Chương 144: Evil Alchemist
Baibai's 800 points of spirit and immensely powerful soul made the movements of the upper-level gold evil spirit sluggish. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat as she watched Bai Yi raise his hand, preparing to strike.
The two were now dangerously close. Once the paralysis wore off, she wondered if she could evade his attack. But in Bai Yi's eyes, a flicker of scarlet glinted at her ribs—the mark of weakness indicated by his bloody backstab ability. A critical hit was imminent.
Zheng!
The surrounding blue light shattered as Bai Yi adjusted his position. In a swift motion, he plunged the scalpel into her ribs.
Hiss!
Buzz!
The moment the scalpel made contact, the blood-clothed evil spirit erupted, transforming into a swirling mist of crimson.
"Ah..."
A shrill female wail echoed around, reverberating and sending shivers through the nearby minotaurs.
"You!"
In the distance, the blood-stained spirit clutched her wound, from which dark energy seeped. Her face contorted with rage as she prepared to retaliate when Bai Yi appeared before her again.
Clang!
Bai Yi's sharp scalpel struck her abdomen once more, silencing her words. A surge of resentment erupted from her, darkening the air around her as her form twisted grotesquely, reshaping into a monstrous figure.
The entire Sin City trembled under the weight of her transformation.
"Oh, damn it! You hurt me!"
Her voice was a hysterical roar, resonating from her massive form, still scarred and emitting dark energy.
Bai Yi smirked. "Beautiful lady, you attacked me first. Are you sure you want to continue this fight?"
Soul of Accumulation!
A colossal figure materialized behind Bai Yi, its appearance bathed in crimson, wielding a dagger identical to Bai Yi's, its gaze fixated on the wound in the spirit's side. The damage dealt earlier had not been fully realized.
Yet, Bai Yi had no intention of killing her. He merely wished to gather information and extend a greeting, reminiscent of his interactions with Charles. The deformed spirit stiffened, eyes from the faces it wore widening in fear, and her tentacles slowed, unsure.
"Ahem..."
A light cough interrupted the tense standoff. From behind a nearby minotaur, a middle-aged man emerged, his body marred with stitches and exuding an unsettling aura of madness. Clad in a blood-stained white coat, he resembled an evil mad scientist.
"Xue Yi, stop making trouble."
His voice grated like metal scraping against stone, causing discomfort.
Limping on a black cane, he stepped forward, excitement flickering in his eyes as he addressed Bai Yi. "Outsider, if I'm not mistaken, your current state channels evil thoughts, right? It seems you've perfected them. How did you achieve this?"
"It's quite simple," Bai Yi replied calmly. "But if you want to know more, we can exchange knowledge of equal value."
The Soul of Accumulation flicked the scarlet dagger in his hand, a sound akin to claws scraping the ground filling the air—an indication of tremendous power.
Both the middle-aged man and the monstrous spirit fell silent, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Not long after, a notification sounded:
[Your soul decay curse has been reclaimed.]
The evil spirit retreated, her form shrinking back into her original, alluring self. She covered her wound, her expression now one of resignation. "I was just playing a joke, dear brother. I didn't expect you to take it so seriously."
She released her grip, and the bleeding from her wound ceased as she returned to her pristine state. The mood lightened.
The Soul of Accumulation behind Bai Yi gradually faded. He was confident the evil spirit wouldn't lash out again; this city was founded by five golden superiors, and she wouldn't dare risk serious injury.
"Same joke, but beautiful lady, can you tell me where the scavenger Sid is now?" Bai Yi smiled, attempting to convey that he had demonstrated enough strength to warrant an answer.
"Haha, my brother is quite charming! But why look for that old woman? Your sister could assist you too," she replied playfully, her eyes sparkling. "I'm Ai Nuan, and I adore powerful brothers like you."
Bai Yi maintained his composure. "No thanks. I'm only here to find Sid, and I'll leave once I do."
Ai Nuan's expression turned contemplative, but she ultimately said, "Unfortunately, she's been out scavenging for over twenty days. She'll return in a week. Why not wait with your sister?"
With twenty days until the timeline Charles provided, Bai Yi felt no urgency. "I'll explore the city myself," he said, turning away. "I'd prefer to seek out those evil alchemists and see if I can acquire something useful."
"Wait!"
The metallic scrape of the middle-aged man's cane halted Bai Yi in his tracks.
"My name is Marku. If I'm not mistaken, you're also an alchemist, right? If you're interested, I invite you to my pharmacy for an academic exchange."
Bai Yi assessed him, then nodded. "You can call me Bai Yi. I'd be pleased to accept your invitation."
