The ancient palace doors stood open.
Beyond them was darkness.
Not ordinary darkness.
It was the kind of darkness that seemed to swallow spiritual sense itself.
Ye Xuan stood at the entrance.
His white hair fluttered gently in the cold wind.
His golden eyes stared into the depths.
Behind him, Su Lian, Bai Yue, Gu Yuexin, Li Ming, and the other disciples stood silently.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then the woman's voice echoed from inside.
"Ye Xuan..."
"Enter."
Ye Xuan's expression became strange.
He turned his head slightly.
"Did everyone hear that?"
Su Lian shook her head.
"No."
Bai Yue looked confused.
"I didn't hear anything."
Gu Yuexin's purple eyes narrowed.
"Neither did I."
Ye Xuan's gaze returned to the palace.
His expression slowly became serious.
So only I can hear her.
[Correct.]
Ye Xuan almost replied aloud.
He stopped himself.
System.
[The system advises the host not to speak to the system aloud in front of others.]
I know.
[Excellent.]
And stop giving me obvious advice.
[The system will consider it.]
Ye Xuan almost smiled.
Instead, he looked toward Su Lian.
"Wait here."
She immediately frowned.
"No."
"Senior Sister—"
"You've already faced the trial alone."
She stepped forward.
"If you're entering that palace, I'm coming with you."
Ye Xuan looked at her for several seconds.
Then smiled.
"Fine."
Bai Yue immediately stepped forward.
"Then I'm coming too."
Gu Yuexin followed.
"I'll go."
Ye Xuan stared at the three women.
"Are all of you planning to follow me?"
Bai Yue crossed her arms.
"Yes."
Gu Yuexin smiled.
"Unless you're afraid we'll slow you down."
Ye Xuan laughed.
"That's not going to happen."
Su Lian gave him a warning look.
"Don't get arrogant."
"Too late."
She sighed.
"Let's go."
The First Hall
The moment they entered—
BOOM!
The enormous doors closed behind them.
Everyone immediately became alert.
The palace was enormous.
Golden pillars extended toward a ceiling they couldn't see.
Ancient thunder symbols covered the walls.
At the center of the hall stood a gigantic statue.
It depicted a woman.
Long silver hair.
Violet eyes.
Nine enormous tails.
Ye Xuan stopped.
His heart skipped.
Yue Li.
The statue looked exactly like her.
Bai Yue looked at the statue.
"Who is she?"
Li Ming examined the ancient inscriptions.
"I don't know."
Su Lian walked closer.
"She's probably an ancient expert."
Gu Yuexin stared at the nine tails.
"Her bloodline seems extraordinary."
Ye Xuan said nothing.
He already knew this woman wasn't ordinary.
He had seen her.
He had spoken to her.
But why was her statue inside an ancient palace connected to the Ancient Thunder Palace?
That question bothered him.
Suddenly—
The statue's eyes opened.
SHING!
Violet light filled the hall.
Everyone stepped backward.
Only Ye Xuan remained still.
The statue looked directly at him.
Then—
The woman's voice echoed.
"You finally came."
Ye Xuan frowned.
"Who are you?"
The statue smiled.
"You already know."
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Yue Li."
The others looked at him.
Su Lian immediately asked,
"Junior Brother, who is Yue Li?"
Ye Xuan paused.
He couldn't tell them.
He looked toward the statue.
"I saw her during the inheritance trial."
Su Lian nodded slowly.
"Is she the owner of this palace?"
"I don't know."
The statue suddenly laughed softly.
"Very good."
"You didn't tell them."
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
The statue was speaking directly to him again.
Only him.
The Moon Fox
The violet light gathered.
The statue slowly transformed.
The stone disappeared.
A real woman appeared before them.
Silver hair.
Violet eyes.
A beautiful face.
Nine silver tails swayed behind her.
Her presence was elegant and mysterious.
Even Su Lian and the others were stunned.
Bai Yue whispered,
"She's beautiful..."
Gu Yuexin's eyes narrowed.
"This isn't a physical body."
Su Lian nodded.
"An ancient spiritual projection."
Yue Li looked at Ye Xuan.
"Correct."
Ye Xuan stared.
"You know them?"
"I know everything inside this palace."
