Path of Alchemy Mastery-Chapter 28: It’s Not a Human

Mu Can stood beneath the Martial Pavilion, gazing up at its nine tiers.

Commonly said, nine represents the pinnacle, usually exclusive to the Royal Family, but the Dynasty where the Mu Family resided had fierce folk customs.

Moreover, various large Sects and families proliferated like carps crossing the river. The Dynasty's control was considerably weaker.

Thus, the significance of the number nine gradually lost its restrictions; otherwise, the Mu Family wouldn't dare to build a nine-tiered Martial Pavilion.

Who knows, perhaps the very next day someone would come knocking to hold you accountable for your crimes.

Taking a deep breath, Mu Can yelled loudly towards the Martial Pavilion.

"Ancestral Grandfather, open the door, it's Can'er, I have come."

"Here, here. This child, it has been years since he last visited me," came a series of coughs from inside the Martial Pavilion, followed by an aged voice.

The wooden door of the Martial Pavilion was gently pushed open, creaking as if due to long disrepair.

An old man with white hair, leaning on a cane and hunching over, slowly walked out; he was the Elder guarding the Martial Pavilion.

Before Mu Can went to Immortal Ancient Academy, he loved visiting the Martial Pavilion the most; otherwise, he would not be so familiar with the Guarding Elder.

In Mu Can's eyes, the Guarding Elder was just like Mu Can's own grandfather, always silently teaching him.

As a youth, Mu Can could hardly believe that this amiable old grandpa was once a legend capable of defeating someone in the Martial King Realm.

He had once asked the Guarding Elder about this, and all Mu Can remembered was the Guarding Elder's toothless smile as he teasingly said to Mu Can,

"What do you think?"

However, now Mu Can could indeed sense something extraordinary about the Guarding Elder. Years had passed in a blink, but the Guarding Elder's appearance hadn't changed at all.

This made Mu Can suspect whether the legends about the person guarding the Martial Pavilion having the power to defeat a Martial King were true.

If he truly had the strength to defeat a Martial King, why would he contentedly remain here as a guardian?

To know, day after day within the confines of the Martial Pavilion, was like being trapped in a small space, effectively drawing a cell around oneself.

Seeing Mu Can, the old man appeared very happy, slowly walking over and grabbing Mu Can's hand.

Mu Can was just about to dodge when he found that though the old man's hand moved slowly, it firmly grasped Mu Can's wrist.

"Can'er, why haven't you visited the Martial Pavilion for so many years? Let me see how your strength has developed."

As he spoke, a powerful energy entered Mu Can's body; the energy released and withdrew quickly, swiftly checking Mu Can's physical condition.

"That's not right, the cultivation level you had before leaving the Mu Family, based on your talent, should not just be this."

After checking, the old man shook his head, expressing his inability to comprehend Mu Can's situation.

The descendant he once had high hopes for had progressed so slowly in strength.

"Ancestral Grandfather, I suffered a severe injury three years ago, and in these three years, my cultivation has not only failed to advance but has also regressed greatly. It was only three months ago that my injury was completely healed," Mu Can obediently explained from one side.

Upon hearing that Mu Can had been severely injured, a flash of cold light passed through the elder's slightly cloudy eyes, and his worn clothes fluttered as if touched by an unfelt breeze.

A formidable aura arose, making Mu Can feel a profound sense of pressure.

The elder asked in a serious tone, "Who is the bold one who dared to harm the most promising junior of the Mu Family?"

"This old man is problematic," Purple Cloud's voice rang out in Mu Can's mind.

"It's alright, Great Grandfather. Let me handle my own grievances. At your age, you should be enjoying your twilight years," Mu Can said to the Martial Pavilion Elder.

Even if the Martial Pavilion Elder truly possessed such power, Mu Can was unwilling to rely on anyone else to seek revenge on Donghuang.

It was Donghuang who caused his distress, and he wanted to avenge himself with his own strength.

"This is the basic mentality required to become a strong person. You must realize, no matter how difficult, a cultivator's practice is inherently a defiance of the natural order. Without a heart to face difficulties and challenge them head-on, you can never become a strong person," the elder said after hearing Mu Can's words. His aura subdued, turning back into the unremarkable hunchbacked old man.

"Cloud Sister, what's wrong with my great grandfather?" Mu Can asked with confusion in his mind.

"This old man is not a human; he has a strong aura of the Immortal World," Purple Cloud stated flatly, yet it stirred up towering waves in Mu Can's heart.

This seemingly ordinary old man turned out to be a person from the Heavenly Realm, and this elder who watched him grow up was not just any ordinary elder of the Mu Family.

Upon reflection, Mu Can felt incredibly foolish for the first time. If the Martial Pavilion Elder was merely a common cultivator, how could he have guarded the Martial Pavilion safely for so many years?

Moreover, Mu Can remembered that once, when the Mu Family's ancient ancestor visited the Martial Pavilion, he treated the Martial Pavilion Elder with utmost respect and Mu Can was present at that time.

Mu Can had always thought it was because the Martial Pavilion Elder was a bit older than the ancient ancestor, which was why the Mu Family's ancient ancestor was so respectful towards him.

But now it seemed, things were not that simple.

"This Martial Pavilion, too, is not simple. Let's go in and see," Purple Cloud continued, discovering so many interesting things about such a small Mu Family.

The Fire King Cauldron, the Elixir Book, and the elder all pointed towards one fact—that the Mu Family definitely came from the Heavenly Realm.

"I understand, Great Grandfather. Oh right, this time I came to ascend to the ninth floor of the Martial Pavilion," Mu Can straightforwardly stated his purpose to the elder.

"Oh? The ninth floor of the Martial Pavilion, what do you want to do there?" the elder asked in confusion.

"Not to upset you, Great Grandfather. Some changes have occurred in the Mu Family recently. I went to the Secret Land to seek the ancient ancestor, but discovered he had already disappeared, leaving behind only a message at the closed-door altar forbidding the Mu Family juniors from practicing Mu Family alchemy. So, I came to the Martial Pavilion looking for answers," Mu Can said honestly.

Truth be told, if the elder harbored any ill intentions towards Mu Can, no one from the Mu Family in the past could have matched this elder.

So, it might as well be better to explain the situation honestly to the elder, especially since the disappearance of the ancient ancestor, leaving no one in the Mu Family capable of deterring other families, was not a good situation for the Mu Family.

"Ah, Mu Xuan, he still couldn't restrain himself in the end. Come with me," the elder sighed deeply after hearing Mu Can's words, then spoke.

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Mu Can followed the elder into the Martial Pavilion.

"Come with me to the ninth floor." Hearing the news of Mu Xuan's disappearance, the wrinkles on the old man's face seemed to deepen.

Mu Can stepped forward to support the elder, and the pair slowly ascended the stairs of the Martial Pavilion, reaching the ninth floor.

Unlike the floors below, the ninth floor of the Martial Pavilion was surprisingly empty.

Only three ancient secret manuals quietly floated there.

Although they appeared simple and unadorned, the more they seemed so, the more one could feel the extraordinariness of these three books.

Mu Can stood quietly, waiting for the elder to resolve his doubts.

PS: Chapter three arrives, throwing a tantrum on the floor begging for collections, recommendations, just lightly tap to add to your bookshelf.