Empress Hongtian's Inheritance

Chapter 33: Empress Hongtian's Inheritance

Ancient Great Emperors, Vast Great Emperors, Soaring Great Emperors, Enlightenment Great Emperors...

Looking at these revered Great Emperors of later generations, Xu Zimo remained unfazed and said calmly, "What crime have I committed? Even if you carry the Mandate of Heaven and act on its behalf, what of it?"

At this moment, Xu Zimo really wanted to roar, "We cultivators are inherently going against the heavens. Who dares to act high and mighty? Today, I will shatter this heaven! My fate is mine to control, not heaven's!"

But after a moment's thought, he felt it was a bit too chuunibyo. His gaze sharpened, he drew Overlord Shadow from his back, his slender figure facing the ten Great Emperors in the sky, and grinned, "So what if I drag you all down from your pedestals!"

He stepped into the air, Overlord Shadow in his hand reflecting a thousand feet of light. He roared and charged towards those Great Emperors.

"The world's fortunes are born of our generation, Once in the Jianghu, time flies by. Imperial ambitions discussed with a laugh, Life's greatest joy is but a drunken sigh."

Qi Shan waved his hand, and the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Array gradually dissipated. The mist dispersed, and Xu Zimo wore a smile.

The Seven Emotions and Six Desires Array could ignite a person's most primal desires, creating whatever they craved most within the illusion. Be it power, wealth, beauty, or strength.

Many of the youths in the arena were already disheveled, their clothes in disarray, looking utterly pathetic. Even those who were in better condition had pale or flushed faces, covered in a sheen of cold sweat.

"Ruhu, what did you see in the illusion?" Xu Zimo asked with great interest.

"I saw lots of naked women, but I wasn't interested, so I blew them all up," Lin Ruhu replied. "I also saw myself carrying the Mandate of Heaven and becoming a Great Emperor. But I knew that the Great Emperor in this life would definitely be Brother Zimo, so I killed all the people who worshipped me too."

Xu Zimo suddenly realized that this kind of illusion was simply about provoking people's desires, but Lin Ruhu was someone who had no desires at all.

"Ruhu, what do you like?" Xu Zimo asked curiously.

"I just like following Brother Zimo," Lin Ruhu said with a simple, honest smile.

"Let me be clear, my aesthetic taste is very normal," Xu Zimo quickly explained.

"That's not what I meant," Lin Ruhu quickly said. "I already have someone I like."

"Who?" Xu Zimo was taken aback. This guy Lin Ruhu usually seemed quiet and unassuming, he didn't expect this seemingly honest fellow to be so inwardly repressed.

"The Seventh Elder's daughter," Lin Ruhu replied softly.

"Hiss," Xu Zimo gasped, "This is truly terrifying!"

Xu Zimo had also seen the Seventh Elder's daughter. He hadn't expected Ruhu's taste to be so... unconventional.

"What do you like about her?" Xu Zimo felt it was necessary to ask clearly.

"I think her personality is quite good," Lin Ruhu said with a foolish smile, as if recalling something, his smile radiant.

"My apologies," Xu Zimo nodded silently, not replying further.

"What a character."

At this time, the inner sect elders had begun to read out the list of the top one hundred disciples by total score. The youths whose names were called became incredibly excited, looking down on their surroundings, heads held high. As the hundred spots were gradually read out, the remaining youths' faces grew dim, their entire year's anticipation turning to despair.

"Youths who couldn't join the Sacred Sect, don't give up. The path of a martial artist is full of setbacks; how can it always be smooth sailing?" the inner sect elder said comfortingly from the front. "You can try again next year, or choosing to join another sect is also a good option."

In this far western land, besides the True Martial Sacred Sect, there were many other sects. However, no matter how you compared them, the True Martial Sacred Sect was the strongest.

Afterward, the inner sect elder gave an inspiring speech to the remaining one hundred youths who had joined the True Martial Sacred Sect. The general gist was, "The sect is for me, and I am for the sect."

When the speech ended, the inner sect elder took out a hexagonal crystal. The surface of this crystal was polished to a mirror-like smoothness, twinkling with starlight.

The inner sect elder didn't explain the crystal's purpose, merely instructing everyone to line up and place their hands on the crystal one by one.

"What is this for?" Lin Ruhu asked curiously from afar.

"Inheritance Crystal," Xu Zimo replied with a smile.

He had already foreseen the outcome. This was a moment that would be recorded in the history of the True Martial Sacred Sect, and a moment when Baili Xiao would truly enter the dragon's gate. But Xu Zimo didn't interfere, because everything seemed so interesting, so beautiful. So beautiful that he couldn't bear to destroy others' hopes.

One by one, the youths placed their hands on the crystal, but it remained unresponsive.

The Inner Sect Elder's expression was calm; he had long anticipated this situation. "The successor chosen by the Empress is not easily found."

The line began to dwindle. Whether it was Yan Buhui, Gao Xiong, or even those two twin sisters, they all failed.

Finally, the maiden, her heart filled with trepidation, stepped forward and placed her hand on the crystal. Baili Xiao felt a warm current flow from the crystal.

Immediately, the entire crystal erupted in a dazzling silver light.

"This, this is," the Inner Sect Elder standing before her stared at the crystal in disbelief, utterly speechless.

Not far away, Xu Zimo's lips curved into a smile. "Tsk tsk, this is truly a historic moment. It's a shame there's nothing to record it."

As the crystal emitted its dazzling glow, over a dozen figures suddenly appeared in the sky, stepping through the air.

Each of these figures exuded a world-shattering aura. When they appeared simultaneously, their auras merged into a single, cohesive force, as if solidifying the surrounding air. The overwhelming pressure was like a surging sea.

Among these figures were the seven elders of the True Martial Sacred Sect, including the Vice Sect Master himself.

This crystal was a supreme treasure of the sect, and it would naturally not be easily handed over to an Inner Sect Elder.

In fact, every time a successor was sought, these powerful figures would remain hidden in the shadows, merely unwilling to reveal themselves.

"Brother Zimo, what's happening?" Lin Ruhu asked, looking at the sect's high-ranking officials in the field with surprise.

The crystal slowly ascended into the sky, emitting a brilliant light, as if something was about to emerge.

Xu Zimo smiled and said, "Before the four Great Emperors of our True Martial Sacred Sect ascended, they each left their inheritance within the sect.

They hoped that one day, a suitable candidate would receive the inheritance and lead the Sacred Sect to a prosperous era.

The inheritance of the Divine Movement Great Emperor was obtained by the current Sect Master of our generation, while the inheritance of the True Martial Great Emperor was obtained by my father.

Now, only the inheritances of the Three Blades Great Emperor and Empress Hongtian remain vacant.

And today, the successor of Empress Hongtian has appeared."