.....In a certain corner of the Secret Realm, a large group of cultivators had gathered, locked in fierce combat as they struggled over treasures and the proclamation of an imperial inheritance.
"You think yourself qualified to contend for the inheritance of an Emperor-realm legacy?! You are courting death!"
A burly man wielding an enormous greatsword stepped forward. A crimson aura swirled around his body-an unrefined manifestation of killing intent not yet fully condensed into tangible form. Even so, the oppressive force radiating from him was terrifying, greatly hindering the speed and agility of those within its range.
With a thunderous roar, he swung his colossal blade toward a cluster of cultivators. The strike cleaved through the earth, carving a gash dozens of meters long. The ground collapsed along the blade's trajectory, leaving behind a deep trench that scarred the terrain.
From roughly fifty meters away, a voice rang out.
"What is this? So it is the Bloodthirsty Swordsman, Gao Hao-Ranked Fifth of Quan Dian City."
"Interfering with the opportunities of others to vie for an Emperor-level inheritance... are you not overreaching in your greed?"
Gao Hao narrowed his eyes toward the source of the voice. There stood Zhang Yun-Ranked Sixth of Luo Yian City.
Zhang Yun was a cultivator of the Path of Wind. Though that path was not widely favored, its power was far from negligible. When refined to mastery, it could summon natural tempests or condense razor-sharp gales capable of slicing through steel. In one hand, he held a folding fan; the other rested calmly behind his back, his posture elegant like that of a noble gentleman.
"So it is you," Gao Hao replied coldly. "If you wish to partake in this Emperor-level inheritance opportunity, I have no objection. After all, we are both counted among the top ten prodigies of our respective cities.
Yet whether others will come... that remains to be seen."
Zhang Yun casually flicked open his fan and fanned himself with leisurely composure, as though entirely unconcerned.
"It would hardly be surprising if other city-level prodigies were drawn here. I fear that the violent strike you unleashed just now has already attracted their attention."
No sooner had his words fallen than silhouettes began to emerge from the surroundings. What had begun as two now became thirteen.
Zhang Yun smiled faintly. "Oh? It seems you have all arrived sooner than I expected~"
"And what of it?" a new voice replied. "We are all ranked among The Pillars of the Hundred Cities. Our strengths may differ, but none of us are weak. Rather than create needless conflict, let fate and opportunity decide who is qualified to inherit this Emperor-level legacy."
The speaker was Da An-Ranked Eighth of Luo Yian City.
A woman's voice then drifted through the air-melodious, graceful, immediately drawing every gaze.
"Well spoken. It is as you say. Our strengths are comparable. To fight senselessly would yield more loss than gain. Whoever obtains what lies within should do so according to their own capability. That would be fairness enough."
"Heh~ I did not expect that a noble lady born of a great clan would also take interest in an Emperor-level inheritance," someone remarked lightly.
"Yan Lan-Ranked Second of Huan Tian City."
Yan Lan did not respond.
With a silent consensus formed, they turned toward the active formation before them-a teleportation array that would send them into the trial grounds of the inheritance.
Without hesitation, they entered one after another.
When the last of them vanished within, a shadow silently emerged from behind a distant tree.
"How interesting... An Emperor-level treasure? I was unaware that inheritances were categorized by rank. If it has drawn even The Pillars of the Hundred Cities, it cannot be ordinary. Very well-allow me to join the amusement. Heh heh..."
As soon as the shadow finished murmuring to himself, he shot into the formation. Moments later, the entrance sealed completely.
Inside the Inheritance Grounds
They found themselves transported to a place resembling a vast subterranean world. Yet none could determine how deep below the surface they were; their spiritual senses were entirely suppressed, as though some unseen force blocked all perception.
Su Lan-Ranked Second of Huan Tian City-spoke first.
"Why is this place filled entirely with lava? Even though I have tempered my flesh, blood, and bones to an advanced state, I can still feel the searing heat radiating from its surface. This is no ordinary lava-it burns far hotter."
Feng Lin-Ranked Third of Luo Yian City-nodded thoughtfully.
