Space Dao Inheritance, Possession!

Shi Xiao pushed open the stone door.

Behind the door was not a magnificent hall, but a small circular stone chamber, no more than a hundred feet in circumference; the chamber had a very high dome, from which a gray-white light poured down, illuminating every detail inside.

In the very center of the stone chamber, a bluish-gray lotus platform stands quietly.

On the lotus platform sat a skeleton.

The skeleton was humanoid in shape, but its frame was nearly twice the size of that of Human Race; its shoulder bones were broad, its finger bones were very long, and there was an arc-shaped protrusion on each side of its skull, like the remnant of some kind of horn.

Its entire body is devoid of skin and flesh, yet its bones gleam with a faint jade-white luster, having endured countless years without decaying in the slightest.

It was the remains of a Spirit Transformation cultivator.

Shi Xiao stood motionless at the doorway, his gaze fixed on the skeleton, the Purple Firmament Lightning Dao Aura taut as a string on his body.

Right now, he's not in a hurry.

After all, he was born into royalty and had seen all sorts of treasures. He naturally had a broad perspective and wouldn't be blinded by greed when he saw a treasure.

Even the most precious treasures in a secret realm left behind by Spirit Transformation cultivator are only obtainable if you're alive.

The spatial maze of that city had already caused him considerable trouble; this stone chamber may appear calm, but it might not be without its hidden traps.

His gaze shifted from the skeletons to his surroundings.

Dozens of light spheres of varying sizes floated around the lotus platform.

The sphere of light was milky white, and the outlines of objects could be vaguely seen inside. Some were jade boxes, some were animal bones, and some were a flowing radiance, exuding an extremely rich Daoist aura.

Shi Xiao cautiously extended his Divine Sense, only touching the outer layer of the nearest sphere of light.

The entire sphere of light was formed from pure Space Dao energy; the extremely pure Space Dao energy enveloped the sphere tightly, like an eggshell, protecting what was inside from the erosion of time.

He then looked a little further away at several orbs of light.

Within the two spheres of light lay two skeletons, each with a different shape: one resembling a dragon or serpent, the other a roc.

The residual Daoist aura of Dao of Lightning and Dao of Wind around him was extremely terrifying.

There were two more Spirit Transformation skeletons, both with extremely high cultivation levels in life, far surpassing ordinary Early Spirit Transformation.

Shi Xiao gasped. Just who was this senior in his lifetime?

The portable secret realm contains the remains of Spirit Transformation, and the contents within those milky-white orbs are likely of even more astonishing quality.

He suppressed his restlessness and did not rashly touch those orbs of light.

Then, the gaze returned to the skeleton.

The skeleton rested its hands folded on its knees, its posture serene, as if it were passing away peacefully.

A blue Jade Slip was held between the fingers of his left hand; a jade thumb ring was worn on the ring finger of his right hand.

The thumb ring is warm and smooth all over, with a texture like mutton fat, and subtle flowing patterns on its surface.

It was a Dao Artifact!

Shi Xiao could tell that the ring was no ordinary object. Although the Daoist aura remaining on it was extremely faint, it still possessed a profound and unsettling quality.

Such Dao Artifact are not something that ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivators might possess.

Even such a precious treasure is right before our eyes.

Shi Xiao still did not make any rash moves. He slowly walked around the lotus platform once, and then once more.

He examined the skeletons, the spheres of light, and every inch of the stone chamber walls from different angles; the walls were covered with Space Dao runes, which were of the same lineage as those in the city, but arranged in a more complex and precise manner.

Some runes still glow faintly, but most are now lifeless.

There were no hidden formations or traps, no restrictive mechanisms.

At least within his detection range, there was nothing...

Shi Xiao waited for another half an hour.

Everything in the stone chamber remained unchanged; the skeletons remained motionless, the sphere of light floated without falling, and even the air seemed frozen and undisturbed.

"Could it be that there really is no backup plan?"

"This kind of ancient monster's legacy, was it really obtained so easily?"

"Alright, let's get the Jade Slip first."

Shi Xiao made a silent decision: he would place the Jade Slip slip between the withered bone fingers, avoiding contact with the light spheres and the ring, thus minimizing the risk.

If anything seems amiss, he will still have time to withdraw.

He walked to the lotus platform, took a deep breath, and put the cyan Jade Slip into his hand.

Even now, he doesn't dare touch the skeleton.

As for the Jade Slip, there was no spiritual energy fluctuation.

Shi Xiao took a few steps back, creating a safe distance, before probing the Jade Slip with his Divine Sense.

Information then flooded in, as vast as the ocean.

The Jade Slip did not contain Cultivation Method, but rather a self-narration; the writing was archaic and the wording obscure, and it took Shi Xiao some effort to decipher its meaning.

The one who left behind this secret realm was a Space Dao Spirit Transformation who called himself Xu Yan, and whose Immortal Foundation was below the [Spaceless] level.

He cultivated to the point of Perfected Spirit Transformation and Four-Foundation Perfection during his lifetime.

Shi Xiao frowned slightly. Such cultivation was top-tier even in the Dao Realm, and he was very close to achieving the Dao Venerable Dao Fruit.

The Jade Slip contained very brief accounts. Xu Yan did not elaborate on his life, but only mentioned a few things: First, he failed to attain enlightenment, and his Spaceless Dao Fruit was not revealed to the world, so he did not pursue it at all.

