Chapter 91: Passing on the Flame

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Passing on the Flame

Xu Chang’an watched the Jackal Wolf Demon leave.

The jade bottle he gave the Jackal Wolf Demon contained a Qi Condensing Pill.

The Jackal Wolf Demon had been at the Peak of Third Level of Qi Refining for a long time. With the help of a Tier-Breaking Elixir, he should have a high chance of breaking through to the Mid-stage Qi Refining.

Upon entering the Mid-stage Qi Refining, his lifespan would slightly increase.

Patrolling the mountain day after day was part of his duties. There was nothing unusual about it.

But to carry out every patrol with such full-blown spirit and energy was extremely difficult.

For performing what seemed like a simple duty with such unwavering passion and enthusiasm for decades, this Jackal Wolf Demon was worthy of the elixir Xu Chang’an had given him.

Every year, a large number of Little Demons joined Langlang Mountain.

These Little Demons came from all over, from different races and different backgrounds.

But after joining Langlang Mountain, they were able to gradually unite as one.

This was thanks to demons like the Jackal Wolf Demon, who, through every tedious daily task, tirelessly passed on the spirit of Langlang Mountain to the Little Demons around them.

Langlang Mountain, passed down from generation to generation, enduring forever.

The torch is passed, the spirit never dies.

...

From Elder Peak to Hundred Arts Peak, from Hundred Arts Peak to the Mountain Patrol Hall, from the Mountain Patrol Hall to Wave Valley, then from Wave Valley to Pinglang Valley, and from Pinglang Valley to the Spirit Plant Garden...

On this day, Xu Chang’an walked through many places.

The more he walked, the calmer his heart became.

The more he looked, the more resolute he felt.

Langlang Mountain was a fine place, but it was ultimately just a resting stop on his Demon Path, not the final destination of his life.

’Langlang Mountain is here, that’s right!’

’But the place where my heart belongs is also a Langlang Mountain!’

’I must always be mindful and steadfast, hold true to my original intentions, and walk my Demon Path!’

Xu Chang’an’s gaze was resolute, as if carved from stone.

After waiting on Langlang Mountain for more than ten days, the reply from Lion’s Mane Cave finally, slowly, arrived.

The letter was from Cheng Mengying of Lion’s Mane Cave.

The handwriting on the letter was elegant, completely unlike its owner’s domineering style.

The gist of it was that she had received Xu Chang’an’s request and would step in to resolve the matter on Langlang Mountain’s end.

She also double-checked if he really wanted to use up his favor with her for such a small matter.

At the end of the letter, she once again invited Xu Chang’an to join Lion’s Mane Cave.

If he joined Lion’s Mane Cave, the matter could also be properly resolved, and he wouldn’t even need to expend his favor.

Previously, Xu Chang’an had sent a letter to the "little lioness" of Lion’s Mane Cave.

In the letter, he expressed his hope to use the favor he was owed, asking Cheng Mengying to help him leave Langlang Mountain peacefully.

As a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist, Xu Chang’an was an absolutely core demon to Langlang Mountain.

If he were to propose leaving Langlang Mountain, he would likely face considerable obstruction and trouble.

After more than twenty years on the mountain, he still hoped for an amicable departure, if possible.

Thus, he decided to use the favor, hoping Cheng Mengying would be able to mediate on his behalf.

Langlang Mountain was located within the territory of Lion’s Mane Cave, and he had Cheng Mengying, the "little lioness," to mediate for him.

His departure shouldn’t be a major issue.

The day after receiving the letter, Xu Chang’an paid a visit to Golden Yuan Cave.

Although he had been an Elder for a long time, the number of times he had visited Golden Yuan Cave could be counted on one hand.

After being announced, Xu Chang’an successfully met with Jin Yuanba.

Jin Yuanba was in a good mood at the start of Xu Chang’an’s visit, even offering him a few words of comfort and encouragement.

But after learning the reason for Xu Chang’an’s visit, Jin Yuanba’s expression darkened.

"Elder Grey Rat, are you perhaps dissatisfied with Langlang Mountain?!"

This sentence from Jin Yuanba was extremely heavy.

Xu Chang’an naturally explained that he was not dissatisfied with Langlang Mountain. On the contrary, he was filled with gratitude for it.

