Linhua

The surroundings around Mingyue shifted as Vesa manipulated the formation, transporting her to the core area. Mingyue now found herself in a brightly lit chamber, the walls and ceiling made of rough stone. Before she could fully take in her new surroundings, an overwhelming presence suddenly invaded her mind. "I don't know how you got in, but don't blame me for this. Everyone looks out for themselves," a melodic voice echoed in her thoughts.

A sharp, invasive force gnawed at her consciousness, trying to consume her mind—but it only lasted a moment. The voice shrieked in despair before vanishing completely.

[It's done, Queen. Extracting the information will take some time, but for now, I have seized control of the secret realm.]

"What can you do with it now?" Mingyue asked, still recovering from the abrupt encounter.

[My knowledge of formations is still limited,] Vesa admitted. [For now, I can only manipulate the existing traps, open or seal the secret realm, and—] its voice took on a hint of amusement, [—I have access to all the treasures stored here.]

Mingyue's heart skipped a beat. "The previous owner must've been planning for a comeback."

[Indeed. A sizable hoard meant to aid her return to the Golden Core stage.]

Mingyue's excitement grew. With these resources, she could cultivate in seclusion, growing stronger at an accelerated pace. However, she knew better than to rely solely on closed-door cultivation—experience and understanding were just as vital. An idea sparked in her mind. Since she now controlled the secret realm, she could turn it into a hidden sanctuary. But there was a problem—her sect already knew about this place. "Vesa, can you move the secret realm to another location?" she asked.

[I cannot for now, but isn't a secret realm usually sealed once it's completed? I can close it off and conceal it from detection. Even with my current abilities, no one in this region will be able to find it.]

"That works," Mingyue mused, "but if I just vanish, Lin Hua might get suspicious. I need to let her think she obtained the inheritance."

[Queen, among the treasures, there is an artifact that allows you to alter your appearance,] Vesa suggested. [Why not fake your death? You could observe from the shadows and see who benefits from your 'demise.']

Mingyue considered the plan—it was clever, but there was a glaring issue. "My family has my life talisman. As long as I'm alive, it won't break."

[Ah, but there's a way around that, The talisman functions by linking to a fragment of your life force. If it detects your life force disappearing, it will shatter.]

Mingyue frowned. "And how do we trick it?"

[Your transformation into a Progenitor changes your life force at a fundamental level. At a certain stage, your old life force will be erased and replaced. I can trigger that transformation briefly—just enough for the talisman to register your 'death.']

Mingyue's eyes lit up. "That could work."

[Then shall we proceed, Queen? Let's see what happens when the world believes you are gone.]

Meanwhile, on the eighth island, a beautiful woman moved with lethal grace among monstrous beasts. A two-headed dog, twice the size of a lion, let out a deep, guttural bark before crouching low, its muscles tensing. Then—it pounced. Lin Hua spun on her heel, her long blue hair whipping through the air as the wind surged around her, enhancing her movements.

SLASH!

Her sword came down in a single, precise arc, carving a crimson line straight down the middle of the beast. Blood sprayed as she continued her deadly dance, each motion slicing through the air with a gale-like force. A strike to the left, another to the right. A swift duck. A low sweep. One by one, the monsters fell. By the time the last creature collapsed, silence filled the island. Lin Hua dropped to her knees, her body drenched in sweat. Breathing heavily, she muttered, "Finally… it's over. Just how many more islands are there…"

Unlike Mingyue, Lin Hua had no way of knowing how many trials remained. Every time she conquered an island, a reward would appear, giving her a brief moment to recover before the next challenge presented itself. Then, without fail, a new set of stairs would materialize, leading her forward. She had a feeling this was intentional—meant to push the inheritor's instincts, to make them feel like they had no choice but to press on. And she had done just that.

At first, the rewards had been cultivation herbs, enhancing her strength bit by bit. Then came the sword manual. The Echoes of the Wind Dance. The technique she had just used. If she truly mastered it, every slash of her sword would generate wind blades—turning her into a living storm. 'I don't know what rank this technique is… but it has to be high,' she thought.

In her world, techniques were divided into six ranks: Mortal, Earth, Mystic, Celestial, Heaven, and the elusive Ancient. Ancient techniques were a mystery—artifacts of power from another world, capable of completely altering one's abilities. It was rumored that hidden clans hoarded these techniques, guarding them fiercely. This time, the reward was different. A small green pill appeared before her, radiating an aura of mystery.

Lin Hua studied it carefully, sensing the faint pulse of healing energy. She hesitated. Reaching for her sword, she slowly pushed herself back onto her feet before grabbing the pill and tucking it into her storage. The moment she did, another set of stairs appeared. Her sapphire-blue eyes widened slightly. 'Already?' She hesitated for only a moment before reaching into her storage, retrieving the last healing pill she had. It wasn't strong, but it would have to do. She swallowed it quickly, feeling a faint warmth spread through her exhausted limbs before stepping forward.

The next island was… smaller. A welcome sight. 'Maybe this one won't be as much of a slaughter,' she thought, exhaling in relief. 

The first three islands had tested her will. The rest had tested her strength. The last one? That had been a massacre. And yet—she knew. It wasn't over yet.