Chapter 074: The Gate of Inheritance

  The stone staircase, stretching for thousands of miles, seemed to reach the heavens. A dark mass of people surged forward, lured by the countless treasures, pills, and spiritual herbs that lay ahead.

  Yang Tian and his group of four followed behind. After climbing the ten-thousand-zhang staircase, a massive stone hall came into view. Surrounding the hall were eight grand gates: the Treasure Pavilion, the Pill Chamber, the Outer Affairs Hall, the Lingxiao Hall, the Exotic Beast Garden, the Spiritual Herb Garden, the Treasure Vault, and the Affairs Hall.

  "Yun'er, which way?" Yang Tian's eyes scanned the gates. Most people were rushing into the Pill Chamber and the Treasure Pavilion, while only a few ventured toward the other areas.

  "It's inside the Lingxiao Hall," Yun'er replied after a moment's thought, smiling. The gate to the Lingxiao Hall was nearly deserted, while the others were bustling with activity.

  "Let's hurry," the group nodded and quickly made their way to the Lingxiao Hall. As they ran, they occasionally heard screams—clearly, some unfortunate souls had triggered the hidden killing arrays.

  The arrays inside the inner hall were far more dangerous than those in the outer areas. Most were lethal, and for those of their cultivation level, a single misstep could mean instant death—or worse, being reduced to dust.

  "Wow, is this a paradise?" As they walked through the Lingxiao Hall, they were greeted by lush vegetation, hot springs, and crystal-clear streams. The architecture was magnificent, with pavilions and towers radiating colorful lights. Purple bamboo groves were everywhere, and every plant seemed to shimmer with vitality.

  "Be careful, there are arrays everywhere," Yang Tian warned, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Beneath the beautiful exterior lay deadly traps.

  "Let's move faster. Someone's already gone inside," Yang Tian urged, sensing that others had entered the central hall. The group sped up, rushing toward the heart of the Lingxiao Hall.

  "Lingxiao Hall." The three ancient characters carved above the gate seemed to carry the weight of countless years. The Array Sect, though long gone, had left behind a legacy filled with sorrow and grandeur.

  "This plaque is extraordinary. Should we take it?" Xing Hao scratched his head, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he reached out.

  "Forget it. Let's not cause any trouble," Yang Tian said, his heart pounding. The plaque's ability to draw people's spirits into it without warning was a clear sign of its power.

  "Just kidding," Xing Hao chuckled, and the group moved on. Inside, they were greeted by a massive stone statue, thousands of zhang tall, exuding an intimidating aura. Its stone eyes seemed to pierce through one's soul.

  "This way," Yun'er pointed to the left after checking the direction. The group darted forward, passing countless stone statues, each radiating a fearsome presence.

  Ahead, a massive gate shrouded in ancient energy came into view. Dense arrays of runes floated above it, and at its base lay scattered pieces of flesh and blood—remnants of those who had tried to force their way in.

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  "Yun'er, is this the place?" Yang Tian asked, his eyes wide. The energy emanating from the gate far surpassed that of the pill chamber. The remains at its base were a grim reminder of its lethal power.

  "Yun'er, what's wrong?" Yang Tian frowned as Yun'er walked forward, seemingly entranced, her spirit drawn toward the gate.

  Just as Yang Tian was about to grab her, a hand gripped his arm.

  "I think the gate's energy resonates with Yun'er's aura. She might be going to receive the inheritance," Xing Hao speculated, though he wasn't entirely sure.

  "It does feel similar," Yang Tian agreed. As he spoke, the gate suddenly erupted with a surge of energy.

  The runes glowed as if in celebration, and the tightly sealed gate began to open. A vast, ancient aura rushed out, forcing the group to step back.

  As the gate opened, Yun'er stepped through and disappeared. The gate then slowly closed, its overwhelming pressure receding.

  "So, it's begun?" Xing Hao scratched his head, still processing what had just happened.

  "Tap... Tap..." Before they could gather their thoughts, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside. A dark mass of people surged in, their movements shaking the ground.

  "Boom! Boom!" A few reckless individuals, their eyes bloodshot with greed, charged toward the gate without hesitation.

  "Ah—!" A powerful gust of energy tore through them, reducing their bodies to shreds. Blood splattered onto the faces of those behind, snapping them out of their frenzy and replacing their greed with fear.

  "That's terrifying," Yang Tian and the others exchanged glances, relieved that the reckless few had served as a warning. The gate's power was enough to shred even semi-finished Dao artifacts.

  More people flooded into the hall, many looking disheveled, some missing limbs—clear evidence of the deadly arrays they had encountered.

  "The inheritance must have been taken by them," Li Hongtao's group glared at Yang Tian, their faces dark with anger. They had gained nothing but injuries from the arrays.

  "Yang Tian, I remember there were four of you," Li Hongtao stepped forward, his eyes cold and accusing. "How do you open this gate? Don't you owe everyone an explanation?"

  As Li Hongtao spoke, countless eyes turned to Yang Tian, filled with naked desire. The treasures within the inner hall were too tempting to ignore.

  "You can't possibly take all these treasures for yourself. Why not share some? Don't be so selfish," a red-eyed youth in the crowd shouted, inciting the others.

  "I don't know how to open the gate. Besides, how do I know if this is even the gate of inheritance? If you're so curious, why don't you try it yourself?" Yang Tian shrugged, his tone calm.

  "Try it ourselves?" Many in the crowd twitched at the suggestion, their faces darkening. The gate's lethal power was all too evident.

  "Stop playing dumb. Hand over the method to open the gate. Do you really think the three of you can take on all of us? If you don't cooperate..." Li Hongtao clenched his fist, a cold smile spreading across his face.

  The crowd's eyes turned fierce, many already channeling their energy, ready to attack. The treasures within the inner hall were too valuable to pass up.

  "Yang Tian, let's see how you escape this time," Li Hongtao smirked, proud of having turned the crowd against Yang Tian.

  "Boom!" Yang Tian's eyes turned icy as he stomped the ground. His vital energy erupted like a tidal wave, the sheer force causing the ground to tremble.

  "Such powerful physical strength!" Many onlookers widened their eyes in shock, astonished by Yang Tian's display of power.

  "Whoosh... Whoosh..." The oppressive energy radiated like a furnace, forcing the crowd to retreat.

  "Boom!" As Yang Tian's foot landed, Xing Hao stepped forward, his sharp aura exploding outward, sweeping toward the greedy crowd.

  "Boom!" The large bow in his hands trembled, emitting dragon-like roars. The purple dragon图案 on the bow seemed to come alive, its fierce energy fully unleashed.

  "If you don't want to be used like fools by Li Hongtao, feel free to step forward. But don't blame me if you're torn to pieces," Yang Tian's cold gaze swept over the crowd, his voice firm.

  Many in the crowd began to see through Li Hongtao's manipulation and started to retreat. As some left, the once-dense crowd began to thin.