Strictly speaking, this spiritual vein had been contaminated by subterranean fire, transforming into a Fire Fiend Vein, filled with an immense amount of fiendish energy.
Only Golden Core cultivators dared to absorb the spiritual energy infused with such intense Fire Fiend Qi.
"Senior."
The group respectfully bowed before Qingci stepped forward to retrieve the storage pouch from the man's body.
This wasn't the time to divide treasures. Elian took the formation device for the fourth-grade array and said, "Let's leave first; we'll distribute the treasures later."
"Wait a moment."
Before leaving, Qingci hesitated, then carefully collected the man's remains. "We owe him a karmic debt; we should bring the senior's remains with us to prevent them from being devoured by beasts."
"Alright, place the senior's remains on my Purple Blood Vessel."
Hearing this, Elian gave Qingci a look of respect.
A few days later, carrying the senior's remains and their spoils, the group piloted the Purple Blood Vessel out of the Flame Abyss.
After leaving the Infernal Fire Sea, they landed on a barren mountain. Over several days, they broke open the storage pouch, and when it finally opened, they were stunned.
As a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, this man didn't carry many treasures—only a few magical tools—but he had preserved seventeen rare ancient texts.
In the ancient texts, they quickly found a letter explaining the man's identity.
"I am Lin Daoyang of the Azure Void Sect in the Eastern Sea.
"When the Abyssal Cataclysm struck, our sect perished heroically. All three Nascent Soul elders were slain in battle.
"I carried part of the sect's inheritance and escaped to the Eastern Desolate Wilds, but I was targeted by villains coveting the inheritance..."
The man, Lin Daoyang, was a teaching elder of the Azure Void Sect, a Nascent Soul-level sect from the Eastern Sea. Three hundred years ago, calamity struck the sect. Lin Daoyang carried a portion of its legacy and fled to the Eastern Desolate Wilds.
Although he managed to escape the siege, he was gravely injured, and his strength was significantly diminished. Upon reaching the Eastern Desolate Wilds, his inheritance drew even more covetous attention, leading to a series of relentless battles.
Lin Daoyang's cultivation had reached the ninth layer of the Golden Core stage. However, during his escape, his life-bound treasures and key artifacts were destroyed. By the time he reached the Eastern Desolate Wilds, most of his remaining treasures had been lost or damaged in the ensuing fights.
In the end, he used a forbidden technique to flee into the Flame Abyss, but his injuries proved fatal. He used his last remaining fourth-grade defensive artifact, the Golden Radiance Glass Lamp, to set up a protective array. He left behind this letter and passed away.
"Sigh."
Elian sighed deeply.
When Lin Daoyang died, he harbored immense hatred.
In his letter, he outlined two unfulfilled wishes and requested that anyone inheriting his legacy assume the karmic responsibility to fulfill them.
The first was to avenge him by killing Tian Xingzi, the man responsible for his death. Tian Xingzi, once merely a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, was now the foremost rogue cultivator of the Tianlu Continent, rumored to have reached the peak of the Golden Core stage.
The second was to travel to the Eastern Sea to recover the Azure Void Sect's heritage and rebuild the sect.
If one chose not to rebuild the sect, they were to find a suitable successor to pass on the Azure Void Sect's legacy.
Anyone assuming this karmic debt would need to swear a Heart Demon Oath to accomplish these two tasks within 500 years.
As a reward, Lin Daoyang's legacy—seventeen ancient texts—would be granted to them.
The books Lin Daoyang carried were extraordinary. Though there were only seventeen, they included one Nascent Soul-level cultivation technique, two great divine abilities, and other Golden Core-level techniques—essentially the foundation of the Azure Void Sect's inheritance.
To prevent these techniques from being leaked, the Nascent Soul elders of the Azure Void Sect had placed restrictions on them.
Without the proper method, even Golden Core cultivators couldn't access the techniques. Any attempt to force them open would result in their destruction.
Because of these safeguards, Lin Daoyang was able to escape his pursuers with his life. If not for his enemies wanting him alive to unlock the inheritance, he would have perished much sooner.
Now, only the Golden Radiance Glass Lamp, a high-grade fourth-level artifact with near-human intelligence, held the key to the inheritance.
Unless one swore a Heart Demon Oath, the lamp would refuse to reveal the method to unlock the techniques.
"What a pity."
"To inherit this legacy, it seems one must shoulder this karmic debt."
Qingci shook his head reluctantly.
Given his talent and strength, avenging Lin Daoyang within 500 years was almost impossible. Swearing such an oath could hinder his cultivation path.
The others also frowned. Heart Demons wouldn't necessarily wait 500 years to manifest. If they swore an oath knowing they couldn't fulfill it, the Heart Demon would likely become the greatest obstacle in their cultivation.
Elian observed their hesitation, his eyes gleamed with an unusual light, after a moment of contemplation, said, "I am willing to take on this karmic debt."
"In return, I'll claim the inheritance. After unlocking it, I'll give each of you a technique capable of cultivating to the ninth layer of the Golden Core stage. But only one for each of you, the rest is mine considering that I'm swearing the oath and not you."
"I'll also leave you the Golden Radiance Glass Lamp and any other treasures."
The three exchanged glances, considering his offer.
The Azure Void Sect had only three Nascent Soul-level techniques at its peak. This one was undoubtedly a foundational treasure of the sect, not something to be casually shared with outsiders.
By not taking on the karmic debt, they would still gain three Golden Core-level techniques and the Golden Radiance Glass Lamp, a top-tier fourth-grade treasure valued at least 5-6 million spirit stones.
Lin Daoyang's storage pouch also contained several fourth-grade spiritual materials, which could be sold for 2-3 million spirit stones. For scattered cultivators like them, this was a much better deal.
After all, they could only cultivate one technique, regardless of how many they acquired.
Moreover, the Golden Radiance Glass Lamp was a treasure sought even by late-stage Golden Core cultivators. With it, they could enhance their safety and trade it for additional treasures, such as three or four Golden Core Pills.
Having reached a decision, Qingci nodded and said, "Very well."
"Good."
Elian smiled faintly. After swearing the Heart Demon Oath, he unlocked the inheritance and selected three suitable Golden Core-level techniques to give to the others.
After securing a confidentiality oath from everyone, the group parted ways with satisfied smiles.
This expedition was a success for all parties. Elian gained a precious legacy, including a Nascent Soul-level technique, while the others obtained valuable treasures.
After storing the ancient texts, Elian smiled. He planned to study them thoroughly later.
Though he had assumed a karmic debt, the seventeen Golden Core-level techniques would significantly enhance his family's foundation.
Especially the Nascent Soul-level technique, a treasure coveted even by Nascent Soul-level clans, which could now serve as his family's ultimate inheritance.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D