Nine Grand Inheritances

Nine Grand Inheritances . . .

Qin Wentian and Qing'er, undeterred by the presence of the eight ancient immortal emperors, pressed forward into the cavern's depths. The air around them was heavy with the ancient and archaic aura, adding to the intrigue of their journey.

Their progress came to an abrupt halt as they laid eyes upon a scene that left them awe-struck. Towering before them was an imposing statue, a colossal demonic beast exuding an unmatched, tyrannical aura. This monstrous creature boasted nine heads, each with nine pairs of eyes, each pair emanating a distinct, terrifying will that could shake the heavens itself.

Staring at these nine heads conjured a sense of overpowering dominance. Qin Wentian couldn't help but wonder if this was the true form of the legendary Brahma Heavenly Emperor, a name that resonated through the ages. Was he, in reality, a demonic beast known as the Brahma Heavenly Demon Emperor?

The nine heads extended from a single body, and an uncanny resemblance to Little Rascal was apparent.

"Could this be the Brahma Heavenly Emperor? The legendary figure whose name has echoed through the immortal realms, transcending time itself? The Brahma Heavenly Demon Emperor!" Qin Wentian speculated inwardly. Beneath each head was an intricate diagram, totaling nine in all.

Presently, two figures occupied two of these diagrams.

One was human, while the other was a demon, none other than Little Rascal.

The human figure exuded a chilling aura, his closed eyes nevertheless emanating a sharp intensity that sent shivers down Qin Wentian's spine. He knew instantly that this man was none other than Mo Xie, the #2-ranked genius on the Immortal Ascension Rankings. It appeared that Mo Xie had reached this place long before them, relying on his own strength to do so. His experiences must have been incredibly challenging.

However, questions swirled in Qin Wentian's mind. The diagrams had varying levels of radiance, with some already completely dim, their runic lines faded. These were dimmer even than the diagram Mo Xie occupied. Had Mo Xie comprehended all of them, or were there others who had entered before him?

"There are two vacant positions, go ahead and choose one," Qing'er said, her gaze fixed on Qin Wentian. Her voice was melodious, her eyes filled with anticipation, indicating her hope that Qin Wentian could inherit the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's legacy.

Qin Wentian contemplated his options, but at that moment, Little Rascal struggled to open its eyes. It fixed its gaze on Qin Wentian and pleaded, "Don't do it..."

"Little Rascal!" Qin Wentian called out, his face reflecting his confusion.

"This inheritance is divided into nine parts, and each person can comprehend only one. The immortal realms are ruled by the immortal emperors, and they can dominate without challenge. To inherit the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's full power, one must first devour the strength of the other eight inheritors, collecting all nine parts into a single body," Little Rascal explained. Its voice still carried a childlike quality, but the words resonated with an aura of absolute authority. It was as if the Brahma Heavenly Emperor himself had left behind this message.

"One must first absorb the power of the other eight inheritors, gathering all nine parts into a single body..." Qin Wentian's eyes gleamed with understanding. He saw hope and an unspoken plea in Little Rascal's eyes. Clearly, Little Rascal didn't want him to cultivate the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's secret art, as it would pit them against each other when it came time to complete the comprehensions.

"The Brahma Heavenly Emperor, a demon emperor, must have valued strength above all else. He considered the weak as sustenance for the strong, intending for the nine inheritors to battle and consume each other's comprehensions. Undoubtedly, the survivor would become the most terrifying existence."

Qin Wentian grasped the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's ruthless intent. This method ensured that even if some inheritors perished, the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's legacy would endure, making it less likely to be lost again.

"I won't comprehend it," Qin Wentian smiled. "But will you be safe here?"

With two inheritors already present, it was inevitable that the #2-ranked genius would eventually complete his comprehension and realize that Little Rascal was also one of the nine inheritors. This ruthless individual would undoubtedly target Little Rascal.

Little Rascal shook its head, then extended its paws. A brilliant cage formed, radiating runic light. The cage comprised intricate diagrams, and seeing it, Qin Wentian felt a sense of relief. It would be impossible for anyone to forcibly disrupt the comprehension process for this particular inheritance.

The cavern echoed with a sharp, electrifying sound, like a swarm of bees in a frenzy. Qin Wentian and Qing'er spun around, their eyes narrowing as they beheld a group of experts hurtling towards them. These weren't just any experts; they were the same brilliant minds they'd left behind outside the cavern. A furrow appeared on Qin Wentian's brow, a question mark forming in his mind. Why had all of these prodigies ventured in as well? Had the formidable might of the eight immortal emperors inexplicably allowed this massive influx?

