The Only Solace

Amidst the chorus of congratulations from the crowd, only Bai Ji remained slumped on the ground, his face ashen with despair.

"It succeeded? How could it have succeeded?"

"This can't be possible. No one has succeeded in so many years—how could it work this time…"

He muttered bitterly, his voice thick with resentment.

Just then, Yi Feng suddenly strode toward him.

Looming over Bai Ji, his expression was dark and foreboding.

"You're Bai Ji?"

Yi Feng cut off Bai Ji's muttering.

Bai Ji lifted his head and immediately met Yi Feng's icy gaze.

That stare filled him with terror.

"I… I, yes, I am…"

He stammered, his words stumbling. Though he couldn't accept the outcome, he knew better than to provoke Yi Feng now.

"Did you tamper with the inheritance trial?"

Yi Feng demanded in a low, dangerous tone.

At this, Bai Ji's heart lurched.

If Yi Feng had entered the trial and emerged alive, he must have discovered the sabotage. There was no point in denying it.

"Spare me, Senior! Spare me!"

Bai Ji immediately kowtowed, begging for mercy as tears streamed down his face. "I was blinded by greed—I made a terrible mistake! Please, spare this worthless life of mine!"

"So you did tamper with it."

Yi Feng's anger flared. He seized Bai Ji by the collar, hoisting him up like a helpless chick, and snarled, "Since you admit it, tell me—where exactly did you set your traps? Where are they?"

"Uh… huh?"

Bai Ji had been preparing more pleas for mercy, but Yi Feng's question left him stunned.

"You… you didn’t encounter them?"

He asked blankly.

"Are you fucking kidding me? If I’d run into them, do you think I’d have inherited the trial so easily?" Yi Feng roared, his grip tightening. He had even thought Bai Ji was somewhat clever—promising sabotage, yet Yi Feng hadn’t faced a single obstacle. If this idiot had been even slightly competent, Yi Feng wouldn’t have ended up "invincible below the Saint Realm"—a fate he despised.

"I’m asking you—where the hell were your traps?"

In his fury, Yi Feng backhanded Bai Ji across the face.

The slap turned Bai Ji’s cheek into a swollen mess. Under the threat of death, he blurted out the truth. "M-my traps were all in the Gate of Life!"

"The Gate of Life?"

"You useless waste! Who told you to set them there?"

"Didn’t you know the real path to the inheritance was through the Gate of Death?"

"Why didn’t you put them in the Gate of Death?"

"Answer me—why?"

"If you’d trapped the Gate of Death, do you think I’d have cleared it so easily? Huh? Do you?"

With each furious shout, Yi Feng delivered another slap, venting his rage on Bai Ji’s already battered face.

Tears streamed down Bai Ji’s cheeks.

Internally, he cursed—how was he supposed to know the Gate of Death was the true path?

If he had known, he would have littered every three steps with formations and every five with traps! Then he wouldn’t be in this miserable state now.

The relentless slaps horrified the onlookers.

This was brutal.

And Yi Feng’s words twisted the knife—complaining that the trial had been too easy? That was just showing off, wasn’t it?

But regardless, Yi Feng’s strength alone was intimidating. And now that he had inherited the Death Trial, he was someone they had to revere.

So, flattery was in order.

"Senior, with this inheritance, your future achievements will be boundless."

"You’ll be unrivaled in the Heavenly Domain!"

"Yes, yes—unrivaled!"

"Not just the Heavenly Domain—I’d say no one in the Cloud Star Realm will be a match for you!"

They showered him with praise, thumbs raised in admiration.

Little did they know, their words only rubbed salt in Yi Feng’s wounds.

He nearly spat blood in frustration.

Dropping the half-dead Bai Ji to the ground, Yi Feng finally relented and agreed to attend the victory banquet at Xu Zhu’s request.

Soon, the banquet was in full swing on Windmoon Island.

At the same time, news of Yi Feng’s success in inheriting the Death Trial spread rapidly throughout the Heavenly Domain.

According to their prior agreement, Windmoon Island would claim none of the trial’s rewards—though they might have wanted to.

Instead, the inheritor would become an honorary elder of Windmoon Island, obligated to aid them in times of crisis.

Spreading this news served a purpose: it let the entire Heavenly Domain know that Windmoon Island now had a supreme backer—one who had conquered the infamous Death Trial.

Any faction with designs on Windmoon Island would now think twice. After all, the Death Trial’s reputation preceded it. Anyone with sense would assume its rewards were extraordinary.

Xu Zhu and the others were shrewd in another way—they didn’t ask Yi Feng what he had gained from the trial.

The unknown was far more intimidating. Let their enemies speculate endlessly about Yi Feng’s capabilities. The more mysterious he remained, the less likely anyone would dare act against Windmoon Island.

If they had learned the specifics, no matter how impressive, there would always be a limit to the fear it inspired. And secrets had a way of leaking.

So, for Windmoon Island, it was best if no one ever discovered what Yi Feng had truly obtained.

For Yi Feng, the banquet was utterly joyless.

If anything, it felt like twisting the knife in his heart.

"Honorary elder or not, I have one condition," Yi Feng said coolly from his seat of honor.

"Senior, please speak," Xu Zhu replied, bowing his head.

"Your next island lord must be her."

Yi Feng pointed directly at Feng Qianyue.

Feng Qianyue quickly bowed, her face alight with gratitude.

"Of course! Qianyue was already one of the candidates for succession. She’s cautious, talented, and exceptionally gifted. I’ve always held her in high regard. Now that you’ve spoken, the position is undoubtedly hers. I trust her—and your judgment—implicitly. Under her leadership, Windmoon Island will surely reach new heights." Xu Zhu agreed without hesitation.

"Good."

Yi Feng nodded.

Though Feng Qianyue had tried to hide it, he had heard about her wager with Bai Ji—how she had risked everything to get him into the Death Trial.

For that alone, he held her in high regard.

Ensuring she became the next island lord was the only consolation in his otherwise failed quest for death.