Chapter 178: Analysis Magic Eye (S)

'Come to think of it, there really is such a possibility.'

'After all, the transmigration of tens of billions of people is no joke. Even an entity like the world's will, which represents an entire planet, would surely make ample preparations before pulling everyone over all at once.'

'Taking some time to browse the chat channels after so long is completely understandable.'

'And regarding that Sap of Knowledge, did it awaken a Magic Eye because the eyes of a three-eyed crow were mixed in as "Variable X" during the crafting process?'

'If that is truly the case, then I really owe Shang Chuan my thanks.'

'After all, who wouldn't want such an absurdly overpowered visual ability?'

'But why is it a support type? If it were combat-oriented, wouldn't I have gained another method of attack?'

Looking at the Magic Eye information labeled "Analysis Magic Eye" on her personal status panel, Lan Qingyou fell deep into thought.

[Analysis Magic Eye (S)]

As everyone knows, the three most fundamental and crucial steps in alchemy are "comprehension", "deconstruction", and "reconstruction".

It can be said that the entirety of alchemy is built upon the foundation of "comprehension".

'Now that I have this Analysis Magic Eye, doesn't that mean I can achieve "comprehension" with just a single glance?'

'This is an epic-tier enhancement!'

'To think I was actually complaining about it not being a combat ability just a moment ago—looking back, that was incredibly foolish.'

'As for combat, with that sap in my possession, wouldn't acquiring offensive skills be a breeze?'

With just a single glance at the description, Lan Qingyou's train of thought became exceptionally clear.

'That is right, a support-type Magic Eye is exactly what I need.'

[Congratulations to the individual named "Lan Qingyou". Your race has evolved from Blue Star Earthling to Witch.]

[The individual named "Lan Qingyou" has become the first entity in the history of the Karim Continent to evolve into a "Witch". Having gained the recognition of the world's will, your race has been further elevated to "Origin Witch". You are rewarded with the treasure of the alchemical world, the world-class artifact "Emerald Tablet".]

"Huh?"

"It is this Lan Qingyou again?"

"No way! What the hell is a Witch?"

"Shouldn't the focus be on the race? An evolution! That is super cool, alright!"

"Lan Qingyou just brewed a potion earlier. I thought it merely had the word 'Witch' in its name, but now it seems things are not quite what we imagined?"

"Are you saying that Lan Qingyou evolved into this Witch race because she drank the potion she made herself?"

"How else could it be?"

"Name your price, I will buy it!"

"Who are you asking? I want to buy it too."

"Hilarious. Some people are truly clueless. Is this something money can solve? Look at the description of that potion above. Although there are no specific stats, combinations of things like a long-lived species, agelessness, a Magic Eye, and attribute correction make it something completely beyond the reach of money."

"If it is something that a powerhouse like Lan Qingyou would use without hesitation, then this Witch race must be incredibly strong, right?"

"Very strong. Just look at those sword cultivators—they all become incredibly powerful after castration."

"I highly doubt you are talking about regular sword arts."

"Do you want to painlessly turn into a cute girl? A single vial of potion can fulfill that little wish of yours, hehe."

"No hehe, thank you very much."

"Sigh! The human race has fallen after all. Even Lan Qingyou, proclaimed as the number one human, has stopped being human."

"The number one human? How come I have never heard of that title?"

"I just came up with it. Got a problem with that?"

"Jokes aside, if given the chance, I bet most of us would swap our race too. After all, being human really does not seem to offer any advantages."

"Nonsense. Lan Qingyou was a human before this, and wasn't she still standing head and shoulders above the rest of us? In the end, hard work and success depend on the individual, not the race."

"That cuts deep, bro."

"Am I the only one focusing on that world-class artifact?"

"Wake up, child. That is not something you are qualified to focus on."

...

Crash!

The exact moment the voice of the world's will echoed out once more, a glass fell to the floor and shattered upon impact.

"You have got to be kidding me! This makes no sense. It is that Lan Qingyou again! How annoying. It looks like the plans will need another major revision."

The owner of the shattered cup was a young woman with wavy black hair, dressed in a long, orange velvet dress.

At this moment, however, she was resting her head in her hands against a Magic Desk, groaning in sheer frustration.

Behind her...

No, it was more accurate to say that books were scattered everywhere around her. The room she was in looked exactly like a massive library, containing a terrifying volume of literature that would drive a studious person like Lan Qingyou completely mad with joy.

...

Meanwhile, in a certain basement on the Karim Continent, a woman wearing a white lab coat and a single monocle paused her movements the moment she heard the voice of the world's will.

"Witch? A new race? The world-class artifact, the Emerald Tablet?"

"That potion seems rather fascinating. Another excellent research subject. Lan Qingyou, I will admit that you certainly have some novel tricks when it comes to alchemy, but I will absolutely not lose to you."

As she spoke, the woman set down the test tube in her hand.

Frowning in deep thought for a moment, she stood up and glanced at another woman behind her—who was also wearing a white lab coat and carefully stirring a crucible with a stirring rod. "I will leave the rest of this to you," she instructed, before stepping into the adjacent lounge. From a desk drawer inside, she retrieved an envelope with a black background and gold trimming that looked very much like an invitation.

Picking up a quill pen from the desk, the woman hesitated for a brief second before writing her name across the surface: Elisa von Orioles.

The moment she finished writing, Elisa immediately set the envelope on fire.

As the flames instantly devoured the paper, they also materialized into a line of hovering text right in front of her eyes: [Welcome to the Masquerade, Witch of the Workshop.]

...

"Sigh... It is that Lan Qingyou again. Do you think it might actually be my dear cousin?"

Inside a certain cave, Lan Qingyou's cousin, Liu Jie, muttered while poking at the fire pit in front of her.

"Yeah, it would be fantastic if it is her. We could seek refuge with her. Given her current capabilities, she should be able to give us each a vial of that potion so we can become Witches too, right?"

Beside her, her brother Liu Wei spoke with glowing enthusiasm.

Who cared about turning into a woman? As far as he was concerned, the only thing that mattered for surviving in this world was raw power.

As long as he could gain strength, he was willing to become absolutely anything.

"Forget about it. Did you forget how we treated her in the past? We should focus on the issue of food instead. If this damned Mana Tide does not end soon, we are all going to starve to death."

Laying on a makeshift bed of leaves, Liu Yongfu shot his son and daughter a harsh glare. He then pulled his clothes tighter around himself and closed his eyes to sleep.

Their family had been quite lucky. After escaping the Shelter that had enslaved them, they stumbled upon this cave that very same night.

They had been completely overwhelmed by despair at the time.

But to their surprise, the night passed entirely without incident. Thus, the family decided to hunker down deep inside the cave, only ever venturing out to search for food and gather wood for their fire.

When the Mana Turbulence struck, it could not affect them here.

When the Mana Tide surged, it still did not reach them here.

It was truly a godsend of a sanctuary for their family.

However, every advantage came with a drawback. The place was perfect in every way except for the total lack of food, forcing them to go outside. If there was anything edible growing here, even just moss, they wouldn't have to risk venturing out at all.

"That was the sin committed by your generation. What does it have to do with us?"

Hearing this, Liu Wei immediately grew displeased and retorted against his old man.

"You wretched child, watch your mouth."

Sitting nearby, Shao Huilan nudged Liu Wei sharply with her elbow, scolding him to keep his voice down.