She smiled.
"Except you."
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"That's comforting."
Yue Li laughed.
"You haven't changed."
Ye Xuan frowned.
"Have we met before?"
Her smile faded slightly.
"Not in this life."
Ye Xuan became silent.
The words sounded important.
But he remembered the rule he had already decided for himself.
No fate.
No destiny.
Not yet.
He didn't want mysterious explanations before he had the strength to understand them.
So he simply asked:
"Why did you call me here?"
Yue Li looked at him.
"Because you possess something that should have disappeared."
"The Moon Fox bloodline?"
"Partly."
Her gaze became deeper.
"You possess its fragment."
"Only a fragment?"
"Yes."
Ye Xuan looked at his hand.
"Can it become complete?"
Yue Li smiled.
"Perhaps."
"How?"
"Grow stronger."
Ye Xuan sighed.
"Everyone says that."
Yue Li laughed.
"Because it's true."
The Ancient Thunder Palace
Ye Xuan looked around.
"Then why is this place called the Ancient Thunder Palace?"
Yue Li's eyes moved toward the ceiling.
"Because the original owner cultivated thunder."
"Who?"
A moment of silence.
Then Yue Li answered:
"
Lei Cang.
"
Li Ming suddenly froze.
"Lei Cang?"
Everyone looked at him.
His expression had changed completely.
Su Lian asked,
"Do you know that name?"
Li Ming nodded slowly.
"I've read about him."
"Who was he?"
Li Ming swallowed.
"An ancient cultivator from an era so old that even the major sects possess very few records about him."
He looked toward the palace.
"According to the ancient texts..."
"He once cultivated a thunder body capable of surviving heavenly tribulations."
"His cultivation was said to have reached an unimaginable level."
Bai Yue's eyes widened.
"How strong?"
Li Ming shook his head.
"There are no reliable records."
Ye Xuan looked at Yue Li.
"Is that true?"
She nodded.
"He was powerful."
"How powerful?"
"Stronger than the current strongest cultivators in your Lower Realm."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"That's not very specific."
Yue Li laughed.
"You'll understand later."
Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes.
"You really like saying that."
Suddenly—
The floor lit up.
A gigantic formation appeared.
RUMBLE!
Thunder descended from the ceiling.
Ye Xuan immediately stepped forward.
"Everyone, move back."
Su Lian immediately pulled Bai Yue backward.
Gu Yuexin summoned her spiritual energy.
"What is happening?"
Yue Li looked at Ye Xuan.
"The second trial."
Ye Xuan frowned.
"I already completed the first."
"That was only the entrance trial."
"..."
Ye Xuan sighed.
"Of course."
Yue Li smiled.
"The true inheritance begins now."
Thunder Body
A massive golden figure appeared inside the formation.
It had no face.
Its body was made entirely of thunder.
The pressure it released was terrifying.
[Scanning.]
[Scanning.]
[Cultivation: Spirit Sea Realm.]
Ye Xuan's eyes sharpened.
Spirit Sea?
He had just broken through to Body Tempering Ninth Layer.
The gap was enormous.
The thunder figure raised one hand.
A spear formed from purple lightning appeared.
Yue Li spoke.
"Defeat it."
"And then?"
"Continue."
"How many?"
"Nine."
Ye Xuan stared.
"Nine?"
Yue Li nodded.
"Each one stronger than the last."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You're joking."
"No."
His smile slowly widened.
"Good."
Su Lian immediately shouted,
"Ye Xuan!"
He looked back.
She looked worried.
"Don't force yourself."
Ye Xuan's expression softened.
"I'll be careful."
She stared at him.
"You always say that before doing something reckless."
He laughed.
"Then this time I'll try something new."
"What?"
"I'll do something extremely reckless."
Su Lian's forehead twitched.
"Ye Xuan!"
He laughed and turned around.
First Guardian
The thunder warrior disappeared.
BOOM!
It appeared directly in front of Ye Xuan.
The spear pierced toward his chest.
Ye Xuan used
Spatial Step
.
The spear missed.
He appeared behind the guardian.
His fist slammed forward.
BANG!
The guardian flew backward.
But before it landed—
It disappeared.
A lightning spear came from above.
