Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

”I can’t just give you my technique without fully understanding who you are as a person, now can I?” the Mind God asked.

Alex supposed that was true, but then what had the man expected him to do? Just say yes and accept an offer with no tangible benefits ahead of him getting it? In the first place, he hadn’t the faintest idea what he was getting into either.

”Am I the only one you’ve given such a choice to, or are there others as well?” Alex asked.

”It’s just you,” the man answered.

”Why me?”

The Mind God paused for a moment, thinking of a way to answer the question. ”The thing I’m looking for is a guarantee that this inheritance of mine will survive as long as it can. And somehow, I find that you may just be the person who can make it happen.”

Alex didn’t show a change in expression. ”Still, I ask, why me?”

”Your inheritance from the Undying God, for starters. That makes you impossible to kill in most scenarios. Not to mention, you have connections to several other Gods, which will likely mean you will continue to live for a long time. That is not even counting the fact that you have the tree, and that is likely going to mean that you will be protected for a long time as well,” the Mind God said.

Alex chuckled slightly. ”Well, I suppose some of that makes sense. But I’m afraid I will be returning the tree to the Nine Yang Court in the near future, so you cannot rely on Senior Sunflare or anyone from the Nine Yang Court to protect me at all times.”

”Oh, I’m not talking about the Nine Yang Divine Tree,” the Mind God said.

Alex raised an eyebrow. ”Then what tree?”

The Mind God’s lips split into a thin smile.

”You know which one.”

Alex felt his heart skip a beat upon seeing the man’s smile. He knew. He absolutely knew.

He kept his emotions in check. ”I don’t believe I am following you,” he said.

”Oh, but you are. There is no point in trying to feign ignorance here. It only makes you look worse,” the Mind God said.

”Okay,” Alex said slowly. ”Assuming you are correct about what you think you know, how did you come to learn about it?”

There were more than a few possibilities.

There were quite a few people who knew about the tree, but none of them were people that Alex didn’t trust enough to keep it a secret. Among the Gods, there were only three. The Sky God, the Artifact God, and his master. And he doubted any of them would ever reveal that information.

Aside from them were his family and friends. Most of those people who could give away anything were inside his Soul Space right now. Not counting them, there were still Hao Ya and Battlesage, whom he hadn’t met with in a while now.

Could it have been them who let this information leak?

Alex looked at the calm expression of the man and dared to wonder what this could mean for the overall situation. If the other Gods knew, their immediate objective would simply change to taking the World Tree out of him right away.

Not even the Fire God would possibly wait around for the duel.

This was an incredibly serious situation.

”Does it matter how I came about it?” the Mind God asked. ”Isn’t the only thing that should concern you what I do with it?”

”And what are you doing with it?” Alex asked, staring directly into the man’s eyes.

The Mind God shook his head slowly. ”Nothing. I told you. I believe this information to be something that will keep you alive for a while longer than normal. I am betting on that to make sure my inheritance passes along to the future.”

Alex took a moment to take in the man’s words. While a lot of his arguments were sound in nature, one of them didn’t quite sit as well with Alex.

”If your intention is only the passing of your inheritance to the future, why not just find a disciple of your own and do so?” Alex asked. ”It makes no sense to come searching for me in particular.”

”It’s about security,” the man said.

”Yes, but it doesn’t sound like security is your main concern from what you’re saying. You are worried there will be no one to carry on the technique, and yet you are also very picky about who gets it. Shouldn’t you be offering it to anyone who can use it? Better yet, get multiple disciples and teach them. That should guarantee the survival of your inheritance.”

The Mind God didn’t speak immediately. He nodded in understanding, as though Alex’s words had affected him deeply. The next time he spoke, he didn’t hold a smile.

”I understand what you mean. And I understand that I am being greedy with my choices. I should pass it along, but the nature of my technique demands that I pass it along only to a worthy successor,” the man said.

”And I am not that successor, am I?” Alex asked. ”I am merely the vessel to carry it on?”

”You may very well be the successor, but yes. As of this moment, you are only the vessel in my eyes,” the man said unapologetically.

Alex let out a deep breath. ”May I ask you something, senior? Is this technique demonic in nature by any means?”

”Demonic? Of course not. What would ever give you that idea?” the man asked, appearing genuinely taken aback.

”It’s just how careful you’re being. It’s like you don’t...”

”I don’t what?” the man asked as Alex began to trail off.

”You don’t... hmm...”

What was going on? Something was off.

Alex’s eyes darted around, his senses moved in all directions, but he couldn’t find anything to give him that feeling. And yet, the feeling persisted.

Just as he was about to return his attention to the conversation at hand, the Yellow Fog in his Spiritual Sea raged.