Ultimately, due to the backlash from the Great Dao, his lifespan was nearing its end. Therefore, he created a secret realm to store all that he had gained in his life, waiting for a destined successor.

Secondly, the inheritances, spiritual objects, skeletons, and Dao Artifact in the secret realm are all gifts; those who enter can inherit his mantle, and all treasures can be taken by themselves.

Shi Xiao frowned slightly when he saw the third one.

"My Fate Dao artifact: the Xu Yan Ring, which contains my lifelong insights into the Space Dao. One can borrow this treasure to comprehend the Space Dao Immortal Foundation within."

Is it really that simple?

Shi Xiao read the Jade Slip slip over and over again three times, and indeed it contained only these contents; there were no tests or restrictions.

There is no specific explanation of "suffering its calamity".

At the entrance, it is clearly stated. "Those who enter must accept its path and endure its tribulations."

What does it mean to suffer this calamity?

Shi Xiao put the Jade Slip slip into his sleeve and his gaze fell on the jade ring on the skeleton's right hand.

The Xu Yan Ring.

The Fate Dao artifact of the Four Foundations Extreme Realm Spirit Transformation contains his lifelong insights into the Space Dao.

If this thing could be obtained, its value would be immeasurable; especially for the Giant Bear Clan, a royal family.

If there were a complete lineage, the entire clan would be able to forge a completely new path!

Shi Xiao stared at the thumb ring for a long time.

The Purple Firmament Lightning Dao Aura surged within him, but his instinctive alertness constantly reminded him that things were going too smoothly, unnaturally so.

But, in the end, they were still young.

Shi Xiao took the thumb ring into his palm, his fingertips touching the jade-colored thumb ring.

It feels warm and smooth to the touch, and the essence of Tao permeates the body.

But the next instant, Shi Xiao froze, his pupils dilating abruptly!

A burst of vital energy shot out from the ring!

That spirit was formless Formless, yet its speed was unbelievably fast; before Shi Xiao could even stop, the spirit had already pierced through his physical body and rushed straight into his sea of consciousness!

Nascent Soul!

The essence of his soul rushed straight towards his Nascent Soul!

Shi Xiao's Heaven in the Sea as a will not belonging to him surged in like a flood, frantically impacting the foundation of his soul.

That will, cold and vast, carrying a Decay yet powerful pressure, was like an ancient beast that had been dormant for countless millennia, suddenly awakening.

Possession!

Shi Xiao instantly realized that the skeleton was not a benevolent donor at all; the self-narration in the Jade Slip was bait, and the thumb ring was the trap!

Everything I've said so far has been to guide him to touch the ring!

"To inherit its path and endure its calamities—this is the calamity!"

Within Shi Xiao's sea of consciousness, that spirit essence, like Flood Dragon entering the sea, carrying with it a vast and boundless will of the Space Dao, was strangling and killing his Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul is the fundamental core of a cultivator. Once it is invaded, the physical body is handed over to another. At that time, Shi Xiao will completely perish, and this body will become the vessel for that old monster's resurrection!

Shi Xiao gritted his teeth, and the Purple Firmament Lightning Dao Aura surged wildly in his sea of consciousness. The fierce and blazing lightning aura transformed into layers of purple lightning curtains, enveloping the nascent Nascent Soul.

But that spirit, having been immersed in the Space Dao for countless millennia, possessed extremely unpredictable spatial abilities; the lightning barrier had barely formed when the spirit, with the power of the Space Dao, instantly obliterated it!

"Roll!"

Get out of my body!

Shi Xiao roared, his Nascent Soul Bear eyes wide open, and the Purple Firmament Lightning in his palm solidified into a tangible form as he slammed his palm towards that spirit.

Thunder roared, shattering a corner of the spirit.

But immediately, the essence reformed, moving faster and attacking more fiercely!

From within that cold will came a low, aged laugh.

Extremely faint, extremely distant, yet it sent a chill down Shi Xiao's spine.

Even a wisp of the essence remaining from the Four Foundations Extreme Realm Spirit Transformation stage is far beyond what Nascent Soul Middle Stage could contend with.

Shi Xiao knew very well that if he continued to fight head-on, he wouldn't be able to hold out for long.

He gritted his teeth, no longer hesitating, and suddenly two residing divine thoughts were stirred deep within his soul.

Two divine thoughts were activated simultaneously, and the power of the Spirit Transformation exploded in the sea of consciousness; the purple-gold thunder rhyme and the earth-yellow sharpness intertwined, like two angry Buddhas descending to earth, crushing towards that essence!

His spirit froze, and for the first time, a fluctuation arose in that icy will—not fear, but surprise.

Spirit Transformation and thoughts?

Although the two Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivators were not physically present, they were enough to suppress the attack of this remnant soul in an instant.

The essence was forced back an inch, and the aura of the Space Dao collided fiercely with the Dao of Lightning and Earth Dao in the sea of consciousness, causing ripples to spread.

"Snort!"

"How dare a mere skeleton and wild soul seize my bloodline!"

Shi Jian's divine sense transformed into a magnificent phantom of a giant bear; endless lightning converged, transforming into rolling thunder that roared down.

Almost instantly, that wisp of spirit was wiped out by the lightning.

In the blink of an eye, the soul is scattered!