Ai Nuan's expression soured slightly, but she seemed wary of Marku. "Little brother Bai Yi, I'll come to see you again," she said, her voice sweet as she dissolved into red mist, vanishing in an instant.
Marku glanced at the spot where she disappeared, then turned to Bai Yi. "Don't worry about her. The evil thoughts you emanate have stirred some unsettling memories in her. She finds you... appetizing, just as you would with her. But with your current transformation, you have an advantage."
Bai Yi followed the limping Marku, noting the peculiarities of his anatomy. One leg was a normal human limb, while the other was a tentacle, leaving a sticky residue with each step. The crutch was more than a support; it was undoubtedly a weapon.
"I understand. I didn't intend to engage her in combat; it was merely probing," Bai Yi replied. "But I've heard there are five gold masters in this city. Where are the other three?"
"The black dragon sleeps, the wizard conducts research, and the mechanical body... Well, he's not likely to be interested in you," Marku explained, his tone casual. He seemed unbothered by Bai Yi's potential for chaos, perhaps hoping for it.
The two walked for a while before arriving at a sprawling establishment adorned with a flickering sign: [Crazy Clinic]. The air was thick with cries of pain, echoing from within.
"The one undergoing surgery is a human I found. He has considerable talent," Marku said, leading Bai Yi to the back, stopping at a transformation room.
The room bore no high-tech equipment, just a metal operating table stained with blood. A minotaur lay there, its insides exposed, eyes wide with fear.
Bai Yi paused, suddenly understanding the situation—a procedure was underway, but the doctor had temporarily halted it to pacify the patient.
"Wait a moment; I'll give this customer a makeover," Marku declared, picking up a scalpel.
The minotaur's frantic cries filled the air as Marku severed its spine.
"Moo... Aaahhh!"
The beast writhed in agony, struggling futilely as pain consumed it.
"Won't you give him some anesthesia?" Bai Yi inquired, bewildered. He couldn't fathom allowing a patient to scream so freely.
"No, I enjoy their wails," Marku replied matter-of-factly, severing the spine with a single, brutal cut.
Bai Yi fell silent, realizing once more that evil alchemists reveled in their sadism. "What's your plan for this transformation?" he asked, watching Marku's methodical dissection.
"She's in love with a human from West City and wishes to become one," Marku replied, grinning as the minotaur screamed. "Species conversion is fascinating, so I'm helping her achieve that."
Bai Yi contemplated the cruelty involved. "Brother Marku, wouldn't it be simpler to use blood and flesh mud potions, along with bone softening and remodeling surgery?"
Marku hesitated, his hands pausing mid-operation. "Pure surgery is more challenging," he finally stated.
Bai Yi:
He realized Marku might not have forgotten but simply craved the agony of his patients.
"Do you charge for this operation?" Bai Yi asked, curious.
"It's free. I just enjoy doing it," Marku replied with chilling nonchalance.
Bai Yi remained speechless, grappling with the dark reality of this place. He silently observed the gruesome operation, understanding that for those in Sin City, morality was a distant memory.
Marku's procedure was rapid, ruthless, and efficient. The minotaur was transformed, its body reassembled into the shape of a human, albeit with grotesque features.
After completing the operation, Marku beamed with pride. "What do you think? Is this a perfect operation?"
Bai Yi clapped his hands lightly. "This individual may be too ugly now, which could hinder her romantic prospects. But I must admit, it's a well-executed transformation."
Marku's grin widened. "Our aesthetics differ. This face is perfect to me."
Bai Yi glanced at Marku's mismatched eyes and the newly transformed woman's face, which was undeniably bizarre. "I agree. Our tastes are clearly not aligned. But your skills are impressive. Can I learn from you? I'd be willing to exchange knowledge."
Marku's excitement was palpable. Bai Yi's acknowledgment of his craft filled him with joy. "Of course! Can you explain how to create an extremely evil creature? With that exchange, any of our modifications can be offered, no strings attached."
Bai Yi considered the offer. The process of perfecting evil thoughts was straightforward—it primarily required the blood of ancient gods. Absorbing divine blood had a chance of transforming evil thoughts, evident in the abilities of extremely evil beings.
Just as he prepared to explain, a weak voice piped up, "Doctor, can I be discharged now?"
"Roll!"
Marku's patience evaporated. With a wave of his hand, a cold wind swept through, hurling the patient out of the clinic.
"Mr. White Plague, let's continue."
Marku's demeanor shifted back to enthusiasm. The ultimate transformation remained the dream of every alchemist, particularly the evil ones.
The transformation of flesh and blood discarded conscience, while mechanical alterations forsook humanity. Both were strictly prohibited by the Federation, as the end products of such beings could become monsters devoid of rational thought.
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