Inheritance? Abandoned.

Inheritance? Abandoned....

Inheritance?

Test?

"Do you believe that your approval of me would make me approve of this inheritance?" Qin Wentian's voice cut through the air, dripping with disdain.

"Previously, you deemed me unworthy and sought to end my life. Hanging by a thread between life and death, only to now declare me a 'worthy successor'?" The present Qin Wentian was far from a successor; he had chosen the path of a usurper instead.

The golden guardians sought to find an eligible successor, but Qin Wentian had opted to seize the inheritance by force.

Having witnessed him obliterate Zhu Sha and shatter the golden guardian, the entire hall was now fixated on Qin Wentian, emotions running wild on their faces.

Suddenly, Qin Wentian's gaze locked onto Zhan Chen, emanating an intense and ruthless killing intent.

Caught in the grip of Qin Wentian's pitiless stare, Zhan Chen's expression underwent a drastic change. He understood that Qin Wentian meant to end his life.

A furious wind howled as Qin Wentian's hand moved. Instantly, the colossal constellation arm mimicked his motion, extending to seize Zhan Chen. Within the hall, it was Qin Wentian who held the reins of power.

Zhan Chen's Astral Souls burst forth, enveloping him in an aura of boundless sword radiance. It was as though his entire consciousness merged into the sword itself.

"LACERATE!" Zhan Chen bellowed. A drop of his blood fell onto the sword radiance. In an instant, a colossal sword of blood materialized, hurtling toward the constellation arm. The blood-colored sword intercepted the advance of the gigantic arm, causing deafening collisions to reverberate ceaselessly. Zhan Chen then pointed a finger at Qin Wentian, his expression as weighty as a mountain.

"KILL HIM!" Zhan Chen's voice thundered, and Yang Fan sprang into action. His palms glowed with the energy of stars and moons as he charged at Qin Wentian.

However, in the same moment, Bailu Jing materialized beside Qin Wentian, launching his Great Sun Nine Beheading Technique. Threads of gold materialized in the air, cleaving apart the manifestation formed by Yang Fan's Star-Seizing Palms.

"Hmph," Qin Wentian sneered, the air filled with the rumbling of power as the runic outlines on the ground began to hiss once more. This time, their fused energy honed in on Yang Fan, while a multitude of manifested long lances streaked toward Zhan Chen.

Zhan Chen's face turned ashen, and with a swift clap of his hands, a sphere of light materialized mid-air. He sliced through the oncoming spears with a powerful palm strike, causing the light radiance from the sphere to envelop him. In an instant, the observers noticed that Zhan Chen had vanished, only to reappear outside the great hall. His speed was so staggering it was almost as if he had teleported. However, as he reemerged, he involuntarily coughed up mouthfuls of blood.

Qin Wentian's gaze tracked Zhan Chen's movement, their eyes locking in a fierce contest brimming with the desire to annihilate each other.

Both were consumed by an insatiable hunger for destruction.

Zhan Chen was proving his mettle as a chosen from the Pill Emperor Hall, a formidable opponent. Even with the aid of a fourth-ranked formation, Qin Wentian found it impossible to eliminate him.

Comparing their individual strengths, Zhan Chen held the upper hand. After all, Qin Wentian's cultivation was relatively new and his foundation still underdeveloped.

Shifting his focus to Yang Fan, Qin Wentian commanded the gigantic arm to move with lightning speed toward him. Yang Fan's expression soured dramatically as he unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, attempting to buy himself a lifeline. Leveraging the force of the arm's attack, Yang Fan incorporated it into his own movement technique, fleeing the confines of the great hall. He understood that remaining within a space controlled by Qin Wentian meant certain death.

Turning his gaze to Hua Feng and the members of the Hua Clan, Qin Wentian's nonchalant demeanor bore a chilling undertone. They retreated, standing on the threshold with countenances as uninviting as a storm. A frigid light danced in their eyes as they directed their piercing gaze at Qin Wentian.

Within those walls, Qin Wentian was a force to be reckoned with—undefeatable. Thus, they opted to lie in wait outside the hall. When he emerged, whether with the inheritance or not, they were poised to obliterate him completely, ensuring no trace of him remained.

The other golden guardians locked their eyes onto Qin Wentian, comprehending their vulnerability within these walls. To remain would be to fall to his hand.

