Chapter 1605 - 826: Feigned Intent, Genuine Heart

The old lady's funeral was held half a month later.

As the last days of the harmful wind gradually came to an end, the remnants of the Four Seas' downfall completed their purification. The Embers of Decay Decision triumphed once again, and after the jubilation, the entire world seemed to return to its proper orbit, everything running as usual.

Tianshu still towers between the vast seas, having not departed but instead painstakingly moved itself from its original position to this place.

On one hand, it was to monitor the pollution and fissures left by You Sui, to prevent further loss of control and resurgence, and on the other hand, it was to remember the sacrifices of this struggle.

Two hundred years without such a brutal loss, within just four days, seventeen masters and one Grandmaster died one after another, in exchange for the continuation of orthodoxy and stability in the present world.

On Tianshu Square, a monument created by the Grandmaster Plowsmith was erected — following the will of the honorable Carrion Eater, it was refined using the foundation of Modern Alchemy she established and the total of six hundred and forty-four different skills and sixteen styles of absolute techniques she founded in her lifetime.

On one hand, it symbolizes her contribution to the Association, and on the other, it continues the brilliance she bestowed — any craftsmen who come to pay their respects can more or less perceive and comprehend the subtle changes within the monument, and if their talent is sufficient and direction aligned, they might even be able to recreate or extend the Grandmaster's legacy.

The funeral did not have any emotional scenes or segments, just a brief speech by Gustav, followed by a moment of silence from the craftsmen participating in the ceremony.

Flowers arranged around the monument were constantly replaced, several times completely covering and burying the entire monument.

In four hundred years, there never has been such an exaggerated sight, different factions, different legacies, craftsmen from the Federation, Empire, and Thousand Islands, without distinction, all paid homage to the departed Grandmaster as if to a teacher.

After four hundred years of guidance and mentoring, even though she left no unique legacy or deeply hidden techniques, almost every craftsman in the Association has inherited some of her skills and received her guidance and blessings.

No matter how arrogant or indifferent, when facing such selfless generosity and expectation, they all willingly bow their heads, offering heartfelt mourning.

Saying everyone wore mourning might be a bit exaggerated, but even if the Emperor passed away, likely not so many people would feel genuine sadness and regret.

Some even bore resentment and resistance toward the Association that led to all this, criticizing and questioning Gustav like a flurry of snowflakes.

In response, Gustav offered no defense, calmly and serenely accepting this criticism, allowing the storm to rise and fall. As Councilman, this is his job, he needs to be responsible for everything that happens, whether good or bad.

No one within the council took this opportunity to make trouble; Carrion Eater's disciple Li Lin and the Plowsmith, who had not appeared in public for a long time, also actively stepped forward to provide explanations.

Life comes to an end, birth and death are natural.

Decades ago, the old lady's health had already begun to decline, and prolonging through lengthy recuperation and regulation was merely extending the final moments.

In a way, the Grandmaster's passing now can be considered a joyful funeral.

Compared to another ten or twenty years of futile continuation and inactivity, she chose, as a Grandmaster, as a craftsman, to offer her final refinement and gift to the world.

For a craftsman, dying busily on a sickbed is torment; what better end could there be than sacrificing life further in creation?

Ultimately, she left behind such a rich gift and legacy.

When a whale falls, all creatures benefit.

At the funeral, Gustav read the will left by Carrion Eater — even though the Grandmaster did not accumulate much personal wealth throughout her life, what she left behind is still a staggering astronomical figure.

Based on this, a fund was established, entrusted to the Association, to provide aid and loans for young craftsmen struggling financially. If managed well, it could provide a substantial low-interest loan as initial capital for every talented newbie who passes the exam to obtain a craftsmanship license in the future.

Yet this is still only the most trivial part of Carrion Eater's legacy.

The Grandmaster's final completion of benevolent transformation directly enhanced the Ember of this era comprehensively — in every direction from top to bottom, from front to back, a full-fledged enhancement.

Ascension, Purification, extraction, and Integration, the efficiency and outcome of the four departments of Modern Alchemy all received improvements, the reversal of the Bei Gong's rationale was integrated into the present, reducing the chances of failure for future craftsmen and increasing the odds of success.

If compared to some kind of pay-to-win game, it would be like the gold draw probability in the card pool permanently increasing from 0.8% to 0.85%.

It seems insignificant, but spread upon every craftsman, it is infinite fortune!

From apprentice to master, without exception, everyone received this precious gift, feeling deeply grateful, for sometimes so many projects and refinement persisting to the end, exhausting all mental and physical effort still fall short, merely lacking this trivial amount?

So many Zhi Fu craftsmen sometimes destroy their conscience, obliterate humanity, pursue plans irrespective of consequences and costs, all for fighting for such a marginal increase in probability.