Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Special Physique
Haoran observed Yun Li with a clinical, detached curiosity, his chin resting on his palm as he sat atop the 999th step.
He watched the way the dark, violet energy acted like a weaver's needle, stitching together the ruptured meridians and shattered pride of the youth below.
Suddenly—BOOM!
A visible shockwave of spiritual energy erupted from Yun Li's frame, kicking up a cloud of silver dust from the ancient stone floor.
The atmospheric pressure suddenly shifted violently as the boy's aura surged, shattering the bottleneck of his cultivation!
He had successfully crossed the threshold, leaping from the peak of Foundation Establishment into the 1st Stage of the Core Formation Realm!
Not only that, but the physical devastation Haoran had inflicted just moments ago was gone.
The blood on Yun Li's face dried and flaked away, revealing skin that was unmarred and eyes that burned with a renewed, toxic arrogance.
"Urgh," Yun Li stood up slowly, rolling his shoulders as he felt the potent new strength coursing through his veins. "Ha, I broke through!"
He looked toward Ao Long, Jin Pei, Xia Mengyao, and Luo Mingye, savoring the looks of genuine shock and bewilderment on their faces.
To them, such a rapid recovery and breakthrough under crushing pressure must be a miracle of the highest order.
Yes, that must be. After all, he is a genius chosen by the heavens!
He then turned his gaze upward, looking directly at Haoran, and his brow couldn't help but furrowed when he noticed that the golden-haired heir hadn't moved a muscle.
Yes, despite the commotion, Haoran remained as calm and indifferent as a stagnant pool, looking down as if he hadn't just witnessed something supposedly impossible.
And yes, in Haoran's eyes, this was truly not shocking.
He had lived his whole life in the Imperial Capital , a place where "miracles" were the daily bread of the elite, where geniuses with Supreme Bloodline and Special Physiques gathered to compete for dominance.
And while this boy was likely an anomaly, the world was vast; people who could heal instantly or breakthrough in the heat of battle were as numerous as the clouds in the sky.
To a scion of a Hegemon Clan, a desperate breakthrough by a border-land cultivator was merely a common occurrence.
Even Xueli had repeatedly broke through under pressure. Although, she didn't heal.
'...This anomaly doesn't look that special,' Haoran thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.
However, he was intrigued by that strange power. Is it a System? A sentient magical artifact hidden in his soul? He couldn't be sure yet, but the energy lacked the harmony of this world's Laws.
It must've came from another world, perhaps it was even from the Immortal World and fell into this world, which he happened to pick up.
It was a rather interesting, foreign thing.
But even so, Haoran's interest was fleeting.
After all, while the energy was "special," it wasn't that special.
Many Special Physiques, including his own newly awakened Infinity Dragon God Divine Physique, possessed similar or even superior regenerative and adaptive capabilities.
Even if it did came from the Immortal World, it is likely fragmented, as he wouldn't be able to use it if it was complete.
His own Clan had produced many Immortals since time immemorial, so they have a few treasures from the Immortal World as well
So what this Yun Li has isn't his priority, for now, his primary objective remained unchanged, he wanted Xueli to finish her climb and claim the inheritance so they could leave this backwater region behind.
"I will not repeat myself," Haoran said, his voice cold and carrying a draconic resonance that made the room tremble. "You are free to take whatever treasures are hidden in the side chambers of this palace, but the inheritance at the top of these stairs belongs to me. Leave now, or stay and be buried."
Jin Pei and Ao Long didn't need to be told twice as they immediately cupped their fists in a frantic salute and turned on their heels.
They had no desire to be in the room when the "trash heir" inevitably offended Shen Haoran again.
They had been lucky to survive the first outburst; they weren't about to bet their lives on Haoran's mercy a second time.
"Let it go, Yun Li," Luo Mingye said softly, her voice carrying a hint of pity as she stepped forward and patted his shoulder, but her touch was light and devoid of the intimacy he craved. "An Emperor's inheritance is precious, but it means nothing if you lose your life before you can use it. There are other treasures here."
She didn't wait for his reply as she reached out and grabbed Xia Mengyao's hand, leading the auburn-haired genius away. "Let's go, Brother Mengyao. We should find the armory before the others do."
Yun Li stared at their retreating backs, his heart twisting with a violent, agonizing jealousy.
He looked at the way Mingye held Mengyao's hand, a sight that burned more than Haoran's Qi ever could.
He turned his gaze back to the golden haired youth at the top of the stairs, remembering the feeling of the abyss he had just crawled out of.
Knowing he couldn't win—not yet—he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, forced himself to look away, and stalked toward the side corridors to search for his own "consolation" spoils.
Haoran remained silent as the hall emptied, the only sound being the rhythmic, heavy breathing of Xueli as she began her final push toward the 900th step.
His eyes landed on her, watchful and waiting.
*
*
*
"Brother Mengyao, do you think there is a special physique that can convert pain into ecstasy?" asked Mingye as she walked side by side with Mengyao through the winding, silver-lit corridors of the side chambers.
Mengyao blinked, his pace faltering for a fraction of a second before he shook his head. "No, I don't believe so. At least, not in any of the ancient records of the Central Region. Why do you ask such a strange question?"
"I think... I think I might have awakened some special physique." Mingye paused her steps, turning toward Mengyao with a look of startlingly deep seriousness. "Earlier, when Young Master Shen suppressed us like that... that heavy, suffocating pressure... I actually enjoyed that feeling when it felt like I was being choked."
Mengyao's eyes widened, and he stared at her for a long, quiet moment. "I... I don't think that's a special physique, Mingye. That is probably just a special kink."
Mingye frowned, her head tilting in genuine confusion. "What's a kink? Is it a rare constitution? Or perhaps a bloodline mutation?"
Mengyao blushed, his face turning a shade of pink that contrasted sharply with his auburn hair as he quickly looked away, clearing his throat. "Ah, it's nothing. My junior brother was the one who came up with that word... I don't really know what it means either. I'll have to ask him about the technical details later."