"Swoosh," the constellation arm swept forth. One of the golden guardians roared, "The successor is in open rebellion. I'll stall him. The rest of you, work together to summon the Golden Armored King."

His voice faded, and like a dragon twisting through the skies, the long spear in his grip clashed directly with the constellation arm. The impact threatened to shatter his body, while the long spears wielded by his companions pierced through space, targeting the Ascendant Sculpture.

Cracking sounds echoed as the sculpture's exterior fragmented, unleashing an intense beam of golden light. Qin Wentian's eyes widened as he observed a golden figure within the sculpture, much larger than the previous golden guardians. He quickly discerned that this golden body, although similar, was distinct from the others.

"A puppet," Qin Wentian remarked, recognizing the key difference between this towering golden form and the smaller golden guardians. While the other guardians possessed genuine cultivation bases, they weren't true Puppets. This colossal, golden-armored creation before him, on the other hand, was the epitome of a Puppet.

"Chi, chi, chi!" The golden guardians' forms disintegrated with controlled explosions, willingly choosing self-destruction. They transformed into beams of golden light that drilled into the massive golden-armored Puppet.

"Since you refuse to embrace succession, you can instead inherit our fate in the depths of hell," the golden guardian blocking Qin Wentian roared defiantly before detonating. As the golden light converged into the golden-armored Puppet, its eyes opened, and its colossal frame stood upright. The two ancient scrolls it had held were placed on the ground, and its gaze locked onto Qin Wentian with a malevolent aura that distorted the very air.

"Boom!" The golden-armored Puppet took its first step, the sheer force causing the ground to tremble beneath it.

Qin Wentian's eyes narrowed, his intuition confirmed. The nine golden guardians weren't Puppets but actual humans.

As for the sculpture, what others perceived as an Ascendant's corpse, an embodiment of inheritance, was merely a Puppet.

This revelation fueled contemplation among the onlookers.

Qin Wentian maintained his steady gaze on the towering golden form, his vision penetrating its exterior. In a realm reserved for Yuanfu-level cultivators, a fourth-ranked Puppet wielded invincibility.

A humming sound filled the air as the golden-armored Puppet extended a finger towards Qin Wentian. With this gesture, space warped, gathering the immense energy of Heaven and Earth into a single focal point—an arrow-shaped projection. This golden arrow promised the ability to pierce through any substance.

Qin Wentian's expression shifted, responding swiftly with the appearance of the gargantuan constellation arm that materialized before him.

The two forces collided, and the great hall shook with seismic intensity. Fueled by the combined energy of the countless runic outlines on the floor and the constellation arm, their assault battled against the golden-armored Puppet.

Unfazed, the golden Puppet advanced relentlessly, defying the onslaught of attacks.

"BOOM!" The constellation arm clenched, enveloping the massive golden-armored Puppet. Simultaneously, Qin Wentian's form flickered as he sprinted toward the towering creation with astonishing speed.

The golden Puppet's eyes shot lightning-like beams directly into Qin Wentian's consciousness. Agonizing jolts surged through his brow, countered by an immediate surge of concentrated light erupting from his third eye. Closing the gap quickly, he positioned himself before the golden Puppet, his palms poised.

The golden Puppet's eyes glinted with a hint of amusement, as if finding the notion of a third-level Yuanfu cultivator attempting to breach its defenses utterly laughable. Did this mere cultivator dream of overcoming a fourth-ranked Puppet's protection?

A cold smile curled on Qin Wentian's lips as he thrust his palms forward, his intention clear. He aimed to breach the so-called invincibility of the fourth-ranked Puppet.

With a swift movement, his palm struck the Puppet's head, releasing a surge of energy that bypassed its exterior and directly targeted the Divine Inscription within— the heart of its power.

The Puppet's incredulous thoughts raced. How was this possible? Was Qin Wentian truly able to perceive and unravel the complex web of the fourth-ranked Inscription's inner workings?

The precise positioning of a Divine Inscription within a Puppet was shrouded in secrecy, divulged only to its creator. How, then, could this knowledge be unveiled so effortlessly?

Even if the location was uncovered, eradicating it should have been a monumental challenge. Yet, with each palm strike from Qin Wentian, the Puppet witnessed the very runic essence of its existence unraveling before its eyes.

