Another day passed, and Huang Yun emerged from the Inheritance Spirit Array. He glanced around, and when he didn’t see He Feng, a look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

In the past, He Feng would always be here waiting, but today he was nowhere to be found.

He asked a Good Beast Sect disciple nearby. As expected, there was nothing urgent happening at the stronghold, which meant He Feng wasn’t held up by other matters.

"Have He Feng come see me." Huang Yun returned to his quarters and instructed those beneath him.

Soon enough, He Feng arrived.

Looking at that familiar face, Huang Yun sighed and said, "Have you been restless lately?"

He Feng’s heart jumped. He thought he’d concealed it well, but his teacher saw right through him.

Knowing he couldn’t deny it outright, he replied, "Yes, Teacher, I’m worried about the inheritance. The alchemy skills of those Immortal Sects are so much stronger than ours—"

"Enough!" Huang Yun waved his hand, cutting He Feng off, and looked at him coolly. "Your lies are terribly clumsy."

He grew more disappointed in his heart; even now, He Feng refused to admit his own mistakes.

"Teacher, I—" He Feng’s face showed a trace of panic. He’d wanted to maintain his composure before his teacher, but his efforts had only backfired.

"You really can’t let your mind run wild. Fellow Daoist Lu’s alchemy talent was certainly beyond my expectations, but I’ll say it again: your Immortal Dao Root Bone is the foundation. Do you know? The myriad arts of cultivation were created to strengthen one’s cultivation in the first place."

"The Spirit Root is the core. Without a good Spirit Root, no matter how strong your other talents are, they’re just fleeting illusions."

Huang Yun’s calm guidance helped He Feng finally settle his mind.

"I was wrong, Teacher."

Huang Yun nodded; his mood clearly improved somewhat.

He could tell He Feng truly regretted it, and wasn’t just giving him lip service.

The next day, when Lu Chang’sheng came out of the Inheritance Spirit Array, he saw He Feng wearing an apologetic expression.

"Alchemist Lu, I was too reckless before."

He Feng brought up his earlier bad attitude in front of Lu Chang’sheng, and so had come to apologize.

Of course, Lu Chang’sheng wouldn’t hold a grudge over such a trivial thing. He smiled and said, "No need to be so formal, Fellow Daoist He Feng."

Then the two headed off to Huang Yun’s quarters for their routine alchemy discussions.

Yet, what startled He Feng—and everyone else—was that during the exchange, Lu Chang’sheng seemed to faintly outshine even Huang Yun.

"Is Alchemist Lu’s comprehension really so impressive?"

Watching Lu Chang’sheng speak with ease while Huang Yun, seated across from him, sometimes frowned, sometimes fell into deep thought, sometimes seemed stuck, everyone couldn’t help but marvel privately.

If it weren’t for his limited Spirit Root, Lu Chang’sheng might really become one of Guangnan Domain’s top alchemists.

When Huang Yun mentioned that even a few days ago, in the second hall, the Master frequently cast admiring glances at Lu Chang’sheng, everyone was quite taken aback.

"Maybe, just maybe, obtaining the inheritance of Profound Turtle Alchemist isn’t impossible this time."

After the discussion, Yan Yu reminded everyone not to go outside unless there was something important.

The reason was that, a few days back, some eliminated Immortal Sects were said to be plotting against them, wanting to steal the Guiding Discs.

"Could those Guiding Array Plates actually allow them to get back in?"

Zhong Mountain asked.

"It’s not impossible, but that’s not the main issue," Yan Yu said gravely. "The real problem is imbalance, not scarcity. Previously, those Immortal Sects who failed to seize the Guiding Discs were all from other domains, and didn’t take this matter very seriously, so not many came, unlike us from the Guangnan Domain and neighboring areas. So at first, it didn’t matter much. But now, with those eliminated sects joining in, things are getting serious."

"Our Spirit Array isn’t for decoration," Ning He chuckled.

Yan Yu also let a faint smile show. "Of course. But still, we’re only safe inside the array. If we were outside... well, who can say?"

