Chapter 163: You Learn of The Six Paths of Immortal Knowledge

Chen looked at Elias deeply. He seemed to want to say something before he went quiet, and he opened the book to a page covered in intricate diagrams and dense text. Elias’s perfect memory immediately began cataloging everything he was seeing.

This book might seem old, but Elias could feel and see countless tiny Lumina Scripts that were flowing through Chen’s hand and into the book, almost as if he were unlocking the book. Perhaps if Elias had tried to open this book, either it would be impossible, or the book might just spontaneously combust.

“Before I tell you about joining the Guild, you need to understand what the Guild actually is,” Chen said. “Most people think it’s just a bunch of craftsmen with a union. They’re wrong. The Guild is one of the oldest institutions in Trion, predating even some of the Great Houses. And at its heart are the Six Great Paths of Immortal Knowledge.”

He tapped the page, a light of remembrance in his eyes, and he looked up at Elias to see if he was following him, and nodded in appreciation.

“These paths of Immortal Knowledge are the disciplines that have been passed down since the age of the gods. They’re not just trades, they’re paths to power. Each one, if mastered, can elevate a Siphon as surely as combat or cultivation, and that is just a sliver of their true capabilities, because you cannot call yourself a master if you do not have true understanding of an Immortal Knowledge.”

Chen counted them off on his fingers, “The first of the Immortal Knowledge is Alchemistry, and this is the path I will urge you to follow, because it is a road of transformation. We take the raw materials of the world, herbs, minerals, and the essence of fallen beasts, and turn them into something greater. We create potions that heal, elixirs that boost cultivation, poisons that can kill a Mist Phantom with a scratch… This is my path. It requires patience, precision, and a mind that sees potential in everything. Someone like you should know the importance of this.”

Elias had a slight grasp of the path of Alchemistry, but no one had broken it down to him in such an easy manner. He knew that this path was very deep, as the Alchemistry Crystal used in the creation of the statues of Asulon was just one of the endless uses of Alchemistry.

To say he was not interested in this path was a lie, and Elias had certain burning ideas in his mind that he needed to understand if they were feasible creations or just the ramblings of a broken mind. The voice of Supervisor Chen interrupted his musing.

“Ah, if any of my fellow Guild Elders sees the way I have introduced the path of Immortal Knowledge to you, they would have my back, anyway, do not make a choice until I have introduced all six paths to you, however, here on Stormfall, there are only four Guild Branches that follows that follows four of the six Immortal Knowledge, if you pick anyone outside of what is offered here, then you would need to go to the center of the continent to find them or in other cities.”

Tapping the opened page, Chen continued, “The next path is Weapon Refinement, the path of the smith, but elevated beyond mortal forging. Rune Weapons, Artifact-grade arms, weapons that grow with their wielders. The possibilities are endless, and a master Refiner could take a chunk of Profound Iron and turn it into a blade that remembers every battle it’s fought, that learns and adapts. The best weapons and armor in Trion come from this path.”

Noticing the obvious interest in the eyes of Elias, Chen sighed and continued, “The third path of Immortal Knowledge is that of Formation. I remember my master in my youth used to call it the path of geometric madness.”

Chen went silent for a while as if he was thinking about the past, Elias glanced at the man, with his shaved head and small stature, it was hard to pin an age to the man, he could be thirty or eighty, or even older.

Without any indication, Chen continued speaking, “Formations are patterns etched into the world, on the ground, on walls, or even in the air itself, that channel Lumina to create effects. Shields, traps, transportation arrays, even weapons. A single well-placed formation can hold off an army. The wards around that famed Asylum of yours? Formations. Surrounding the entirety of this city are various formations, and most of them are unknown or yet undiscovered.”

Elias forced his mind to be quiet and not ask any questions as he listened to the Supervisor; there would be time for that later.

“Then there is the fourth path, and that is the path of Talisman, and this path is one of condensed power. Talismans are single-use or limited-use items that store spells, abilities, or effects. A talisman can carry a fireball, a healing spell, or a moment of invincibility. They’re portable power, and in the right hands, they can turn the tide of battle. As you can imagine, this field is very popular, and that made it one of the most restricted paths.”

Chen had already held up four fingers, and he raised the fifth, causing his entire hand to spread open like the blooming of a flower, “The fifth path is called the path of Spiritual Plants and Animals, but it is popularly referred to as the path of life. In this path, you cultivate and breed creatures and plants that exist at the intersection of the natural and the divine. Spiritual beasts that can be bonded to Siphons, plants that bear fruit of pure Lumina, and creatures that can think and plan. This path is slower than the others, but its rewards are… profound. Some of the most powerful Siphons or Ascendant Candidates you shall meet in the future possess this path.”

After this, the Supervisor paused for a moment, as if he did not want to speak of this path,

“The final path is the path of Puppet Creation, and this is the path favored by the system. It would be hard for you to find a Guild House to learn this path, as it requires special clearance. This path is of artificial life. Constructs, golems, puppets, beings of metal, wood, and stone, animated by Lumina and complex arrays. A master Puppeteer can create armies that never tire, never fear, never betray. I have heard rumors that the most advanced puppets can even think for themselves, and it is extremely difficult to differentiate between them and living people.”

With those final words, Chen closed the book with a snap, and for a moment, Elias thought he saw a glimpse of fear in his eyes as he had talked about the path of Puppet Creation, and this struck him as odd. Perhaps the power of the System was not just reduced to the Status Screen and a vast presence with an odd voice. This world was becoming more vast and interesting the deeper he looked.

“Six paths. Each one a lifetime of study.” Supervisor Chen said, and he smiled, “Each one capable of producing wonders that would make even an Ascendant pause.”

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