.
.
The laughter reverberated across the ancient realm.
It was neither mocking nor angry.
It was... delighted.
For ten thousand years, countless geniuses had entered this inheritance.
Some were terrified.
Some were arrogant.
Some begged for the Sovereign's legacy.
But none had ever spoken back to him.
Lucien was the first.
The heavens above split apart.
A beam of golden light descended before the three cultivators.
Within it stood an old man in white robes.
His long silver hair reached his waist, and his eyes resembled an endless starry sky.
His figure was translucent.
Clearly, it was only a fragment of his soul.
Yet the pressure he released made even the surrounding space tremble.
Sylvia instinctively lowered her head.
Lin Tian tightened his grip on his sword.
Arcturus' voice echoed inside Lucien's mind.
"Your Highness..."
"Be careful."
"This is no ordinary soul fragment."
"Even at less than one percent of his former strength..."
"He could erase everyone here with a thought."
Lucien simply folded his hands behind his back.
"So..."
"You're the Forgotten Sovereign."
The old man smiled.
"I was."
"My real body returned to dust long ago."
"What remains..."
"...is merely my final will."
His gaze shifted between the three.
Finally...
It stopped on Lucien.
"I've watched all of you since entering this realm."
"You..."
He pointed at Lin Tian.
"You possess Heaven's blessing."
Lin Tian's eyes widened.
The Sovereign nodded.
"The destiny around you is incredibly dense."
"Your future should have been glorious."
Then he looked at Sylvia.
"You possess a heart that values righteousness."
"Rare."
"Very rare."
Finally...
His gaze returned to Lucien.
Silence.
Several breaths passed.
The Sovereign suddenly laughed again.
"You are fascinating."
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"In what way?"
"I cannot see your future."
Those words stunned everyone.
Lin Tian's destiny was visible.
Sylvia's destiny was visible.
But Lucien...
Was a complete blank.
The Forgotten Sovereign narrowed his eyes.
"It is as though..."
"You don't belong to this world."
Lucien's heart skipped a beat.
His expression, however, remained perfectly calm.
"So even a Divine King can notice..."
The Sovereign smiled mysteriously.
"Do not worry."
"I have no interest in exposing your secrets."
"Every cultivator has opportunities."
"Every cultivator has mysteries."
"I only care about one thing."
"Whether you are worthy."
With a wave of his sleeve, the scenery changed.
The three suddenly found themselves standing before an ancient chessboard.
Black pieces.
White pieces.
Each radiated terrifying spiritual power.
The Forgotten Sovereign spoke.
"My inheritance was never meant for the strongest."
"It belongs..."
"...to the wisest."
He pointed toward the board.
"Defeat me."
Lin Tian frowned.
"A chess match?"
The Sovereign chuckled.
"No."
"The pieces are alive."
The black and white chess pieces slowly transformed.
Kings became towering giants.
Pawns became armored soldiers.
Queens became terrifying beasts.
Within moments...
An entire battlefield stood before them.
"This..."
Sylvia whispered.
"...is a war simulation."
The Sovereign nodded.
"Each of you shall command an army."
"I will do the same."
"Victory belongs to the one who understands strategy."
Lucien's eyes lit up.
This...
Interested him far more than a contest of brute force.
Just then—
Ding!
The Villain Investment System activated.
Special Mission
Challenge the Forgotten Sovereign.
Win with overwhelming superiority.
Reward: ???
Failure: None.
Lucien smiled inwardly.
"Overwhelming superiority?"
"That shouldn't be too difficult."
Across the battlefield, the Forgotten Sovereign watched that smile.
For the first time in ten thousand years...
He felt something he had almost forgotten.
Anticipation.
"Come then, Crown Prince."
"Show me..."
"Whether your confidence is justified."
The first move of the ancient war...
Was about to begin.