Golden Body

Golden Body . . .

The gray-robed old man, visibly perturbed, shifted his gaze forward, toward an aura imbued with righteousness. Strangely, this presence seemed to stand in opposition to the overwhelming aura of destruction that lingered from the Brahma Heavenly Emperor. These two forces appeared eternally trapped within this space, as if their battle had transcended the flow of time, retaining every ounce of their brilliance.

Such a sight couldn't help but evoke contemplation. The Brahma Heavenly Emperor, unrivaled in the immortal realms, had only one true adversary. This battleground was the very arena where these two titans had clashed, ultimately claiming the life of the unparalleled Brahma Heavenly Emperor. One could only imagine the grandeur of their battle. If time could turn back, Qin Wentian longed to witness the epic inception of this enduring conflict.

Intriguingly, the auras of these ancient emperors still persisted, undiminished by the passage of countless years. The Brahma Heavenly Emperor had left behind his inheritance, dividing it into nine segments to force nine inheritors into a merciless competition, selecting only one survivor through the cruelest of trials. Even after death, he yearned to engage in an eternal battle with the opponent who had once stood in defiance. These two archaic emperors, despite their brutal and unyielding confrontation, must have developed a profound understanding of each other, perhaps even harboring a certain respect for their adversary.

"You've declined the inheritance of the Brahma Heavenly Emperor. I assume you plan to venture to the other cavern now?" the gray-robed old man inquired, his voice low. Slowly, he turned to face Qin Wentian.

"I won't deceive you, Senior. I did intend to explore the opposite cavern," Qin Wentian replied. The old man's gaze now fully focused on him. After a pause, he let out a slow sigh. "So be it. Your companion has received the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's inheritance, and you willingly relinquished it. Now, by heading to the opposing cavern, there's a chance you might gain its inheritance as well. Both you and your companion receiving inheritances from each cavern... perhaps this is the hand of destiny."

"Senior, nothing is certain. How can we guarantee that I'll be the chosen inheritor? Let's leave it to fate," Qin Wentian responded. His words held truth. He had given his all and had reached the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's inheritance before anyone else. If he had taken that step, he might have comprehended the inheritance. However, he had made a conscious choice to relinquish it willingly. This indicated that the inheritance was not destined for him.

As for the inheritance in the opposing cavern, it wouldn't come easily. He would strive for it with all his might, but if he failed, he wouldn't be disheartened.

"Words well spoken. Leave it to destiny," the old man concurred. He began to ascend into the air.

"Leaving it to destiny..." A clear voice resonated through the vicinity as the mysterious old man disappeared completely from view. It was as if his purpose had been fulfilled, and he no longer had any intentions regarding the outcome. Leaving everything to fate, he would now seek his own path. But who exactly was he?

"Shall we proceed?" Qing'er inquired softly, observing Qin Wentian's lingering gaze in the direction where the mysterious old man had vanished.

"Yes, but let's wait a moment," Qin Wentian responded, his aura surging forth. He even unleashed the power of his constellation. Rumbling sounds reverberated continuously as he stomped the ground repeatedly.

One by one, geniuses began to exit the Brahma Heavenly Cavern. Realizing that the inheritance was now beyond their reach, they chose to abandon their pursuit, preparing to venture into the opposing cavern. As they emerged, they cast glances at Qin Wentian and Qing'er, furrowing their brows with sharp intensity. Nevertheless, they remained silent, continuing their journey toward the alternate cavern.

One genius after another exited the cavern, their reluctance evident. However, the reality was stark—only nine positions were available, and once someone occupied a diagram, a protective barrier encased them. Despite their efforts to devise a strategy to seize the inheritance, they ultimately conceded defeat.

Furthermore, the aura emanating from the cavern opposite was equally formidable. Could it be that there was another inheritance hidden there? If that were the case, why obsess over the Brahma Heavenly Emperor's inheritance?

As they journeyed on, many individuals crossed paths with Qin Wentian and Qing'er. Wisely, they chose not to engage, continuing on their own quests.

Then, Nanfeng Yunxi emerged from the cavern. Her eyes locked onto Qin Wentian and Qing'er, an icy gleam flashing within her imposing gaze. Her voice dripped with anger as she advanced towards Qin Wentian. "You've disrupted my grand plans. It seems you seek death."

As she spoke, her aura surged, but the techniques she employed were unmistakably Nanfeng Yunxi's. It was bewildering to contemplate how she had achieved such mastery in such a short time, inhabiting Nanfeng Yunxi's form and acclimating herself to all her abilities. Qin Wentian's unease grew in the presence of this enigmatic woman.

Nanfeng Yunxi strode forward, each step emanating resolute determination, her emotionless eyes as frigid as ever. In the final moments, she unfurled her phoenix wings, ascending to the heavens with a terrifying presence. A crimson blaze enveloped her, outshining everything around, as she launched a fearsome attack aimed at Qin Wentian.