"Junior brother... you mean that abandoned prince of the Chasing Cloud Kingdom?" asked Mingye, her curiosity piqued.
Mengyao nodded, his expression softening but becoming firm. "Don't call him that, though. It's very disrespectful to his journey. He is his own person now, and he has shed the shadow of that kingdom who abandoned him."
"Right, right, sorry," Mingye said, waving a hand dismissively. "Still, I'm so envious that you can have such a skilled and talented junior that follows your every command just because you saved him when he was abandoned. It must be so convenient."
She let out a long, dramatic sigh.
In truth, most of her interest in Yun Li had stemmed from the fact that his situation—the "trash" label and the sudden rise—was rather similar to that of Mengyao's junior brother.
She had harbored a secret desire to have a talented younger brother-figure who would follow her lead as well.
But her luck was proving to be rather poor; Yun Li, whom she had held such high hopes for, was turning out to be more of a delusional fraud than a loyal genius.
"Don't say that," Mengyao countered gently. "Junior Brother is just very enthusiastic. He's not my follower or my servant. We simply walk the same path."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. We all know he'd jump off a cliff if you asked him to," Mingye teased.
Just then...
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the corridor, sending a cloud of dust and ancient Qi rippling through the air.
Mengyao and Mingye exchanged a sharp look before simultaneously sprinting toward the source of the blast.
It didn't take long before they arrived at the entrance of a vast, circular room.
It was a treasure trove beyond their wildest dreams. Countless gold coins, high-grade spirit stones, and various scattered artifacts and herbs lay in heaps.
Books and scrolls were also strewn across the floor like autumn leaves.
However, at the center of the hall stood a lone, pristine altar, and hovering above it was a single book, wreathed in a glowing, heavenly golden light.
On the cover, the characters were embossed in a silver that seemed to dance: Bright Star Circulation Sutra.
"A Heavenly Grade Cultivation Technique!?"
Mingye and Mengyao exclaimed in unison.
Even in the depths of the Central Region, a cultivation technique of that level could cause even second rate sects and kingdoms to slaughter one another for the chance to study it.
If it were a Grand Tier Heavenly Grade, an all-out war between the first rate powers would surely erupt.
"This is mine!"
"Fuck off, it's the Sun Bird's property now!"
Their shock was interrupted by the sight of Ao Long and Jin Pei locked in a brutal exchange below the altar.
They were releasing explosive battle techniques, their Qi clashing with enough force to melt the gold coins beneath their feet.
However, as if sensing the new presence, Jin Pei and Ao Long both skidded back, stopping their duel to stare warily at the newcomers.
Mengyao's brow furrowed. He could feel the shift in the room's dynamic and knew that if he and Mingye chose to intervene now, these two bitter rivals would almost certainly put aside their differences to team up and eliminate the bigger threat.
Mengyao reached out and grabbed Mingye's hand, his grip firm.
"Let's go," he whispered. "This isn't the only room, and we cannot afford to be pincered by those two while their blood is up."
Mingye nodded and silently followed him.
Chapter 42: Chapter 42: A Girl's Resolve
(Ning Xueli's POV)
The moment I stepped into 901st step, it felt like the sky itself had collapsed and decided to rest specifically on my shoulders.
The moment my boot made contact with the cold, unforgiving stone, a sickening crack echoed through my ears—the sound of my own joints screaming in protest.
My vision blurred into a hazy smear of silver and gray, and for a heartbeat, I couldn't feel my feet.
It felt like I was no longer a person, but was a piece of iron being hammered on an anvil of pure, imperial will.
'Give up,' a voice whispered in the back of my mind, sounding cold and seductive. 'Just collapse. If you fall now, the pain stops. You've done more than enough, after all you're just a girl from a small clan. You were never meant for this.'
My knees buckled, hitting the edge of the step with a dull thud that sent a jolt of agony straight to my spine.
My lungs felt like they were filled with molten lead; every breath was a jagged struggle against a gravity that wanted to flatten me into a stain on the staircase.
I looked down at my hands, trembling violently against the rock, and I felt a tear of pure, raw exhaustion track through the soot on my cheek.
I couldn't do it.
The gap between me and the top was an infinite chasm.
I am already at my limit.
Maybe...
Maybe I should just give up?
After all, it's not like a young master from a prestigious clan in the central region would miss a girl like me, right?
In his mind, I'm probably just a girl he took pity on after using my body.
But then...
Through the thunderous ringing in my ears, I remembered his voice. Not the cold, distant voice he used with the world, but the one he had looked me in the eyes with—the one that had promised a different kind of reality.
"I shall take note of that resolve. That much, I can promise to believe in."
I tilted my head back, the movement costing me a grunt of pain, and saw him, Haoran.
He wasn't looking away from me, he wasn't disgusted at my pathetic state, he was just sitting on that 999th step, bathed in a golden-purple light that made him look like a god from the ancient scrolls, and he was waiting...waiting for me.
He had told me he would leave me behind if I failed, but he also said he would wait as long as I didn't give up.
To anyone else, that was a threat, but to me, it was the only lifeline I had ever been given.
If I stop now, I lose him, I realized, a sudden, piercing clarity cutting through the fog of pain.
If I collapse here, I go back to being a 'flower' in a garden, waiting to wither. I'll be forgotten by time, just another loser left in the dust of the Desolate Region.
The thought of him standing up and walking away, leaving me alone in this silence, hurt more than my cracking ribs ever could.
"I... will not... let you... go," I wheezed, the words tasting like copper and grit.
I felt a heat begin to stir in the center of my chest—not the pressure of the stairs, but a defiance that belonged to me.
My Qi, which had been frantic and disorganized, began to harmonize under the sheer force of my desperation.
It wasn't about being a supreme anymore, it wasn't about this inheritance, now it was about my greed.
