Chapter 246 — Master and Disciple

Chapter 246: Chapter 246 — Master and Disciple

Chapter 246 — Master and Disciple

Victor looked at Valseer, wondering exactly what his proposition could be.

"Well, I’ve already heard about your abilities from Grace and Benton," Valseer began. "According to them, you’re something of a genius when it comes to alchemy. I’ll still need to verify exactly where your abilities stand myself, but I think becoming my disciple would be very important for your future."

Victor raised his eyebrows.

The Tower Master’s disciple.

That wasn’t an offer he’d expected to receive so casually.

"I also plan to take Lyra as my disciple," Valseer added, glancing toward the sleeping Shadow Fox. "Honestly, who wouldn’t want the first beast alchemist as their disciple? That sounds exquisite, if you ask me."

Victor laughed.

Valseer’s expression grew more serious.

"However, there’s something you should understand. Becoming my disciple doesn’t mean your life is going to become easier. If anything, it’s going to become very difficult, very quickly."

Victor nodded.

"I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Not after everything he’d learned.

Even the future of alchemy and humanity had become part of his responsibilities.

Valseer nodded approvingly.

"It’s good that you understand."

Victor thought about the offer for a moment.

There was no reason to hesitate.

He stood and approached Valseer before bowing respectfully.

"Tower Master Valseer, I formally request that you accept me as your alchemy disciple."

Valseer studied him for a moment before smiling and rising from his chair.

He placed one hand on Victor’s head.

"I, Valseer, accept you, Victor, as my disciple."

Victor bowed again.

"Master."

"Good."

Valseer’s voice carried none of its usual playfulness.

With the ceremony complete, Victor returned to his seat. Lyra and Grace were still sleeping on the couch, neither showing any sign of waking.

After a moment, he remembered something he’d been meaning to ask.

"Master, what happened at the Evil God Organization’s base after I lost consciousness?"

Valseer leaned back.

"Ah, yes. I suppose you haven’t heard how everything ended."

He explained that Cyrus had continued fighting the Sloth Mask cultivator, who had apparently given him quite a difficult time. Considering Sloth Mask was Rank Three Spirit Core and Cyrus had only recently entered the realm, Victor wasn’t surprised.

Eventually, Sloth Mask decided continuing the fight wasn’t worth it and escaped. Once he withdrew, the remaining resistance began falling apart.

The Order had rescued roughly fifteen hundred people, all of whom appeared to have been prepared for a future sacrifice. The captives were receiving treatment, while Order members examined everything recovered from the base.

However, Valseer mentioned one particularly troubling discovery.

"Not a single one of those fifteen hundred people was among the missing slaves."

Victor frowned.

"Then there are a lot more people still missing."

"Exactly. Whatever the Evil God Organization is preparing, it seems they’re planning a sacrifice on an enormous scale. Those fifteen hundred people may have been only a portion of what they’ve gathered."

Victor thought back to Rakasha’s warning.

Samal had sensed the Evil God Organization moving aggressively within the Tower, and their discoveries seemed to confirm it.

"After what Rakasha told us, we can no longer afford to remain passive," Valseer continued. "The Order has survived for so long because we stayed hidden and moved carefully, but things are changing."

His expression grew serious.

"Things are about to become very serious."

Valseer sighed before continuing.

"Still, don’t underestimate what you’ve accomplished. You’ve dealt them a significant blow, and I imagine it’ll take them some time to recover."

Victor nodded.

Valseer eventually turned his attention back to Victor.

"Now then, since you’ve officially become my disciple, I think it’s time I find out exactly what you’re capable of."

Victor smiled slightly.

There it was.

"I’ve heard about the Soul Power control you demonstrated for Benton, but I have a feeling what you showed him wasn’t your actual limit."

Victor shook his head.

"No."

"I thought so." Valseer leaned forward. "Go ahead. Show me."

Victor raised his hand, and a small Black Phoenix Flame appeared above his palm.

Then it expanded.

Contracted.

Expanded again.

Valseer’s expression changed almost immediately.

He didn’t recognize the exercise, but he understood its purpose. Each expansion required Victor to increase his Soul Power output without destabilizing the flame, while each contraction demanded that he reduce its size without losing control.

There was no rest between the movements.

Interesting.

This was considerably more demanding than simply maintaining a stable flame. Victor was continuously adjusting his Soul Power, which meant he should exhaust himself much faster.

Thirty seconds.

That was Valseer’s initial estimate.

For a fourteen-year-old, even thirty seconds would have been impressive.

But thirty seconds passed, and Victor continued.

The flame expanded and contracted steadily, without any noticeable fluctuations.

Forty seconds.

Fifty.

One minute.

Valseer leaned forward.

He’s still going?

Another minute passed.

Two minutes.

Valseer stared in disbelief.

Victor was finally beginning to show signs of strain. His breathing had grown heavier, and a thin layer of sweat had appeared across his forehead, but his control remained steady.

Two minutes and ten seconds.

Two minutes and twenty.

The flame contracted once more, expanded, and finally disappeared at two minutes and twenty-three seconds.

Victor lowered his hand and released a slow breath.

Valseer remained silent, considering what he’d witnessed.

Maintaining a stable flame required Soul Power, but repeatedly changing its size and intensity was significantly more demanding.

If Victor could sustain this exercise for over two minutes, simply maintaining his flame should comfortably carry him beyond three minutes.

At fourteen years old.

This boy really is a gem.

And more importantly, Valseer had already accepted him as his disciple.

When Victor eventually became an extraordinary alchemist, Valseer could take at least some of the credit.

His gaze drifted toward Lyra.

Is she this talented too?

He studied the sleeping Shadow Fox.

No. Surely not.

"Victor, your flame control is exquisite."

Victor smiled.

"Where did you learn that technique?"

"That I can’t tell you."

Valseer’s smile became slightly strained.

Of course.

"But I can teach it to you."

Valseer stared at him.

His disciple had officially been his disciple for only a few minutes, and already the disciple was offering to teach the master.

Times were changing faster than he’d expected.

"I would appreciate that."

He shook his head with a quiet laugh.

Then another thought occurred to him.

Soul Power control at this level wasn’t merely impressive. It had practical consequences.

By the modern Tower’s standards, Victor should already be capable of attempting Tier Two alchemy.

Valseer studied him curiously.

"Can you make pills?"

Victor paused.

"Yes."

After a few seconds, a slow smile spread across Valseer’s face.

"I see."

Victor wasn’t entirely sure he liked the way he’d said that.

There was far too much interest behind those two words.

Valseer leaned back in his chair, studying his new disciple as though Victor had suddenly become a particularly complicated alchemical formula.