Ye Xuan looked up.
His golden eyes flashed.
Dragon Emperor Fist!
Golden-blue energy exploded from his fist.
BOOM!
The spear shattered.
Ye Xuan rushed forward.
One punch.
Two.
Three.
The thunder guardian finally collapsed.
BOOM!
The formation went silent.
[First Guardian defeated.]
Ye Xuan breathed out.
"That was easy."
Yue Li smiled.
"Don't celebrate yet."
The second formation activated.
The pressure doubled.
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
Second Guardian
This one was faster.
Much faster.
Ye Xuan barely avoided its attacks.
A thunder blade sliced through his sleeve.
Another attack grazed his shoulder.
Blood appeared.
Ye Xuan's eyes became sharp.
"Interesting."
His combat instincts accelerated.
He began predicting its movements.
Left.
Right.
Attack.
Dodge.
Counter.
The battle became increasingly intense.
Finally—
BOOM!
Ye Xuan smashed the guardian into the ground.
It disappeared.
The second trial ended.
[Second Guardian defeated.]
[Reward: 1 Year Cultivation.]
Ye Xuan froze.
One year?
The system immediately responded.
[Stored cultivation energy available.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
Don't absorb it yet.
[Understood.]
He wanted to accumulate more.
If the trial kept increasing the rewards—
the final payout could be enormous.
Third Guardian
BOOM!
Fourth.
BOOM!
Fifth.
BOOM!
Each battle became harder.
Ye Xuan's injuries increased.
His clothes became torn.
His body became covered with wounds.
Yet—
his fighting style became increasingly refined.
He learned.
He adapted.
He improved.
The Primordial Chaos Physique constantly repaired his body.
The Golden Azure Dragon Emperor Bloodline strengthened his physical power.
The Moon Fox bloodline enhanced his spiritual perception.
And the Thunder Spirit Bone absorbed the lightning attacking him.
By the sixth guardian—
Ye Xuan was no longer fighting purely with strength.
He was fighting with experience.
His movements became cleaner.
His attacks more precise.
His Spatial Step became faster.
His Dragon Emperor Fist became more refined.
His Moon Fox Illusion began appearing naturally during combat.
Sixth Guardian
The thunder warrior raised its hand.
Suddenly—
five identical guardians appeared.
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"Illusion?"
He activated his Heavenly Alchemy Eye.
Only one was real.
He smiled.
"My turn."
He activated—
Moon Fox Illusion.
Nine silver tails appeared behind him.
Nine identical Ye Xuans appeared throughout the hall.
The thunder guardians froze.
Yue Li's eyes brightened.
"Already?"
Ye Xuan's illusions attacked from every direction.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The real guardian couldn't determine which one was real.
Ye Xuan appeared behind it.
His fist struck its back.
BOOM!
The sixth guardian shattered.
Ye Xuan landed.
His breathing was heavier now.
But his eyes were brighter than ever.
Yue Li smiled.
"You learn quickly."
Ye Xuan wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I have a good teacher."
Yue Li's smile froze.
Then she laughed.
"Flattery won't help you."
"Wasn't flattery."
"Then what?"
"Truth."
Yue Li shook her head.
"You're troublesome."
Ye Xuan grinned.
"You like troublesome people."
For the first time—
Yue Li's cheeks seemed to turn slightly pink.
She quickly looked away.
"Continue."
Ye Xuan smiled.
Interesting.
The seventh guardian appeared.
Then the eighth.
Then—
the ninth.
The entire palace trembled.
Ye Xuan stood in the center of the formation.
His white hair was stained with blood.
His golden eyes were blazing.
His body was exhausted.
But he was smiling.
The ninth guardian raised a massive thunder sword.
Its cultivation—
Half-Step Spirit Sea King.
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"So this is the final one."
Yue Li looked at him.
"Yes."
"Can I win?"
She smiled.
"That depends on you."
Ye Xuan took a deep breath.
Then—
the system appeared.
[Host.]
What?
[The system recommends using the accumulated cultivation energy after the battle.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
I was thinking the same thing.
He clenched his fist.
"Come."
The ninth guardian raised its sword.
Thunder exploded.
Ye Xuan stepped forward.
And the final battle—
began.