I am Fated

As Juanxiu pondered, he couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance of this place to the trials inside the Tower of Primordial Era. The phantom-like figure, Yan Yan, may not possess the same level of consciousness and will as the tower's guardian, Xiannu Yindao, but his presence and demeanor were enough to make Juanxiu feel a sense of familiarity.

As he looked around, the room started to shift once again. The walls seemed to melt away, revealing an endless expanse of stars and galaxies. It was as if he was standing at the very center of the universe. The colors were so vibrant, and the movements so fluid, that it felt like he was watching a living painting. This is also all too similar to the Alchemy Trial of the Tower.

Juanxiu's thoughts were jolted back to the present as Yan Yan spoke again. "Now, for the answer?"

Juanxiu looked at Yan Yan with a hint of worry in his eyes. "Is there a time limit to this puzzle?" he asked.

Yan Yan let out a low chuckle. "Hoooo, I know you will find it difficult," he said, his eyes glinting mischievously. "As long as this realm is open, the puzzle remains open. You can give your answer anytime you want. But remember, I am only giving you one chance."

Juanxiu nodded, relieved to hear that there was no immediate pressure to solve the puzzle. But he couldn't shake off his curiosity about the owner of this mysterious realm. "The owner of this realm is your master?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

Yan Yan's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Juanxiu with interest. "Hmm?" he said. "He is."

Juanxiu's heart raced a little faster. "Was he from this mortal realm?" he asked carefully, not wanting to give Yan Yan any reason to suspect him of prying.

Yan Yan seemed to consider the question for a moment before answering. "He lived here in this realm," he said cryptically.

Juanxiu felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He had hoped to gather more information about the owner of this place, but Yan Yan seemed to be guarding his secrets closely.

"What can you tell me about him?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Yan Yan gave him a wry smile. "You are full of questions, aren't you? What makes you think I will answer them?"

Juanxiu chuckled. "Well, it doesn't hurt to try, does it?"

Yan Yan's expression softened a bit. "Fair enough. My former master was a great alchemist, perhaps one of the greatest in all of the realms. He spent his life studying the mysteries of alchemy and achieved feats that many thought were impossible."

Juanxiu couldn't help but feel disappointed at Yan Yan's vague answer about his master. He was hoping for a concrete answer, but it seemed like Yan Yan was deliberately avoiding the question.

He decided to change his approach and shifted the topic to the owner of the realm. "Senior, I am an alchemy enthusiast, and I am very interested in hearing more about this Master of yours. Can you tell me more things about him?"

Yan Yan looked at Juanxiu for a moment before deciding to share a story. "My Master lived during the Lost Era," he began. "At the end of that era was a massive war waged by the Gods, and the destruction led to the severance of the road between the mortal and immortal realm. The scarcity of resources led to the Desolate Era, but despite all of that, our Master was able to reach the level of Godhood."

As Yan Yan spoke, the universe around them began to shift and change, showing glimpses of the war and destruction that he described. Juanxiu watched in awe as the images played out before him, feeling a sense of reverence for the alchemist who was able to achieve such a feat.

Yan Yan continued his story, describing the Master's journey to Godhood and the trials and tribulations he faced along the way. Juanxiu listened intently, captivated by the story and the vivid scenes that accompanied it.

Juanxiu's mind was racing as he tried to make sense of Yan Yan's story. The Desolate Era was a time of great suffering and devastation, where even the most powerful beings struggled to survive. To achieve Godhood during that time was almost unimaginable, and could only mean that this Master possessed an incredible treasure or power.

As Yan Yan continued his story, Juanxiu listened intently, trying to glean any information he could about this mysterious Master. But Yan Yan was careful not to reveal too much, only speaking in general terms about his Master's incredible feats and achievements.

Despite the lack of information, Juanxiu couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story than met the eye. He wondered if this Master could be one of the former owners of the Tower of Primordial Era, or perhaps one of the other Heavenly Treasures. His mind was racing with possibilities, and he knew he had to find a way to ask Yan Yan more about his Master.

As he thought, Yan Yan's voice faded into the background, and Juanxiu was lost in his own thoughts. He thought of his mother, who had disappeared when he was young, and wondered if there was any connection between her and this mysterious Master. He knew that he had to be careful in his questioning.

Juanxiu stood up, feeling frustrated with Yan Yan's vague answers. He couldn't help but feel that Yan Yan was hiding something from him. "Since your master has achieved a level of Godhood, there's a chance that he is still alive," he asked, hoping for a clearer response.

Yan Yan chuckled. "But of course. He had left a sliver of his consciousness here," he replied with a sly smile.

Juanxiu was not satisfied with the answer. "Where?" he pressed, hoping for more information.

"If you are fated with my Master, then you don't have to ask where to find him, you will find him," Yan Yan said cryptically.