"I suspect this place possesses a far denser concentration of qi than elsewhere. I can faintly sense a powerful core of energy beneath this vast sea of molten rock."
Yin Tian-Ranked First of Huan Tian City-said calmly,
"All of you, try extending your spiritual force toward those floating stone platforms. The moment I did, my qi and spiritual energy were instantly devoured."
The others tested it and discovered that Yin Tian spoke the truth.
Zhang Yun frowned slightly. "It seems this trial cannot be overcome through internal qi, wind essence, or even spiritual force. We must rely solely upon physical ability-leaping across those stone platforms to reach the opposite side. That must be the path forward."
Gao Hao burst into laughter.
"What is this? Is this not perfectly suited for me? It appears this Emperor-level inheritance was destined for Gao Hao! Hahaha!"
Su Lan snorted softly.
"Do not grow overconfident. You are not the only one here who cultivates the body."
Their gazes met-sharp, unyielding, heavy with competitive fire.
The true trial... had only just begun.
- Long Tu, Rank 1 Genius of Luo Yian City
"Do not assume that you hold the advantage. Yes, the two of you temper your bodies and possess physical strength far surpassing that of ordinary cultivators. But that does not mean the other geniuses neglect body refinement. Even if their physiques cannot rival yours, they are not inferior by much."
When the two heard Long Tu speak in such a manner, they immediately restrained their arrogance. Long Tu was not merely the number one genius of a single city-he had already defeated the top-ranked geniuses of other cities on two separate occasions. Because of this, many believed his true ability might even surpass those ranked among The Pillars of the Hundred Cities.
As they were still wondering who would move first to test this stage, Long Tu acted. He was the first to leap onto the stone platform, relying purely on the burden of natural force-without drawing upon any external power or internal energy whatsoever. With sheer physical strength, he bounded from one floating stone platform to another, advancing steadily through the air.
When he reached the midpoint, he saw a solitary gate standing faintly in the distance on the far side.
The moment the others witnessed this, they no longer hesitated and hurried to follow behind Long Tu.
"You think this stage can be passed so easily? Those ranks belong to me-Gao Hao!"
The instant he finished speaking, Gao Hao suddenly turned and attacked the person who was following closely behind him-Ling Yu, the Rank 9 Genius of Huan Tian City. Though their rankings were far apart, such numbers did not necessarily determine true strength.
Ling Yu moved with astonishing speed, narrowly evading the sweeping strike of Gao Hao's massive blade. His agility was exceptional, and his mastery of sword control was extraordinary-he could manipulate his flying sword with his spiritual sense, directing it freely through the air. The blade shot forward and collided fiercely with Gao Hao's greatsword, the violent clash forcing Gao Hao back three full steps.
Seizing the perfect opportunity, Ling Yu did not hesitate. He lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant.
Seeing this, Gao Hao hurriedly raised his greatsword to deflect the incoming strike. The force of the collision sent both weapons flying in opposite directions.
Gao Hao's massive blade spun away and embedded itself into a floating stone platform some twenty meters from where he stood. Ling Yu's sword was knocked back only ten meters-but it remained suspended in the air. With a mere thought, he exerted his spiritual sense once more, commanding the sword to streak back toward Gao Hao for another attack.
"Damn it, Gao Hao! Just because I'm unarmed doesn't mean I'm weak!"
He snapped his fist forward with explosive force. A massive phantom of a fist roared toward the incoming sword. This was a martial technique that relied neither on raw physical strength nor on internal energy-it was a close-quarters combat art that required no external power at all.
Ling Yu's eyes gleamed. He had already perceived and predicted Gao Hao's movements-everything was unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. Instead of recalling the sword to his hand this time, he shot toward it at full speed. He did not use qi. Rather, he invoked the Sword Intent, merging his will with his blade and propelling himself forward as though he and the sword were one.
Both sword and body pierced straight through the enormous fist phantom. In the next instant, the blade drove cleanly through Gao Hao's torso.
Without giving him time to recover, Ling Yu twisted the sword that remained embedded within Gao Hao's body and slashed sideways, as if carving flesh. Yet before it could cut deeper than a single centimeter, a violent eruption of internal aura burst outward. The explosion blasted Ling Yu dozens of meters away from Gao Hao.