Amid the approaching crowd, a figure shrouded in a gray robe materialized. This elderly man suspended himself gracefully in the air, his piercing gaze zeroing in on Qin Wentian and Qing'er.

"Why didn't you two seize the open positions?" The old man's words tumbled from his lips, laced with curiosity. He regarded Qin Wentian and Qing'er as though their decision not to vie for the inheritance had thrown him off balance.

This revelation dawned upon Qin Wentian, like a hidden piece of a complex puzzle falling into place. There were only two positions left for the inheritance of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor. Prior to Mo Xie and Little Rascal, five others had already absorbed the inheritance's wisdom. Logically, no more vacancies should have existed for newcomers like Qin Wentian and Qing'er. Yet the gray-robed elder seemed genuinely surprised that they hadn't attempted to seize the final two spots to claim the inheritance.

"Senior, we willingly chose to relinquish it," Qin Wentian responded, his voice steady and resolute.

"Relinquish it...relinquish it..." The old man seemed lost in thought, his demeanor distant. However, a sudden gleam of malevolence danced in his eyes, and in a split second, he closed the gap between himself and Qin Wentian. Their faces were nearly touching, and an overwhelming pressure engulfed Qin Wentian, making it difficult to breathe.

"You willingly gave it up?!" The mysterious old man's voice boomed with a mixture of disbelief and fury. His form surged forward, and a thunderous crash echoed as Qin Wentian was sent hurtling toward the colossal statue. However, an unyielding force met him, preventing his collision with the imposing figure. Before the statue, an intricate screen of runic light radiated with immense pressure, thwarting his approach.

Qing'er's countenance grew icy, and she moved to intervene, but the old man reappeared before Qin Wentian, his eyes bearing an eerie intensity.

"Both of you intend to relinquish this opportunity? Why? Why would you do such a thing?" The old man's voice was laden with frustration and confusion.

"Senior," Qin Wentian began, gesturing towards Little Rascal, "he is my companion. You should understand why I chose to abstain."

"Your companion!" The old man cast a fleeting glance at Little Rascal before focusing back on Qin Wentian. It seemed a revelation had dawned on him, and he sighed, "Very well. Let them fight it out amongst themselves. Destiny will decide who ultimately attains the complete inheritance."

With those words, the old man vanished once more, leaving the geniuses pondering the inheritance before them. Their eyes fixated on the imposing statue of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor, drawn to the two open positions beneath the colossal heads, the very spots where the inheritance could be grasped.

"Let's go," Qin Wentian murmured, and he and Qing'er retreated to the side. Rumbling sounds filled the cavern as waves of energy coursed through it.

Zi Daoyang proved the swiftest, breaking through the statue's pressure with an earth-shattering roar, daring anyone to stand in his way.

Others followed behind, surging forward despite the crushing weight of the environment. They struggled as if trapped in quicksand, yet determination pushed them forward.

Bone Demon extended his arms, coated in runic brilliance, slamming into two geniuses' backs, ending their lives as they resisted the pressure.

Xu Ruxue, armed with her divine whip constellation, wielded her whip with merciless precision. Its cracks pierced the air, leaving deep, bloody gashes in her adversaries.

As the remaining geniuses engaged in a frenzied battle, they tried to counter each other's attacks, their unity against the immortal emperors now a distant memory. Over a dozen had already fallen or lay gravely injured.

Qin Wentian and Qing'er stood on the sidelines, helplessly watching as former allies turned on one another. The camaraderie forged during their struggle against the immortal emperors had evaporated in the face of the coveted inheritance.

In the midst of the chaos, a vibrant red figure streaked through like lightning, leaving fiery trails in her wake. She plunged into the fray, and a searing crimson blaze erupted, consuming everything in its path.

With a pointed finger, the crimson flames coalesced into a magnificent divine phoenix. In an instant, several geniuses were engulfed and incinerated.

"Nanfeng..." Qin Wentian's heart constricted. Why was Nanfeng Yunxi here? And what had transformed her into this fiery, formidable force? The icy aura he'd known before couldn't compare to the scorching power she now wielded.

A shroud of mystery enshrouded Nanfeng Yunxi, and Qin Wentian could only watch, bewildered by her transformation.