Vice President Duan said, "Before the war ended, a magical artifact descended from the heavens, radiating golden light. All the foreign races bathed in this golden light perished without exception."
"However, the foreign races were not completely wiped out. A large portion died from the golden light, while the remaining few had their strength suppressed by the artifact. It was then that humanity achieved victory."
"So?" Ling Luo Yi asked.
"Eldest Miss Ling, you may not know this, but the moment we opened that painting, a wisp of black energy slowly transformed into the likeness of the foreign race in the painting. Then it vanished, taking the painting with it."
"We don't know if the painting depicted reality. We've searched all the ancient texts in the Alchemist Guild and the Mercenary Guild, but found no relevant records. Without evidence, we couldn't speak of it."
"Do the two Guild Masters remember what the foreign race looked like?"
"Black hair, red eyes, wings on their backs, predominantly red and black, their bodies shrouded in black mist."
"Also, to kill them, one must destroy the black mist enveloping their bodies. Otherwise, even a sliver of it remains, and they can revive."
"Shura." Ling Luo Yi said gravely after hearing their descriptions.
"Eldest Miss Ling knows?!" Vice President Duan exclaimed.
"If I recall correctly, that painting should depict the 'Sunken Star Rainforest' battle between the Shura race and humanity twenty-seven hundred years ago."
"The 'Sunken Star Rainforest' battle? Such a massive war should have been recorded, but not a single book on the Ancient Spirit Continent records this great battle," Vice President Duan mused.
"The Ancient Spirit Continent would naturally have no records, as it happened on the Ancient Profound Continent."
"The Ancient Profound Continent? What is that place?" the two Guild Masters asked in surprise.
"The Ancient Profound Continent is the upper realm of the Ancient Spirit Continent. Spirit cultivators on the Ancient Spirit Continent ascend to the Ancient Profound Continent once they reach a certain realm. Don't the two Guild Masters know this?" Ling Luo Yi explained.
"No, we don't," the two Guild Masters shook their heads.
"There should be records of this, right?"
"Perhaps it's because the Heavenly Martial Kingdom is too weak, hence no records."
"Even so, the Alchemist Guild and the Mercenary Guild should have records."
"It's likely only the headquarters would have records; these branches do not."
"Haven't you gone to look?"
"Actually, we haven't been to the headquarters because our strength is insufficient."
"It's not hard to see that no one has broken through to the Ancient Profound Continent from this continent in a very long time. Gradually, even if records existed, no one would believe them."
"Then, how does Eldest Miss Ling know?" Vice President Duan inquired.
"That's a secret." Ling Luo Yi changed the subject and asked, "Does this have anything to do with what the two Guild Masters want me to agree to?"
"It doesn't have much to do with it, but Guild Master Lin and I are worried that if such a race returns, humanity will be unable to fight back. Therefore, we wish to ask Eldest Miss Ling for her help in enhancing the strength of the Alchemist Guild and the Mercenary Guild, thereby improving humanity's overall strength."
"The concerns of the two Guild Masters are not unfounded. However, Guild Master Lin of the Alchemist Guild can make decisions, but can Vice President Duan of the Mercenary Guild also make decisions?"
"Yes, because the three of us saw it together at that time."
"It sounds like it's for the good of humanity, so I agree, as long as the two Guild Masters don't forget what they promised me."
"Of course, we won't forget. In fact, it seems we are the ones gaining the advantage."
"That's not necessarily true." Ling Luo Yi quipped. She knew her own nature well; she was not someone who enjoyed peace.
Ling Luo Yi suddenly took out a piece of paper from her storage ring and handed it to Guild Master Lin, saying, "Guild Master Lin, you are a fourth-grade alchemist, aren't you?"
"Yes." Guild Master Lin took the paper and examined it carefully, only to discover it was a...
"Prescription!" Guild Master Lin looked at Ling Luo Yi in shock, unable to believe it.
Which alchemist did not cherish their prescriptions? Even a master would not impart their knowledge entirely to a disciple.
She had actually produced such a thing.
"This is a prescription for a fourth-grade detoxification pill, specifically for neutralizing medicinal toxins. With your aptitude, Guild Master Lin, refining the detoxification pill is only a matter of time."
"Is Eldest Miss Ling giving me the prescription?" Guild Master Lin asked in astonishment.
"Yes." Ling Luo Yi replied, "There are too many medicinal toxins in the pills on the continent nowadays. With this prescription, I believe Guild Master Lin will be able to refine it soon."
"Indeed, with this prescription, if the Alchemist Guild can refine it, it would be a great help to humanity."
"As you wish," Ling Luo Yi said indifferently.
"Thank you, Eldest Miss Ling." Guild Master Lin formally bowed to Ling Luo Yi.
Ling Luo Yi did not return the bow and said to Vice President Duan, "Vice President Duan, I've been very busy recently and don't have time to help your Mercenary Guild. Therefore, take this."
Ling Luo Yi retrieved a storage ring and handed it to Vice President Duan.
Vice President Duan accepted it without checking its contents and clasped his fist, saying, "Thank you for your assistance, Eldest Miss Ling."
"It's all for humanity, so there's no need for thanks. Perhaps what you fear will truly come to pass one day." Ling Luo Yi shrugged and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be going now."
Her thoughts returned to the present. Ling Luo Yi smiled helplessly, "It seems I can't speak so casually anymore. But I just said it in passing, and it actually came true."
Ling Luo Yi shook her head, "I won't dwell on this. I need to finish what's at hand."
Sensing that Ah Su had almost recovered, Ling Luo Yi stopped channeling her spiritual energy. Thinking it was still early, she fell asleep on the lounge chair.
Ling Luo Yi slept through the mealtime. The others, seeing Ling Luo Yi hadn't come to eat, became worried.
Ling Luo Yu said, "Is Luo'er angry? She's helped the Ling family so much, yet they're still afraid of death."
"She's not angry, she's disappointed," Ling Luo Chen said.
As Ling Luo Yi's elder brother, he understood her thoughts.
Ling Luo Yu was stunned for a moment, then said, "Elder Brother is right. If it were me, and I went to great lengths to help the Ling family, only for them to drag their feet, I would also be disappointed."
"Elder Brother, will Luo'er leave?"
Ling Luo Fan's question touched upon the thought that had been lingering in everyone's minds for days, and the room fell silent.
"That's why she's so eager to see the Ling family rise, even risking her own safety to force the Ling family to stand up."
"Second Brother, Eldest Sister just returned, why would she leave? Elder Brother, I don't want her to leave!" Ling Luo Ran said anxiously. She had finally waited for her Eldest Sister to return, why must she leave again?
"Ran'er, your Eldest Sister is already soaring in the sky. You cannot confine her to a square courtyard." Ling Luo Chen comforted everyone, "Moreover, it's not just her who will leave; we will all leave one day. But no matter how long we are away, we will return. So, I believe she returned this time because she didn't want to be too far from home. However, if the Ling family remains as they are, we can only watch her leave."
Ling Luo Ran looked at Ling Luo Chen and said, "So, if we don't want to be too far from Eldest Sister, we can only make the Ling family stand on a higher ground to be closer to her?"
"Yes," Ling Luo Chen nodded.
"Then let's make the Ling family stand up!"
Ling Luo Chen said, "Ran'er, the Ling family is a clan. We cannot just consider our opinions; there are other disciples as well."
Ling Luo Ran said dejectedly, "I saw it on the training grounds today. They would rather kneel in humiliation than fight to stand tall."
"Let them choose for themselves. Luo'er would also prefer that the disciples seen this afternoon went willingly, rather than being forced."
For a moment, no one had any appetite.