Gao Hao spat out a mouthful of thick blood in agony. To survive that strike, he had detonated a surge of internal power at the cost of ten years of his lifespan. Realizing he could no longer endure another exchange, he turned and fled desperately toward the next stage.
Seeing this, Ling Yu leapt across the other floating stone platforms, altering his path toward the gate while continuing to drive his sword forward in relentless pursuit, its Sword Intent humming through the air.
Gao Hao, sensing the blade closing in, could not help but curse.
"Damn it! Just wait-once I leave this stage, you won't die peacefully!"
His eyes darted about frantically, searching for allies from Quan Dian City. Yet none were nearby. The only cultivator within reach was Zhang Yun. With no other choice, he had to seek help from someone outside his city.
"Zhang Yun! Help me this once! If we pass this stage, I'll reward you with any treasure you desire-just deal with Ling Yu for me!"
Zhang Yun glanced back calmly.
"I can help-but on one condition. What pursues you threatens your life. You must surrender every valuable treasure you carry. What say you?"
Hearing this, Gao Hao's fury flared.
"You're extorting me at a time like this!? This is too much!"
"If you refuse," Zhang Yun replied coldly, "then I cannot help you." He turned as if to leave, accelerating away.
The sword was drawing ever closer. Gao Hao's injuries slowed him, while the blade only grew faster.
"I agree! I agree! Treasures-anything! I'll give you everything-just save me this once!"
Zhang Yun smiled with satisfaction.
"Then show your sincerity first. Hand over everything, and only then will I act."
Nearly mad with rage, Gao Hao had no alternative. He threw his spatial pouch toward Zhang Yun. The moment Zhang Yun confirmed its contents, he unfolded his fan and swept it outward. A razor-sharp gale surged forth, knocking Ling Yu's sword off course.
The blade was recalled and ceased its pursuit of Gao Hao. Relief barely had time to settle before a colossal palm descended upon him, covering a radius of twenty meters-impossible to evade.
Gao Hao was sent flying sideways and saw that the attacker was Da An.
"What have I ever done to you!? Why strike me now?"
Da An replied evenly,
"Do you realize that seizing this chance to ambush others destroys trust among allies? In the future, such conduct would mark you as one prone to betrayal. Eliminating you now prevents greater harm later."
Gao Hao roared,
"Aren't you the same-using this excuse to get rid of me!?"
"The difference," Da An said with a faint, cunning smile, "is that you initiated the conflict. Slaying the instigator harms no one."
Gao Hao erupted, burning even more of his lifespan to shatter the restrictions of this place. He lunged forward and threw every ounce of strength into a punch aimed at Da An.
It was useless.
Da An was no ordinary martial cultivator. He specialized in palm arts-techniques supreme in close and mid-range combat. Each strike carried overwhelming force, repelling opponents without allowing himself to suffer damage.
Dozens of palms descended in succession, each imbued with formidable palm laws. Gao Hao's body was crushed, bones splintering under the relentless assault.
Blood gushed from his seven orifices. His internal injuries were catastrophic-beyond short-term healing. Then another sword pierced through his back.
It was Ling Yu's blade, still seeking its opportunity.
"You... bastards..."
His body collapsed, sliding along the sword's path before rolling off the floating stone platform and plunging into the churning lava below.
The others soon reached the massive gate on the opposite side-the entrance to the next trial. From the events just witnessed, it became clear that rankings between cities differed drastically. A Rank 5 genius from one city could not even match a Rank 9 from another. Strength and skill varied wildly, depending on the city's foundation.
No one dared be careless anymore. Suspicion lingered-who might betray whom next?
Yin Tian remained indifferent. He approached the grand gate and pushed it open.
Beyond lay a desolate city adorned with strange relics reminiscent of an ancient civilization. There were no living beings-only a suffocating stench of blood and scattered corpses.
They began to explore.
No one formed alliances. Each departed alone in separate directions.
Within the remnants of the first trial, a shadow emerged.