I was greedy for his gaze, I was greedy for his attention, I was greedy for everything that he is.
My fingers dug into the stone, drawing blood, but I used that pain to anchor myself.
Slowly, agonizingly, I forced my left leg to straighten. The pressure tried to shove me back down, to break my spirit like dry kindling, but I met it with a snarl.
My flesh felt like it was being ground into paste, and my bones groaned as if they were about to shatter into splinters, but my will had finally found its edge.
I took another step.
902nd step.
The weight didn't get lighter, but my heart felt heavier—weighted with a determination that made the Emperor's pressure seem like a mere breeze.
At this moment, I felt like Iwasn't just climbing a staircase; I was crawling out of my own insignificance.
Watch me, Haoran, I thought, my eyes locking onto his silhouette through the silver mist. I won't be a flower that can only wait to wither. I'll be a woman, worthy of standing beside you.
903.
904.
905.
The number of steps became a blur, like a rhythmic counting of my own agony.
Every step I took was a battle won against a world that wanted me to remain small, and even as my vision had narrowed to the singular point of the next stone edge, I gritted my teeth and persisted.
The light emitting from the Imperial Stairs which, I thought beautiful at first, was now like a deep, suffocating ocean I was trying to swim through while chained to a boulder.
Seriously, I never even knew that I could be this stubborn.
Back when I was trying in Ogre Academy, unless Grandmaster himself insisted it, I wouldn't push myself that hard during training.
In some occasions, I would even sneak out of the academy to head to the city and have fun.
I'm incredibly lazy, and I hate pain the most.
After all, my clan is the richest in the entire region, and my Grandpa Sword was the strongest known expert in the entire region.
Why should I suffer when my backing was so powerful? Isn't that nonsense? What use was her backing for if she had to endure pain and grueling training?
But... As I accompanied Haoran, I felt like I have changed, even though it wasn't that long ago.
I endured and persisted when he told me to fight a beast beyond my level. I endured that mind breaking Trial of Will. I endured that incredibly dangerous Trial of Combat, and now I was forcing myself to endure this final trial.
In the past, just hearing one of those things would immediately make me give up.
But now... I was actually persisting, all for the sake of that man's recognition.
I shook my head, as by the 950th step, my vision began to fail, with dark spots danced at the corners of my eyes, and my heartbeat now a frantic, irregular drum in my ears.
I could feel the blood trickling from my nose, warm and metallic against my lip, and even my lungs felt like they were on fire, screaming for air that the Emperor's pressure refused to let me have.
Just ten more... I lied to myself at 960.
Just ten more... I lied again at 970.
And by the 990th step, I was no longer walking, I was crawling, my fingernails were torn, leaving dark, bloody streaks on the pristine white jade of the stairs.
The pressure here was absolute—it felt as though the Bright Silver Emperor himself was standing on my back, demanding I acknowledge my own worthlessness.
But then, I saw his boots.
Just a few more steps. Haoran's golden-purple aura was so close now that it acted as a beacon in the blinding silver haze.
I could feel his Qi and the faint, manly scent that clung to him. That scent was more intoxicating than any pill, more revitalizing than any spirit spring.
Ah... He's so close...
I'm almost... there...
With a final, guttural scream that tore through my throat, I thrust my body forward onto the 999th step.
The moment my weight shifted onto the final platform, the crushing gravity vanished instantly, replaced by a weightlessness so sudden I felt like I was floating.
The adrenaline that had kept my broken body moving evaporated, my muscles turned to water, and my consciousness began to slip into a dark, welcoming void.
I started to pitch forward, my face destined for the hard stone, but the impact never came as trong, firm arms caught me before I could fall.
I felt the cool silk of his robes against my bruised cheek and his steady, thundering heartbeat beneath my ear.
I was so small in his embrace, trembling like a leaf after a storm, but for the first time in my life, I felt safe, safer than even when I was in my clan.
Haoran didn't push me away. He held me as I drifted on the edge of passing out, I felt his breath against my ear and heard his voice—no longer cold, but carrying a weight of genuine, sovereign approval.
"Good job," he whispered, the words vibrating through my very soul. "Your will and resolve, I have acknowledged it. Xueli, from now, I want you by my side."
A single tear escaped my closed eyes, disappearing into the fabric of his robes.
I had done it.
I had reached the top.
I had earned my place by his side.
Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Die
Xueli's consciousness returned in waves, like a tide rolling back onto a shore of soft silk as rhe agonizing compression of the 999th step had vanished, replaced by a warmth that seeped into her very soul.
She groaned softly, expecting her muscles to tear, but the pain was gone—replaced by a profound, hollow exhaustion that felt almost peaceful.
"You're awake?" A gentle voice sounded.
She blinked and found herself looking up at a sharp, regal jawline, and only then did she realise that she was lying on Haoran's lap as he sat cross-legged on the cold obsidian of the summit, his fingers moving through her hair with a rhythmic, almost hypnotic gentleness.
She offered him a weak, trembling grin. "I didn't disappoint you... did I?"
Haoran's gaze shifted down to her, and for the first time, his smile was genuinely gentle, not the gentle but indifferent smile he always wore to everyone. "No. You exceeded my expectations, Xueli."
He leaned down, so close that their foreheads are an inch away from touching each other, "And you know what? I think I'm finding myself becoming more and more fascinated with you by the second."
Xueli let out a breathy, tired chuckle. "Hehe, is that so? Then keep on looking at me, Haoran. I promise you... eventually, you'll find yourself unable to look away from me even if the world is ending."
"Is that so? Then I'm waiting to see it," Haoran chuckled, though his eyes remained sharp as he patted her shoulder gently. "Now, get up. What we came for, what you bled for, is just behind us. It is time for you to receive your reward."
Xueli stood up with reluctant limbs as Haoran rose in one fluid motion.
Haa~, she sighed. I really wanted to enjoy that moment a bit more.
It was really so interesting to see someone who is so high and mighty, with pride bordering extreme arrogance, acting so kind and gentle.
