Giving Her a Big Gift

"Tsk, it's been many years since a junior who cultivates this method has appeared," the old man's gaze was sharp. "You are correct, this secret realm was indeed created by me. My purpose was to find a junior with the aptitude to inherit my legacy after my death and fulfill my dying wish."

"Senior, please rest assured! As long as you hand over the inheritance to this junior, I will definitely fulfill your dying wish!"

The old man was speechless and tapped the ground with his cane. "I haven't even told you what my dying wish is yet!"

"Ahem, Senior, please speak."

Since Bai Ling's storyline didn't mention Bai Ling ultimately fulfilling the old man's dying wish, Bai Lan completely dismissed it as unimportant.

This dying wish was probably just some minor task, like looking after his descendants...

"Tell me, in the current cultivation world, does the Azure Origin Sect still exist as a sect?" the old man asked in a deep voice.

Bai Lan's expression shifted slightly.

Oh no, the direction of this dying wish seems... off.

Bai Lan suddenly stopped. After a long silence, she slowly spoke, "Senior, you... you don't have a grudge against the Azure Origin Sect, do you?"

"No, I only have a grudge against one person in the Azure Origin Sect. That person's Daoist title is Wu Yin, and his cultivation is only at the early stage of the Tribulation Crossing stage... Hiss, no, after so many years, his cultivation must have increased considerably," the old man muttered to himself.

Bai Lan was completely petrified.

Wu Yin?

Is it the same Wu Yin from my memory?

Not only has his cultivation increased considerably, but he's already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage and holds a highly respected position.

"I was momentarily soft-hearted and saved his life when he was still a slave. I took him in as an attendant, but I never imagined he was a hypocritical scumbag! He feigned gratitude on the surface, but secretly hated me to the bone. After my death, he killed my entire family, and then he pretended to be a victim to gain the sympathy of my Senior Brother! Disgusting! Utterly disgusting!"

The old man became unusually emotional, his eyes turning sharp.

"My dao companion, my daughter, my grandchildren, all the hundreds of people in the Gongsun family died by his hand! He had planned this long ago... Heh, heh heh heh, I have committed many evils in my life, I am not a good person, and I have rarely done good deeds. Yet, the first time I showed a moment of soft-heartedness, I encountered such an ungrateful wretch!"

Bai Lan remained silent.

She had no way of knowing if what the old man said was true or false, but a Nascent Soul stage divine soul... it didn't seem necessary for it to lie to her.

The Wu Yin the old man spoke of was currently the Grand Elder of the Azure Origin Sect, the Master of the Sect Master True Person Qing He and True Person Qing Xuan.

Asking me to kill the Sect's Grand Elder? Isn't this difficulty a bit too absurd?

This is like the Journey to the West.

"Senior... the Wu Yin you mentioned, who was at the Tribulation Crossing stage, after you perished, did he diligently cultivate for many years and has now reached the Nascent Soul stage, holding the position of Grand Elder in the Azure Origin Sect? Putting aside whether this junior has the ability to deal with him, if I were to attack the Azure Origin Sect's Grand Elder, do you think a major sect like the Azure Origin Sect would just stand by and do nothing?" Bai Lan asked with a sigh.

The old man paused, his brows furrowed. "What? Him? He managed to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage? Bah!"

Bai Lan: "..."

"That ungrateful, heartless dog could actually cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage?" the old man gritted his teeth until they ached.

"Putting that aside, I also want to ask Senior, since you have a grudge against the Azure Origin Sect's Grand Elder, why did your inheritance grounds fall into the hands of the Azure Origin Sect and become a trial ground for Qi Refining stage disciples?" Bai Lan found a key point and couldn't help but ask.

"When I was still alive, he was merely a dog by my side. Where would he have the qualification to join the Azure Origin Sect?"

"In short, I only have a grudge against him, not the Azure Origin Sect. Moreover, I am already dead, so where this secret realm ultimately ends up is no longer important," the old man stroked his beard and said coldly. "Whether Wu Yin's current cultivation is Nascent Soul or Tribulation Crossing, there is only one condition to obtain my inheritance: go and kill Wu Yin."

Alright, it seems he genuinely wants to kill Wu Yin.

I can understand that, after all, he was the murderer who wiped out his entire family.

Bai Lan fell silent for a moment, then lowered her head, deep in thought.

Speaking of which, Wu Yin is the Grand Elder. In terms of seniority, he's practically Bai Ling's grand-master. I didn't see Bai Ling in the plot attacking Wu Yin after obtaining this inheritance either.

