25 Inheriting the Night Soul Blessed Land, Claiming the Qi Clan Legacy

Central Continent, Misty Valley Night Soul Blessed Land

Eternal night enshrouded this place, the deep black sky dotted with eerie blue glows scattered across the land.

Typically, blessed lands lacked any variation in celestial phenomena. Only when a blessed land approached the level of a grotto-heaven would such phenomena manifest.

Some were in perpetual daylight, while others, like Night Soul Blessed Land, knew only endless night.

Yet, the land was not devoid of illumination. The western region, for instance, was lit by Ghost Lantern Vine.

These creeping vines clung to the protruding boulders scattered throughout the blessed land, spreading outward to fully cover their rocky surfaces.

The stems were dark brown, with long, slender leaves. At intervals, clusters of leaves curled together, forming tightly wrapped, membrane-like lanterns. Within each, a wisp of blue ghostly fire flickered, creating the illusion of glowing will-o'-the-wisps hanging in midair.

Each boulder, towering dozens of meters high, was composed of Starstone, a material widely used by Gu Masters in refinement. In the dark, these stones emitted a dazzling, star-like radiance.

The third inner city of the Merchant Clan even used Starstone extensively for lighting. In the mortal world, it was a luxury; for Gu Immortals, however, it was merely a cheap resource.

The air was thick with moisture, condensing into mist near the ground. Light refracted within the fog, creating an ethereal glow that lent the land an otherworldly atmosphere.

At the center of the blessed land lay a mist-covered, circular lake.

It was not vast; without the mist, one could see across to the other side.

At the heart of the lake bloomed a massive Ebon Lotus, its dark petals and leaves undulating subtly, rippling with a mysterious energy.

The blessed land was already rich in vital energy, yet near the lotus, it became even more concentrated—almost tangible in its density.

At the lotus's core, a small but exquisitely built house rested.

Inside, a young man sat cross-legged upon a tree-bed, immersed in cultivation.

His jet-black hair cascaded over his shoulders, his sharp features lending him an air of dashing elegance. He wore a dark blue robe, his youthful face carrying a mature, world-worn expression.

This was Qi Tian—heir to the blessed land.

—

Within his aperture, brilliant golden primeval essence churned like ocean waves, surging against the walls of his aperture.

As the golden tides ebbed, the aperture membrane—once a thin film of light—began to transform under the pressure.

A radiant glow erupted, and in an instant, the membrane solidified into flowing water, rippling gently.

His foundation had evolved.

Qi Tian had advanced from Rank Four Initial Stage to Mid Stage.

He slowly opened his eyes.

"Pity… If I had a Golden Relic Gu, I could have pushed straight to Rank Four Peak."

The Golden Relic Gu was an exceptionally valuable Rank Four Gu worm, capable of advancing a Gu Master's cultivation by an entire minor realm.

Due to its significance, major clans tightly controlled its distribution.

At Rank Four and Five, Gu Masters formed the backbone of powerful families—a single Golden Relic Gu could tip the balance of power between rival forces.

To Gu Immortals, however, Golden Relic Gu, and even its superior version, the Purple Crystal Relic Gu, were merely refinement materials.

Unfortunately, the Night Soul Blessed Land held none in its stores.

This was disappointing—considering that, in the past, part of the Qi Clan had lived here. Even if they hadn't used them for refinement, they should have stockpiled a few for emergencies.

Still, what Qi Tian valued most was not the resources but rather the time-flow advantage.

"One year in the blessed land equals just over two months outside."

The environment was exceptionally rich in primeval energy, further enhanced by his Nine-Eyed Wine Gu, which refined his primeval essence to its purest form.

Given his A-grade aptitude, this cultivation speed was actually too slow for his liking.

"If only this place had a Heaven-Tunneling Gu and an Earth-Linking Gu, I could connect to the Treasure Yellow Heaven and trade resources freely. With that, reaching Rank Five Peak in two years would be effortless!"

Qi Tian sighed.

—

"Earth Spirit, are you here?"

The space rippled, and a petite girl emerged.

"Yes, Master! What do you need?"

She was Night Immortal, the blessed land's Earth Spirit.

Dressed in a sleek black outfit, her long, glossy black hair cascaded over her shoulders like a flowing waterfall, reaching down to her waist. Her youthful face carried a hint of innocence and charm.

In her past life, Night Immortal had been a Gu Immortal of Central Continent, a reclusive cultivator who had kept to the shadows.

Some Gu Immortals never sought fame or power, choosing instead to cultivate in obscurity.

Like the master of Starry Sky Grotto-Heaven, they remained hidden, their immense strength only becoming known after their demise.

Night Immortal was among such figures.

Though she had only reached Rank Six, she was the last Gu Immortal of the once-mighty Qi Clan.

Fearing the clan's extinction, she had taken their inheritance into Misty Valley and secluded herself.

Yet, fate was cruel.

A land calamity obliterated the blessed land, taking her and the remaining Qi Clan members with it.

Her will, however, lingered, merging with the land's power to form the Earth Spirit Night Immortal, a unique, semi-living existence.

Her recognition requirement? Bloodline of the Qi Clan.

And Qi Tian, as a direct descendant, met this condition.

By using the Qi Clan's Jade Pendant Token and activating a Gu formation, he had entered the blessed land and proven his lineage, successfully inheriting its wealth.

Among these treasures was the Qi Clan's core inheritance.

This inheritance was deeply connected to Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, its origins tracing back to Qi Clan's first ancestor—a Rank Seven Gu Immortal who had discovered a soul path legacy left behind by the Demon Venerable.

Merging it with Qi Path, he pioneered a powerful yet unique branch of cultivation.

The inheritance was comprehensive, covering offense, defense, healing, mobility, and reconnaissance. However, its attack and defense techniques were not particularly outstanding.

Moreover, Qi Path techniques were scarce.

Qi Clan's founder, though a Qi Path master, was forced to switch to Soul Path due to resource scarcity.

In the generations that followed, Qi Clan produced many Gu Immortals—some excelling in Wisdom Path, Enslavement Path, and Refinement Path—but none in Qi Path.

In his past life, Qi Tian had obtained only fragments of this inheritance.

Now, he possessed the complete legacy.

And yet…

Qi Tian did not feel much excitement.

Firstly, the inheritance's combat power was average.

Secondly, while the core techniques had once been his foundation for rising to power, in this life, they were not as beneficial—aside from a single Immortal Gu.

In his past life, Qi Tian had destroyed this Immortal Gu upon discovering the inheritance, fearing it would be stolen before he reached immortality.

This life, however, he was stronger—but his main cultivation path was Qi Path, not Soul Path.

"I won't repeat my past mistakes. This inheritance is useful, but it won't dictate my future."

Still, these were long-term concerns.

At the moment, Qi Tian faced three pressing challenges, each demanding an immediate solution.