Investment Return System, Start by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple

Chapter 137: Refining the Tower of Enlightenment

"May I ask… can we take only the immortal artifact and not the technique inheritance?"

Li Yourong raised her hand somewhat sheepishly, her voice soft. However, as her words hung in the air, the entire space fell into silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

The Tower Spirit seemed to have turned to stone, envisioning countless possibilities. He had considered the possibility of the two individuals engaging in a fierce battle, the victor claiming the inheritance. He had even contemplated the idea that one of them might suddenly attack, catching the other off guard, severely injuring or even killing them to seize the inheritance!

After all, this was an immortal technique. Coupled with their qualifications to achieve a perfect completion, they were undoubtedly destined to become true immortals in the future!

Who could resist such temptation?

Yet, here before them, these two women were able to do just that...

"Excuse me, what did you just say…"

The Tower Spirit fell silent for a long moment, eventually shaking its head. It was even more willing to believe that it had been too long since it had interacted with people and had misheard, rather than accept that the two individuals before it would forsake the inheritance of a supreme immortal technique!

"I-I mean, can we just take the immortal artifact? Mainly, it's this technique; it's really abysmal. If my Senior Sister and I were to accept the inheritance, our Master would definitely ridicule us once we return to the sect! And if it really isn't possible, we'll forgo this immortal artifact!"

Seeing the disbelief in the Tower Spirit's eyes, Li Yourong repeated her words with utmost seriousness.

…

"Do you even realize what you're saying? Do you comprehend the immeasurable value of rejecting the inheritance of a top grade immortal technique!? The former master of the Tower of Enlightenment relied on this top grade immortal technique. In less than thirty thousand years, he reached the Tribulation Crossing stage, successfully traversed the Heavenly Realm, and ascended!

"However, during the Tower of Enlightenment's aid in fending off the Heavenly Tribulation for its previous master, it suffered considerable damage. This is why the previous master left it here.

"The purpose was to cultivate a sufficiently exceptional heir. By wielding the Tower of Enlightenment, even in the Upper Realm, they would receive care from the previous master! So… are you truly rejecting this?"

After a lengthy silence, the Tower Spirit appeared slightly unhinged, wildly gesturing while passionately extolling the might of this technique. After all, it had waited tens of thousands of years for a successor. If they were to decline, how much longer would it have to wait for the next opportunity?

A prospect seen only once in tens of thousands of years, the Tower Spirit was unwilling to let it slip away. It yearned for freedom, tired of being confined in this desolate and isolated place, where not even a single soul could be found!

"If you wish to obtain the immortal artifact, accepting the inheritance is a prerequisite."

"We, the two of us, decline. Please allow us to leave."

Leng Yanran, observing the Tower Spirit's demeanor, furrowed her brows slightly and then even made a gesture as if to leave.

What value could an immortal artifact hold?

The God Slaying Spear bestowed by her Master, while she didn't know its exact grade, was certainly beyond comparison to an immortal artifact.

...

"Wait… My esteemed ladies, I implore you, please! For forty-three thousand, eight hundred and seventy-seven years, two months, and twenty-four days… do you know how I've spent my time!? Here's the deal: you shall possess this immortal artifact.

"As for the inheritance of this top grade immortal technique, it shall remain temporarily within the tower. If, in the future, there arises a candidate with suitable qualifications, then the technique shall be passed on to that individual.

"What say you? As long as you can help me escape this accursed place! Surely this is acceptable, right!? Huh? My esteemed ladies!?"

Never before had the Tower Spirit felt so insignificant, and it couldn't fathom how, in this era, even a top immortal technique could be treated like refuse! Furthermore, to reject the inheritance of a top immortal technique and even discard the immortal artifact? Was this truly necessary!?

"Deal!"

Upon hearing this, Leng Yanran immediately nodded in agreement.

As long as the two of them didn't have to accept the inheritance of the technique, the immortal artifact could still be claimed!

As for the future bestowal of the technique to a suitable individual, it was a possibility. After all, apart from their Master's Heaven Dao Pavilion, which regarded top immortal techniques as trivial, even in the Central Region, a top immortal technique held unparalleled significance!

In fact, if they were willing to auction it off, it could fetch a sky-high price in the Central Region!

"Sigh…"

With a sigh, the Tower Spirit gazed upon the two's revitalized excitement due to their evasion of the supreme immortal technique, feeling a pang of self-doubt.

"And the immortal artifact?"

Li Yourong blinked her eyes anxiously and inquired.

"The Tower of Enlightenment itself is the immortal artifact."

Originally a mid-grade immortal artifact, it suffered damage during its previous master's Tribulation Crossing, plummeting to a low-grade immortal artifact.

"This core, once refined, will grant complete control over the Tower of Enlightenment. Which one of you will claim possession of this immortal artifact?"

Though reluctant, the Tower Spirit took out a core and inquired sincerely, seeking to determine which of the two would govern the Tower of Enlightenment.

After all, this was an immortal artifact. Even if they weren't interested in the technique, they should at least vie for the artifact, right?

"Junior Sister, you don't have a suitable treasure yet. Why don't you refine the Tower of Enlightenment?"

Leng Yanran didn't hesitate in the slightest, directly offering the artifact to her junior sister.

After all, when she broke through to the Unity Realm, her Master had already bestowed the God Slaying Spear upon her. With such a divine weapon in hand, there was simply no need for an immortal artifact.

"I don't want it! This tower is too ugly! Plus, it's so dirty outside. I've noticed the tower covered in vines and moss. I don't want this thing! Once I return this time, I'll strive to cultivate diligently, break through to the Unity Realm. By then, Master will surely give me a proper treasure!"

Upon hearing her Senior Sister's words, Li Yourong, equally resolute, immediately shook her head in refusal without a second thought.

"…"

Having overheard the conversation between the two, the Tower Spirit of the Tower of Enlightenment silently placed the core on the table in front of it. Then, it walked to a corner and crouched down, silent and disheartened.

"If I had known that my esteemed Tower of Enlightenment, a dignified immortal artifact, would be so disdainfully rejected, it should have just rotted away in the earth… It should have been obliterated into ashes during the previous master's Tribulation Crossing! Such an affront to an immortal artifact, sob…"

Meanwhile, after Leng Yanran and Li Yourong, the sisters, engaged in a fervent back-and-forth of evading responsibility… In the end, Leng Yanran, with a resigned sigh, picked up the Tower of Enlightenment's core for refinement.

"Now that you've made up your minds, take the core and head to the cultivation chamber for refinement. Time flows there at about ten times slower than the outside, which will help you save some time."

Seeing that the two had finally decided who would refine the Tower of Enlightenment, the Tower Spirit stood up with a hint of exhaustion and spoke weakly.

"Hmm? Why the need to save time?"

Leng Yanran was somewhat puzzled, holding the core of the Tower of Enlightenment in her hand, she inquired.

"The refinement of an immortal artifact is not an overnight process. It would take at least a hundred years to fully refine. However, once it's refined to a tenth, you can easily retract and carry the Tower of Enlightenment with you. With the tenfold time acceleration in the cultivation chamber, it will take around a year."

The Tower Spirit's lips twitched, but it still explained the process.

"Is that so? But... I've already fully refined it just now..."