The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Leaving behind only an ordinary elder…

"Before my disciples come to stop me—hurry up and do it."

"…I already said I would, didn't I?"

Immortal Pharmacist took his needles—

And began the ritual.

Life is often compared to a flame.

But why is that?

Because it can never burn forever.

The fire on a torch will eventually extinguish.

When the oil-soaked cloth is completely consumed…

Even if the wooden handle is burnt as well…

No flame can last for eternity.

Just as no human can live forever.

That's why Great Master Thorne didn't regret the time left in his life.

He had lived for over sixty years—a remarkable lifespan in this martial world.

There was nothing left in life to be curious about… except for one thing.

Crossing the Kingdom of Harmony and reaching the mysterious state of the Kingdom of Harmony, where one supposedly experiences ascension.

It piqued his curiosity, but wasn't that merely a concept from Buddhism's Nirvana or Taoist transcendence?

In the end, it was just death—the end of life.

Ascension, in essence, was nothing more than that.

So perhaps this too was a form of ascension.

Not the absurd tales of becoming an immortal being,

But if he could pass on his flame to a young, budding sprout full of potential…

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If he could reignite a life that had been prematurely extinguished despite still having oil-soaked cloth left to burn…

That wouldn't be such a bad life, would it?

Above all, Vera was his precious great-granddaughter.

"…Are you sure you won't regret this?"

Immortal Pharmacist asked before inserting the first acupuncture needle.

Great Master Thorne let out a faint laugh instead.

Looking straight at the man, he spoke.

"Regret what? Saving a talented great-granddaughter?"

"You really act like someone who's lived enough."

"Isn't it the same for both you and me? Just get on with it."

"…Very well."

As soon as Celestial Vein Elixir entered Vera's body,

A strange transformation began to take place in her small, frail form.

The innate energy was still absent,

Which meant her life continued to dwindle…

But her body and spirit instinctively started circulating energy without her awareness.

It was a form of instinct—

A memory etched into her body.

The moment the pure energy from the Celestial Vein Elixir entered,

Her body responded.

Clean, pristine energy extracted from the underground Dragon Veins Infusing vitality into her dried-up blood vessels,

And warming her cold core that had frozen after using up all her innate energy.

This wouldn't be enough to reignite the flame of life…

But at least it would prevent the wood from becoming completely useless.

More importantly, Vera was aware of the transformation.

"…This is—"

[If the energy is this pure, it must be Celestial Vein Elixir.]

The Black Serpent muttered in a low voice.

It had been observing the world through her eyes all this time.

So whatever Vera knew, it knew as well.

However, Vera was unconscious now.

Her eyelids were physically closed.

Thus, it couldn't tell who had poured such a precious substance into her mouth.

"Celestial Vein Elixir…?"

Vera was slightly flustered.

Even Thousand-Year Violet Pearl was valuable enough to be burdensome,

But Celestial Vein Elixir?

You'd be hard-pressed to find five drops of it across the entire Valkirum.

[Are they plotting something interesting?]

"Interesting? What do you mean?"

[It is as I imagine—to replace your innate energy with something else.]

"Something else…?"

The Black Serpent's gaze shifted to Black dragon.

Black dragon simply lowered its head quietly to the Black Serpent.

Only then did Vera understand its intent.

"…Ah."

She recalled the first time she awakened Black dragon.

The energy that swirled throughout her entire body—

It had tried to devour even her innate energy but eventually embraced it like a treasured orb.

Black dragon gently pushed its head under Vera's arm,

Looking up at her with dark, glimmering eyes.

Only then did Vera realize it.

What Black dragon had desired back then wasn't the innate energy itself.

"You wanted… to be by my side—closer than anyone else."

The place where her innate energy had once resided,

The very core and essence of Vera's being.

What Black dragon had wanted was that sacred space.

It wanted to be her most cherished, intimate presence.

Vera gently embraced Black dragon,

Lightly stroking its nape with her fingertips.