"Hm? So they've passed the first stage. Yet they gained nothing? Was it merely a test of passage? There must be benefit here. I refuse to believe otherwise."
The shadow leapt among the floating rocks above the lava, inspecting the area. He discovered that sage power, internal energy, and spiritual force were all suppressed. Only physical strength was permitted.
Yet beneath the lava pool, he sensed something extraordinary-hundreds of condensed qi cores radiating immense energy.
After careful examination, his eyes lit with understanding.
"This isn't mere lava. It's a pool of condensed qi, compressed and heated beyond true magma! This is a cultivator's paradise-a tremendous opportunity. Absorb this liquid qi to temper the body and elevate one's cultivation!"
But it was deadly. Those lacking sufficient willpower would have their flesh and soul torn apart by the violent energy.
"This opportunity is mine. If I can absorb it all, my cultivation will soar!"
The shadow cast off his black cloak, revealing himself as Wu Ming. Without hesitation, he plunged into the searing pool.
He sat cross-legged upon its surface and began absorbing the liquid qi slowly. Pain coursed through him as scorching energy invaded his flesh and refined his organs. The process was perilous-one lapse in focus could mean death.
Within his consciousness, memories from a previous life surfaced-memories of body cultivation.
At last, he found it.
"Primordial Chaos Body Refinement Scripture."
Though currently a low-tier technique, it was more than enough to forge an indestructible physique.
The Primordial Chaos Body required tempering through violent, chaotic energy. True cultivation demanded Chaos itself-yet none existed here.
Still, he could form its foundational stage by condensing these energies into a fire element, aided by his latent control over time and space. After all, the concepts of time and space originated from Primordial Chaos-they were fragments of its essence.
And with those fragments, he would begin forging the body of Chaos.
...
........
Within the second trial, they continued to explore the surrounding area, each venturing in different directions.
A soft and melodious murmur escaped a young woman's lips as she spoke to herself.
"Why does this place feel so strange? I don't like it at all... I'd better investigate quickly and leave. Perhaps someone else has already discovered a location filled with precious treasures."
She was Yan Lan.
She entered a vast palace complex, grand and labyrinthine, its corridors winding endlessly through inner gardens and towering halls. As she stepped into one of the palace gardens, her gaze was drawn to the center of a magnificent hall. There, standing proudly upon a pedestal within a glass bottle, was a sealed scroll.
"Hm? What is this?"
She reached out with her slender hand and lifted the glass bottle containing the scroll. Carefully, she removed the scroll and unfurled it to read.
"This-this is a high-tier Soul Cultivation Scripture! I truly did not expect that within these ancient ruins there would be something so precious. It seems this expedition will not be without reward."
Suddenly, her eyes shifted toward the walls of the great hall. The murals painted upon them bore strange and intricate patterns, as though attempting to convey something profound. Yan Lan gently traced the wall with her delicate fingers.
...
In the next instant, she was pulled into a spiritual dimension.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself within utter darkness.
There was nothing.
No matter, no substance-nothing at all. It was absolute emptiness.
Though her spirit form emitted a faint glow, it was but a tiny flicker, as if it would be swallowed at any moment by the boundless dark.
She did not panic. Instead, she began to explore this desolate void. She refused to believe she had been drawn here for no reason. At the very least, there had to be some inheritance or hidden treasure.
And indeed, there was.
In the far distance, she noticed a faint crimson light.
She attempted to move toward it, yet no matter how much effort she exerted, it felt as though she remained in the same place, never advancing even a single step. A trace of anxiety surfaced within her heart, but she forced herself to suppress all stray thoughts.
This absolute silence and absence of light were more than enough to drive an ordinary person into madness.
Soon, she realized that this place was not merely emptiness or complete darkness. It was governed by the Laws of Time.
No matter how far she walked, she seemed to loop back to the same point. It was like walking upon a rolling cylinder that moved in tandem with her steps, ensuring she never truly progressed.
Yan Lan's eyes gleamed.
"This is the true opportunity! If I can comprehend the Laws of Time within this place, my strength will undergo a true transformation. The entire world beneath the heavens will one day lie beneath my feet."
