A Gentle Breeze and a Smile, Life and Death Are Unpredictable

At the final trial, the Land of Earth Fiends, Gu Qingfeng encountered the Water Fiend Spirit.

Without hesitation, he extended his hand and asked, "Understand?"

The Water Fiend Spirit: "???"

After a rather "amicable" exchange, the spirit was beaten into retreating into the void, too terrified to show itself again. With that, Gu Qingfeng successfully gathered all five elemental orbs—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. He examined them closely, deducing that these must be the keys.

Keys to breaking the seal and destroying the secret realm—otherwise, Mu Yi and the others would have had no reason to hand them over.

By absorbing the innate Five Elemental Fiend Qi from each trial, he had alleviated the pressure on them. Now, the secret realm was at its weakest. All that remained was to take the five orbs to the core area—the Inheritance Grounds.

The tampered orbs would then unleash their true power, using the Five Elements to disrupt the grand formation of the secret realm. There was no need to destroy it—just a slight interference to realign the elements.

Each of the five innate elemental spirits would correspond to their respective attributes, transforming the formation’s function from suppression to amplification.

"What a cunning scheme these five spirits have devised," Gu Qingfeng mused. "Truly worthy of beings versed in the Five Elements. The Taiyi True Immortal bound them with an ingenious formation, and now they’re turning it against him to amplify themselves and break free.

No wonder no one has succeeded in inheriting his legacy for so long—these five spirits refuse to remain enslaved and have been sabotaging the trials."

"It’s time to rescue my family."

With a single step, he entered the final Inheritance Grounds.

A sensation of spatial displacement washed over him as the scenery shifted instantly. The five orbs in his hand transformed into streaks of light, attempting to flee into the depths of the inheritance site.

But Gu Qingfeng’s grip was like an unshakable mountain. Without even realizing it, he held the five streaks firmly in his palm. Despite their desperate struggles, the orbs couldn’t escape the grasp of this seemingly ordinary mortal.

Only when their frantic thrashing became too noticeable did Gu Qingfeng remember their purpose and finally release them.

Whoosh—!

Five radiant beams shot into the void, off to fulfill their mission.

Gu Qingfeng now stood inside a celestial palace, its grand plaque reading "Taiyi Immortal Palace."

He glanced around, impressed by its majestic yet ethereal architecture.

Just then, the palace gates swung open on their own, and out walked a middle-aged cultivator with an immortal’s demeanor. Clad in flowing robes, he stroked his goatee with a snow-white horsetail whisk, exuding an air of divinity.

"Young man, to pass my trials is no small feat. You’ve done well," the cultivator declared loftily.

"Are you the remnant will of the Taiyi True Immortal?"

"Indeed," the man replied, stroking his beard. "In life, I devoted myself to the Dao. Though my body perished, I could not let my legacy fade. Thus, I created this secret realm to seek a worthy successor.

I know you seek my inheritance, but the trials only tested your strength. To become my disciple and inherit my legacy, you must first pass the Three Questions of the Heart—"

"Shut the up."

Gu Qingfeng swatted the remnant will aside like a fly. Scanning the palace with his divine sense, he detected numerous illusionary traps. Without hesitation, he conjured a colossal hand and brought it crashing down.

BOOM—!

The palace collapsed under the force, and he swiftly collected all its treasures.

Then, he began searching for the "Eternal Night Lamp Technique."

---

Outside the Inheritance Grounds, chaos erupted among the other trial-takers.

They had just emerged from the second trial, only to find the third one completely empty—not a single trace left. Even the ground had been scraped three inches thinner. The culprit was unmistakable.

Frantic, they rushed to the fourth trial, only to be met with the same barren sight.

"Did he really clear out the entire secret realm by himself?"

"Surely not... The fifth trial is the hardest. There’s no way he could’ve done it." The speaker’s voice wavered with doubt.

"Quick, check the fifth! Maybe there’s something left for us."

A crowd surged into the fifth trial—and despair set in. Not even scraps remained.

"Wait... If all five trials are gone, doesn’t that mean we can enter the Inheritance Grounds now?"

Eyes gleaming with hope, they scrambled to find the entrance.

Yet when they did, they were met with bitter disappointment. The Inheritance Grounds permitted only one person—a rule set by the Taiyi True Immortal, who sought a single successor.

Fury replaced despair. In the past, even if they failed the inheritance, they could at least obtain some innate elemental treasures. Now, they had nothing.

"Brothers and sisters, we cannot let this stand!" declared a righteous-robed young master. "The Taiyi Secret Realm belongs to all of us. How can one man hoard everything? When he emerges, he must share the elemental treasures equally!"

The crowd roared in agreement.

An elderly man added, "Sharing the treasures isn’t enough! The Taiyi True Immortal’s inheritance should also be made public. As our revered predecessor, his legacy must be spread far and wide! What say you all?"

"Just and fair!"

"A most virtuous proposal!"

"Indeed! Unlike pills or elixirs, cultivation techniques can be shared. Open exchange benefits us all!"

"Exactly. All he needs to do is let us copy the technique—it costs him nothing."

Amid the uproar, Gu Qingfeng emerged from the Inheritance Grounds, the "Eternal Night Lamp Technique" secured.

"He’s out!"

"Surround him! Don’t let him escape!"

The crowd surged toward him like a tidal wave, their cries deafening.

Gu Qingfeng watched the seething mass of people and smiled.

He wasn’t entirely sure what they wanted, but when fools volunteered to spice up his dull life, he wasn’t one to complain.

Pity none hailed from the Cangming Realm—those who knew him would’ve fled the moment they saw that grin.

After all, when Qingfeng smiles, death follows.