He assessed Yujin up and down before exclaiming in joy: "Wonderful child! You are really talented!"
Yujin, however, wasn't in the mood to receive compliments as he questioned, pointing at the old man: "W-Who are You?"
The old man, with a proud look, introduced himself in a loud voice: "Behold... I am The famous Golden Thief Saint!"
Introducing himself, he leaned slightly forward, staring at Yujin's expression, expecting a shocked and reverent reaction as he would kneel in front of him.
However, contrary to his expectations, Yujin made a confused expression as he asked: "Golden Thief Saint? Never heard of it!"
Yujin shook his head, unable to recount any similarities to the names that were famous.
"What??" The old man, witnessing Yujin's confused expression shouted in disbelief with wide eyes.
However, he calmed himself before shaking his head as he sighed: "Sigh, Looks like I have been forgotten after all this time!"
Recollecting his calm demeanor, He introduced himself more elaborately this time with a proud expression: "Boy, When I was alive, I was an Unorthodox Saint realm expert, famous throughout the five empires.
I was famous with the name given to me by the righteous cultivators, The Golden Thief.
However, when I advanced to the Saint realm, They invited me to join the righteous side and I was given the name Golden Thief Saint"
"S-Saint Realm? Isn't that realm a myth and only appears in legends?" Yujin, with wide eyes in shock, asked in surprise and reverence.
At Present, No one who had reached the Saint Realm was alive, therefore, a cultivator of the Saint realm would be considered a legend and would have unfathomable strength.
Hearing his surprised words, The old man sighed, shaking his head as he shrugged: "It appears that the talent has truly degraded with time. The Saint Realm is considered a myth now, what a shame"
Yujin, noticing his dejected face, understood that this person was not lying.
Finding his opportunity, he asked with a deep and respectful bow: "Senior Golden Thief, May I ask what is in that chest? You said to open it when I arrived here"
The old man's attention was grabbed by Yujin's voice as he answered with a proud expression: "This? This chest contains my inheritance and the treasure that helped me reach the Saint realm from the Spirit awakening realm. I would say this is my most precious treasure!"
Then, The old man stroked his beard, raising his eyebrows as he asked curiously: "Do you want it?"
Yujin knelt on one knee, bowing as he answered: "I would be honored to receive your Inheritance and carry on your legacy"
The old man, witnessing this, laughed out loud as he praised: "Hahaha, Good, good, You have manners too with your talent. Looks like I have found an excellent successor!"
Next, He nodded at Yujin before instructing him: "Alright, I will give you my Inheritance. Now... come and open this chest"
Yujin nodded, getting up before approaching the chest, adhering to the old man's instructions.
Slowly, he placed his hands on top of the chest before opening it in one go.
*Shine!*
A bright golden light gushed out of the chest, prompting Yujin to close his eyes, unable to look at the treasure.
After a few moments, the light dimmed down and Yujin was able to look at the treasure inside the chest.
Yujin slowly opened his eyes, gazing inside the chest.
An old, small cauldron with nine dragons with roaring heads, making a stand and handle for it, appeared in his sight, kept inside the chest.
He stared at the cauldron intensely, hoping to find how it was supposed to be used.
The old man, noticing this, laughed in amusement as he explained: "Hahaha, Boy, you can't find how it works just by staring at it"
The old man moved towards the cauldron, standing in front of it as he pointed at a gold coin before instructing Yujin: "Boy, Pick that gold coin and throw it inside this cauldron"
Yujin nodded before doing as the old man said.
He threw the gold coin inside the cauldron before closing it up by placing its lid back up.
The Cauldron began to shine with golden light as soon as Yujin returned to his spot.
*Roar*
A dragon roar resounded inside the room as one of the nine dragons coiled around the cauldron turned alive.
An ethereal golden dragon began to fly inside the small room before returning back to the cauldron, getting in the same position.
Yujin's mouth gaped open at this scene as his eyes opened wide.
However, he couldn't stay in that state for a long time as the old man instructed: "Now go and open the cauldron to see inside"
Yujin nodded before complying with his command.
He opened the lid of the cauldron and a sweet, soothing smell gushed out of the cauldron.
Yujin gazed inside to see a small transparent droplet staying still at the center.
"Now drink it!" The old man ordered.
Yujin hesitated, however, complied with his order.
He lifted the cauldron, placing his lips on the edge of it before drinking the droplet.
*Gulp*
As soon as he gulped the droplet, his body began to shine with golden light making a layer around his body.
In the next moment, His body gushed out a powerful aura as he broke-through to the next small-realm, reaching the seventh stage from the sixth stage of the Body Transformation realm.
His eyes widened in surprise as he exclaimed with a joyous expression: "I broke-through!"
The old man nodded with a smile, laughing: "hahaha, Indeed, you broke-through"
Next, he raised his index finger, explaining while stroking his beard: "This is the function of this cauldron, It consumes gold and produces this elixir which helps to advance one's cultivation.
It was due to this treasure that I became a gold thief, stealing gold from everywhere to advance my cultivation!
Right now, the gold it consumes is small, however, the more you use it, the more gold it would require. Therefore, focus on earning gold and if you cannot earn it, then steal it!
Once you have power, no one would condemn you for stealing anything and would fear you!"
Yujin nodded, his eyes shining with excitement as he thought to himself: "Yes, With this treasure I can finally have my revenge. I will show everyone who looked down on me that I am not someone that can be made an enemy"
A smile crept up on his face as he giggled inwardly while imagining different scenarios about how he would take his revenge.
He, finished with his fantasies, bowed to the Golden Thief Saint as he muttered: "Senior, I will do as you say. I promise to make your name renowned once again!"
Golden Thief Saint nodded in appreciation as he praised: "Good, I was not wrong in judging you. Now, I will leave. This is my consciousness and it will fade away in some time. You can take this treasure with you.
Feed it a drop of your blood and it will recognize you as it's master. Once that happens, the cauldron will enter your body, staying inside until you wish for it to appear."
Yujin nodded in understanding before doing as he instructed.
He fed a drop of his blood to the cauldron as it glowed in golden-red color before shrinking in size. It then entered Yujin's body, disappearing from sight.
Yujin smiled as he expressed his gratitude to The Golden Thief: "Thank You Senior, I will not disappoint you"
The Golden Thief's consciousness nodded, continuing to fade away, as it informed: "This place will collapse in some time, therefore, leave now. You should find an underground tunnel under this chest. That tunnel will take you to the outside!"
Yujin nodded before hurrying to lift the chest. He placed the chest to the side as a tunnel appeared in his sight.
He, one last time bowed, paying his respects: "I will leave now, Senior"
The old man gestured for him to leave in response.
Yujin nodded before entering the tunnel.
The tunnel was tight at the start, however, just some distance ahead, It turned spacious enough for a carriage to pass through.
Yujin traversed the tunnel before finding the exit.
He rushed to the exit, leaving the tunnel and returning to the ground.
Then, he searched for the Twin lotus before collecting them and returning to the sect with a wide, happy smile.
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(A/N - Thanks For Reading. ^..^)