Her spiritual form, originally a flickering light, gradually shifted-taking on a more defined shape resembling her physical body, though it remained purely spiritual in essence.
She sat cross-legged within the endless void, beginning her meditation to comprehend the Laws of Time.
Though she had yet to find a way out, she believed that once she grasped the temporal laws governing this realm, the path of escape would reveal itself naturally.
....
In the western region of these ruins
Su Lan encountered a creature both grotesque and terrifying.
The being stood nearly three meters tall. Its body was gaunt and disproportionate, its limbs unnaturally elongated. Its head was slightly larger than that of an ordinary human, and its mouth stretched forward into a shape resembling a bird's beak.
Such a strange lifeform survived solely because of the dense aura of death permeating this place. Yet it could only be slain through spiritual power alone. It seemed that this trial was deeply connected to the strength of one's soul.
"I can refine this deathly aura and transform it into spiritual energy," Su Lan muttered. "These currents of death originate from the remnants of countless fallen spirits."
But just how many souls had perished here to dye this entire world crimson with spiritual residue?
He shook his head and began absorbing the surrounding death energy, converting it into pure spiritual force to strengthen his own soul.
...
In the northern region-
Yin Tian stood before a colossal statue towering one hundred meters into the sky.
The statue resembled a demonic race. Its face bore jagged fangs like a giant's, and it possessed six arms, each holding a different weapon.
Beneath its feet lay an enormous and bizarre formation array etched into the ground.
Yin Tian stepped into the formation and sliced open his palm. Blood flowed down into the array. Instantly, crimson light flared to life, signaling its activation. The formation expanded outward, spreading across a radius of two hundred meters.
Without hesitation, Yin Tian sat cross-legged.
A beam of red light emerged from the statue's forehead and shot directly into his own.
The vast formation began absorbing the surrounding death aura, refining it into dense spiritual energy. Yin Tian drew in all of it, tempering and purifying it until his cultivation base surged upward.
Previously, he had been at the Eighth Stage of Essence Condensation. Now, he advanced into the late phase of the Ninth Stage of Essence Condensation.
Not only that-his soul realm also broke through into the Condensed Soul Core Realm.
This advancement greatly amplified his overall strength.
The soul was notoriously difficult to elevate. It required rare resources saturated with spiritual energy-materials that were exceedingly scarce. Without fortune or opportunity, progressing further along the path of soul cultivation was nearly impossible.
The soul itself possessed distinct realms of advancement. Once elevated to sufficiently high levels, one would scarcely need to rely on external methods of combat at all.
The Six Realms of Soul Cultivation were as follows:
1. Nascent Consciousness Realm - The soul gains stable form, no longer scattered like that of ordinary mortals.
2. Condensed Soul Core Realm - The soul compresses into a core, similar to a dantian, but spiritual in nature.
3. Unified Will Realm - One's will becomes powerful enough to merge with concepts such as the sword, flame, or darkness.
4. Soul Manifestation Realm - The soul can separate into projections or manifested forms.
5. Sovereign Soul Realm - The soul exerts natural suppression over surrounding beings.
6. Transcendent Spirit Realm - The soul transcends the limitations of time and space.
Although Yin Tian's soul had only just reached the initial stage of the Condensed Soul Core Realm, it was already sufficient to defend against spiritual assaults.
~Several hours passed...
Slowly, he opened his eyes after sitting in meditation for what felt like an eternity. He exhaled softly, a satisfied smile forming on his lips as his fingers curled into a tight fist.
"At last... the Demonic Sovereign Soul Technique is mine."
The harvest this time was beyond precious. The intelligence preserved within his clan's records had proven invaluable. Without those ancient archives guiding him, he would never have reaped such enormous benefits.
"With this alone, my soul cultivation will advance in tandem with my physical and essence refinement. No one will be able to keep pace with me."
Throughout the Second Trial, every participant had gained tremendous opportunities.
Within the absolute darkness-
Yan Lan had finally grasped a fragment of the Laws of Time. Though it was only a shallow comprehension, it was more than enough to satisfy her. The power she now wielded had increased by a noticeable margin.
