Ahead

I just got a crazy idea. This is all a plot twist by them.
They announced that Naksu will be the main lead in part 2 to stop viewers from guessing the correct way that Naksu's soul and MD's body will remain cos Naksu's body has been burned.
But because of the announcement, we all start to think that MD's soul and body will get sacrificed and the show will give Naksu's body somehow.
If the rumour is true, then, we won't be seeing Naksu's soul & MD's body.
Oh well, I will still watch S1 and even S2 if the story is still really good by the end of S1.
The burden on Go Yoon Jung would be heavy cos if she couldn't do better than JSM in convincing viewers, it would be a bad taste. Viewers will feel that something is off. But if she did better, she would be praised by fans a lot and her popularity will soar quickly.
I know LJW will pull it off in part 2 too but it takes two (LJW & JSM) to create the magical feeling we see in S1. So, as a warning to all the fellow viewers, don't expect too high for S2 then, you might see an unexpected performance in S2 & enjoy it.

I just got a crazy idea. This is all a plot twist by them.
They announced that Naksu will be the main lead in part 2 to stop viewers from guessing the correct way that Naksu's soul and MD's body will remain cos Naksu's body has been burned.
But because of the announcement, we all start to think that MD's soul and body will get sacrificed and the show will give Naksu's body somehow.
If the rumour is true, then, we won't be seeing Naksu's soul & MD's body.
Oh well, I will still watch S1 and even S2 if the story is still really good by the end of S1.
The burden on Go Yoon Jung would be heavy cos if she couldn't do better than JSM in convincing viewers, it would be a bad taste. Viewers will feel that something is off. But if she did better, she would be praised by fans a lot and her popularity will soar quickly.
I know LJW will pull it off in part 2 too but it takes two (LJW & JSM) to create the magical feeling we see in S1. So, as a warning to all the fellow viewers, don't expect too high for S2 then, you might see an unexpected performance in S2 & enjoy it.

imo, Uk loves Mu Deok for the way she talks and behave. It got less to do with appearance. So, Uk loves Naksu more than Mu Deok. But JSM totally nailed it. I watched cos of JSM and LJW, especially JSM. I will forget about part 2 for now and focus on S1.
I agree with all of your points except the 3rd one.

All other sites didn't say that JSM won't be in the main leads too. Nothing is confirmed of the casts yet not to spoil the S1. Whatever, I am just going to watch S1 to the end first and think about part 2 when it comes out.

Others can soul-shift and die but for the main leads, they can soul-shift after getting ice stone or reaching Hwansu highest stage. My top priority is two main leads.

https://www.kdramastars.com/articles/125806/20220712/jung-so-min-not-reprise-role-alchemy-of-souls-part-2-why.htm
That site said spin-offs.
Still, they could do What if ... even in sequel after ending Uk & Mu Deok story.
Okay. This is hard for me to swallow it.

I wish that part 2 is What if ... instead of a sequel. They did say it is a spin-off right?
What if there is no Mu Deok and Naksu never used soul-shifting?
Then, I can happily accept part 2. :D

God bless you. Know that God loves you even if the world is against you. Have a nice day.

Cos there was no mirrors around Uk and he was talking with Kim. I am already satisfy with both leads being true to their feeling at the relic mirror. I did say that I like their theories so I hope you understand my point too.
Uk only talked with Lady Jin after rescuing Mu Deok from the longing mirror.

My point is why ML didn't get to see FL's illusion. That's all.
Those true feeling talks at the relic mirror must be there in that episode to give better understanding to viewers and to convince that their bond is getting stronger which will turn into love.

yup

I saw many comments saying that FL's illusion didn't come to ML cos they are true to each other. I like their theories too; they are good and heartwarming but I think she didn't come cos there was no mirror near him. ML was busy trying to cancel his marriage.

Thanks. I already made a discussion 'Mu Deok, Ice Stone & Blind Girl Theroy after EP 8' yesterday. I made a new discussion to focus on Mu Deok identities. I posted here to let other know my theories and to get more ideas.

https://kisskh.at/733261-alchemy-of-souls-part-2
Pls comment on S2 page instead

The Hack! Where is Jung So Min!!!!!!!
No!!!!!!!!No!!!!!!!!No!!!!!!!!

I hope people stop commenting about 'S2 or part 2' cos S1 hasn't even ended yet. I don't want any negative in the S1 comments session. Pls, use a spoiler option at least. Of course, I skipped all those comments. I am not trying to fight. Just mentioning my wish.

I think you got it wrong. Maybe, you don't really understand what I mean. I know that the 1st theory is farfetch; that's why I named crazy. I put crazy cos I could be wrong too. I am not saying my theory is right.
'ML has his own soul, not late king's.' - I didn't say that the king's soul was transferred into ML. ML was born with King's soul and Jang Gang's body. He got his only soul and body. I am just saying similarity between FL & ML as being soul-shifter.

Thanks. :D

So, I looked through ep 1-8 again to look for reasons why Jin Bu-Yeon could be Mu Deok & blind girl at the same time. Here is in detail.
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Jin Mu / Fake Danju – Main villain? From Cheonbugwan. Wanted Gwanju position from the king. Assistant of Jang.

