In the end, the Nightmare King survived.
Han Jue's Star Stream Sea couldn't contain him, he could escape its range. If the Nightmare King had chosen to self-destruct, no one present would have walked away unscathed.
So the Nightmare King paid a steep price: a top-tier soul treasure in exchange for his life.
"Star Sea King, I owe you for this one," Lei Dong said, his tone sincere. "The treasure set is yours. I happen to be in need of a soul treasure anyway, and while they're comparable in value, I already have a top-tier armor. This works out better for both of us."
"Thank you," Han Jue replied, acknowledging Lei Dong's gesture.
He understood Lei Dong was currying favor. The value of a complete top-tier treasure set rivaled that of an ordinary High Arcana, far more valuable than even a top-tier soul treasure, which couldn't compare to a true High Arcana soul treasure.
"Let's move," Lei Dong said, glancing toward King Gu Heart and King Power Guide in the distance.
While they wouldn't team up against them directly, staying vigilant never hurt.
Han Jue nodded and vanished, reappearing instantly at the center of the sealed space.
Before him floated a complete set of seven ordinary treasures. When combined, they formed armor comparable to ordinary High Arcana armor, the most valuable treasure that could appear within Lotus Ancient City's trials.
The armor's appearance resembled intertwined vines and branches, with white lotus flowers blooming across its surface. The stark contrast between the brown branches and pristine white blossoms created an elegant, otherworldly aesthetic.
Since the armor had no name, Han Jue simply called it the Lotus Armor Set.
As a top-tier complete treasure set, it could weaken material attacks below Universe Overlord level to one ten-thousandth of their original power. It also provided substantial soul defense, reducing soul attacks to roughly one percent of their strength.
Against a Universe Overlord, its defensive capabilities would drop to one percent effectiveness. If a Universe Master attacked, the Lotus Armor Set might shatter entirely.
Han Jue's Star Stream Sea clone currently lacked any armor treasures, making this acquisition perfect. However, once sized to fit his massive Star Stream Sea form, the defensive power would diminish somewhat.
"Lei Dong, I'll be taking my leave," Han Jue said with a smile.
According to convention, those who cleared the trials on floors seven through nine would be teleported directly outside, while others could remain in Lotus Ancient City, either waiting for the era's end to be automatically expelled, or passing the ninth floor trial to leave.
Beyond the treasures, the inheritances here held considerable value as well.
Take the Annihilation Soul technique Han Jue had acquired, an insidiously powerful secret method.
As long as one's soul strength exceeded the opponent's, it could forcibly accelerate their divine power consumption. However, the technique had a critical flaw: against opponents with equal or superior consciousness and soul strength, it would backfire, potentially causing the user to burn themselves to death.
"Go on," Lei Dong nodded.
Han Jue donned the Lotus Armor Set and stepped forward.
White light flashed,
In Primal Chaos City.
Han Jue, who had been cultivating, suddenly looked up toward the extraterritorial battlefield's direction.
"My clone... died?"
That shouldn't be possible.
Wasn't he about to leave Lotus Ancient City after acquiring that powerful treasure?
Yet Han Jue discovered he could no longer contact his clone.
Then he thought of something.
He attempted to recreate his clone through his inner world,
A surge of energy pulsed, but the clone failed to materialize. The universe's laws prevented it.
The clone must still be alive.
Something must have temporarily severed the connection between him and the clone.
Connecting this to his clone's last known location in the Star Stream Sea, Han Jue nodded slightly in understanding.
Lotus Ancient City!
That place must possess other peculiarities, similar to the Star Tower's unique properties.
Inside Lotus Ancient City.
Han Jue found himself transported to a pure white void, not the Lotus Continent he'd expected.
"You, little one, clearly just a World Lord, yet possessing will and consciousness comparable to a Universe Venerable. Quite peculiar. You're qualified to inherit the final legacy of my Lotus Clan."
A faint, ethereal voice resonated from nowhere, reaching deep into Han Jue's soul.
His World Lord identity being exposed didn't surprise him, any Universe Venerable could easily discern that his aura belonged to a World Lord.
"Senior? Where is this?" Han Jue asked cautiously, scanning his surroundings.
"This is what you would call the eighteenth floor of Lotus Ancient City," the voice replied.
"The eighteenth floor?"
"Are you willing to accept the Lotus Clan's inheritance? If not, I'll send you out and erase your memories of this encounter. Be warned, the inheritance's mortality rate exceeds ninety-nine percent. Once you fail, your soul will be annihilated. Even if this is merely a clone, it won't help." The voice didn't answer his question, instead posing one of its own.
Han Jue considered for a moment. "May I ask what the inheritance contains?"
"Oh? You're not afraid of death," the voice remarked with interest. "The inheritance's most fundamental component is this Lotus Ancient City itself, in your terms, a High Arcana palace treasure. Additionally, there's the complete inheritance of twelve Universe Masters and one of the universe's strongest beings from my Lotus Clan, including numerous treasures and arcana left before our clan's destruction. If you fully accept the inheritance, you'll become the new Lotus Lord, qualified to decide how these resources are used."
The voice sighed wistfully. "In our prime, the Lotus Clan was a supreme power that commanded respect throughout the universe. Unfortunately, after the Lotus God fell, our clan declined rapidly, ultimately ending in complete destruction. Our bloodline was severed, and no rumors about us remain in the outside world."
"Well, what do you say?"
"I'm willing to accept the inheritance!" Han Jue declared without hesitation.
"Good! You have courage!" the voice praised.
Whoosh,
The surrounding space shifted again.
Countless vines spread outward as a pinkish-white lotus flower materialized at their center. The lotus bloomed, and a rhombus-shaped crystal emerged from within, floating before Han Jue.
At the crystal's core, countless translucent, colorful threads intertwined, as if woven from the universe's fundamental laws themselves.
The inheritance!
This inheritance was likely less dangerous than the Star Tower's, but failure still meant certain death.
Han Jue wasn't sure if his Six-Eyed abilities would retain their miraculous properties if he were resurrected, so his best option was to fully accept the inheritance and avoid dying altogether.
"This is Lotus Ancient City's recognition ceremony. Successfully binding it as master means successfully accepting the inheritance. This tests both mind and body. I wish you success. I've remained here for countless epochs, I too want to leave and see the vibrant world outside."
The rhombus-shaped crystal merged into Han Jue's body.
The inheritance began.
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