36: Faced with the challenge of passing on one's legacy, should one simply run away?

Above the White Jade Plaza, the remnant Soul of Crane Cloud Master wore a relieved and gratified smile.

He had finally found a perfect, uncarved jade, a 'Chosen One' who could perfectly inherit his lifelong Dao of Alchemy!

"Come, child." He showed Mysterious Ink a benevolent smile, his voice filled with anticipation and solemnity, "Step forward and accept this old man's Legacy!"

As he spoke, golden light flowed at his fingertips, and an incredibly brilliant Legacy light cluster, containing a vast amount of Alchemy knowledge and experience, slowly condensed and was about to imprint itself on Mysterious Ink's head.

On the plaza, whether it was the Ye family disciples or the Loose Cultivators, everyone's eyes were filled with endless envy and jealousy.

That was the Legacy of a Second Grade Alchemist! A supreme Opportunity to ascend to the heavens in one step!

However, at this sacred moment, watched by all.

Mysterious Ink, as the protagonist, not only did not show any signs of ecstatic joy, but instead glanced at Crane Cloud Master in mid-air with an expression as if looking at an idiot.

The next second, in everyone's almost frozen expressions, its massive python body suddenly swayed!

Whoosh—!

A black lightning bolt streaked across the sky; it actually turned into an afterimage without looking back, instantly rushing out of the White Jade Plaza and plunging into the distant dense forest, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye!

It... ran away?!

Mysterious Ink's heart was even more filled with disdain and contempt.

Legacy?

Why be some damn Alchemist?

Staying by a broken furnace every day, smelling pungent medicinal odors, working oneself to death—how could that compare to how it is now, basking in the sun and sleeping every day, with experience points 'whooshing' upwards? That's much more comfortable!

This daddy just wants to quietly AFK, then silently upgrade, and eventually become invincible!

Alchemy Legacy?

Not even a dog would want it!

...The entire White Jade Plaza was deathly silent.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the direction Mysterious Ink disappeared, their minds blank, as if their very Souls had been drawn out.

What... what did they just see?

That black snake... facing a supreme Opportunity that they couldn't even beg for, actually... just ran away?!

In mid-air, Crane Cloud Master's remnant Soul was even more directly frozen in place.

He held up the brilliant Legacy light cluster, his expression shifting from relief to bewilderment, then to blankness, and finally, to endless awkwardness and disarray in the wind.

What... what the hell is going on here?!

His Legacy, was it just despised like this?

Ultimately, he could only turn his pleading gaze towards the only person in the field who could be associated with that strange snake—Ye Feiyan.

"Cough..." Crane Cloud Master cleared his throat, trying to salvage some face, "This young friend, your Spirit Beast seems... quite spirited. Since it has no interest in the Dao of Alchemy, and I see your extraordinary talent, perhaps, this Legacy..."

After all, Mysterious Ink was Ye Feiyan's Spirit Beast. If Mysterious Ink didn't want it, giving the Legacy to its master was also reasonable.

However, he hadn't finished speaking.

Ye Feiyan slowly shook her head at him.

"Thank you for Senior's kind intentions," she said in a calm, neither humble nor overbearing tone, "This Junior's ambition is not here. Senior's Legacy, please find another worthy recipient."

What a joke!

She, the dignified Empress Feiyan, in her previous life, was proficient in Alchemy, Artifact Forging, Formations, and Talismans, all at the Grandmaster level!

How could she even care about the Legacy of a mere Second Grade Alchemist who hadn't even broken through to the Golden Core Realm?

She bowed remotely to Crane Cloud Master, then changed the subject, asking the question she truly cared about.

"May I ask Senior, this Junior wishes to inquire about the whereabouts of three items—flawless spirit liquid, phoenix seed, and white spirit crystal. Senior, have you heard of them?"

Crane Cloud Master's remnant Soul was stunned again.

What was the situation with these two, master and servant, from the Ye family?!

