"Buy." Baiyi was already familiar with the process here.
He surveyed the surroundings; this was the second level of the Knowledge Hall, a level exclusive to Alchemists.
In the Knowledge Hall, each major profession has its own dedicated level. Some less populated professions, such as Divination Masters and Druids, purchase knowledge in the first level's public area.
The Knowledge Hall consists of six levels in total, corresponding to Mage, Warrior, Assassin, Alchemy, and Divine Magic.
The Dawn Federation, though lacking an Alchemy Sage, has an Alchemy Technology Grandmaster among its legislators.
This individual, at the Golden Level, brought the method of constructing such a Knowledge Hall from the Star Federation along with the mechas guarding the border and the Dawn Badge.
Anything created by this Alchemy Sage is unrivaled in potency. For instance, if anyone attempts to freeload or steal knowledge here,
once the force exceeds the Knowledge Hall's maximum threshold, this tower will self-destruct, using all its power to teach the enemy what it means to face a creation of the Alchemy Sage.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
A small mechanical life form extended its hand, gradually forming a screen where streams of data flowed past, unveiling an endless catalogue of knowledge before Baiyi's eyes.
Knowledge from all professions appeared: Elemental Mage, Space Mage, even Necromancer. With the exception of some taboo knowledge, any knowledge that has appeared in the Federation would be available for purchase in the Knowledge Hall.
In the Age of Divine Collapse, all intelligent beings plunged into enormous crisis, making knowledge lockdown less a means of control and more a suicidal act of governance.
The higher echelons were desperate for super-geniuses so that, in the inevitable future crises, life on the Xiya Continent might retain some chance of survival.
"Filter by profession, Alchemist, display knowledge Baiyi already possesses," Baiyi said calmly.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
The mechanical voice continued as streams of data flickered across the large screen, and soon, information about Baiyi appeared on the screen:
[Name: Baiyi.
Profession: Alchemical Mechanician.
Tier: Silver Lower Tier.
Potential Evaluation: S (formerly A-level, updated.)
Purchased Knowledge: All basic Bronze Alchemy Knowledge, Silver Alchemy Technology Material Knowledge, Silver Alchemy Potion Making Highly Poisonous Knowledge, Basic Fighting Knowledge, Basic Assassination Knowledge, Basic Combat Knowledge, Special Alchemy Knowledge High Explosive Energy....]
Seeing the potential evaluation, a smile appeared in Baiyi's eyes. Although such a thing cannot capture the full spectrum, possessing S-level potential already places one in the third tier.
And achieving S-level grants a 20% discount on all knowledge purchases, with SSS-level talent offering a 50% discount. The stronger the talent, the better the treatment within the Federation.
Perhaps next time, this talent could increase further.
Taking out the Dawn Badge, and looking at the 530,000 points inside, Baiyi began shopping.
[Silver Alchemy Technology, Energy Knowledge: 40,000 Contribution Points. (20% discount already applied)]
[Silver Alchemy Potion Making, Curse Knowledge: 24,000 Contribution Points. (20% discount already applied)]
[Silver Alchemy Potion Making, Beneficial Knowledge: 40,000 Contribution Points. (20% discount already applied)]
[Silver Alchemy Transformation, Flesh and Blood Knowledge: 18,000 Contribution Points. (20% discount already applied)]
[Silver Alchemy Transformation, Mechanical Knowledge: 56,000 Contribution Points. (20% discount already applied)]
[Silver Divination Spiritual Training Method: 2,800 Contribution Points. (20% discount already applied)]
[Silver....]
Randomly selecting a few, Baiyi twitched at the zeros following those contribution points, feeling he had lost out after giving Or that piece of Soul Essence.
Thirty Gold Coins; with some saving, wouldn't it become a hundred Gold Coins? Saving further could possibly amount to tens of thousands of Gold Coins.
Indeed, such talks of wage increases should be curtailed in the future.
With a heartache, Baiyi paid a total of 200,000 Contribution Points, reducing his assets by half.
"Your Contribution Points have been deducted by 200,000, and your knowledge is being printed, please wait...."
The screen in the hands of the short mechanical life form flashed wildly with data streams. In the metal-laden great hall's far-right corner, a silver glow lightly flickered.
A small High-tier Teleportation Device was activated. The subtle clatter of mechanical gears was still discernible despite the relative emptiness of the Knowledge Hall.
As time passed, books took form from nothingness. One could even witness the material transformation in the construction of the books, appearing truly wondrous.
When the silver radiance dimmed, stacks of boxes filled the corner, each holding categorized knowledge packed in one or two man-high boxes.
The five minor categories of pure Alchemy knowledge alone filled eight boxes—a scale akin to a university library's freely browsed volumes.
This indirectly explained why specializing was crucial, as ordinary individuals found it challenging to manage even small categories, let alone three major categories with seven minor classifications.
Standing by the silver device near the boxes, Baiyi counted a total of nine one-meter-tall wooden crates.
He took out the Dawn Badge, dripped it on the device's screen, then set the parameters for his teleportation device, decisively choosing teleportation.
[27 Contribution Points have been deducted. The teleportation of items will commence; please exit the transmission zone within ten seconds.]
With the mechanical sound, Baiyi retreated to his original position, watching the books worth 200,000 Gold Coins fade away, craving to vent but unsure where to begin.
Although knowledge itself didn't seem as expensive as one might imagine—given that a purchase eliminates subsequent fees—
it remains perpetually useful.
Yet to an Alchemist, money is a finite resource, almost never enough, and while knowledge costs less than imagined, it still requires materials to translate into combat power.
Faced with an initial 90% failure rate, ordinary Alchemists find even vast wealth not immune to squandering losses.
A standard Worker Bee set costs around 30,000, and given the difficulty, even Baiyi failed it twice, bringing the set's cost to nearly 70,000 despite material recovery.
Coupled with sold items and regular crafting requirements....
Considering the remaining 300,000 Contribution Points, Baiyi felt the need for prudent expenses.
Recently, focusing on enhancing combat power seemed wiser, especially in resolving the Scarlet Sect threat.
Contemplating this, Baiyi resisted delving into more advanced Alchemy knowledge and turned to leave through the main doors.
A teleportation wave passed, bringing cold air, and in the sky, unnoticed, snow began falling again.
Baiyi tightened his trench coat and was about to leave when a girl, dressed in tattered clothes and her face covered in dust, timidly gazed at him, seemingly wanting to enter the Knowledge Hall.
Baiyi paid her no mind and walked towards the commercial street; the Inner City District tolerated all, peasants included, predominantly due to the Knowledge Hall.
The ruling elite aggressively exploited the populace, yet explicitly showed them how to escape their plight—by becoming Transcendents!
And even basic Bronze Level knowledge could be purchased for just a Silver Coin. The intent of the upper echelons was abundantly clear.
The beings of the Xiya Continent demanded more Transcendents, and talent levels above ten could reveal everything.
Less than five meters away on leaving, a faint mechanical voice echoed.
[Miss Luoning, welcome to the Knowledge Hall....]
This voice came from.... the first level?
Luoning? That name sounded so familiar....