Unmatched Heritage

The Divine Fall Palace.

Deep within the layers of magnificent halls and palaces.

Inside a glazed hall.

Countless powerful auras sat in silence. Some had the hair of elders but the faces of children, others bore the marks of vast vicissitudes, and some appeared handsome and youthful, yet all exuded an unfathomable presence.

For a long time, no one responded.

The gazes of all were fixed on the shattered life tablet on the table. A suffocating sense of oppression permeated the entire hall!

The life tablet was engraved with a striking name—Liu Changfeng!

Even though it was shattered, the still recognizable name was enough to make everyone present feel as if a mountain were pressing down upon them, foreboding the arrival of a great calamity.

Although they themselves held the esteemed positions of outer sect elders of the Divine Fall Palace, Liu Changfeng's father was an inner sect elder. That Elder Liu Runan was a true Desolate Realm expert. If he were to rage, the entire Divine Fall Palace would quake!

After a long, heavy silence, the leading elder spoke in a deep voice.

"Everyone, for tens of thousands of years, our Divine Fall Palace has never encountered such an event. Elder Liu has been harmed. This matter must be investigated thoroughly!"

As soon as these words of stance were spoken, the other elders chimed in one after another.

"Elder Gong speaks rightly. Elder Liu's death concerns the dignity of our Divine Fall Palace. No matter who is responsible, they must be torn to pieces!"

"Indeed! At any cost, we must capture the true culprit!"

"We must exterminate the murderer's nine generations of kin to serve as a warning!"

"If this person is not eliminated, where will our Divine Fall Palace's prestige be?"

The elders present were all top figures in the Divine Land. Having experienced countless trials and cultivated arduously to reach their current status, they were naturally extremely shrewd. Their successive declarations considered both the greater good of the Divine Fall Palace's reputation and the need to save face and show respect for the inner sect Elder Liu.

Within a few breaths, the outer sect elders had reached a unified resolution.

They all knew that even without prompting, news would naturally reach Elder Liu Runan's ears. Therefore, they all put on an appearance of competing in anger, their collective fury nearly enveloping the entire outer sect!

The facts unfolded as everyone anticipated.

Before the outer sect assembly had even concluded, someone quietly made their way to the depths of the palace.

They bowed and reported before a nine-story tower, showing utmost respect.

After a long wait, an indifferent voice drifted down from above.

"This lord is already aware. You may withdraw."

That person hurriedly bowed respectfully again, suppressing the glee in their heart as they departed.

When no aura remained anywhere around the tall tower.

Within the quiet chamber at the top floor.

An old man with white hair and a beard revealed coldness in his eyes, staring gloomily at the soul flame before him.

"You heard everything?"

“After tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation, you have ended up in such a state. A dignified outer sect elder has now become an opportunity for others to seek revenge and curry favor with this old man.”

"I, Liu Runan, have traversed the stars of Lan my entire life. My illustrious reputation has been ruined by you, this scourge!"

The soul flame revealed the outline of a child's face, filled with guilt and panic.

Hearing these words, it was so frightened that it kept bowing and begging for mercy.

"Father, please forgive me, Father, please forgive me..."

“It's not that your child is incompetent, it's truly that the opponent was too powerful. I never imagined that person's cultivation was so terrifying, actually able to destroy my true body with a single sword strike...”

Watching Liu Changfeng weep like a child, trembling all over as he begged for mercy.

Liu Runan remained expressionlessly indifferent throughout.

Having weathered tens of thousands of years of storms, honors, and humiliations, this old man had long since transcended worldly concerns, almost devoid of ordinary human emotions. Few things could disturb his state of mind.

Only after Liu Changfeng's soul flame had sobbed for a long time.

Did Liu Runan finally lift his eyes and start to gently reprimand?

"Hmph."

If not for your slight talent, allowing you to step into the Half-Step Desolate Realm and condense a second soul, you would have already perished, body and soul destroyed. How could you still be here crying before me?

Liu Changfeng, scolded, dared not raise his head, kneeling on the ground with a frustrated expression.

“Father's lesson is correct...”