Each one was more outrageous than the last!

How did his Second Grade Alchemist Legacy become like a hot potato today, with no one wanting it, everyone trying to push it away?!

He felt aggrieved but still patiently pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "These three items you mentioned are all rare treasures of heaven and earth. This old man has only seen records of them in ancient texts. However..."

He glanced at a mountain range behind the palace and said, "As for the 'white spirit crystal,' this old man once sensed an extremely faint aura of it deep within this Secret Realm. The specific location is within the thunderclouds at the peak of the highest mountain."

"Thank you for Senior's guidance!"

Upon receiving this news, a hint of joy flashed in Ye Feiyan's phoenix eyes. She no longer lingered, bowed to Crane Cloud Master again, and then, with a flicker of her figure, she sped towards the direction of that mountain with an unyielding determination!

In the blink of an eye, only a graceful silhouette remained.

On the plaza, the Ye family members once again fell into a state of collective bewilderment.

What was wrong with these two, master and servant?!

That was the Legacy of a Second Grade Alchemist! And they... even rejected that?!

The most awkward one was still Crane Cloud Master in mid-air.

Holding up that powerful Legacy light cluster, he felt his old face burning with pain.

What was going on? It seemed his Legacy really couldn't be given away?

Finally, he could only sigh helplessly and cast his gaze upon the Loose Cultivators below, who were looking at him with incredibly fervent eyes. He casually pointed at the most pleasing-looking lucky individual.

"Fine, you, come here and accept the Legacy."

...On the other side, Ye Feiyan didn't take long to find Mysterious Ink, who was leisurely 'washing its tail' by a secluded stream.

She walked up to Mysterious Ink, her clear, cold phoenix eyes carrying a hint of curiosity that even she hadn't noticed.

"Why?" she asked, "That was, after all, the Legacy of a Second Grade Alchemist. It wouldn't have been without benefit to your future cultivation. Why abandon it?"

Mysterious Ink transmitted back a thought through the pseudo-contract, filled with 'of course'.

"I'm just a snake. What would I learn that stuff for? I'd rather sleep more with that time."

This answer was simple and unadorned, yet irrefutable.

Upon hearing this, Ye Feiyan was first startled, then couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. The smile, blooming like an iceberg snow lotus, instantly made the surrounding mountains and waters lose their luster.

She said no more, and the human and snake soon arrived at the base of the highest mountain Crane Cloud Master had mentioned.

At the summit, thunderclouds gathered thickly, silver snakes danced wildly, and a heart-palpitating aura of destruction emanated from within.

And at the center of those thunderclouds, a peculiar crystal, pure white and emitting a soft glow, floated quietly, as if it were the source of all lightning.

"Found it, white spirit crystal!" A hint of fervor flashed in Ye Feiyan's eyes.

She turned her head and said to Mysterious Ink with a solemn expression, "Mysterious Ink, I'll go up the rest of the way myself. You stay here and protect me; don't let anyone approach and disturb me!"

Mysterious Ink's huge head nodded, and it quietly coiled on the only path up the mountain.

Ye Feiyan no longer hesitated, took a deep breath, and her figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing into the violent thunderclouds with unwavering determination!

The entire process went without any mishap.

Half an hour later, although Ye Feiyan was scorched all over and her aura was weak, her phoenix eyes were filled with unparalleled joy! She had succeeded!

After taking the spiritual item, the human and snake once again journeyed together.

Unconsciously, three days passed in a flash.

When the spatial gate to the Secret Realm exit slowly opened again, all the surviving Cultivators surged out like a tide.

And on Mysterious Ink's System panel in its mind, the number representing experience points had already quietly surpassed the two hundred thousand mark!

It could Breakthrough to Second Stage Late-Phase at any time!

"No hurry," Mysterious Ink thought to itself, "I'll wait until I'm out of the Secret Realm and find an uninhabited place to Breakthrough."

flawless spirit liquid