Land of Inheritance

Suqi Volcano stood majestic and magnificent.

Even though it was a hundred miles from Lionheart City, it could still be seen clearly.

Everyone arrived at the foot of the mountain with nervous and excited hearts. Four hours was more than enough for them; time-wise, they had only taken a little over an hour, and they understood the remaining time was for them to rest and adjust.

"Is that Guen from the Southeast Province?"

Many people finally laid eyes on Guen of the Southeast Province, but inwardly they sneered.

In their eyes, Guen, who could unleash five times his power yet still hid in his room avoiding the spotlight, was nothing but a coward.

"He doesn't look like much either, probably all bark and no bite. When the trial starts, will he be the first one eliminated?" someone mocked.

"He's still at five times power output, at least he won't be faster than you with your three times," another person spoke up for Guen.

But no matter what they said, Guen waited calmly.

He was quite displeased with Setti holding back, which made him want to find someone to beat up and vent his frustration, but then he felt it was pointless and not worth the effort.

"I hope Uncle Jack hasn't chosen the wrong person." Guen glanced from afar at Setti and Uncle Jack. Ever since their last unpleasant parting, they had kept some distance from each other.

"Guen, it's rare to see you out and about." Keen walked over and greeted him with a smile.

Guen grinned and started chatting idly with Keen.

"Who are those people?" Guen looked curiously at a group standing apart from everyone else.

Keen followed his gaze and saw twenty-one people huddled in a corner, not interacting with anyone.

"Oh, those are from the Civilian Organization," Keen said casually.

"Civilian Organization?" Guen was puzzled. "If they've already joined some organization, can they still participate in this trial?"

As far as Guen knew, trial participants could only join an organization after completely finishing one stage of the trial. In Stardew Valley, over three hundred people had completed the trial, but only forty-seven had come to Lionheart City. The rest could join organizations, while Guen and the others couldn't join anything because they still had the final trial to complete.

That was the rule. Those who broke it would face united opposition from all Factions.

Keen explained, "Actually, this happens every trial. It seems they need to make up five hundred people. If there aren't enough, they let the Civilian Organization and the Seven Great Cities send in their own outstanding talents. In the earliest trials, there were never enough people, so this rule was made. But now, aside from the Civilian Organization, all other Factions have had this privilege revoked. It's a privilege exclusive to the Civilian Organization. However many people are missing, they fill in that many. But as far as I know, in the last three trials before this one, they always got over fifty slots. Last time, it was only thirty-something. This time, it's just twenty-one. In another two trials, there probably won't be any left—the number of trial participants might exceed five hundred."

Guen finally understood.

That made sense. The Civilian Organization had always been in a weaker position compared to the official Factions, but they weren't without people. They even had over ten Super Tier experts, so they deserved some say. Compared to the high-threshold official organizations, these civilian groups were more popular and had their own geniuses.

But times were always advancing. Decades ago, they could still get dozens of slots, but in recent times, their slots had decreased, which precisely proved that the provinces were producing more talent than before.

Times were changing and progressing.

While everyone was chatting, a red-robed bald man flew over from the foot of the volcano.

Flying through the air was a privilege of Super Tier experts.

The red-robed bald man looked coldly at everyone, swept his gaze around, then nodded slightly. Without landing, his voice boomed like a bell: "You are the most outstanding geniuses the Aoyu Empire has produced in these four years. But looking at the Aoyu Empire over so many years, you're only so-so. If twenty of you can become Super Tier warriors, I'll be satisfied."

Beside Guen, Keen pursed his lips, clearly unconvinced.

Many felt the same way. They were the best seeds selected over four years. How could it be that only twenty of them could become Super Tier experts? This red-robed bald man might be a Super Tier expert himself, but looking down on them like this made them unhappy and unwilling to accept it.

"Not convinced? Then prove it to me. Prove that you can do more. If you can slap my face, I'll only be happy," the red-robed bald man said disdainfully. "Now, your way to prove yourselves is to enter the volcano interior. There's an entrance there leading to a mysterious trial ground, also a precious Land of Inheritance. I'll be honest with you—ninety-nine percent of the Super Tier warriors in the Aoyu Empire broke through thanks to the inheritance here. Even the two Saint Tier lords are the same.

