Chapter 272: Coin Forging

On a bright sunny morning, reddish leaves fell gently.

A cool wind whooshed outside the window.

Jiang Xia stood before a newly completed building, took the item handed to him by Hou Teng, and nodded in satisfaction.

He said to Hou Teng, who stood nearby, "I've taken the item; the efficiency is quite high."

"I'm not a delivery person."

Hou Teng's voice carried a hint of anger.

Obviously, Hongshang Guangsheng had assigned him other chores again, which made him a bit dissatisfied.

Watching Hou Teng storm off angrily, Jiang Xia didn't think much of it.

A tiny alchemical formation flashed in his palm, and a hidden door appeared on the nearby wall.

Jiang Xia went up the stairs from inside.

The sky‑filled dust and dense spider‑web‑like strands that once filled this place have been completely cleaned away.

There is nothing dirty here.

Hongshang's cleaning team is still quite professional and works quickly, renewing this place in just a few days.

This place was originally a hideout for a few Greed.

But now it's quite different; a sign reading 'Hongshang Alchemy' hangs conspicuously above the top‑floor door.

Jiang Xia pushed open the room door; bright, soft light switched on automatically, illuminating everything inside.

After Jiang Xia drove away the mice that had nested here, this became his private laboratory.

All the equipment that alchemy should have is present; the entire top floor, aside from the four walls, is filled with various precision instruments.

He casually tossed the mechanical can Hou Teng had given him onto a nearby table.

A button on the mechanical can flashed bright, and it began to roll automatically.

Finally, a small yellow metal head extended from the center of the metal can.

This is the latest tiger can developed by Masato Kiyohito; it can combine with the driving sales unit to form a metal tiger, giving it stronger destructive power.

However, Jiang Xia doesn't need great destructive power; he needs another ability that can absorb allied forces.

Jiang Xia approached the scale‑like tray on the table, and his arm instantly turned into a crimson claw.

A flash of light passed, and ordinary coins bearing a dragon pattern neatly filled the tray to the brim.

If this tray were given to Meizi'er, it could keep her active for at least several months, though she hasn't needed it much lately.

Because the last coin harvest was abundant, and when Jiang Xia retrieved the core coin from Meizi'er's body, she was more obedient.

She showed no dissatisfaction or resistance, so Jiang Xia gave her a little extra cell coin.

Meizi'er's life is now growing ever closer to that of a true human, all thanks to this special coin.

Jiang Xia picked up the tray full of cell coins, walked to a funnel‑shaped device made of transparent glass, and dumped all the coins into it.

He then peered inside the instrument and began observing.

Under the aid of modern alchemy, those special cell coins began to sparkle with golden light.

Their metallic appearance began to melt; though the surface was gray‑white, it turned into something like liquid gold after melting.

The display screen beside it also began showing various detailed data.

That's the advantage of modern alchemists: different equipment and devices assist them for more precise observation.

Whether core coin or ordinary coin, each actually bears an underlying alchemical formation; their appearance as coins is the result of alchemy's division and concretization.

Just now Jiang Xia modified the underlying alchemical formation within the coin system, so the cell coins turning liquid is a relatively normal reaction; the earlier reactions aren't worth mentioning, since Jiang Xia has been doing this for a long time and has repeatedly tweaked all the parameters.

The first time, merely erasing the seal on the cell coin caused it to explode instantly, never reaching the melting stage.

Even Jiang Xia himself only managed to restore it after fully grasping the most basic underlying logic.

These golden liquids trickled toward various devices, flowing and shifting freely before the transparent instrument.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xia watched calmly from the side; his senses detected no sign of failure.

Under various alchemical formations, the golden liquid dwindled until only enough remained to fill the volume of a single ordinary coin.

Just like the most ancient sword‑casting technique, after melting different metals, they flow into the appropriate molds and finally set.

Here, however, the shaping is done via an alchemical formation.

A golden‑yellow liquid hovered before Jiang Xia, like a molten metal sphere, constantly struggling and shifting in midair.

A flame suddenly ignited in Jiang Xia's palm, wrapping the floating liquid.

This now looks exactly like a scene from a myth.

A round, complex alchemical formation formed before Jiang Xia.

Not only fire, but water currents, lightning, storms, and gravity also appeared; all the attributes represented by the various core coins are now present.

Various substances each occupied one of the five corners of the alchemical formation, simultaneously injecting energy into the metal sphere at the center with the same frequency and speed.

Jiang Xia clenched his right hand; the exquisite, mysterious alchemical formation instantly blazed forth, the metal sphere shifted rapidly, five colors alternating, countless simple lines forming patterns.

A subtle, intricate relief gradually emerged, its pale gold rim resembling that of a core coin, marking the special nature of this newly born coin.

Jiang Xia reached out with his right hand to take the floating coin; according to his understanding of alchemy and his flawless procedure, this coin should have been successfully refined.

"Looks like I don't need you anymore, little guy."

Jiang Xia patted the tiger can beside him, which kept yapping; because of its small size, he always felt it was like a tiny kitten that hadn't grown up, its voice and actions remarkably similar.

How could anyone resist such an adorable little cat? After gently soothing the small tiger can, Jiang Xia refocused his gaze on the coin in his hand.

"Is it not time yet? It seems merely a half‑finished product."

After checking, Jiang Xia found that to truly use it, it still lacked a power to activate the coin.

That power is precisely the energy source of alchemy: desire.

With a "ding", Jiang Xia flicked it lightly, and the coin gave a clear ring.

Generally speaking, it should be considered a success, right?

After all the equipment was shut down and the place was sealed, Jiang Xia then leisurely left.

……

When Meizier used the key to open the door, they discovered Jiang Xia sitting on the sofa, looking at her with a very interested gaze, examining her up and down.

「Jiang Xia, do you want cell coins? I can go make more yammy」

Meizier's body suddenly shivered; that stiffness was already completely written on her face, and this feeling made her body instantly tense, as if guarding against some sudden situation.

Jiang Xia comforted her, saying: "Don't be nervous, I just want to do an experiment; there won't be any problem."

「What experiment...... 」

Just as Meizier was about to speak, many Core Coins appeared in Jiang Xia's hand, and then all of them were poured into Meizier's body.

(End of chapter)