"That’s a distinguished guest of the Immortal Mountain." The Patrol Master glanced at Lu Chang’sheng, awe glittering in his eyes.

Lu Chang’sheng felt a surge of curiosity, but since the Patrol Master wasn’t willing to explain, there must be a reason—maybe he simply didn’t know, or perhaps he was afraid.

"Yet, from what was said, it seems this Immortal Mountain and the Master aren’t quite equals."

Lu Chang’sheng silently speculated.

He’d assumed the Immortal Mountain was the Master’s domain and that the Master was the Profound Turtle Alchemist himself. Now, it seemed he’d been a bit too naive.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t catch a glimpse of the person inside; the Patrol Master was noticeably apprehensive, ushering him past the gate, heading toward where the Immortal Mountain floated in the distance.

"Such a pity, such a pity."

But what he didn’t know was that as he left, the guest within the gate sighed, regret tinging his voice.

"This Spirit Array is far too basic, and it has been active far too long. With just my soul’s strength, it’s nearly impossible to lock onto this place."

A quiet murmur, and the noble guest’s voice vanished as if it had never been there at all.

······

Fireworks streaked across the sky, painting a brilliant arc of light, yet the dozens of Alchemists from various Immortal Sects inside the examination hall found their thoughts in turmoil.

All that echoed in their minds was that one call of "Cai."

"How could this be!"

A young man in black glared at the heavens, his expression twisted with gloom.

"Didn’t you say, with your help, I’d be sure to take first place?"

His fist clenched tight, a hidden ripple of magical power flickered in his eyes—unique to his clan, and tied to a secret passed down for thousands of years.

"By all reason, so it should have been. But keep in mind, over so much time, many of my memories have been erased by the Spirit Realm’s rules."

"Besides, this Inheritance Spirit Array wasn’t crafted by me. I acquired it by accident ages ago and claimed it as my own. At my current state, it’s nearly impossible to interfere with it."

If anyone overheard, they’d surely guess—if the speaker wasn’t the Profound Turtle Alchemist, he was at least deeply connected to him.

"You think I’ll just take your word for it?" the dark-robed cultivator’s eyes flashed with ruthless intent.

This was Yue Ling, of the Yue Family from Hundredfold Mountain in the Nine Mountains Domain—a clan famed for generations, once ruling over the Hundredfold Mountain.

But clan strife with other Hundredfold Mountain families had triggered chaos within their Immortal Sect, forcing the Yue Family to keep a low profile.

Since then, Hundredfold Mountain itself had become unusually calm, the glory of the Yue Family fading, nearly stripped of their seat at the main line.

The real reason, though appearing to be internal discord, was actually closely tied to the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s soul inside the Soul Jar.

No one would have guessed that the Profound Turtle Alchemist, rumored to have been just a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the end, had nearly stepped into the Golden Core Realm.

But in the end, his efforts were wasted.

However, he’d managed to cultivate a soul projection, so even after his physical body perished, his soul endured, eventually falling into the hands of the Yue Family by pure chance.

Soul projection was one of the requirements for entering the Golden Core Realm—at this point, the flesh withers, but the soul can linger for a time.

For many cultivators, such an attackless soul projection is an immense treasure.

Especially when it’s the soul of a renowned Tier Two peak Alchemist.

Still, controlling a soul projection imbued with a trace of Golden Core power is no easy feat. Even with the Yue Family’s background, they spent ages locked in a battle of wits with the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s lingering spirit.

The root of Hundredfold Mountain’s infighting was none other than the machinations of the Profound Turtle Alchemist.

Grieving their disgrace, the Yue Family doubled down and finally gained the upper hand.

This time, amid the contest for the hidden abode, as the most gifted Alchemist of Hundredfold Mountain, Yue Ling naturally took the lead.

With the inside help of the Profound Turtle Alchemist, he was confident the inheritance would be his for the taking.

"Things have come to this—do you really think I have the nerve to lie to you? The Soul Jar is nearly at its breaking point. If you don’t help me, my soul projection will soon vanish forever."

The voice of the Profound Turtle Alchemist echoed.

The Soul Jar was a rare Secret Treasure, capable of storing souls.

Incredibly valuable.

But even the most precious artifact can’t keep a soul intact forever.

"You’d better not try any tricks, or I’ll smash the Soul Jar and erase you from existence,"

Yue Ling’s tone was icy. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Don’t worry, don’t worry. I can’t directly let you take my inheritance, but I can at least help you skip this stage."

The Profound Turtle Alchemist let out a breath of relief, speaking softly.

Joy surged in Yue Ling’s heart. "Then what are you waiting for?"

He was afraid someone else would beat him to it.

So many had entered the fray; even with the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s soul projection, he couldn’t be sure he’d secure the inheritance in the end.

Whoever received the "Cai" from the Inheritance Spirit Array clearly possessed extraordinary talent in the Alchemy Dao; against such a person, Yue Ling had little hope. Luckily, in their desperation, his clan had given him a Golden Core Secret Treasure.

This Golden Core Secret Treasure was the very thing that sustained the Yue Family’s fortune; each use cost it a measure of power, and their survival over millennia was owed in large part to this item.

They’d entrusted him with the treasure precisely for a moment like this.

"Even if it’s someone from Heaven-Burning Valley, I’ll kill them without a second thought."

Yue Ling was ruthlessly determined; in the Spirit Realm, without determination and struggle, how could one ever claim great resources?

Within this Spirit Array, as long as he left no trace, even Heaven-Burning Valley wouldn’t know who did the killing.