Contending for the Inheritance

"Could it be that it won't open? Did it get scared?" Jiang Ming muttered, recalling the previous Holy War.

Since the Jiang Clan paid no attention to the Spirit Realm, they had dared to launch a Holy War there. After all, the Spirit Realm's restrictions meant that those who entered were usually only Nascent Soul Cultivators, while a Holy War would often destroy the Spirit Realm. If Jiang Lingtian had not reinforced the Four Symbols Realm back then, the instant a Saint Realm aura erupted, the entire Four Symbols Realm would have collapsed.

Jiang Ming walked before the main hall and looked up at its magnificent structure. Just as he was about to head inside, he felt an immense pressure descend upon him.

"Could it be that only those who can withstand the pressure and enter the hall are qualified to contend for the Saint Realm inheritance?" Jiang Ming muttered.

"None of you tried going in?" Jiang Ming asked curiously.

"No. Earlier, we were all drawn in by your battle and haven't tried yet." Chen Xuanjia scratched his head.

Those nearby who heard them began discussing it among themselves.

"I just saw a fellow cultivator try to force his way in, but he was sent flying the moment he got close. I thought the time hadn't come yet. Turns out his strength just wasn't enough." One person suddenly understood.

"What did you say? Are you saying I'm not strong enough?" someone snarled furiously.

"I never said who it was. Don't go trying to match yourself to the description and come claim it." That person curled his lip.

The latter's face turned green, then white, and he said no more.

Jiang Ming shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. He strode straight toward the hall. The initial pressure exerted by the hall was not particularly strong; anyone with the strength of the Eighth or Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm could enter unharmed. Still, the Eighth and Ninth Layers of the Nascent Soul Realm had already filtered out seventy to eighty percent of the cultivators who had entered.

Seeing Jiang Ming safely approach the hall, the rest began trying to enter as well. Most were blasted away, while only a few top-tier cultivators at the Eighth or Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm endured the pressure.

Jiang Ming, meanwhile, moved as though he were entering an uninhabited realm. As for Zhang Lingyue, a mere First Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm, Jiang Ming had told her to wait outside. Truthfully, he did not think much of a Saint Realm inheritance; he had only come to broaden his horizons.

Although Chen Xuanjia had suffered some injuries, he still did not wish to miss this opportunity. He entered while enduring his wounds, but with his Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, entering the hall posed no problem.

Before long, Jiang Ming vanished from everyone's sight.

Jiang Ming had now entered the main hall. It was truly different from the city outside—inside, it was resplendent in gold and jade, extravagantly luxurious.

Yet Jiang Ming's attention was fixed on the seat at the very top—or rather, the throne. A figure sat upon it, with the Azure Dragon to his left, the White Tiger to his right, the Black Tortoise before him, and the Vermilion Bird behind him. It was clearly the Four Symbols Sage.

The Four Symbols Sage wore an expressionless face, but inwardly, he felt as awful as if he had swallowed shit. He had designed the pressure before the hall so that only someone at the Nascent Soul Extremity—the Tenth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm—could enter so quickly.

Originally, he had thought that whoever entered would possess astonishing talent, allowing him to seize their body and take everything they had. Yet the person who entered was suffused from head to toe with dense Extreme Yang Force, which somewhat restrained him in his state as a soul. Still, it did not matter. He had left himself a backup plan.

But he had actually sensed that the aura of the person before him bore some connection to that terrifying Saint Realm expert from before. This made him too afraid to move. If that person had been watching him all along, then the slightest action on his part would ensure the destruction of both soul and spirit.

Thus, ever since Jiang Ming entered, the two had simply stared wide-eyed at one another, neither daring to move recklessly. Jiang Ming was not afraid to move; he was merely wondering whether this neither-human-nor-ghost thing before him was a human or a beast.

After all, the meat of the Four Sacred Beasts was delicious!

