolen from Hecate, it is directed to the domain of Demeter, the mother of the seasons... In other words, it is a 'reversal of gains and losses.'"

Under the witness and auspices of their mutual friend Hedi, they exchanged the price of their fate.

And what's different from others is...

They exchanged it twice!

"Once I exchanged my 'lost', and once I exchanged my 'gain'——"

Garland told Huai Shi calmly, "It's not just a simple exchange of identities, but a complete exchange of fate, talents and even souls."

Using the secret ritual as a transit, a comprehensive exchange of consciousness, soul, body, and even destiny is achieved from both positive and negative directions at the same time.

From then on, Publius became Garand, and Garand...became Publius!

"etc!"

In the midst of contemplation, Huaishi suddenly realized something was wrong: if the bodies were exchanged, the soul would not be able to break away from Helios's laws, but if even the soul and consciousness were exchanged...

How do you know who you are?

Just rely on a memory?

If an apple has the shape of an orange, the structure of an orange, the taste of an orange, and even the shelf life and taste are exactly the same as an orange, then it should be an orange!

It's almost like the ship of Theseus.

After the two ships replaced each other's decks, rails, sails, equipment, and even crew, everything, except for the replacement record and a vague memory, what is the difference between this and no replacement!

"If that's the case, why do you say that you were once Publius? Maybe you are just Garland who has the memory of Publius!"

"This is alchemy, isn't it, Huai Shi?"

For the first time, a smile appeared on Garland's stern face. It was so calm, but it made people's hearts feel cold: "Every gain must be given up, but sometimes, the important thing is not what is gained, but what is lost."

Is the mortal iron that turns into gold still the same mortal iron?

Fan Tie doesn't care!

As long as it can become gold, that’s enough!

Philosophical speculation has never been important in alchemy. The so-called replacement is just a process, and the most important thing is the result.

For Publius, this was the greatest initiative and escape of his life.

Long before escaping from the lunar prison.

He has escaped from the fateful prison of Helios!

From that moment on, their fates became misaligned, like two intertwined straight lines that continued in their original directions after being entangled and knotted with each other.

What kind of entanglement happened in that tiny intersection? It doesn't matter, what matters is that they got the results they wanted.

What's ridiculous is that the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were originally used by devils and liars to steal other people's wealth and lives, ended up accidentally leading to the birth of two great masters.

Garland, who longs for alchemy, has no inheritance, and Publius, who has the inheritance, has no freedom. If they had not exchanged their fates, they may not be able to achieve anything...

It's as ridiculous as winning the jackpot twice in a row.

Trade the future of a great master for the future of a great master...

This wave is TP in place!

But then, Huaishi couldn't help but feel horrified: He finally realized the real seriousness of this problem!

If you use alchemy to interfere with destiny, you must follow the rules of alchemy.

There are gains and there are losses, and disasters and miracles have two sides.

Since the exchange of fate has resulted in the emergence of two great masters, then there must be a price!

"But what's the price?"

"Destiny itself is the price, Huai Shi, isn't it?"

Garland seemed to be smiling, mocking like this, "I am 'Garland'. What I got was everything Garland originally enjoyed, reputation, ability, expertise, experience, bloodline...

And what 'Publius' gets is the future that belongs to Publius.

From hundreds of years ago, the future was destined—that is, what you see now, now. "

Along with his words, bloody flames rose into the sky in the distance.

Finally, I climbed to the edge of the sun disk.

The boundaries of the gods were touched.

Hold tight!

A hurricane swept over Helios, and among the roaring wind, ecstatic laughter came.

He finally touched the edge of his 'dream'!

Take control of your 'own' destiny!

Even this destiny, this dream, this self... are just fakes exchanged from others!

From the very beginning, the existence named Publius was a crystallized by the alchemists on Helios.

A ‘miracle’ created through genetics, sefirotology, hell’s bloodline, and the secret ritual of destiny!

It can be said that he himself was born specifically for alchemy!

The final result was specifically designed to satisfy the forbidden wishes and goals of the alchemists of Helios throughout the ages...

This was a secret that should have been kept hidden until the exchange.

Just like the signs of Garland's own blood fever and the many dark inheritances of the Blessed family.

But after both parties learned about it, they didn't hesitate at all.

It's like Publius doesn't care.

In this regard, the former Garland was very happy!

"The so-called life, no matter how rich and colorful it is, no matter how powerful it is, is only a short period of a hundred years, and it is gone at the snap of a finger... There is nothing when it comes, and it is silent when it leaves. In the end, there is only a handful of ashes. None can be retained.

It was too embarrassing. Compared with his own creation, the alchemist was too pitiful and humble. "

Garland once asked, "Don't you feel unwilling?"

He said, “I want to be eternal!”

"But nothing in this world lasts forever. That's what life is called. As long as it's wonderful enough, I don't think there's anything wrong with having an end."

Publius shook his head, "You know, even gods cannot be eternal."

"Then become a god first!"

Garland said decisively, "One day, we will be able to reach immortality..."

"So, let's make an exchange, Publius."

The alchemist held his hand, his eyes lit up with fanatical light, "In this way, I can gain immortality, and you can gain freedom!"

At that moment, Publius discovered that maybe he was more worthy of everything the name Publius represented than himself.

No, maybe, he is here for this!

This is his fate...

At the same time, this is the price he has to bear.

So Publius became Galand, and Galand became Publius.

From then on, it was a long time.

They are walking on the path that once belonged to others, chasing the results they dream of, regardless of hardship, torture and anxiety, even if they are trapped in a cage or unable to extricate themselves from the quagmire, struggling to pay the price for their choices, but they still I have never regretted the transaction I made that day.

until now.

"But what about you?" Huai Shi asked, "What's the price for you?"

"My share has been paid off long ago, Huaishi. My debt is earlier than his, although it may not be much lighter..." Garland looked at him meaningfully, "Now, to It’s your time.”

Huai Shi shook his head indifferently: "I never owe you anything, nor have I ever prayed to fate for something I don't deserve."

"Maybe? But is it really so?"

Garland said nonchalantly: “In Helios, the connection between cause and effect is far better than other places.

The fate here is the vector in the closed flask. When a vector appears, a reverse vector must appear to achieve balance.

This is the essence of alchemy, where there is gain and there is sacrifice.

You came to Helios for your own desires, and in the end, you stood on the opposite side of Publius. Isn't this also the price you pay for each other? "

"You will gain a lot and you will lose a lot -"

In this way, a meaningful retelling of the prophecy from the old priest Ima, "But if you want to gain more, or want to lose less, the solution is right in front of you."

Along with his words, roars continued to emerge from the howling hurricane.

Rachel's face suddenly turned pale.

Because terrifying shadows have emerged from the Bone Tower. Under Hedi's command, in the darkness that cannot be illuminated by light, countless deformed spirits and the hordes of hells bred by the abyss have been moving towards each other without distinction. Spread in all directions.

The first to bear the brunt is Huai Shi, who has already been included in the must-kill list!

In front of the surging hell army, Gala sat on a chariot of gold and bones, staring up at the surging core in the distance. When the sickle blade in his hand was raised, countless ferocious shadows behind him roared, turned into a torrent, and came towards this place.

On the throne of the Sun Maker, Huai Shi raised his eyes.