Seizing the BOSS Template at the Start

Baiyi thought about it and decided not to rush.

The power of the Demon Realm flickered, and a vast number of Magnetic Mechanisms and Gold-devouring Insects appeared, quickly forming a mechanical platform floating in the air, gradually materializing tables and chairs on it.

Baiyi settled into a seat, took out a book, and started to study diligently. Hunting and getting promoted to Transformed Sage could be done simultaneously.

There was no rush for hunting; simply heading towards the destination would suffice, utilizing time along the journey.

After all, opportunities like these don’t depend on speed.

In a week’s time, players erupted in a significant protest online, both on Dawn’s network and the game’s forums.

After the initial excitement wore off, they felt as if they had transitioned from one society to another.

Any violation would still be penalized.

And perhaps because scarcity is valuable, players could no longer boast about being a Thief Saint, as being caught now led not to a slap on the wrist or brief detention but to execution.

Of course, stealing was inevitable. Without gear-dropping games, if we didn’t steal strong players’ equipment, what’s the point of playing?

Especially after a streamer discovered the night black market, theft became uncontrollable, with the black market becoming a hotspot for theft.

Those vendors with goods of dubious provenance couldn’t report the crimes.

After all, one couldn’t go to the Law Enforcement Team and say, "My loot from killing and raiding, or my stolen goods were stolen."

Players and the Three Great Federations were still adjusting.

In mid-January 1551, half a month after Baiyi set out,

the Star Federation erupted with a massive energy fluctuation.

The Celestial City, covered in greenery, shook continuously.

A spatial ripple flashed by.

Noel stood in the void, looking at the scene before him, eyes filled with joy.

The Alchemy Sage, Chu Ao, who had been in seclusion for nearly ten years, had attained a stronger presence.

Roar~

A burst of explosive low growling erupted. In the center of Dubhe City, an incredibly powerful aura surged forth with a shattering roar, breaking through layers of technological barriers, destroying a massive palace while soaring skyward.

The entire sky abruptly darkened, turning the azure sky of this cloud into an absorbing dark hue.

A thirteen-meter tall monstrous figure emerged, muscle-bound yet poreless, with bronze skin reflecting a steel hue.

Its pure white eyes held no blemish, but the fierce aura radiated throughout the Star Continent, exerting intense pressure on all living beings.

Just like when the Lady of the Night peers into the world, animals and magical beasts recoiled to their dens, and fish quickly fled from the sea’s edge and stars.

This not-so-large person now gazed skyward, seemingly making eye contact with entities approaching Xia, anticipating their arrival.

"Giant Statue..."

Noel was filled with shock. He knew his mentor had vast knowledge and experience, but creating a Giant Statue was not something a Technology Sage with two Grandmaster sub-disciplines could accomplish.

That required the skill level of the Three Sages to be maxed to create such a supreme creation.

Yet here, this godlike creation was undeniably placed before him.

Noel, in his murmuring, noticed something slightly different, and his initial shock faded slightly, replaced by a hint of joy.

"It’s not a Giant Statue, at least not a complete one."

An aged voice spoke.

Noel quickly turned: "You’ve come out of seclusion, let’s celebrate."

Chu Ao’s eyes carried a trace of joy. He clenched his still remarkably aged hands, the wrinkles now seeming powerful: "There’s no need for a celebration."

He looked at the sky: "We have no time. I need more knowledge about the Giant Statue..."

"I felt spiritual pressure from you. Have you broken through?"

Chu Ao paused slightly, nodding: "Taboo."

He continued with a hint of concern in his cloudy gaze: "But I seem to have reached my limit."

Noel scrutinized the slowly descending Giant Statue with spiritual power and pondered: "But its defense should have reached the Giant Level at least, with no discernible difference from the remains we found."

"Still not enough: magic power, speed, power, autonomous combat awareness, self-evolution, self-restoration haven’t reached Giant Level. To a god, it’s just a target."

Chu Ao spoke with a calm and indifferent tone.

"Perhaps you could try exchanging ideas with Baiyi?" Noel suggested.

"Baiyi..." Chu Ao frowned: "He’s indeed very competent, but... how is it possible!!!"

He looked, astonished, at the data collected by his AI, for the first time showing emotional turbulence on his face.

Noel seemed prepared for this, spreading his hands: "He’s the strangest one I’ve heard of, bar none."

Chu Ao quickly composed himself, his AI already listing all the common knowledge he had missed in recent years.

With just a glance, he fully understood these things.

Without such a photographic memory, one couldn’t become a Sage.

After all, being an Alchemy Sage or Great Alchemist Sage is about amassing time and unbelievable learning abilities.

It’s unlike a warrior who might break through with a sudden epiphany; an Alchemist necessitates time.

Baiyi, this unique anomaly, is the only one in all of Xia’s history.

So Chu Ao wanted not to remain in seclusion but to seek more knowledge and more Giant Statue remnants.

Which was essentially what Baiyi was doing now.

But finding such Giant Statue remnants isn’t as simple as seeking and finding.

Baiyi’s influence now is extensive, and in the entire Federation’s Adventurer’s Guild, the most lucrative rewards are for finding Giant Statue remnants and Magma Cores.

Even solar energy is something Baiyi continues to collect.

Unfortunately, besides the solar energy, the other items are not very effective.

The worlds outside the Federation’s territory are still too dangerous; Divine Envoys are not something an ordinary Legendary can handle.

Chu Ao pondered: "There’s no need for more discussion on this. Have someone take something to Dawn; perhaps I can still improve some."

Noel nodded. For an Alchemy Sage, placing a product from their own domain before the other side bears no difference from mutual discussion and acknowledgment.

Reaching the sage level represents absolute leadership and absolute talent on this path.

Even the Giant Statue can be researched by an Alchemy Sage, only not fabricated from scratch.

After all, a Giant Statue is the supreme product of Alchemy Technology, Alchemy Potion, and Alchemy Transformation combined.

An Alchemy Technology Sage can’t make an Alchemy Potion Sage’s Epic Potion.

Nor can they create a perfect transformation of a Transformed Sage.

So they can only repair and modify a portion of the Giant Statue based on previous work.

This is, in essence, what Chu Ao intends to do: calling for knowledge, researching individually for a while, then exchanging knowledge, which is the healthiest development among Alchemy Sages.

This way, one isn’t influenced by others’ viewpoints, thus averting the risk of being led off course in research.

Just like Sun Salutation, Baiyi’s special skill points never mentioned adding Solar Divine Power, but Sun Federation’s Helie did, enhancing the power, and thus Baiyi learned a new enhancement method.

Alchemy is a path to the Other Shore, and it’s never the only one.

"However, before transmitting the information, I need your help with something."

"What?"

"Abyssal Energy and Divine Abomination energy detection reaction. We’ve got a troublesome rat here, and I need to catch it."

"You’re now no weaker than I am."

"That rat is too cunning, and no method can be used twice. I can’t track it anymore."

"This is unimportant. Wait a bit, first transmit the knowledge...."