“But the child is now in this ghostly state. This second soul isn't of great use either. What is to be done in the future? Tian'er is still in that person's hands. He is your own grandson, Father. You, venerable elder, must surely uphold justice for us.”

Looking at the child-like soul flame and hearing the pitiful words.

Even though Liu Runan's eyes showed indifference, his tone softened slightly.

You truly are difficult to become a great talent.

"As early as ten thousand years ago, your father warned you to focus on the Great Dao and bitter cultivation. You indulged in throwing your weight around relying on your elder position. Otherwise, how could you have ended up like this?"

“Clearly, it was your own lack of ambition, yet you dare to blame others? Who says a second soul is useless? It's because your realm is lowly that you can only manifest this child-like soul flame.”

"If you could reach the Desolate Realm, this second soul could travel far through the air. With further advancement, you could condense an external incarnation, drastically increasing your combat power!"

Hearing these words, Liu Changfeng shed tears of deep regret.

His great future was utterly ruined, reduced to this state of being neither human nor ghost. His regret was so profound it felt his guts were turning green. He cried out like a bullied child.

"Wuwuwu..."

Even in such a pitiful state, Liu Runan sat as indifferent and still as before, as if he no longer cared for the so-called familial bonds.

Only after Liu Changfeng had somewhat recovered.

Did the old man speak upon hearing him.

“Consider this a lesson for you, to understand that there is always someone beyond you. If it leads you to devote yourself to the Dao in the future, it may not be a bad thing. Since he could kill you, you shall use his body from now on.”

Hearing this, the child's face within the soul flame slowly raised its eyes.

"Use his body..."

"Father, you mean...?"

Liu Runan calmly stroked his beard, a gleam of brilliance flashing in his weathered eyes.

"Based on your account, this person should be a true Desolate Realm expert. If we can capture him and use supreme great arts to perform soul seizure, your second soul can occupy his body. Not only can you live a new life, but you can also step into the Desolate Realm."

"This is the best choice, and the most suitable path for you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Changfeng was overjoyed, his eyes filled with excitement!

"Soul seizure?!"

"Hiss..."

This is indeed a clever strategy! As long as I can seize this person's body, all problems can be resolved smoothly, and I can even turn misfortune into blessing, with my cultivation skyrocketing!

Father is wise!

In his excitement, Liu Changfeng looked at his father's weathered face.

Perhaps because of the great calamity he experienced, he had a slight pang of conscience. Or maybe that one sword strike was too terrifying, leaving him still feeling fearful to this day...

After glancing a few times, Liu Changfeng suddenly began to stammer.

"But..."

“But this person is definitely at the Desolate Realm. Capturing him will be terrifyingly difficult. Father, are you truly confident?”

Hearing this, Liu Runan fixed a deep gaze on him.

You have indeed grown a little from this great change.

Rest assured. Even among those at the Desolate Realm, there are differences in foundation. This old man's tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation are by no means something a junior can match. You need not worry excessively. Although this matter is not easy, it is also not too difficult.

“Having experienced this, when you are reborn and set foot in the Desolate Realm in the future, you must take it as a warning and devote yourself to diligent cultivation!”

Faced with this rare earnest teaching, Liu Changfeng shed hot tears and bowed down in reverence!

This child remembers Father's teachings!

By the time he rose, the old man's figure had already dissipated into nothingness.

The Gao Ming body technique left not a trace for him to capture. Having such a formidable father was an unparalleled foundation, both his honor and his absolute capital.

Who could have imagined.

What seemed like a heaven-shattering disaster could, in the blink of an eye, transform into an opportunity!

Thinking of the terrifying cultivation he would attain in the future, along with that dreadful sword technique, Liu Changfeng was deeply moved by his father's concern, while also unable to suppress the look of sheer excitement in his eyes!

Even as a mere flickering soul-fire apparition, a ferocious expression solidified on his child-like face.

It wouldn't be long now.

Soon, he would step into the Desolate Realm and look down upon all living beings!

When that time came, both he and his father would be able to join the inner sect of the Fallen God Palace, and their family would surely flourish for all eternity!