They turned, and there they saw, at the very edge of the platform, where the silver mist gathered like a shroud, sat a massive coffin floating in the air.
It was carved from an unknown material, probably only found in the Eastern Region during his era, as it glowed with swirling motes of silver light that looked like trapped galaxies.
"The Tomb of an Emperor," Xueli muttered. The exhaustion in her eyes was instantly replaced by a burning, primal desire.
And who can blame her? Not to mention in this Desolate Region, even in the entire Tian Yuan Empire, this is a power that can turn you into a Hegemon of an era.
This was the pinnacle of power of the entire Prime Origin Realm.
And at this moment, she will be getting this legacy.
"Let's go." Haoran led the way, his footsteps echoing eerily through the platform.
"Hmm." Xueli nodded and followed behind him.
They stopped exactly a meter away from the radiant sarcophagus, and from this distance, they can effectively feel just how dangerous whoever was inside this coffin was.
Even though this tomb was probably several tens of thousands of years old, the aura it gives off was still suffocating.
For Xueli, it felt like staring straight into the abyss, and the only reason why she can remain calm is because Haoran was with her.
Just then, Haoran reached out and placed his hand upon the cold, vibrating metal as his Qi, now infused with the golden-purple essence of the Dragon Core, flared to life.
"Awaken..." He whispered.
The moment his energy touched the coffin, the entire inheritance realm let out a thunderous groan.
The pillars shook, and the silver lights above swirled into a violent tempest.
Xueli stumbled back, but she refused to look away, her eyes fixed on the lid as it began to dissolve into mist.
And from the vapor, a phantom manifested, forming the shape of a man in front of them.
When it solidified, the man's appearance was finally revealed. He possessed a face of ethereal beauty, with hair like spun moonlight and robes that seemed to be woven from the void itself.
He took a deep breath, as if savoring the air after tens of thousands years.
"I am the light of the stars; the earth is my body, and the seas are my blood."
"Unknown to heaven, nor known to earth."
"I am Lei Yin, and within the boundless universe, I alone am the honored one."
The spirit spoke with a voice that sounded like a thousand chiming bells, as if declaring the life of supremacy that he once had.
He then opened his silver eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two youths. "Are you two the ones who completed all my trials?"
Haoran and Xueli nodded in unison, but they didn't speak, simply observing the spirit silently.
The spirit of the Emperor studied them for a long moment, then slowly shook his head, a look of profound regret on his face. "Apologies. But you are not the ones I am waiting for, so I cannot give you my inheritance. But to praise you for your efforts and your undeniable talent, I shall grant you other treasures from my armory as compensation."
"What!?" Xueli's voice cracked, the shock hitting her harder than the pressure of the stairs. "Then what was the point of those trials!? Do you have any idea what I went through to stand here?! You're telling me I just get a consolation prize because I'm not the 'right' person!?"
Lei Yin's phantom frowned, his expression turning cold. "That is why I am offering you other treasures. I commend your tenacity, girl, but the core of my soul, my unique laws... you are simply not the fated one I saw in my prophecies."
"Fuck your mother!" Xueli shrieked, her temper, the legendary fire of the 'Little Witch', exploding in the face of the Emperor. "I hope you suffer eternal damnation in the underworld, you senile ghost! Scammer! Pig! Ugly!"
As she said those words, the atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly as the silver light turned into a jagged, suffocating pressure.
The air was sucked out of the room as if by a vacuum, and Xueli felt an invisible hand crush her throat, forcing her to struggle for breath.
"You—! How dare a mere ant disrespect this Emperor!?" Lei Yin's voice was no longer melodic; it was a roar of thunder. "Girl, do not test my patience. Kneel down and apologize, and I might still consider leaving you with your life and a pittance of gold."
Xueli gritted her teeth, her knees shaking as she tried to resist the soul-crushing pressure of a Supreme's remnant.
Suddenly, a hand patted her shoulder as Haoran stepped in front of her, and the moment he did, the Emperor's pressure shattered like glass hitting a stone floor.
She gasped for breath, before she stared at Haoran's back with eyes filled with gratitude and trust.
"You... who are you?" Lei Yin stared at Haoran, his silver eyes wide with shock as the boy casually shrugged off his pressure.
He actually didn't see it before since his focus was on the girl, it was only now when he stepped forward that he realized he couldn't see through the golden-haired youth; it was as if he were staring into the center of the universe and trying to comprehend all of creation.
Haoran stared at the spirit, his eyes held nothing but indifference.
"I doubt someone from this godforsaken backwater would know my name, but I am Shen Haoran, of the Shen Immortal Clan," Haoran said, his voice carrying a terrifying pride and authority, born from his upbringing as the heir of a Hegemon Clan, "And I will tell you this, remnant. The people at my side, with the sole exception of myself, do not need to bow to anyone else. You are just a flickering shadow of an unknown emperor, you are far from worthy of making her kneel."
"Shen... Immortal Clan?" Lei Yin's ghost flickered, his voice trembling. "Could it be... That Shen Clan? That hegemon from the Imperial Capital?"
"Oh? It seems you are far more knowledgeable than I thought," Haoran said, his smirk returning.
Lei Yin narrowed his eyes, his spectral form stabilizing as his pride fought back his fear. "...So what if you are from the Shen Clan!? Brat, in my era, I was still a Supreme Emperor! I ruled the stars while your parents were still counting spirit stones!"
"And I don't care," Haoran interrupted, his patience reaching its end. "Are you going to hand over your inheritance willingly, or not?"
Lei Yin exhaled a mist of silver light. "Kid, for the sake of the Shen Clan's face, I will forgive yours and that girl's offense. But as for my inheritance—forget it. I will let you take whatever you find in my realm, but my core legacy is reserved for the one fated by the stars."
"I see." Haoran nodded slowly, a look of cold, murderous intent, crossing his face.
