Yang Xiu Enters the Secret Realm

Inside the Secret Realm, Yang Xiu began choosing his missions.

The missions seemed to be just as difficult as Zhao Wuji's. Apparently, the Secret Realm Spirit judged only by level, not strength. In the end, Yang Xiu chose three.

Mission 5: Kill an 80,000-year leopard-type Soul Beast to receive a Trait reward. After fusion, the recipient would randomly gain a Trait suited to them.

Mission 17: Defeat a 90,000-year Soul Beast to obtain a Soul Ring (100,000 years).

Mission 18: Defeat a 90,000-year Soul Beast to obtain a Torso Bone (100,000 years).

Yang Xiu summoned his Martial Soul and his External Soul Bone. He began gathering Nine Heavens Thunderclap. His External Soul Bone had grown alongside him, and Nine Heavens Thunderclap was now no weaker than a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill. He intended to finish his opponent in one blow.

He looked at the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, which was about to become nine in one.

"Accept missions seventeen and eighteen."

As soon as the countdown ended, Yang Xiu unleashed his fully gathered Nine Heavens Thunderclap at the 90,000-year Saber-Toothed Tiger Soul Beast. The attack was guaranteed to hit. With nowhere to flee, the tiger could only face it head-on. It had underestimated the attack and overestimated itself. The instant it made contact, it was sent flying. One forepaw vanished outright, and a chunk of its belly was gone. It lay there barely alive, staring at Yang Xiu in terror.

The system soon declared the missions complete. Yang Xiu began fusing with the Soul Bone. He wanted to strengthen his body so he could make better use of the 100,000-year Soul Ring. Half an hour later, the Torso Bone had fused with him, and he felt his defenses rise. He then began absorbing the Soul Ring. As time passed, a red Soul Ring appeared around him.

"Not bad. It actually reached 140,000 years." Yang Xiu smiled, satisfied. Without checking his attributes, he moved on to his last mission. After his increase in strength, an 80,000-year Soul Beast posed no threat. He killed it in a few blows, leaving behind a cloud of purple mist. Yang Xiu absorbed it without hesitation and soon sank into self-reflection. What kind of Trait suits me? What kind do I need? Gradually, he found his answer and understood what he wanted. Once the purple mist was fully absorbed, Yang Xiu opened his eyes and smiled with delight.

Yang Xiu: Yang Xiu (19 years old)

Level: 74

Martial Souls: Divine Shadow Leopard (purple, black, black, black, black, black, red); Dragon Soul Spear

Defense: Level 95

Spirit: Level 91

First Soul Skill (1,085 years): Berserk

Second Soul Skill (11,200 years): Claw of Fate

Third Soul Skill (10,000 years): Pursuit of Fate

Fourth Soul Skill (11,000 years): Shadow Clone Technique

Fifth Soul Skill (32,000 years): Fierce Leopard's Roar

Sixth Soul Skill (73,000 years): Void Force

Seventh Soul Skill (140,000 years): Skill 1, Claw of Wrath: Strikes a single point on an enemy five times in an instant, each dealing 120% damage. Has a chance to produce an attack that ignores defense. Anger can also amplify its power, theoretically reaching five attacks at 200% damage each.

Skill 2, Holy Beast Protection: As one blessed by the divine beast White Tiger, the user can restore a measure of stamina, Soul Power, and injuries to himself and his teammates.

Trait: Bloodline Power (beginner): Awakens the Flame Emperor Bloodline within the soul. As one of the Flame Emperor's people, the user fears no challenge.

Combat state: Unleashing the Flame Emperor Bloodline increases all physical abilities by 30% and dispels negative effects. Within a certain area (spiritual power × 4 × 3.14159... m²), it can stir the Bloodline Power of nearby people of the same bloodline, increasing their overall strength by 10%.

Passive: When dealt a fatal blow, has a 50% chance of survival and takes no damage for the next two seconds.

External Soul Bone: Wind-Thunder Wings; skill: Nine Heavens Thunderclap

Soul Bone: Right Leg Bone; skill: Divine Movement

Cultivation technique: Nine Yin Manual (mastered)

Martial techniques: Snake-Coiling Seven-Feints Spear Technique,

Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, Three Soul-Reaping Spears. External Soul Bone: Wind-Thunder Wings; skill: Nine Heavens Thunderclap

Soul Bone: Right Leg Bone; skill: Divine Movement

Torso Bone: Skill 1, Void Traversal: Transforms the body into Void Force to travel through the void. Can reach places the user has visited or can detect with spiritual power. The user cannot attack in this state and is immune to others' attacks except those using Void Force.

