The ancient tomb contained four great inheritances.

  Lu had already guessed that these four would come from the four skeletons.

  The first time he saw them, he knew they had been extraordinarily powerful in life—likely beyond the Venerable level.

  So aside from the mysterious General, the only possible sources of inheritance were these four skeletons.

  Lu glanced at the tomb and smiled.

  White robes fluttering, he left a trail of lightning across the sea and vanished.

  Returning to the lake heart island.

  He was quite curious—who exactly had received the inheritances?

  Or rather, which inheritors had the four skeletons chosen?

  “Some people… this Young Master isn’t even willing to let inherit them.”

  Lu leaned back in the Thousand Blades Chair, tapping the armrest with a half-smile.

  The Spiritual Pressure Chessboard appeared. He rolled up his sleeve, pinched a piece, and placed it on the board.

  Lines danced in his eyes, revealing figures one after another.

  Time to see who the lucky four were.

  …

  The pink-clad skeleton, skirt swaying lightly.

  In life, she must have been a stunning beauty.

  Gentle zither music drifted from the ancient city walls. A pink-skirted maiden sat atop the tower, zither before her, slender fingers plucking the strings.

  Yet the music was murderous—like high mountains and flowing rivers.

  Ripples spread, making the air tremble. Each note was a blade, slicing through the air.

  Below, piled-up enemies were shredded by the sound waves.

  Crimson blood sprayed across the ground.

  The scene made Lu raise a brow.

  The Dao of Sound?

  He had a guess who this pink skeleton would choose.

  Sure enough—

  The vision vanished.

  The pink-skirted maiden atop the tower became a girl in goose-yellow robes and a veil.

  Luo Mingyue—the stubborn girl who had once insisted on staying on the lake heart island.

  She was the first chosen.

  The pink-clad skeleton hovered behind her.

  Luo Mingyue seemed immersed in a strange state.

  Golden ancient characters circled her—the scripture’s contents. Under its guidance, the scripture seemed to etch itself into her soul.

  It appeared the inheritance required cultivating the scripture alongside it.

  When Luo Mingyue’s fingers plucked the first note on the dusty ancient zither—

  A crack appeared on the weathered wall.

  The mountain of bones below trembled.

  Notes leaped, filling heaven and earth—sometimes vast, sometimes sinister, sometimes stirring.

  Luo Mingyue played on, sweat beading on her forehead. Blood seeped from her fingertips, staining the zither an eerie crimson.

  The blood droplets exploded into mist under the vibrating strings, shrouding the zither in a sinister aura.

  Suddenly—

  The piece ended.

  All the blood mist seeped into the zither.

  Luo Mingyue’s veil fell, revealing flushed, sweat-glistened skin.

  Lu sipped from his bronze cup.

  The first skeleton had chosen Luo Mingyue.

  The inheritance of the Zither King.

  Somewhat unexpected.

  If not for this moment, Lu would have nearly forgotten the stubborn girl.

  Her talent had always been average—only Nascent Soul realm now.

  Yet with the inheritance and the scripture’s aid, her cultivation skyrocketed, crossing into Yin Spirit and even stepping into Yang God realm.

  Lu took a sip of tea and nodded lightly.

  “Acceptable.”

  The lines in his eyes shifted to the second scene.

  …

  A vast, majestic battlefield.

  Two armies arrayed, killing intent piercing the heavens. War drums thundered as though to scatter the clouds.

  Armored ranks stood ready.

  Then—from one army, a winged lion roared.

  A lean youth with lightning eyes rode it.

  “Form array!”

  He bellowed.

  The ancient scripture flowed within him.

  His soldiers leaped onto winged lions and charged. The earth shook.

  Though their numbers were few—

  Their presence was overwhelming, like a million troops on the march.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The youth at the front rode like lightning.

  One roar drew roars from all behind.

  Mighty qi coalesced above them into a demonic god figure, sweeping out a massive halberd.

  The halberd smashed the ground.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Mountains shook!

  A ten-thousand-zhang chasm split the earth!

  Reins snapped. The youth’s hair whipped wildly as he roared, as though to tear the heavens!

  The magnificent scene stirred anyone’s blood.

  Lu calmly sipped his plum wine.

  His gaze settled.

  The youth on the winged lion’s face shifted—

  It became Jiang Li.

  Jiang Li’s eyes blazed. Behind him, the armored skeleton rode the same lion.

  Jiang Li led the charge.

  The army’s qi gathered into a sharp spear.

  In that moment, the entire army moved as one.

  Rip!

  The earth seemed pierced through!

  The vision ended abruptly.

  Another surprise—Lu had never expected Jiang Li to be the second inheritor.

  Neither Luo Mingyue nor Jiang Li had exceptional cultivation or talent.

  Yet they were the most suitable.

  The second inheritance: the Soldier King.

  Lu chuckled. “Acceptable.”

  The scene shifted again.

  …

  The third vision was oppressive.

  Not on a battlefield or city wall—

  But atop a grand palace throne.