Them, from his spatial ring, he took out a simple looking obsidian knife, but with its blade wreathed in a dark, purple flame that seemed to consume the surrounding light.
"Then... die."
Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Great Era
Shen Haoran was the most talented youth that had ever appeared in the history of the Shen Clan—no, even counting the entire history of the Tian Yuan Empire or the boundless expanse of the Prime Origin Realm, his talent stood at the absolute pinnacle.
Considering this status, Shen Haoran was protected and spoiled with a ferocity that bordered on religious devotion, not only by his own mother but by every Elder of the Clan.
He was the hope of their bloodline, the "True Dragon" destined to rule and shoulder the Heavens Will.
Because of this, not only does he have Qing'er, a Peak Profound Saint, shadowing his every move; his spatial ring was also a literal fortress of treasures.
It contained countless life-saving artifacts that guaranteed his safety regardless of where he wandered in the universe.
The obsidian knife he pulled out was the crown jewel of those protections.
It wasn't a physical artifact, nor was it forged from any material found in nature.
It was the hardened, materialized Sword Intent of an ancient Supreme from the Shen Clan.
It had only one function: to attack.
And although it was a single-use weapon, its power—the manifestation of a living Supreme's lethal will—was enough to obliterate Earthly Saints and leave Heavenly Saints fighting for their lives.
And what stood before Haoran was merely remnant spirit.
No matter how majestic Lei Yin had been in life, he was currently nothing more than a fading echo, so faced with the sword intent of a living Supreme, he was a candle standing before a hurricane.
"What...is that...?!" Lei Yin's eyes widened in fear and shock.
But Haoran didn't give him time to think and slashed the knife down.
For a heartbeat, the world turned a monochromatic gray, as space and time itself seemed to freeze in a paralysis of pure terror.
Then, a burning, dark purple sword intent erupted from the knife, causing to shatter as it was now done with its use.
And as the "blade" shattered, the intent transformed into a streak of absolute erasure, flying toward Lei Yin with speed that surpasses light.
There was no sound as the attack hits, there weren't even any aftershock!
It was as if the attack transcended the physical dimensions of the hall as Lei Yin was instantly engulfed by the purple void.
Once the last remnant of the sword qi disappeared, the time resumed its flow, and the world regained its vibrant color.
There were no traces of the attack left in the air, but the proof of its lethality was undeniable: the spirit of Lei Yin had vanished completely.
Xueli blinked, her jaw dropping. One moment she was glaring at the arrogant ghost, and the next, the space where he stood was empty.
"W-What happened? Did you kill him?" she asked, her voice trembling with awe.
Haoran's expression remained flat as je observed the empty space and spoke to the air. "No need to act dead. Show yourself."
"Bastard!" A cry of pure, undiluted rage echoed through the chamber.
Silver mist coalesced once more, forming the image of Lei Yin, but the "Emperor" was now a pathetic sight, his body was translucent, riddled with jagged cracks that bled motes of silver light. He was literally breaking apart.
He glared at Haoran, his spectral form flickering like a dying lamp.
"Are you going to give us your inheritance, or not?" Haoran asked again, his tone bored.
"You think I'll give you anything!? Dream on! I'll kill you here! Who cares about the Shen Clan when I'm already dead!?" Lei Yin roared, his remaining power erupting in a desperate, final surge.
In response, Haoran reached into his storage ring and pulled out a second, identical obsidian knife.
Lei Yin froze mid-roar. His spectral jaw hung open. "Y-You... just how many of those do you have!?"
"Enough," Haoran answered.
He wasn't lying. He had enough of these materialized intents to fight evenly with a Heavenly Saint in a serious sparring match.
If he truly wished, he could spam these knives to execute a Saint, though those were all simply theoretical as a living Saint could manipulate space or utilize speeds that would make it difficult to land a hit.
But against a stationary, trapped remnant spirit? Haoran could do this all day.
Lei Yin remained silent for a long time, the cracks in his form glowing a dull silver. Finally, he let out a heavy, defeated sigh.
"Very well... you win. The Shen Clan's foundation is truly... terrifying."
Haoran smiled, but he didn't put the knife back, he held it casually, the dark purple intent flickering like a flame. "Good choice. Now, have Xueli inherit it."
"This girl...?" Lei Yin observed Xueli, his gaze critical. "Well... her luck is sufficient, and her will is hardened. I can make do."
Haoran's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why do you look so reluctant, anyway? Is there someone more suitable to inherit your legacy? Xueli is a diamond in the rough. With my assistance, she will shine even in the heart of the Imperial Capital."
Lei Yin sighed, looking toward the distant stars visible through the hall's ceiling. "Well, I guess I can tell you. You see, when I was alive but already on my deathbed, a Seer, a true master of the Heavenly Secrets, came to see me. He told me that I should leave behind my legacy not for the strongest, but for the 'Fated One.' He said a Great Era is coming, an era where the heavens will weep and the earth will be reborn."
Haoran frowned, finding it rather familiar.
"He told me," Lei Yin continued, his voice growing distant, "that the one meant to take my mantle would be a boy born of the stars, someone who would rise from nothing to challenge the very foundations of the Prime Origin Realm. And if I played it right, I may even have big chance of being revived."
Haoran's brow furrowed, his golden eyes darkening with a contemplative shadow.
A Great Era... The prophecy also aligned too perfectly with the whispers echoing through the halls of the Shen Clan.
The Great Seer of his own clan—a man who had blinded himself to see the threads of fate—had predicted that the Immortal Gates, shut for eons, would finally groan open in this very generation.
Not only that, but the memories of his cousin tells the rise of the Flame Empress, where she would rise suddenly and burn like a wildfire, suppressing the geniuses of every continent, shoulder the Heavenly Will, and finally ascend to the Immortal Gates to claim her throne among the stars.
As for those 'fated ones'... they are undoubtedly the anomalies, Haoran thought silently. It seemed the masters of the ancient times had peered into the river of time, seen the arrival of these "protagonists" who appeared in droves, and made their preparations.