Black dragon let out a contented purring sound.

[However, there's one problem.]

"What's the problem?"

The Black Serpent answered with a low voice.

[Your innate energy is lacking. Although the energy from the Celestial Vein Elixir is pure, it is far from abundant. Currently, your Black dragon has consumed all its energy and weakened to the point of shrinking. It cannot replace your innate energy in its current state.]

That was undeniably true.

Compared to when Black dragon had devoured countless hostile energies and malicious thoughts, growing in size...

Now, it had become small enough to be fully embraced in her arms.

The fact that the refined energy of Celestial Vein Elixir was circulating within her body…

It meant that her body had instinctively begun circulating energy on its own.

And naturally, when circulating energy, one absorbs external natural energy.@@novelbin@@

However, it wouldn't be enough.

There was no telling how long it would take.

Moreover, the chances of her life ending before that were far higher.

Yet Vera showed no signs of despair.

She simply sat down quietly, holding Black dragon in her arms and gently stroking its head.

As though she had become indifferent to death itself.

[Impressive.]

The Black Serpent looked down at Vera.

But she paid it no attention.

She simply held Black dragon even closer and continued stroking it.

"What do you find so impressive?"

[It is rare for humans not to cling to life.]

At his words, Vera let out a faint sigh and shook her head.

"That's not true. I am just a mere woman who clings to life as much as anyone else."

[You have a remarkably detached attitude for someone who claims that.]

"…Because I let go a long time ago—ever since I decided to use my innate energy."

It had been a long-standing decision.

The moment she resolved to use her innate energy, Vera had known the situation was checkmate.

To break out of it, she would have to burn her own life.

If she failed to overcome the situation, she would die anyway.

Both outcomes led to death.

But if she could at least drag one more person down to the afterlife with her…

If that companion happened to be an enemy, especially The Dark Emperor…

The choice was obvious.

Naturally, she would choose the latter.

And with such a thoroughly rational and logical decision, there was no room for regret or lingering attachments.

Thus, she quietly, silently waited for her end.

Black dragon grew smaller and smaller.

Even its once-lustrous scales were losing their shine, and its majestic mane was becoming brittle.

Vera gently held the creature and rested her head against it.

At that moment...

In the pitch-black night sky of her inner world, devoid of stars…

A miracle occurred.

Stars began to appear.

"…Ah."

A dazzling galaxy painted itself across the sky.

From the western horizon to the eastern edge, countless comets streaked across the night.

Ethereal brilliance, radiant flickers...

Then, Black dragon rose from her embrace.

[It seems you've triggered something.]

The Black Serpent quietly observed Vera.

But she appeared just as bewildered.

However, the Black Serpent had a hunch.

Someone had burned their own life force to sustain hers.

"This… what is happening…?"

[This is not the time to ask questions.]

Having observed her nature long enough, the Black Serpent knew one thing for certain.

Vera hated being a burden to others.

She could not live with debts—neither gratitude nor grudges were left unsettled.

If she learned that someone had sacrificed themselves for her…

Especially someone capable of releasing such immense energy, likely at least Kingdom of Harmony level...

There was only one possible person—Great Master Thorne, the elder of Mount Suncrest known as the Sword Master of Suncrest.

If she discovered that her great-grandfather had burned his own life for her…

She would try her utmost not to accept it.

And that was precisely what the Black Serpent wanted to avoid.

This child was a rare talent, one not seen in ages.

She had heard its name and remained sane.

She had not become a wellspring of demonic energy.

So perhaps…

[Prepare yourself.]

"Huh? Prepare for what…?"

[The stars are about to fall.]

True to its words, the stars that had once adorned the vast sky were now descending.

It was as if the night sky was an overturned bowl, with stars scattered across its inner surface like shimmering fragments…

Like sand pouring down from an hourglass, the stars began to fall.

And Black dragon began to absorb all of them.

The starlight that touched its mane and scales melted into its body.

With each surge of energy, Black dragon grew larger and stronger.