Qing'er too sprang into action, summoning her Immortal Slaying Diagram. The radiant and fearsome diagram transformed into a vortex, capable of absorbing all, intercepting Nanfeng Yunxi's assault. It was as though she had always been at Qin Wentian's side, ready to act in his defense.

In this moment, Qin Wentian summoned his utmost power, unleashing a dazzling brilliance into the sky. Golden divine silhouettes materialized, illuminating the surroundings and exuding a crushing pressure capable of shattering all. Nanfeng Yunxi's countenance paled. She had fallen into a trap meticulously set by Qin Wentian.

Initially, Nanfeng Yunxi contemplated retreat, but she found herself standing atop a shimmering runic diagram that emitted an aura of supreme authority. It swiftly transformed into a formidable suppressing force. Moments later, she was immobilized, her body entirely constrained by the runic diagram's power. Despite her immense strength, she was powerless in this moment.

Qin Wentian hurtled towards her with the swiftness of the wind. His palm radiated a pure-white flame that struck Nanfeng Yunxi's chest directly. It enveloped her in the power of his second bloodline, not to harm, but to infuse her with it.

...Boom! Boom! Boom! An intense chill emanated from Nanfeng Yunxi as a white silhouette seemed on the verge of expulsion from her. Yet, this silhouette fought tenaciously, even as Nanfeng Yunxi grimaced in agony. Qin Wentian's expression mirrored the intensity of a storm, and his other palm landed on her chest, further infusing her with his bloodline power, urging the mysterious female from her body.

In that pivotal moment, a pure-white blaze surged through Nanfeng Yunxi, and with a thunderous roar, an ethereal figure was expelled entirely. The figure bore an uncanny resemblance to the mysterious female apparition. Her eyes remained icy as she gazed at Qin Wentian, her perfectly beautiful face devoid of any discernible emotion.

Nanfeng Yunxi finally regained consciousness. Her eyes darted to the scene before her, her face flushing with embarrassment. Witnessing this scene as she awakened, one could imagine the discomfort she felt.

"Have you not had your fill yet?" Nanfeng Yunxi asked, her tone frosty. Qin Wentian promptly withdrew his gaze from the airborne enigma and withdrew his hands from her chest with lightning speed. Staring at Nanfeng Yunxi's razor-sharp eyes, he couldn't help but stammer, "Under the circumstances... please forgive me."

At that instant, Qin Wentian was mortified. Nanfeng Yunxi scrutinized his gaze and then averted her eyes. Although she seethed internally, she recognized that Qin Wentian had not acted intentionally. He had acted solely in her interest. Normally, any other person attempting to take advantage of her in such a manner would surely have met their end.

Nanfeng Yunxi tilted her head to fix her gaze on the mysterious female in the air. A trace of unease flashed in her eyes. Fortunately, Qin Wentian had expelled this female apparition from her body. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

With a sharp gust of wind, the female materialized before Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian unleashed his palm, still aglow with the pure-white flames, and the mysterious female had no choice but to evade. Her movements resembled a phantom, darting behind Qin Wentian. Her gaze remained icy, but she could do nothing more than glare at him with impotent rage.

Finally, like a fleeting breeze, her silhouette drifted away, departing from the area.

"Are you okay?" Qin Wentian inquired, genuine concern in his eyes. However, Nanfeng Yunxi met his gaze with an icy stare. An awkward smile tugged at Qin Wentian's lips, and he pivoted to address Qing'er. "Let's make our way to the other cavern, shall we?"

"Hmph," Qing'er retorted, her voice laced with a hint of playful mockery. "Did you enjoy yourself?"

With those words, she turned and started walking on her own. Qin Wentian, feeling as if he had turned to stone in that very moment, stood there in speechless disbelief. He was at a loss for words, unsure how to defend himself.

"Qing'er, I admit I was wrong!" Qin Wentian blinked, then hurriedly followed after Qing'er. Behind them, Nanfeng Yunxi's beautiful eyes gleamed as she watched the two figures ahead.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

As she contemplated those words, her countenance grew even colder as she fixated her glare on Qin Wentian's retreating form.

...

Radiant light burst into the sky as they arrived at the entrance of another cavern. This cave exuded an air of majesty, akin to the righteous aura of kings and emperors who once ruled the world. It stood in stark contrast to the previous cavern, an entity on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Qin Wentian, Qing'er, and Nanfeng Yunxi found themselves standing outside the entrance, seemingly having forgotten the events that had transpired moments ago.

"Shall we proceed?" Qin Wentian whispered. The three of them entered the cavern, where the powerful aura grew even more palpable up close. Inside, golden light bathed the interior, illuminating the space as numerous geniuses gathered. They all gazed ahead at a radiant runic diagram, formed from pure, golden light.

In the center of the diagram lay a figure, its body seemingly composed of pure gold. Resting there, it resembled a king or emperor from the ancient primordial era. Its golden visage exuded an aura of boundless and fearsome power.