But a cold, sharp question pierced his mind: Did they see me? In their visions of the fated heroes, did they also see me who would track them down and strip them of their luck?
He kept his expression a mask of indifference, not showing any intention to ask.
He had dabbled in Clairvoyance as part of his study of the Six Great Professions, and he knew the first rule of the craft; never talk about them, especially if you mention their names.
Seers are the most mysterious and sensitive of all practitioners.
And just speaking their name or question their vision would likely result to something of a bell ringing in their ears, allowing them locate you, regardless of the distance.
Some incredibly power seers can even peek into the past, present and future.
"Well, whatever that prophecy is, it is now void," Seijirou said, his voice cutting through the Emperor's nostalgia. "Basic rule of Cultivation world; any good things belongs to those with the strength to take it."
Lei Yin looked at Haoran, seeing a terrifying conviction in the boy that no prophecy could account for.
The phantom let out a long, weary sigh, his spectral form beginning to glow with a brilliant, starlight intensity.
"Very well," the spirit whispered, his voice gaining a sacred, ritualistic cadence. "Let us begin. I will now give you my legacy, girl. Whether you can carry the weight of the stars remains to be seen."
Lei Yin drifted toward the center of the platform, his arms spreading wide as the silver coffin behind him shattered into a million sparkling shards, which didn't fall but began to orbit the phantom in a beautiful, lethal dance.
The very air then began to hum with the frequency of a thousand dying suns.
"Come forward," Lei Yin commanded.
Xueli looked at Haoran one last time,and seeing his silent nod of approval, she stepped forward with her chin high.
From this moment on, she will no longer be a girl from a desolate region anymore; but a rising star ready to ascend to the apex.
"Sit," Lei Yin ordered. "I will first teach you my cultivation and engrave the first three volumes directly into your sea of consciousness. If your will falters for even a second, your mind will be burned away by the starlight."
Xueli nodded sat cross-legged, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
"I'm ready!"
Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Thief
Lei Yin's phantom drifted closer to the edge of the altar, his silver hair billowing in a non-existent wind as he cast a sideways glance at Haoran, his expression unreadable.
"The process of engraving my legacy into her soul is not a brief affair," the spirit noted. "To inherit everything I have, it will take a minimum of one year—perhaps two at the maximum if her spirit proves stubborn. Do you truly intend to remain here, guarding this desolate summit for that long?"
Haoran didn't even blink.
"Yes," he replied with a tone that brooked no argument. "I'll wait here."
Lei Yin nodded, a faint trace of respect flickering in his spectral eyes. "Very well. You have the patience of a mountain. It is a rare trait in the youth of today."
Back then, when he was at his age, he was incredibly foolish and arrogant, offending a lot of people and ancient clans, which caused his journey to be filled with rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.
Although, he'd argue that it is precisely because of that arrogance of his that made him into an Emperor.
He then turned his focus back to Xueli, who was already deep in a meditative trance, her body beginning to glow with the first sparks of starlight Qi.
"Although," Lei Yin added, his brow furrowing as he scanned her internal structure, "you really gave me a problematic inheritor. Her bloodline and potential are completely messed up because of whatever crude method her ancestors used to alter their spirit and blood. The 'Spirit Possession' was it? The new cultivation method of this region... it is like trying to build a palace on a foundation of mud."
Honestly, he was appalled at the crude method that the people of this era had thought of.
Although it would be fine in the first few generations, and they might even produce geniuses that can leave their name in history, but that would be it.
After ten or so generations, their potential would wane, and they might even find it hard to advance to Nirvana Rebirth.
"I will have to reconstruct her physique, her bloodline, and her very soul from the ground up," Lei Yin continued. "Don't worry; it is nothing harmful. I will use the essence of the stars to wash away the impurities and reconstruct her as a True Vessel. There will be no negative effects, only a complete rebirth."
Haoran offered a curt nod.
He was well aware of the limitations of the Eastern Region's popular cultivation methods, after all, he had personally studied it when he first arrived in Cao Yin Kingdom.
If Lei Yin hadn't offered to fix her foundation, Haoran would have been forced to take her back to the Central Region to have his mother, the Matriarch, perform a similar reconstruction.
This saved him a considerable amount of effort.
Then, without another word, Haoran turned back toward the edge of the 999th step, and immediately felt the pressure pressing down on him.
He sat down cross-legged, his back straight as a pillar.
He didn't close his eyes entirely; instead, he allowed the crushing imperial pressure of the stairs to force his Qi to circulate and condense, using it as a tempering tool for his newly awakened Infinity Dragon God Divine Physique.
Lei Yin observed him for a final moment, noting the terrifying focus of the boy, before turning his full attention to the long, arduous task of forging Xueli into a successor.
Although that Seer told him that his successor would possess heaven defying luck, capable of turning misfortunes into fortune... This girl, having been favored by the heir to that hegemon, can also be considered to have the luck that defies the heaven, right?
So technically speaking, the prophecy of the Seer was already fulfilled.
*
*
*
While the summit remained in a state of sacred stillness, the lower chambers of the palace were a theater of violence and greed.
In a vast, secondary hall filled with the glint of spirit stones and the dust of ancient artifacts, the air hummed with the remnants of a high-level clash.
Ao Long stood victorious in the center of the room, his blue sword trembling slightly in his grip as he pointed it at Jin Pei's throat.
The Crown Prince of Blue Wind was in a sorry state, his robes were tattered, his chest was heaving, and blood seeped from a dozen shallow cuts, but a massive, triumphant grin split his face.
"I won... Prince of the Sun Bird Kingdom," Ao Long wheezed, his lungs burning.
Jin Pei let out a dry, raspy chuckle from where he lay on the floor. He was covered in his own blood, his golden fire extinguished. "You won. I admit... at this moment, I am inferior."
