An elixir master, prodigy of alchemy, was passed out in Cyntilla's arms. Her family was connected to the higher court of Darkmoor but even then, she had only heard of elixir masters by word of mouth. They were a dream of alchemists everywhere but the catch was you had to be born one.
Finding them was also difficult as the tests for alchemy did not discover them. Alchemists, whether demon or human, had to discern quality of ingredients, control temperatures, and form pills or pastes to gain approval. Increasing the quality of results or producing higher grade pills was then how they were tracked.
It was a methodical and easily understood process even for those that did not have the gift for it. Compared to formation arrays or refining ores that needed more instinct and profound comprehension of Qi, alchemy was rather straightforward in determining if one had ability or not.
Cyntilla had heard of the elixirs, legendary concoctions that could be customized for a desired result that, unlike a pill, could be almost conjured from the very air if legends were to be believed. Instead, however, she had seen what looked remarkably like making soup at first then the feeling of profound Qi rushed into the hastily made cauldron.
The boy did not seem to know the miracle he had done. Did the humans not understand that even if his cultivation was awful as a 6 elemental, because he had access to all 6 elements, being an elixir master was a spirit blessing none could match?!
The assessor was a simple artifact many people could get, its quality varied wildly, but it was useful to gauge people or objects when needed. She had been stunned when she used it on Lind and saw his very stable foundation and elements. Immortal level cores at the Soul Realm was another sign of excellent cultivation comprehension.
She could count on one hand the number of cultivators that had such a quality in a single core let alone 6 at once. The contradictions of quality and difficulty made her wonder if he was blessed or cursed, but then he made an elixir as easy as breathing! She thanked the spirits!
The assessor had rated the elixir at mid grade 3 but only just. Even so, an elixir could have a higher effect that an equivalent grade pill. If he spoke the truth, the long journey and frustrations were all worth it.
She gently laid LInd down and put his head on her lap. His breathing was steady but his face was very pale. He clearly exhausted his Qi without realizing it. It meant he had far exceeded his limits. This boy was a treasure! She could not stop the tears forming and did not care at this moment for the dignity she was supposed to hold on to.
"You are my fate, Lind Frey. I wish it could be simple but I am not going to ignore this." A solemn mood fell upon her shoulders as her Qi became concentrated. It was neither poison nor acid, but the pure cultivation of her foundation in her demon soul. A faint violet light formed on her index finger as she touched her heart then violently struck Lind's right cheek.
No blood spewed forth, but the violet mark flared before fading into his skin. A deep flush came over Cyntilla at what she had just done, but she had vowed that if a cultivator helped her achieve her goal, she would not ignore their fated meeting. Her father's plans were not hers and her mother was all that mattered to her before this moment.
"I am sorry for the trouble this will bring, but I will never abandon you from this day forward. If you have lied to me, however, you will wish for the sweet release of death many years before I grant it." The last sentence was spoken more as a matter of form. The assessor had already confirmed the power of the elixir, but its effects were unable to be determined.
Lind continued to recover for the rest of the day in that unconscious state, unaware that his offering of a gift had come with such a price.
****
"Explain it to me one more time." Lind had not realized how special his broths were. His inability to make pills was not due to lack of comprehension but due to how his alchemy was meant to work. Elixir masters could not make pills and normal alchemists could not make elixirs. They all fell under alchemy but the derivation skill was inborn, not learned.
That part, Lind felt elated to know. He at last knew what path to pursue and was glad he could share in his mother's field of specialty. He had to get back to basics too to really grasp what he was doing and not exhaust himself as he had just done.
The part he wanted repeated was about the strange sensation in his right cheek. It was not uncomfortable, but his instincts screamed at him that it did not belong to him yet it did. This contradiction was like an itch he could not scratch.
"You have done me a great service. A demon remembers their debts. I have marked you as a friend of my clan and any demon will recognize such a mark as a good thing." Lind was not as young as he looked and thus he knew he had gotten most of the truth but not all of it. He wanted to push for more, but they had lost a day due to him and time was pressing.
Their supplies were running low and tomorrow would be the last day before they had to turn around and head out of this hellish place. Even so, Lind's eyes could discern an increase in the density of the Qi. Elements were not floating around as randomly as before, so they must be close to something.
They crossed the dunes with relative peace. Lind kept an eye on the skies and scanned the ground randomly but no beasts had appeared even in the distance in the last half a day. The natural stones and rocky valleys were replaced with broken smooth columns from some kind of structure just before sunset.
There was nothing there. Random blocks and broken statues littered the sands, but nothing intact. Calling it a Ruin was not a mistake at all, but Lind felt it was not quite right. He was straining his Eyes to pierce the secrets of this place. They had come too far to find nothing.
"This is luck. Though I have found what I am after, it would seem this Ruin is barren. We have time to try one more–" Cyntilla realized Lind was not listening as he suddenly flared his cultivation. All 6 elements surrounded him in a beautiful halo that made her stare in awe. How could a tier 4 have such strong elemental control?