  An emperor-like figure reviewed memorials.

  The hall was heavily guarded.

  Powerful auras crisscrossed, nearly lifting the roof beams.

  Suddenly—

  A breeze passed.

  Blood gushed within the palace.

  The emperor clutched his throat. Blood soaked the memorials, blurring the words into crimson script.

  Chaos erupted.

  Terrifying auras exploded.

  Yet no one could find the assassin.

  Atop the palace roof—

  A burly man in coarse clothes stood.

  A dagger in hand. With a flick, crimson blood shook off the blade.

  Then, under Lu’s gaze—

  The burly man’s face changed.

  It became Mo Liuqi.

  Lu sighed nostalgically at the familiar figure.

  He had not paid attention to Mo Liuqi in a long time. The little assassin who once rode a donkey and attempted to kill him before his eyes had now been chosen by a skeleton. The boy who had stubbornly walked the assassin’s path had finally gotten his wish.

  Third inheritor: Mo Liuqi.

  The Shadow King inheritance.

  Lu frowned but said nothing.

  So far, all three inheritors had surprised him.

  None were the most talented or strongest.

  Yet they were the most fitting.

  The fourth vision appeared.

  This one was a daoist—or rather, a swordsman in daoist robes.

  A sword hung at his waist, sheathed, showing no edge.

  He stood atop a mountain peak.

  Below, endless armies charged. Countless experts soared.

  Yet the daoist merely stroked his beard and smiled.

  With one hand, he pushed the sword forward.

  Slowly, he tossed the sheathed sword into the air.

  It spun.

  Suddenly—

  Snap!

  His arm gripped the middle of the scabbard.

  Clang!

  A resounding ring.

  The sword emerged three inches from its sheath.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  Explosions rang out endlessly.

  The daoist’s robes whipped wildly atop the peak.

  Below—

  Sword qi ravaged the land. Blood flowed like rivers. Distant mountains were severed at the waist.

  Like a grandmaster of the sword.

  One drawn inch pierced the heavens.

  Dazzling.

  Under Lu’s astonished gaze—

  The sword master’s face changed.

  It became Ximen Xianzhi.

  His robes flapped fiercely.

  The daoist skeleton hovered behind him.

  Fourth inheritance.

  Ximen Xianzhi.

  The Sword King inheritance.

  Lu withdrew his gaze, slowly placing a piece on the board.

  His lips curved.

  Zither King, Soldier King, Shadow King, Sword King…

  Four King inheritances.

  Each extraordinary in its own way.

  This gave Lu inspiration.

  Perhaps strengthening Five Phoenix cultivators didn’t require the usual path. Inheritances could be used…

  The upgraded Preaching Platform had gone unused.

  Perhaps it was time to try.

  Luo Mingyue, Jiang Li, Mo Liuqi, and Ximen Xianzhi were not the strongest or most brilliant in Lu’s Five Phoenix lineup.

  Yet they had been chosen.

  Undoubtedly because they were the most suitable.

  Their original cultivations were merely decent. With the inheritances, they received the complete ancient scripture.

  The full scripture now reflected in Lu’s mind as well.

  It gave him insight.

  Five Phoenix’s cultivation world still lacked a world-shaking cultivation method—one tailored for Five Phoenix.

  Lu fell into thought.

  To create a unique cultivation system for Five Phoenix, such a method might be essential.

  After receiving the inheritances, all four broke through dramatically.

  Each stepped into Yang God realm.

  They did not instantly become Unity realm Mighty Beings—likely because the primordial spirit was tied to the soul and too important.

  Even these powerhouses dared not rush it, fearing they would ruin themselves.

  Plink.

  A piece fell on the board. Lu’s lips curved.

  “Acceptable.”

  Rumble!

  As his words fell, heaven and earth trembled slightly.

  Within the tomb, a boom resounded.

  The four skeletons floated. Ghostfire flickered in their sockets.

  As though… responding to Lu’s approval.

  …

  Tuoba and Azure Spirit Holy Lords had left.

  Though they wished to witness Five Phoenix’s High Martial grading, instinct told them to depart.

  The Northern Palace Holy Lord’s fate had frightened them.

  They kept wondering if they had ever offended Lu Ping’an.

  Qi Liujia did not stop them.

  If the Holy Lords wished to leave, so be it—he could relax.

  As for whether they would spread news of the tomb—Qi Liujia was no longer worried.

  If Lu’s guess was correct and the Little Thunder Sound Buddha Realm kept silent, these two sensible Holy Lords would do the same.

  Hunched, Qi Liujia’s eyes gleamed as he gazed at the tomb.

  Radiant light spilled from it. Powerful fluctuations emanated from the palace cities within, filling him with excitement.

  The tomb undoubtedly held countless fortunes. With them, Five Phoenix would grow stronger!

  He wondered if those who obtained fortunes could comprehend dao intents and inscribe them on the origin—only then could Five Phoenix truly rise!

  High Martial grades were clear: based on the number of dao intents inscribed on the origin.

