Inheritance of Transcendence

"Nonsense, of course, I walked in," Gu Qingfeng said disdainfully.

"Did you comprehend the introductory chapter of the Divine Refining Technique from the stone tablet, which caused the text to vanish and reveal the spatial passage?" Qiu Xiaocui asked in disbelief.

Seeing her shocked expression, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but tease her.

So.

"Yep," Gu Qingfeng grunted.

"This can't be!" Qiu Xiaocui still refused to believe it, but the evidence was right before her eyes, leaving her no choice.

"What about the Ageless Pill? Where is it?" Qiu Xiaocui's tone suddenly turned urgent.

"Wake up, kid. There is no Ageless Pill."

"I don't believe it! You must have taken it for yourself, didn't you?" Qiu Xiaocui's delicate face suddenly twisted into a grimace.

Gu Qingfeng laughed. "Ohoho, look who's getting worked up! Xiaocui's losing her cool!"

"He's telling the truth," the Guardian Spirit interjected from the side.

Qiu Xiaocui turned to the Guardian Spirit, frantic. "You must sense the bloodline in me, right? I'm a descendant of the Pill King. By all rights, the inheritance should be mine. I need to restore my ancestor's reputation and prove to the world that the Qiu family is the greatest alchemy clan in the world! You can't side with an outsider!"

"Sigh." The Guardian Spirit looked at Qiu Xiaocui's almost manic state and wanted to tell her the truth—that the so-called "greatest alchemist in the world" was a lie—but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Although Gu Qingfeng's earlier words had given him some insight, he still couldn't bring himself to tarnish his master's reputation.

Even if his master was nothing more than a fraud, he would do everything in his power to protect that reputation. If the truth were ever exposed, it would never come from his mouth.

"The master's inheritance did not include the Ageless Pill, only the Divine Refining Technique."

"Then where is the Divine Refining Technique?" Qiu Xiaocui pressed.

The Guardian Spirit shook his head and remained silent.

Qiu Xiaocui suddenly glared at Gu Qingfeng. "You have the Divine Refining Technique, don't you? Give it to me!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Gu Qingfeng cursed outright. It was always him demanding things from others; when had anyone ever dared to demand something from him? Not even women were exempt—unless they were exceptionally endowed, of course.

"Don't push me!" Qiu Xiaocui's eyes turned fierce.

"Oh really?" Gu Qingfeng sneered. "What are you gonna do about it? Not happy?"

Qiu Xiaocui clenched her fists, her eyes filled with conflict and struggle, as if she was about to make a move.

At that moment, the Guardian Spirit quickly stepped between the two, trying to mediate.

"You've seen the introductory chapter of the Divine Refining Technique, haven't you? The technique is profound and difficult to comprehend. If you can't even grasp the simplest introductory chapter, then obtaining it would be useless. In a hundred years, he's the only one who has managed to comprehend it. You should just give up."

In truth, the Guardian Spirit was worried about Qiu Yulong's lineage. The methods Gu Qingfeng had used against him earlier, though only a glimpse, were terrifying enough.

No matter what hidden cards Qiu Yulong's descendant might have, she was no match for a powerhouse of that caliber.

So the Guardian Spirit lied deliberately, hoping to make Qiu Xiaocui give up.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Xiaocui's face instantly turned pale, and her tightly clenched fists relaxed.

Damn it! Why can't I comprehend it with my talent, while this slacker who hasn't even read many alchemy texts can? Why is this happening?

Have all those decades of studying alchemy been for nothing?

Qiu Xiaocui fell into a deep spiral of self-doubt...

Just then, a series of earth-shaking booms echoed through the heavens.

Gu Qingfeng looked up and saw that several bottomless black cracks had appeared in the pale expanse of the inheritance space.

This was a sign of spatial collapse.

"You should leave now. The Jade Dragon Secret Realm is about to collapse. Since the inheritance has been claimed, the realm no longer has any reason to exist. Go."

After a pause, the Guardian Spirit suddenly turned to Qiu Xiaocui, his gaze filled with gentleness. "Child, your name is Xiaocui, right? Listen to me. After you leave, live a good life. Don't obsess over the empty title of 'greatest in the world.'"

"What do you mean by 'empty title'? My ancestor was a prodigy, the greatest alchemist in the world. It's just that his descendants were unworthy, unable to inherit the Divine Refining Technique, which led to his name being tarnished and questioned. Shouldn't I clear his name?"

"Sigh." The Guardian Spirit shook his head and said nothing more, fading away into nothingness.

By now, the inheritance space had completely shattered, and Gu Qingfeng and Qiu Xiaocui found themselves back in the third trial's alchemy room.

The trial-takers in the alchemy room were all staring in horror at the changes occurring in the secret realm.

The protective barriers that had surrounded them had already shattered, and they were now free to move.

"What's going on?"

"Wasn't the secret realm supposed to last for three more days? Why is it collapsing out of nowhere?"

"Look! It's that guy who went in earlier and the white-haired girl! They're back! Does that mean..."

"They must have obtained the inheritance! That's why the secret realm is collapsing early!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of everyone present turned toward Gu Qingfeng and Qiu Xiaocui, filled with greed.

Some even considered making a move to seize the inheritance.

However, the moment they remembered Gu Qingfeng's earlier display of strength, their desire was instantly extinguished, as if doused by a bucket of cold water.

Outside the Jade Dragon Secret Realm...

A large crowd had gathered, as most of the trial-takers had been brought by their sect elders or family seniors, who were now waiting outside.

But as they waited, the ground suddenly began to shake violently!

Everyone's expressions changed, and they all turned their attention to the Jade Dragon Secret Realm. They saw that the mountain where the secret realm was located had begun to crack, and the barrier covering it was now riddled with fissures, like an egg dropped on the ground.

"Not good! The Jade Dragon Secret Realm is collapsing early!"

"Could it be that someone has obtained the inheritance? Which family's disciple is it?"

This sight was enough to make even innate grandmasters pale and exclaim in shock, as the Ageless Pill was a matter of utmost importance!

In an instant, everyone's minds raced, each hoping that the inheritor might be one of their own. If it were, it would be an incredible stroke of luck!

From then on, their faction would rise to unparalleled heights!

While they waited for the trial-takers to emerge from the secret realm, they frantically sent messages to their respective factions through various means.

The emergence of the Ageless Pill was the most explosive news in recent years, and they had to be fully prepared.

If the inheritance belonged to their faction, they would need to gather forces to protect it and prevent others from scheming against them.

If it didn't, they would still need to gather forces, ready to seize it by any means necessary.

Amidst the chaos, a golden light suddenly descended from the sky, and an overwhelming pressure spread across the area, making even the grandmasters hold their breath.

"The inheritance has been claimed. Everyone, stay where you are. Anyone who moves will be executed on the spot!"

The speaker was none other than the golden-armored general who had been guarding the secret realm!

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen beams of light shot into the sky not far away.

In the next moment, over a dozen grandmasters clad in the Great Yan Dynasty's standard armor appeared in mid-air, positioning themselves in all directions and forming a battle array, effectively sealing off the area.