Ever since becoming a Grade-1 Alchemist, Lyra Leonhart had thrown herself wholly into cultivating both her strength and her craft.
Over the past month, she had consumed a staggering amount of resources precious elixirs, tempering tonics, body-forging pills, and soul-nurturing decoctions. All of it was used to push her physical body to its current peak: over sixty-two thousand jin of raw force. At that level, she could crush boulders barehanded and leap rooftops as if walking on flat ground.
Now, her cultivation had reached the stage of the Bone Stage, Level one, and her recent breakthrough was nothing short of a miracle for someone her age.
But that wasn't all.
Throughout her month of seclusion, Lyra had also advanced astonishingly in alchemy. The constant support from the Leonhart Clan had given her access to the kind of high-quality ingredients most alchemists could only dream of. Under such conditions, coupled with her already astounding sixfold soul strength, she had risen from a fledgling alchemist to a top-tier Grade-1 Alchemist.
Her secret weapon? A rare and priceless artifact—
❰ Alchemist's Legacy Scroll – Grade-2, Top-Tier ❱
A compilation of an elite second-tier alchemist's lifelong research, experiences, and pill recipes.
A gift from Ancestor Leo.
With the scroll as her guide, her rapid growth had exceeded all clan expectations. If not for her current cultivation stage limiting the scale of pills she could refine, she suspected she might've even pushed into Grade-2 Alchemy by now.
But Lyra was no fool.
She understood perfectly: alchemy was only one piece of the path as Ancestor Leo had higher hopes for her. She was to one day stand along the Heavenly Talent List of the Dusk Empire.
And that meant raw strength and combat power was just as important as her spiritual aptitude.
"Phew..." Lyra exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"I've used up so much of the clan's resources lately... I better make enough pills to give back."
Ever since Ancestor Leo issued the four new clan laws, Lyra had risen to near-iconic status within the family. Her high cultivation aptitude, paired with her top-grade soul talent and rising status as an alchemist, made her a natural focal point for the elders.
Resources flowed toward her with little restraint, but Lyra was no leech that only sucked the clans resources dry and not give them back anything.
Every batch of pills she refined, dozens and dozens of useful pills were handed over without asking for clan contribution points in return. And while the elders never demanded repayment, her selflessness earned her the quiet respect of even the older generation.
Even the other two Leonhart youths with high-tier aptitude now treated her with genuine admiration.
For Lyra, it wasn't about fame or rank.
She simply believed in this path. She owed everything to the clan and more to the mysterious Ancestor whose hand guided their every move.
"I just want to be worthy of what I've been given."
As Lyra stabilized her newfound strength and prepared to challenge the Grade-2 Alchemy Realm, another figure deep within the clan's sacred mountain was stirring.
—
In a sealed chamber buried beneath the mountain roots, Leo Leonhart's eyes snapped open.
His gaze pierced through darkness like starlight, impossibly deep like one who had glimpsed the void between worlds. His body, unmoving just a moment ago, now hummed with terrifying power.
If not for the layered runic arrays sealing this chamber, the entire Blazecity and even the near parts of the province might have felt the pressure of his breakthrough.
[Transcendent Realm, Sixth Layer.
Third layer Sword Intent.
Melded Unity Codex: Stable.
Top-grade Primal Human Body: 78% fused.]
Leo's strength had skyrocketed once again.
"Transcendent Sixth... And my combat strength should now match, or even exceed, most Entry level Soul Stage cultivators," Leo muttered, his voice calm but latched with confidence as he admired his new strength that flowed through his body.
He still hadn't crossed paths with a true Soul Stage powerhouse till now, but based on cultivation thresholds alone he was no longer part of the mortal realm's food chain.
Within the Dusk Empire, most Soul Stage cultivators were city-crushing giants overseeing provinces, commanding armies, and living for centuries more than their lower counter-parts
But Leo...
He had walked into that threshold while still in the equivalent of his youth. A man in his prime, with the heart of a strategist and help of his new system.
While he was considered old when he was at the Core Break stage stage, now the sudden improvement of his cultivation and with system providing him with Primal Human Core.
Even across the surrounding kingdoms and empires, none had achieved this kind of strength at his age.
He wasn't just a peerless prodigy. He was evolving into a living legend.
"Mm?"
Leo blinked as he noticed something interesting.
Far away, on the eastern side of the compound, Lyra's aura suddenly flared.
"She's beginning her advance toward Grade-2 Alchemist... Not bad, not bad at all."
Leo's eyes softened with a trace of warmth. He summoned his system panel with a thought.
[Leo's Legacy System]
[Name: Leo Leonhart]
[Realm: Transcendent Sixth Layer]
[Physique: Primal Human/Innate Dao Body (top-tier, fusion in progress)]
[Combat Arts: Phantom Sword Art]
[Mastery Sword Intent – 30% comprehension ]
[Melded Unity Codex – Stable Harmony]
[Fate Points: 8712]
Active Quests:
[Ultimate Challenge – Stage 1] Raise Leonhart Clan to 6th-rank status
– 1x Transcendent Realm (Leo himself excluded)
– 10x Core Break cultivators
– 1x Grade-4 Alchemist
– 1x Grade-2 Talisman Master
[Alchemy Legacy – Lyra's Path]
Help Lyra reach Grade-2 Alchemist status (In Progress)
[Heavenly Talent List – Crown A Rising Star]
Help Lyra ascend the Dusk Empire's ranking
Leo frowned slightly.
"Only 8,712 points left? I really burned through my last reserve…"
A month ago, he had gained over 5,000 points from Lyra's breakthrough. Combined with the Leonhart Clan's shift to a new cultivation method and several elders breaking through, the flow of Fate Points had been decent.
But between upgrading his own training formations, investing in alchemy support, and crafting cultivation tools, most of the energy had already been spent.
"Even with all this progress, I can't afford to get complacent. The cost of my next leap will be even greater."
He leaned back, fingers tapping against his knee thoughtfully.
He was close, so close to building the kind of clan legacy that could stand for a thousand years.
But he still had more roles to fill in order for his plan to be successful.
He needed a proper Talisman Master —someone who could carve sigils, forge runes, and create spatial talismans like the one that had saved Brandon Drake.
That type of power couldn't be neglected anymore as even a Level 1 Talisman Master could help the clan significantly.
And if no such talent emerged soon...
"I might have to craft one myself," Leo murmured with a bitter chuckle, thinking about all the points he would have to spend to create a Talisman master which will certainly take more resources than a Alchemist.
As for Lyra he would continue observing her progress silently.
But inside, he was already preparing something special for her.
If she truly broke through to Grade-2... she would be stepping into a new league, and the world would no longer be able to ignore her.
And in turn, they wouldn't be able to ignore the name...
Leonhart.