Hill said, "The primordial matter can actually be seen as a kind of..."

He paused, using a new term to describe it.

"Soulless matter."

"The world composed of soulless matter is the original face of this world. If ether is considered an invader, then the current world has become unrecognizable.

Perhaps pure humans have also become impure under its influence."

Is the soul truly inherent in humans?

Upon hearing Hill say this, the Grand Tutor frowned and pinched his forehead vigorously.

Hill’s meaning was clear: even without a soul, humans can survive without becoming demons or some twisted monsters.

Perhaps true humans originally didn’t possess souls.

This simple statement pierced through the trinity law of body, mind, and soul.

The Grand Tutor murmured, "Then what is the connection between the soul, the Secret Source, and the devil?"

No one responded. After a deathly silence, Hill continued with his conjectures.

"I don’t know the connection between souls and them, but what is certain is that ether and the devil, along with the Secret Source, must be closely connected. Perhaps they arrived in this world together."

Hill said, "The Secret Source remains silent, untraceable, and unresponsive, but the devils are different; they surely know something."

Saqin’s expression became serious, anger flaring in his eyes, "Do you plan to bargain with the devils?"

"I just see them as a tool, a means to an end." Hill’s words were exceptionally cold.

"Hill!"

Saqin’s voice rose, for him, this was an inviolable line.

"Saqin, calm down," the Grand Tutor spoke.

Saqin fell silent, taking deep breaths repeatedly to regulate his emotions, "Sorry, I’ve been too impulsive."

"It’s nothing; it just shows you have enough vigilance towards the devils."

The Grand Tutor continued, "But I still hope you can be more rational. I wouldn’t want my name inherited by an irritable guy."

Saqin smiled wryly, "Teacher, we all know Hill will ultimately inherit your name."

It’s an ancient tradition among the scholars: apprentices will inherit the names of their teachers and act under that name, like a form of immortality.

The Grand Tutor had inherited this name from his teacher, which would soon be passed on to the next Grand Tutor.

"Are you envious of him?"

"No, we just have a clear understanding of our own capabilities," Saqin patted Hill’s shoulder, "I once thought I was a genius until I met Hill... I don’t envy him. On the contrary, if I were to acquire your sacred name, I’d feel more pained knowing I’m not qualified."

Saqin showed a smile but still had vigilance in his eyes, "Tell us your plan, Hill."

Hill nodded solemnly, scanning the eyes of the few people present, he said, slightly nervous.

"Devils need value. As long as there is enough value, they are willing to do anything for you. So the question arises, what exactly can completely command the devils?"

Hill asked and answered himself.

"A unique existence."

The Grand Tutor seemed to guess what Hill wanted to do. He softly said, "A pure, soulless human."

This might very well be the essence of human nature.

Hill murmured, "Soulless."

"How do you intend to create them?"

Hill paused for a moment, shaking his head, "Sorry, this is just a hypothesis, I can’t do it."

"Ether has immersed in the human world for hundreds of years; purely pure humans no longer exist in this world. Even if we isolate a pure land through ether vacuums or other means to propagate, the parent body will still retain some ether, possess a soul. Any slightest interference prevents the birth of the Soulless."

"Unless with the help of devils, they are always omnipotent." Suzi murmured.

"Then, after creating the Soulless, what will you do?" the Grand Tutor questioned, "Trade them to the devils for something?"

"Knowledge, more knowledge."

"What kind of knowledge?"

"The kind that could end all of this."

The Grand Tutor was silent for a moment, then asked somewhat puzzledly, "Are you seeking to obtain from the devils the power to destroy them?"

Hill responded succinctly, "The only thing that can kill a monster is another monster."

This time, the Grand Tutor remained silent for longer, suddenly walking towards Hill and placing a hand on Hill’s shoulder.

"You might really be able to inherit my name." The Grand Tutor said, "Wolfgang Gold, it’s a sacred name."

"I know the story behind this name," Hill said, full of admiration, "In the scholars’ legend, he was the first to make a deal with the devils, but he didn’t wish for himself; he wished for all humanity."

Suzi softly recounted the story’s continuation, "Wolfgang Gold offered his soul and obtained from the devils the power to resist them, giving that power to the people — this became the origin of the Alchemy Matrix."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Hill thanked the Grand Tutor for his praise, carefully observing his face, remembering when he first met the Grand Tutor; he was still a young man wielding thunder, now he is old and frail, and Hill himself had grown into his likeness.

The Grand Tutor, or rather Wolfgang Gold, merely smiled while gazing into Hill’s eyes. In those indifferent eyes, he could see nothing but the abyss-like blackness, mirroring Hill’s heart.

"Soulless? Sounds pretty good, Hill."

An eerie voice echoed through the Golden Palace. In an instant, everything seemed to stand frozen; the expressions of everyone stiffened into a still frame, and the man holding a cane sat at the place where the Grand Tutor had just been, smilingly looking at Hill.

"Exchanging for the knowledge to fight us... just having the Soulless might not be enough."

Hill, accustomed to this devil’s unpredictable appearances, spoke, "Of course, I know the Soulless isn’t enough, not to mention that this thing can’t even be born."

He wasn’t lying; under the current knowledge system, Hill was unsure how to create a life devoid of a mother.

Pure humans have become extinct.

"Hmm, I smell something interesting."

The devil suddenly dispersed into black smoke, then reformed behind Saqin, tightly sticking against him, taking a deep sniff before chuckling, "I smell envy on him; he’s jealous of you."

"Irrelevant to me." Hill remained indifferent.

The man glanced playfully at Saqin, seeming to be plotting something in his mind, then walked towards Hill, but just as he was about to approach, Hill suddenly spoke.

"Ether must have descended through some kind of channel, like a ’door’."

Hill analyzed, speaking words he should have said to the Grand Tutor, but acted as if he knew nothing. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"The world is like a pasture, with humans living as the sheep within. You need our wool, but those need processing through ether..."

The man stopped in place, listening to Hill’s words.

"Since the door can open in this world, it certainly can in others. Presumably, in your long life, you have colonized countless such worlds."

The man became serious, "What are you trying to say?"

"I mean... Leviathan, are you looking to acquire a new pasture?"

Hill seemed to see through everything, questioning bluntly.

"Instead of the Soulless, discovering another world, opening a new door, would that satisfy your desires?"

Leviathan was stunned, taking several seconds to react, then showing an expression of change. Leviathan became a bit flustered; Hill had vaguely guessed the truth from mere fragments of words, while it simultaneously made him overwhelmingly excited.

A new pasture, a herd of lambs awaiting slaughter, nothing could be more enticing.

Leviathan propped the cane with both hands, squinting his eyes.

"What do you want?"