The ancient skeleton slowly rose from its throne.
BOOM!
The entire underground palace trembled.
Dust cascaded from the ceiling.
Ye Xuan remained composed.
His golden eyes carefully examined the skeleton.
"Senior, before we begin..."
The skeleton paused.
"What is it?"
"Is there a reward?"
Silence.
The golden flames within the skeleton’s eye sockets flickered.
"You dare inquire about rewards before completing the trial?"
Ye Xuan smiled faintly.
"Understanding the reward helps improve motivation."
The skeleton regarded him for a moment.
"You are an unusual young man."
"I have been told as much."
The skeleton raised a bony hand.
Instantly—
the entire palace shifted.
RUMBLE!
The stone floor vanished beneath him.
Ye Xuan’s body plummeted downward.
The First Trial
He landed within a vast arena.
The walls were inscribed with ancient runes.
Above him, countless golden swords hovered in suspension.
Ye Xuan surveyed the surroundings.
"Interesting."
The skeleton’s voice echoed through the space.
"First trial."
"Survive for one hour."
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Against what?"
The answer came immediately.
SHING!
The golden swords began to move.
Hundreds of sword lights surged toward him.
Ye Xuan’s expression shifted slightly.
"That is quite the welcome."
He activated
Spatial Step
.
WHOOSH!
Wave after wave of sword strikes passed through his afterimage.
He weaved seamlessly between them.
One blade grazed his shoulder.
Blood surfaced.
Ye Xuan frowned.
"Sharp."
The System appeared.
[The swords contain Ancient Sword Intent.]
Can you analyze them?
[Affirmative.]
Weakness?
[Host is advised to avoid being struck.]
Ye Xuan’s expression darkened.
Very helpful.
[The system is operating within optimal parameters.]
Ye Xuan exhaled a short laugh.
"Very well."
He stopped retreating.
The golden swords descended in unison.
His golden-blue spiritual energy erupted.
Dragon Emperor Fist!
BOOM!
Several swords shattered instantly.
Yet more continued to emerge.
Ye Xuan’s expression grew serious.
"This is not about destruction."
He observed carefully.
Each sword followed a precise trajectory.
The formation was repeating.
"I see."
He moved.
Left.
Right.
Forward.
Backward.
Then—
BOOM!
His fist struck the ground.
The entire formation trembled violently.
The golden swords froze mid-air.
The trial ceased.
The skeleton’s voice echoed once more.
"Excellent."
Second Trial
The arena shifted again.
This time—
Ye Xuan stood before a towering staircase.
At its summit rested a golden door.
A heavy pressure descended from above.
BOOM!
Ye Xuan’s knees slightly bent.
He frowned.
"This pressure..."
The skeleton spoke.
"Climb."
"That is all?"
"Yes."
Ye Xuan stepped forward.
The first step was effortless.
The second.
The third.
The tenth.
By the twentieth step, the pressure intensified.
At the fiftieth—
his body began to tremble.
At the hundredth—
his spiritual energy was nearly fully suppressed.
Ye Xuan gritted his teeth.
He continued forward.
One step.
Then another.
And another.
His Primordial Chaos Physique began absorbing the surrounding pressure.
His body gradually adapted.
The System appeared.
[Host’s physique is adapting.]
Good.
[Temporary physical enhancement detected.]
Ye Xuan smiled faintly.
"Then let us see how far I can go."
He continued ascending.
Two hundred steps.
Three hundred.
Four hundred.
His body was drenched in sweat.
His muscles trembled under strain.
Yet his gaze remained unwavering.
Finally—
he reached the final step.
The pressure vanished completely.
Ye Xuan stood before the golden door.
He exhaled slowly.
"Completed."
The door opened.
The Ancient Inheritance
Beyond the door lay a small chamber.
There was no mountain of treasure.
No divine weapons.
No accumulation of spirit stones.
Only a single stone tablet.
Ancient characters covered its surface.
The skeleton appeared behind Ye Xuan.
"You have passed."
Ye Xuan looked at the tablet.
"What is this?"
"My inheritance."
The skeleton gestured toward it.
"I once cultivated the
Heaven-Shattering Sword Scripture
."
Ye Xuan’s eyes brightened.
"A sword technique?"
"Yes."
"But you do not use a sword."
The skeleton regarded him calmly.
"I am a skeleton."
"Fair enough."
The skeleton continued.
"This inheritance is not limited to sword cultivators. It conveys the essence of Sword Intent itself."
Ye Xuan stepped forward.
The moment his hand made contact—
BOOM!
A vast surge of information flooded his mind.
Countless sword images manifested.
Mountains were cleaved.
Rivers were severed.
Stars were shattered.
Ye Xuan’s consciousness trembled.
He immediately sat down.
His breathing stabilized.
He began to comprehend.
[Special Check-In Condition fulfilled.]
Ye Xuan’s eyes opened slightly.
[Would the Host like to check in?]
Yes.
[Special Check-In successful.]
[Reward: Heaven-Shattering Sword Scripture.]
[Reward: 10,000-year Ancient Sword Intent.]
[Reward: Ancient Sword Heart.]
Ye Xuan’s eyes widened slightly.
Sword Heart?
[Affirmative.]
Can it be cultivated?
[With sufficient comprehension, yes.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Excellent."
The ancient skeleton observed him quietly.
"You have obtained my inheritance."
Ye Xuan stood.
"Thank you, Senior."
The skeleton nodded.
"However..."
Its tone turned solemn.
"Your bloodlines are unusual."
Ye Xuan’s expression became guarded.
The skeleton continued.
"I cannot discern their origins."
"But I can tell..."
"Possessing too many conflicting powers will be dangerous for you."
Ye Xuan remained silent.
The skeleton looked directly at him.
"Do not recklessly pursue every powerful bloodline you encounter."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"I understand."
He recalled the System’s fusion mechanism.
Five major physiques and bloodlines.
Then—
complete integration.
But that was still far away.
It would not be easily obtained.
The skeleton slowly smiled.
"Good."
"Now leave."
Ye Xuan blinked.
"That is all?"
"Yes."
"Senior, are there no hidden treasures?"
"No."
"A secret treasury?"
"No."
"An ancient divine weapon?"
"No."
Ye Xuan sighed.
"Senior, you are rather poor."
The skeleton froze.
"..."
Then—
BOOM!
Ye Xuan was forcibly expelled from the ancient palace.
He landed outside the ruins.
Slowly, he stood up.
"That skeleton has quite the temper."
[The system concurs.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
Then he looked toward the distant horizon.
His journey beyond the sect had officially begun.
And somewhere ahead—
a new opportunity awaited.
He only needed to find it.
And perhaps—
check in.