"I suddenly thought of what Aglaea said earlier... Gin-san, do you think this Black Tide might have been artificially created? Like in *Resident Evil*? For example, some incredibly powerful person created the Black Tide virus, but it accidentally leaked due to some incident, infecting not just people, but even Nautiluss. Then that person colluded with the The Senate of Okhema..."

Thinking of this, a grim-faced Shinpachi subconsciously swallowed his saliva.

"So, who exactly is this powerful person?" Gintoki lay on the sofa, picking his nose. "...You told me not to use manga plots to analyze things, but here you are using game plots yourself, huh? Does anyone in Amphoreus even have that kind of ability? In other words, if this person is powerful enough to create the Black Tide with their bare hands, who would even care what those guys in the The Senate are thinking? Or whether they'd have a good experience when they get infected by the Black Tide one day?"

— —

【After Trianne set off, Stelle and the others immediately departed from the main road. Along the way, they saw quite a few Black Tide monsters lying on the ground. They looked like collapsed statues, with golden ash remaining inside their bodies, which might be the same substance as the common Golden Blood of Amphoreus.】

【Mimi tried to peer into the memories of these monsters, but no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't see anything.】

【"Ugh, I tried my best... How come I can't see even a tiny bit of memory?"】

【Castorice speculated: "Perhaps it is because... the lives devoured by the Black Tide no longer have any souls to speak of."】

【The group arrived in front of a large door and was about to push it open, but discovered it was already locked. Stelle wanted to use her weapon to force the door open, but was stopped by Castorice at her side.】

【"There is no need to exert yourself, your Excellency. The power of Janus... is far more resilient than we imagined."】

【Mimi suggested at this moment: "Since it is a creation of the three Nautiluss of Fate, perhaps we could use the eyes of Oronis to find a way in..."】

【"Ridiculous. It is just a door, yet your first thought is to appeal to the gods..."】

【Just as the group was discussing, the phantom of a man appeared before the door.】

【"Mimi...?!"】

【"Before opening the lock on the door, you should first try to open the lock on your own eyes." The man crossed his arms arrogantly, seemingly looking down on the group coldly. "My name is Anaxagoras, one of the Seven Sages of the Grove of Epiphany, and the founder of the Sapient Seed school. Let me state the ugly truth first: First, do not call me Anaxa."】

【"Ana... Anaxa... Sigh, forget it, I'll just call you Anaxa. Now, can you answer..."】

【Mimi had just wanted to continue when it was mercilessly interrupted by Anaxa: "Second, do not interrupt me—silence is golden."】

【"At this moment, what stands here talking to you is not a residue of memory, but the crystallization of my science—noble, pure, certain, and undeniable truth." Anaxa's tone carried a hint of smugness. "By way of 'Alchemy,' I shattered my soul, refined it into gold, and buried it here. I recorded these words so that those who come after may understand where they should go."】

— — Genshin Impact.

"Shatter a soul? Albedo, can alchemy actually do such a thing?"

In Albedo's room, Jean was sitting at a desk beside the workbench, watching Albedo tidy up those unknown, colorful bottles and jars. The office was filled with various instruments she couldn't name, and the walls were covered with alchemical diagrams marked with dense symbols and numbers. Without a doubt, if anyone in all of Mondstadt could understand that Anaxa, it was Albedo.

"Earth, water, fire, wind, heed my command. Recreate the four elements, reshape the five phases. 'Black Earth' is the initial state of matter, 'Calx' is the beginning of change, 'Rubedo' is the alchemical refinement of emotions, and 'Gold' is the final stage of alchemy. Although it is unclear what differences exist between the alchemy of Amphoreus and Teyvat, if we both regard 'Gold' as the final stage of transmutation... then this Anaxagoras is undoubtedly a very excellent alchemist."

"As for shattering the soul..." Albedo paused, placing the bottle of blue liquid in his hand onto the cabinet behind him. "...This is not common in Teyvat. Biological alchemy is capable of creating new life, and souls are not difficult either. It is just regarding the source of the Black Tide..."

Jean's gaze sharpened: "Albedo, what are your thoughts?"

"Heh... My thoughts are actually quite simple; I just associated it with the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm five hundred years ago. The Khaenri'ahns who were cursed at that time underwent irreversible mutations, much like these Black Tide creations lying on the ground."

Albedo rubbed his chin and pondered: "Imagine this: if the essence of the Black Tide is closer to a plague, is it perhaps more like a 'curse' sent down by a god? Any human who is cursed will irreversibly suffer from organ fibrosis, just like Hilichurls. And that 'god' hiding high above in the heavens of Amphoreus... its status might even be superior to the twelve Nautiluss."

【"Alchemy can do such things?" Mimi asked, not understanding.】

【"Everything is possible, but take note: alchemy is not a perfect art. The content you can hear depends on the equivalent of the soul I paid; it is not something created out of nothing."】

【"How did you anticipate what I was going to say again... Are you really just an echo of memory?" Mimi leaned in curiously to examine him.】

【"Because my calculations are exhaustive. I also know that you have discovered the Arbor Court has suffered due to the Black Tide, and you mistakenly believe that all the scholars have been wiped out. But you are greatly mistaken—the Sages managed to evacuate the vast majority of people before the Black Tide arrived. They are currently on their way to the Holy City of Okhema."】

【"Only a small portion of scholars remained with me to defend the Arbor Court. If there are no accidents, the spark of Celsis should arrive at Okhema shortly..." Anaxa's expression gradually grew serious. "...But since you have retrieved this message, it means an accident has occurred. Now, please continue forward, to the Throne of Enlightenment—retrieve the spark, as well as our remains."】

【"Thus, the project is complete, and my words end here."】

【After saying the last sentence, Anaxa's phantom disappeared.】

【Stelle relayed this message from Anaxa to Castorice. After a brief period of digestion, Stelle had a few questions she wanted to ask.】

【"The Sapient Seed school and alchemy are...?"】

【Castorice explained: "Master Anaxa believed that all things are born from the same source and share a common composition, which is the soul. He named it the'Sapient Seed'... This theory is very complex. If you are interested, why not let him explain it to you himself? Provided that... he is still alive."】

【"But Anaxa perhaps... did not survive."】

【Speaking of this, a trace of sorrow could not help but appear on Castorice's face: "I... still do not wish to think about that possibility. Perhaps they just couldn't transfer the spark, but managed to escape... perhaps."】