In Ye City, within the Ye Clan's grand estate, a quiet and elegant guest room was lit by a soft glow. Liu Xi sat leisurely in a chair, turning a black-colored ring in his hand. Strange patterns flickered faintly across its surface, and a glint of curiosity shone in his eyes.
This black ring was none other than the inheritance ring Ye Zhong had mentioned—left behind by a former ancestor of the Ye Clan. Few within the clan even knew of its existence. Rumor had it that it contained the ancestor's lifetime of alchemical knowledge, but the ring was sealed, and no one had ever managed to open it.
After much hesitation, Ye Zhong had finally decided to entrust both the ring and his granddaughter Ye Xinlan to Liu Xi. The old man's plan was shrewd: though the Ye Clan could not unlock the ring, handing it to Liu Xi might ensure that at least part of its inheritance would eventually fall back into Ye Xinlan's hands.
Only after Liu Xi had given his word did Ye Zhong bring him to the ancestral hall. There, after three solemn bows and nine kowtows before the ancestral tablets, he retrieved the black ring and respectfully presented it to him.
From behind, two soft jade-like hands wrapped gently around Liu Xi's neck. Xiao Yixian leaned against his back, her eyes filled with curiosity as she asked in a sweet voice, "Young Master, do you see anything unusual? For an 8th Tier Alchemist's inheritance, this ring looks completely ordinary to me."
Her soft fragrance brushed past his nose, and the warmth of her body pressed against him. Liu Xi chuckled, half closing his eyes. "I see something. This ring is sealed by a Spiritual Seal formed from a Spirit Realm soul—something unique to an 8th Tier Alchemist. Anyone below that level wouldn't even sense it."
Xiao Yixian sighed softly. "Other than you, I've never met anyone possessing a Spirit Realm soul. No wonder the Ye Clan fell into decline—if no one could open their ancestor's inheritance, their legacy would fade away."
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "Exactly. So let's see what this old ancestor left behind."
Suppressing the gentle stirrings Xiao Yixian's closeness had sparked in him—after all, it was still broad daylight—Liu Xi raised his hand, and the black ring floated in midair. A surge of immense Spiritual Power poured from between his brows, crashing toward the ring like a torrent.
Boom!
Before it could penetrate deeply, it was stopped by a translucent soul membrane within the ring. The barrier wasn't hard, but it was incredibly tough and flexible, pushing back his energy with surprising strength.
"Hm? That ancestor's spiritual strength was quite high. Even after all these years, his Spiritual Seal can still resist my power. But I don't have time to waste with you."
A small smirk appeared on Liu Xi's face. Between his brows, a cyan lotus mark glowed, and from it shot a streak of azure flame. It darted straight toward the ring.
Wherever the flame passed, it left behind a pitch-black trail; even space itself seemed to warp under its heat. The cyan flame struck the soul membrane with a sharp snap, clinging to it like a parasite.
Quietly, the flame burned—and in moments, a small hole appeared in the barrier. The edges melted away rapidly, widening under the azure fire's relentless heat. The once-resilient seal crumbled inch by inch, disintegrated by the terrifying power of the flame.
"Hmph, no matter how strong this ancestor was, his will can't outmatch a Heavenly Flame—especially not mine."
Moments later, the flame withdrew, and Liu Xi flicked his fingers, recalling the Heavenly Flame before it destroyed the ring itself.
Grasping the ring once more, he let his Spiritual Power flow inside unhindered—and this time, the seal offered no resistance.
Inside was a vast space, as large as a mansion. Rows upon rows of neatly arranged bookshelves lined the interior, filled with scrolls and manuals. To one side stood dozens of cauldrons, their quality ranging from low to extremely high. The finest among them was a blue cauldron whose craftsmanship rivaled that of a Heavenly Cauldron.
'So this is the collection of cauldrons that ancestor used throughout his journey—from a 1st Tier Alchemist to an 8th Tier Alchemist,' Liu Xi mused.
Returning to the bookshelves, he saw that each one was carefully labeled—1st Tier, 2nd Tier, 3rd Tier, all the way up to 8th Tier. There were also sections for Medicinal Herb Compendiums, Soul Techniques, and Soul Training Methods.
Liu Xi's lips curved into a smile. 'This ancestor truly left behind everything he learned on his path to becoming an 8th Tier Alchemist.'
He skimmed past the lower-tier shelves and let his Spiritual Power drift toward the one marked 8th Tier Pills. There were only a dozen or so scrolls there. His energy condensed into a hand and unfurled one at random.
"8th Tier Pill: Nine Revolution Soul Restoration Pill—restores a damaged or withered soul to its peak state."
He replaced it carefully and drew another.
"8th Tier Pill: Reverse Vein Blood Burst Pill—burns life force to unleash power far beyond one's realm."
"8th Tier Pill: Undying Vajra Pill…"
"8th Tier Pill: Replenishing Origin Pill—restores innate potential and transforms even the weakest constitution into that of a peerless genius. Main ingredient: Human Origin Fruit…"
Liu Xi's eyes lit up, a rare smile forming. "Heh, and here I was wondering how to fully draw out the Human Origin Fruit's power. To find this recipe now—heaven truly favors me."
It wasn't the right time to analyze it in depth. Carefully rolling up the scroll, he stored it away. A dozen 8th Tier Pill Recipes in one inheritance—this alone made the trip worthwhile.
"Now then, let's see what Soul Techniques this ancestor left behind."
His Spiritual Power drifted toward the shelves labeled Soul Techniques. There were far fewer scrolls here. One by one, he examined them until his gaze stopped on a particular title.
"Mid Level Xuan Class Technique: Soul Tempering Technique — refine and forge the soul through countless trials, to shape unyielding spirit…"
He flipped to the note beneath. "Soul Tempering Technique, annotated by Ye Chen…"
"Ye Chen, huh? That must be the Ye Clan's ancestor. Though it's only a mid level Xuan Class technique, it's the first genuine Soul Training Method I've ever seen. Not bad at all."
After placing the scroll aside, his soul drifted to the last shelf—Soul Techniques. There were only a handful, but he opened each in turn.
"High Level Xuan Class Soul Technique: Soul Mystic Palm…"
"High Level Xuan Class Soul Technique: Flowing Wind Soul Body…"
And more besides.
A while later, in the guest room, Liu Xi's eyes slowly opened, a bright smile spreading across his face.
Xiao Yixian, who had been quietly watching, leaned closer and teased with a grin, "Young Master looks very pleased. That inheritance ring must've held some fine treasures, hmm?"
Liu Xi finally couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Fine treasures? Hah! This is a windfall beyond words!"
(End of Chapter)
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