At that moment, Chen Xuanjia and the others entered the hall one after another. Seeing the silent scene before them, they all froze in place, not daring to move.

"Ahem!" In the end, the Four Symbols Sage broke the silence. "Since you have passed the trial, I shall choose the most suitable person to receive the inheritance!"

Hearing this, everyone revealed expectant expressions, each hoping to become the inheritor.

"Emmm, you, come forward." The Four Symbols Sage pointed at Chen Xuanjia.

"It's you!" The Four Symbols Sage ultimately chose Chen Xuanjia. Jiang Ming had originally been the most suitable candidate, but he did not dare choose him.

Surprise flashed through Chen Xuanjia's eyes. There were several Peak Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators here, and he was even injured. He had merely come to try his luck and had already given up on obtaining the inheritance. Was this truly the favor of the goddess of fortune?

As the strongest of the Dao Sect's younger generation, Chen Xuanjia ranked among the very best of the ten great sects. Yet he was not overwhelmingly number one, so naturally, some were unconvinced.

"I refuse to accept this!" It was none other than the Seven Stars Sect's current senior disciple, Helian Jue!

"You refuse to accept it?" The Four Symbols Sage narrowed his eyes at Helian Jue. His vertical pupils radiated a dangerous aura. If not for the Saint Realm expert who had appeared earlier, not a single person present would have escaped. Now, he could only alter his plan.

Coming to his senses, Helian Jue broke out in a cold sweat. Fuck! What had I just done? I actually refused to accept a Saint Realm expert's decision? Things had gone too smoothly in the sect—I actually contradicted a Saint Realm expert. It's over, it's over!

One had to know that even the Seven Stars Sect's ancestor was only in the Tribulation Realm. A Saint Realm expert! Such an existence stood beyond reach.

For a moment, Helian Jue had even thought up his last words.

"You may refuse to accept it. Fight him one-on-one; whoever wins will receive the inheritance." The Four Symbols Sage smiled pleasantly, but no one knew what he was thinking.

Upon hearing this, hope flared in Helian Jue's eyes! Among the ten great sects, he was the strongest. Of everyone present, aside from Jiang Ming, there was no one he feared.

As he thought this, he looked toward Jiang Ming, his gaze concealing a faint thread of wariness.

"How about this? All of you fight together. Whoever remains standing at the end will be qualified to receive my inheritance!" The Four Symbols Sage was clearly delighted.

Most people would risk their lives for a Saint Realm inheritance, and that would give the Four Symbols Sage the chance to devour their Nascent Souls. Though it would not restore much for a soul, something was better than nothing.

The moment the Four Symbols Sage finished speaking, everyone in the hall swiftly retreated to a safe distance, leaving only Jiang Ming standing where he was, his expression cold.

He had not expected the inheritance trial to be handled like this. It was so childish, nothing like the novels he had read before!

Seeing everyone focus their gazes on him, Jiang Ming spoke indifferently. "I'm not participating!"

Yet no one clearly believed him.

"Brother Ming, this is a Saint Realm inheritance. Everyone can seek it; no one would want to give it up." Chen Xuanjia said gravely.

Jiang Ming glanced at him without saying more. Since they would not listen, he could only fight. I've cultivated all this time—if I still have to reason with people, wouldn't that cultivation have been for nothing?

"Then all of you come at me together?" Jiang Ming looked disdainfully at everyone around him. With his current First Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm strength, all those at the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm were nothing but ants!

For now, he had not encountered anyone at the Nascent Soul Extremity. After all, this was not the Heaven Domain. There were geniuses here, but not many, and resources were limited.

As for those few Heaven Domain geniuses from earlier, were they not merely at the edge of the Heaven Domain? In the Heaven Domain itself, they could not even be considered geniuses.

"Boy, you're arrogant!" Helian Jue roared. Who among those present was not a genius from their respective sects and lands? Yet Jiang Ming actually wanted to fight all of them alone.