Her spiritual form-radiant like a shimmering light-rose slowly from meditation. Step by step, she approached the distant crimson glow.
This time, the red light did not recede.
It stood directly before her.
She examined it repeatedly and sensed nothing unusual. It did not react, nor did it radiate hostility.
Tentatively, she extended her hand-now formed into a more tangible spiritual body-and touched the red glow.
In that instant-
The absolute darkness shattered.
She found herself standing within a vast and luxurious grand hall, draped in flowing crimson silk and adorned with regal decorations. Before her stood a magnificent throne.
Seated upon it was a woman clad in red, her face concealed beneath a veil of scarlet silk. Only her crimson lips were visible-seductive and impossibly refined.
Suddenly, the woman vanished.
Before Yan Lan could react, the veiled figure appeared directly before her.
Yan Lan attempted to move-
-but her body refused to obey.
It was as though time itself had frozen around her.
The woman in red observed her calmly before speaking.
"You possess some talent, to comprehend even a fragment of the Laws of Time."
Her voice echoed through the hall, laden with an authority so overwhelming that the surrounding laws trembled and shifted in response.
"You are fortunate to have passed the trial I created. To stand here now proves you are worthy of being called a genius. Rejoice... for you shall receive the inheritance of this Emperor of Scarlet Blood."
The Scarlet Blood Emperor raised a finger and pressed it lightly against Yan Lan's forehead.
A beam of crimson light shot directly into Yan Lan's sea of consciousness.
Everything went dark.
When she awoke, she found herself once again inside the quiet hall where she had first discovered the mural. But now, the wall carvings and strange patterns had completely vanished-as though they had never existed at all.
"I feel... dizzy..."
She clutched her temple, enduring the sharp spiritual pain. It was not a wound of the body-but of the soul.
She did not linger.
Yan Lan immediately rushed toward the central district of the ancient city. She could clearly sense that time within the absolute darkness had flowed dozens of times faster than the outside world.
What felt like several months inside-
had been merely two or three days outside.
....
.......
Within the First Trial-
The vast lava lake had completely disappeared, like a dried riverbed.
In its place lay countless high-grade spirit crystals, densely packed and saturated with spiritual energy.
Beneath the cracked earth-
A man sat cross-legged.
Nearly every inch of his body had been corroded by the terrifyingly concentrated spiritual liquid. Even his organs and ribs had been partially melted.
Yet in the next moment-
His flesh regenerated at astonishing speed, restoring itself as though no wound had ever existed.
"Ha... hahaha!"
"At last! I have successfully condensed the Primordial Chaos Body!"
Wu Ming rose slowly, laughter echoing across the desolate basin.
"Though this is merely the foundational stage, the attributes of the Primordial Chaos Body already surpass nearly every physique in this world!"
Not only that-
His cultivation had advanced to the mid-stage of Essence Condensation.
Though only mid-stage, the purity and density of his condensed essence rivaled that of ordinary late-stage cultivators.
"The gains this time... are truly extraordinary."
He swept his gaze across the dried basin and swiftly stored the hundreds of high-grade spirit crystals into his spatial ring.
Once finished, he strode toward the gate leading to the Second Trial.
"So this is the entrance... Though it hardly resembles a trial. It feels more like a treasure realm. Still-opportunity is opportunity."
He pushed the gate open and stepped inside without hesitation.
The moment he entered, a strange familiarity washed over him.
Wu Ming paused, frowning in thought.
Then his eyes widened.
"This... this is the world within Yong Ye's scroll!"
"Don't tell me... that scroll is connected to this realm?!"
The revelation exceeded even his expectations.
After confirming there were no immediate dangers, he ignored further exploration and rushed straight toward the center of the ancient ruins.
Upon arrival-
He discovered that the earlier group of geniuses had already gathered there.
Wu Ming concealed his presence and observed from afar.
The group was discussing the nature of this trial-trying to determine what they were meant to do next.
Suddenly-
All eyes shifted toward Long Tu.
In his hand was a peculiar wooden token.
Without hesitation, Long Tu crushed it.
The token shattered into fragments.
And from its remains-
A strange, terrifying aura erupted forth.