Chapter Forty-Two: The Flying Vessel

After recording the last set of data, Qi Xiao felt that his research had reached a sufficient depth and it was time to move on to practical application. Thus, during lunch, he sought out Raymond.

“I have some free time now. Once you’ve gathered all the materials, we can begin the crafting process,” Qi Xiao said, as he brought a spoonful of the mysterious violet-blue substance to his mouth. Its texture was somewhat like broccoli, but the flavor was reminiscent of mushrooms.

Speaking of fungi, he thought, perhaps he could find time to bring back the little mushroom.

Qi Xiao asked Raymond a casual question, his thoughts momentarily drifting. Raymond’s eyes lit up at his words. He abandoned his meal at once, hurriedly retrieved two boxes from his wristband, and exclaimed with delight, “Here are the materials you asked me to prepare; I’ve collected three sets of each. For anything else you need, just let me know. We’ll settle the cost later—if there’s anything you don’t have, you can buy it from me. Once the crafting is done, we’ll handle the remaining expenses together!”

Qi Xiao nodded, accepting the boxes. Taking out pen and paper, he asked, “Do you have any requests? Feel free to mention them, and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.”

Raymond hesitated, torn. He pondered for a long while, and as Qi Xiao was about to finish his lunch, he finally spoke with difficulty, “Nothing else, really, just… make it look good. My standards aren’t high—if it can be half as beautiful as your flying carpet, I’ll be satisfied. And I want it red—pure red if possible! Functionality isn’t important, just the basic features will do. Leave the rest to your judgment.”

Qi Xiao jotted down all the requests, swallowed the last bite of beef, and rose to take his leave. “All right, I’ll get to work. In a few days, you can come inspect the result.”

In the alchemy laboratory, Qi Xiao examined the two materials Raymond had provided.

The Crimson Flame Crystal was a gemstone rich in fire-attributed magical energy. Under light, it reflected a blazing red glow. Qi Xiao planned to use it as the primary source of the flying vessel’s red appearance. Not only could it absorb and store light energy, it could also release it when needed, providing motive power for the craft.

As for Scarlet Feather Silk, it was a light yet resilient magical fiber with excellent affinity for enchantments, commonly used in alchemy and magical crafting. Apart from its red hue, it did not differ much from other fibers.

Qi Xiao intended to weave it into the vessel’s ornamental edges and finer details. Its lightness would greatly reduce the vessel’s weight, while its strength would add structural stability.

With a clear plan, Qi Xiao first sketched a design for the flying vessel. It featured a streamlined, boat-like shape to minimize air resistance, with Crimson Flame Crystals embedded in several surfaces.

Using the crystals as the main material, he constructed the vessel’s frame, ensuring it was both sturdy and lightweight, with a dominant red color.

To prevent the color from appearing monotonous, Qi Xiao employed light and shadow alchemy, carving microscopic lattice structures inside the crystals. As light passed through, it refracted and scattered, lending the vessel’s red a dynamic richness despite being a single hue.

The Crimson Flame Crystal emitted varying intensities of red light according to temperature, which made it an ideal source for the vessel’s color. By controlling the surface temperature, the craft could shift from deep red to bright crimson as it flew, and back again—an intriguing effect.

Given the crystal’s inherent stability, Qi Xiao etched numerous runes onto its surface, thus reducing the number of inscriptions required on the hull.

Since Raymond had requested appearance over practicality, Qi Xiao decided to honor his senior’s wishes, replacing most functional runes with more decorative, albeit less useful, ones.

He ground up seeds from various plants to create a dynamic magical coating. This layer would respond to changes in airflow around the vessel, automatically adjusting its optical properties to make the red appear more vivid and lively.

Considering the craft’s adaptability to different environments, Qi Xiao employed all his expertise to inscribe a set of runes that adjusted color saturation according to ambient light, ensuring the vessel always looked its best.

Additionally, he set up magical resonance points at key locations. While flying, these would interact with the surrounding magic, making the Crimson Flame Crystal’s red glow even more dazzling.

Once all the steps were complete, Qi Xiao meticulously fine-tuned the color, ensuring it met his senior’s requirements while retaining a unique character and charm.

Through these innovative chromatic adjustments, Qi Xiao succeeded in bestowing the vessel with a singular, ever-changing red that shifted with light, temperature, airflow, and magical energy. He was convinced he had pushed the possibilities of a single color to their limits—he doubted any alchemy apprentice could surpass his understanding of monochrome.

He asked Butler Merck to notify Raymond upon his return. Rubbing his temples, Qi Xiao collapsed onto his bed. He had no intention of meditating tonight—he planned to sleep deeply and rest well.

With a sigh, eyes closed, Qi Xiao resolved that for the foreseeable future, he would avoid using red as the main color for any alchemical artifact.

The next morning, Raymond arrived in haste.

His gaze swept over every detail of the flying vessel, his words of praise echoing through the laboratory. “Look at that prow, that little sail, and the Crimson Flame Crystal—are those runes engraved? Incredible!”

Raymond was at a loss for technical terms, so he simply caressed the hull with undisguised affection, marveling in delight.

Qi Xiao also smiled as he admired his handiwork, scrutinizing it with a professional eye.

The hull was sleek and elegant, with Crimson Flame Crystals skillfully inlaid along its surface, producing a natural red luster. Depending on the viewing angle and the room’s temperature, the hue shifted from rich wine-red to bright fiery crimson.

Qi Xiao circled the vessel; the hull’s lines traced a graceful arc from bow to stern. Scarlet Feather Silk was woven along the edges, forming a striking red border.

The sail, made from a special lightweight material, was more than ornamental. Its surface bore runes carefully designed by Qi Xiao, allowing it to harness energy from the wind to power the craft and steer it easily through the air.

He even crafted a cabin, lavish and practical, equipped with necessary navigational instruments and comfortable seating—large enough for a person to lie down—and several small spaces for storage.

The rudder at the stern, made of finely worked wood and Crimson Flame Crystal, was easy to handle and could sense magical commands.

Along the vessel’s underside and hull were runes for stability, working in harmony with the crystals and silk to provide both flight and protection.

It wasn’t that Qi Xiao was especially fond of Crimson Flame Crystals and used them everywhere; rather, Raymond had given him so many that to use only a single piece would be wasteful and unfair. Not wishing to take advantage of his senior, Qi Xiao made sure to incorporate them wherever possible.