"In this Land of Inheritance, you might even have the chance to surpass the Saint Tier... but whether you can seize it is entirely up to you. Your ranking will also be determined by your performance in the Land of Inheritance. This is both a trial and the only chance of your lifetime. You might die, but this opportunity comes only once. Go on, since you're not convinced, prove it to me."

With that, the red-robed bald man turned into a blur and flew toward the heights of the volcano.

Guen and the other trial participants couldn't wait to rush toward the foot of the volcano.

Heavens, that was the Saint Tier—the Aoyu Empire had only two.

But the red-robed bald man just said there was even a chance to surpass the Saint Tier inside. Could it be that the Saint Tier wasn't the highest realm?

At the thought, everyone's hearts burned with fervor.

Everyone believed they were unique, the protagonist of their era, the favored child of Heaven and Earth. Naturally, they didn't want to fall behind.

But the young nobles were much calmer.

Surpassing the Saint Tier—that was just a phrase, but in reality?

They knew that outside the Aoyu Empire, there were also Saint Tier beasts, but altogether there were only five!

In the Aoyu Empire's centuries of history, there were only these five Saint Tiers. Wanting to surpass them was no easy feat. Though their blood boiled, they could still tell the difference.

So Ganlan came up beside Guen.

"Guen."

Guen slowed down and watched this young noble from Leiquan City approach him.

"Don't let desire cloud your judgment. Surpassing the Saint Tier isn't that easy. But don't underestimate yourself either. You should have a chance to reach the Third Stage. Remember, the longer you can stay inside, the more benefits you'll gain. Don't embarrass the Southeast Province. If you can make it into the top ten, Father will grant you a treasure."

After saying this, Ganlan left Guen and returned to his own team.

Third Stage? Benefits?

Guen's eyes were bright, unaffected.

Since he had come, he would give his utmost to strive for the best. He didn't need Ganlan to tell him that—he would do it anyway.

The Red-Robed Bald Man landed atop the volcano, where over a dozen people awaited him. Without exception, every single one was a Super Tier Warrior.

They were all representatives from various Factions, watching over this trial.

"Kalga, you're back. How was it?" someone asked the Red-Robed Bald Man.

Kalga nodded. "Not bad. Plenty of fighting spirit. The question is how many can reach the Third Stage."

The White-Hat General Tom, whom Guen had seen earlier, was also present. He sighed at the words. "For those with fivefold power output, it's not too hard. What's truly difficult is the Fourth Stage."

"Mm." Everyone nodded.

The Third Stage—they had all reached it at some point. It was the standard for judging whether one could become a Super Tier Warrior.

As for the Fourth Stage, to this day, only a little over a dozen people in the entire Aoyu Empire had achieved it. The two Saint Tier experts were the very first, and the rest were all the cream of the crop among Super Tier Warriors.

As for the Fifth Stage, which they had only heard of from those two Saint Tier experts, they dared not even imagine it.

"I think that Lianda has a shot at the Fourth Stage."

"Right. The Land of Inheritance has always favored Artifact Users. Lianda, with no inheritance or guidance, has managed to hone her Telekinetic Power to this level. That's no small feat. Her talent must be remarkable."

"Otherwise, why would a Saint Tier expert take notice? I'd say this time, first place is Lianda's for the taking."

It was no secret that the Land of Inheritance favored Artifact Users.

Any Artifact User of decent strength would receive advice from Super Tier experts: go participate in the trial.

If an Artifact User wanted to pledge allegiance, any Faction would treat them with utmost seriousness. But the inheritance of the Land of Inheritance was something no Faction could provide. Only by undergoing the baptism of the Land of Inheritance could breakthroughs become easier and achievements higher.

"I wonder what kind of powerhouse left this inheritance behind. Just the legacy itself has shaped so many Super Tiers and two Saint Tier experts in the Aoyu Empire." The Red-Robed Bald Man's thoughts drifted far away.