A crowd had gathered around a huge pool, everyone talking at once.
Suddenly, a figure flashed into view. Nan Xunran appeared, followed by the members of the Lu Clan.
"It's that lord from the Upper Realm!"
"Young master, are you entering the secret realm too?"
"Alas, looks like we've lost our chance at the inheritance again."
"Quick, make way for the young master!" someone shouted.
At those words, everyone moved aside, and a large space opened up around the pool.
Nan Xunran paid them no attention. He walked straight toward the pool, his gaze fixed on the apparition.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Black Tortoise?"
"It hasn't appeared in the world for years. Who would have thought it was in the lower realm, and injured at that?"
The apparition of a Black Tortoise appeared above the pool, vast and majestic. Roars issued from its mouth, ringing through the heavens like the cries of a dragon.
The Black Tortoise paced back and forth in the air, and a glistening drop of blood slid from its body.
The drop did not blend with the pool water. Instead, it sank straight toward the bottom, vanishing into the water.
Nan Xunran watched the strange illusion. Clearly, the inheritance was Black Tortoise True Blood.
If he could devour the Black Tortoise True Blood, he would gain the same bloodline power as the Black Tortoise.
He would have absolute control over the water element and an indestructible defense capable of withstanding any attack.
Nan Xunran stood at the edge of the pool, interest flashing in his eyes. Was this worthy of being called a Child of Destiny's inheritance? It was truly generous.
At that moment, ripples suddenly spread across the previously calm surface of the water.
A huge whirlpool began spinning rapidly, and a pillar of water shot into the sky.
As the pillar of water shot skyward, the Black Tortoise's image dissolved. Then the pillar crashed down, sending water splashing in every direction.
When everything grew calm again, a passage appeared in the center of the pool, all the water drawing back.
Nan Xunran flew into it, and the people behind him hurried after him.
At the end of the passage, mist churned, blocking everyone's view.
By the time the mist gradually dispersed and they could see their surroundings, the group had already been scattered.
Nan Xunran frowned slightly. "An illusion array?" he murmured.
A faint sound came from behind him. Without even turning his head, Nan Xunran swept out a hand.
Several Water-Form Beasts instantly turned into mist and dissipated into the air, only to reform in front of Nan Xunran.
"Water-Form Beasts?"
Wherever there was water, Water-Form Beasts could reappear, endless in number and difficult to wipe out.
Nan Xunran remained calm as his pupils gradually changed, their original red giving way to black.
As his pupils turned black, the sky darkened with them, and darkness spread rapidly.
Countless strange eyes appeared out of thin air around him, shooting beams of black and white light that interwove with one another.
The moment the beams touched the Water-Form Beasts, the beasts opened their mouths in silent roars, then dissipated completely.
The Samsara Annihilation Eyes destroyed everything, water included.
"Endless resurrection? Killed by me, you shall never be reborn."
The remaining Water-Form Beasts sensed that something was different about Nan Xunran. Fear rose in them, and they tried to retreat.
Before they could start running, several more beams pierced straight through them.
Nan Xunran said calmly, "Since you're here, don't leave."
His pupils turned red again, the sky returned to normal, and the mysterious eyes vanished.
He stepped out of the illusion array, and the scene before him changed in an instant.
A moment later, "Master!"
The clear call broke the silence as Jiang Ruxi came running up from behind him.
With a reproachful look, she said, "It actually separated me from you, master. I had to search for so long."
An illusion array like this could not trap any of them.
Jiang Ruxi immediately asked, "Should we go find the Lu Clan members? They probably can't break an illusion array like this."
Nan Xunran chuckled, his meaning unclear. "No need."
After all, with Lu Jingyi, a Daughter of Destiny, among them, how could an illusion array possibly trap them?
With that, he continued forward.
Jiang Ruxi reached out and grabbed Nan Xunran's sleeve. He stopped and turned to look at her.
Jiang Ruxi hurriedly made an excuse. "What if we run into another array? I don't want to be separated from you again, master."
Nan Xunran was speechless.
If they really did run into an illusion array, holding on to him would do no good.
He turned back around, but he did not make her let go of his sleeve, which she was gripping tightly.
A spirit tree suddenly appeared ahead, its lush branches and leaves spreading in every direction. Its branches were laden with spirit fruits.
Neither of them reacted much. Spirit fruits like these were everywhere in the Upper Realm, so they could hardly stir their interest.
Just then, a group of people came running up from behind. Their eyes lit up at the sight of the fruit-laden tree, and they exclaimed in unison, "Wow! Spirit fruits that can improve cultivation!"
They then turned to Nan Xunran and asked tentatively, "Young master, do you need these spirit fruits?"
Nan Xunran smiled slightly. "I don't need them."
Someone shouted excitedly, "That's wonderful!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he hurriedly covered it and looked nervously at Nan Xunran.
Seeing no reaction from Nan Xunran, the crowd hesitated no longer and rushed forward to pick the spirit fruits. For a time, the scene was utter chaos.