In truth, their strengths were nearly identical, and if the fight happened before they went to this inheritance realm, Jin Pei was confident that he has a higher chance of winning because his flames were far more aggressive.
As for why he thinks that, it is because Jin Pei had never fully recovered from the spiritual blow he took when Haoran humiliated him at the gate.
His foundation was shaky, and his confidence had been fractured. So he really was not at full power when the two of them fought.
However, as a prince, he didn't make excuses.
A loss was a loss.
Ao Long retracted his sword and offered a hand.
Jin Pei stared at it for a second, then grinned and took it, allowing the other prince to pull him to his feet.
"Well, that technique is yours by right of combat," Jin Pei said, leaning against a pile of gold coins to catch his breath. "I'll go find other things. There's plenty of scrap to go around."
But as Jin Pei turned to leave and Ao Long watched his back, still relishing the victory, a shadow that had been perfectly camouflaged among the piles of gold suddenly detached itself from the floor.
Before either of them could react, the shadow moved with lightning speed, a blur of violet-black Qi snatching the cultivation technique from the altar.
"Yun Li!" Ao Long roared, his jealousy and rage exploding as the figure skidded to a stop at the entrance of the room.
It was indeed Yun Li. He held the book in his hand, his eyes gleaming with a manic, opportunistic light.
"Give it back!" Ao Long glared at him, his sword-hand twitching. "You have no right to take that technique, you thief!"
"That's right," Jin Pei added, his voice low and dangerous. "He won it fair and square. If you wanted that, you should've joined the fight like a man instead of hiding in the trash!"
Yun Li merely grinned at them, his aura flickering with the strange, foreign power of the Falling Immortal Sutra. "This is the inheritance of an Emperor! Whoever is lucky and has the ability can claim the spoils! I took this technique with my intelligence and outsmarted the two of you. Why should I care about your 'fairness'?"
With a mocking wave, his body dissolved into a dark mist and he vanished into the corridors once more.
"Bastard!" Ao Long stomped his foot, the stone beneath him cracking.
He tried to make a move to chase, but for some reason, a strange sensation washed over him—a weird, sluggish thought telling him it was dangerous to pursue a "small" thief while he was injured.
Although, realistically, he knew that a newly promoted Core Formation, no matter how strong, couldn't possibly outrun or beat a Golden Core Cultivator.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to give chase.
He shook his head, clearing the odd feeling, and spat on the ground. "Once I return to the kingdom, I will ensure the Royal Family completely suppresses the Yun Clan! I'll strip them of their titles and their military!"
Normally, his father would never agree to such a move, especially since the Yun Clan had a new Saint, and with how Yun Li was rumored to be quite close with Lio Mingye, the Luo Clan might also offer help to the Yun Clan.
But during their time in this realm, Ao Long had noticed that Luo Mingye actually wasn't that close with Yun Li, in fact, she seems to be closer to that Heaven's Chosen of Flower Mountain Sect than Yun Li.
Which means, if the royal family suppressed the Yun Clan, there is a very little chance that Luo Clan will interfere.
And without the Luo Clan's support, the Yun Clan was just a child with a knife. Dangerous, but manageable.
"Well man, sorry about that," Jin Pei said, patting Ao Long's shoulder with a sympathetic grunt. "That brat is a slippery one. Once we return to the Central Region, let's have a drink. My treat."
Ao Long sighed, his shoulders dropping as the adrenaline faded. "Alright. Anyway, there are hundreds of rooms in this place. Let's just go and search for other treasures."
"Alright," Jin Pei grinned, and the two former rivals walked out of the room together, leaving the empty altar behind.
As for the gold and spirit stones? They don't lack those.
Maybe if they still have time, they'd take them once they found another powerful treasure.
Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Bond
Luo Mingye and Xia Mengyao ventured deeper into the labyrinthine side chambers of the palace, their footsteps echoing softly until they arrived at a hall that shimmered with an oppressive, metallic brilliance.
The room was a breathtaking display of martial history. Hundreds of artifacts—swords that pulsed with elemental energy, spears that seemed to hum with the sound of wind, and armor plated in dragon-scale patterns—were displayed with a meticulous, reverent order.
Each weapon rested atop a small, glowing rock that hovered in mid-air, rotating slowly to show off every curve of the smith's work.
On the base of these floating pedestals, glowing inscriptions detailed the artifact's rank, its name, and the legendary master who had forged it.
"Wow~!" Mingye's eyes widened to the size of saucers, the reflection of a dozen high ranking artifacts dancing in her pupils. "Sister Mengyao, there are so many! Let's split the room in half! You take the left, I take the right!"
But her excitement was cut short by a sharp, playful thwack to the top of her head.
Mengyao sighed, withdrawing her hand as she shook her head. "I told you, Mingye. Call me 'Brother' while I am in this form. The walls have ears, and my disguise is not just for show."
"Owie~," Mingye pouted, rubbing her head and playfully glaring. "Brother Mengyao, that hurts! You're getting meaner!"
"Is that so? I thought you had a special physique that turned pain into pleasure?" Mengyao smirked, throwing her own words back at her.
"Why would I feel pleasure from that? It's not like you're Young Master Shen," Mingye countered with a huff, crossing her arms.
Mengyao paused for a second, her lips twitching as she leaned in and whispered under her breath, "As expected... it really is a special kink."
"Hey! What is a 'special kink' anyway? I've been asking since earlier!" Mingye demanded, stomping her foot.
"And I told you, I have no idea," Mengyao lied smoothly, already walking toward the far end of the hall where the spiritual pressure felt densest.
Mingye followed close behind, her fleeting annoyance replaced by a happy hum as she bypassed Rank 5 and 6 artifacts without a second glance, only stopping for a brief moment to admire rank 6 and rank 7 artifacts.
At the very end of the chamber, they found the centerpiece: a grand silver altar etched with celestial runes, and above it, two swords—one as white as a winter moon, the other as black as a starless night—hovered in a perfect, rotating embrace.
