Inheritance Trial!

"Could it be that the Cloud Heaven Sect left behind an inheritance here?"

Someone in the crowd exclaimed, their voice echoing through the vast ruins.

Wei Qing clearly saw the eyes of everyone present light up the moment they heard the word "inheritance."

If they could obtain the inheritance of a former Cloud Heaven Sect expert, they would soar to unprecedented heights, reaching a level they had never dared to imagine.

The previously harmonious atmosphere of the group suddenly became tense.

Disciples from the major sects instinctively divided into several groups based on familiarity. Their positions visibly widened, and their eyes were filled with vigilance.

Wei Qing couldn't help but sigh inwardly at this.

Indeed, when faced with immense benefits, human nature was instantly exposed.

Under an opportunity that could change their destiny, the already unstable alliance instantly crumbled.

Liu Yulong of the Blazing Sun Sect took action, raising his arm and shouting, "Blazing Sun Sect disciples, heed my command! For everyone's safety, it's time for us to contribute. Follow me!"

Before his words even fell, over ten Blazing Sun Sect disciples shot towards the distant palace complex like arrows loosed from a bow.

"Shameless," Nangong Ruyan snorted coldly. She turned to her attendant and the disciples of the Mystic Maiden Palace and commanded, "Everyone, do not be greedy. Safety first, let's go!"

"Yes, Young Palace Mistress."

The people of the Mystic Maiden Palace responded in unison and rushed towards the palace complex.

Seeing this, how could the disciples of other small and medium sects hold back any longer?

Some formed groups of three to five and traveled together.

Others acted alone, rushing towards the palace in a mad dash.

In the blink of an eye.

The original group of over eighty people had scattered, leaving only Qin Shuang, Song Yuanming, and five other disciples of the Qingshan Sect standing still.

"Senior Brother, if we don't act soon, they'll snatch all the inheritance!" a male disciple from the Qingshan Sect said anxiously, looking at Song Yuanming.

He had stopped the Qingshan Sect disciples just as they were about to enter and seize the inheritance.

Song Yuanming raised his hand, signaling his junior brothers and sisters to calm down, then turned to Wei Qing, "Lord Wei, what do you think of the inheritance here?"

When he saw that Wei Qing hadn't acted immediately, a sense of crisis arose in his heart.

His intuition told him that staying by Wei Qing's side would be safer.

This intuition had helped him overcome crises more than once, which was why he had stopped his junior disciples.

"We'll stand and watch."

"Pfft."

Dongfang Rongrong was once again amused by Wei Qing's peculiar answer.

It was the same old Wei Qing.

Song Yuanming's mouth twitched.

He thought, Can't you just play by the rules for once?

"Brother Qin, don't you want the Cloud Heaven Sect's inheritance?"

"Brother Wei, you're not in a hurry."

"I'm not in a hurry."

"Neither am I."

As he spoke, the two looked at each other and smiled.

The others were bewildered by their conversation. What was going on?

It wasn't until everyone stepped onto the plaza that they understood why the two weren't in a hurry.

They saw that the disciples from various sects who had rushed in earlier had all stopped on the steps leading to the palace complex.

There were twenty-four steps in total.

Currently, most of them were stuck between the ninth and twelfth steps.

A small number were struggling between the fifteenth and twentieth steps.

Only Liu Yulong, Nangong Ruyan, Qin Yang, and about a dozen others had reached the twenty-first step and were still climbing.

When Song Yuanming and the others followed Wei Qing onto the steps, a white light instantly enveloped them. They all felt their bodies grow heavy.

Jun Wushang exclaimed, "My strength has been sealed!"

Wei Qing's expression was calm. "Everyone should be the same."

The others nodded in agreement, confirming that it was indeed so.

"No wonder those people are so slow climbing the steps. Qingzi, did you know this beforehand?"

"I just felt that things weren't that simple."

As Wei Qing answered, a lingering sense of unease that had been bothering him resurfaced, and it was even stronger than before.

In the time that followed.

Several disciples of the Qingshan Sect, excluding Song Yuanming and Dongfang Rongrong, found themselves unable to advance further on the twelfth step of the path due to immense pressure.

Ultimately, twenty people, including Wei Qing and his three companions, Qin Shuang, Song Yuanming, and Dongfang Rongrong, reached the twenty-fourth step.

"Congratulations, you have passed the first trial."

Suddenly, an ancient voice drifted from the central palace, seeming both near and far.

Everyone looked up and saw the bronze patterns on the palace gates slowly flowing, eventually coalescing into a blurry figure.

"Next is the second trial, which will directly determine the inheritance you will be assigned."

As the old man's voice faded, a two-meter-tall giant stone appeared out of nowhere. Mist flowed within the stone's body, exuding an air of mystery.

"Please step forward one by one and place your hands on the 'Heart-Questioning Stone'."

Liu Yulong was the first to step forward. The moment his fingertips touched the Heart-Questioning Stone, the entire stone lit up with a white light, enveloping him.

Then, the old man's voice sounded again: "Only when roots and dust are unsoiled can the Dao be achieved; only when love and hate are forgotten can the truth be seen. Fourth palace on the left."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yulong's figure vanished before their eyes.

Nangong Ruyan was the second to step forward.

"Threads of emotion entwine the Dao, like vines around a tree. When the vines flourish, the tree bends; when emotions burn, the Dao deviates. Third palace on the left."

Following that.

The remaining people stepped forward one by one.

All were assigned to different palaces.

Zhang Xue, Song Yuanming, and Dongfang Rongrong were assigned to the third palace on the right, the fifth palace on the right, and the second palace on the left, respectively.

Jun Wushang, after receiving the appraisal:

"A blade represents dominance. However, extreme dominance leads to ferocity, and intense ferocity leads to an early demise. Remember: the blade in your hand can cut all things, but the blade in your heart must leave a sliver of room." was assigned to the second palace on the right.

When it was Tantai Yue's turn.

"A heart as clear as ice remains unfazed even if the sky collapses; the highest good is like water, benefiting all things without contention. First palace on the left."

"Brother Wei, you first, or should I?"

"Brother Qin, please go ahead."

"Alright."

Qin Shuang stepped forward.

"The ice soul gathers the spirit, the cold plum stands in the snow; untouched by the seven emotions, unmoved by the eight winds. However, rigidity breaks easily. The highest good should be like water. First palace on the right."

Finally, it was Wei Qing's turn to step forward.

The moment his fingertips touched the Heart-Questioning Stone, white light enveloped his entire body.

When Wei Qing regained consciousness, he found himself in a vast expanse of starry sky.

Endless void lay beneath his feet, and above him was a flowing river of stars. Billions of stars revolved slowly around him, each containing awe-inspiring Daoist rhythms.

At the end of the star river, a blurry figure was striding across the stars.

With every step the person took, a star beneath their feet would light up.

"You've arrived."

The voice was not loud, yet it sent a tremor through Wei Qing.

"Senior, you are..." Wei Qing suppressed the storm in his heart and bowed respectfully.

The figure slightly turned its body, evading Wei Qing's bow.

"There isn't much time. Grow stronger quickly. We are waiting for you."