Chapter 721: The Alchemist's Legacy
"Greetings, Senior Qing Danzi."
Xiao Ze clasped his hands in salute and spoke respectfully.
"The great calamity from tens of thousands of years ago left the Great Thousand World barely victorious. Today, peace exists on the surface, but beneath it lies the ever present threat of annihilation."
"In that battle, the Great Thousand World managed to repel the invasion of the Extraterritorial Evil Race, but nearly half of its territory was lost to them."
Upon hearing this, Qing Danzi's expression turned grave, tinged with hatred and regret.
"They still couldn't completely drive out the Extraterritorial Evil Race? Alas, it's no surprise. The Evil Race is terrifyingly cunning and powerful."
"Back then, if not for the countless peak experts of the Great Thousand World stepping forward, the entire realm would have already fallen into their hands. To still have half of our territory intact is to have preserved a seed of hope, ensuring that the beings of the Great Thousand World are not completely reduced to the Evil Race's livestock."
Qing Danzi's voice carried deep seated bitterness and fury.
In his time, he had personally witnessed the horrors inflicted upon the territories occupied by the Evil Race. Those regions became grim lands where the beings of the Great Thousand were nothing more than livestock, living in utter despair. Resistance was futile, and they were slaughtered at the whim of their oppressors.
Even after tens of thousands of years, those harrowing memories remained vivid in Qing Danzi's soul. It was why, upon his spiritual awakening, his first question was about the state of the Extraterritorial Evil Race.
"Senior Qing Danzi, you've already done more than enough for the Great Thousand World. Today, many peak experts continue to safeguard the realm. Even with only half of the territory remaining, the Great Thousand World still has the potential to nurture powerful champions. When the time is right, a full counterattack will surely drive the Evil Race out once and for all!"
Xiao Ze's words were earnest, and his respectful salute conveyed the depth of his conviction.
Although the realm had yet to see the emergence of legends like the Flame Emperor and Martial Ancestor, great figures such as the Azure Robed Sword Saint and the Undying Lord stood as formidable defenders of the Great Thousand World.
Qing Danzi paused, then gazed deeply at Xiao Ze before breaking into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Well said! The Great Thousand World has always been home to unparalleled talents. If we could stand against the Evil Race in ancient times, then the same holds true today!"
"You have a fine spirit. What is your name? If you prove compatible, I may entrust my alchemical legacy to you."
"I am Xiao Ze, Senior Qing Danzi. Thank you for your high regard. I do possess some modest skill in alchemy," Xiao Ze replied humbly, bowing once more.
Qing Danzi's expression betrayed no surprise at this. He had already sensed the unique aura of an alchemist emanating from Xiao Ze.
"Excellent! If you align with my legacy, then I'll gladly entrust it to you. After all, the alchemist's path must not end with me."
With that, Qing Danzi summoned a crystal orb from thin air and handed it to Xiao Ze.
"Give this a try. As an alchemist, you should understand what to do."
Xiao Ze took the crystal orb and nodded. Sensing the spiritual power within, he realized it contained a test of sorts.
Sitting cross legged, he cupped the orb in his hands, allowing his spiritual energy to flow into it and begin the trial.
Meanwhile, Mandala had silently descended during the conversation. Seeing how immersed the two were, she refrained from interrupting.
As Xiao Ze engaged with the orb, Qing Danzi turned his attention to Mandala.
"An Earth Sovereign? You must be here for the Ling Shen Liquid I left behind."
His directness caught Mandala slightly off guard, but she soon nodded.
"I mean no disrespect, Senior. At our level, advancing further is unimaginably difficult. Such treasures are invaluable to us."
"Don't worry," Qing Danzi said with a carefree laugh. "I'm long dead, and even the last traces of my spirit are fading. Why would I begrudge the loss of my Sovereign Sea?"
Mandala quietly exhaled in relief. Though her aim was to claim the Ling Shen Liquid, directly discussing its seizure in front of its former owner had been somewhat awkward.
Unlike Xiao Ze, Qing Danzi showed less warmth toward Mandala. After a brief exchange, he fell silent and redirected his focus to Xiao Ze.
Shortly thereafter, the crystal orb in Xiao Ze's hands erupted in radiant light. Qing Danzi's face lit up with satisfaction.
It appeared Xiao Ze had been overly modest Qing Danzi's test, challenging even for renowned alchemy masters, had been completed with ease.
The flood of alchemical knowledge and formulas flowed into Xiao Ze's mind. With his saint level spiritual power, he absorbed it all in moments. Soon, he would put this knowledge to practical use and fully integrate it into his repertoire.
"Thank you for your legacy, Senior Qing Danzi!" Xiao Ze bowed deeply.
Qing Danzi smiled warmly. "Your alchemical skills are already exceptional. Alas, my divine flame's essence has been depleted; otherwise, I'd have gladly gifted it to you."
"Senior, why is your divine flame so severely consumed? Even at the bottom of this magma lake, where fire energy abounds, it's nearly extinguished."
Xiao Ze's curiosity was evident.
Qing Danzi sighed. "Back then, I fought a devil of the Extraterritorial Evil Race. We both sustained grievous injuries, but the devil was unwilling to perish. It used a forbidden technique to fuse its soul with its vile energy, intending to escape into the heavens."
"To stop it, I used my alchemical furnace to seal this space and employed my divine flame's essence to burn away the devil's soul and evil energy. When the task was done, I was spent and could only anchor my spirit within the flame."
"Over the millennia, the devil's soul was extinguished, but so was my flame's essence."
"Senior Qing Danzi, your sacrifice to protect the Great Thousand World is truly commendable," Xiao Ze said sincerely, bowing once more. Mandala followed suit, moved by the noble deeds of this ancient hero.
"Haha, fate is curious. My flame may have burned out, but it has left traces behind," Qing Danzi said, gazing toward the massive crimson volcano.
"Xiao Ze, as you've accepted my legacy, you are now my successor. I cannot let you leave empty handed. Allow me to grant you a great opportunity."
Qing Danzi smiled warmly before his form began to fade, his voice echoing in the vast chamber.
"This magma lake, forged by my divine flame, has absorbed immense energy over countless millennia. I will aid you in refining and absorbing it!"
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