Chapter 14: Accepting the Juntian Mask! Embracing the Inheritance!

"Buzz!"

As soon as Xiao Zhen donned the Juntian Mask, a powerful black-and-gold light erupted from it, enveloping him completely. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Zhen vanished from the palace.

Xiao Tianling, witnessing this, was filled with ecstasy; it was a sign that the Juntian Mask was testing Xiao Zhen. While it was uncertain whether he would succeed, at least there was a chance.

At that moment, Xiao Zhen found himself in a mysterious space, surrounded by numerous enigmatic black shadows. Voices echoed around him:

"We are the remnants of the previous Jun Tianjun, and you have shown great promise."

"It has been ages since the Xiao family produced such a talented descendant. Impressive!"

"Look at you, still training at the academy. You must already be at the peak of the Martial Emperor stage."

…

In this space, there were around nineteen figures, each exuding an overwhelming aura of power. Remarkably, this pressure did not affect Xiao Zhen at all. With deep respect, he cupped his hands and said, "I am honored to meet you all; I am already at Martial Saint Nine Cycles."

At these words, the remnants fell silent. Xiao Zhen's age and level of achievement were astonishing. After all, he was still just a teenager!

"A teenage Martial Saint at the peak level? Incredible!"

"Hahaha! The waves of the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. Young one, you certainly qualify to inherit the Juntian Mask."

"Now, we will impart to you some of Juntian's martial arts, secret techniques, and cultivation methods. Pay close attention."

"This will be a one-time lesson. These teachings will help you assert your identity and command the remaining eight realms."

…

Once they finished speaking, the figures focused their energy on Xiao Zhen and began forming seals with their hands. In an instant, an overwhelming surge of martial arts, secret techniques, and cultivation methods flooded into Xiao Zhen's mind.

Thanks to his extraordinary talent and understanding, he absorbed the knowledge almost instantly, memorizing every detail with ease.

As he reflected on what he had learned, he couldn't help but admire the techniques. Juntian's martial arts were far superior to anything the Ziyun Dynasty had to offer. He imagined the patriarch of the Ziyun Dynasty trembling in awe if he were to witness them.

"Little one, were you able to remember everything?" the remnants inquired.

Xiao Zhen replied, "I've written it all down".

The remnants appeared satisfied.

"From this moment on, you are the new Jun Tianjun, with the authority to command the eight realms.

However, remember that while you may issue orders, there could be those in the eight realms with greater strength than yours. You must become stronger than them to earn their respect."

Xiao Zhen nodded earnestly, "I understand."

"Good! Now, go!"

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Zhen was expelled from this mysterious space and found himself back in the palace.

At that moment, he was already wearing the Juntian Mask. A mysterious aura began to swirl around him, making it impossible for anyone to see his features clearly. Yet, it was evident that he was now the embodiment of Jun Tianjun.

With a mere thought, the Juntian Mask disappeared, and with another thought, it reappeared.

"Interesting. I'm eager to find out who holds sway in the other eight realms," Xiao Zhen mused with a faint smile.

Xiao Tianling, filled with joy, asked, "Zhen, have you succeeded?"

Xiao Zhen nodded confidently, "Grandpa, I have not let you down."

Xiao Tianling burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Hahaha! If that's the case, there's no need to fear Zhou Lian. In the coming days, you should reach out to him and the others in the eight realms.

They oversee significant territories, and with just a few missions, you can easily put Zhou Lian in his place.

"You've never attended the Supreme Emperor's banquet before, but since you're participating this time, make sure you assert your dominance!"

Xiao Zhen agreed, "If Zhou Lian stays out of my way, then I'll do the same. If he crosses me, he'll face the consequences."

With that, the grandfather and grandson exited the palace as if nothing had happened. However, before leaving, Xiao Tianling reminded Xiao Zhen to remain vigilant against potential assassins.

The memories of three years ago were still fresh; Xiao Zhen had nearly lost his life back then. With his immense talent, it was only natural that envy would breed danger.

Within the Xiao family, Xiao Tianling could guarantee his protection entirely. But once Xiao Zhen stepped outside the family, that assurance would vanish.

Xiao Zhen smiled confidently, "I'm not too worried about it."

His decision to keep his strength concealed was deliberate. In the Ziyun Dynasty, Martial Saints were quite rare. If an assassin were to approach him, they would likely be at the Martial Saint level.

Even if that were the case, he was unfazed. He would not be the one ending up as a corpse.

"Speaking of which, I should check if the system has leveled up. I haven't looked at it today," he thought to himself.

With that, Xiao Zhen delved into his mind to examine the system panel. What he found surprised him.