Accept the Inheritance, Auspicious Beast Takes Form

Golden light enveloped Liu Lin. When the light before his eyes faded, he found himself standing in a purely golden space.

There was no ground beneath his feet, no sky overhead. Pale golden mist filled the surroundings, and it was so quiet that only his own breathing remained.

Qian Renxue stood opposite him, her illusory figure seeming as though it would dissipate at any moment.

"My divine position was shattered by Tang San ten thousand years ago. All that remains now is a wisp of my remnant soul, along with this Angel Holy Sword."

She lowered her head and glanced at the sword in her hand. "I sensed two entirely different strands of divine power within you. Though weak, they are far purer than my remnant soul."

Hearing this, Liu Lin immediately realized she was referring to the soul bones and soul rings left to him by the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King.

"I'll never be able to repay the kindness of the two Dragon Kings. When I reach Dragon Valley in the future, I'll definitely give all your good brothers a proper burial."

Thinking of how he had survived this time thanks to the two Dragon Kings, he silently made a vow in his heart.

"You don't need to answer that question. It concerns your personal privacy."

"What I want to tell you is that if you nurture these two strands of divine power with the Angel Holy Sword, supplemented by the power of faith—"

"Then even without a divine position, this sword will be able to unleash the might of a divine artifact in the future. It may even surpass its former glory."

After saying that, Qian Renxue raised her hand. The Angel Holy Sword trembled lightly in her palm, as if acknowledging its master's words.

Liu Lin thought Qian Renxue's suggestion was quite good. This sword could serve as a transitional weapon before he became a god. That way, he would not have to fear Tang San appearing again in the future.

Naturally, he was no stranger to the power of faith. It was one of his future paths toward godhood, and now it seemed he would have to move it up the schedule.

In the future, the three great empires would inevitably go to war with the Sun Moon Empire. When that happened, evil soul masters would run rampant and living beings would suffer greatly. Gathering faith would not be impossible.

He could even imitate Spirit Hall's methods amid the chaos of war, gathering the power of faith by exterminating evil soul masters and protecting the common people, then use it to nurture this Angel Holy Sword.

"Senior, can you truly not survive?" He raised his head and looked at Qian Renxue as he spoke slowly.

"Mainly because I've received so much kindness from you, Senior. If there is any way to save you, I will naturally do everything in my power."

Qian Renxue gently shook her head.

"I should never have existed in the first place. Even without you and Tang San appearing, I would have dissipated within these next few days."

"Using the Angel Holy Sword to pierce through his chest just now exhausted the last of my divine power."

Her voice was calm, without regret, as though she had let go of everything.

After a brief pause, she took a golden ball of light from her robes and handed it to Liu Lin.

Within the ball of light, a complete set of soul bones could vaguely be seen. Every piece of bone flowed with pale golden sacred patterns.

"This is a set of Angel soul bones. Please give it to someone who possesses an Angel martial soul, so that the name of the Angel may remain in this world."

"That sword, along with the inheritance of this wisp of my divine consciousness, will be your reward."

Qian Renxue held the ball of light out before Liu Lin. "There is already a portion of divine consciousness and divine power within your body. Fusing my inheritance with it will take a long time. Perhaps one year, perhaps two. Have you thought it through?"

"I have." Liu Lin nodded.

Qian Renxue said nothing more and held the Angel Holy Sword horizontally before her. Golden radiance poured from the blade, swallowing Liu Lin whole.

Her figure grew fainter and fainter within that golden light until it became transparent.

In the end, she transformed into countless tiny golden motes that scattered through the space she had guarded for ten thousand years.

If one looked closely, they could see tears flowing from the corners of her eyes.

"If there is a next life, I hope I can be born into an ordinary family and grow up happily."

Deep within the Star Dou Forest.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion, lying atop a straw bed in the center of the cave, slowly opened her eyes.

In her reddish-gold pupils was reflected the thread of fate within the vertical eye on her forehead. Liu Lin's aura was still there, and the thread of fate had not broken.

But the golden power that had plunged her into silence just now had suppressed the fluctuations of that thread of fate to the very lowest point. It had clearly been forcibly cut off by some kind of power.

"You always end up getting yourself into this state." she muttered softly.

But this was not the time to complain. Liu Lin had asked her to find Xu Jiujiu and Zhang Lexuan after taking human form, and tell them that he was safe.

Of course, she knew what state those two were in now. Xu Jiujiu had watched Liu Lin vanish with her own eyes, while the ring Zhang Lexuan had left for Liu Lin had shattered. Those two were probably going mad.

"Damn Liu Lin, you even lied to me last time, saying there was nothing going on between you. Just wait until you come back. I'll show you how I'm going to teach you a lesson."

After muttering to herself, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion stood up and walked to the entrance of the cave, using Soul Power to seal it shut.

Reddish-gold light surged from her body, wrapping her entire form into a cocoon of light.

Taking human form required time, but she could afford to wait. She had never hesitated when it came to anything Liu Lin asked her to do.

Star Luo Imperial Palace.

Xu Jiujiu sat amid the ruins of Liu Lin's room, leaning against half a torn bedsheet.

She had not gone to the academy for several days. Her golden hair hung messily over her shoulders, and her eyes were so red and swollen that she could barely open them.

Palace servants came and went around her, but no one dared approach and disturb her. Xu Jiawei stood behind her, silently watching his younger sister, not knowing what to say.

Everyone who could be sent had been dispatched. Elder Lin and Meng Tao, the two Titled Douluo, had personally led a search of all Star Luo City and the surrounding hundred li, yet they had not found even the slightest trace of Liu Lin.

But he had not told Xu Jiujiu this news, afraid she would not be able to bear it.

Kneeling on the ground, Xu Jiujiu suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse beyond recognition. "Royal Brother, still no news?"

Xu Jiawei did not answer.

Xu Jiujiu lowered her head and buried her face in that half of the bedsheet.

Liu Lin's scent still lingered on the sheet, faint—so faint—but she could not bear to let go, afraid she would never see him again.

Shrek Academy.

Zhang Lexuan sat on the bed in her room, the shattered silver-white ring floating before her.

Ever since the ring shattered that night and her divine power had been cut off, she had not slept for two full days.

Soul Power rampaged through the meridians in her body, while a faint layer of black aura curled around her brow—the precursor to qi deviation.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, the present Zhang Lexuan forcibly steadied the Soul Power racing through her meridians, unable to suppress the anxiety in her voice. "If this continues, you'll suffer qi deviation."

"What meaning is there in coming back if he's not here?!" The future Zhang Lexuan abruptly raised her head, her eyes bloodshot and her voice trembling.

The Sea of Consciousness fell silent for a long time after those words.

The present Zhang Lexuan forced herself to calm down and took control of the body. She was heartbroken too, but not as crazed as her future self.

After withdrawing from the Sea of Consciousness, she first took a deep breath and slowly forced the rampaging Soul Power within her back under control, then raised a hand to wipe away the tears at the corners of her eyes.