Eternal Cultivation of Alchemy

Chapter 2275  Small Talk

Alex got his Gale Immortal Rat's eyes and placed them into his storage bag. "Thank you," he said to the rat that had brought it to him.

"No, thank you," the rat said in return, even bowing to Alex. "The pills you gave me were more than worth the little help I did here today."

Alex nodded, and the rat flew away.

"You got all you wanted," Rosemist said.

"All I wanted for now," Alex said back.

"But, that doesn't mean you won't come back, right?" Rosemist asked her words almost a plea than anything.

"Oh, I will come back. Of course," Alex said. "I can't just let my friend be alone after all."

Rosemist smiled. "Tell me if you want something. I will help you all I can," she said.

"I don't need anything," Alex said. "Although, I did want to ask you a few questions."

"Go on," Rosemist said. "What questions?"

"It's the one you asked me. I was wondering what the answers were," Alex said. "What is this… Life Belt thing. And how many moons are there? Is it alright if you tell me?"

Rosemist thought for a bit. "I don't see why I can't tell you," she said. "The Life Belt is a narrow strip of land without any harsh condition where life can thrive."

"Huh? Life can thrive anywhere with an atmosphere, can't it?" Alex asked.

"Oh, I was talking about a long time in the past. It used to be different back then, during the time when the Primorials were still alive," Rosemist said.

"People could only live in a small strip of land during that time?" Alex asked. "What about the rest of the place?"

Rosemist shook her head. "I don't know much about it. Just regular beasts and humans just couldn't survive anywhere easily. Anywhere but the Life Belt, they struggled a lot," she said. "Hmm… I wonder why that was."

 "You don't know?" Alex asked.

"I don't know everything," Rosemist said.

Alex understood at least that for now. "And the moons?" he asked.

"Nine," Rosemist answered.

"Is that… in the past, or present?" Alex asked.

Rosemist smiled. "Far in the past. I asked you questions that regular humans should have forgotten to see if you knew the answer or not," she said. "Even Half-Gods should struggle to know the answer to those questions."

"Yeah, I was curious about that too," Alex said. "You said the only difference between a Half-God and a False God was their name. Can you elaborate on that?"

"I'm sorry," Rosemist said with a saddened look. "I can't."

"You don't know?" he asked.

"I do. I just can't because explaining that would explain more about who I am, and I don't want to do that," she said. "The people I told this to in the past have changed overnight with their attitude toward me. I would like to keep this friendship if you don't mind."

"No, I'm sorry for asking," Alex quickly said. "You don't have to answer any questions you don't want to."

Rosemist smiled. She looked up for a bit and asked, "When will you leave?" "This city? In a few years. Once I have all the roses I want from—"

"No, not this city," Rosemist said. "Not this competition either. This world. You said you were going to be leaving to find your family. When is that?"

"As soon as this tournament ends," Alex said. "So… in about 50 years."

"Hmm," Rosemist seemed to be mulling over something.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"When you leave, in 50 years," she asked. "How long will it take you to return?"

"I… don't know," Alex said. "Many years at least. I have my master here, but I have my family elsewhere, and my sect elsewhere. I have no true home in this world, so I am a vagabond more than anything."

"In that case, before you leave to go to your family, come here to say goodbye," Rosemist said. "When you do, I'll answer any questions you may have."

"Any?" Alex asked.

"Any," Rosemist said.

Alex nodded. "Alright, I'll try to come up with some difficult questions during the next 50 years."

They talked even after night fell, simply chatting about things that weren't necessarily important to either of them. They just made small talk.

"He hatched from an egg? That mouse," Rosemist said in surprise.

"Yeah, an egg. I was surprised too. I was expecting a bird or a snake, but I never suspected to see a mouse," Alex said.

"What about his anatomy now?" Rosemist asked. "I don't remember it being a similar one."

"No, he has the anatomy of a regular mouse now," Alex said. "If he were to have children, he would have regular children, not through eggs."

"Fascinating," Rosemist said. "Actually, I think Little Lin was born from an egg too, but that's partly because of his bloodline having part of the Flood Dragon too. "

Alex hadn't seen the divine beast today since Rosemist had come to meet him herself. "That's where his tail comes from?" he asked.

"Yes," Rosemist said.

"You raised him, right?" Alex asked. "How did you come across him? You don't leave this mountain as far as I can tell."

"I didn't find him," Rosemist said. "He was sent here as far as I can tell."

"Sent? By who?" Alex asked.

Rosemist shrugged. "Who knows? Not even he does."

"Has he not tried to find out?" Alex asked.

"He has, but the other way is closed now so even when he reaches the end, he can't do anything," Rosemist said.

Alex took a moment to take in those words, finding it hard to parse what she meant. "The other way?" he asked. "The other way of what?"

"The Voidgate," Rosemist said. "There's one right here in the mountains."

Alex was taken aback for a moment. "I'm sorry, there's a Voidgate here? In this mountain?" he asked.

"Mhm."

Alex's eyes widened slowly. "Can I… can I see it?" he asked.

Rosemist simply shrugged. "I don't see why not."