After their discussion, everyone agreed not to leave the Inheritance Spirit Array until the inheritance was decided one way or another.

You have to realize that right now, there are several dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators from various Immortal Sects idling outside, more than enough to pose a huge threat to the Mountain Guardian Spirit Array.

That being said, cultivation is difficult, and the reason Yan Yu wasn’t worried was that to try breaching this Spirit Array, they’d have to sacrifice at least a quarter to a third of their Foundation Establishment cultivators.

For those with long lifespans at Foundation Establishment, risking it all just for a chance at the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s inheritance would be plain foolish.

Sure enough, the next few days were calm. Occasionally, some Foundation cultivators wandered near the stronghold, but none made any trouble.

Instead, over time, new developments arose inside the Inheritance Spirit Array.

Originally, everyone had assumed things would go as before: each group would cluster around their own Guiding Discs and be tested together through Profound Turtle Alchemist’s various trials. To their surprise, the trial shifted to individual assessments.

"You all are worthy—qualified to join me at the Immortal Mountain."

On this day, the Master smiled broadly.

With a casual gesture, a silhouette of an Immortal Mountain floated into view above the distant mists.

"I will await you all atop the Immortal Mountain."

With that, the Master turned into a beam of spiritual light and disappeared, landing just overhead atop the mountain.

"That Immortal Mountain must be the true place of Profound Turtle Alchemist’s inheritance!" Huang Yun’s heart leapt with excitement.

Every time the Master mentioned the Immortal Mountain, there was always a trace of pride in his tone. That alone proved the heart of Profound Turtle Alchemist’s legacy was up there.

As soon as the Master vanished, the three realized that mist now surrounded their vision, blocking them off from one another.

Even those who’d come together via the same Guiding Disc couldn’t see each other anymore.

"Whatever’s going on, let’s talk about it later. Right now, winning the inheritance is all that matters."

Huang Yun’s voice faded to a blur in the mist.

"Can’t see a thing anymore," Lu Chang’sheng tried heading in Huang Yun’s direction, but didn’t bump into anything,

nor did he see a trace of Huang Yun.

"This might actually be better," Lu Chang’sheng breathed a sigh of relief. Since his aim was to earn Profound Turtle Alchemist’s inheritance, keeping a low profile was for the best.

Lu Chang’sheng sensed something and stepped out of the school hall, only to see a row of examination seats appear before him, just like back during the Great Yuan’s imperial examinations.

Feeling it was right, he sat down, and soon a Jade Scroll appeared before him.

"Is this the trial to enter the Immortal Mountain?"

Lu Chang’sheng studied the scroll for a moment before suddenly looking up. Not far off, someone dressed just like the Master was walking toward him, and when their eyes met, it seemed as if there was a spark of approval in that gaze.

He understands me?

Lu Chang’sheng wondered inwardly, and at once bent his head to answer the scroll. The exam wasn’t "poetry and prose" as expected, but filled with alchemy questions instead.

He pondered for a while, then quietly picked up his brush and began to write.

No telling how much time passed before Lu Chang’sheng stood and closed the Jade Scroll. The examiner, that Master-like figure, approached him.

"Excellent!"

Lu Chang’sheng again caught a look of approval in the examiner’s eyes.

"Thank you, Master."

The examiner gave no reply, simply took away the Jade Scroll and vanished in spiritual light. With no idea where he’d gone, Lu Chang’sheng waited in place.

Soon the examiner returned, "Fellow Daoist, this way please."

"What’s this?"

"This is naturally the way to the Immortal Mountain, to see the Master," he said, smiling. "The Master told us someone truly gifted in alchemy showed up this round. We weren’t sure, but it turns out you really are the one."

As they spoke, they reached a pavilion. Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from inside.

"Good! Fast and accurate—remarkable!"

"Wow!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Just as the words fell, a burst of dazzling light shot into the sky and rained down like fireworks.

"Who is inside there?"

What a character!

Lu Chang’sheng asked.