"There is something strange here. I can see several formations almost laced on top of each other. How is that possible?" Cyntilla was confused. It was fairly easy for an array master to make complex formations work together. Why would Lind be confused?
Her face seemed to be noticed as Lind sent out all 6 elements as simple projections of Qi. It was the most basic control all cultivators had to learn after breaking through to Soul Realm. Her jaw then dropped as the formations resonated and became visible to her eyes. It was only for a few moments, but it was enough.
"Different formation masters weaving together? That is not possible even at the Sky Realm." Cyntilla simply spoke a truth she understood but then her blood froze in her veins. It was not possible at the Sky Realm, but it was possible at higher realms. She realized what kind of Inheritance this place used to be!
"Heaven Realm or Immortal Realm Ruin. This is a rare find, Lind!" Now Lind was confused. He had never heard of these realms but then the conversation with Solon came back. The man said he was shooting to be an Immortal. That is what he meant!
"Why do those realms make a difference for this kind of integrated formation?" Cyntilla looked at Lind and realized he had come from the lowest level of power she had ever heard of. Villagers with no cultivation heritage would be the only step down in her eyes.
"After the Sky Realm, it is said a cultivator must comprehend all the missing elements they could not form in the Soul Realm to advance. Thus, Heaven Realm cultivators could pull off this kind of group work since the other elements were no longer beyond them." She stepped forward and gently touched where the barrier had been. "Primary elements are what a cultivator started with, while the rest become secondary elements. Not as strong but essential nevertheless."
Lind felt hope for the first time since he started cultivating. The very thing he wished for was out there if he could persevere. A realm where elements and cultivation foundation became one! He was far from that hope, but it was there!
"I wonder if there is any trick to this place then?" Lind joined Cyntilla but the instant his hand touched the formations the pressure in the area changed drastically. Cyntilla was forced back while Lind was stuck where he stood. All 6 elements flowed through Lind but he did not feel in danger, just stuck. Before either could perceive what was going on, a hole appeared.
Around the hole was just more empty desert, but inside the hole was a moderate temple that had crumbling stone arches leading deeper inside. The formation was allowing them in!
They did not stand on ceremony and immediately hopped inside. Lind had no issue but Cyntilla was repelled once again. It was not an attack, she simply ran into an invisible wall that did not exist for Lind.
"It won't let me pass and we have no chance of overcoming this strength. You have an opportunity, LInd. Don't waste it." Her eyes locked him in place but Lind then smiled and waved. He tossed her his water bottle he had just filled up as well.
"Wait 1 day, but then get out of here and I will figure a way back. I can make water for myself just fine but you cannot." She smiled again and his heart really could not take that. He turned to the structure and walked deeper into the arches. The barrier closed up as he moved away from it.
"I am not going anywhere until you are dead or back here, Lind." It had almost sealed up before those words came to him. He almost yelled about jinxing him, but it was too late. Does she not know how jinxing works? He might as well have said 'I will be right back,' and then found the lone psycho killer in the temple!
Lind silently asked any God watching over them to show mercy and continued into the temple. It seemed to have once been part of a larger structure but was now settled into the sands of this strange place. The feeling of being oppressed was strong but did not seem to stop him.
An ancient stairwell descended into a blessedly cool hallway. There were no side doors and Lind could not make out any traps with his Soul Eyes. It did not mean they were not there, he just could not see them. He took his time to cautiously test every step but nothing came up. It occurred to him that the formation was the test of entry to this place, but then why a 6 elemental?
From everyone and everything he had gathered, World Realm was the end of every 6 elemental, so why would something from beyond Sky Realm be on the lookout for such a person? Lind was trying to hold back hope that maybe someone, somewhere had a solution and wanted to share it. If that was so, it would be a godsend!
A dark wooden door finally came into view. Unsurprisingly, there were 6 hollows in the same locations of elemental cores in his dantian. It was but a thought to infuse the corresponding element to its slot. A large click was heard and the door opened inward.
Lind slowly walked forward and found a small room. It had only 2 things inside of it.
There were 2 jade boxes of fine quality. One was fairly small compared to the other but Lind was hopeful. A technique for tempering or all encompassing cultivation would be a miracle. After checking carefully for traps and wondering if this was how Indiana Jones felt, Lind open the smaller one first.
A dark cylinder was inside on a plush cushion. An intricate silver relief wove itself around the whole thing and Lind noticed all 6 elements were represented. He held off on testing it before looking in the last box.
Lind opened it and found a piece of jade on a similar cushion as the cylinder. He had heard of these. Rather than a scroll or book, jade slips could be imprinted with techniques. Lind ran his senses over it and then the room when dark!
Six lights from the ceiling appeared and in each circle, a shadowed individual stood with all 6 colors of elements represented. Lind felt immense pressure on his mind this time but withstood it just barely.
"Welcome 6 elemental. We are mono-Primordials of the Immortal Realm. You are our hope now." Lind now felt sweat breakout on his back. Cyntilla had been right! This was not just a Ruin, but a Ruin of an Immortal Inheritance!