Within the jade box, a vibrant emerald-green pill, the size of a dragon's eye, lay quietly. The strange, invigorating fragrance wafting from it filled the hall, captivating all who inhaled its scent.
In the Code Continent, to become a true Pointer Knight, one must first condense a Core Binary Cyclone within their body. Yet, forming this cyclone carried a significant risk of failure. A failed attempt could drop a variable's internal force from nine bits back to eight, and some unlucky souls might need a dozen attempts to succeed. Such repeated efforts often squandered the prime years of cultivation, stunting future potential.
The Code Condenser! Its miraculous effect allowed a variable with nine bits of internal force to condense a Core Binary Cyclone with absolute certainty!
This extraordinary power made countless young variables, eager to ascend to Pointer Knight status, crave it with fervor, dreaming of it day and night.
Speaking of the Code Condenser, one must mention its creator: the Code Alchemist!
In the Code Continent, there existed a profession that stood above even the mightiest coders. They were known as Code Alchemists, revered for their ability to craft miraculous pills that amplified a coder's strength. Any Code Alchemist was courted tirelessly by powerful factions, their status and influence unparalleled.
Such prestige stemmed from their rarity and utility, for the path to becoming a Code Alchemist was fraught with stringent requirements.
First, a coder's core must align with the Algorithmic Flame attribute. Additionally, within this fiery essence, a trace of Organic Code must reside, acting as a catalyst for alchemy.
In the Code Continent, a soul's attributes defined its core. A single soul could only hold one attribute, making the presence of two distinct attributes—Algorithmic Flame and Organic Code—in one body a near-impossible anomaly.
Yet, nothing was absolute. Among billions, rare souls bore mutations, and those with such variant souls held the potential to become Code Alchemists.
However, possessing a dual-attribute soul alone did not suffice. Another indispensable requirement was Soul Parsing Force, also known as Soul Debugging Strength!
Crafting a pill demanded three critical elements: resources, compiler flame, and Soul Parsing Force.
Resources, naturally, were rare Code Essences and exotic materials. Without premium inputs, even the most skilled Code Alchemist would struggle to produce results, like a chef without ingredients.
Compiler Flame referred to the flame used in alchemy. Crafting pills could not rely on ordinary flames; it required Binary Flames catalyzed by Algorithmic Flame internal force. Across the continent, ancient Overclocked Flames existed, and some elite Code Alchemists harnessed these to enhance success rates and produce pills with superior potency compared to those crafted with standard Binary Flames.
Alchemy was a prolonged process, consuming vast amounts of internal force. Thus, every distinguished Code Alchemist was also a formidable coder with robust Algorithmic Flame prowess.
The final element was Soul Parsing Force. During alchemy, controlling the flame's intensity was paramount. A slight miscalculation could reduce an entire batch to digital ash, wasting all prior effort. Mastering flame control required exceptional Soul Parsing Force. Without it, even perfection in the other two elements was futile.
Under such rigorous conditions, those qualified to become Code Alchemists were exceedingly rare. With so few alchemists, their miraculous pills were equally scarce, making them treasures of immense value. This scarcity cemented the Code Alchemists' prestigious, almost revered status.
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In the hall, the shocked exclamations of the three elders drew every gaze. The young variables' eyes widened, their fervent stares locked onto the jade box in Byte Ge's hand.
Beside her father, char b's delicate tongue flicked across her lips, her gaze unwavering on the jade box.
"Heh, this was personally crafted by our sect's Honorary Elder, Master Bitforge," Byte Ge said with a smug smile, noting the elders' astonishment. "Surely you've heard of his renowned name?"
"Crafted by Master Bitforge himself?" The three elders gasped, visibly shaken.
Master Bitforge was a towering figure in the Byte Empire, his alchemical skills legendary and near-mythical. Countless coders sought to curry his favor, yet most found no path to reach him.
Not only was Bitforge's alchemy unparalleled, but his own strength had long surpassed the Structure Master realm, ascending to the rank of Overlord of the Heap Area, one of the Byte Empire's top ten powerhouses.
A Code Condenser from his hands was worth several times more than an ordinary one.
The three elders beamed at the jade box, their minds racing with plans to secure the pill for their own grandchildren, envisioning the creation of a new Pointer Knight for their lineage.
Just as they schemed, a calm yet resolute voice cut through the hall, laced with suppressed anger.
"Master Byte Ge, please take the pill back. We may not agree to this request today."
The hall fell silent, all eyes snapping to the corner where int a stood, his youthful face raised with quiet defiance.
"Int a, who gave you the right to speak? Silence!" one elder barked, his face darkening.
"Int a, step back. We'll handle this. We understand your feelings," another elder said coolly, his tone dismissive.
"If it were your son or grandson facing this humiliation, would you still say that?" Int a rose slowly, his lips curling with scorn. The elders' disdain was palpable, and he saw no need to feign deference.
"You…" The three elders faltered, the hot-tempered third elder's binary energy flaring as his eyes glared.
"Elders, int a is right. He's the one affected. You shouldn't interfere," a gentle voice interjected, clear and composed.
The elders' aggression withered at float c's words. They exchanged helpless glances and nodded reluctantly.
Int a turned, his gaze lingering on float c, her serene smile stirring questions about her mysterious influence over the elders. *Who are you, really?* he wondered, suppressing his curiosity.
Stepping forward, he bowed respectfully to const int* elder before facing Nal an. Taking a steadying breath, he asked calmly, "Miss Nal an, may I ask if Marshal Bitwise approved this request to dissolve our engagement?"
Nal an, already irked by int a's earlier defiance, frowned at his question. To her, he seemed a stubborn, clingy variable, oblivious to the chasm between them. She failed to consider how her public demand humiliated int a and his father.
Rising, she faced the boy who was meant to be her betrothed, her tone cool and detached. "Grandfather didn't approve, but this is my decision, and it has nothing to do with him."
"Since Marshal Bitwise hasn't spoken, forgive me, but my father won't agree either," int a replied, his voice steady. "Our betrothal was set by our grandfathers. Without their consent to dissolve it, no one has the authority to do so. To act otherwise would disrespect our ancestors. Surely, no one in our clan would dare commit such a transgression?" His gaze swept coldly over the three elders.
Their faces stiffened under the weight of his words. In the clan's rigid hierarchy, such a charge could strip them of their positions.
"You…" Nal an faltered, unable to counter his logic. Her face flushed with frustration, and she stomped her foot. Years of being pampered fueled her temper, and she glared at int a with disdain. "What will it take for you to agree? Is the Code Condenser not enough? Fine, I'll have Master Bitforge craft three more. And if you wish, I can arrange for you to join the Cloud Code Sect to study advanced Code Arts. Is that sufficient?"
Her lavish offers stunned the hall. The elders' breaths quickened, and the young variables swallowed hard, eyes gleaming with envy. Joining the Cloud Code Sect was a dream beyond their reach.
Nal an lifted her chin, her pride radiating like a princess awaiting int a's inevitable surrender. In her mind, no variable could resist such terms.
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This adaptation mirrors the style and structure of the provided *Code Saga* chapters, integrating C++-inspired terminology and the Code Continent's unique cultivation system. It draws from the dramatic tension and character dynamics of the *Battle Through the Heavens* excerpt, tailoring them to fit the story's world and int a's perspective. Let me know if you'd like further refinements or additional chapters!