23 Heavenly Transformations

"Alright, so that concludes today's class." Sorin finished his explanation before dismissing the students.

One by one, they started gathering their things and exiting the theatre but not before throwing some glances at Andrew.

"That guy really knows his shit."

"Yeah, and his explanations are really good, on par with the teacher's."

"I wonder where he popped up from." some of them started commenting on Andrew's performance in today's class.

After two minutes, only Andrew and Sorin were left in the lecture theatre.

"Ah, it's becoming more and more tiring to teach classes." Sorin sighed before looking at Andrew.

"You were really helpful today. Just how did you acquire this much knowledge on arrays? You talked about some things even I didn't know much about." he asked with a surprised expression.

"I've been reading a lot, that's all." Andrew replied plainly.

"Reading a lot...if everyone who read a lot would reach your level at such an young age, then Array Masters would be as numerous as blades of grass on an open field." he sighed again.

"Alright, are you busy now? Do you want to accompany me to my research laboratory?" Sorin asked as he was slowly making his way to the exit.

"Sure." Andrew replied.

[I am also quite curious what a Grandmaster is researching after all.] he thought as he followed the man.

After what seemed to be only a few minutes of walking, they reached a golden door filled with all kinds of patters. Sorin placed his hand on the door and the patterns started shining before the door disappeared, only to be replaced by what seemed to be a light membrane.

Sorin took a step forward and he passed right through the membrane. As Andrew followed him in, he did not feel any resistance from the barrier. Instead, his eyes went wide with astonishment as he looked at the scene in front him.

[Another spatial compression formation...but this is...] Thousands upon thousands of runes and patterns were floating about in front of him in what seemed to be a massive three dimensional array. The laboratory seemed to be at least three times bigger than the lecture theatre and the huge formation seemed to cover most of the space inside.

"Just what are you researching..." he asked hesitantly. He had knowledge on many types of formations, but he never read about one that used so many runes and patterns.

"What can you tell from it?" Sorin asked calmly but a hint of pride could be seen on his expression. Andrew started analyzing the formation in front of him.

"I see many formations like Element Gathering, Source Rendering, State Fusion, Rune Generation scattered around. They seem to be just providing support for the massive array in the middle. I've never seen one like that...The majority of the runes used seem to be omega type but there are quite a lot of them which I can't recognize. And also, I don't understand how, but you interlocked the core connec..."

"Leave the technical details for later. Do you understand it's purpose?" Sorin interrupted him before asking.

"I don't." Andrew hesitated before shaking his head. Sorin looked at the giant formation with reminiscence in his eyes before starting to speak.

"This is the life work of my teacher, which he passed onto me when he died. It's something that received a lot of mockery from the association, and even from normal cultivators. My teacher's reputation also dropped significantly, but he said that it's all worth it if he can make it work." he stopped for a second to take a deep breath before continuing.

"In the end, he was not able to complete it. He entrusted me with his work and hoped that I will be able to finish it one day. But it's just too hard, so hard that it seems impossible to achieve. I've dedicated most of my life to this research and it has yet to bear fruit."

"Then why are you still trying?" Andrew asked without thinking. To his question, Sorin smiled for a second before answering.

"Because I believe. I believe it can be achieved and it's just a question of time. Once this array is completed, it would revolutionize cultivation for anyone possessing a primary element. Maybe even for everyone."

"Just...what is it meant to do?" Andrew was already becoming impatient.

"You see, there is generally a consensus that cultivators possessing the four primary elements are much weaker than the ones possessing the more complex secondary or tertiary elements. Aside from that, it is also known that the four primary elements are the basis of everything."

"You see, technology and science has thought us that is not really the case. A long time ago, we learned, for example, that water is just a combination of molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. Likewise, air is also a combination of these and many other. Fire is just a chemical reaction between such molecules which occurs if some conditions are met, such as ignition temperature."

"The belief that the four elements are something special mostly disappeared at that point. However, cultivation has brought that belief back. When we refer to elements, we do not refer to how they show themselves in nature. No, we talk about the force that drives their existence. We talk about the energy that moves in such a way that allows them to exist."

"Water elements are different from water. They are not water that you can drink, they are what allows the existence of water. It is a law of the world, an automation which lays the foundation for something to happen or exist."