"Why do you always respond vaguely?" Juanxiu asked, growing more irritated by the moment.

Yan Yan was taken aback by Juanxiu's sudden change in tone. "I don't," he protested.

Juanxiu then let out a growl and uttered, "Skin sliced from the Palm of a God."

Yan Yan was surprised by the unexpected response. "What?" he asked, confused.

"The answer to your question, the thing that can hold the ingredient, is the skin sliced from the palm of a God," Juanxiu said confidently.

Yan Yan was shocked that Juanxiu had known the answer all along. "How did you know?" he asked in amazement.

"Perhaps I am fated to answer the question," Juanxiu replied with a smirk, intentionally being ambiguous in his response.

Yan yan let out a long sigh, still surprised by Juanxiu's unexpected answer. He then reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out a small vial filled with a glowing substance. He do not want to part with this thing "This contains a drop of tear from the Hermit King," Yan yan said, holding the vial out to Juanxiu. "This is an important ingredient in crafting high quality pill and potion." The substance inside the vial shimmered and glowed, almost as if it had a life of its own.

As Juanxiu took the vial, Yan yan blew a whistle that was hanging from his neck. In the distance, a group of chickens came running towards them. But these were not just any chickens - they were Terracluckers. Their feathers were a deep brown color, and their eyes glowed with an otherworldly light.

"These are Terracluckers," Yan yan said. "Their manure is incredibly fertile. Even your regular seeds will turn into spiritual plants when fertilized by the manure of this chicken." The chicken squawked loudly, seemingly sensing the importance of its role. Juanxiu couldn't believe his luck - not only did he get the ingredient he needed, but he also received a rare and valuable chicken.

Juanxiu was happy to receive the Terraclucker and the tear from the Hermit King, but he was still worried about carrying the chicken around. He didn't want to attract unwanted attention, and the idea of carrying a chicken with him was not something he was comfortable with.

"Senior, do you have anything in you that will help me carry one of them?" Juanxiu asked Yan yan.

Yan yan laughed and replied, "You do not have to worry about carrying the Terraclucker. Just pick one."

Juanxiu pointed to a plump hen and said, "I want to take that fatty."

Yan yan smiled and said, "Good eye."

As if the hen had some form of understanding, it stepped forward and moved closer to Juanxiu. Then, it transformed into a stone. It looked like any other ordinary stone that one could come across in any place. Juanxiu then placed it inside his spatial pouch. While it was technically a living creature, it could be stored in a spatial pouch while in its dormant state, like the egg of the Curse Striker when it appeared like a seed.

Juanxiu let out a sigh of relief, grateful that he wouldn't have to carry the chicken around. But his mind was still preoccupied with his mother. After hearing to Principal Peng Gui that he may not be related to the Hao, his curiosity only grew stronger. He turned to Yan yan and asked, "Senior, are you sure there's nothing else about your master you can tell me? I am looking for someone, and I think they might be related."

Yan yan looked at Juanxiu closely, not understanding how his master could be related to the person he was looking for. He furrowed his brows and asked, "What made you think that my master and the person you are looking for have some sort of relation?"

Juanxiu was taken aback by the question, and a sudden sense of worry crept over him. Was this senior probing him? He hesitated for a moment before answering, "Senior, it's just a hunch."

Yan Yan paused for a while, his eyes piercing through Juanxiu as if trying to read his mind. Finally, he spoke, "Very well, I can tell you one thing. My master is beyond any of your imagination. He possesses things that should not be possessed by any beings."

Juanxiu was surprised by the statement. His mind raced with possibilities, trying to imagine what kind of treasures could be possessed by a god. Could it be the Tower of Primordial Era that his mother had acquired?

As he pondered on this, a sudden realization hit him. If this god-like owner was indeed the previous owner of the tower and had achieved godhood, how on earth did his mother get her hands on such a treasure? The thought sent shivers down his spine, and he felt a knot forming in his stomach. What was his mother's connection to this god, and what kind of fate did it spell for him? Xiannu ssaid that his mother was one of the Muse, the keeper fo the Divine treasures.

Juanxiu stood up from his seat and bowed respectfully to Yan Yan. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior. I will take my leave now." Yan Yan waved his hand and a new stairway opened leading him outside. Juanxiu stepped onto the stairs, and as he began to ascend, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. He had come all this way seeking answers, and yet, he still had so many questions.

When he finally emerged, the sun had already begun to set. Juanxiu shielded his eyes from the blinding light as he took in his surroundings. He was relieved to be outside again after spending so much time underground. He made his way back, taking one last look at the old well before running off into the distance.

As he ran, Juanxiu couldn't help but think about everything that had transpired. He had learned so much about the owner of this realm, and yet, there was still so much that he didn't know. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle, something that would tie everything together and make sense of it all.

But for now, he had no choice but to continue on his journey, searching for answers wherever they may lead him.