"You seem very bold, unlike Lisa, who only dares to explore knowledge after being enlightened," Yu Jin said, glancing at Lisa, who was talking to Lanssangx.
"I can't compare myself to Albedo. Whether it's in terms of level or 'material,' he is far superior to me." Lisa couldn't help but roll her eyes when she heard Yu Jin mention her.
Albedo's origins are a mystery; everyone in Mondstadt only knows that his alchemy skills are extremely high. They know very little about him personally.
However, Lisa still noticed Albedo's uniqueness. As a genius witch rarely seen in two hundred years, even though Lisa wasn't proficient in alchemy, she still understood its foundational knowledge.
The four levels—Black Earth, Calx, Rubedo, and Golden—each represent a world of difference. To compare oneself to a Calx-level creation like Albedo would be asking for trouble.
"Heh heh, who said that? Aren't you being too modest?" Yu Jin's gaze swept over Lisa and Albedo, and both immediately felt as if they had been thoroughly scrutinized.
Lisa had some understanding of Yu Jin's strength, so she didn't feel anything unusual. Being observed by a stronger entity, especially in such a friendly manner, was a rare experience.
But Albedo didn't think that way. This feeling of being seen through, from head to toe, he had only experienced with his master.
"You are Golden?!" Albedo immediately became excited, a complete contrast to his previous composed demeanor.
He grabbed Yu Jin's armguard, his eyes fixed on his helmet, hoping to get a definite answer from him.
That all-seeing gaze must be Golden! Only someone who understands all things and creates all things could possess such a gaze!
In everyone's eyes, Mr. Albedo was omniscient; there was no question he couldn't solve.
However, Albedo himself knew that the doubts in his heart were no less than those of his curious assistant, Sucrose.
"Golden? Where is Golden?!" Yu Jin leaped back, breaking free from Albedo's hand. That old bastard, the Greater Will, Yu Jin knew that it would definitely not let things go!
To spread the Golden Order in this world, it seemed his blade would once again taste blood.
Lisa saw Yu Jin looking around and knew that he was definitely not on the same wavelength as Albedo.
"You little dummy, Golden is the highest stage of alchemy, not the golden you're thinking of!" Lisa covered her forehead and explained.
"I see, you scared me." Yu Jin patted his chest, feigning relief. If the Greater Will had really come here, it seemed he had no good options other than surrendering like the Fatui Harbinger.
"My apologies, I got carried away." Albedo realized his gaffe, and his expression returned to its original calm state.
"Tell me about alchemy; I'm very interested," Yu Jin said, patting Albedo's shoulder, intrigued by an art that could create life.
Of course, it was merely an interest. The few entities within him were all heavyweights. If it came to creating life, First Flame alone could handle it.
However, it seemed only First Flame could fulfill the function of "creation." As for the other precious entities, it would be a blessing if they didn't collapse the world.
Albedo looked up at Yu Jin. From his reaction just now, Albedo was almost certain that Yu Jin knew nothing about alchemy.
For such individuals, Albedo would usually just hand them a 400-page 'Introduction to Alchemy'.
But for Yu Jin, that was clearly not an option. Both the Golden Tree he brought and that all-penetrating gaze just now indicated his uniqueness.
Albedo cleared his throat and said, "Alchemy is divided into four stages: Black Earth, Calx, Rubedo, and Golden."
"Black Earth is the foundation of all alchemy; the art of creating life is also called the art of Black Earth."
"Above Black Earth is Calx. Calx is the advanced form of Black Earth, the immaculate earth. After Calx is Rubedo; I don't know much about Rubedo, but it seems to complement Calx."
"Finally, there is Golden, the pinnacle of alchemy. Only one person has ever reached it."
Albedo explained alchemy to Yu Jin, with most of the discussion focusing on the art of Black Earth. However, this was normal, as the levels of alchemists in Teyvat varied too greatly.
The Black Earth level was already extremely rare, and as for someone like Albedo, who intertwined Calx and Rubedo, he knew only himself to be so. As for higher levels, historically, only Albedo's master, Rhinedottir, had achieved it.
Alchemy is easy to learn but incredibly difficult to master. This allowed Albedo, by himself, to elevate Mondstadt's alchemy to the second-highest among The Seven Nations, surpassed only by Sumeru.
Incidentally, ordinary people with Talents like Timaeus, who are taken as assistants by Albedo and personally taught, would likely only touch the fringes of the Black Earth level in about twenty years.
This illustrates the difficulty of mastering alchemy.
"Do you understand?" Albedo's throat was dry from talking, so he paused to take a sip of water.
Yu Jin nodded, finding it very interesting to hear about such a life-creating art for the first time.
Albedo's hand, holding the water, paused. He hadn't expected Yu Jin to actually understand. He had spoken in very general terms; for an ordinary person, not falling asleep would already be an achievement.
No, it was the same for an ordinary dragon. Albedo looked at Lanssangx, who was sitting on the sofa with spiral eyes, and nodded slightly. This was the normal reaction.
"So, if that's the case, what are you researching? As you said, you're the only one at the Calx level, and everything is blank. How do you research?" Yu Jin looked at Albedo, unable to fathom what he was studying.
Is this what they call being shrouded in mystery?
Albedo's expression stiffened upon hearing this, then he rarely gave a wry smile and said, "The truth and meaning of the world."
Lisa, who was reading nearby, immediately closed her book, looking at Albedo with disbelief. Both were Scholars, but how could what he was researching be so profound?
"A bit overambitious," Yu Jin said, glancing at Albedo, not thinking him the type to be arrogant.
Currently, Albedo, whether in knowledge or strength, could not support such a vast topic. If he truly chose this as his research direction, it could only be described as asking for trouble.
"Indeed," Albedo nodded, then said with a troubled expression, "But this is the last assignment my master gave me, and I must complete it."
Despite saying that, Albedo irritably ran his hands through his hair. He had been holed up in the snowy mountains for this very reason, but after such a long time, his gains were pitifully small.
Just thinking about this topic, so vast that he didn't even know where to begin, Albedo even had the peculiar thought, "Could this be master's way of letting me live a happy life?"
But Albedo knew his master couldn't be like that. She was a stern person, and he had already given his all to avoid being abandoned by her.
This time, however, he couldn't even find a direction in which to exert his full effort.
"Perhaps, I'll never see master again." Thinking this, Albedo's expression became complex. His master was both his teacher and his mother.
Although Rhinedottir treated her creations with almost severe strictness, her creations still regarded her as their mother, and Albedo was no different.
Yu Jin saw Albedo's preoccupied look and couldn't help but chuckle a few times. He gently tapped the table and said, "Do you want my help?"
Lisa and Albedo immediately focused their gazes on Yu Jin. Especially Lisa, as a Scholar, she had also contemplated the truth and meaning of this world.
But she quickly gave up, because such questions were completely beyond her reach. However, Yu Jin could, and very much so.
"Do you remember what I told Lisa earlier?" Yu Jin asked directly, without waiting for Albedo's answer.
"You said I was being too modest?" Lisa pointed to herself; she didn't think she was being modest. Albedo was indeed formidable, and Lisa wholeheartedly agreed with that.
"Do you know why?" Yu Jin said mysteriously.
Lisa and Albedo shook their heads.
"Rhinedottir's imperfect Golden brought about imperfect Calx and equally imperfect Rubedo," Yu Jin said, pointing to Albedo.
"And you, Lisa, are a creation born from the fusion of perfect Black Earth and perfect Rubedo."
"If we're talking according to the standards of alchemy."
Yu Jin looked at Lisa and said slowly.
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