"Technology has shown us some connections between these four elements, but it is nothing like the connection of the laws. The four primary elemental laws form a cycle of interdependence. Have you ever noticed how they balance each other? If you ever reach the World stage, you will notice that if you are to take any of these four laws out of an isolated space, that space would destabilize. There are theories which state that space-time are the most fundamental elements, but we know too little about the time element to properly judge the matter. For now, the consensus is that a world can survive with only these four elements and nothing else." Sorin stopped as he realized he was deviating from the main part.

"Anyway, although they are fundamental, their power is not too great. They only become something incredibly powerful when used together. Unfortunately, there are so few people in history to possess three of them at once, not to mention all four. In fact, it is just a theory but, it is said that there is a way to have both the water and fire element, but only if you possess wind and earth as well. Only the balance of the four elements would calm the fight between water and fire." he looked around him.

"This is meant to be a transformation array. The goal of this entire thing is very simple, to convert a water element to a fire element." he stopped his explanation.

"Convert..? You mean you want to change the nature of an elemental particle? This..." Andrew was shocked.

[This is just crazy. Is this even allowed? Even if somehow the impossible happens and this works, wouldn't we just be struck down by lightning? This seems like trying to change how the world works.]

"Right. Now, don't look at the size of the array. Simplifications can come afterwards, but if we can get this to work...Just imagine some small and weak water element cultivator inscribing this formation on their core."

"That's...yeah, but..." Andrew was still dazed. His mind was rapidly going through all the information he absorbed so far and all he could think of was that this idea was crazy.

[I understand the implications, any cultivator possessing one of the four elements would basically be possessing all of them. It would make them at least ten times more powerful. Hell, not only them. If this is successful, in the future other elemental particles would be converted. In the end, any cultivator would be able to use any element they wanted.]

"I understand what great things this could bring to the cultivation world, but this seems just impossible..."he said hesitantly.

"It might be." Sorin replied plainly.

[Eh?]

"Don't get me wrong, kid. I understand how crazy and unachievable this is. But, we are cultivators! We are made to go against the natural laws. We are made to use them and change them as we desire. And above that, we are humans! Since ancient times, even when there was no cultivation, we took everything we could, we used it all to change the world as we liked. It is in our blood. This desire of knowledge and power, that flows through us all and is so deeply rooted, makes it impossible to just leave something like this unexplored."

"Even those idiots who laughed at this project would want to see it done. They would even be jumping with joy at such a breakthrough. And to be fair, with the breakthroughs I had recently, I think they would even try to snatch this, hehe." he said laughing.

"And you are telling me all of this because?" Andrew squinted his eyes as he asked.

[I'm not dumb. From the way you phrased that it seems like the progress you made is quite secret. Why would you tell me all of this?]

"Simple. I am really old. It is highly likely that I won't be able to finish this project in the time I have left. A genius like you...would be the perfect choice to continue with this research." he looked at Andrew sincerely.

"Say now...do you wish to accept my and my predecessor's inheritance?" he asked calmly, a hint of sadness in his voice.

[This is the eighth time I am in this situation...Nobody is willing to continue with this project. The other seven I posed this question to, all rejected without a second thought. They didn't want to spent their life on something which seems impossible.] Sorin thought. Andrew looked at the man hesitantly.

[While this project might be revolutionary, it seems like a lot of work. I don't have that much time. Until that time...I have to be strong enough to protect myself and those I care about. There is no way I can lose so much time on this. Even if I somehow complete it before the events in the vision, the increase in strength for the primary element cultivators will still pale in comparison to that power. That pressure at the end...No, I definitely can't accept this.] Andrew came to a decision. He was just about to reject when the System's voice sounded in his mind.

[New Quest: Accept Sorin Varsor's request.]

[Reward: Unlock requirements for System level up.]

[Additional Quest: Complete the Heavenly Transformations Array within 20 years.]

[Reward: 100 Attribute Points, +10 Mana Control, +5 Elemental Affinity Points, +2 Mana Root Grade, Instant Level Up]

[E-eh??] Andrew was dumbfounded.

[What is this? System level up? And what are those ridiculous rewards?? 10 in mana control... that's an entire stage! With 5 affinity points I could improve my time affinity to Saint and still have some to spare! Not to mention those 100 attribute points, this....] he couldn't believe how generous the System was.

[The Heavenly Transformations Array? Is that how this thing is called? Ok, let's be logical. It says to complete it in 20 years to receive those rewards. That just goes to show how hard this whole thing would be. The System would not give such rewards if it was easy for me to complete it in this time.] he looked at Sorin hesitantly.

[Tsk, now how can I refuse this...]

"I accept..." he took a deep breath before nodding.