Skill 2, Void Cage: Seals off a region of space, cuts through it, then banishes it into the void.

After reviewing his attributes, Yang Xiu feared no Douluo below level 95, despite being only level 74. Bloodline Power and the Torso Bone's Soul Skills, in particular, gave him a way to escape in almost any situation. If he met someone who understood Void Force, though, he would have no choice but to fight to the death.

Yang Xiu collected himself and left the Secret Realm. The moment he emerged, the system's voice rang out.

"Congratulations, host, on completing the missions. Reward: Flame Emperor Legacy Tower. Please select an open space, or it cannot be manifested."

"Then put it beside the Sect's Foundation Tower," Yang Xiu thought. The Foundation Tower was the nine-story tower that housed the Sect Secret Realm.

Yang Xiu soon went outside. System, manifest it. The Flame Emperor Legacy Tower appeared, standing a hundred meters taller than the Foundation Tower. A Five-Clawed Golden Dragon flickered in and out of sight along its body, yet a closer look revealed nothing. It appeared only when someone approached the tower's entrance.

The sudden appearance of the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower startled everyone in the Flame Emperor Sect.

Soon, a crowd gathered beneath it and looked toward Yang Xiu.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Yang Xiu raised a hand for silence, then spoke at an unhurried pace.

"This is the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower. As its name suggests, its purpose is to pass down legacies."

"There are many legacies inside, including your own. When you look for one, don't choose your own."

"But let me warn you: each person can enter only once in their lifetime. Don't rush in blindly."

"You also need the Flame Emperor Bloodline. Without it, you'll be killed once you enter."

"Of course, those without the Flame Emperor Bloodline may still have a chance if they're absolutely loyal to the Flame Emperor Sect. As for how to enter, and what the Flame Emperor Bloodline is, you'll find out when you try."

"All right, everyone, dismissed."

"Hua Xiong, Dragon One, Guan Sheng, you three stay."

"Hua Xiong, bring Zhao Wuji back in the next couple of days. Then take him inside and find your legacy. Once you enter, you'll receive guidance and learn where it is. After that, look for War God Lu Bu's legacy and see whether you can earn his recognition."

"Dragon One, I'll have Zhu Zhuqing come to you shortly. Let her receive your legacy. I think it suits her temperament."

"Then take your brothers in. For you, Dragon Two, and Dragon Three, I have two goals: seek the legacies of Killing God Bai Qi and Ran Min. Whether you succeed depends on earning their recognition. As for your other brothers, you can have them receive the legacies of the strongest among you, but only as a last resort."

"Guan Sheng, seek your ancestor's legacy."

"All right, did you understand?" Yang Xiu added, "Of course, I'm not saying you must obtain the legacies I named. This is a matter of fortune, and they may not suit you. Follow your hearts in your search."

"If there's nothing else, get back to what you were doing."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Yang Xiu soon returned to the villa.

Zhu Zhuqing came to meet him and said softly,

"Brother Xiu, you left again without a word."

Her voice gave nothing away; she sounded as though she were merely stating a fact. But Yang Xiu knew her heart. He smiled, drew her into his arms, and kissed her forehead. Only after seeing her blush did he speak.

"I broke through level 70 and went to the Sect Secret Realm. See? I'm back already. What's wrong? Did you miss me?"

Then Yang Xiu teased her. "Zhu Zhuqing, you're like a clingy little kitten. I rather like it."

Zhu Zhuqing's face reddened.

"You're the kitten. Hmph!"

"Haha... My little kitten's embarrassed."

Zhu Zhuqing watched Yang Xiu laugh without restraint and tried to pull free. But he only held her tighter, so she buried her face deeper against him. After they had held each other a while, Yang Xiu remembered what he needed to tell her.

"Go find Dragon One later, then visit the Flame Emperor Legacy Tower. See whether you can receive his legacy."

"All right, Brother Xiu." Zhu Zhuqing did not ask what the Flame Emperor legacy was. She would do whatever Yang Xiu asked of her. Such was a girl in love.

(Even a few people watching in secret looked envious. Unfortunately, they were all single.)

Zhu Zhuqing soon went to find Dragon One, while Yang Xiu began consolidating his cultivation. He did not wait for her at the Legacy Tower. He knew receiving a legacy could take as little as three to five days or as long as a month or two. She might even emerge empty-handed.

As for Yang Xiu himself, he felt it was not yet time to enter the Legacy Tower.