Chapter 29: The Flame That Belongs to No One Part 2 The Abyssal Starsteel remained suspended above the open Origin Furnace. The thread of the Originless Genesis Flame wrapped around it like flowing silk, neither tightening nor releasing its hold. Adrian's gaze never wavered. Most refiners would begin by increasing the temperature until the material yielded. He did not. Every material possessed its own nature. Attempting to overwhelm that nature before understanding it only produced impurities that could never truly be removed. The flame continued to flow. A moment later, the deep blue surface of the Abyssal Starsteel trembled almost imperceptibly. Not from heat. From resistance. A faint current spread through the metal, as though every layer of its structure rejected outside influence. Adrian observed quietly. "So this is how you preserve yourself." The Originless Genesis Flame did not answer with greater force. Instead, its warmth gradually diminished. The brilliant crimson-gold light became soft and tranquil. Rather than trying to melt the metal, it entered the tiny spaces that naturally existed between countless microscopic layers. Little by little... The flame explored. It did not destroy. It understood. Time slipped away unnoticed. Only after nearly an hour did Adrian finally move his hand. The thread of flame slowly withdrew. The Abyssal Starsteel remained unchanged on the surface. Its color had not altered. Its shape remained exactly the same. Yet Adrian could immediately sense the difference. The metal's internal structure had become far clearer within his perception. Every vein of condensed pressure. Every hidden flow of energy. Every natural imperfection. Nothing escaped his awareness. He nodded slightly. "The first observation is complete." He did not rush into another attempt. Instead, he placed the Abyssal Starsteel beside the furnace before opening another wooden box. A gentle silver radiance emerged. Resting inside was a smooth crystal resembling polished coral. Void Coral Crystal. Unlike the Abyssal Starsteel, it was astonishingly light. As Adrian held it, faint distortions appeared around its edges, as though the surrounding space had become slightly unstable. "A material naturally compatible with spatial energy..." He carefully summoned another strand of the Originless Genesis Flame. The instant the flame approached— Ripples spread through the surrounding air. The crystal seemed to disappear before reappearing a fraction of an inch away. It had not moved. Rather, the surrounding space itself had shifted. Adrian's expression remained calm. He continued observing. The flame followed those subtle distortions without forcing them to remain still. Gradually... The unstable fluctuations became smoother. The crystal no longer rejected the flame. Instead, both began circulating together naturally. A faint smile appeared on Adrian's face. "So refinement is different for every material." "There can never be a single method suitable for everything." That realization quietly settled within his mind. Future creations would require countless refining methods. Each one carefully developed according to the material itself. The Originless Genesis Flame possessed the versatility to accomplish that. The one wielding it simply needed sufficient understanding. Adrian extinguished the flame. The Void Coral Crystal returned to its wooden box. Next... He lifted a translucent pearl the size of a fist. Moon Tide Pearl. Soft moonlight gathered naturally around it, bathing the room in a cool silver glow. Compared to the previous two materials, the Moon Tide Pearl felt remarkably gentle. Even so, Adrian remained just as cautious. A thin ribbon of flame drifted toward the pearl. This time... The flame did not surround it immediately. Instead, it divided into dozens of tiny strands. Each strand lightly touched a different part of the pearl. The silver light within the Moon Tide Pearl flickered softly. No resistance. No instability. Only quiet acceptance. Adrian carefully examined every change occurring within its interior. The moon essence contained inside the pearl remained astonishingly pure. Using excessive force would only reduce that purity. A refining method suitable for metals would ruin this treasure. "I understand." He slowly withdrew the flame. "Every material requires its own balance." Strength. Gentleness. Patience. Precision. None could be ignored. The refining chamber fell silent once more. Three treasures rested before him. Abyssal Starsteel. Void Coral Crystal. Moon Tide Pearl. Although none had been fully refined, Adrian had already gained something far more valuable. Knowledge. True refinement did not begin with transformation. It began with understanding. Only after understanding could transformation preserve what deserved to remain while removing everything unnecessary. Adrian looked toward the remaining wooden boxes. Leviathan Heartstone. Sky Sovereign Mithril. Heavenly Feathersteel. Stormheart Crystal. Tempest Jade. Thunder Vein Ore. Azure Sky Crystal. Cloudsilver Ore. Skyglass Crystal. Each contained different characteristics. Each would require careful observation before refinement could truly begin. "There is no need to hurry." His voice echoed softly through the quiet chamber. "I have enough time." He closed the lids of the wooden boxes one by one. Today's purpose had already been fulfilled. The Originless Genesis Flame had become completely stable. More importantly, the first principles of his new refining methods had taken shape. From this day onward, every material entering the Origin Furnace would first be understood before it was transformed. That principle would never change. Only after those methods had matured would he begin refining the rare materials in earnest. Only after the refined materials met his expectations would he return home and reconstruct the defensive puppet he had left behind. Adrian gently closed the lid of the Origin Furnace. His eyes remained calm. There was no excitement. No impatience. Every creation worthy of lasting through time began with a flawless foundation. And he had just completed the first step.