In the refined palace of the Dao Yi Academy, Yu Chenran brewed a pot of tea, its rich aroma wafting through every corner of the hall.

“Please, enjoy at your leisure.”

He poured a cup and, with a wave of his hand, placed it on the table before Lin Changsheng.

“Thank you,” Lin Changsheng nodded in gratitude.

“It’s both a blessing and a sorrow to inherit the legacy,” Yu Chenran mused, surprised that someone other than Chen Qingyuan from the Mystic Azure Sect had reached this stage.

“It’s destiny, inescapable,” Lin Changsheng replied softly after sipping his tea.

Now that Lin Changsheng had merged with the Mystic Azure Sect’s legacy memories, he was no longer just the Holy Lord of a common sect in the Flow Star Domain, but a true successor of the Mystic Azure Sect. The Dao Yi Academy could not afford to neglect him.

“Have you come to catch a glimpse of Chen Qingyuan?” Yu Chenran asked without pretense, treating Lin Changsheng as an equal with impeccable manners.

“Yes,” Lin Changsheng affirmed.

“The boy is in seclusion, at a critical juncture.”

Yu Chenran calculated and found that Chen Qingyuan had not yet emerged from his seclusion.

“I see!” A hint of sorrow flickered in Lin Changsheng’s eyes.

“Shall I send a sound transmission to him, to temporarily set aside his cultivation?”

Yu Chenran could tell Lin Changsheng had decided to head to the Imperial Province, and this appearance at the Dao Yi Academy was likely his final farewell.

“No need, he has his own path to follow. There’s no need to force him out of seclusion.”

Lin Changsheng shook his head, accepting that if fate did not allow a meeting, then so be it.

“But…” Yu Chenran hesitated.

“It’s alright, perhaps there will be another chance to meet our Junior Brother.”

Lin Changsheng smiled, as if to comfort himself. Meeting Chen Qingyuan would be difficult, with things hard to explain and farewell words tough to utter.

As long as Chen Qingyuan was not wronged at the Dao Yi Academy, everything else would be left to fate.

Yu Chenran opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but the words wouldn’t come out.

In the end, he sighed deeply within his heart and remained silent.

There will always be those who dance on the edge of a cliff, not seeking understanding or gratitude from the common people, but only to be true to themselves.

What the world thinks is of no consequence.

“I entrust my Junior Brother to you, Dao Friend.”

A hundred years ago, Lin Changsheng, merely a Tribulation Crossing cultivator, had no right to call Yu Chenran, the vice dean, a Dao Friend.

Now, Lin Changsheng’s exact strength was unknown, but at the very least, he was in the late stages of the Great Ascension, perhaps even at the peak. Coupled with the Mystic Azure Sect’s top Dao Techniques, his combat power was extraordinary.

“Rest assured, Dao Friend.”

Yu Chenran rose and bowed to Lin Changsheng.

Whoosh—

In the next moment, Lin Changsheng vanished.

Can a will and conviction truly be passed down for hundreds of thousands of years?

Yu Chenran once doubted, believing that the endless march of time could erode anything. It wasn’t until he grew up and touched upon the history of the Mystic Azure Sect that he truly understood the power of a legacy’s will.

As long as there’s a trace of the Mystic Azure Sect’s bloodline and someone with the aptitude to unlock the legacy’s prohibition, they will give their all.

However, there are always exceptions.

In the past 300,000 years, did all the inheritors of the Mystic Azure Sect venture into the demon abyss?

There will always be descendants who cannot comprehend the will of their ancestors. Even with the legacy memories merged, they are unwilling to fight to the death.

Lin Changsheng returned to the Mystic Azure Sect, secretly watching over his kin within the sect.

With his current strength, he immediately noticed the condition of the Protecting Sect Elder, Dong Wenjun, and with a flick of his finger…

An invisible law entered Dong Wenjun’s body without his notice.

Dong Wenjun, a third-realm Tribulation Crossing cultivator, could no longer suppress the surge of laws within him and would soon face his tribulation. His limited talent gave him little chance of survival.

For Dong Wenjun, every day was precious. Instead of secluding himself to extend his life, he chose to watch the disciples of the sect grow, his face filled with contentment.

“It’s time to go.”

Lin Changsheng secretly acted, ensuring he could protect Dong Wenjun at the critical moment and increase his chances of a successful tribulation crossing.

After settling these matters, Lin Changsheng had to leave.

If possible, he would have liked to leave some trump cards for the sect or teach some top supernatural powers to everyone. But he couldn’t.

If the Mystic Azure Sect’s karmic traces were exposed, catastrophe would be inevitable. Not only would the demonic cultivators seek to destroy the Mystic Azure Sect, but also certain terrifying forces within the Imperial Province.

In any case, let the Mystic Azure Sect stay hidden for as long as possible!

Heading to the Imperial Province to suppress the demon abyss, his return was uncertain.

Clad in white, riding the breeze, he did not forget the wishes of his ancestors, nor did he regret his actions.

As for life and death, he simply smiled it away.

The wind began to blow.

From the Northern Wilderness’s Flow Star Domain, it traveled across countless star oceans to the distant Imperial Province.

In a secluded corner, the sound of a door opening.

“Clang”

Sword Immortal Changgeng, Li Muyang, stepped out, gazing into the distance, reluctant to look away: “I hope to meet Dao Friend again in this life, to share fine wine, discuss the Dao, and laugh at the mortal world.”

In the Baiyan Palace of the Dao Yi Academy, Yu Chenran, clad in dark robes, sat before an ancient zither.

“Ding…”

His aged hands gently touched the strings, plucking them to produce a beautiful melody.

A mournful tune echoed between heaven and earth.

Unbeknownst to him, the sky darkened, and a light rain began to fall, the wind rustling the leaves and the rain tapping on the zither, yet Yu Chenran’s clothes remained dry.

Hearing this melody, Lin Wenyou arrived on the wind, his feet skimming the water’s surface.

With just one glance at Yu Chenran, Lin Wenyou understood the whole story.

Without a word, he uncorked the flask at his waist.

“Glug glug”

Lin Wenyou took several deep swigs, looking up at the sky with a long sigh: “After 300,000 years, the Mystic Azure Sect has exhausted its heroes. He who bears the name of eternal life is surely no ordinary man; I truly wish to see him with my own eyes.”

A zither’s tune, wishing you well.

Yu Chenran slowly opened his eyes, to a clear sky and a sense of warmth.

“Do you have any wine?”

He glanced at Lin Wenyou standing in the middle of the lake and asked.

“Yes.” Lin Wenyou produced a flask of fine liquor, passing it through the air.

Having known Yu Chenran for many years, Lin Wenyou rarely saw him drink.

He didn’t enjoy the taste of alcohol, unlike the lingering fragrance of tea.

But sometimes, drinking wine is more satisfying than tea.

“May he… have smooth sailing.”

Yu Chenran raised his cup to the sky, murmuring to himself.

Chen Qingyuan, deep in seclusion, felt a sudden unease and furrowed his brow.

What’s wrong?

Seated in the void of the secret chamber, Chen Qingyuan was momentarily distracted but quickly refocused.

At this critical moment of cultivation, he could not afford to be careless.

Years later, Chen Qingyuan’s cultivation had advanced, transforming his three Saintly Golden Elixirs and truly ascending to the early stage of the Elemental Infant.

Now, his strength was much greater than before.

If he unleashed all his trump cards, he feared no one in the entire Elemental Infant stage could match him in battle.

After emerging from seclusion, Chen Qingyuan went straight to the Baiyan Palace to greet Yu Chenran: “Master.”