Mengyao stepped forward to read the ancient script carved into the silver base. "... this is the language from Exlipse Emperor Era that ended 33 thousand years ago."
"Can you read it?" Asked Xueli.
Mengyao nodded as she read, "Gan Jiang and Mo Ye: The Married Swords representing Yin and Yang."
"Why does that sound like someone's name? Not like a name you'd give to a sword." Said Mingye.
Mengyao ignored her friend as her voice grew solemn as she read further. "Forged by the great artificer Gan Jiang during the Eclipse Emperor Era. It reached Saint Grade through human sacrifice, with his wife jumping into the furnace in front of the man she loved to meld the Essence of the Five Mountains and the Metals of the Six Heroes."
Mingye's eyes grew serious. This artifact that uses human sacrifice already borders on being a demonic artifact.
Probably the only reason why this artifact didn't give off demonic aura was because the human who sacrificed herself loved her husband so much it completely erased any trace of demonic aura that would've formed when the forging had happened.
She continued, "Individually, they are Rank 9 Saint-Grade Artifacts. However, if used together by two individuals, their resonance allows them to reach the power of a Rank 10 Saint-Grade Artifact."
"Holy shit!" Mingye exclaimed, her heart racing.
A Rank 10 Saint-Grade weapon was nearly an Imperial Grade artifact; it was a treasure that could sustain a Second-Rate sect for ten thousand years.
Their Luo Clan doesn't have one, and in the entire Blue Wind Kingdom, only the Royal Family has one, an Imperial Artifact passed down since the founding of their kingdom.
"Brother Mengyao, what do you say? We can't just leave them here. Let's take one each!" Suggested Mingye. "We're best friends, we can totally bring out its full power!"
"Alright," Mengyao nodded, her own heart thumping with anticipation. "I'll take the black sword, Gan Jiang as it matches my cultivation path."
"I'll take Mo Ye then! It's so pretty," Mingye said, reaching out.
Simultaneously, the two of them grasped the hilts of the hovering blades.
But the moment their fingers closed around the grips, a massive, glowing Yin Yang symbol erupted above their heads, bathing the entire armory in a blinding black-and-white radiance.
The swords didn't stay in their hands, but actually dissolved into pure spiritual light and surged into their bodies, settling directly into their respective Dantians.
However, the transformation didn't stop there as a shimmering, ethereal Red String of Fate appeared, winding around Mengyao's wrist and stretching across the space to bind itself tightly to Mingye's hand.
"What the-!?" Their eyes widened in shock.
The strings glowed with a brilliant crimson light for a few seconds before fading into invisibility.
Suddenly, their minds were flooded with memories that didn't belong to them.
Mengyao saw Mingye's childhood—her tantrums, her secret lessons, her first crush.
While Mingye saw Mengyao's life—the burden of being a "Heaven's Chosen," the secrets of her gender, the loneliness of the Flower Mountain Sect.
Through the karma of the swords, their souls had been permanently linked.
"W-What was that!?" Mingye shrieked, clutching her wrist as if she could still feel the thread. "That red string... did those swords just... marry us!?"
Mengyao's face was pale.
She ignored Mingye's shouting and began to frantically circle the altar, looking for any further messages left behind by whoever placed these swords here.
Finally, she found it. Carved in tiny, cheeky script on the very back of the silver base was a final note; so small it can barely be seen.
"The only way to take these swords is for two people to touch them together. But be warned: the swords will bind the two people together for eternity, effectively marrying them off in the eyes of the Heavens. So make sure to bring your Dao Companion with you! ✌️"
Mengyao felt her cheek twitch, and the "Peace Sign" at the end of the message was specifically, and incredibly annoying.
"What the hell!? Why is such an important message written at the back where nobody can see it!?" Mingye screamed, reading over Mengyao's shoulder.
"I guess the Bright Silver Emperor was a bit of a troll," Mengyao sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Troll? How is the Emperor related to those ugly, barbaric creatures from the northern swamps?" Mingye asked, genuinely confused.
"Ah, not that kind of Troll. A 'troll', well, just think of them as people who enjoy watching others make fools of themselves. People who set traps just to hear the snap," Mengyao explained, her voice dripping with exhaustion.
"Oh." Mingye nodded, her eyes welling with tears. "Then this Emperor is a massive troll!"
Mengyao sighed, looking at her hand. "Well, there's nothing we can do about it now. The bond is sealed in our Dantians."
"No! No! We need to do something!" Mingye wailed, her panic reaching a crescendo. "You can feel it, right? If we try to marry someone else, or if we betray this bond, the swords will riot inside us and cripple our cultivation! I don't want that! I'm not interested in girls, Mengyao! I want to get married to a handsome man! I want a wedding!"
She began to cry pitifully, the reality of being "spiritually married" to her best friend sinking in.
Mengyao watched her for a moment, her mind racing through the logic of the bond.
If the swords required a "pair" to function and demanded loyalty to the "unit"... then the only solution was to ensure their future was tied to the same destination.
"Then..." Mengyao suggested, her voice hesitant but calculating, "how about we just... marry the same person?"
Mingye paused, her eyes widening by the second.
"...huh!?"
"Hear me out!" Mengyao raised her hand, "Technically speaking, if we both marry the same person, then we wouldn't be betraying the bond, we're just adding another person into our lives...right?"
"...That makes so much sense I'm speechless." Said Mingye.
Mengyao straightened her back, "That's why, if you have any suitors, or if you have someone you like, bring them to meet me first. I'll just if they are worthy of the two of us."
Mingye scratched the back of her head, "But Sister Mengyao, you're literally the most talented person in Central Region, and my granpa is the best Zither Arts Practitioner in Central Region! Who even in the Central Region can be worthy of the two of us?"
"...perhaps those from the Imperial Capital?" Mengyao frowned, deep in thought.
"...like young master Shen?" Asked Mingye.
The two immediately went silent.