Above Destiny

Chapter 828 Feigned Intent, Genuine Feelings
The old lady's funeral was held two weeks later.

As the harmful winds gradually subsided, the remnants of the four seas' decline were purified, and the battle against the lingering decay of the embers was once again a great victory. After the cheers and applause, the whole world seemed to have returned to its normal course, and everything functioned as usual.

The Heavenly Pivot still stands tall amidst the vast ocean, never having left. Instead, it went to great lengths to move itself from its original location to this place.

On the one hand, it is to monitor the pollution and cracks left by the deep and prevent them from getting out of control and resurfacing again; on the other hand, it is to remember the sacrifices made in this struggle.

The unprecedented devastation of the past two centuries saw the deaths of seventeen masters and one grandmaster within just four days, but in return, the orthodox tradition was preserved and the world was at peace.

On Tian Shu Square, a new stone tablet has been erected by the Grandmaster Plowsmith himself. It was created in accordance with the will of the Carrion Eater, using the foundation of modern alchemy she laid and the 644 different techniques and 16 schools of unique skills she created during her lifetime.

On the one hand, it is to demonstrate her contributions to the association, and on the other hand, it is to continue the brilliance she bestowed—any craftsman who comes to pay homage can more or less appreciate and understand the subtle changes in the stone tablet. If their talents are sufficient and in line with the direction, they may be able to reproduce or continue the master's legacy with their own talents.

The funeral had no tragic scenes or procedures, only a brief speech by Gustav followed by a moment of silence from the artisans who came to participate in the ceremony.

The flowers surrounding the stone tablet were constantly changing, to the point that several times they completely submerged and covered the entire tablet.

For four hundred years, there has never been such an exaggerated scene. Craftsmen from different factions and different lineages, from the Federation, the Empire and the Thousand Islands, are all paying their respects to their deceased master with the respect due to a teacher.

With four hundred years of guidance and instruction, even though she did not leave behind any unique inheritance or hidden skills, almost every craftsman in the association has inherited her skills to some extent and received her guidance and blessings.

No matter how arrogant and indifferent they may be, they will willingly bow their heads and offer their heartfelt condolences in the face of such selfless generosity and expectation.

To say that the whole world is dressed in mourning might be a slight exaggeration, but even if an emperor were to pass away, probably not so many people would feel genuine sadness and regret from the bottom of their hearts.

They even harbored resentment and resistance towards the association that caused all of this, and the condemnation and questioning of Gustav came like snowflakes.

Gustav offered no explanation, calmly accepting the criticism and letting the storm pass. As chairman, this was his job; he was responsible for everything that happened, good or bad.

No one in the council used this as an excuse to cause trouble. Li Lin, a disciple of the Carrion Eater, and the Plow Maker, who had not appeared in public for a long time, also stepped forward to explain the situation.

There is an end to life, and there is eternity to life and death.

Decades ago, the old lady's health had already begun to decline, and the long period of recuperation and conditioning was merely prolonging her final days.

In a way, the passing of this grandmaster can now be considered a joyous occasion.

Rather than continuing in vain and doing nothing for the next ten or twenty years, she chose to be a master and a craftsman, offering the world her final creation and gift.

For a craftsman, dying a life of toil on his sickbed is the real torment; what could be a more beautiful end than dedicating his life to further creation?

Ultimately, it left behind such a rich gift and legacy.

When a whale falls, all things are born.

At the funeral, Gustav read the will left by the carrion eater—even though the master had not accumulated much personal wealth in his life, what he left behind was still an astonishing astronomical figure.

Based on this, a fund was established and entrusted to the association to provide assistance and loans to young artisans who were short of funds. If managed properly, it would be enough to provide a considerable low-interest loan as start-up capital for each generation of outstanding newcomers who passed the examinations and obtained their artisan licenses.

And this is still just the most insignificant part of the legacy left by the scavengers.

The transformation of good and evil that the Grandmaster finally completed directly strengthened the embers of the present era in every aspect—from top to bottom, front to back, 360 degrees without any blind spots.

Ascension, purification, transformation, and integration—the efficiency and results of the four parts of modern alchemy have all been improved. The tragic principles of reversal have been integrated into the modern world, reducing the chance of failure and increasing the possibility of success for later craftsmen.

If we compare it to any pay-to-win games, it's roughly like the probability of getting gold coins in the gacha pool has permanently increased from 0.8% to 0.85%.

What may seem insignificant can be transformed into boundless possibilities when divided among each craftsman!

From apprentice to master, without exception, they all received this precious gift and were deeply grateful. After all, sometimes so many projects and refinements are persevered to the end, and all the effort and energy are exhausted, yet they still fail at the last hurdle. Isn't the difference just this insignificant little thing?
So many corrupt craftsmen sometimes go to extremes, losing all conscience and humanity, preparing without regard for consequences or costs, just to gain even the slightest chance of improvement?
This gift spared no craftsman, even the stagnant and corrupt, transcending good and evil, likes and dislikes, without any bias or narrow-mindedness.

It is this principle of treating everyone equally and compassion that has forged the glorious achievements of Ember today, and no amount of narrow-minded speculation can shake its ultimate sublimity.

Even after the funeral ended, the crowd lingered.

Amidst the loss and regret, everyone knows the truth... Perhaps, this moment of silent stillness is the final curtain falling on an era.

With the passing of the carrion eater, everything she created will eventually remain in the past. In the rolling torrent, how many people will not feel lost and bewildered?
After waving goodbye to their teacher, they have graduated. What will become of them in the future?

Soon, the new notice was sent to every craftsman through the association's announcement.