Negation—Qin Wentian's mastery of the Dao of Divine Inscriptions had surpassed the realm of normalcy, reaching the level of Reverse Inscription. Now, with his heightened perception, he could discern the intricacies of the fourth-ranked Inscription with uncanny clarity. Neutralizing its power proved almost effortless.

A flurry of strikes followed, each targeted meticulously at the head of the towering golden-armored Puppet.

The reverberating echoes of its reluctant cries resonated through the space, gradually dwindling in volume in perfect sync with the diminishing energy of the Divine Inscription within it. The Puppet's protests subsided as the essence of its existence unraveled with each destructive blow.

In a matter of moments, the Puppet's strength waned, forcing it into a kneeling posture. "YOU WILL DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH!" The Puppet's final threat went unheard by Qin Wentian. Mere words held no sway over him. His assault escalated, unrelenting until the last vestiges of awareness were extinguished from the golden guardian. It transformed into an inert form, devoid of ownership, and Qin Wentian calmly deposited it into his interspatial ring.

Henceforth, this fourth-ranked Puppet belonged to Qin Wentian.

Stepping away, Qin Wentian approached the site where the two ancient scrolls lay. Retrieving them, he unrolled one of the scrolls, immersing his consciousness in its contents.

"These ancient scrolls hold the knowledge of the esteemed Gold-Element Ascendant. You shall be privy to my profound understanding of the Dao of Divine Inscriptions, as well as my personally crafted formations and Divine Inscriptions." An archaic voice flowed into his mind, ushering forth an array of immensely powerful Inscriptions and formations.

A smile graced Qin Wentian's lips as he delved into the second ancient scroll. "I bear the title of the Gold-Element Ascendant. My journey to cultivation was paved with countless challenges and obstacles. The heavens, however, do not forsake those who persevere, and by fortuitous chance, I obtained a cultivation art that defied all norms. Within the Gold-Element Ancient Scroll resides a profound technique that bestows an indestructible golden body upon its practitioner. Cultivation of this art renders one's body akin to a Divine Weapon, capable of sweeping through the Grand Xia unimpeded, ascending to the pinnacle of existence."

"This esteemed lord once faced treachery and injury at the hands of enemies, leading to my eventual resting place here. With my final breath, I chose to bequeath my legacy to those who are destined to follow. Should the chosen successor triumph over my trials and claim my inheritance, they must dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to mastering my legacy. There are three vital tenets that must be observed: First, the cultivation of this extraordinary art must forever remain veiled, concealed even from one's sect, clan, and forebears. In the past, it was none other than my own kin who harmed me. Second, this cultivation art is an entity of sheer dominance, and its path may lead to abnormal metamorphoses during its pursuit. Only those endowed with an unyielding spirit, the mightiest of the mighty, can successfully traverse its course. Third, allow me to emphasize once more—never let a whisper escape regarding your pursuit of this hidden art. Were my adversaries to unearth your secret, your life would be forfeit. Naturally, should you one day ascend to the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, you may then delve into the enigma of my foe's identity. If you possess the determination for such a venture, be the vengeful blade for this esteemed lord!"

The voice faded gradually, leaving Qin Wentian's eyes ablaze with fierce determination.

The Gold-Element Ancient Scroll, housing a world-defying art?

A practice that could be honed but must remain shrouded in utter secrecy?

Qin Wentian's eyes grew frigid. The recollection of those nine golden guardians resurfaced. They were not mere Puppets, but animated by the essence of living beings.

"Congratulations on securing the Ascendant's legacy, Qin Wentian." Old First's jubilant laughter resonated in the air. Old First, accompanied by Bailu Jing and Bailu Yi, remained within the hall.

Qin Wentian responded with a smile. Stepping towards the hall's entrance, he cast his gaze over the remaining cultivators. "Our conflicts within this concealed realm were all fueled by the desire for this inheritance. Now that it rests in my grasp, I understand that many among you are eager to seize it by force. I, Qin, don't harbor the hubris to believe I can survive against the entire Moon Continent. Fellow cultivators, I am prepared to renounce this inheritance in favor of you all."

As his words hung in the air, Qin Wentian cast the ancient scroll outwards, leaving the onlookers stunned by his abrupt decision.

The Ascendant's inheritance?

Qin Wentian had voluntarily relinquished it!