Inheritance

A flicker of wonder crossed Shi Lan's eyes. From the way Emperor Gu Yun spoke, this world seemed to possess a consciousness of its own.

Come to think of it, she knew very little about an invisible existence like the Heavenly Dao.

"The World-Destroying Calamity is terrifying, but it leaves a sliver of hope. Perhaps the world still feels a measure of compassion for the lives it nurtured, or perhaps it wants to leave itself some room to maneuver."

Emperor Gu Yun's expression was wistful. "That sliver of hope gives living beings the possibility of reaching Emperor Grade."

"To repay the world for granting them that sliver of hope, most experts above Emperor Grade return to their homeland when their lifespans are nearly spent, and give their cultivation back to the world."

"That is how people see the bond between all living things and the world."

"But I see it somewhat differently. Rather than a calamity, the World-Destroying Calamity is a trial—a test of living beings set by the Lingyang Heavenly Dao."

A hint of amusement appeared in the Sword Emperor's eyes.

"I once traveled through the myriad heavens and came into contact with the Heavenly Dao of many worlds. Among them, I have never seen one as heavily constrained as the Lingyang Realm. The threshold for leaving this world is frighteningly high."

"In some worlds, mortals can't even crush a chicken's egg, yet they can still explore the stars in ironclad ships much like magical treasures. They can even use them to unleash power on the level of Emperor Grade and shatter stars.

"An Emperor Grade cultivator in our Lingyang Realm can already rule an entire region of space. Yet to the Lingyang Realm, that is no more than earning the right to travel beyond it."

"The World-Destroying Calamity