The Grandmaster Plowsmith will succeed Lord Carrion in his role within the Association, providing regular guidance and instruction to newcomers over the next century. This tradition established by Lord Carrion will remain unshaken and will continue alongside the Association.

The association will also take a series of measures to ensure that the grace and creations left behind by His Excellency the Carrion Eater are not wasted or forgotten.

Numerous new regulations have been introduced, including internal inspections within the association, assessments of craftsmen, and new treatment packages…

Thanks to this great victory and the offerings of His Excellency the Carrion Eater, the long-planned reforms have begun.

"As you said, the Plow Maker accepted the association's request and appointment..."

In the afternoon sunlight, Gustav sighed softly, remarking, "To be honest, it was truly unexpected."

After all, the plow maker was really difficult to deal with due to his aloofness and reclusiveness.

Of the three grandmasters, he was the most aloof from the association. Now that he is willing to step forward and take on this responsibility, it's as if the association's ancestors have blessed him with good fortune. So much so that everyone's first reaction upon hearing this is, "Are you kidding me?"

"Although Zhu Li's personality is a bit eccentric, his thinking is a bit unconventional, his speech is a bit harsh, and his actions are a bit straightforward... he is still a master after all. Since he has a responsibility to step forward, he will not shirk it."

Tianlu held his teacup and said slowly, "In a way, as a craftsman, no one is more pure than him. Compared to someone like me, he is the one who is truly closest to the Association. If you have any trouble in the future, just ask. As long as you are polite, he is so thin-skinned that he will definitely not be able to refuse."

Of course, if you go too far... don't blame him for not replying after reading your messages and disappearing without a trace.

"I understand."

Gustav gave a wry smile and sighed. Only the Heavenly Furnace would dare to point fingers and make such strange remarks about the plow-casting craftsmen. How could he possibly fathom or fabricate the actions of a Grandmaster? He put down his teacup and said solemnly, "The outcome of this victory or defeat depends on your control. The Association is deeply grateful and thankful for your hard work."

"I am Heavenly Furnace, no matter what, there's no need to be so polite." Heavenly Furnace waved his hand casually: "I guess you didn't come to see me just to talk about this, did you?"

Gustav then fell silent.

After a long silence, he sighed softly, took a deep breath, and asked bluntly, "The Grandmaster dislikes the current association, doesn't he?"

"..."

Tianlu raised his eyebrows slightly, turned around and looked at him. He didn't expect him to be so straightforward. In terms of courage and boldness, he was much better than Delong.

He didn't hide it, though: "It's just that I don't like it that much."

"I understand."

Gustav lowered his head and said nothing more, but then he heard the voice of the Heavenly Furnace: "Although I can't stand it, it's good this way. After all, creation is also a side of the embers. Even if I am the Heavenly Furnace, I can't expect everyone to think the same way I do."

If it weren't for the association established by the old lady, how could the Embers have achieved such a glorious development as craftsmen?
This isn't your fault; it's just the way things are, everyone's the same.

"Doesn't the Grandmaster want to change?"

"There's no need for that. You... did a great job."

Tianlu raised its head, looked at the sky, and chuckled softly: "As long as no one dislikes anyone else, that's fine."

It's like a married couple living together; with limited resources, they should just be patient and endure it together.

Although there's this guy called the Heavenly Furnace that's been clinging to us, it still provides some shelter from the wind and rain.

He said, "You should just do what you want to do."

Gustav remained silent for a long time before nodding solemnly.

Just as he was about to speak again, he heard a clear sound, very close by, as if some shackles had been broken, coming from within the body of the Heavenly Furnace.

Suddenly, I couldn't breathe, and my vision went black.

An invisible torrent burst forth from that body, violently covering reality, shaking all things, and washing away the blockade erected within the rift, almost encompassing the entire Celestial Pivot.

That is……

"Too slow, a bunch of old fogies, dawdling until now, it's embarrassing."

The craftsman, leaning on his cane, stood up and glanced back at Gustav one last time: "Please sit down, I'm going out for a bit."

Gustav was drenched in sweat, and his face gradually turned pale.

He strained to raise his head, but it was too late to stop him; he only managed to utter his last words: "What are you planning to do..."

"I'm just dropping by for a bit, I'll be right back."

A crack appeared beneath the cane, tore open, and spread, and the Heavenly Furnace stepped into it.

Disappear.

Dead silence, a long, dead silence. Gustav wiped his sweat, pulled out his phone and frantically dialed numbers, then saw warning messages pop up on the screen.

All that could be seen was the terrifying storm raging beneath the vortex.

It came suddenly, without warning, and then abruptly stopped.

Fifteen minutes later, the crack reopened.

The Heavenly Furnace, his white robes stained with blood, returned once more, leaning on his cane. The scraping sound of the shackles falling rang out again, and the terrifying pressure vanished without a trace.

There was only one heavy object left on the table.

This caused Gustav's eyes to widen in shock.

They forgot to breathe.

"...Old turtles are indeed old turtles, they run really fast."

Tianlu tossed his cane aside, lay back in his chair, picked up his teacup, and downed it in one gulp. He sighed sincerely, "That was close! I almost crashed. Luckily, I, Tianlu, am no ordinary person..."

"If he doesn't bite, can't I still go into the pond? Do you really think I bought this stun gun for free?"

"Dead...dead?"

Gustav found it unbelievable.

"Half, I guess. The other half ran too fast and we couldn't catch up, but it'll be enough to make him suffer for hundreds of years."

Tianlu lowered his eyes, glanced at the things on the table, and chuckled coldly: "I never thought that something as stagnant and corrupt as this could actually have a sincere heart."

On the table, a heart as black as iron beats silently.

Cracks appeared.

(End of this chapter)