  From Derivation Nine to Derivation One—the divisions were distinct.

  Of course, Qi Liujia also looked forward to Five Phoenix’s upcoming grading and entry into the High Martial Records.

  Though he already had an answer in his heart.

  Witnessing the grading’s birth would satisfy him.

  It meant the Void Heaven’s only recognized High Martial world had been born!

  A milestone.

  Gazing at the tomb—

  Qi Liujia’s eyes grew deep.

  The tomb surely held inheritances from powerhouses of the Ancient Emperor’s era.

  This made him think of his disciple, Li Sansui.

  He felt guilty toward him—he had left him nothing. Even the Nine-Word Array Proverbs had been divided among other disciples.

  Yet light gradually flickered in Qi Liujia’s aged eyes.

  Young Master Lu had dao patterns…

  But soon, he grew conflicted.

  With Young Master Lu’s temper—if he asked for array patterns, he might be beaten to death.

  “No matter. For my only disciple, this old face is worth risking.”

  Qi Liujia’s wrinkled face creased into a smile.

  …

  Within the tomb.

  Bu Nanxing’s face was full of lingering fear.

  He had survived.

  He had endured to the end!

  City after city—he had no idea how he made it.

  Azure Spirit Holy Son had died miserably on the battlefield, torn apart by countless skeletons for failing to comprehend the scripture.

  Even with his special physique, his death had been anything but peaceful.

  Tuoba Holy Son had survived too—but barely.

  Bu Nanxing dared not take another step, terrified that some deadly mechanism would suddenly activate and erase him without warning.

  He looked into the distance—where the cheap “big brother” he had met outside the tomb was happily examining a radiant spirit herb.

  A herb planted within the tomb.

  “Another never-before-seen herb… one more entry for the Herb Compendium.”

  Lu Changkong smiled broadly.

  Bu Nanxing’s mouth twitched.

  The whole way, he had traveled with Lu Changkong. He was now convinced—this guy was cheating!

  Every trial they faced, Lu Changkong had acted carefree—yet nothing ever touched him.

  On the battlefield stage—

  Lu Changkong had walked straight through while skeletons dropped dead at the sight of him.

  Bu Nanxing, who had fought desperately to kill skeletons, had been dumbfounded.

  Some people really made others want to die from envy.

  Especially when Lu Changkong, confused, had chased after the skeletons rising from the sand.

  “Why aren’t you attacking me?!”

  Bu Nanxing had never seen someone so infuriatingly lucky.

  This unique way of staying alive left him green with envy.

  “You two, let us part ways here.”

  “My life’s joy is researching herbs. This place has vast medicinal fields—countless herbs worth studying. You seek greater fortunes, so let us go our separate ways. I wish you both swift success.”

  Lu Changkong cupped his fists toward Bu Nanxing and Tuoba Holy Son.

  Tuoba glanced at the fields.

  Though filled with spirit herbs, his sacred ground had its own. He had no need to waste time here—and herbs were not his goal.

  So he chose to part ways.

  Yet he had noticed Lu Changkong’s strangeness and solemnly cupped his fists before leaving.

  Bu Nanxing, however, stayed put.

  “This place is safe. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “When the exit opens, I’ll be the first out.”

  He found a pit, sat down, and refused to budge.

  Lu Changkong smiled.

  Then the scene became oddly harmonious.

  Bu Nanxing truly did not move—like a statue. He believed staying still kept him free of karma.

  Meanwhile, Lu Changkong tirelessly harvested herbs, testing them on himself.

  He tasted every kind.

  He even planned to conduct crossbreeding experiments right there in the third city’s medicinal fields.

  Lu Changkong pulled out a gourd.

  Inside was a viscous gray-green liquid.

  Quite extraordinary.

  After countless attempts, he had crushed a spirit herb and mixed it with strands of the River of Time from the Immortal Legacy Ruins.

  It had catalytic effects.

  The guarantee of his crossbreeding success.

  Bu Nanxing watched Lu Changkong toil facing the soil, back to the sky, and couldn’t help but sigh.

  Look at this man—so simple, so unpretentious.

  Until…

  One day, Lu Changkong tossed him a beautiful fruit.

  Wary, Bu Nanxing refused to eat.

  “It’s fine—no poison.”

  Lu Changkong shook his head with a smile.

  He bit into one himself right in front of Bu Nanxing. Pale pink juice flowed, the flesh fragrant.

  Bu Nanxing swallowed.

  Seeing Lu Changkong eat with such delight and no ill effects—

  His worries vanished.

  He picked up the fruit, wiped it on his clothes, and took a bite.

  The next instant—

  His pupils contracted. An electric jolt spread through his body.

  His divine sense felt pricked by needles.

  He lost all feeling.

  You said… it wasn’t poisonous?!

  Watching Lu Changkong’s astonished face—

  Bu Nanxing’s numb tongue painfully spat out the pink flesh.

  Tears nearly fell.

  Where was basic trust between people?!

  This world… was too dangerous!