Songrim is main mage place. Danhyanggok is a villain place & where Naksu grows up.

Places: Songrim, Jeongjingak. Sejukwon. Jinyowon. Cheonbugwan. Chwiseonru.

Gwigu – soul catcher creature.

Master Seo Gyeong – the founder of Songrim.

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EP 1

20 years later? After ML was born?

26:50 – Why is she able to see? No, blue mark too. Cos she is the ice stone.

29:58 - Mu Deok is a blind girl and orphanage from the countryside who got sold for debt after her guardian (an old woman) die of illness. (Is this a true bg story or just make-up. And I haven’t seen real MD talks or sing through 8 episodes.)

33:50 – The first recall of Naksu’s memory. 20 years ago? She is definitely older than 4 heirs then.

36:46 – Ju-wol, the head of the courtesan?

EP 2

2:28 – Jang Gang probably took revenge on the king by not letting his son become a king. Jang Gan could use the king’s written scroll to make Jang Uk the king before the king’s brother took the throne but he didn’t. We didn’t know how the king died too. Why would the king leave the throne to his brother when he finally impregnated a woman? Jin Mu took an easier route by following the current king & crown prince cos ML is basically useless as his energy was sealed. He wouldn’t want to go against Jang Gang’s command too.

EP 3

22:50

Jipsu, is the ability to gather water.

Ryusu, is the ability to gain energy from the flow of water.

Chisu, is the ability to control the energy in the atmosphere.

35:41 – He probably checked FL’s ear to hurt her ear.

47:15 – Mention of Jin Cho Yeon’s sister.

1:04:12 – CP has reached the highest stage of the 2nd step, Ryusu. Seo Yul too. Queen & Yul’s father (general) are siblings.

EP 4

2:50 – FL’s dad definitely saw the king’s star. (Jang Gang turned him into a soul shifter and let him run wild. Then, killed him so that others won’t be able to find fault in him. This further proved that he didn’t want Uk to become the king when the late king wanted his heir to take the throne.)

11:21 – Hwansu is the highest level? Only 2 people have reached this level.

1:11:47 – Sari village was where MD was from.

40 – Jin’s leader actually loves her elder daughter. XD

EP 5

20:45 – Two Mu Deok instead of Naksu soul inside soul-shifting realm? Mu Deok is shaping Naksu's soul into her own? Or is this a mistake by a director?

24:12 – ‘There is a great soul dwelling inside that small body.’ (Is the great soul the soul of a blind girl from 200 years ago? Or Naksu’s soul?)

EP 6

15:40 – Park Jin remembers singing at Master Lee 100th birthday.

44 – Jin Bu-yeon will return.

EP 7

1:15 – Then, enormous hailstones started falling from the sky. First Jin’s leader didn’t have an ice stone in her.

3:01 – One man to two persons (Songrim & Jin leader). Half of the Ice stone was dissolved into Jin’s Leader (Mu Deok)?

Is MD keep on reborn into Jin’s family again and again? (Like Elizabeth in the ‘Seven deadly sins' anime.)

40:10 – ‘She is here. Who? It is her, the blind girl. It is the ice stone.’

42:50 – Only Jin members can open Jinyowon so the Jin Mu? But his mother is not Jin.

Jin Ho-Gyeong – Current Jin’s leader.

53:25 – Jin’s family surname is given to those with mothers from Jin's family. So, Jin Ho-Gyeong’s father got Jin Mu from a woman out of Jin's family.

1:03:00 – Cheonbugwan mage named Cho Chung from 20 years ago is Naksu’s father. FL’s dad is a soul shifter and runs wild. Changed by Jang Gang or Jin Mu/Danju.

EP 8

2 – MD’s subtle smile. XD MD can travel freely inside soul shifting realm.

21:35 - Heo Yun-ok, granddaughter of Seo Heo Yeom.

Gil-ju – assistant of Jin Mu.

Real Danju is the queen. Queen is from the Choi family.

FL doesn’t have any grudge against 4 families anymore. But the cause of her family's death was cos of ML’s birth. But I think she will forgive him cos he didn’t choose to be born at that time anyway. It’s not his fault. Imo, it is Jang Gang or Danji fault.

Go Won – Crown Prince

Hemp Master Lee, a pupil of master Seo Gyeong.

52:29 – ‘…destroyed by Master Seo Gyeong and the leader of Jinyowon 200 years ago?’

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Crazy theory – Blind girl from 200 years ago was split into two, Naksu and Bu-yeon (Mu Deok). Now, they are reunited; one has a strong soul and another has the power to control ice stone.

Another crazy theory – Blind girl is reborn as Bu-Yeon. Then, got a new name Mu Deok when adopted by an old woman after she got lost and got amnesia. But MD is weak due to ice stone so she took Naksu’s soul to get strong. So, there are two separate souls in one body but it can handle cos of ice stone. As both souls want to get strong, they will protect ML and get stronger together. Will the two souls merge into one or one will overtake the other?

So, FL is also just like ML. The body is from the Jin family but the soul in control rn is Naksu.

ML's body is from Jang but the soul is from the late king.

Thanks for the lyrics video.