Tsk, this is truly unfair.

How could the female lead obtain the inheritance so easily, while I have to take on a hell-level quest to get it?

And the way the old man looks at me... not a trace of doubt.

"Senior, aren't you afraid that with my trash Five Spirit Roots aptitude, I won't be able to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime?" Bai Lan shook her head helplessly.

"Ridiculous! I am an excellent judge of character. You, little girl, have many secrets!" the old man snorted. "If you were an ordinary junior, I would have to set up illusion formations, painstakingly create several tests, and test you with mechanisms and puppets to examine your roots and disposition, to see if you have the ability to inherit my legacy and kill Wu Yin. But you... a little ghost without a destiny, your identity is no ordinary one!"

Bai Lan raised an eyebrow.

Indeed, it's quite extraordinary. To people in the cultivation world, I should be, to some extent... an alien?

Destiny has three parts: heavenly, earthly, and human. But I am not a native of the cultivation world, so from the beginning, my destiny has not been within the rules of this world.

Beyond the three realms, outside the five elements... wrong series of thoughts.

In other words, as a transmigration person, I am the only variable here.

However, according to the usual tropes in the cultivation world, to obtain the inheritance within a secret realm, one must accept the trials of the inheritance's owner, endure hardships, and only after passing the trials can one obtain the so-called opportunity.

So, my current situation is... uh, automatic pass?

It's a good thing I sent the System away before entering here, fearing that it might get confused by any illusions.

"Thank you for your praise, Senior. This junior is indeed exceptionally talented and possesses extraordinary strength. Senior's discerning eye is truly that of a master," Bai Lan said calmly.

The old man's eye twitched.

He couldn't help but feel that while this little brat was flattering him, he was also indirectly praising himself.

"Thank you for your kind regard, Senior. I accept your dying wish. If my strength is sufficient one day, I will definitely find a way to settle this person for you."

With that, Bai Lan wisely made a Heart Demon Vow.

After all...

She only said that if her strength was sufficient one day, she would go kill Wu Yin, but she didn't specify what realm counted as sufficient strength.

So... would it be too late to kill him after she broke through to the Soul Transformation stage?

The old man wasn't foolish; he clearly saw through Bai Lan's wordplay. He wasn't angry, but simply shook his head. "Juniors are cunning, but it matters not. Wu Yin is actually not difficult to deal with. Even though he is now a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, it doesn't change the fact that he used to be a dog by my side."

His words were filled with extreme mockery; he truly hated that person.

"Host!" The System's voice echoed in her mind.

Bai Lan's spirit lifted. "How is it? Have you found Long Aotian?"

"Found him, found him," the System said, its voice catching. "And I happened to catch a grand show too."

"Hmm?"

The System began to stammer. "Long Aotian met a member of his harem, and the two of them... actually... right here in the secret realm, well..."

Bai Lan was speechless. "Just say it."

"They were actually in the secret realm, starting... a passionate embrace," the System finally managed to phrase it.

Bai Lan: "..."

Really going at it, aren't they.

"So what about the fortuitous encounters? Who cares about this? The important thing is the fortuitous encounters!" Bai Lan's mind was filled with Long Aotian's opportunities. "Where did they go after their passionate embrace?"

The System chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Host. Long Aotian is still busy being affectionate with his harem. Currently, our observation shows they haven't accessed that fortuitous encounter yet. You can rest assured for now, Host. The System will continue to monitor!"

"That's good. Protect yourself," Bai Lan instructed.

"Mhm, mhm."

While communicating with the System, Bai Lan endured the old man's lengthy tirade against Wu Yin.

"What Senior says is most correct, most correct."

"In short, after you kill Wu Yin, you must tell him that this is the consequence of his evil deeds against the Gongsun family!"

Just as the two were talking, rustling sounds came from outside the hall.

"Junior Sister, this tower looks rather ordinary. What's so interesting about it? Let's go look elsewhere," it was Le Qing's voice.

Immediately after, Bai Ling's voice came from outside. "Senior Brother~ I want to go in and take a look."

"This secret realm is very dangerous. We shouldn't court trouble. Senior Brother will take you to pick some spirit herbs. The Seven Star Grass needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill is around here..."

"Senior Brother, I want to go in and take a look~ Besides, if we encounter danger, won't you be here, Senior Brother?"

Le Qing was silent for a second, then sighed. "Alright, alright. Senior Brother will accompany you inside."

Bai Lan's eyebrows rose as she listened to the conversation outside.