He explained that his desire to leave Langlang Mountain was only because his heart was set on the Alchemy Dao, and he hoped to venture out in search of opportunities to break through the bottleneck to becoming a Tier Two Alchemist.

"Elder Grey Rat, how many years have you been at Langlang Mountain?"

Faced with Xu Chang’an’s sincere explanation, Jin Yuanba’s expression softened slightly.

"Twenty-one years," Xu Chang’an replied.

Jin Yuanba grew sentimental for a moment. He proposed that Xu Chang’an could go out and travel to seek opportunities, but he would still be considered a Sequence Elder of Langlang Mountain.

He hoped Xu Chang’an would return to Langlang Mountain within ten years, regardless of what he had gained.

It had to be said, Jin Yuanba’s offer was quite sincere.

But Xu Chang’an’s vision for his future was crystal clear, and his mind was made up. Naturally, he would not be swayed.

As a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist, Xu Chang’an was indispensable to Langlang Mountain’s business in the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace, to say nothing of his other contributions.

Jin Yuanba was not about to let Xu Chang’an leave so easily.

He immediately threw out several more conditions, such as increasing the profit share from the Elixir Workshop and raising Xu Chang’an’s semi-annual stipend.

Furthermore, he offered to go out and find the legacy techniques of a Tier Two Alchemist and place them in the Merit Hall for him to redeem.

Xu Chang’an, of course, politely refused each offer.

At this point, the conversation reached an impasse.

However, the situation changed when Xu Chang’an took out the letter from Cheng Mengying of Lion’s Mane Cave.

Upon learning that Cheng Mengying of Lion’s Mane Cave was willing to step in and mediate for Xu Chang’an to leave Langlang Mountain, Jin Yuanba’s tone softened considerably.

In the end, after long consideration, Jin Yuanba decided to agree to let Xu Chang’an leave Langlang Mountain.

He expressed that if Xu Chang’an ever wanted to return in the future, Langlang Mountain would always welcome him back.

In response, Xu Chang’an expressed his gratitude for Langlang Mountain’s care over so many years, saying he would never forget this bond.

After leaving Golden Yuan Cave, Xu Chang’an went to find Xiong Da.

Since they parted at the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace, Xiong Da, with the help of the Tier-Breaking Elixir, had successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

He had become an Old Demon in the Late-stage Qi Refining.

He had previously sent a letter to Xu Chang’an specifically to share the good news.

"Elder Xiong."

Xu Chang’an greeted Xiong Da with a smile.

He had said before that the next time they met, he would have to address Xiong Da as Elder Xiong.

Xiong Da was in the middle of training the Guardian Little Demons under his command. Seeing Xu Chang’an approach, he walked over with a grin.

Xu Chang’an looked at the simple, honest smile on Xiong Da’s face.

His face and smile continuously overlapped with the memory of that naive young black bear.

In the blink of an eye, twenty-one years had passed!

Xiong Da was very happy to see Xu Chang’an.

They had seen each other once before at the banquet on Elder Peak when he returned to Langlang Mountain.

But at that time, Xu Chang’an had been injured, so they hadn’t spoken at length.

After Xu Chang’an stated his purpose for coming, the happiness on Xiong Da’s face vanished.

He never would have thought that Xu Chang’an would actually want to leave Langlang Mountain.

"Grey Rat, isn’t Langlang Mountain great? You’re a Sequence Elder now, and there’s the Marketplace Elixir Workshop..." Xiong Da tried to persuade Xu Chang’an to stay.

With a gentle smile, Xu Chang’an explained that his ambition lay in the Alchemy Dao, and he hoped to venture out to seek opportunities to become a Tier Two Alchemist.

"Just like you, Xiong Da. You once said you wanted to reach the Late-stage Qi Refining. And now, aren’t you in the Late-stage?

So, I want to go out and try, too," Xu Chang’an added.

"Grey Rat... can’t you stay?" Xiong Da couldn’t help but say.

He really couldn’t bear to part with Grey Rat.

"Don’t overthink it. Just pretend I’m still at the Marketplace. Once I’ve settled down in a new place, I’ll write to you.

Xiong Da, don’t worry. No matter where I am, our bond of more than twenty years won’t change. We can still keep in touch as usual," Xu Chang’an said reassuringly, trying to put Xiong Da’s mind at ease.