Everyone was stunned by the scene before them. The smooth crystal gradually dissipated, and a shadow emerged from within.
That shadow seemed to have crossed the Nine Heavens Ten Lands, traversing time, space, and the River of Destiny to arrive here.
All was silent; not even a crow or sparrow dared make a sound. Boundless Imperial Might swept across the entire Yuanyang Continent.
At that moment, whether they were old monsters who had cultivated for countless years or peerless prodigies blessed with extraordinary talent—
Everyone was shaken by that immense aura, their gazes involuntarily turning toward the True Martial Sacred Sect.
"An Empress!" someone cried out. Everyone from the True Martial Sacred Sect knelt on the ground, gazing reverently into the sky.
Endless radiance descended from the shadow. It was as though a mist veiled it, leaving everyone utterly unable to see the Empress's face.
The Inner Sect Elder swallowed hard and cried out in shock, "The Empress's successor! She is the successor chosen by the Empress!"
The figure turned back and looked upon this world. Time and space seemed to freeze, then the figure transformed into a streak of silver light and flew into Baili Xiao's body with an unassailable majesty.
Then, everyone heard a thunderous explosion as the Empress's Inheritance Crystal shattered.
A complete set of corpse bones flew out from within. Glistening silver light radiated from the bones, while strands of moonlight coiled around them.
"The Flying Immortal Body!" an elder exclaimed. "It is the Empress's Flying Immortal Body! Before ascending, the Empress did not take the Flying Immortal Body with her—she left it behind!"
Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, their gazes upon Baili Xiao filled with disbelief.
Those who knew understood just how immense an opportunity this young girl had obtained.
The Flying Immortal Body was ranked seventh among the Hundred Great Bodies, a battle body hailed as the embodiment of ultimate speed.
Among the four Great Emperors of the True Martial Sacred Sect, only Empress Hongtian had obtained the seventh-ranked Flying Immortal Body, while the True Martial Great Emperor had obtained the fifteenth-ranked True Martial Sword Body.
As for the other two Great Emperors, even after bearing the Heavenly Mandate, they had failed to obtain a battle body.
The True Martial Great Emperor's inheritance had been obtained by Xu Qingshan, but it did not contain the battle body inheritance he had left behind.
No one had expected Empress Hongtian to leave behind her own Flying Immortal Body.
The Flying Immortal Body merged into Baili Xiao's body. She collapsed to the ground, crying out in agony. Xu Zimo understood the intense pain of having one's entire body remade.
Sixth Elder Xiao Yuexuan hurriedly flew down from the sky and encouraged her from the side, "Xiao'er, hold on. This is a crucial moment that will change your fate. You must endure it."
Under everyone's tense gazes, Baili Xiao gradually calmed down. She sat cross-legged and suppressed the spiritual energy within her body before slowly exhaling.
"Aunt," Baili Xiao greeted as soon as she saw Xiao Yuexuan.
"You child, you truly have good fortune," Xiao Yuexuan said with satisfaction. "You have received the Empress's inheritance and fused with the Flying Immortal Body. In this lifetime, you will certainly be qualified to contend for the Heavenly Mandate."
"I will work hard and not disappoint Aunt," Baili Xiao replied with a nod.
The trial for the new disciples came to an end, and the young girl became the only protagonist of this trial.
Xu Zimo was now considered an outer sect disciple of the True Martial Sacred Sect. According to the sect's rules, outer sect disciples had to complete three sect missions within a month.
The sect had a dedicated Mission Hall, where disciples went to accept missions.
Xu Zimo paid no mind to the tremendous upheaval this trial had caused within the True Martial Sacred Sect. He brought Lin Ruhu to the Mission Hall.
Both accepting and submitting missions had to be done at the Mission Hall, so it was usually packed whenever Xu Zimo arrived.
Calling it as crowded as a bustling marketplace would not have been an exaggeration.
A long line stood on the side for accepting missions. Too lazy to queue, Xu Zimo headed straight to the very front.
At the front, a disciple was accepting a mission.
The disciple smiled at the disciple behind the counter who was issuing missions and said, "Senior Brother, I want to accept a mission."
"What is your cultivation?" the Young Man behind the counter asked without even raising his head.
"Fifth level of the Spirit Vein Realm," the disciple hurriedly replied.
"Those in the Spirit Vein Realm can only accept level-five missions," the Young Man replied flatly, casually tossing a wooden plaque to the outer sect disciple.
The outer sect disciple quickly caught the mission token. After reading the mission written on it, his expression changed, and he smiled apologetically. "Senior Brother, could you give me another level-five mission?"
The Mission Hall had all sorts of missions: hunting demonic beasts, eliminating bandits, escorting caravans, and excavating rare minerals.
Some of these missions were issued by sect elders, while others were posted by outsiders.
As long as there was a Spirit Crystal reward and the mission did not harm others, it could be posted in the True Martial Sacred Sect.
Therefore, even among level-five missions, some were easier while others were far more difficult.
The mission this outer sect disciple had accepted was one to hunt a demonic beast.
The Young Man issuing the mission frowned and said displeasedly, "You pick and choose this mission, then pick and choose that mission. If I give all the easy missions to you lot, who will complete the rest?"
The outer sect disciple was meek and submissive, not daring to object.
The disciples who issued missions held considerable authority, and ordinary people did not dare provoke them.
If one truly angered them, they could deliberately assign the hardest missions every time one came to accept a mission, and one would have no grounds to complain!
Xu Zimo patted the outer sect disciple on the shoulder and smiled. "Brother, mind if I cut in?"
"Who are you?" The outer sect disciple frowned at Xu Zimo and asked irritably.
Because Xu Zimo usually lived on Yan Nan Peak, many inner and outer sect disciples did not know him very well.
Before Xu Zimo could speak, a disciple behind them suddenly sprang into action and kicked the outer sect disciple to the ground. He said viciously, "Open your dog eyes and look carefully. This is Senior Brother Zimo, the son of our True Martial Sacred Sect's Vice Sect Master.
If he cuts in front of you, it means he thinks highly of you. Don't fail to appreciate kindness."
The outer sect disciple's expression immediately changed. He hurriedly apologized to Xu Zimo, then slunk away in disgrace.
Xu Zimo looked at the disciple who had stood up for him and asked with a smile, "What is your name?"
"My name is Zhang Guilin. Senior Brother can just call me Xiao Guizi," the disciple quickly replied.
"Not bad, Xiao Guizi. From now on, follow me," Xu Zimo said with a smile.
Though Xu Zimo disliked such fawning people, having a lackey by his side could save him plenty of trouble.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, for giving me this chance to serve you like a horse before the saddle and a servant behind the stirrup. Senior Brother may not know this, but my admiration for you has always been like the surging Yangtze, rolling on without end, and like the Yellow River bursting its banks, utterly beyond control," Zhang Guilin said with a grin.
Then he abruptly slammed a hand on the table and urged the Young Man issuing missions, "What are you standing there for? Senior Brother Xu is here to accept a mission—hurry up and bring out all the better missions!"
Before you continue