The Daughter of Destiny has arrived.

Just like when Bai Ling discovered this secret realm yesterday, fate had it that Bai Ling would eventually come here.

But unfortunately, she had gotten here first.

The formation within the hall pulsed, and moments later, two figures suddenly appeared at the entrance of the hall.

As expected, it was the two of them.

"Senior Brother! Look! There really is a hidden world inside," Bai Ling exclaimed excitedly.

Le Qing instinctively scanned the hall, but the moment he saw Bai Lan, his entire body froze.

Bai Lan stared at Bai Ling's figure, pondered for a moment, her eyes slightly flickering, a hint of a smile appearing in them.

She suddenly pointed at Bai Ling and looked at the old man beside her. "Senior, do you know who she is?"

The old man asked in confusion, "Who?"

"She is True Person Qing Xuan's disciple, and Qing Xuan is Wu Yin's most valued disciple. By that logic, she would be Wu Yin's grand-disciple," Bai Lan said with a smile.

Her main goal was to sow discord.

The old man's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Hmph, she's that old dog's grand-disciple?"

What a fitting insult.

Bai Ling, who had been marveling at the wondrous hidden realm a moment ago, was attacked by the unprovoked insult the next second.

She frowned and looked up, seeing Bai Lan standing with an old man in the distance. The one who had just insulted her was the old man.

Upon hearing someone related to Wu Yin, the old man's aura instantly turned cold.

Seeing this, Bai Lan quietly retreated a few steps, ready to watch the show.

Bai Ling worked so hard to get here; she couldn't possibly leave empty-handed, could she?

She was, after all, the top benefactor in the cultivation world, and loved giving gifts. For instance...

In front of the old man, she would expose Bai Ling's connection to Wu Yin as his disciple's descendant, drawing the old man's fury.

This would also serve to test if a Nascent Soul stage expert could kill the Daughter of Destiny.

Although the old man was already a ghost, Bai Lan could feel that he wasn't just a wisp of soul like the skeletal elder at the bottom of the cliff. The old man's soul was remarkably solid; he still possessed his strength.

In the plot, Bai Ling likely obtained the inheritance here because she had concealed her identity.

She probably inferred the old man's animosity towards Wu Yin from his indignant words, and thus kept quiet about being Wu Yin's descendant.

Otherwise, given the old man's less-than-benevolent nature, he would have undoubtedly killed Bai Ling without hesitation, and anyone connected to Wu Yin.

Unfortunately, Bai Lan stood here today, and she certainly wouldn't allow her to spin lies and deceive her way out of this.

Bai Ling was naturally angered by the scolding. Just as she was about to retort, the jade bracelet on her wrist trembled slightly.

The Divine Beast Phoenix within transmitted a low voice to Bai Ling: "Master, I sense treasure here!"

"What?" Bai Ling's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course! I can sense a Spirit Fire Inheritance here. This must be the inheritance ground of some powerful Alchemy Cultivator. If Master obtains this inheritance, your future will be boundless!" Huang urged eagerly.

A divine beast's senses were never wrong.

Bai Ling suddenly looked up, her gaze towards the old man losing some of its anger. Her expression instantly shifted: "Ahem... May I ask who you are, senior? Why did you insult this junior just now?"

As she spoke, her eyes flickered towards Bai Lan: "Did she say something? Please don't believe this person's words..."

Bai Lan merely smiled faintly, not responding.

"Hmph, both of you came here, intending to obtain my inheritance, didn't you?" the old man said slowly, stepping forward, his voice deep.

"So, so you are the master of this place..." Bai Ling's voice was weak, her eyes darting around the great hall, as if searching for something.

"Are you trying to change the subject?" the old man's voice grew more somber.

Bai Ling's eyes flickered. "No, no, this junior was just passing by..."

"Hmph, passing by? Truly the descendant of that old dog. Just like that old dog, you both have a penchant for lying and deceiving people," the old man stated sternly.

Bai Ling frowned slightly. "What do you mean, senior? This junior doesn't understand what you're saying."

"He killed my entire family, yet he has taken in so many disciples and grandchildren," the old man sneered. With that, invisible hands seemed to materialize out of thin air and gripped Bai Ling's neck, lifting her entirely off the ground.

Seeing Bai Ling, with her gentle and kind demeanor on the surface and her scheming mind working behind the scenes, instantly stirred up painful memories from the depths of his consciousness.

"Gah... You, you..." Bai Ling couldn't breathe, choked by the grip. She was lifted high into the air, unable to utter a single word.